更多小說請關注1Oliver’s更多小說請關注1Oliver’searlyOliverTwistwasborninaworkhouse，andwhenhearrivedinthishardworld，itwasverydoubtfulwhetherhewouldlivebeyondthefirstthreeminutes．Helayonahardlittlebedandstruggledtostartbreathing．Oliverfoughthisfirstbattlewithoutmuchassistancefromthetwopeoplepresentathisbirth．Onewasanoldwoman，whowasnearlyalwaysdrunk，andtheotherwasabusylocaldoctor，whowasnotpaidenoughtobeveryinterestedinOliver’salldeathworkhousewhereandhomelesslived．However，Olivermanagedtodrawhisfirstbreath，andthenannouncedhisarrivaltotherestoftheworkhousebycryingloudly．Hismotherraisedherpaleyoungfacefromthepillowandwhispered，‘Letmeseethechild，anddie．’Thedoctorturnedawayfromthefire，wherehehadbeenwarminghishands．‘Youmustnottalkaboutdyingyet’hesaidtoherkindly．Hegaveherthechildtohold．Lovingly，shekissedthebabyonitsforeheadwithhercoldwhitelips，thenstaredwildlyaroundtheroom，fellback-anddied.‘Poordear’saidthenurse，hurriedlyputtingagreenglassbottlebackinthepocketofherlongskirt.Thedoctorbegantoputonhiscoat．‘Thebabyisweakandwillprobablyhavedificulties’quietTheatthedeadwoman.‘Themotherwasagood－lookinggirl．Wheredidshe‘Shewasbroughtherelastnightrepliedtheoldwoman.‘ShewasfoundlyingpiecesWherefromwheretoorwasnobody doctorgirlsstoryhelighead．‘Noweddingring，Isee．Ah！GoodAndsoOliverwasleftwithonlythedrunkennurse．Withoutclothes，underhisfirstblanket，hecouldhavebeenthechildofakingorabeggar．Butwhenthewomandressedhimlaterinroughcottonclothes，yellowwithage，helookedexactlywhathewas-anorphaninhewas-anorphaninaworkhouse，readyforalifeofmisery，hunger，andOlivercriedloudly．Ifhecouldhaveknownthathewasaworkhouseorphan，perhapshewouldhavecriedevenmoreloudly.Therewasnoonetolookafterthebabyintheworkhouse，soOliverwassenttoaspecial‘babyfarm’nearby.There，heandthirtyotherchildrenrolledaroundthefloorallday，withouttheinconvenienceoftoomuchfoodortoomuchclothing.MrsMann，theoldwomanwho‘lookedafter’them，wasveryexperienced．Sheknewwhatwasgoodforchildren，andafullstomachwasverydangeroustotheirhealth.Shealsoknewwhatwasgoodforherself，soshekeptforherownusethemoneythatshewasgivenforthechildren’sfood．Theboardresponsiblefortheorphanssometimescheckedonthehealthofthechildren，butTheyalwayssentthebeadleapolicemantobeforeSotheboardarrived，ofcourse，thechildrenwerealwaysneatandclean．ThiswasthewayOliverwasbroughtup.Consequently，attheageofninehewasapalethinageButspiritwasstrong，whichwasprobablythereasonwhyhemanagedtoreachtheageofnineatall．OnOliver’sninthbirthday，MrBumblethebeadlecametothehousetoseeMrsMann．ThroughthefrontwindowMrsMannsawhimatthegate，andturnedquicklytothegirlwhoworkedwithher．washedsheranouttounlockthegate（Itwasalwayskeptlockedtopreventofficialvisitorswalkinginunexpectedly）‘Ihavebusinesstotalkabout’MrBumbletoldMrsMannasheenteredthehouse．Hewasabigfatman，oftenbad-tempered，andwasfullofself-importance.Hedidnotliketobekeptwaitingatalockedgate.MrsManntookhishatandcoat，placedachairforhim，andexpressedgreatconcernforhiscomfort．‘You’vehadalongwalk，MrBumble’shesaid，‘andyoumustbethirsty’Shetookoutabottlefromthecupboard．‘No，thankyou，MrsMann.Notadrop’Hewavedthebottlewater’MrBumblecoughed．‘Whatisit？’heasked，lookingatthebottlewith‘Gin．Ikeepitforthechildren’smedicineginMrsMann？ginMrsMann？askedBumblewatchinghisdrink．‘Onlywithmedicine，sir．Idon’tliketoseethemsufer’‘You’reagoodwoman，MrsMann．’MrBumbledrankhalfhisglassimmediately．‘I’lltelltheboardaboutyou．Now-thereasonwhyI’mhere．OliverTwistisnineyearsoldtoday．We’veneverbeenabletodiscoveranythingabouthisparents.’‘Thenhowdidhegethishimsaidproudly‘ealphabetThe anS-Swubble．ThenwasT，sothisoneisTwist．ThenextwillbeUnwin．Anyway，OliverTwistisnowoldenoughtoreturntoworkhouse．Bringhimhere，please’WhileMrsMannwenttogethim，Bumblefinishedtherestofhisgin．Oliver，hisfaceandhandsnowalmostclean，wasledintothe‘Willyoucomealongwithme，Oliver？’askedMrBumbleinaloudOliverwasverygladtobefreeofMrsMannsviolence，buthesaidnothingbecauseshewasangrilyshakingherfingerathim．However，asthegateclosedbehindOliver，heburstintotears.Hewasleavingbehindtheotherchildren，theonlyfriendshehad，andherealizedatthatmomenthowlonelyhewasintheworld.MrBumblewalkedonwithlongsteps，withOliveronhisshortlittlelegsrunningbesidehim．Thefeelingofcontentmentproducedbygin－and－waterhadnowdisappeared，andthebeadlewasinabadmoodoncemore．Backattheworkhouse，Oliverwastakentoseetheboard.Hestoodinfrontoftenfatmenwhoweresittingaroundatable．‘Whatsyourname，boy？’askedaparticularlyfatmanwithaveryround，redOliverwasfrightenedatthesightofsomanypeople，andstartedto‘WhyareyouThebeadlehithimontheback，andsonaturallyOlivercriedevenfool’onefool’onemothersaidbeenbroughtupwithotherorphans？’sir’replied‘Whyistheboycrying？’repeatedtheotherman，‘Youhavecomeheretobeeducatedcontinuedthefatman，‘soyouwillstartworkingheretomorrowatsixo’clock’Oliverwasledawaytoalargeroom，where，onaroughhardbed，hecriedhimselftosleep．Theroomintheworkhousewheretheboyswerefedwasalargestonehallandatoneendthemasterandtwowomenservedthefood．Thisconsistedofabowlofthinsoupthreetimesaday，withapieceofbreadonSundays．Theboysateeverythingandwerealwayshungry．Thebowlsneverneededwashing．TheboyspolishedthemwiththeirspoonsuntilTheyshone．Afterthreemonthsofthisslowstarvation，oneoftheboystoldtheothershewassohungrythatonenighthemighteattheboywhosleptnexttohim．Hehadawildhungryeye，him．Afteradiscussion，Theydecidedthatoneofthemshouldaskforfoodaftersupperthatevening，andOliverwasTheeveningarrived；thesoupwasserved，andthebowlswereemptyagaininafewseconds．Oliverwentuptothemaster，withhisbowlinhishand．Hefeltveryfrightened，butalsodesperatewithhunger．‘Please，sir，Iwantsomemore’Themasterwasafat，healthyman，butheturnedverypale.Helookedatthelittleboyinfrontofhimwithamazement．Nobodyelsespoke．‘What？’heaskedatlast，inafaintsir’Oliver，‘IThemasterhithimwiththeservingspoon，thenseizedOliver’sarmsandshoutedforthebeadle．Thebeadlecamequickly，heardthedreadfulnews，andimmediatelyrantotelltheboard．formore？’MrLimbkins，thehorror．‘Bumble-isthisreally‘That behanged’‘That behanged’saidman earlierhadcalledOliverfool．‘YouseeifI’mnotright’Oliverwasledawaytobelockedup，andarewardwasofferedtoanybodywhowouldtakehimawayandusehimforwork.2Oliver’sfirstOliverstayedaprisoneraloneinthedarkroomforaweek．Hecriedbitterlyallday，andwhenthelongnightcame，hespreadhislittlehandsoverhiseyestoshutoutthedarkness，andtriedtosleep．Hewasgivenfreezingwatertowashwith，andwasbeatendailybyMrBumbleinfrontofalltheotherboysinthehall，asawarningtothem．OnedayMrBumblemetthelocalundertaker，MrSowerberry，outsidethe‘Doyouknowanybodywhowantstotrainaboyforwork，MrSowerberry？’MrBumblepointedatthenoticeonthewallabovehim，whichofferedfivepoundstoanybodywhowouldtakeOliverTwistforwork．MrSowerberryrubbedhischinandthoughtforawhile．‘Ipayenoughforthepoorwithmytaxes’hesaid，‘sowhyshouldn’tIbeabletomakeuseoftheminmywork？Yes，I’lltaketheboymyself’AndsotheboardagreedtosendOlivertoworkfortheundertaker．Thenecessarypapersweresigned．Oliver’ssmallpossessionswereputintoabrownpaperparcel，andhewasledtoMrSowerberry’shousebyMrBumble．AsTheywalkedalong，tearsbegantorundownOliver’sface．‘Whatisitthistime？’askedMrBumbleimpatiently．‘Don’tbesoungrateful．Thisgentlemanisgoingtolookafteryou.’sir’don’tbeangrywithme，sir’EvenMrBumblefeltalittlepity.Hecoughed，toldEvenMrBumblefeltalittlepity.Hecoughed，toldOlivertodryhiseyesandbeagoodboy，andwalkedonwithhiminsilence.TheundertakerhadjustfinishedworkforthedaywhenMrBumbleenteredhisOliverbowedtotheundertaker，whoraisedhiscandletogetabetterviewofboy．‘MrsSowerberry’hecalled，‘comeandalook’Hiswife，ashort，thinwomanwithadisagreeableface，cameouttosee.‘He’sverysmall’shesaidimmediately．is’agree‘esshepushedOliverdownstairsintoadamp，darkkitchen，andcalledtothegirlworkingdownthere.‘Here，Charlotte，givethisboysomemeatthatthedogleft-ifhethinksit’sgoodenoughforhim．’Olivertorethemeattopieceswithhisteethasifhewereawildanimal.MrsSowerberrywatchedhiminsilenthorror，alreadythinkingaboutherfuturefoodbills，thentookhimupstairstotheshop．coffins’shOliverstaredaroundthedark，airlessshopatthecoffins，somefinished，someonlyhalf-made．Hetrembledatthethoughtofghosts．Hisbedwasasmallholeinthefloor，andlookedverylikeagrave．ButitwasnotonlytheroomthatdepressedOliver．Hefeltverylonely，withnofriendsandnoonetocareforhim．Ashelayonthebed，hefoundhimselfwishingthatitreallywashisgrave.Thenextmorninghewaswokenupbysomeonekickingattheshopthedoor，willyou？’shoutedavoicetheboysaidareyou？’‘Ten，‘ThenI’‘Ten，‘ThenI’llhityouwhenIgetin’saidtheOliverwasexperiencedenoughtoknowthatthepromisewasprobablytrue．Heopenedthedoorwithashakinghand，thenlookedupanddownthestreet．Allhecouldseewasalargeboywearingtheuniformofoneofthecharityschools，wherethechildrenoftheverypoorusedtogo．‘Didyouwantacoffin？’askedOThecharity－boylookedathimfiercely．‘You’llbeneedingacoffinsoon，Workhouse，ifyoumakejokeslikethat！I’mMisterNoahClaypole，andyou’recurtainsAsOliverandenteredtheshop．Hewasabig，clumsyboyofaboutfourteen，withalargeheadandverysmalleyes．Addedtotheseattractionswerearednoseanddirtyyellowtrousers．Theboyswentdowntobreakfast，whichthegirlCharlottehadmadeforthem.ShegaveanextrapieceofmeattoNoah，thentoldOlivertohurryupasitwashisjobtolookaftertheshop．‘Didyouhearthat，Workhouse？’shoutedNoah’said‘Leavehim‘Why？’askedNoah.‘Allhisrelationshavealreadylefthimalone.Hismotherandfatheraren’tgoingtointerferewithhim’CharlotteandNoahbothstartedlaughingloudly．Oliversataloneinthecorner，eatingoldbitsofbread.Noahwasacharity－boy，butnotaworkhouseorphan；heatleastknewwhohisparentswere.Butforalongtimeallthelocalshop－boyshadinsultedhimbecauseheworetheuniformofacharity-boy．Nowfortunehadbroughthimacreatureinanevenlowerpositioninsocietythanhimself．NoahintendedtorepaytoOlivereveryinsulthehadeverreceived，andtomakethenewboy’slifeamisery.totrainhimintheundertakingbusiness．Oliver’spermanentexpressionofsadnesswasverysuitable，theundertakerthought，forcollectingdeadbodiesfromhousesandaccompanyingthecoffinstofunerals.OnedayMrBumblecametotellthemaboutawomanwhohaddiedinanextremelypoorpartofthetown，andSowerberryandOliverwenttocollectthebody．Theywentdowndirtynarrowstreetswherethehousesoneithersideweretallandlarge，butveryold．Someofbutveryold．Someofthehouseswerealmostfallingdown，andhadtobesupportedbyhugeblocksofwood.TheareawassopoorthateventhedeadratsinthestreetlookedasthoughTheyhaddiedofhunger．Theyfoundtherighthouse，andclimbedthedarkstairstoamiserablelittleroom．SomechildrenwatchedthemfromtheshadowsasTheyentered．Somethinglaybeneathablanketonthefloorinonecorner．Amanandanoldwomanstoodnearthebody．Oliverwasafraidtolookatthem．Withtheirthinfacesandsharpteeth，Theylookedliketheratshehadseenoutside．AsSowerberrybegantomeasurethebodyforacoffin，themankneltonthefloordiedHeworkdone，leftasfastasTheycould．Theyreturnedthenextdaywiththecoffinandfourmenfromtheworkhousewhoweretocarryit．Themanandtheoldwomanfollowedthecoffintothechurch，andwaitedsilentlybythegraveforthepriesttoarrive．Whenatlasthecame，hehurriedthroughtheburialprayers，andasquicklyaspossible（itwasonlyajob，afterall）thecoffinwasputintotheground.Atthispointthehusband，whohadnotmovedonceduringhiswife’sburial-notevenduringthelongwaitforthepriest-suddenlyfaintedtothegroundandhadtohavecoldwaterthrownoverhim．‘Sohowdidyoulikeit，Oliver？’askedSowerberrylater，astheywalkedsir’O‘You’llgetusedtoit，myOliverwonderedhowlongthatwouldtake，andremainedsilentallthewaybacktotheshop，thinkingabouteverythingthathehadseenandheard. OlivergoestoOliverwasnowofficiallyanundertaker’sassistant．Itwasagood，sicklytimeofyear，andcoffinsweresellingwell.Olivergainedalotofexperienceinashorttime，andwasinterestedtoseehowbravesomepeoplewereafteradeathinthefamily.Duringfuneralsforsomerichpeople，forexample，hesawthatthepeoplewhohadcriedtheloudestinchurchusuallyrecoveredthefastestafterwardscriedtheloudestinchurchusuallyrecoveredthefastestafterwardsHenoticedhowinotherwealthyfamiliesthewifeorthehusbandoftenseemedquitecheerfulandcalmdespitetherecentdeath-justasifnothinghadhappened．Oliverwasverysurprisedtoseeallthis，andgreatlyadmiredthemforcontrollingtheirsadnesssowell.Hewastreatedbadlybymostofthepeoplearoundhim．NoahwasjealousbecauseOliverwentouttoburialswhilehewasleftbackintheshop，sohetreatedhimevenworsethanbefore．CharlottetreatedhimbadlybecauseNoahdid.AndMrsSowerberrywashisenemybecauseMrSowerberrywassupposedtobehisfriend.Onedaysomethinghappenedwhichmightseemunimportant，butwhichhadagreateffectonOliver’sfuture.Noahwasinaparticularlybadmoodonedinner-time，andsohetriedtomakeOlivercrybyhittinghim，pullinghishair，andcallinghimhorriblenames.Thiswasallunsuccessful，sohetriedpersonalinsults．‘Workhouse，how’syourmother？’hedead’repliedNoahhopedthatOliverwasgoingtocry，soheof，‘Ofabrokenheart，Iwastold’AndatearrolleddownOOliverremainedsilent，andNoahgrewbraver．‘Youknow，Ifeelverysorryyou，Workhouse，butthetruthisyour awoman’Oliverseemedsuddenlytowakeup.‘Whatdidyou‘Shewassobaditwasluckyshedied，orshewouldhaveendedupinprison，ortheolderboysoviolentlythathisteethnearlyfellout.Thenhehithimwithallhisstrengthandknockedhimtotheground．mescreamed—CharlotteandMrsSowerberryraninandscreamedinhorror．TheytookholdofOliverandbegantoheathim．ThenNoahgotupandstartedtokickhimfrombehind．WhenTheywerealltired，TheyforcedOliverbehind．WhenTheywerealltired，TheyforcedOliver，whowasstillfightingshouting，MrsSowerberrysatdown，breathingheavily．‘He’slikeawildanimal’shesaid．‘Wecouldallhavebeenmurderedinourbeds’‘IhopeMrSowerberrydoesn’ttakeanymoreofthesedreadfulcreaturesfromtheworkhousesaidkilledMrsatNoahsympathetically.Noah，whowastwiceOliver’ssize，pretendedtorubtearsfromhis‘Whatshallwedo？’criedMrsSowerberry．‘He’llkickthatdoordownintenminutes.’TheycouldhearOliverbangingandkickingatthecellardoor．‘Noah-runandgetMrBumble’SoNoahranthroughthestreetsasquicklyashecouldtofetchthebeadle．Whenhereachedtheworkhouse，hewaitedforaminutetomakesurehisfacewassuitablytearfulandfrightened.AssoonasMrBumblecameout，Noahcried，‘MrBumble！MrBumble！It’sTwistsirHesviolentHeandMrsSowerberryaswell.’MrBumblewasshockedandangry．‘Didhe？I’llcomeupthereimmediatelyandbeathimwithmystick’Whenhearrivedattheshop，Oliverwasstillkickingwildlyatthecellarhemnotafraidofyou！’MrBumblestoppedforamoment，amazedandevenratherfrightenedbythischangeinOliver．ThenhesaidtoMrsSowerberry，‘It’sthemeatthat’scausedthis，youknow.’‘Meat，madam.You’vefedhimtoowellhere.Backintheworkhousethiswouldneverhavehappened.’‘IknewIwastoogeneroustohim’saidMrsSowerberry，raisinghereyestotheAtthatmomentMrSowerberryreturnedand，hearingwhatAtthatmomentMrSowerberryreturnedand，hearingwhathadhappened（accordingtotheladies，hebeatOliversohardthatevenMrBumbleandMrsSowerberryweresatisfied．MrSowerberrywasnotacruelman，buthehadnochoice.Heknewthatifhedidn’tpunishOliver，hiswifewouldneverforgivehim．Thatnight，aloneintheroomwiththecoffinsOlivercriedbitter，lonelytears．Heunlockedtheshopdoorandleftthehouse．Heranupthestreetandthroughthetownasfarasthemainroad，wherehesawasignthattoldhimitwasjustseventymilesfromtheretoLondon.ThenameLondongavetheboyanidea．Thathugeplace！Nobody，notevenMrBumble，couldeverfindhimthere！Hehadheardoldmenintheworkhousesayitwasagoodplaceforbraveboys，andthattherewasalwaysworkthereforthosethatwantedit．Itwouldbethebestplaceforhim．Hejumpedtohisfeetandwalkedforwardagain．Butafteronlyfourmileshebegantorealizejusthowfarhewouldhavetowalk．Hestoppedtothinkaboutit．Hehadapieceofbread，aroughshirt，twopairsofsocksandapenny.ButhecouldnotseehowthesewouldhelphimgettoLondonanyfaster，sohecontinuedwalking．Hewalkedtwentymilesthatday．Theonlythinghehadtoeatwashispieceofbreadandsomewaterwhichhebeggedfromhousesneartheroad.Hesleptthefirstnightinafield，feelinglonely，tired，coldandhungry.Hewasevenhungrierthenextmorningwhenhewokeup，andhehadtobuysomemorebreadwithhispenny．Thatdayhewalkedonlytwelvemiles．HislegsweresoweakthatTheyshookbeneathThenextdayhetriedtobegformoney，butlargesignsinsomevillageswarnedhimthatanyonecaughtbeggingwouldbesenttoprison.Travellersontheroadrefusedtogivehimmoney；Theysaidhewasalazyyoungdoganddidn’tdeserveanything.Farmersthreatenedtosendtheirdogsafterhim．Whenhewaitedoutsidepubs，thepub－ownerschasedhimawaybecauseTheythoughthehadcometostealhim：anwomanandagate－keeperontheroad.IfTheyhadnotgivenhimsomefood，hesurelywouldhavediedlikehismother.Earlyontheseventhmorningofhisjourney，OliverfinallyreachedthelittletownofBarnet，justoutsideLondon.Exhausted，hesatdownatthesideoftheroad.Hisfeetwerebleedingandhewascoveredindust．Hewastootiredeventobeg．Thenhenoticedthataboy，whohadpassedhimafewminutesbefore，hadreturned，andwasnowlookingathimcarefullyfromtheoppositesideoftheroad．AfteralongtimetheboycrossedtheroadandsaidtoOliver，‘Hello！What’smattertheTheboywasaboutOliversage，butwasTheboywasaboutOliversage，butwasoneofthestrangest-lookingpeoplehehadeverseen.Hehadadirty，ordinaryboy’sface，buthebehavedasifhewereanadult．Hewasshortforhisageandhadlittle，sharp，uglyeyes.Hishatwasstuckontopofhisheadbutitlookedasthoughitwouldblowoffatanyminute．Heworeaman’scoatwhichreachedalmostdowntohisfeet，withsleevessolongthathishandswerecompletelycovered.‘I’mverytiredandhungry’answeredOliver，almostcrying．‘I’vebeenwalkingforaweek’‘Aweek！Themagistrate’sorder，was‘Themagistrate？What’s‘Amagistrate’sakindofjudge’explainedthesurprisedyounggentleman.HerealizedOliverdidnothavemuchexperienceoftheworld．‘Nevermindthat．Youwantsomefood’hewenton.‘Ihaven’tgotmuchmoneybutdon’tworry－I’llpay．’TheboyhelpedOlivertohisfeet，andtookhimtoapub.Meat，bread，andwereplacedbeforeOliver，andhisnewfriendurgedhimsatisfyhunger．WhileOliverwaseating，thestrangeboylookedathimfromtimetotimewithgreatattention．London？’ ‘Gotanywhereto‘No’‘No’Thestrangeboywhistled，andputhisarmsintohispocketsasfarasthebigcoatsleeveswouldallowhim．‘Isupposeyouwanttosleepsomewheretonight，don’tyou？’do’repliedliver‘Ihaventjourney’‘Well，don’tworry．I’vegottobeinLondontonight，andIknowaveryoldgentlemantherewhooldgentlemantherewho’llletyouliveinhisplaceandnotevenaskyouformoney’Oliverwasdeeplygratefulforthisofferofshelterandtalkedforalongtimewithhisnewfriend．HisnamewasJackDawkins，buthewasusuallycalled‘TheArtfulDodger．‘Artful’becausehewasverycleveratgettingwhathewanted；and‘Dodger’becausehewasverygoodatnotgettingcaughtwhenhedidsomethingwrong．Whenheheardthis，Oliverfeltratherdoubtfulabouthavingsuchafriend．However，hewantedfirsttomeetthekindoldgentlemaninLondon，whowouldhelphim．Afterthat，hecoulddecidewhethertocontinuethefriendshipwiththeArtfulDodger． OliverinForsomereasontheDodgerdidnotwanttoenterLondonduringdaylight，soitwasnearlyelevenoclockatnightwhenTheygotnearthecentre.Oliverhadneverseenadirtierormoremiserableplace.Thestreetsinthisdistrictwerenarrowandmuddy，andtherewereterriblesmellseverywhere.Childrenwanderedaroundevenatthistimeofnight，inandoutofthemanyshops，playingandscreaming．Thepubswerefullofpeoplefighting，andbig，evil－lookingmenstoodindoorwaysoratdarkcorners．Oliveralmostwantedtorunaway，butjustthentheDodgerpushedopenadoorandpulledOliverintoadarkhall.‘Who’sthere？’avoicecried‘It’sme，’saidtheDodger．Thefaintlightofacandleappearedinthe‘Who’stheother‘Anewfriend.Theywentupsomedarkandbrokenstairs．Olivercouldhardlyseewherehewasgoing，buttheDodgerseemedtoknowtheway，andhelpedOliverup.Theyenteredaroomwithwallsthatwereblackwithageanddirt．Infrontofthefirewasatablewithacandlestuckintoabottleofbeer，andanoldman，withahorriblyuglyfaceandredhair，stoodnexttothefirecooking.HewaswearingadirtyoldcoatandseemedtodividehisattentionbetweenhiscookingandanumberofsilkseemedtodividehisattentionbetweenhiscookingandanumberofsilkfireThetable，smokinganddrinkinglikemiddle-agedmen．TheyalllookedupwhentheDodgerandOliverentered．‘Thisishim，Fagin’theDodgersaidtotheoldman．‘MyfriendOliverTwist’FaginsmiledandshookOliver’shand．ThenallTheyounggentlemencameuptohimandshookbothhishandsveryhard，especiallythehandwhichheldhisfewpossessions.Oneoftheboyswasparticularlykind．HeevenputhishandsinOliver’spocketssothatOliverwouldnothavetoemptythemhimselfwhenhewenttobed．Theboyswouldprobablyhavebeenevenmorehelpful，butFaginhitthemontheirheadsandshouldersuntilTheyleftOliveralone．‘We’reverygladtoseeyou，OliversaidFagin.‘Iseeyou’restaringatthehandkerchieves，mydear．Aren’ttherealot？We’vejusttakenthemallouttowashthem，that’sall！Ha！Ha！Ha！’Thisseemedtobeajoke，astheoldgentlemanandallhisyoungfriendsgaveloudshoutsoflaughter.Thensupperbegan.Oliveratehisshareofthefoodandwasthengivenaglassofgin-and-water．Fagintoldhimtodrinkitfast．Immediatelyafterwards，OliverfelthimselfliftedontooneofthebedsandhesankintoadeepWhenhewoke，itwaslatemorning．Faginwastheonlyotherpersonintheroom，andhewasboilingcoffeeinapan．Whenthecoffeewasdone，heturnedtowardsOliverandlookedcloselyattheboyOliverwasonlyjustawakeandhiseyeswerehalf－closed，soheseemedtobestillfastasleep.Faginthenlockedthedoorandfromahiddenholeinthefloor，hetookoutasmallbox，whichheplacedcarefullyonthetable．Hiseyesshoneasheopeneditandtookoutagoldwatchcoveredinjewels.himself． ‘Aah’were！Loyaltheend.Theynevertoldthepriestwherethejewelswere．NoraboutoldFagin．Notevenattheveryend．AndwhyshouldThey？Itwasalreadytoolate．Itwouldn’thavestoppedtheropegoingroundtheirnecks’Fagintookoutatleastsixmorewatches，aswellasringsandbraceletsandmanyothervaluablepiecesofjewellery．Helookedatthemwithpleasure，thenreplacedthem.‘Whatagoodthinghangingis’hemurmured．‘Deadmencannevertalk，orbetrayoldfriends’AtthatmomenthelookedupandsawOliverwatchinghim．Heclosedthelidofboxwithaloudcrash，andpickedupaboxwithaloudcrash，andpickedupabreadknifefromthetable．‘Whyareyouwatchingme？Whathaveyouseen？Tellme－quick’longersirsaidsorry’‘Youweren’tawakeanhourago？’Faginaskedfiercely，stillholdingthe‘IpromiseIwasn’t，sir，’repliedO‘Don’tworry，mydear’Faginsaid，puttingdowntheknifeandbecomingonceagainthekindoldgentleman．Helaughed．‘Ionlytriedtofrightenyou，mydear.You’reabraveboy，Oliver！Anddidyouseeanyoftheprettythings？’‘Yes，sir.Ihave，inmyoldage．’Oliverwonderedwhytheoldmanlivedinsuchanold，dirtyplace，whenhehadsomanywatches，butthenhethoughtthatitmustcostFaginalotofmoneytolookaftertheDodgerandtheotherboys．Sohesaidnothing，andgotupandwashed．WhenheturnedtowardsFagin，theboxhaddisappeared．SoontheDodgerenteredwithacheerfulyoungmannamedCharley‘Haveyoubeenatworkthismorning？’Faginaskedthework’answeredboys’said‘Acoupleofpocket－booksandsomehandkrchieves’‘Goodworkers，aren’tThey，Oliver？’saidtheold‘Verygood’saidOliver．Theothersallstartedlaughing，thoughOliversawnothingfunnyinhisanswer.FagininspectedthehandkerchievesandtoldthetwoboysthatTheywereextremelywellmadeandthathewasverypleasedwiththeirwork.AfterbreakfastTheyplayedaverystrangegame.Thecheerfuloldmanputawatchinhisjacketpocket，withaguard-chainroundhisneck，andanotebookandahandkerchiefinhistrouserpocket．Thenhewentupanddowntheroomholdingawalkingstick，justliketheoldgentlemenwhowalkedinthestreets.Sometimeshestoppedatthefireplace，andsometimesatthedoor，pretendingtostarewithgreatinterestintoshopwindows．Hewouldthenconstantlylookround，asifafraidofthieves，touchingallhispocketsinsuchanaturalandfunnywaythatOliverlaugheduntilstoppedatthefireplace，andsometimesatthedoor，pretendingtostarewithgreatinterestintoshopwindows．Hewouldthenconstantlylookround，asifafraidofthieves，touchingallhispocketsinsuchanaturalandfunnywaythatOliverlaugheduntiltearsrandownhisfaceAllthetime，thetwoboysfollowedFagineverywhere，andeverytimeheturnedround，Theymovedoutofhissightsoquicklythatitwasimpossibletofollowtheirmovements.Finally，theDodgerbumpedintohimaccidentallyfrombehind，andatthatmomentbothboystookfromhim，veryquickly，hiswatch，guard－chain，handkerchief，andnotebook．Iftheoldmanfeltahandinanyofhispocketshecriedout，andthenthegamebeganagain.Later，theboyswentoutagaintodosomemorework.WhenTheyhadgone，FaginturnedtoOliver．‘Takemyadvice，mydear，’hesaid．‘Makethemyourmodels.EspeciallytheDodger．He’llbeagreatmanhimself，andwillmakeyouonetoo,ifyoucopyhim.Ismyhandkerchiefhangingoutofmypocket,mydear?''Yes,sir,'saidO'Seeifyoucantakeitout,withoutmyfeelingit.Justasyousawthemdoingitwhenwewereplaying.'Oliverheldupthebottomofthepocketwithonehand,ashehadseentheDodgerholdit,andpulledthehandkerchieflightlyoutofitwiththeother.'Hasitgone?'asked'Hereitis,sir,'saidOliver,showingitinhis'You'reacleverboy,mydear,'saidtheoldgentleman,puttinghishandonOliver'shead.I'veneverseenaquickerboy.Ifyougoonlikethis,you'llbethegreatestmaninLondon.NowcomehereandI'llshowyouhowtotakethemarksoutofhandkerchieves.Oliverwonderedwhattheconnectionwasbetweenplayingatstealingfromtheoldgentleman'spocketandbecomingagreatman.Buthefollowedhimquietlytothetableandwassoondeeplyinvolvedinhisnewstudy.OliverremainedinFagin'sroomformanydays,pickingthemarksan