Oliver Twist 雾都孤儿 - Chapter 27

As it would be, by no means, seemly in a humble¹ author to keep so mighty² a personage as a beadle waiting, with his back to the fire, and the skirts of his coat gathered up under his arms, until such time as it might suit his pleasure to relieve him; and as it would still less become his station, or his gallantry to involve in the same neglect a lady on whom that beadle had looked with an eye of tenderness and affection, and in whose ear he had whispered sweet words, which, coming from such a quarter, might well thrill the bosom³ of maid or matron of whatsoever⁴ degree; the historian whose pen traces these words--trusting that he knows his place, and that he entertains a becoming reverence⁵ for those upon earth to whom high and important authority is delegated--hastens to pay them that respect which their position demands, and to treat them with all that duteous ceremony which their exalted⁶ rank, and (by consequence) great virtues⁸, imperatively⁹ claim at his hands.

 

Towards this end, indeed, he had purposed to introduce, in this place, a dissertation¹¹ touching¹² the divine right of beadles, and elucidative¹³ of the position, that a beadle can do no wrong:

 

which could not fail to have been both pleasurable and profitable to the right-minded reader but which he is unfortunately compelled, by want of time and space, to postpone¹⁴ to some more convenient and fitting opportunity; on the arrival of which, he will be prepared to show, that a beadle properly constituted:

 

that is to say, a parochial beadle, attached to a parochail workhouse, and attending in his official capacity the parochial church:

 

is, in right and virtue⁷ of his office, possessed¹⁵ of all the excellences¹⁶ and best qualities of humanity; and that to none of those excellences, can mere¹⁷ companies' beadles, or court-of-law beadles, or even chapel-of-ease beadles (save the last, and they in a very lowly and inferior degree), lay the remotest sustainable claim. Mr. Bumble had re-counted the teaspoons¹⁸, re-weighed the sugar-tongs, made a closer inspection¹⁹ of the milk-pot, and ascertained²¹ to a nicety the exact condition of the furniture, down to the very horse-hair seats of the chairs; and had repeated each process full half a dozen times; before he began to think that it was time for Mrs. Corney to return. Thinking begets²² thinking; as there were no sounds of Mrs. Corney's approach, it occured to Mr. Bumble that it would be an innocent and virtuous²³ way of spending the time, if he were further to allay²⁴ his curiousity by a cursory²⁵ glance at the interior of Mrs. Corney's chest of drawers. Having listened at the keyhole, to assure himself that nobody was approaching the chamber²⁶, Mr. Bumble, beginning at the bottom, proceeded to make himself acquainted with the contents of the three long drawers: which, being filled with various garments of good fashion and texture²⁷, carefully preserved between two layers of old newspapers, speckled with dried lavender: seemed to yield him exceeding satisfaction.

 

Arriving, in course of time, at the right-hand corner drawer (in which was the key), and beholding²⁸ therein a small padlocked box, which, being shaken, gave forth²⁹ a pleasant sound, as of the chinking of coin, Mr. Bumble returned with a stately walk to the fireplace; and, resuming his old attitude, said, with a grave and determined³⁰ air, 'I'll do it!' He followed up this remarkable³¹ declaration, by shaking his head in a waggish³² manner for ten minutes, as though he were remonstrating³³ with himself for being such a pleasant dog; and then, he took a view of his legs in profile, with much seeming pleasure and interest. He was still placidly³⁴ engaged in this latter survey, when Mrs. Corney, hurrying into the room, threw herself, in a breathless state, on a chair by the fireside, and covering her eyes with one hand, placed the other over her heart, and gasped³⁵ for breath. 'Mrs. Corney,' said Mr. Bumble, stooping over the matron, 'what is this, ma'am?

 

Has anything happened, ma'am?

 

Pray answer me: I'm on--on--' Mr. Bumble, in his alarm, could not immediately think of the word 'tenterhooks,' so he said 'broken bottles.' 'Oh, Mr. Bumble!' cried the lady, 'I have been so dreadfully put out!' 'Put out, ma'am!' exclaimed Mr. Bumble; 'who has dared to--?

 

I know!' said Mr. Bumble, checking himself, with native majesty³⁶, 'this is them wicious paupers³⁷!' 'It's dreadful to think of!' said the lady, shuddering³⁸. 'Then _don't_ think of it, ma'am,' rejoined Mr. Bumble. 'I can't help it,' whimpered the lady. 'Then take something, ma'am,' said Mr. Bumble soothingly³⁹.

 

'A little of the wine?' 'Not for the world!' replied Mrs. Corney.

 

'I couldn't,--oh!

 

The top shelf in the right-hand corner--oh!'

 

Uttering these words, the good lady pointed⁴⁰, distractedly, to the cupboard, and underwent a convulsion from internal spasms⁴¹.

 

Mr. Bumble rushed to the closet; and, snatching a pint⁴² green-glass bottle from the shelf thus incoherently indicated, filled a tea-cup with its contents, and held it to the lady's lips. 'I'm better now,' said Mrs. Corney, falling back, after drinking half of it. Mr. Bumble raised his eyes piously⁴³ to the ceiling in thankfulness; and, bringing them down again to the brim of the cup, lifted it to his nose. 'Peppermint⁴⁴,' exclaimed Mrs. Corney, in a faint voice, smiling gently on the beadle as she spoke⁴⁵.

 

'Try it!

 

There's a little--a little something else in it.' Mr. Bumble tasted the medicine with a doubtful look; smacked⁴⁶ his lips; took another taste; and put the cup down empty. 'It's very comforting,' said Mrs. Corney. 'Very much so indeed, ma'am,' said the beadle.

 

As he spoke, he drew a chair beside the matron, and tenderly inquired what had happened to distress⁴⁷ her. 'Nothing,' replied Mrs. Corney.

 

'I am a foolish, excitable, weak creetur.' 'Not weak, ma'am,' retorted Mr. Bumble, drawing his chair a little closer.

 

'Are you a weak creetur, Mrs. Corney?' 'We are all weak creeturs,' said Mrs. Corney, laying down a general principle. 'So we are,' said the beadle. Nothing was said on either side, for a minute or two afterwards. By the expiration⁴⁸ of that time, Mr. Bumble had illustrated⁴⁹ the position by removing his left arm from the back of Mrs. Corney's chair, where it had previously⁵⁰ rested, to Mrs. Corney's apron⁵¹-string, round which it gradually became entwined. 'We are all weak creeturs,' said Mr. Bumble. Mrs. Corney sighed. 'Don't sigh, Mrs. Corney,' said Mr. Bumble. 'I can't help it,' said Mrs. Corney.

 

And she sighed again. 'This is a very comfortable room, ma'am,' said Mr. Bumble looking round.

 

'Another room, and this, ma'am, would be a complete thing.' 'It would be too much for one,' murmured the lady. 'But not for two, ma'am,' rejoined Mr. Bumble, in soft accents. 'Eh, Mrs. Corney?' Mrs. Corney drooped⁵² her head, when the beadle said this; the beadle drooped his, to get a view of Mrs. Corney's face.

 

Mrs. Corney, with great propriety⁵³, turned her head away, and released her hand to get at her pocket-handkerchief; but insensibly replaced it in that of Mr. Bumble. 'The board allows you coals, don't they, Mrs. Corney?' inquired the beadle, affectionately pressing her hand. 'And candles,' replied Mrs. Corney, slightly returning the pressure. 'Coals, candles, and house-rent free,' said Mr. Bumble.

 

'Oh, Mrs. Corney, what an Angel you are!' The lady was not proof against this burst of feeling.

 

She sank into Mr. Bumble's arms; and that gentleman in his agitation⁵⁴, imprinted⁵⁵ a passionate⁵⁶ kiss upon her chaste⁵⁷ nose. 'Such porochial perfection!' exclaimed Mr. Bumble, rapturously. 'You know that Mr. Slout is worse to-night, my fascinator?' 'Yes,' replied Mrs. Corney, bashfully. 'He can't live a week, the doctor says,' pursued Mr. Bumble. 'He is the master of this establishment; his death will cause a wacancy; that wacancy must be filled up.

 

Oh, Mrs. Corney, what a prospect⁵⁸ this opens!

 

What a opportunity for a jining of hearts and housekeepings!' Mrs. Corney sobbed⁵⁹. 'The little word?' said Mr. Bumble, bending over the bashful beauty.

 

'The one little, little, little word, my blessed Corney?' 'Ye--ye--yes!' sighed out the matron. 'One more,' pursued the beadle; 'compose your darling feelings for only one more.

 

When is it to come off?' Mrs. Corney twice essayed to speak:

 

and twice failed.

 

At length summoning up courage, she threw her arms around Mr. Bumble's neck, and said, it might be as soon as ever he pleased, and that he was 'a irresistible⁶⁰ duck.' Matters being thus amicably⁶¹ and satisfactorily arranged, the contract was solemnly ratified⁶² in another teacupful of the peppermint mixture; which was rendered the more necessary, by the flutter and agitation of the lady's spirits.

 

While it was being disposed of, she acquainted Mr. Bumble with the old woman's decease. 'Very good,' said that gentleman, sipping⁶³ his peppermint; 'I'll call at Sowerberry's as I go home, and tell him to send to-morrow morning.

 

Was it that as frightened you, love?' 'It wasn't anything particular, dear,' said the lady evasively. 'It must have been something, love,' urged Mr. Bumble. 'Won't you tell your own B.?' 'Not now,' rejoined the lady; 'one of these days.

 

After we're married, dear.' 'After we're married!' exclaimed Mr. Bumble.

 

'It wasn't any impudence⁶⁴ from any of them male paupers as--' 'No, no, love!' interposed the lady, hastily. 'If I thought it was,' continued Mr. Bumble; 'if I thought as any one of 'em had dared to lift his wulgar eyes to that lovely countenance--' 'They wouldn't have dared to do it, love,' responded the lady. 'They had better not!' said Mr. Bumble, clenching⁶⁵ his fist. 'Let me see any man, porochial or extra-porochial, as would presume to do it; and I can tell him that he wouldn't do it a second time!' Unembellished by any violence of gesticulation, this might have seemed no very high compliment to the lady's charms; but, as Mr. Bumble accompanied the threat with many warlike gestures, she was much touched with this proof of his devotion, and protested, with great admiration⁶⁶, that he was indeed a dove. The dove then turned up his coat-collar, and put on his cocked hat; and, having exchanged a long and affectionate embrace with his future partner, once again braved the cold wind of the night: merely pausing, for a few minutes, in the male paupers' ward¹⁰, to abuse them a little, with the view of satisfying himself that he could fill the office of workhouse-master with needful acerbity⁶⁷. Assured of his qualifications, Mr. Bumble left the building with a light heart, and bright visions of his future promotion:

 

which served to occupy his mind until he reached the shop of the undertaker. Now, Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry having gone out to tea and supper: and Noah Claypole not being at any time disposed to take upon himself a greater amount of physical exertion⁶⁸ than is necessary to a convenient performance of the two functions of eating and drinking, the shop was not closed, although it was past the usual hour of shutting-up.

 

Mr. Bumble tapped with his cane⁶⁹ on the counter several times; but, attracting no attention, and beholding a light shining through the glass-window of the little parlour at the back of the shop, he made bold to peep in and see what was going forward; and when he saw what was going forward, he was not a little surprised. The cloth was laid for supper; the table was covered with bread and butter, plates and glasses; a porter-pot and a wine-bottle. At the upper end of the table, Mr. Noah Claypole lolled negligently⁷⁰ in an easy-chair, with his legs thrown over one of the arms: an open clasp-knife in one hand, and a mass of buttered bread in the other.

 

Close beside him stood Charlotte, opening oysters⁷² from a barrel: which Mr. Claypole condescended⁷³ to swallow, with remarkable avidity.

 

A more than ordinary redness in the region of the young gentleman's nose, and a kind of fixed⁷⁴ wink⁷⁵ in his right eye, denoted that he was in a slight degree intoxicated⁷⁶; these symptoms were confirmed by the intense relish⁷⁷ with which he took his oysters, for which nothing but a strong appreciation⁷⁸ of their cooling properties, in cases of internal fever, could have sufficiently⁷⁹ accounted. 'Here's a delicious fat one, Noah, dear!' said Charlotte; 'try him, do; only this one.' 'What a delicious thing is a oyster⁷¹!' remarked Mr. Claypole, after he had swallowed it.

 

'What a pity it is, a number of 'em should ever make you feel uncomfortable; isn't it, Charlotte?' 'It's quite a cruelty,' said Charlotte. 'So it is,' acquiesced⁸⁰ Mr. Claypole. 'An't yer fond of oysters?' 'Not overmuch,' replied Charlotte.

 

'I like to see you eat 'em, Noah dear, better than eating 'em myself.' 'Lor!' said Noah, reflectively; 'how queer!' 'Have another,' said Charlotte.

 

'Here's one with such a beautiful, delicate beard!' 'I can't manage any more,' said Noah.

 

'I'm very sorry.

 

Come here, Charlotte, and I'll kiss yer.' 'What!' said Mr. Bumble, bursting into the room.

 

'Say that again, sir.' Charlotte uttered a scream, and hid her face in her apron.

 

Mr. Claypole, without making any further change in his position than suffering his legs to reach the ground, gazed at the beadle in drunken terror. 'Say it again, you wile⁸¹, owdacious fellow!' said Mr. Bumble. 'How dare you mention such a thing, sir?

 

And how dare you encourage him, you insolent⁸² minx?

 

Kiss her!' exclaimed Mr. Bumble, in strong indignation.

 

'Faugh!' 'I didn't mean to do it!' said Noah, blubbering.

 

'She's always a-kissing of me, whether I like it, or not.' 'Oh, Noah,' cried Charlotte, reproachfully. 'Yer are; yer know yer are!' retorted Noah.

 

'She's always a-doin' of it, Mr. Bumble, sir; she chucks me under the chin, please, sir; and makes all manner of love!' 'Silence!' cried Mr. Bumble, sternly.

 

'Take yourself downstairs, ma'am.

 

Noah, you shut up the shop; say another word till your master comes home, at your peril⁸³; and, when he does come home, tell him that Mr. Bumble said he was to send a old woman's shell after breakfast to-morrow morning.

 

Do you hear sir?

 

Kissing!' cried Mr. Bumble, holding up his hands.

 

'The sin and wickedness of the lower orders in this porochial district is frightful⁸⁴!

 

If Parliament don't take their abominable⁸⁵ courses under consideration, this country's ruined, and the character of the peasantry gone for ever!'

 

With these words, the beadle strode, with a lofty and gloomy air, from the undertaker's premises⁸⁶. And now that we have accompanied him so far on his road home, and have made all necessary preparations for the old woman's funeral, let us set on foot a few inquires after young Oliver Twist, and ascertain²⁰ whether he be still lying in the ditch where Toby Crackit left him.

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