Page:Oliver Twist (1838) vol. 2.djvu/80

68 The attendant stooped over the bed to ascertain and nodded in the affirmative. "Then perhaps she'll go off in that way, if you don't make a row," said the young man. "Put the light on the floor,—she won't see it there." The attendant did as she was bidden, shaking her head meanwhile to intimate that the woman would not die so easily; and, having done so, resumed her seat by the side of the other nurse, who had by this time returned. The mistress, with an expression of impatience, wrapped herself in her shawl and sat at the foot of the bed. The apothecary's apprentice, having completed the manufacture of the toothpick, planted himself in front of the fire and made good use of it for ten minutes or so, when, apparently growing rather dull he wished Mrs. Corney joy of her job, and took himself off on tiptoe. When they had sat in silence for some time the two old women rose from the bed, and, crouching over the fire held out their withered hands to catch the heat. The flame threw a