Nancy Protects Oliver from a Beating

When Oliver attempts to escape and call for help, Sikes sets his dog on him. Nancy, in a surprising act of defiance, throws herself between Oliver and the dog, preventing the attack. She then wrests a club from Fagin's hand and throws it into the fire, declaring she will not stand by and see Oliver beaten. This is the first major sign of Nancy's internal conflict and her growing sympathy for Oliver. Her intervention saves Oliver from immediate harm, but it also marks her as a potential traitor in the eyes of Fagin and Sikes.