oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hour or so before he came。 So； they put the bier on the brink of the
grave； and the two mourners waited patiently in the damp clay；
with a cold rain drizzling down； while the ragged boys whom the
spectacle had attracted into the churchyard played a noisy game
at hide…and…seek among the tombstones； or varied their
amusements by jumping backwards and forwards over the coffin。
Mr。 Sowerberry and Bumble； being personal friends of the clerk；
sat by the fire with him； and read the paper。
At length； after a lapse of something more than an hour； Mr。
Bumble； and Sowerberry； and the clerk； were seen running
towards the grave。 Immediately afterwards； the clergyman
appeared； putting on his surplice as he came along。 Mr。 Bumble
then thrashed a boy or two； to keep up appearances； and the
reverend gentleman； having read as much of the burial service as
could be compressed into four minutes； gave his surplice to the
clerk； and walked away again。
“Now； Bill！” said Sowerberry to the grave…digger； “fill up！”
It was no very difficult task； for the grave was so full； that the
uppermost coffin was within a few feet of the surface。 The grave…
digger shovelled in the earth； stamped it loosely down with his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
feet； shouldered his spade； and walked off； 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 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 they threw a can of
cold water over him； and when he came to； saw him safely out of
the churchyard； locked the gate； and departed on their different
ways。
“Well； Oliver；” said Sowerberry； as they walked home； “how do
you like it？”
“Pretty well； thank you； sir；” replied Oliver； with considerable
hesitation。 “Not very much； sir。”
“Ah； you’ll get used to it in time； Oliver；” said Sowerberry。
“Nothing when you are used to it； my boy。”
Oliver wondered； in his own mind； whether it had taken a very
long time to get Mr。 Sowerberry used to it。 But he thought it better
not to ask the question； and walked back to the shop； thinking
over all he had seen and heard。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
Chapter 6
Oliver； Being Goaded By The Taunts Of Noah；
Rouses Into Action； And Rather Astonishes Him。
The month’s trial over； Oliver was formally apprenticed。 It
was a nice sickly season just at this time。 In commercial
phrase； coffins were looking up； and； in the course of a few
weeks； Oliver acquired a great deal of experience。 The success of
Mr。 Sowerberry’s ingenious speculation exceeded even his most
sanguine hopes。 The oldest inhabitants recollected no period at
which measles had been so prevalent； or so fatal to infant
existence； and many were the mournful processions which little
Oliver headed； in a hat…band reaching down to his knees； to the
indescribable admiration and emotion of all the 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
demeanour and full command of nerve which are essential to a
finished undertaker； he had many opportunities of observing the
beautiful resignation and fortitude with which some strong…
minded people bear their trials and losses。
For instance； when Sowerberry had an order for the burial of
some rich old lady or gentleman； who was surrounded by a great
number of nephews and nieces； who had been perfectly
inconsolable during the previous illness； and whose grief had been
wholly irrepressible even on the most public occasions； they would
be as happy among themselves as need be—quite cheerful and
contented—conversing together with as much freedom and gaiety；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
as if nothing whatever had happened to disturb them。 Husbands；
too； bore the loss of their wives with the most heroic calmness。
Wives； again； put on weeds for their husbands； as if； so far from
grieving in the garb of sorrow； they had made up their minds to
render it as becoming and attractive as possible。 It was observable；
too； that ladies and gentlemen who were in passions of anguish
during the ceremony of internment； 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。
That Oliver Twist was moved to resignation by the example of
these good people； I cannot； although I am his biographer；
undertake to affirm with any degree of confidence； but I can most
distinctly say； that for many months he continued meekly to
submit to the domination and ill…treatment of Noah Claypole； who
used him far worse than before； now that his jealousy was routed
by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hat…band；
while he； the old one； remained stationary in the muffin…cap and
leathers。 Charlotte treated him ill； 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 material change in
all his future prospects and proceedings。
One day； Oliver and Noah had descended into the kitchen at
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
the usual dinner hour； to banquet upon a small joint of mutton—a
pound and a half of the worst end of the neck—when Charlotte
being called out of the way； there ensued a brief interval of time；
which Noah Claypole； being hungry and vicious； considered he
could not possibly devote to a worthier purpose than aggravating
and tantalising young Oliver Twist。
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 of coming to see him hanged； whenever
that desirable event should take place； and entered upon various
other topics of petty annoyance like a malicious and ill…
conditioned charity…boy he was。 But； none of these taunts
producing the desired effect of making Oliver cry； Noah attempted
to be more facetious still； and in this attempt； did what many small
wits； with far greater reputations than Noah； sometimes do to this
day； when they want to be funny he got rather personal。
“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； Work’us；” said Noah； as a tear
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
rolled down Oliver’s cheek。 “What’s set you a…snivelling now？”
“Not you；” replied Oliver； hastily brushing the tear away。 “Don’t
think it。”
“Oh； not me； eh！” sneered Noah。
�
