Chapter 23 (第1/3页)

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WHICHCONTAINSTHESUBSTANCEOFAPLEASANTCONVERSATIONBETWEENMR。BUMBLEANDALADY；ANDSHOWSTHATEVENABEADLEMAYBESUSCEPTIBLEONSOMEPOINTS

Thenightwasbittercold。Thesnowlayontheground，frozenintoahardthickcrust，sothatonlytheheapsthathaddriftedintobywaysandcornerswereaffectedbythesharpwindthathowledabroad：which，asifexpendingincreasedfuryonsuchpreyasitfound，caughtitsavagelyupinclouds，and，whirlingitintoathousandmistyeddies，scattereditinair。Bleak，dark，andpiercingcold，itwasanightforthewell-housedandfedtodrawroundthebrightfireandthankGodtheywereathome；andforthehomeless，starvingwretchtolayhimdownanddie。Manyhunger-wornoutcastsclosetheireyesinourbarestreets，atsuchtimes，who，lettheircrimeshavebeenwhattheymay，canhardlyopentheminamorebitterworld。

Suchwastheaspectofout-of-doorsaffairs，whenMrs。Corney，thematronoftheworkhousetowhichourreadershavebeenalreadyintroducedasthebirthplaceofOliverTwist，satherselfdownbeforeacheerfulfireinherownlittleroom，andglanced，withnosmalldegreeofcomplacency，atasmallroundtable：onwhichstoodatrayofcorrespondingsize，furnishedwithallnecessarymaterialsforthemostgratefulmealthatmatronsenjoy。Infact，Mrs。Corneywasabouttosolaceherselfwithacupoftea。Assheglancedfromthetabletothefireplace，wherethesmallestofallpossiblekettleswassingingasmallsonginasmallvoice，herinwardsatisfactionevidentlyincreased，--somuchso，indeed，thatMrs。Corneysmiled。

‘Well！’saidthematron，leaningherelbowonthetable，andlookingreflectivelyatthefire；‘I'msurewehaveallonusagreatdealtobegratefulfor！Agreatdeal，ifwedidbutknowit。Ah！’

Mrs。Corneyshookherheadmournfully，asifdeploringthementalblindnessofthosepauperswhodidnotknowit；andthrustingasilverspoon（privateproperty）intotheinmostrecessesofatwo-ouncetintea-caddy，proceededtomakethetea。

Howslightathingwilldisturbtheequanimityofourfrailminds！Theblackteapot，beingverysmallandeasilyfilled，ranoverwhileMrs。Corneywasmoralising；andthewaterslightlyscaldedMrs。Corney'shand。

‘Dratthepot！’saidtheworthymatron，settingitdownveryhastilyonthehob；‘alittlestupidthing，thatonlyholdsacoupleofcups！Whatuseisitof，toanybody！Except，’saidMrs。Corney，pausing，‘excepttoapoordesolatecreaturelikeme。Ohdear！’

Withthesewords，thematrondroppedintoherchair，and，oncemorerestingherelbowonthetable，thoughtofhersolitaryfate。Thesmallteapot，andthesinglecup，hadawakenedinhermindsadrecollectionsofMr。Corney（whohadnotbeendeadmorethanfive-and-twentyyears）；andshewasoverpowered。

‘Ishallnevergetanother！’saidMrs。Corney，pettishly；‘Ishallnevergetanother--likehim。’

Whetherthisremarkborereferencetothehusband，ortheteapot，isuncertain。Itmighthavebeenthelatter；forMrs。Corneylookedatitasshespoke；andtookitupafterwards。Shehadjusttastedherfirstcup，whenshewasdisturbedbyasofttapattheroom-door。

‘Oh，comeinwithyou！’saidMrs。Corney，sharply。‘Someoftheoldwomendying，Isuppose。TheyalwaysdiewhenI'matmeals。Don'tstandthere，lettingthecoldairin，don't。What'samissnow，eh？’

‘Nothing，ma'am，nothing，’repliedaman'svoice。

‘Dearme！’exclaimedthematron，inamuchsweetertone，‘isthatMr。Bumble？’

‘Atyourservice，ma'am，’saidMr。Bumble，whohadbeenstoppingoutsidetorubhisshoesclean，andtoshakethesnowoffhiscoat；andwhonowmadehisappearance，bearingthecockedhatinonehandandabundleintheother。‘ShallIshutthedoor，ma'am？’

Theladymodestlyhesitatedtoreply，lestthereshouldbeanyimproprietyinholdinganinterviewwithMr。Bumble，withcloseddoors。Mr。Bumbletakingadvantageofthehesitation，andbeingverycoldhimself，shutitwithoutpermission。

‘Hardweather，Mr。Bumble，’saidthematron。

‘Hard，indeed，ma'am，’repliedthebeadle。‘Anti-porochialweatherthis，ma'am。Wehavegivenaway，Mrs。Corney，wehavegivenawayamatteroftwentyquarternloavesandacheeseandahalf，thisveryblessedafternoon；andyetthempaupersarenotcontented。’

‘Ofcoursenot。Whenwouldtheybe，Mr。Bumble？’saidthematron，sippinghertea。

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