Put the sentences in the right order. 1) He still remained with his head buried in his hands, when he heard a rustling noise

1) _____ some minutes Oliver was lost _____thought.

2) Sikes pulled ____ Oliver's cap and threw it _____ a corner; and then, taking him ____ the shoulder, sat himself down ___ the table.

3) If you speak a word when you're _____ _____ doors with me, except when I speak ____ you, that bullet will be ____ your head!

4) He stretched himself _____ his clothes _____ a mattress ____ the floor.

5) Oliver turned, _____ an instant, when they reached the door, _____ the hope of meeting a look _____ the girl.

Put the verbs, given in brackets, in the right tense form.

1)When they (sit) down to breakfast, the old man (tell) the boy that he (be) going to Bill Sikes that night.

2) Then, with a heavy sigh, he (take) up the book and (begin) to read.

3) He (read) about dreadful crimes that (make) the blood run cold.

4) Oliver (raise) the candle above his head and (look) towards the door.

5) After breakfast Bill Sikes (exchange) a farewell with Nancy, (take) Oliver's hand and (lead) him away.

Complete the sentences.

1)When Oliver awoke in the morning, he …

2) When they sat down to breakfast, the old man told the boy that …

3) The terrible descriptions were so real and vivid, that …

4) For a long time Oliver lay awake, thinking that …

5) Oliver turned, for an instant, when they reached the door, in the hope …

What do you think?

1)Why do you think Fagin gave a pair of new boots to Oliver?

2) Why do you think Nancy was so pale?

3) Why didn't Oliver cry for help in the street?

4) Why did Bill Sikes read that kind of lecture to Oliver?

5) Why did Nancy sit perfectly motionless before the fire and why didn't she look at the boy?

CHAPTER 11

The Burglary

It was a cheerless morning when they got into the street. The wind was blowing, and it was raining hard. As they approached the City, the noise and traffic gradually increased. Bill Sikes was dragging Oliver after him. 'Come, don't lag behind!' Sikes accompanied this speech with a jerk at his little companion's wrist. Oliver quickened his pace into a kind of trot between a fast walk and a run.

When they passed Hyde Parkcorner, an empty cart came up. Sikes asked the driver if he would give them a lift.

'Jump up,' said the man. 'Is that your boy?'

'Yes; he's my boy,' replied Sikes, looking hard at Oliver and putting his hand into the pocket where the pistol was.

'Your father walks rather too quick for you, doesn't he, my man?' inquired the driver, seeing that Oliver was out of breath.

'Not a bit of it,' replied Sikes. 'He's used to it.'

'Here, take hold of my hand, Ned.' Thus addressing Oliver, Sikes helped him into the cart; and the driver, pointing to a heap of sacks, told him to lie down there, and rest himself.

Oliver wondered, more and more, where his companion meant to take him. Kensington, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentfordwere all passed; and yet they went on. At length, they came to a public-house called 'The Coach and Horses', and here the cart stopped.

Sikes dismounted, holding Oliver by the hand all the while.

'Good-bye,' said the man and drove away.

Sikes waited and then once again led Oliver onward.

They turned round to the left, a short way past the public-house; and then, taking a right-hand road, walked on for a long time, passing many large gardens and houses on both sides of the way. At length they came into the town; and, turning into an old public-house, ordered some dinner by the kitchen fire.

The kitchen was an old low-roofed room. There were benches with high backs to them by the fire. Several rough men were drinking and smoking. Sikes and the boy had some cold meat for dinner, and sat so long after it that Oliver began to feel quite certain they were not going any further. He was very tired with the walk. First he dozed a little and then fell asleep.

It was quite dark when he was awakened by a push from, Sikes. Oliver sat up and looked about him. There was a man, sitting near Bill Sikes, with whom he was communicating over a pintof ale.

'Could you give my boy and me a lift?' asked Sikes, pushing the ale towards his new friend.

'If you're going directly, I can,' replied the man. 'Is all paid, Becky?'

'Yes, the other gentleman's paid,' replied the girl.

The stranger seized Sikes by the hand and declared he was a real good fellow.

The night was very dark. A damp mist rose from the river. It was cold. Not a word was spoken. The driver grew sleepy, and Sikes was in no mood to lead him into conversation.

They came again into the lonely road. Two or three miles more, and the cart stopped. Sikes took Oliver by the hand, and they once again walked on in mud and darkness until they came within sight of the lights of a town at no great distance. Oliver saw that the water was just below them, and that they were coming to the foot of a bridge.

Sikes kept straight on, until they were close upon the bridge; then turned suddenly down a bank upon the left.

'The water!' thought Oliver, turning sick with fear. 'He has brought me to this lonely place to murder me!'

He was about to throw himself on the ground and make one struggle for his young life when he saw that they stood before a house: all ruinous and decayed.No light was visible. The house was dark and looked uninhabited.

Sikes, with Oliver's hand still in his, softly approached the low porch. He opened the door, and they passed in together.

'Hallo!' cried a loud, hoarse voice, as soon as they set foot in the passage.

'Don't make so much noise, Toby.'

'Aha! My pal!' cried the same voice.

Sikes pushed Oliver before him; and they entered a low dark room with a smoky fire, two or three broken chairs, a table, and a very old couch. On the coach a man was sitting.

'Bill, my boy!' said Mr. Crackit, turning his head towards the door. 'I'm glad to see you. I was afraid you wouldn't come!'

Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise, as his eyes rested on Oliver, Mr. Toby Crackit brought himself into a sitting posture, and demanded who that was.

'The boy. Only the boy! Fagin's boy,' replied Sikes, drawing a chair towards the fire.

'Now,' said Sikes, as he resumed his seat, 'give us something to eat and drink. Sit down by the fire, Oliver, and rest yourself; for you'll have to go out with us again to-night, though not very far off.'

Oliver looked at Sikes in mute wonder and drew a stool to the fire.

'Here,' said Toby, placing some food and a bottle upon the table. He filled three glasses. 'To our success!' said Toby and drank off the contents. Sikes did the same.

'Indeed,' said Oliver, looking piteously up into the man's face; 'indeed, sir, I —'

'Drink it!' said Toby. 'Do you think I don't know what's good for you? Tell him to drink it, Bill.'

'Drink it!' said Sikes, clapping his hand upon his pocket.

Oliver hastily swallowed the contents of the glass, and immediately fell into a violent fit of coughing: which delighted Toby Crackit and even Bill Sikes.

Oliver could eat nothing but a small crust of bread which they made him swallow. The two men laid themselves down on chairs for a short nap. Oliver sat on his stool by the fire. Soon he fell into a heavy doze.

He was roused by Toby Crackit who said it was half-past one. In an instant, they were on their legs. All were actively engaged in busy preparation. Sikes and his companion enveloped their necks and chins in large dark shawls.

'Nothing forgotten?' inquired Sikes, fastening a small crowbarto a loop under his coat.

'Here they are,' replied Toby, producing a pair of pistols. 'I loaded them myself.'

The two robbers went out with Oliver between them. It was now very dark. The fog was much heavier. 'Let's go through the town,' whispered Sikes; 'there'll be nobody in the way to-night.'

The hoarse barking of dogs occasionally broke the silence of the night.

After walking about a quarter of a mile, they stopped before a detached housesurrounded by a wall: to the top of which Toby Crackit climbed in a moment.

Sikes caught Oliver under the arms, and in three or four seconds he and Toby were lying on the grass on the other side. Sikes followed directly. And they stole cautiously towards the house.

And now, for the first time, Oliver, mad with grief and terror, saw that housebreaking and robbery, if not murder, were the objects of the expedition. He clasped his hands together and involuntarilyuttered an exclamation of horror. A mist came before his eyes; the cold sweat stood upon his face; his legs failed him; and he sank upon his knees.

'Get up!' murmured Sikes, trembling with rage, and drawing the pistol from his pocket. 'Get up, or I'll kill you.'

'Oh! For God's sake let me go!' cried Oliver; 'let me run away and die in the fields. I will never come near London; never, never! Oh! Have mercy on me, and do not make me steal. For the love of all the bright Angels that rest in Heaven, have mercy upon me!'

Bill Sikes swore a dreadful oathand cockedthe pistol, when Toby placed his hand upon the boy's mouth. 'Hush!' cried the man; 'If he says another word, I'll do your business myself with a crack on the head. That makes no noise, and is quite as certain. Here, Bill, open the shutter.'

With the help of his crowbar and some assistance from Toby Sikes opened the shutter. It was a little window, about five feet and a half above the ground. It was so small that the inmates didn't think it worth while to defend it well;but it was large enough to admit a boy of Oliver's size, nevertheless.

'Now listen, you young dog,' whispered Sikes, drawing a dark lanternfrom his pocket, 'I'm going to put you through there. Take this light; go softly straight to the street-door, open it and let us in.'

Toby stood firmly with his head against the wall beneath the window, and his hands upon his knees, so as to make a step of his back. This was no sooner done, than Sikes, mounting upon him, put Oliver gently through the window with his feet first; and, without leaving hold of his collar, planted him safely on the floor inside.

'You see the street-door?'

Oliver, more dead than alive, gasped out,'Yes.' Sikes, pointing to the street-door with the pistol-barrel, briefly advised him to take notice that he was within shot all the, way; and that if he did anything wrong, he would fall dead that very instant.

'Now, do your work quickly!' said Sikes, in the same low whisper.

In the short time Oliver collected his senses. The boy decided that, whether he could die in the attempt or not, he would make an effort to run upstairs from the hall, and alarm the family. Filled with this idea, he advanced at once.

'Come back!' suddenly cried Sikes aloud. 'Back! back!'

Scared by the sudden breaking of the dead stillness of the place, and by a loud cry which followed it, Oliver didn't know whether to advance or run back.

The cry was repeated — a light appeared — a vision of two terrified half-dressed men at the top of the stairs swam before his eyes — a flash — a loud noise — a smoke — a crash somewhere, — and he staggered back.

Sikes had him by the collar before the smoke cleared away. He fired his own pistol after the men, who were already retreating; and dragged the boy up.

'Give me a shawl,' said Sikes, as he drew him through the window. 'They've hit him. Quick! How the boy bleeds!'

Then came the loud ringing of a bell, the noise of fire-arms, and the shouts of men, and the sensation that somebody carried him over uneven ground at a rapid pace. And then, the noises grew confused in the distance; and a cold deadly feeling crept over the boy's heart; and he saw or heard no more.

Helpful Words & Notes

City— Сити; деловая часть Лондона

Hyde Park— Гайд-парк; известный парк в центре Лондона

if he would give them a lift— не подвезет ли он их

Kensington, Chiswick, Kew Bridge, Brentford— Кенсингтон, Чизуик, Кью-Бридж, Брентфорд; районы Лондона

pintп — пинта; мера емкости в Англии = 0,57 литра

alen — эль; густое и крепкое английское пиво, варится из ячменного солода

decayv — гнить, разрушаться

shawln — шаль

crowbarn — ломик

detached house— отдельно стоящий дом

involuntarilyadv — невольно

swore a dreadful oath— произнес отвратительное ругательство

cockv — взводить курок

inmates didn't think it worth while to defend it well— обитатели дома не считали нужным закрывать его (окно) надежно

lanternn — фонарь

gasp outv — произносить задыхаясь

Activities

Answer the questions.

1)What was the weather like that morning?

2) What did Oliver decide to do?

3) Where did they have their dinner?

4) Why did Oliver fall asleep?

5) What did Oliver think when he saw that the water was just below them and that they were coming to the foot of a bridge?

6) Where was Toby Crackit waiting for Bill Sikes?

7) What did Oliver do when he saw that housebreaking and robbery, if not murder, were the objects of the expedition?

8) What was Sikes's reaction?

9) What did Sikes tell Oliver to do?

10) How did Oliver get inside the house?

11) What did Oliver decide to do?

12) What happened then?

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