Put the sentences in the right order. 1)Monks put twenty-five sovereigns on the table, and pushed them over to the woman

1) ______ a minute or two ______ Mr. Bumble stepped ______ a public-house and ordered something to drink, a stranger came ______ ______ him.

2) Monks put twenty-five sovereigns ______ the table, and pushed them ______ ______ the woman.

3) The mother prayed the nurse ______ her last breath, to keep those things ______ the infant's sake.

4) Mrs. Bumble hastily threw ______ the table a small bag, which Monks tore open ______ trembling hands.

5) 'It's a lie! I'll tear the life ______ ______ you both, but I'll know what it was!' cried Monks, ______ a furious voice.

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

1)Monks (take) a scrap of paper and (write) his address on it.

2) 'I (think) so, when you (come) in,' rejoined Monks.

3) 'When I (see) that she (be) dead I (find) in her hand a scrap of dirty paper,' (say) Mrs. Bumble.

4) Mrs. Bumble hastily (throw) upon the table a small bag, which Monks (tear) open with trembling hands.

5) 'As she (tell) me this, with great difficulty,' (say) the woman, 'she (fall) back and (die).'

Complete the sentences.

1)Mr. Bumble informed the stranger, with an air of mystery, that …

2) Mr. Bumble followed the stranger because …

3) Mr. Bumble was going to express some doubts whether it was a good idea to enter …

4) The small bag, that Mrs. Bumble hastily threw upon the table, contained …

5) He was glad that the story was over, and Monks …

What do you think?

1)Why were Mr. and Mrs. Bumble wrapped in old and shabby raincoats?

2) Why did Mrs. Bumble ask her husband to speak as little as he could?

3) Why do you think Monks threw the gold locket and the wedding-ring in the water?

4) Do you think that we can call Mrs. Bumble a thief?

CHAPTER 16

Fagin Meets Monks Again. Nancy Runs to the Young Lady

It was evening when Mr. William Sikes awoke from a nap in a badly-furnished apartment of very limited size, lighted only by one small window.

The housebreaker was lying on the bed. He had a black beard of a week's growth. The dog sat at the bedside, eyeing his master and uttering a low growl as some noise in the street, or in the lower part of the house was heard. Nancy was sitting by the widow, patching Bill's old waistcoat. She was so pale that it was difficult to recognize her.

'How do you feel to-night, Bill?' said the girl.

'As weak as water,' replied Mr. Sikes. 'Here, give me a hand, and let me get off this bed. Do you hear me?'

Illness did not improve Mr. Sikes's temper; for, as the girl raised him up and led him to a chair, he muttered various curses on her awkwardness,and struck her.

'For a number of nights,' said the girl, with a touch of woman's tenderness, 'I've been patient with you, nursing and caring for you.'

The girl threw herself into a chair and started crying.

'What's the matter here, my dear?' said Fagin, looking in.

'It's nothing,' said the girl. 'It'll soon be over.'

'Don't stand chattering and grinning at me!' replied Sikes impatiently. 'I have been ill for more than three weeks. Where have you been?'

'I was away from London, a week and more, my dear,' replied Fagin.

'And what about the other fortnight?' demanded Sikes. 'What about the other fortnight that you've left me lying here, like a sick rat in his hole?'

'I couldn't help it, Bill. I can't go into a long explanation; but I couldn't help it, upon my honour.'

'Upon your what?' growled Sikes with disgust.

'Don't be out of temper, my dear,' said Fagin. 'I have never forgotten you, Bill, never.'

'I must have some money from you to-night,' said Sikes.

'I haven't any money about me,' replied the old man.

'Then you've got lots at home,' retorted Sikes.

'Lots!' cried Fagin, holding up is hands. 'I haven't so much —'

'I don't know how much you've got, and I dare say you hardly know yourself, as it would take a pretty long time to count it,' said Sikes; 'but I must have some tonight; and that's flat.'

'Well, well,' said Fagin, with a sigh, 'I'll send the Artful Dodger round presently.'

'You won't do anything of the kind,' rejoined Mr. Sikes. 'The Artful Dodger is a bit too artful, and he will forget to come, or lose his way, or anything for an excuse. Nancy will go with you and fetch it; and I'll lie down and have a snooze while she's gone.'

Fagin and Nancy left.

'Now,' said Fagin, when they reached home, 'I'll go and get you that cash, Nancy. I never lock up my money, for I've got none to lock up, my dear. Ha! Ha! Ha! None to lock up. Hush!' he said. 'Who's that? Listen!'

The girl, who was sitting at the table with her arms folded was in no way interested in the arrival until the man's voice reached her ears. The instant she caught the sound, she tore off her bonnet and shawl, with the rapidity of lightning, and thrust them under the table. Fagin did not see it because he had his back towards her at the time.

'Bah!' he whispered. 'It's the man I expected before; he's coming downstairs. Not a word about the money while he's here, Nancy. He won't stop long. Not ten minutes, my dear.'

Laying his skinny forefinger upon his lip, the old man carried a candle to the door. He reached it at the same moment as the visitor came hastily into the room.

It was Monks.

'This is Nancy, she's one of my young people,' said Fagin, observing that Monks drew back when he saw a stranger.

The girl drew closer to the table, and glanced at Monks carelessly; but as he turned towards Fagin, she stole another look; so keen and searching, and full of purpose.

'Any news?' inquired Fagin.

'Great.'

'And — and — good?' asked Fagin. 'Not bad,' replied Monks with a smile. 'Let me have a word with you.'

The girl drew closer to the table, and made no offer to leave the room, although she could see that Monks was pointing to her. Fagin was afraid that she might say something aloud about the money, if he tried to get ridof her. He pointed upward, and took Monks out of the room.

The girl slipped off her shoes and followed the men. She stood at the door, listening with breathless interest to their conversation. The moment they stopped talking, she glided downstairs with incrediblesoftness and silence.

Immediately afterwards the two men went downstairs too. Monks went at once into the street. When Fagin entered the room, the girl was adjusting her shawl and bonnet, as if preparing to leave.

'Why, Nancy!' exclaimed the old man, as he put down the candle, 'how pale you are! What's the matter?'

'Nothing that I know of, except sitting in this close place for I don't know how long and all,'replied the girl carelessly. 'Come! Give me the money and let me get back.'

Fagin gave her the money and they parted without more conversation.

When the girl got into the open street, she sat down upon a doorstep. She seemed, for a few moments, wholly bewildered and unable to pursue her way. Suddenly she got up and hurried in a direction quite opposite to that in which Sikes was waiting for her return. Soon she was completely tired, she stopped to take breath and burst into tears.

It might be that her tears relievedher, or that she felt the full hopelessness of her condition; but she turned back; and hurried in the contrary direction. At length she reached the place where the housebreaker was waiting for her.

Sikes did not observe her agitation.He merely inquired if she had the money, and receiving a reply in the affirmative, he uttered a growl of satisfaction.

In the evening the girl's excitement increased; and, when night came, there was such an unusual paleness in her cheek, and a fire in her eye, that even Sikes, who was weak from fever and who was lying in bed, observed it with astonishment.

'You look like a corpse that came to life again,' said the man, raising himself on his hands as he stared the girl in the face. 'What's the matter?'

'Matter!' replied the girl. 'Nothing. What do you look at me so hard for?'

'What is it?' demanded Sikes, grasping her by the arm, and shaking her roughly. 'What do you mean? What are you thinking of?'

'Of many things, Bill,' replied the girl, shivering, and as she did so, pressing her hands upon her eyes.

Sikes pushed his glass towards Nancy and asked her to refill it. The girl jumped up and filled it quickly, but with her back towards him; and held the glass to his lips, while he drank off the contents.

'Now,' said the robber, 'come and sit near me.' The girl obeyed. Sikes, locking her hand in his, fell back upon the pillow: turning his eyes upon her face. They closed; opened again; closed once more; again opened. He shifted his position restlessly; and, after dozing again, and again, for two or three minutes, suddenly sunk into a deep and heavy sleep. The grasp of his hand relaxed.

'The laudanumhas taken effect at last,' murmured the girl, as she rose from the bedside. 'I may be too late, even now.'

She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl. Then, stooping softly over the bed, she kissed the robber's lips; and then, opening and closing the room-door with noiseless touch, hurried from the house.

Many of the shops were already closing in the back lanes and avenues through which she tracked her way. The clock struck ten. Nancy started to run along the narrow pavement, elbowing the passengers from side to side.

'The woman is mad!' said the people, turning to look after her as she rushed away.

By the time the girl reached the more wealthy quarter of the town, the streets were comparatively deserted. When she reached her place of destination, she was alone.

It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near Hyde Park. She looked round and advanced towards the stairs.

'Now, young woman!' said a smartly-dressed female, 'who do you want here?'

'A lady who is stopping in this house,' answered the girl.

'A lady!' was the reply, accompanied with a scornful look.'What lady?'

'Miss Maylie,' said Nancy.

The young woman called a man to answer her. To him Nancy repeated her request.

'What name am I to say?' asked the waiter.

'It's of no use saying any,' replied Nancy. 'I must see the lady.'

'Go away!' said the man, pushing her towards the door.

'Do what you like with me,' said the girl, turning to the man again; 'but do what I ask you first, and I ask you to give this message for God's sake.'

The man ran upstairs. Nancy remained downstairs, pale and almost breathless. When the man returned he said that the lady asked the young woman to walk upstairs.

Nancy followed the man to a small chamber, lighted by a lamp from the ceiling. Here he left her, and retired.

Helpful Words & Notes

awkwardnessn — неуклюжесть

disgustn — отвращение, омерзение

get rid of— избавиться, отделаться от

incredibleadj — невероятный

and all— и всё такое

relievev — облегчать, освобождать

agitationn — беспокойство, возбуждение

laudanumn — настойка опия

scornful look— презрительный взгляд

Activities

Answer the questions.

1) Who was there in the room?

2) Who came to visit Sikes?

3) What did Sikes want from Fagin?

4) Why didn't Sikes want Fagin to send the Artful Dodger with money for him?

5) Who came to visit Monks?

6) What did Nancy do when the men went upstairs?

7) Where did Nancy go when she left Fagin's den?

8) What did Sikes observe?

9) What did Nancy add to Sikes's drink?

10) What did Nancy say when she reached the hotel?

11) Whom did she meet in the hotel?

12) Did the young lady agree to see Nancy?

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