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

tedherandthatbeingshutupheresolonghasmadeherrestless—eh?” “That’sit,mydear,”repliedtheJewinawhisper.“Hush!” Asheutteredthesewords,thegirlherselfappearedandresumedherformerseat.Hereyeswereswollenandredsherockedherselftoandfrotossedherheadand,afteralittletime,burstoutlaughing. “Why,nowshe’sontheothertack!”exclaimedSikes,turningalookofexcessivesurpriseonhiscompanion. Faginnoddedtohimtotakenofurthernoticejustthenand,inafewminutes,thegirlsubsidedintoheraccustomeddemeanour.WhisperingSikesthattherewasnofearofherrelapsing,Fagintookuphishatandbadehimgood-night.Hepausedwhenhereachedtheroom-door,andlookinground,askedifsomebodywouldlighthimdownthedarkstairs. “Lighthimdown,”saidSikes,whowasfillinghispipe.“It’sapityheshouldbreakhisneckhimself,anddisappointthesight-seers.Showhimalight.” Nancyfollowedtheoldmandownstairs,withacandle.Whentheyreachedthepassage,helaidhisfingeronhislip,anddrawingclosetothegirl,said,inawhisper. “Whatisit,Nancy,dear?” “Whatdoyoumean?”repliedthegirl,inthesametone. “Thereasonofallthis,”repliedFagin.“Ifhe”—hepointedwithhisskinnyfore-fingerupthestairs—“issohardwithyou(he’sabrute,Nance,abrute-beast),whydon’tyou—” “Well?”saidthegirl,asFaginpaused,withhismouthalmosttouchingherear,andhiseyeslookingintohers. “Nomatterjustnow.We’lltalkofthisagain.Youhaveafriendinme,Nanceastaunchfriend.Ihavethemeansathand,quietandclose.Ifyouwantrevengeonthosethattreatyoulikeadog—likeadog!worsethanhisdog,forhehumourshimsometimes—cometome.Isay,cometome.Heisthemerehoundofaday,butyouknowmeofold,Nance.” “Iknowyouwell,”repliedthegirl,withoutmanifestingtheleastemotion.“Good-night.” Sheshrankback,asFaginofferedtolayhishandonhers,butsaidgood-nightagain,inasteadyvoice,and,answeringhispartinglookwithanodofintelligence,closedthedoorbetweenthem. Faginwalkedtowardshishome,intentuponthethoughtsthatwereworkingwithinhisbrain.Hehadconceivedtheidea—notfromwhathadjustpassedthoughthathadtendedtoconfirmhim,butslowlyandbydegrees—thatNancy,weariedofthehousebreaker’sbrutality,hadconceivedanattachmentforsomenewfriend.Heralteredmanner,herrepeatedabsencesfromhomealone,hercomparativeindifferencetotheinterestsofthegangforwhichshehadoncebe