Oliver is found again (3)

 

'I won't be ten minutes,' replied Oliver eagerly, and he ran out into the street.

 

'So you expect him to come back , do you? enquired Mr Grimwig.'

 

'Yes, I do,' said Mr Brownlow, smiling comfidently, 'Don't you?'

 

'No,He has a new suit of clothes,  some valuable books, and a five-pound note in his pocket. He'll join his old friends the thieves , and laugh at you. If he comes back, I'll eat my hat.'

 

The two men sat by the window with a pocket-watch between them , and waited for Oliver's return.

 

Oliver hurried through the streets to the booksshop, thinking how lucky he was. Suddenly there was a loud scream behind him . 'Oh, my dear brother!' Before he could look round , a pair of arms was thrown tightly around his neck.

 

'Don't ! ' he cried , struggling . 'Let go! why are you stopping me ? Who is it?'

 

THe young woman holding him started to cry loudly, 'I've found him! Oh! Oliver! You narghty boy , to make me suffer so much! Come home immediately, you cruel boy! ' She bust into tears and several people stopped to stare at what was happening.

 

'What's the matter?' asked one of the watching women.

 

'He ran away from his parents a month ago,' the young woman said . 'They're hard- working , respectable people, and he left them to join a gang of thivees and bad characters, and almost broke his mother's heart.'