oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第6章
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gentle。 man in the white waistcoat； he would have established that
sage individual’s prophetic character； once and for ever； by tying
one end of his pocket handkerchief to a hook in the wall； and
attaching himself to the other。 To the performance of this feat；
however； there was one obstacle； namely； that pocket
handkerchiefs being decided articles of luxury； had been for all
future times and ages； removed from the noses of paupers by the
express order of the Board； in council assembled： solemnly given
and pronounced under their hands and seals。 There was a still
greater obstacle in Oliver’s youth and childishness。 He only cried
bitterly all day； and； when the long； dismal night came on； spread
his little hands before his eyes to shut out the darkness； and
crouching in the corner； tried to sleep： ever and anon waking with
a start and tremble； and drawing himself closer and closer to the
wall； as if to feel even its cold； hard surface were a protection in
the gloom and loneliness which surrounded him。
Let it not be supposed by the enemies of “the system；” that；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
during the period of his solitary incarceration； Oliver was denied
the benefit of exercise； the pleasure of society； or the advantages of
religious consolation。 As for exercise； it was nice cold weather； and
he was allowed to perform his ablutions every morning under the
pump； in a stone yard； in the presence of Mr。 Bumble； who
prevented his catching cold； and caused a tingling sensation to
pervade his frame； by repeated applications of the cane。 As for
society； he was carried every other day into the hall where the
boys dined； and there sociably flogged as a public warning and
example。 And so far from being denied the advantages of religious
consolation； he was kicked into the same apartment every evening
at prayer…time； and there permitted to listen to； and console his
mind with； a general supplication of the boys； containing a special
clause； therein inserted by authority of the Board； in which they
entreated to be made good； virtuous； contented； and obedient； and
to be guarded from the sins and vices of Oliver Twist： whom the
supplication distinctly set forth to be under the exclusive
patronage and protection of the powers of wickedness； and an
article direct from the manufactory of the very devil himself。
It chanced one morning； while Oliver’s affairs were in this
auspicious and comfortable state； that Mr。 Gamfield； chimney…
sweep； was wending his way down the High Street； deeply
cogitating in his mind his ways and means of paying certain
arrears of rent； for which his landlord had become rather pressing。
Mr。 Gamfield’s most sanguine estimate of his finances could not
raise them within full five pounds of the desired amount； and； in a
species of arithmetical desperation； he was alternately cudgelling
his brains and his donkey； when； passing the workhouse； his eyes
encountered the bill on the gate。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“Wo…o！” said Mr。 Gamfield to the donkey。
The donkey was in a state of profound abstraction： wondering；
probably； whether he was destined to be regaled with a cabbage…
stalk or two when he had disposed of the two sacks of soot with
which the little cart was laden； so； without noticing the word of
command； he jogged onward。
Mr。 Gamfield growled a fierce imprecation on the donkey
generally； but more particularly on his eyes； and； running after
him； bestowed a blow on his head； which would inevitably have
beaten in any skull but a donkey’s。 Then； catching hold of the
bridle； he gave his jaw a sharp wrench； by way of gentle reminder
that he was not his own master； and by these means turned him
round。 He then gave him another blow on the head； just to stun
him till he came back again。 Having completed these
arrangements； he walked up to the gate； to read the bill The
gentleman with the white waistcoat was standing at the gate with
his hands behind him； after having delivered himself of some
profound sentiments in the board…room。 Having witnessed the
little dispute between Mr。 Gamfield and the donkey； he smiled
joyously when that person came up to read the bill； for he saw at
once that Mr。 Gamfield was exactly the sort of master Oliver Twist
wanted。 Mr。 Gamfield smiled； too； as he perused the document； for
five pounds was just the sum he had been wishing for； and； as the
boy with which it was encumbered； Mr。 Gamfield； knowing what
the dietary of the workhouse was； well knew he would be a nice
small pattern； just the very thing for register stoves。 So； he spelt
the bill through again； from beginning to end； and then； touching
his fur cap in token of humility； accosted the gentleman in the
white waistcoat。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
“This here boy； sir； wot the parish wants to ’prentis；” said Mr。
Gamfield。
“Ay； my man；” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat； with a
condescending smile。 “What of him？”
“If the parish would like him to learn a right pleasant trade； in a
good ’spectable chimbley…sweepin’ bisness；” said Mr。 Gamfield； “I
wants a ’prentis； and I am ready to take him。”
“Walk in；” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat。 Mr。
Gamfield having lingered behind； to give the donkey another blow
on the head； and another wrench of the jaw； as a caution not to
run away in his absence； followed the gentleman with the white
waistcoat into the room where Oliver had first seen him。
“It’s a nasty trade；” said Mr。 Limbkins； when Gamfield had
again stated his wish。
“Young boys have been smothered in chimneys before now；”
said another gentleman。
“That’s ’cause they damped the straw afore they lit it in the
chimbley to make ’em come down agin；” said Gamfield； “that’s all
smoke； and no blaze； vereas smoke ain’t o’ no use at all in making
a boy come down； for it only sinds him to sleep； and that’s wot he
likes。 Boys is wery obstinit； and wery lazy； gen’lmen； and there’s
nothink like a good hot blaze to make ’em come down vith a run。
It’s humane too； gen’lmen； acause； even if they’ve stuck in the
chimbley； roasting their feet makes ’em struggle to hextricate
theirselves。”
The gentleman in the white waistcoat appeared very much
amused by this explanation； but his mirth was speedily checked by
a look from Mr。 Limbkins。 The Board then proceeded to converse
among themselves for a few minutes； but in so low a tone； that the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
Oliver Twist
words “saving of expenditure；” “looked well in the accounts；”
“have a printed report published；” were alone audible。 These only
chanced to be heard； indeed； on account of their being very
frequently repeated with great emphasis。 At length the whispering
ceased； and the members of the Board having resumed their seats
and their solemnity； Mr。 Limbkins said： “We have considered your
proposition； and we don’t approve of it。”
“Not at all；” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat。
“Decidedly not；” added the other members。
As Mr。 Gamfield did happen to labour under the slight
imputation of having bruised three or four boys to death already； it
occurred to him that the Board had； perhaps； in some
unaccountable freak； taken it into their heads that this extraneous
circumstance ought to influence their proceedings。 It was very
unlike their general mode of doing business； if they had； but still；
as he had no particular wish to revive the rumour； he twisted his
cap in his hands； and walked slowly from the table。
“So you won’t let me have him； gen’lmen？” said Mr。 Gamfield；
pausing near the door。
“No；” replied Mr。 Limbkins； “at least； as it’s a nasty business；
we think you ought to take something less than the premium we
offered。”
Mr。 Gamfield’s countenance brightened； as； with a quick step；
he returned to the table； and said：
“What’ll you give； gen’lmen？ Come！ Don’t be too hard on a poor
man。 What’ll you give？”
“I shou
