40 Oliver Twist - Read By Stephanie Poppins

"Oliver Twist," written by Charles Dickens in the 19th century, tells the story of an orphan boy and his adventures in London's slums. In this episode, there is a shock in the night that disrupts the fragile peace of the darkened city streets, propelling Oliver into unforeseen challenges and encounters.

In this episode, Nancy is acting strangely.

Transcript

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 39 If Nancy portrayed any agitation when she presented herself to Mr.

Sykes,

He did not observe it.

For merely inquiring if she'd brought the money and receiving a reply in the affirmative,

He uttered a growl of satisfaction and,

Replacing his head upon the pillow,

Resumed the slumbers which her arrival had interrupted.

It was fortunate for her the possession of money occasioned him so much employment next day in the way of eating and drinking,

And with all had so beneficial an effect in smoothing down the asperities of his temper,

He had neither time nor inclination to be very critical upon her behaviour and deportment.

That she had all the abstracted and nervous manner of one who is on the eve of some bold and hazardous step,

Which it has required no common struggle to resolve upon,

Would have been obvious to the linkside Fagin,

Who would most probably have taken the alarm at once.

But Mr.

Sykes,

Lacking the niceties of discrimination,

And being troubled with no more subtle misgivings than those which resolve themselves into a dogged roughness of behaviour towards everybody,

And being therefore in an unusually amiable condition,

As has been already observed,

Saw nothing unusual in her demeanour,

And indeed troubled himself so little about her,

That had her agitation been far more perceptible than it was,

It would have been very unlikely to have awakened his suspicions.

As that day closed in,

The girl's excitement increased,

And when night came on and she sat by,

Watching until the housebreaker should drink himself asleep,

There was an unusual paleness in her cheek and a fire in her eye,

That even Sykes observed with astonishment.

Mr.

Sykes,

Being weak from the fever,

Was lying in bed,

Taking hot water with his gin to render it less inflammatory,

And had pushed his glass towards Nancy to be replenished for the third or fourth time,

When these symptoms first struck him.

I'd burn my body,

Said the man,

Raising himself on his hands.

You look like a corpse come to life again.

What's the matter?

Matter?

Replied the girl.

Nothing.

Why do you look at me so hard for?

What foolery is this?

What is it?

What are you thinking of?

Of many things,

Bill.

But Lord,

What's the odds in that?

The tone of forced gaiety in which the last words were spoken seemed to produce a deep impression on Sykes.

I'll tell you what it is,

He said.

If you ain't caught the fever and got it coming on now,

There's something more than usual in the wind,

And something dangerous too.

You're not gonna.

.

.

No,

You wouldn't do that.

Do what?

She asked.

There ain't a stulturated girl going alright.

I'd cut her throat three months ago.

You got the fever coming on,

That's it.

Then,

Fortifying himself with this assurance,

Sykes drained the glass to the bottom and called for his physic.

The girl jumped up with great alacrity,

Poured it out,

But with her back towards him and held the vessel to his lips,

Where he drank off the contents.

Now,

Said the robber,

Come and sit aside of me and put on your own face,

Or I'll alter it so that you won't know it again when you do want it.

The girl obeyed,

Sykes locking her hand in his,

Fell back upon the pillow,

Turning his eyes upon her face.

They closed,

Opened again,

Closed once more,

And again opened.

He shifted his position and after dozing again and again for two or three minutes,

As often springing up with a look of terror,

Gazing vacantly about him,

Was suddenly stricken as it were,

While in the very attitude of rising into a deep and heavy sleep.

The grasp of his hand relaxed,

The upraised arm fell languidly by his side,

And he lay like one in a profound trance.

The Lord has taken effect at last,

Murmured the girl as she rose from the bedside.

It may be too late even now.

She hastily dressed herself in her bonnet and shawl,

Looking fearfully around from time to time,

As if despite the sleeping draught she expected every moment to feel the pressure of Sykes' heavy hand upon her shoulder.

Then,

Stooping softly over the bed,

She kissed the robber's lips,

And opening and closing the room door with a noiseless touch,

She hurried from the house.

A watchman was crying half past nine,

Down a dark passage through which she had to pass.

Has it gone the half hour?

She asked.

It'll strike the hour in another quarter,

Said the man,

Raising his lantern to her face.

I cannot get there in less than an hour or more,

She muttered.

Many of the shops were now closing in the back lanes and avenues through which she tracked her way,

In making from Spitalfields towards the west end of London.

The clock struck ten,

Increasing her impatience.

She tore down the narrow pavement,

Elbowing the passengers from side to side,

And darting almost under the horses' heads,

Crossed crowded streets where clusters of persons were eagerly watching their opportunity to do the like.

The woman's mad,

Said the people,

Turning to look after her as she rushed away.

When she reached the more wealthy quarter of the town,

The streets were comparatively deserted,

And here her headlong progress excited a still greater curiosity in the stragglers whom she hurried past.

Some quickened their pace behind,

As though to see whether she was hastening at such an unusual rate,

And a few made head upon her,

Looked back,

Surprised at her undiminished speed,

But fell off one by one.

Then,

When she neared her place of destination,

She was alone.

It was a family hotel in a quiet but handsome street near Hyde Park.

As the brilliant light of the lamp which burnt before its door guided her to the spot,

The clock struck eleven.

She had loitered for a few paces as though irresolute,

And making up her mind to advance,

But the sound determined her and she stepped into the hall.

The porter's seat was vacant.

She looked around with an air of incertitude,

And advanced towards the stairs,

And advanced towards the stairs.

Now,

Young woman,

Said a smartly dressed female,

What do you want here?

A lady who's stopping in this house,

Answered the girl.

A lady,

Was the reply,

What lady?

Miss Miley,

Said Nancy.

The young woman who had by this time noted her appearance replied only by look of virtuous disdain,

And summoned a man to answer her.

To him,

Nancy repeated her request.

What name am I to say,

Asked the waiter.

It's no use saying any,

Replied Nancy.

Nor business,

Said the man.

No,

Nor that either.

I must see the lady.

Come,

Said the man,

Pushing her towards the door.

None of this,

Now take yourself off.

I shall be carried out if I go,

Said the girl violently,

And I can make that a job that too,

You won't like to do.

Isn't there anyone here,

That will see a simple message carried for a poor wretch like me?

This appeal produced an effect on a good-tempered faced man cook,

Who with some of the other servants looking on,

Stepped forward to interfere.

Take it up for a joke,

Aren't you?

What's the good,

Replied the man,

You don't suppose a young lady will see such as her,

Do you?

This allusion to Nancy's doubtful character raised a vast quantity of chaste wrath in the bosoms of four housemaids,

Who remarked with great fervour,

The creature was a disgrace to her sex,

And strongly advocated her being thrown ruthlessly into the kennel.

Do what you like with me,

Said the girl,

But do what I ask for you first,

And then I ask you to give this message for God Almighty's sake.

The soft-hearted cook added his intercession,

And the result was the man who first appeared undertook its delivery.

Then Nancy followed the man with trembling limbs to a small antechamber,

Lighted by a lamp from the ceiling,

And here he left her and retired.

Reviews

Ooh, wonder what she’s up to! Thanks✨🙏🏼✨