Chapter 3

           Foraweekafterthecommissionoftheimpiousandprofaneoffenceofaskingformore,Oliverremainedacloseprisonerinthedarkandsolitaryroomtowhichhehadbeenconsignedbythewisdomandmercyoftheboard.Itappears,atfirstsightnotunreasonabletosuppose,that,ifhehadentertainedabecomingfeelingofrespectforthepredictionofthegentlemaninthewhitewaistcoat,hewouldhaveestablishedthatsageindividual’spropheticcharacter,onceandforever,bytyingoneendofhispocket-handkerchieftoahookinthewall,andattachinghimselftotheother.Totheperformanceofthisfeat,however,therewasoneobstacle:namely,thatpocket-handkerchiefsbeingdecidedarticlesofluxury,hadbeen,forallfuturetimesandages,removedfromthenosesofpaupersbytheexpressorderoftheboard,incouncilassembled:solemnlygivenandpronouncedundertheirhandsandseals.TherewasastillgreaterobstacleinOliver’syouthandchildishness.Heonlycriedbitterlyallday;and,whenthelong,dismalnightcameon,spreadhislittlehandsbeforehiseyestoshutoutthedarkness,andcrouchinginthecorner,triedtosleep:everandanonwakingwithastartandtremble,anddrawinghimselfcloserandclosertothewall,asiftofeelevenitscoldhardsurfacewereaprotectioninthegloomandlonelinesswhichsurroundedhim.

           Letitnotbesupposedbytheenemiesof‘thesystem,’that,duringtheperiodofhissolitaryincarceration,Oliverwasdeniedthebenefitofexercise,thepleasureofsociety,ortheadvantagesofreligiousconsolation.Asforexercise,itwasnicecoldweather,andhewasallowedtoperformhisablutionseverymorningunderthepump,inastoneyard,inthepresenceofMr.Bumble,whopreventedhiscatchingcold,andcausedatinglingsensationtopervadehisframe,byrepeatedapplicationsofthecane.Asforsociety,hewascarriedeveryotherdayintothehallwheretheboysdined,andtheresociablyfloggedasapublicwarningandexample.

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