‘It’s a trying thing waiting supper for
lovers,’ said Mr. Grimwig, waking up, and pulling
his pocket-handkerchief from over his head.
Truth to tell, the supper had been waiting a most
unreasonable time. Neither Mrs. Maylie, nor
Harry, nor Rose (who all came in together), could
offer a word in extenuation.
‘I had serious thoughts of eating my head to-night,’
said Mr. Grimwig, ’for I began to think I should
get nothing else. I’ll take the liberty,
if you’ll allow me, of saluting the bride that
is to be.’
Mr. Grimwig lost no time in carrying this notice into
effect upon the blushing girl; and the example, being
contagious, was followed both by the doctor and Mr.
Brownlow: some people affirm that Harry Maylie
had been observed to set it, originally, in a dark
room adjoining; but the best authorities consider this
downright scandal: he being young and a clergyman.
‘Oliver, my child,’ said Mrs. Maylie,
’where have you been, and why do you look so
sad? There are tears stealing down your face
at this moment. What is the matter?’
It is a world of disappointment: often to the
hopes we most cherish, and hopes that do our nature
the greatest honour.
Poor Dick was dead!
FAGIN’S LAST NIGHT ALIVE
The court was paved, from floor to roof, with human
faces. Inquisitive and eager eyes peered from
every inch of space. From the rail before the
dock, away into the sharpest angle of the smallest
corner in the galleries, all looks were fixed upon
one man—Fagin. Before him and behind:
above, below, on the right and on the left:
he seemed to stand surrounded by a firmament, all
bright with gleaming eyes.
He stood there, in all this glare of living light,
with one hand resting on the wooden slab before him,
the other held to his ear, and his head thrust forward
to enable him to catch with greater distinctness every
word that fell from the presiding judge, who was delivering
his charge to the jury. At times, he turned his
eyes sharply upon them to observe the effect of the
slightest featherweight in his favour; and when the
points against him were stated with terrible distinctness,
looked towards his counsel, in mute appeal that he
would, even then, urge something in his behalf.
Beyond these manifestations of anxiety, he stirred
not hand or foot. He had scarcely moved since
the trial began; and now that the judge ceased to
speak, he still remained in the same strained attitude
of close attention, with his gaze bent on him, as
though he listened still.
