‘The boy’s name?’ demanded the matron.
‘They called him Oliver,’ replied
the woman, feebly. ’The gold I stole was—’
‘Yes, yes—what?’ cried the
other.
She was bending eagerly over the woman to hear her
reply; but drew back, instinctively, as she once again
rose, slowly and stiffly, into a sitting posture;
then, clutching the coverlid with both hands, muttered
some indistinct sounds in her throat, and fell lifeless
on the bed.
* * * *
* * *
‘Stone dead!’ said one of the old women,
hurrying in as soon as the door was opened.
‘And nothing to tell, after all,’ rejoined
the matron, walking carelessly away.
The two crones, to all appearance, too busily occupied
in the preparations for their dreadful duties to make
any reply, were left alone, hovering about the body.
WHEREIN THIS HISTORY REVERTS TO MR. FAGIN AND COMPANY
While these things were passing in the country workhouse,
Mr. Fagin sat in the old den—the same from
which Oliver had been removed by the girl—brooding
over a dull, smoky fire. He held a pair of bellows
upon his knee, with which he had apparently been endeavouring
to rouse it into more cheerful action; but he had
fallen into deep thought; and with his arms folded
on them, and his chin resting on his thumbs, fixed
his eyes, abstractedly, on the rusty bars.
At a table behind him sat the Artful Dodger, Master
Charles Bates, and Mr. Chitling: all intent upon
a game of whist; the Artful taking dummy against Master
Bates and Mr. Chitling. The countenance of the
first-named gentleman, peculiarly intelligent at all
times, acquired great additional interest from his
close observance of the game, and his attentive perusal
of Mr. Chitling’s hand; upon which, from time
to time, as occasion served, he bestowed a variety
of earnest glances: wisely regulating his own
play by the result of his observations upon his neighbour’s
cards. It being a cold night, the Dodger wore
his hat, as, indeed, was often his custom within doors.
He also sustained a clay pipe between his teeth,
which he only removed for a brief space when he deemed
it necessary to apply for refreshment to a quart pot
upon the table, which stood ready filled with gin-and-water
for the accommodation of the company.
Master Bates was also attentive to the play; but being
of a more excitable nature than his accomplished friend,
it was observable that he more frequently applied
himself to the gin-and-water, and moreover indulged
in many jests and irrelevant remarks, all highly unbecoming
a scientific rubber. Indeed, the Artful, presuming
upon their close attachment, more than once took occasion
to reason gravely with his companion upon these improprieties;
all of which remonstrances, Master Bates received
in extremely good part; merely requesting his friend
