Page:Oliver Twist (1838) vol. 2.djvu/162

148 at the cook and housemaid, "got softly out of bed, drew on a pair of—"

"Ladies present, Mr. Giles," murmured the tinker.

"—Of shoes, sir," said Giles, turning upon him, and laying great emphasis on the word, " [sic]seized the loaded pistol that always goes up stairs with the plate-basket, and walked on tiptoes to his room. 'Brittles,' I says, when I had woke him, 'don't be frightened!'"

"So you did," observed Brittles, in a low voice.

"'We're dead men, I think, Brittles, I says,'" continued Giles, "'but don't be under any alarm.'"

"Was he frightened?" asked the cook.

"Not a bit of it," replied Mr. Giles. "'He was as firm—ah! pretty near as firm as I was."

"I should have died at once, I'm sure if it had been me," observed the housemaid.

"You're a woman," retorted Brittles, plucking up a little.