Chapter 10（1 / 2）

OLIVERBECOMESBETTERACQUAINTEDWITHTHECHARACTERSOFHISNEWASSOCIATES；ANDPURCHASESEXPERIENCEATAHIGHPRICE。BEINGASHORT，BUTVERYIMPORTANT

CHAPTER，INTHISHISTORY

Formanydays，OliverremainedintheJew'sroom，pickingthemarksoutofthepocket-handkerchief，（ofwhichagreatnumberwerebroughthome，）andsometimestakingpartinthegamealreadydescribed：whichthetwoboysandtheJewplayed，regularly，everymorning。Atlength，hebegantolanguishforfreshair，andtookmanyoccasionsofearnestlyentreatingtheoldgentlemantoallowhimtogoouttoworkwithhistwocompanions。

Oliverwasrenderedthemoreanxioustobeactivelyemployed，bywhathehadseenofthesternmoralityoftheoldgentleman'scharacter。WhenevertheDodgerorCharleyBatescamehomeatnight，empty-handed，hewouldexpatiatewithgreatvehemenceonthemiseryofidleandlazyhabits；andwouldenforceuponthemthenecessityofanactivelife，bysendingthemsupperlesstobed。Ononeoccasion，indeed，heevenwentsofarastoknockthembothdownaflightofstairs；butthiswascarryingouthisvirtuouspreceptstoanunusualextent。

Atlength，onemorning，Oliverobtainedthepermissionhehadsoeagerlysought。Therehadbeennohandkerchiefstoworkupon，fortwoorthreedays，andthedinnershadbeenrathermeagre。Perhapsthesewerereasonsfortheoldgentleman'sgivinghisassent；but，whethertheywereorno，hetoldOliverhemightgo，andplacedhimunderthejointguardianshipofCharleyBates，andhisfriendtheDodger。

Thethreeboyssalliedout；theDodgerwithhiscoat-sleevestuckedup，andhishatcocked，asusual；MasterBatessaunteringalongwithhishandsinhispockets；andOliverbetweenthem，wonderingwheretheyweregoing，andwhatbranchofmanufacturehewouldbeinstructedin，first。

Thepaceatwhichtheywent，wassuchaverylazy，ill-lookingsaunter，thatOliversoonbegantothinkhiscompanionsweregoingtodeceivetheoldgentleman，bynotgoingtoworkatall。TheDodgerhadaviciouspropensity，too，ofpullingthecapsfromtheheadsofsmallboysandtossingthemdownareas；whileCharleyBatesexhibitedsomeveryloosenotionsconcerningtherightsofproperty，bypilferingdiversapplesandonionsfromthestallsatthekennelsides，andthrustingthemintopocketswhichweresosurprisinglycapacious，thattheyseemedtounderminehiswholesuitofclothesineverydirection。Thesethingslookedsobad，thatOliverwasonthepointofdeclaringhisintentionofseekinghiswayback，inthebestwayhecould；whenhisthoughtsweresuddenlydirectedintoanotherchannel，byaverymysteriouschangeofbehaviouronthepartoftheDodger。

TheywerejustemergingfromanarrowcourtnotfarfromtheopensquareinClerkenwell，whichisyetcalled，bysomestrangeperversionofterms，‘TheGreen’：whentheDodgermadeasuddenstop；and，layinghisfingeronhislip，drewhiscompanionsbackagain，withthegreatestcautionandcircumspection。

‘What'sthematter？’demandedOliver。

‘Hush！’repliedtheDodger。‘Doyouseethatoldcoveatthebook-stall？’

‘Theoldgentlemanovertheway？’saidOliver。‘Yes，Iseehim。’

‘He'lldo，’saidtheDoger。

‘Aprimeplant，’observedMasterCharleyBates。

Oliverlookedfromonetotheother，withthegreatestsurprise；buthewasnotpermittedtomakeanyinquiries；forthetwoboyswalkedstealthilyacrosstheroad，andslunkclosebehindtheoldgentlemantowardswhomhisattentionhadbeendirected。Oliverwalkedafewpacesafterthem；and，notknowingwhethertoadvanceorretire，stoodlookingoninsilentamazement。

Theoldgentlemanwasaveryrespectable-lookingpersonage，withapowderedheadandgoldspectacles。Hewasdressedinabottle-greencoatwithablackvelvetcollar；worewhitetrousers；andcarriedasmartbamboocaneunderhisarm。Hehadtakenupabookfromthestall，andtherehestood，readingaway，ashardasifhewereinhiselbow-chair，inhisownstudy。Itisverypossiblethathefanciedhimselfthere，indeed；foritwasplain，fromhisabstraction，thathesawnotthebook-stall，northestreet，northeboys，nor，inshort，anythingbutthebookitself：whichhewasreadingstraightthrough：turningovertheleafwhenhegottothebottomofapage，beginningatthetoplineofthenextone，andgoingregularlyon，withthegreatestinterestandeagerness。

WhatwasOliver'shorrorandalarmashestoodafewpacesoff，lookingonwithhiseyelidsaswideopenastheywouldpossiblygo，toseetheDodgerplungehishandintotheoldgentleman'spocket，anddrawfromthenceahandkerchief！ToseehimhandthesametoCharleyBates；andfinallytobeholdthem，bothrunningawayroundthecorneratfullspeed！

Inaninstantthewholemysteryofthehankerchiefs，andthewatches，andthejewels，andtheJew，rushedupontheboy'smind。

Hestood，foramoment，withthebloodsotinglingthroughallhisveinsfromterror，thathefeltasifhewereinaburningfire；then，confusedandfrightened，hetooktohisheels；and，notknowingwhathedid，madeoffasfastashecouldlayhisfeettotheground。

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