Oliver Twist 雾都孤儿 - Chapter 15
时间：2016-02-18 03:25:14
（单词翻译:单击）
In the obscure parlour of a low public-house, in the filthiest1 part of Little Saffron Hill; a dark and gloomy den2, where a flaring3 gas-light burnt all day in the winter-time; and where no ray of sun ever shone in the summer:
there sat, brooding over a little pewter measure and a small glass, strongly impregnated with the smell of liquor, a man in a velveteen coat, drab shorts, half-boots and stockings, whom even by that dim light no experienced agent of the police would have hesitated to recognise as Mr. William Sikes.
At his feet, sat a white-coated, red-eyed dog; who occupied himself, alternately, in winking4 at his master with both eyes at the same time; and in licking a large, fresh cut on one side of his mouth, which appeared to be the result of some recent conflict. 'Keep quiet, you warmint!
Keep quiet!' said Mr. Sikes, suddenly breaking silence.
Whether his meditations5 were so intense as to be disturbed by the dog's winking, or whether his feelings were so wrought6 upon by his reflections that they required all the relief derivable7 from kicking an unoffending animal to allay8 them, is matter for argument and consideration.
Whatever was the cause, the effect was a kick and a curse, bestowed9 upon the dog simultaneously10. Dogs are not generally apt to revenge injuries inflicted11 upon them by their masters; but Mr. Sikes's dog, having faults of temper in common with his owner, and labouring, perhaps, at this moment, under a powerful sense of injury, made no more ado but at once fixed12 his teeth in one of the half-boots.
Having given in a hearty13 shake, he retired14, growling15, under a form; just escaping the pewter measure which Mr. Sikes levelled at his head. 'You would, would you?' said Sikes, seizing the poker16 in one hand, and deliberately17 opening with the other a large clasp-knife, which he drew from his pocket.
'Come here, you born devil!
Come here!
D'ye hear?' The dog no doubt heard; because Mr. Sikes spoke18 in the very harshest key of a very harsh voice; but, appearing to entertain some unaccountable objection to having his throat cut, he remained where he was, and growled19 more fiercely than before:
at the same time grasping the end of the poker between his teeth, and biting at it like a wild beast. This resistance only infuriated Mr. Sikes the more; who, dropping on his knees, began to assail20 the animal most furiously.
The dog jumped from right to left, and from left to right; snapping, growling, and barking; the man thrust and swore, and struck and blasphemed; and the struggle was reaching a most critical point for one or other; when, the door suddenly opening, the dog darted21 out:
leaving Bill Sikes with the poker and the clasp-knife in his hands. There must always be two parties to a quarrel, says the old adage22.
Mr. Sikes, being disappointed of the dog's participation24, at once transferred his share in the quarrel to the new comer. 'What the devil do you come in between me and my dog for?' said Sikes, with a fierce gesture. 'I didn't know, my dear, I didn't know,' replied Fagin, humbly25; for the Jew was the new comer. 'Didn't know, you white-livered thief!' growled Sikes. 'Couldn't you hear the noise?' 'Not a sound of it, as I'm a living man, Bill,' replied the Jew. 'Oh no!
I wish you had been the dog, Fagin, half a minute ago.' 'Why?' inquired the Jew with a forced smile. 'Cause the government, as cares for the lives of such men as you, as haven't half the pluck of curs, lets a man kill a dog how he likes,' replied Sikes, shutting up the knife with a very expressive28 look; 'that's why.' The Jew rubbed his hands; and, sitting down at the table, affected29 to laugh at the pleasantry of his friend.
He was obviously very ill at ease, however. 'Grin away,' said Sikes, replacing the poker, and surveying him with savage30 contempt; 'grin away.
You'll never have the laugh at me, though, unless it's behind a nightcap.
I've got the upper hand over you, Fagin; and, d--me, I'll keep it.
There!
If I go, you go; so take care of me.' 'Well, well, my dear,' said the Jew, 'I know all that; we--we--have a mutual31 interest, Bill,--a mutual interest.' 'Humph,' said Sikes, as if he thought the interest lay rather more on the Jew's side than on his.
'Well, what have you got to say to me?' 'It's all passed safe through the melting-pot,' replied Fagin, 'and this is your share.
It's rather more than it ought to be, my dear; but as I know you'll do me a good turn another time, and--' 'Stow that gammon,' interposed the robber, impatiently. 'Where is it?
Hand over!' 'Yes, yes, Bill; give me time, give me time,' replied the Jew, soothingly32.
'Here it is!
All safe!'
As he spoke, he drew forth33 an old cotton handkerchief from his breast; and untying34 a large knot in one corner, produced a small brown-paper packet.
Sikes, snatching it from him, hastily opened it; and proceeded to count the sovereigns it contained. 'This is all, is it?' inquired Sikes. 'All,' replied the Jew. 'You haven't opened the parcel and swallowed one or two as you come along, have you?' inquired Sikes, suspiciously. 'Don't put on an injured look at the question; you've done it many a time. Jerk the tinkler.' These words, in plain English, conveyed an injunction to ring the bell.
It was answered by another Jew:
younger than Fagin, but nearly as vile35 and repulsive36 in appearance. Bill Sikes merely pointed23 to the empty measure.
previously38 exchanging a remarkable39 look with Fagin, who raised his eyes for an instant, as if in expectation of it, and shook his head in reply; so slightly that the action would have been almost imperceptible to an observant third person.
It was lost upon Sikes, who was stooping at the moment to tie the boot-lace which the dog had torn.
Possibly, if he had observed the brief interchange of signals, he might have thought that it boded40 no good to him. 'Is anybody here, Barney?' inquired Fagin; speaking, now that that Sikes was looking on, without raising his eyes from the ground. 'Dot a shoul,' replied Barney; whose words:
whether they came from the heart or not:
made their way through the nose. 'Nobody?' inquired Fagin, in a tone of surprise:
which perhaps might mean that Barney was at liberty to tell the truth. 'Dobody but Biss Dadsy,' replied Barney. 'Nancy!' exclaimed Sikes.
'Where?
Strike me blind, if I don't honour that 'ere girl, for her native talents.' 'She's bid havid a plate of boiled beef id the bar,' replied Barney. 'Send her here,' said Sikes, pouring out a glass of liquor. 'Send her here.' Barney looked timidly at Fagin, as if for permission; the Jew remaining silent, and not lifting his eyes from the ground, he retired; and presently returned, ushering41 in Nancy; who was decorated with the bonnet42, apron43, basket, and street-door key, complete. 'You are on the scent44, are you, Nancy?' inquired Sikes, proffering45 the glass. 'Yes, I am, Bill,' replied the young lady, disposing of its contents; 'and tired enough of it I am, too.
The young brat's been ill and confined to the crib; and--' 'Ah, Nancy, dear!' said Fagin, looking up. Now, whether a peculiar46 contraction47 of the Jew's red eye-brows, and a half closing of his deeply-set eyes, warned Miss Nancy that she was disposed to be too communicative, is not a matter of much importance.
The fact is all we need care for here; and the fact is, that she suddenly checked herself, and with several gracious smiles upon Mr. Sikes, turned the conversation to other matters. In about ten minutes' time, Mr. Fagin was seized with a fit of coughing; upon which Nancy pulled her shawl over her shoulders, and declared it was time to go.
Mr. Sikes, finding that he was walking a short part of her way himself, expressed his intention of accompanying her; they went away together, followed, at a little distant, by the dog, who slunk out of a back-yard as soon as his master was out of sight. The Jew thrust his head out of the room door when Sikes had left it; looked after him as we walked up the dark passage; shook his clenched48 fist; muttered a deep curse; and then, with a horrible grin, reseated himself at the table; where he was soon deeply absorbed in the interesting pages of the Hue-and-Cry. Meanwhile, Oliver Twist, little dreaming that he was within so very short a distance of the merry old gentleman, was on his way to the book-stall.
When he got into Clerkenwell, he accidently turned down a by-street which was not exactly in his way; but not discovering his mistake until he had got half-way down it, and knowing it must lead in the right direction, he did not think it worth while to turn back; and so marched on, as quickly as he could, with the books under his arm. He was walking along, thinking how happy and contented49 he ought to feel; and how much he would give for only one look at poor little Dick, who, starved and beaten, might be weeping bitterly at that very moment; when he was startled by a young woman screaming out very loud.
'Oh, my dear brother!'
And he had hardly looked up, to see what the matter was, when he was stopped by having a pair of arms thrown tight round his neck. 'Don't,' cried Oliver, struggling.
'Let go of me.
Who is it? What are you stopping me for?' The only reply to this, was a great number of loud lamentations from the young woman who had embraced him; and who had a little basket and a street-door key in her hand. 'Oh my gracious!' said the young woman, 'I have found him!
Oh! Oliver!
Oliver!
Come home, dear, come.
Oh, I've found him.
Thank gracious goodness heavins, I've found him!'
With these incoherent exclamations51, the young woman burst into another fit of crying, and got so dreadfully hysterical52, that a couple of women who came up at the moment asked a butcher's boy with a shiny head of hair anointed with suet, who was also looking on, whether he didn't think he had better run for the doctor.
To which, the butcher's boy:
who appeared of a lounging, not to say indolent disposition53:
replied, that he thought not. 'Oh, no, no, never mind,' said the young woman, grasping Oliver's hand; 'I'm better now.
Come home directly, you cruel boy! Come!' 'Oh, ma'am,' replied the young woman, 'he ran away, near a month ago, from his parents, who are hard-working and respectable people; and went and joined a set of thieves and bad characters; and almost broke his mother's heart.' 'Young wretch54!' said one woman. 'Go home, do, you little brute,' said the other. 'I am not,' replied Oliver, greatly alarmed.
'I don't know her. I haven't any sister, or father and mother either.
I'm an orphan55; I live at Pentonville.' 'Only hear him, how he braves it out!' cried the young woman. 'Why, it's Nancy!' exclaimed Oliver; who now saw her face for the first time; and started back, in irrepressible astonishment56. 'You see he knows me!' cried Nancy, appealing to the bystanders. 'He can't help himself.
Make him come home, there's good people, or he'll kill his dear mother and father, and break my heart!' 'What the devil's this?' said a man, bursting out of a beer-shop, with a white dog at his heels; 'young Oliver! Come home to your poor mother, you young dog!
Come home directly.' 'I don't belong to them.
I don't know them.
Help! help!' cried Oliver, struggling in the man's powerful grasp. 'Help!' repeated the man.
You've been a stealing 'em, have you? Give 'em here.'
With these words, the man tore the volumes from his grasp, and struck him on the head. 'That's right!' cried a looker-on, from a garret-window. 'That's the only way of bringing him to his senses!' 'To be sure!' cried a sleepy-faced carpenter, casting an approving look at the garret-window. 'It'll do him good!' said the two women. 'And he shall have it, too!' rejoined the man, administering another blow, and seizing Oliver by the collar.
Here, Bull's-eye, mind him, boy!
Mind him!' Weak with recent illness; stupified by the blows and the suddenness of the attack; terrified by the fierce growling of the dog, and the brutality59 of the man; overpowered by the conviction of the bystanders that he really was the hardened little wretch he was described to be; what could one poor child do!
Darkness had set in; it was a low neighborhood; no help was near; resistance was useless.
In another moment he was dragged into a labyrinth60 of dark narrow courts, and was forced along them at a pace which rendered the few cries he dared to give utterance61 to, unintelligible62.
It was of little moment, indeed, whether they were intelligible63 or no; for there was nobody to care for them, had they been ever so plain. * * * * * * * * * The gas-lamps were lighted; Mrs. Bedwin was waiting anxiously at the open door; the servant had run up the street twenty times to see if there were any traces of Oliver; and still the two old gentlemen sat, perseveringly64, in the dark parlour, with the watch between them.
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收听单词发音
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1
filthiest
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| filthy（肮脏的，污秽的）的最高级形式 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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derivable
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| adj.可引出的，可推论的，可诱导的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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19
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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adage
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| n.格言，古训 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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26
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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27
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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34
untying
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| untie的现在分词 | |
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35
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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36
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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ushering
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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45
proffering
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的现在分词 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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48
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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51
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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52
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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