Nancy's Monologue from Oliver Twist (shortened)
Not here. I am afraid to speak to you here. Come away – out of the public road – down the steps yonder!
I have such a fear and dread upon me tonight that I can hardly stand! I scarcely know of what. I wish I did.. Horrible thoughts of death, and shrouds with blood upon them, and a fear that has made me burn as if I was on fire, have been upon me all day.
As to the man, then – name of Monks - once you find Monks, there you'll find Oliver Twist. He is tall, and a strongly made man, but not stout; he has a lurking walk, and as he walks, constantly looks over his shoulder, first on one side, and then on the other. Don't forget that, for his eyes are sunk in his head so much deeper than any other man's, that you might almost tell him by that alone. His face is dark, like his hair and eyes, and although he can't be more than six or eight and twenty, withered and haggard. He has desperate fits, and sometimes even bites his hands and covers them with wounds. I have only seen him twice, and both times he was covered up in a large cloak. I think that's all I can give you to know him by. Stay though – upon his throat, there is a broad red mark, like a burn or a scald. And now I must go. No, you can do nothing to help me. I am past all hope, indeed. |