CHAPTER XLIV. THE TIME ARRIVES FOR NANCY TO REDEEM HER PLEDGE TO ROSE MAYLIE. SHE FAILS.

oughtokeepdownbyforcesomeviolentoutbreak.“Letmego,willyou,—thisminute—thisinstant.” “No!”saidSikes. “Tellhimtoletmego,Fagin.Hehadbetter.It’llbebetterforhim.Doyouhearme?”criedNancystampingherfootupontheground. “Hearyou!”repeatedSikesturningroundinhischairtoconfronther.“Aye!AndifIhearyouforhalfaminutelonger,thedogshallhavesuchagriponyourthroatas’lltearsomeofthatscreamingvoiceout.Wothascomeoveryou,youjade!Wotisit?” “Letmego,”saidthegirlwithgreatearnestnessthensittingherselfdownonthefloor,beforethedoor,shesaid,“Bill,letmegoyoudon’tknowwhatyouaredoing.Youdon’t,indeed.Foronlyonehour—do—do!” “Cutmylimbsoffonebyone!”criedSikes,seizingherroughlybythearm,“IfIdon’tthinkthegal’sstarkravingmad.Getup.” “Nottillyouletmego—nottillyouletmego—Never—never!”screamedthegirl.Sikeslookedon,foraminute,watchinghisopportunity,andsuddenlypinioningherhandsdraggedher,strugglingandwrestlingwithhimbytheway,intoasmallroomadjoining,wherehesathimselfonabench,andthrustingherintoachair,heldherdownbyforce.Shestruggledandimploredbyturnsuntiltwelveo’clockhadstruck,andthen,weariedandexhausted,ceasedtocontestthepointanyfurther.Withacaution,backedbymanyoaths,tomakenomoreeffortstogooutthatnight,SikeslefthertorecoveratleisureandrejoinedFagin. “Whew!”saidthehousebreakerwipingtheperspirationfromhisface.“Wotapreciousstrangegalthatis!” “Youmaysaythat,Bill,”repliedFaginthoughtfully.“Youmaysaythat.” “Wotdidshetakeitintoherheadtogooutto-nightfor,doyouthink?”askedSikes.“Comeyoushouldknowherbetterthanme.Wotdoesitmean?” “Obstinacywoman’sobstinacy,Isuppose,mydear.” “Well,Isupposeitis,”growledSikes.“IthoughtIhadtamedher,butshe’sasbadasever.” “Worse,”saidFaginthoughtfully.“Ineverknewherlikethis,forsuchalittlecause.” “NorI,”saidSikes.“Ithinkshe’sgotatouchofthatfeverinherbloodyet,anditwon’tcomeout—eh?” “Likeenough.” “I’llletheralittleblood,withouttroublingthedoctor,ifshe’stookthatwayagain,”saidSikes. Faginnoddedanexpressiveapprovalofthismodeoftreatment. “Shewashangingaboutmeallday,andnighttoo,whenIwasstretchedonmybackandyou,likeablackheartedwolfasyouare,keptyourselfaloof,”saidSikes.“Wewaspoortoo,allthetime,andIthink,onewayorother,it’sworriedandfret