Оливер Твист

Chapter 3

           Andsoforfrombeingdeniedtheadvantagesofreligiousconsolation,hewaskickedintothesameapartmenteveryeveningatprayer-time,andtherepermittedtolistento,andconsolehismindwith,ageneralsupplicationoftheboys,containingaspecialclause,thereininsertedbyauthorityoftheboard,inwhichtheyentreatedtobemadegood,virtuous,contented,andobedient,andtobeguardedfromthesinsandvicesofOliverTwist:whomthesupplicationdistinctlysetforthtobeundertheexclusivepatronageandprotectionofthepowersofwickedness,andanarticledirectfromthemanufactoryoftheveryDevilhimself.

           Itchancedonemorning,whileOliver’saffairswereinthisauspiciousandconfortablestate,thatMr.Gamfield,chimney-sweep,wenthiswaydowntheHighStreet,deeplycogitatinginhismindhiswaysandmeansofpayingcertainarrearsofrent,forwhichhislandlordhadbecomeratherpressing.Mr.Gamfield’smostsanguineestimateofhisfinancescouldnotraisethemwithinfullfivepoundsofthedesiredamount;and,inaspeciesofarithmeticaldesperation,hewasalternatelycudgellinghisbrainsandhisdonkey,whenpassingtheworkhouse,hiseyesencounteredthebillonthegate.

           ‘Woo!’saidMr.Gamfieldtothedonkey.

           Thedonkeywasinastateofprofoundabstraction:wondering,probably,whetherhewasdestinedtoberegaledwithacabbage-stalkortwowhenhehaddisposedofthetwosacksofsootwithwhichthelittlecartwasladen;so,withoutnoticingthewordofcommand,hejoggedonward.

           Mr.Gamfieldgrowledafierceimprecationonthedonkeygenerally,butmoreparticularlyonhiseyes;and,runningafterhim,bestowedablowonhishead,whichwouldinevitablyhavebeateninanyskullbutadonkey’s.

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