20 Oliver Twist - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Hello.

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to romantic podcast that guarantees you a calm and entertaining transition into a great night's sleep.

Come with me as we immerse ourselves in a romantic journey to a time long since forgotten.

But before we begin,

Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

Now close your eyes and feel yourself sink deeper into the support beneath you.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 20 Wearing Oliver is delivered over to Mr.

William Sykes.

When Oliver awoke in the morning,

He was a good deal surprised to find a new pair of shoes with strong thick soles had been placed at his bedside and that his old shoes had been removed.

At first,

He was pleased with the discovery,

Hoping it might be the forerunner of his release.

But such thoughts were quickly dispelled on his sitting down to breakfast along with a Jew who told him in a tone and manner which increased his alarm that he was to be taken to the residence of Bill Sykes that night.

To stop there,

Sir?

Asked Oliver anxiously.

No,

No,

My dear,

Not to stop there,

Replied the Jew.

We shouldn't like to lose you.

Don't be afraid,

Oliver.

You shall come back to us again.

No,

We won't be so cruel as to send you away there,

My dear.

No,

No.

The old man who was stooping over the fire toasting a piece of bread looked round as he bantered Oliver thus and chuckled as if to show he knew he would still be very glad to get away if he could.

I suppose,

Said the Jew,

Fixing his eyes on Oliver.

You want to know what you're going to Bill's for,

Eh,

My dear?

Oliver coloured involuntarily to find the old thief had been reading his thoughts,

But boldly he said,

Yes,

He did want to know.

Why,

Do you think?

Inquired Fagin,

Parrying the question.

Indeed,

I don't know,

Sir,

Replied Oliver.

Bah,

Said the Jew,

Turning away with a disappointed countenance from a close perusal of the boy's face.

Right till Bill tells you then.

He seemed much vexed by Oliver's not expressing any greater curiosity,

But the truth is that although Oliver felt very anxious,

He was too much confused by the earnest cunning of Fagin's looks.

He had no other opportunity,

Though,

For the Jew remained very surly and silent till night when he prepared to go abroad.

You may burn a candle,

Said the Jew,

Putting one upon the table,

And here's a book for you to read till they come to fetch you.

Good night.

Good night,

Replied Oliver softly.

The Jew walked to the door,

Looking over his shoulder at the boy as he went,

Then suddenly stopping,

He called him by his name.

Oliver looked up.

As he did so,

He placed the candlestick upon the table and he saw that the Jew was gazing fixedly at him with lowering and contracted brows from the dark end of the room.

Take heed,

Oliver,

Take heed,

Said the old man,

Shaking his right hand before him in a warning manner.

He's a rough man,

Is Bill,

When he thinks nothing of blood when his own is up.

Whatever falls out,

Say nothing and do what he bids you,

Mind.

Then placing a strong emphasis on the last word,

He suffered his features gradually to resolve themselves into a ghastly grin and nodding his head,

He left the room.

Oliver leaned his head upon his hand when the old man disappeared and he pondered with a trembling heart on the words he'd just heard.

The more he thought of the Jew's admonition,

The more he was at a loss to divine its real purpose and meaning.

He could think of no bad object to be attained by sending him to Sykes,

Which would not be equally well answered by his remaining with Fagin.

And after meditating for a long time,

He concluded he'd been selected to perform some ordinary menial offices for the housebreaker until another boy,

Better suited for his purpose,

Could be engaged.

He was too well accustomed to suffering and had suffered too much where he was to bewail the prospect of change very severely.

He remained lost in thought for some minutes and then with a heavy sigh,

He snuffed the candle and taking up the book which the Jew had left,

He began to read.

He turned over the leaves,

Carelessly at first,

But lighting on a passage which attracted his attention,

He soon became intent upon the volume when a rustling sound aroused him.

Who's there?

He said.

Me,

Only me,

Replied a tremulous voice.

Oliver raised the candle above his head and looked towards the door.

It was Nancy.

Put down the light,

Said the girl,

Turning away her head.

It hurts my eyes.

Oliver saw she was very pale and genuinely inquired if she were ill.

She threw herself into a chair with her back towards him and wrung her hands but made no reply.

God forgive me,

She cried after a while.

I never thought of this.

Has anything happened?

Asked Oliver.

Can I help you?

I will if I can.

Nancy rocked herself to and fro,

Caught her throat and uttering a gurgling sound,

She gasped for breath.

Nancy,

Cried Oliver,

What is it?

The girl beat her hands upon her knees and her feet upon the ground and suddenly stopping,

She drew her shawl close around her and shivered with cold.

Oliver stirred the fire.

Drawing her chair close to it,

She sat there for a little time without speaking.

But at length,

Nancy raised her head and looked around.

I don't know what comes over me sometimes,

Said she,

Affecting to busy herself in arranging her dress.

It's this damp,

Dirty room,

I think.

Now,

Nolly dear,

Are you ready?

Am I to go with you?

Asked Oliver.

Yes,

I've come from Beale,

She replied.

You're to go with me.

What for?

Asked Oliver,

Recoiling.

What for?

She echoed,

Raising her eyes and averting them again the moment they encountered the boy's face.

For no harm.

I don't believe it,

Said Oliver,

Who'd watched her closely.

Have it your own way,

Rejoined the girl,

Affecting to laugh.

For no good,

Then.

Oliver could see he had some power over the girl's better feelings and for an instant thought of appealing to her compassion for his helpless state.

But then the thought darted across his mind that it was barely 11 o'clock and that many people were still in the streets,

Of whom surely some might be found to give credence to his tale.

As the reflection occurred to him,

He stepped forward and said,

Somewhat hastily,

I'm ready.

Neither his brief consideration nor its purport were lost on his companion.

She eyed him narrowly while he spoke and cast upon him a look of intelligence which sufficiently showed she guessed what had been passing in his thoughts.

Hush,

Said the girl,

Stooping over him,

Pointing to the door,

She looked cautiously round.

You can't help yourself.

I've tried hard for you,

But to no purpose.

Your head's round and round.

If you're ever to get loose from here,

This is not the time.

And struck by the energy of her manner,

Oliver looked up in her face with great surprise.

She seemed to speak the truth.

Her countenance was white and agitated and she trembled with very earnestness.

I'll save you from being ill-used once and I will again and I do now,

She continued,

For those who would have fetched you if I had not would have been far more rough than me.

I've promised for you being quiet and silent and if you're not,

You'll only do harm to yourself and me too and perhaps be my death.

See here,

I've borne all this for you already as true as God sees me show it.

She pointed hastily to some livid bruises on her neck and arms and continued with great rapidity.

Remember this,

Oliver,

And don't let me suffer more for you just now.

If I could help you,

I would,

But I've not the power.

They don't mean to harm you.

Whatever they make you do is no fault of yours.

Every word from you is a blow for me though.

Hush,

Give me your hand,

Make haste,

Give me your hand.

Then Oliver instinctively placed his hand in hers and blowing out the light,

She drew him after her up the stairs.