most coffin was within a few feet of the surface. The grave-digger shovelled in the earth; stamped it loosely down with his feet: shouldered his spade; and walked of, followed by the boys: who murmured very loud complaints at the fun being over so

soon.

Come, my good fellow!" said Bumble, tapping the man on the back "They want to shut up the yard.”

The man, who had never once moved, since he had taken his station by the grave side, started, raised his head, stared at the person who had addressed him, walked forward for a few paces; and fell down in a swoon. The crazy old woman was too much occupied in bewailing the loss of her cloak (which the undertaker had taken off), to pay him any attention; so

CHAPTER VI.

OLIVER, BEING GOADED BY THE TAUNTS OF NOAH, ROUSES INTO ACTION, AND

RATHER ASTONISHES HIM.

THE month's trial over, Oliver was demeanour and full command of nerve formally apprenticed. It was a nice which are so essential to a finished sickly season just at this time. In undertaker, he had many opportucommercial phrase, coffins were look-nities of observing the beautiful reing up; and, in the course of a few signation and fortitude with which weeks, Oliver had acquired a great some strong-minded people bear their deal of experience. The success of trials and losses. Mr. Sowerberry's ingenious specula- For instance; when Sowerberry tion, exceeded even his most sanguine had an order for the burial of some hopes. The oldest inhabitants recol- rich old lady or gentleman, who was lected no period at which measles had surrounded by a great number of been so prevalent, or so fatal to in- nephews and nieces, who had been fant existence; and many were the perfectly inconsolable during the premournful processions which little Oli-vious illness, and whose grief had ver headed, in a hat-band reaching been wholly irrepressible even on the down to his knees, to the indescribable most public occasions, they would be admiration and emotion of all the as happy among themselves as need be mothers in the town. As Oliver accompanied his master in most of his adult expeditions, too, in order that he might acquire that equanimity of

quite cheerful and contented: conversing together with as much freedom and gaiety, as if nothing whatever had happened to disturb them. Hus

bands, too, bore the loss of their wives usual dinner-hour, to banquet upon a with the most heroic calmness. Wives, small joint of mutton-a pound and again, put on weeds for their husbands, a half of the worst end of the neck as if, so far from grieving in the garb—when Charlotte being called out of of sorrow, they had made up their the way, there ensued a brief interval minds to render it as becoming and of time, which Noah Claypole, being attractive as possible. It was observa- hungry and vicious, considered he ble, too, that ladies and gentleman could not possibly devote to a worthier who were in passions of anguish | purpose than aggravating and tantaduring the ceremony of interment, lising young Oliver Twist. recovered almost as soon as they reached home, and became quite composed before the tea-drinking was over. All this was very pleasant and improving to see; and Oliver beheld it with great admiration.

Intent upon this innocent amusement, Noah put his feet on the tablecloth; and pulled Oliver's hair; and twitched his ears; and expressed his opinion that he was a "sneak;" and furthermore announced his intention That Oliver Twist was moved to of coming to see him hanged, whenresignation by the example of these ever that desirable event should take good people, I cannot, although I am place; and entered upon various other his biographer, undertake to affirm topics of petty annoyance, like a with any degree of confidence; but I malicious and ill-conditioned charitycan most distinctly say, that for many boy as he was. But, none of these months he continued meekly to sub-taunts producing the desired effect of mit to the domination and ill-treat- making Oliver cry, Noah attempted ment of Noah Claypole: who used to be more facetious still; and in this him far worse than before, now that attempt, did what many small wits, his jealousy was roused by seeing the with far greater reputations than Noah, new boy promoted to the black stick sometimes do to this day, when they and hat-band, while he, the old one, want to be funny. He got rather remained stationary in the muffin- personal. cap and leathers. Charlotte treated him badly, because Noah did; and Mrs. Sowerberry was his decided enemy, because Mr. Sowerberry was disposed to be his friend; so, between these three on one side, and a glut of funerals on the other, Oliver was not altogether as comfortable as the hungry pig was, when he was shut up, by mistake, in the grain department of a brewery.

And now, I come to a very important passage in Oliver's history; for I have to record an act, slight and unimportant perhaps in appearance, but which indirectly produced a most material change in all his future prospects and proceedings.

One day, Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen at the

"Work'us," said Noah, "how's your mother?"

"She's dead," replied Oliver; "don't you say anything about her to me!"

Oliver's colour rose as he said this; he breathed quickly; and there was a curious working of the mouth and nostrils, which Mr. Claypole thought must be the immediate precursor of a violent fit of crying. Under this impression he returned to the charge. "What did she die of, Work'us?" said Noah.

"Of a broken heart, some of our old nurses told me," replied Oliver : more as if he were talking to himself, than answering Noah. "I think I know what it must be to die of that!"

"Tol de rol lol lol, right fol lairy,

daunted, into the dust-cellar, and there locked him up. This being done, Mrs. Sowerberry sunk into a chair, and burst into tears.

"Bless her, she's going off!" said Charlotte. "A glass of water, Noah, dear. Make haste!"

"Oh! Charlotte," said Mrs. Sowerberry speaking as well as she could, through a deficiency of breath, and a sufficiency of cold water, which Noah had poured over her head and shoulders. "Oh! Charlotte, what a mercy we have not all been murdered in our beds!"

bestowed upon him, and performed some affecting tears and sniffs.

"What's to be done!" exclaimed Mrs. Sowerberry. "Your master's not at home; there's not a man in the house; and he'll kick that door down, in ten minutes." Oliver's vigorous plunges against the bit of timber in question, rendered this occurrence highly probable.

"Dear, dear! I don't know, ma'am," said Charlotte, "unless we send for the police-officers."

"Or the millingtary," suggested Mr. Claypole.

"No, no," said Mrs. Sowerberry: bethinking herself of Oliver's old

"Ah! mercy indeed, ma'am," was the reply. "I only hope this 'll teach master not to have any more of friend. "Run to Mr. Bumble, Noah, these dreadful creaturs, that are born to be murderers and robbers from their very cradle. Poor Noah! He was all but killed, ma'am, when I come in."

"Poor fellow!" said Mrs. Sowerberry looking piteously on the charity-boy.

Noah whose top waistcoat-button might have been somewhere on a level with the crown of Oliver's head: rubbed his eyes with the inside of his wrists while this commiseration was

and tell him to come here directly, and not to lose a minute; never mind your cap! Make haste! You can hold a knife to that black eye, as you run along. It'll keep the swelling down."

Noah stopped to make no reply, but started off at his fullest speed; and very much it astonished the people who were out walking, to see a charity-boy tearing through the streets pell-mell, with no cap on his head, and a clasp-knife at his eye.

CHAPTER VII.

OLIVER CONTINUES REFRACTORY.

NOAH CLAYPOLE ran along the streets at his swiftest pace, and paused not once for breath, until he reached the workhouse-gate. Having rested here, for a minute or so, to collect a good burst of sobs and an imposing show of tears and terror, he knocked loudly at the wicket; and presented such a rueful face to the aged pauper who opened it, that even he, who saw nothing but rueful faces about him at the best of times, started back in astonishment.

66

'Why, what's the matter with the boy!" said the old pauper.

Bumble to understand that, from the violent and sanguinary onset of Oliver Twist, he had sustained severe internal injury and damage, from which he was, at that moment, suffering the acutest torture.

When Noah saw that the intelligence he communicated perfectly paralysed Mr. Bumble, he imparted additional effect thereunto, by bewailing his dreadful wounds ten times louder than before; and, when he observed a gentleman in a white waistcoat crossing the yard, he was more tragic in his lamentations than ever: rightly conceiving it highly expedient to attract the notice, and rouse the indignation, of the gentleman aforesaid.

"Mr. Bumble! Mr. Bumble!" cried Noah, with well-affected dismay: and in tones so loud and agitated, that they not only caught the ear of Mr. Bumble himself, who happened to be hard by, but alarmed him so much that he rushed into the yard without his cocked hat, which is a very curious and remarkable circumstance: as showing that even a beadle, acted upon by a sudden and powerful impulse, may be afflicted with a momentary visitation of loss of self-possession, and forgetfulness of personal dignity. "Oh, Mr. Bumble, sir!" said Noah: has been nearly murdered-all but "Oliver, sir,-Oliver has

"What? What?" interposed Mr. Bumble with a gleam of pleasure in his metallic eyes. "Not run away; he hasn't run away, has he, Noah?"

56 No, sir, no. Not run away, sir, but he's turned wicious," replied Noah. "He tried to murder me, sir; and then he tried to murder Charlotte; and then missis. Oh! what dreadful pain it is! Such agony, please, sir!" And here, Noah writhed and twisted his body into an extensive variety of eel-like positions; thereby giving Mr.

The gentleman's notice was very soon attracted; for he had not walked three paces, when he turned angrily round, and inquired what that young cur was howling for; and why Mr. Bumble did not favour him with something which would render the series of vocular exclamations so designated, an involuntary process.

"It's a poor boy from the freeschool, sir," replied Mr. Bumble," who

murdered, sir,-by young Twist.”

"By Jove!" exclaimed the gentleman in the white waistcoat, stopping short. "I knew it! I felt a strange presentiment from the very first, that that audacious young savage would come to be hung!"

"He has likewise attempted, sir, to murder the female servant," said Mr. Bumble, with a face of ashy paleness.

"And his missis," interposed Mr. Claypole.

"And his master, too, I think you said, Noah?" added Mr. Bumble.