Charles Dickens
The Old Curiosity Shop
Preface
In April 1840 I issued the first number of a new weekly publication price
three pence called MASTER HUMPHREYS CLOCK It was intended to consist for the
most part of detached papers but was to include one continuous story to be
resumed from time to time with such indefinite intervals between each period
of resumption as might best accord with the exigencies and capabilities of the
proposed Miscellany
The first chapter of this tale appeared in the fourth number of MASTER
HUMPHREYS CLOCK when I had already been made uneasy by the desultory character
of that work and when I believe my readers had thoroughly participated in the
feeling The commencement of a story was a great satisfaction to me and I had
reason to believe that my readers participated in this feeling too Hence being
pledged to some interruptions and some pursuit of the original design I set
cheerfully about disentangling myself from those impediments as fast as I could
and that done from that time until its completion THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP was
written and published from week to week in weekly parts
When the story was finished that it might be freed from the incumbrance of
associations and interruptions with which it had no kind of concern I caused
the few sheets of MASTER HUMPHREYS CLOCK which had been printed in connection
with it to be cancelled and like the unfinished tale of the windy night and
the notary in The Sentimental Journey they became the property of the
trunkmaker and the butterman I was especially unwilling I confess to enrich
those respectable trades with the opening paper of the abandoned design in
which MASTER HUMPHREY described himself and his manner of life Though I now
affect to make the confession philosophically as referring to a byegone
emotion I am conscious that my pen winces a little even while I write these
words But it was done and wisely done and MASTER HUMPHREYS CLOCK as
originally constructed became one of the lost books of the earth which we
all know are far more precious than any that can be read for love or money
In reference to the tale itself I desire to say very little here The many
friends it won me and the many hearts it turned to me when they were full of
private sorrow invest it with an interest in my mind which is not a public
one and the rightful place of which appears to be a more removed ground
I will merely observe therefore that in writing the book I had it always
in my fancy to surround the lonely figure of the child with grotesque and wild
but not impossible companions and to gather about her innocent face and pure
intentions associates as strange and uncongenial as the grim objects that are
about her bed when her history is first foreshadowed
MASTER HUMPHREY before his devotion to the trunk and butter business was
originally supposed to be the narrator of the story As it was constructed from
the beginning however with a view to separate publication when completed his
demise has not involved the necessity of any alteration
I have a mournful pride in one recollection associated with little Nell
While she was yet upon her wanderings not then concluded there appeared in a
literary journal an essay of which she was the principal theme so earnestly
so eloquently and tenderly appreciative of her and of all her shadowy kith and
kin that it would have been insensibility in me if I could have read it
without an unusual glow of pleasure and encouragement Long afterwards and when
I had come to know him well and to see him stout of heart going slowly down
into his grave I knew the writer of that essay to be THOMAS HOOD
Chapter I
Although I am an old man night is generally my time for walking In the summer
I often leave home early in the morning and roam about the fields and lanes all
day or even escape for days or weeks together but saving in the country I
seldom go out until after dark though Heaven be thanked I love its light and
feel the cheerfulness it sheds upon the earth as much as any creature living
I have fallen insensibly into this habit both because it favours my
infirmity and because it affords me greater opportunity of speculating on the
characters and occupations of those who fill the streets The glare and hurry of
broad noon are not adapted to idle pursuits like mine a glimpse of passing
faces caught by the light of a street lamp or a shop window is often better
for my purpose than their full revelation in the daylight and if I must add
the truth night is kinder in this respect than day which too often destroys an
airbuilt castle at the moment of its completion without the least ceremony or
remorse
That constant pacing to and fro that neverending restlessness that
incessant tread of feet wearing the rough stones smooth and glossy is it not a
wonder how the dwellers in narrow ways can bear to hear it Think of a sick man
in such a place as Saint Martins Court listening to the footsteps and in the
midst of pain and weariness obliged despite himself as though it were a task
he must perform to detect the childs step from the mans the slipshod beggar
from the booted exquisite the lounging from the busy the dull heel of the
sauntering outcast from the quick tread of an expectant pleasureseeker think
of the hum and noise being always present to his senses and of the stream of
life that will not stop pouring on on on through all his restless dreams as
if he were condemned to lie dead bat conscious in a noisy churchyard and had
no hope of rest for centuries to come
Then the crowds for ever passing and repassing on the bridges on those
which are free of toll at least where many stop on fine evenings looking
listlessly down upon the water with some vague idea that byandby it runs
between green banks which grow wider and wider until at last it joins the broad
vast sea where some halt to rest from heavy loads and think as they look
over the parapet that to smoke and lounge away ones life and lie sleeping in
the sun upon a hot tarpaulin in a dull slow sluggish barge must be happiness
unalloyed and where some and a very different class pause with heavier loads
than they remembering to have heard or read in some old time that drowning was
not a hard death but of all means of suicide the easiest and best
Covent Garden Market at sunrise too in the spring or summer when the
fragrance of sweet flowers is in the air overpowering even the unwholesome
streams of last nights debauchery and driving the dusky thrush whose cage has
hung outside a garret window all night long half mad with joy Poor bird the
only neighbouring thing at all akin to the other little captives some of whom
shrinking from the hot hands of drunken purchasers lie drooping on the path
already while others soddened by close contact await the time when they shall
be watered and freshened up to please more sober company and make old clerks
who pass them on their road to business wonder what has filled their breasts
with visions of the country
But my present purpose is not to expatiate upon my walks The story I am
about to relate arose out of one of these rambles and thus I have been led to
speak of them by way of preface
One night I had roamed into the city and was walking slowly on in my usual
way musing upon a great many things when I was arrested by an inquiry the
purport of which did not reach me but which seemed to be addressed to myself
and was preferred in a soft sweet voice that struck me very pleasantly I turned
hastily round and found at my elbow a pretty little girl who begged to be
directed to a certain street at a considerable distance and indeed in quite
another quarter of the town
»It is a very long way from here« said I »my child«
»I know that sir« she replied timidly »I am afraid it is a very long way
for I came from there tonight«
»Alone« said I in some surprise
»Oh yes I dont mind that but I am a little frightened now for I have
lost my road«
»And what made you ask it of me Suppose I should tell you wrong«
»I am sure you will not do that« said the little creature »you are such a
very old gentleman and walk so slow yourself«
I cannot describe how much I was impressed by this appeal and the energy
with which it was made which brought a tear into the childs clear eye and
made her slight figure tremble as she looked up into my face
»Come« said I »Ill take you there«
She put her hand in mine as confidingly as if she had known me from her
cradle and we trudged away together the little creature accommodating her pace
to mine and rather seeming to lead and take care of me than I to be protecting
her I observed that every now and then she stole a curious look at my face as
if to make quite sure that I was not deceiving her and that these glances very
sharp and keen they were too seemed to increase her confidence at every
repetition
For my part my curiosity and interest were at least equal to the childs
for child she certainly was although I thought it probable from what I could
make out that her very small and delicate frame imparted a peculiar youthfulness
to her appearance Though more scantily attired than she might have been she
was dressed with perfect neatness and betrayed no marks of poverty or neglect
»Who has sent you so far by yourself« said I
»Somebody who is very kind to me sir«
»And what have you been doing«
»That I must not tell« said the child
There was something in the manner of this reply which caused me to look at
the little creature with an involuntary expression of surprise for I wondered
what kind of errand it might be that occasioned her to be prepared for
questioning Her quick eye seemed to read my thoughts As it met mine she added
that there was no harm in what she had been doing but it was a great secret a
secret which she did not even know herself
This was said with no appearance of cunning or deceit but with an
unsuspicious frankness that bore the impress of truth She walked on as before
growing more familiar with me as we proceeded and talking cheerfully by the
way but she said no more about her home beyond remarking that we were going
quite a new road and asking if it were a short one
While we were thus engaged I revolved in my mind a hundred explanations of
the riddle and rejected them every one I really felt ashamed to take advantage
of the ingenuousness or grateful feeling of the child for the purpose of
gratifying my curiosity I love these little people and it is not a slight
thing when they who are so fresh from God love us As I had felt pleased at
first by her confidence I determined to deserve it and to do credit to the
nature which had prompted her to repose it in me
There was no reason however why I should refrain from seeing the person
who had inconsiderately sent her to so great a distance by night and alone and
as it was not improbable that if she found herself near home she might take
farewell of me and deprive me of the opportunity I avoided the most frequented
ways and took the most intricate Thus it was not until we arrived in the street
itself that she knew where we were Clapping her hands with pleasure and
running on before me for a short distance my little acquaintance stopped at a
door and remaining on the step till I came up knocked at it when I joined her
A part of this door was of glass unprotected by any shutter which I did
not observe at first for all was very dark and silent within and I was
anxious as indeed the child was also for an answer to her summons When she
had knocked twice or thrice there was a noise as if some person were moving
inside and at length a faint light appeared through the glass which as it
approached very slowly the bearer having to make his way through a great many
scattered articles enabled me to see both what kind of person it was who
advanced and what kind of place it was through which he came
He was a little old man with long grey hair whose face and figure as he
held the light above his head and looked before him as he approached I could
plainly see Though much altered by age I fancied I could recognise in his
spare and slender form something of that delicate mould which I had noticed in
the child Their bright blue eyes were certainly alike but his face was so
deeply furrowed and so very full of care that here all resemblance ceased
The place through which he made his way at leisure was one of those
receptacles for old and curious things which seem to crouch in odd corners of
this town and to hide their musty treasures from the public eye in jealousy and
distrust There were suits of mail standing like ghosts in armour here and
there fantastic carvings brought from monkish cloisters rusty weapons of
various kinds distorted figures in china and wood and iron and ivory
tapestry and strange furniture that might have been designed in dreams The
haggard aspect of the little old man was wonderfully suited to the place he
might have groped among old churches and tombs and deserted houses and
gathered all the spoils with his own hands There was nothing in the whole
collection but was in keeping with himself nothing that looked older or more
worn than he
As he turned the key in the lock he surveyed me with some astonishment
which was not diminished when he looked from me to my companion The door being
opened the child addressed him as her grandfather and told him the little
story of our companionship
»Why bless thee child« said the old man patting her on the head »how
couldst thou miss thy way What if I had lost thee Nell«
»I would have found my way back to you grandfather« said the child boldly
»never fear«
The old man kissed her then turned to me and begged me to walk in I did
so The door was closed and locked Preceding me with the light he led me
through the place I had already seen from without into a small sittingroom
behind in which was another door opening into a kind of closet where I saw a
little bed that a fairy might have slept in it looked so very small and was so
prettily arranged The child took a candle and tripped into this little room
leaving the old man and me together
»You must be tired sir« said he as he placed a chair near the fire »how
can I thank you«
»By taking more care of your grandchild another time my good friend« I
replied
»More care« said the old man in a shrill voice »more care of Nelly why
who ever loved a child as I love Nell«
He said this with such evident surprise that I was perplexed what answer to
make the more so because coupled with something feeble and wandering in his
manner there were in his face marks of deep and anxious thought which
convinced me that he could not be as I had been at first inclined to suppose
in a state of dotage or imbecility
»I dont think you consider « I began
»I dont consider« cried the old man interrupting me »I dont consider
her ah how little you know of the truth Little Nelly little Nelly«
It would be impossible for any man I care not what his form of speech
might be to express more affection than the dealer in curiosities did in
these four words I waited for him to speak again but he rested his chin upon
his hand and shaking his head twice or thrice fixed his eyes upon the fire
While we were sitting thus in silence the door of the closet opened and
the child returned her light brown hair hanging loose about her neck and her
face flushed with the haste she had made to rejoin us She busied herself
immediately in preparing supper While she was thus engaged I remarked that the
old man took an opportunity of observing me more closely than he had done yet I
was surprised to see that all this time everything was done by the child and
that there appeared to be no other persons but ourselves in the house I took
advantage of a moment when she was absent to venture a hint on this point to
which the old man replied that there were few grown persons as trustworthy or as
careful as she
»It always grieves me« I observed roused by what I took to be his
selfishness »it always grieves me to contemplate the initiation of children
into the ways of life when they are scarcely more than infants It checks their
confidence and simplicity two of the best qualities that Heaven gives them
and demands that they share our sorrows before they are capable of entering into
our enjoyments«
»It will never check hers« said the old man looking steadily at me »the
springs are too deep Besides the children of the poor know but few pleasures
Even the cheap delights of childhood must be bought and paid for«
»But forgive me for saying this you are surely not so very poor« said
I
»She is not my child sir« returned the old man »Her mother was and she
was poor I save nothing not a penny though I live as you see but« he
laid his hand upon my arm and leant forward to whisper »she shall be rich one
of these days and a fine lady Dont you think ill of me because I use her
help She gives it cheerfully as you see and it would break her heart if she
knew that I suffered anybody else to do for me what her little hands could
undertake I dont consider« he cried with sudden querulousness »why God
knows that this one child is the thought and object of my life and yet he never
prospers me no never«
At this juncture the subject of our conversation again returned and the
old man motioning to me to approach the table broke off and said no more
We had scarcely begun our repast when there was a knock at the door by which
I had entered and Nell bursting into a hearty laugh which I was rejoiced to
hear for it was childlike and full of hilarity said it was no doubt dear old
Kit come back at last
»Foolish Nell« said the old man fondling with her hair »She always laughs
at poor Kit«
The child laughed again more heartily than before and I could not help
smiling from pure sympathy The little old man took up a candle and went to open
the door When he came back Kit was at his heels
Kit was a shockheaded shambling awkward lad with an uncommonly wide mouth
very red cheeks a turnedup nose and certainly the most comical expression of
face I ever saw He stopped short at the door on seeing a stranger twirled in
his hand a perfectly round old hat without any vestige of a brim and resting
himself now on one leg and now on the other and changing them constantly
stood in the doorway looking into the parlour with the most extraordinary leer
I ever beheld I entertained a grateful feeling towards the boy from that
minute for I felt that he was the comedy of the childs life
»A long way wasnt it Kit« said the little old man
»Why then it was a goodish stretch master« returned Kit
»Did you find the house easily«
»Why then not over and above easy master« said Kit
»Of course you have come back hungry«
»Why then I do consider myself rather so master« was the answer
The lad had a remarkable manner of standing sideways as he spoke and
thrusting his head forward over his shoulder as if he could not get at his
voice without that accompanying action I think he would have amused one
anywhere but the childs exquisite enjoyment of his oddity and the relief it
was to find that there was something she associated with merriment in a place
that appeared so unsuited to her were quite irresistible It was a great point
too that Kit himself was flattered by the sensation he created and after
several efforts to preserve his gravity burst into a loud roar and so stood
with his mouth wide open and his eyes nearly shut laughing violently
The old man had again relapsed into his former abstraction and took no
notice of what passed but I remarked that when her laugh was over the childs
bright eyes were dimmed with tears called forth by the fulness of heart with
which she welcomed her uncouth favourite after the little anxiety of the night
As for Kit himself whose laugh had been all the time one of that sort which
very little would change into a cry he carried a large slice of bread and meat
and a mug of beer into a corner and applied himself to disposing of them with
great voracity
»Ah« said the old man turning to me with a sigh as if I had spoken to him
but that moment »you dont know what you say when you tell me that I dont
consider her«
»You must not attach too great weight to a remark founded on first
appearances my friend« said I
»No« returned the old man thoughtfully »no Come hither Nell«
The little girl hastened from her seat and put her arm about his neck
»Do I love thee Nell« said he »Say do I love thee Nell or no«
The child only answered by her caresses and laid her head upon his breast
»Why dost thou sob« said the grandfather pressing her closer to him and
glancing towards me »Is it because thou knowst I love thee and dost not like
that I should seem to doubt it by my question Well well then let us say I
love thee dearly«
»Indeed indeed you do« replied the child with great earnestness »Kit
knows you do«
Kit who in despatching his bread and meat had been swallowing twothirds of
his knife at every mouthful with the coolness of a juggler stopped short in his
operations on being thus appealed to and bawled »Nobody isnt such a fool as to
say he doosnt« after which he incapacitated himself for further conversation
by taking a most prodigious sandwich at one bite
»She is poor now« said the old man patting the childs cheek »but I say
again the time is coming when she shall be rich It has been a long time
coming but it must come at last a very long time but it surely must come It
has come to other men who do nothing but waste and riot When will it come to
me«
»I am very happy as I am grandfather« said the child
»Tush tush« returned the old man »thou dost not know how shouldst
thou« Then he muttered again between his teeth »The time must come I am very
sure it must It will be all the better for coming late« and then he sighed and
fell into his former musing state and still holding the child between his knees
appeared to be insensible to everything around him By this time it wanted but a
few minutes of midnight and I rose to go which recalled him to himself
»One moment sir« he said »Now Kit near midnight boy and you still
here Get home get home and be true to your time in the morning for theres
work to do Good night There bid him good night Nell and let him be gone«
»Good night Kit« said the child her eyes lighting up with merriment and
kindness
»Good night Miss Nell« returned the boy
»And thank this gentleman« interposed the old man »but for whose care I
might have lost my little girl tonight«
»No no master« said Kit »that wont do that wont«
»What do you mean« cried the old man
»Id have found her master« said Kit »Id have found her Id bet that
Id find her if she was above ground I would as quick as anybody master Ha
ha ha«
Once more opening his mouth and shutting his eyes and laughing like a
stentor Kit gradually backed to the door and roared himself out
Free of the room the boy was not slow in taking his departure when he had
gone and the child was occupied in clearing the table the old man said
»I havent seemed to thank you sir enough for what you have done tonight
but I do thank you humbly and heartily and so does she and her thanks are
better worth than mine I should be sorry that you went away and thought I was
unmindful of your goodness or careless of her I am not indeed«
I was sure of that I said from what I had seen »But« I added »may I ask
you a question«
»Ay sir« replied the old man »what is it«
»This delicate child« said I »with so much beauty and intelligence has
she nobody to care for her but you Has she no other companion or adviser«
»No« he returned looking anxiously in my face »no and she wants no
other«
»But are you not fearful« said I »that you may misunderstand a charge so
tender I am sure you mean well but are you quite certain that you know how to
execute such a trust as this I am an old man like you and I am actuated by an
old mans concern in all that is young and promising Do you not think that what
I have seen of you and this little creature tonight must have an interest not
wholly free from pain«
»Sir« rejoined the old man after a moments silence »I have no right to
feel hurt at what you say It is true that in many respects I am the child and
she the grown person that you have seen already But waking or sleeping by
night or day in sickness or health she is the one object of my care and if
you knew of how much care you would look on me with different eyes you would
indeed Ah its a weary life for an old man a weary weary life but there
is a great end to gain and that I keep before me«
Seeing that he was in a state of excitement and impatience I turned to put
on an outer coat which I had thrown off on entering the room purposing to say
no more I was surprised to see the child standing patiently by with a cloak
upon her arm and in her hand a hat and stick
»Those are not mine my dear« said I
»No« returned the child quietly »they are grandfathers«
»But he is not going out tonight«
»Oh yes he is« said the child with a smile
»And what becomes of you my pretty one«
»Me I stay here of course I always do«
I looked in astonishment towards the old man but he was or feigned to be
busied in the arrangement of his dress From him I looked back to the slight
gentle figure of the child Alone In that gloomy place all the long dreary
night
She evinced no consciousness of my surprise but cheerfully helped the old
man with his cloak and when he was ready took a candle to light us out
Finding that we did not follow as she expected she looked back with a smile and
waited for us The old man showed by his face that he plainly understood the
cause of my hesitation but he merely signed to me with an inclination of the
head to pass out of the room before him and remained silent I had no resource
but to comply
When we reached the door the child setting down the candle turned to say
good night and raised her face to kiss me Then she ran to the old man who
folded her in his arms and bade God bless her
»Sleep soundly Nell« he said in a low voice »and angels guard thy bed Do
not forget thy prayers my sweet«
»No indeed« answered the child fervently »they make me feel so happy«
»Thats well I know they do they should« said the old man »Bless thee a
hundred times Early in the morning I shall be home«
»Youll not ring twice« returned the child »The bell wakes me even in the
middle of a dream«
With this they separated The child opened the door now guarded by a
shutter which I had heard the boy put up before he left the house and with
another farewell whose clear and tender note I have recalled a thousand times
held it until we had passed out The old man paused a moment while it was gently
closed and fastened on the inside and satisfied that this was done walked on
at a slow pace At the streetcorner he stopped Regarding me with a troubled
countenance he said that our ways were widely different and that he must take
his leave I would have spoken but summing up more alacrity than might have
been expected in one of his appearance he hurried away I could see that
twice or thrice he looked back as if to ascertain if I were still watching him
or perhaps to assure himself that I was not following at a distance The
obscurity of the night favoured his disappearance and his figure was soon
beyond my sight
I remained standing on the spot where he had left me unwilling to depart
and yet unknowing why I should loiter there I looked wistfully into the street
we had lately quitted and after a time directed my steps that way I passed
and repassed the house and stopped and listened at the door all was dark and
silent as the grave
Yet I lingered about and could not tear myself away thinking of all
possible harm that might happen to the child of fires and robberies and even
murder and feeling as if some evil must ensue if I turned my back upon the
place The closing of a door or window in the street brought me before the
curiositydealers once more I crossed the road and looked up at the house to
assure myself that the noise had not come from there No it was black cold
and lifeless as before
There were few passengers astir the street was sad and dismal and pretty
well my own A few stragglers from the theatres hurried by and now and then I
turned aside to avoid some noisy drunkard as he reeled homewards but these
interruptions were not frequent and soon ceased The clocks struck one Still I
paced up and down promising myself that every time should be the last and
breaking faith with myself on some new plea as often as I did so
The more I thought of what the old man had said and of his looks and
bearing the less I could account for what I had seen and heard I had a strong
misgiving that his nightly absence was for no good purpose I had only come to
know the fact through the innocence of the child and though the old man was by
at the time and saw my undisguised surprise he had preserved a strange mystery
on the subject and offered no word of explanation These reflections naturally
recalled again more strongly than before his haggard face his wandering
manner his restless anxious looks His affection for the child might not be
inconsistent with villany of the worst kind even that very affection was in
itself an extraordinary contradiction or how could he leave her thus Disposed
as I was to think badly of him I never doubted that his love for her was real
I could not admit the thought remembering what had passed between us and the
tone of voice in which he had called her by her name
»Stay here of course« the child had said in answer to my question »I
always do« What could take him from home by night and every night I called up
all the strange tales I had ever heard of dark and secret deeds committed in
great towns and escaping detection for a long series of years Wild as many of
these stories were I could not find one adapted to this mystery which only
became the more impenetrable in proportion as I sought to solve it
Occupied with such thoughts as these and a crowd of others all tending to
the same point I continued to pace the street for two long hours at length
the rain began to descend heavily and then overpowered by fatigue though no
less interested than I had been at first I engaged the nearest coach and so got
home A cheerful fire was blazing on the hearth the lamp burnt brightly my
clock received me with its old familiar welcome everything was quiet warm and
cheering and in happy contrast to the gloom and darkness I had quitted
I sat down in my easychair and falling back upon its ample cushions
pictured to myself the child in her bed alone unwatched uncared for save by
angels yet sleeping peacefully So very young so spiritual so slight and
fairylike a creature passing the long dull nights in such an uncongenial place
I could not dismiss it from my thoughts
We are so much in the habit of allowing impressions to be made upon us by
external objects which should be produced by reflection alone but which
without such visible aids often escape us that I am not sure I should have
been so thoroughly possessed by this one subject but for the heaps of fantastic
things I had seen huddled together in the curiositydealers warehouse These
crowding on my mind in connection with the child and gathering round her as
it were brought her condition palpably before me I had her image without any
effort of imagination surrounded and beset by everything that was foreign to
its nature and farthest removed from the sympathies of her sex and age If
these helps to my fancy had all been wanting and I had been forced to imagine
her in a common chamber with nothing unusual or uncouth in its appearance it
is very probable that I should have been less impressed with her strange and
solitary state As it was she seemed to exist in a kind of allegory and
having these shapes about her claimed my interest so strongly that as I have
already remarked I could not dismiss her from my recollection do what I would
»It would be a curious speculation« said I after some restless turns
across and across the room »to imagine her in her future life holding her
solitary way among a crowd of wild grotesque companions the only pure fresh
youthful object in the throng It would be curious to find «
I checked myself here for the theme was carrying me along with it at a
great pace and I already saw before me a region on which I was little disposed
to enter I agreed with myself that this was idle musing and resolved to go to
bed and court forgetfulness
But all that night waking or in my sleep the same thoughts recurred and
the same images retained possession of my brain I had ever before me the old
dark murky rooms the gaunt suits of mail with their ghostly silent air the
faces all awry grinning from wood and stone the dust and rust and worm that
lives in wood and alone in the midst of all this lumber and decay and ugly
age the beautiful child in her gentle slumber smiling through her light and
sunny dreams
Chapter II
After combating for nearly a week the feeling which impelled me to revisit the
place I had quitted under the circumstances already detailed I yielded to it at
length and determining that this time I would present myself by the light of
day bent my steps thither early in the afternoon
I walked past the house and took several turns in the street with that
kind of hesitation which is natural to a man who is conscious that the visit he
is about to pay is unexpected and may not be very acceptable However as the
door of the shop was shut and it did not appear likely that I should be
recognised by those within if I continued merely to pass up and down before it
I soon conquered this irresolution and found myself in the curiositydealers
warehouse
The old man and another person were together in the back part and there
seemed to have been high words between them for their voices which were raised
to a very loud pitch suddenly stopped on my entering and the old man advancing
hastily towards me said in a tremulous tone that he was very glad I had come
»You interrupted us at a critical moment« he said pointing to the man whom
I had found in company with him »this fellow will murder me one of these days
He would have done so long ago if he had dared«
»Bah You would swear away my life if you could« returned the other after
bestowing a stare and a frown on me »we all know that«
»I almost think I could« cried the old man turning feebly upon him »If
oaths or prayers or words could rid me of you they should I would be quit
of you and would be relieved if you were dead«
»I know it« returned the other »I said so didnt I But neither oaths
nor prayers nor words will kill me and therefore I live and mean to live«
»And his mother died« cried the old man passionately clasping his hands
and looking upward »and this is Heavens justice«
The other stood lounging with his foot upon a chair and regarded him with a
contemptuous sneer He was a young man of oneandtwenty or thereabouts well
made and certainly handsome though the expression of his face was far from
prepossessing having in common with his manner and even his dress a
dissipated insolent air which repelled one
»Justice or no justice« said the young fellow »here I am and here I shall
stop till such time as I think fit to go unless you send for assistance to put
me out which you wont do I know I tell you again that I want to see my
sister«
»Your sister« said the old man bitterly
»Ah You cant change the relationship« returned the other »If you could
youd have done it long ago I want to see my sister that you keep cooped up
here poisoning her mind with your sly secrets and pretending an affection for
her that you may work her to death and add a few scraped shillings every week
to the money you can hardly count I want to see her and I will«
»Heres a moralist to talk of poisoned minds Heres a generous spirit to
scorn scrapedup shillings« cried the old man turning from him to me »A
profligate sir who has forfeited every claim not only upon those who have the
misfortune to be of his blood but upon society which knows nothing of him but
his misdeeds A liar too« he added in a lower voice as he drew closer to me
»who knows how dear she is to me and seeks to wound me even there because
there is a stranger by«
»Strangers are nothing to me grandfather« said the young fellow catching
at the word »nor I to them I hope The best they can do is to keep an eye to
their business and leave me to mine Theres a friend of mine waiting outside
and as it seems that I may have to wait some time Ill call him in with your
leave«
Saying this he stepped to the door and looking down the street beckoned
several times to some unseen person who to judge from the air of impatience
with which these signals were accompanied required a great quantity of
persuasion to induce him to advance At length there sauntered up on the
opposite side of the way with a bad pretence of passing by accident a figure
conspicuous for its dirty smartness which after a great many frowns and jerks
of the head in resistance of the invitation ultimately crossed the road and
was brought into the shop
»There Its Dick Swiveller« said the young fellow pushing him in »Sit
down Swiveller«
»But is the old min agreeable« said Mr Swiveller in an under tone
»Sit down« repeated his companion
Mr Swiveller complied and looking about him with a propitiatory smile
observed that last week was a fine week for the ducks and this week was a fine
week for the dust he also observed that whilst standing by the post at the
street corner he had observed a pig with a straw in his mouth issuing out of
the tobaccoshop from which appearance he argued that another fine week for the
ducks was approaching and that rain would certainly ensue He furthermore took
occasion to apologize for any negligence that might be perceptible in his dress
on the ground that last night he had had the sun very strong in his eyes by
which expression he was understood to convey to his hearers in the most delicate
manner possible the information that he had been extremely drunk
»But what« said Mr Swiveller with a sigh »what is the odds so long as the
fire of soul is kindled at the taper of conwiviality and the wing of friendship
never moults a feather What is the odds so long as the spirit is expanded by
means of rosy wine and the present moment is the least happiest of our
existence«
»You neednt act the chairman here« said his friend half aside
»Fred« cried Mr Swiveller tapping his nose »a word to the wise is
sufficient for them we may be good and happy without riches Fred Say not
another syllable I know my cue smart is the word Only one little whisper
Fred is the old min friendly«
»Never you mind« replied his friend
»Right again quite right« said Mr Swiveller »caution is the word and
caution is the act« With that he winked as if in preservation of some deep
secret and folding his arms and leaning back in his chair looked up at the
ceiling with profound gravity
It was perhaps not very unreasonable to suspect from what had already
passed that Mr Swiveller was not quite recovered from the effects of the
powerful sunlight to which he had made allusion but if no such suspicion had
been awakened by his speech his wiry hair dull eyes and sallow face would
still have been strong witnesses against him His attire was not as he had
himself hinted remarkable for the nicest arrangement but was in a state of
disorder which strongly induced the idea that he had gone to bed in it It
consisted of a brown bodycoat with a great many brass buttons up the front and
only one behind a bright check neckerchief a plaid waistcoat soiled white
trousers and a very limp hat worn with the wrong side foremost to hide a hole
in the brim The breast of his coat was ornamented with an outside pocket from
which there peeped forth the cleanest end of a very large and very illfavoured
handkerchief his dirty wristbands were pulled down as far as possible and
ostentatiously folded back over his cuffs he displayed no gloves and carried a
yellow cane having at the top a bone hand with the semblance of a ring on its
little finger and a black ball in its grasp With all these personal advantages
to which may be added a strong savour of tobaccosmoke and a prevailing
greasiness of appearance Mr Swiveller leaned back in his chair with his eyes
fixed on the ceiling and occasionally pitching his voice to the needful key
obliged the company with a few bars of an intensely dismal air and then in the
middle of a note relapsed into his former silence
The old man sat himself down in a chair and with folded hands looked
sometimes at his grandson and sometimes at his strange companion as if he were
utterly powerless and had no resource but to leave them to do as they pleased
The young man reclined against a table at no great distance from his friend in
apparent indifference to everything that had passed and I who felt the
difficulty of any interference notwithstanding that the old man had appealed to
me both by words and looks made the best feint I could of being occupied in
examining some of the goods that were disposed for sale and paying very little
attention to the persons before me
The silence was not of long duration for Mr Swiveller after favouring us
with several melodious assurances that his heart was in the highlands and that
he wanted but his Arab steed as a preliminary to the achievement of great feats
of valour and loyalty removed his eyes from the ceiling and subsided into prose
again
»Fred« said Mr Swiveller stopping short as if the idea had suddenly
occurred to him and speaking in the same audible whisper as before »is the old
min friendly«
»What does it matter« returned his friend peevishly
»No but is he« said Dick
»Yes of course What do I care whether he is or not«
Emboldened as it seemed by this reply to enter into a more general
conversation Mr Swiveller plainly laid himself out to captivate our attention
He began by remarking that sodawater though a good thing in the abstract
was apt to lie cold upon the stomach unless qualified with ginger or a small
infusion of brandy which latter article be held to be preferable in all cases
saving for the one consideration of expense Nobody venturing to dispute these
positions he proceeded to observe that the human hair was a great retainer of
tobaccosmoke and that the young gentlemen of Westminster and Eton after
eating vast quantities of apples to conceal any scent of cigars from their
anxious friends were usually detected in consequence of their heads possessing
this remarkable property whence he concluded that if the Royal Society would
turn their attention to the circumstance and endeavour to find in the resources
of science a means of preventing such untoward revelations they might indeed be
looked upon as benefactors to mankind These opinions being equally
incontrovertible with those he had already pronounced he went on to inform us
that Jamaica rum though unquestionably an agreeable spirit of great richness
and flavour had the drawback of remaining constantly present to the taste next
day and nobody being venturous enough to argue this point either he increased
in confidence and became yet more companionable and communicative
»Its a devil of a thing, gentlemen« said Mr Swiveller »when relations
fall out and disagree If the wing of friendship should never moult a feather
the wing of relationship should never be clipped but be always expanded and
serene Why should a grandson and grandfather peg away at each other with mutual
wiolence when all might be bliss and concord Why not jine hands and forget it«
»Hold your tongue« said his friend
»Sir« replied Mr Swiveller »dont you interrupt the chair Gentlemen how
does the case stand upon the present occasion Here is a jolly old grandfather
I say it with the utmost respect and here is a wild young grandson The
jolly old grandfather says to the wild young grandson I have brought you up and
educated you Fred I have put you in the way of getting on in life you have
bolted a little out of the course as young fellows often do and you shall
never have another chance nor the ghost of half a one The wild young grandson
makes answer to this and says Youre as rich as rich can be you have been at
no uncommon expense on my account youre saving up piles of money for my little
sister that lives with you in a secret stealthy huggermuggering kind of way
and with no manner of enjoyment why cant you stand a trifle for your grownup
relation The jolly old grandfather unto this retorts not only that he
declines to fork out with that cheerful readiness which is always so agreeable
and pleasant in a gentleman of his time of life but that he will blow up and
call names and make reflections whenever they meet Then the plain question is
ant it a pity that this state of things should continue and how much better
would it be for the old gentleman to hand over a reasonable amount of tin and
make it all right and comfortable«
Having delivered this oration with a great many waves and flourishes of the
hand Mr Swiveller abruptly thrust the head of his cane into his mouth as if to
prevent himself from impairing the effect of his speech by adding one other
word
»Why do you hunt and persecute me God help me« said the old man turning
to his grandson »Why do you bring your profligate companions here How often am
I to tell you that my life is one of care and selfdenial and that I am poor«
»How often am I to tell you« returned the other looking coldly at him
»that I know better«
»You have chosen your own path« said the old man »Follow it Leave Nell
and I to toil and work«
»Nell will be a woman soon« returned the other »and bred in your faith
shell forget her brother unless he shows himself sometimes«
»Take care« said the old man with sparkling eyes »that she does not forget
you when you would have her memory keenest Take care that the day dont come
when you walk barefoot in the streets and she rides by in a gay carriage of her
own«
»You mean when she has your money« retorted the other »How like a poor man
he talks«
»And yet« said the old man dropping his voice and speaking like one who
thinks aloud »how poor we are and what a life it is The cause is a young
childs guiltless of all harm or wrong but nothing goes well with it Hope and
patience hope and patience«
These words were uttered in too low a tone to reach the ears of the young
men Mr Swiveller appeared to think that they implied some mental struggle
consequent upon the powerful effect of his address for he poked his friend with
his cane and whispered his conviction that he had administered a clincher and
that he expected a commission on the profits Discovering his mistake after a
while he appeared to grow rather sleepy and discontented and had more than
once suggested the propriety of an immediate departure when the door opened
and the child herself appeared
Chapter III
The child was closely followed by an elderly man of remarkably hard features and
forbidding aspect and so low in stature as to be quite a dwarf though his head
and face were large enough for the body of a giant His black eyes were
restless sly and cunning his mouth and chin bristly with the stubble of a
coarse hard beard and his complexion was one of that kind which never looks
clean or wholesome But what added most to the grotesque expression of his face
was a ghastly smile which appearing to be the mere result of habit and to have
no connection with any mirthful or complacent feeling constantly revealed the
few discoloured fangs that were yet scattered in his mouth and gave him the
aspect of a panting dog His dress consisted of a large highcrowned hat a worn
dark suit a pair of capacious shoes and a dirty white neckerchief sufficiently
limp and crumpled to disclose the greater portion of his wiry throat Such hair
as he had was of a grizzled black cut short and straight upon his temples and
hanging in a frowzy fringe about his ears His hands which were of a rough
coarse grain were very dirty his fingernails were crooked long and yellow
There was ample time to note these particulars for besides that they were
sufficiently obvious without very close observation some moments elapsed before
any one broke silence The child advanced timidly towards her brother and put
her hand in his the dwarf if we may call him so glanced keenly at all
present and the curiositydealer who plainly had not expected his uncouth
visitor seemed disconcerted and embarrassed
»Ah« said the dwarf who with his hand stretched out above his eyes had
been surveying the young man attentively »that should be your grandson
neighbour«
»Say rather that he should not be« replied the old man »But he is«
»And that« said the dwarf pointing to Dick Swiveller
»Some friend of his as welcome here as he« said the old man
»And that« inquired the dwarf wheeling round and pointing straight at me
»A gentleman who was so good as to bring Nell home the other night when she
lost her way coming from your house«
The little man turned to the child as if to chide her or express his wonder
but as she was talking to the young man held his peace and bent his head to
listen
»Well Nelly« said the young fellow aloud »Do they teach you to hate me
eh«
»No no For shame Oh no« cried the child
»To love me perhaps« pursued her brother with a sneer
»To do neither« she returned »They never speak to me about you Indeed
they never do«
»I dare be bound for that« he said darting a bitter look at the
grandfather »I dare be bound for that Nell Oh I believe you there«
»But I love you dearly Fred« said the child
»No doubt«
»I do indeed and always will« the child repeated with great emotion »but
oh if you would leave off vexing him and making him unhappy then I could love
you more«
»I see« said the young man as he stooped carelessly over the child and
having kissed her pushed her from him »There get you away now you have said
your lesson You neednt whimper We part good friends enough if thats the
matter«
He remained silent following her with his eyes until she had gained her
little room and closed the door and then turning to the dwarf said abruptly
»Harkee Mr «
»Meaning me« returned the dwarf »Quilp is my name You might remember
Its not a long one Daniel Quilp«
»Harkee Mr Quilp then« pursued the other »You have some influence with
my grandfather there«
»Some« said Mr Quilp emphatically
»And are in a few of his mysteries and secrets«
»A few« replied Quilp with equal dryness
»Then let me tell him once for all through you that I will come into and
go out of this place as often as I like so long as he keeps Nell here and that
if he wants to be quit of me he must first be quit of her What have I done to
be made a bugbear of and to be shunned and dreaded as if I brought the plague
Hell tell you that I have no natural affection and that I care no more for
Nell for her own sake than I do for him Let him say so I care for the whim
then of coming to and fro and reminding her of my existence I will see her
when I please Thats my point I came here today to maintain it and Ill come
here again fifty times with the same object and always with the same success I
said I would stop till I had gained it I have done so and now my visits
ended Come Dick«
»Stop« cried Mr Swiveller as his companion turned towards the door
»Sir«
»Sir I am your humble servant« said Mr Quilp to whom the monosyllable
was addressed
»Before I leave the gay and festive scene and halls of dazzling light
sir« said Mr Swiveller »I will with your permission attempt a slight
remark I came here sir this day under the impression that the old min was
friendly«
»Proceed sir« said Daniel Quilp for the orator had made a sudden stop
»Inspired by this idea and the sentiments it awakened sir and feeling as a
mutual friend that badgering baiting and bullying was not the sort of thing
calculated to expand the souls and promote the social harmony of the contending
parties I took upon myself to suggest a course which is the course to be
adopted on the present occasion Will you allow me to whisper half a syllable
sir«
Without waiting for the permission he sought Mr Swiveller stepped up to
the dwarf and leaning on his shoulder and stooping down to get at his ear said
in a voice which was perfectly audible to all present
»The watchword to the old min is fork«
»Is what« demanded Quilp
»Is fork sir fork« replied Mr Swiveller slapping his pocket »You are
awake sir«
The dwarf nodded Mr Swiveller drew back and nodded likewise then drew a
little further back and nodded again and so on By these means he in time
reached the door where he gave a great cough to attract the dwarfs attention
and gain an opportunity of expressing in dumb show the closest confidence and
most inviolable secrecy Having performed the serious pantomime that was
necessary for the due conveyance of these ideas he cast himself upon his
friends track and vanished
»Humph« said the dwarf with a sour look and a shrug of his shoulders »so
much for dear relations Thank God I acknowledge none Nor need you either« he
added turning to the old man »if you were not as weak as a reed and nearly as
senseless«
»What would you have me do« he retorted in a kind of helpless desperation
»It is easy to talk and sneer What would you have me do«
»What would I do if I was in your case« said the dwarf
»Something violent no doubt«
»Youre right there« returned the little man highly gratified by the
compliment for such he evidently considered it and grinning like a devil as he
rubbed his dirty hands together »Ask Mrs Quilp pretty Mrs Quilp obedient
timid loving Mrs Quilp But that reminds me I have left her all alone and
she will be anxious and know not a moments peace till I return I know shes
always in that condition when Im away though she doesnt dare to say so
unless I lead her on and tell her she may speak freely and I wont be angry
with her Oh welltrained Mrs Quilp«
The creature appeared quite horrible with his monstrous head and little
body as he rubbed his hands slowly round and round and round again with
something fantastic even in his manner of performing this slight action and
dropping his shaggy brows and cocking his chin in the air glanced upward with a
stealthy look of exultation that an imp might have copied and appropriated to
himself
»Here« he said putting his hand into his breast and sidling up to the old
man as he spoke »I brought it myself for fear of accidents as being in gold
it was something large and heavy for Nell to carry in her bag She need be
accustomed to such loads betimes though neighbour for she will carry weight
when you are dead«
»Heaven send she may I hope so« said the old man with something like a
groan
»Hope so« echoed the dwarf approaching close to his ear »neighbour I
would I knew in what good investment all these supplies are sunk But you are a
deep man and keep your secret close«
»My secret« said the other with a haggard look »Yes youre right I I
keep it close very close«
He said no more but taking the money turned away with a slow uncertain
step and pressed his hand upon his head like a weary and dejected man The
dwarf watched him sharply while he passed into the little sittingroom and
locked it in an iron safe above the chimneypiece and after musing for a short
space prepared to take his leave observing that unless he made good haste
Mrs Quilp would certainly be in fits on his return
»And so neighbour« he added »Ill turn my face homewards leaving my love
for Nelly and hoping she may never lose her way again though her doing so has
procured me an honour I didnt expect« With that he bowed and leered at me and
with a keen glance around which seemed to comprehend every object within his
range of vision however small or trivial went his way
I had several times essayed to go myself but the old man had always opposed
it and entreated me to remain As he renewed his entreaties on our being left
alone and adverted with many thanks to the former occasion of our being
together I willingly yielded to his persuasions and sat down pretending to
examine some curious miniatures and a few old medals which he placed before me
It needed no great pressing to induce me to stay for if my curiosity had been
excited on the occasion of my first visit it certainly was not diminished now
Nell joined us before long and bringing some needlework to the table sat
by the old mans side It was pleasant to observe the fresh flowers in the room
the pet bird with a green bough shading his little cage the breath of freshness
and youth which seemed to rustle through the old dull house and hover round the
child It was curious but not so pleasant to turn from the beauty and grace of
the girl to see the stooping figure careworn face and jaded aspect of the
old man As he grew weaker and more feeble what would become of this lonely
little creature poor protector as he was say that he died what would her
fate be then
The old man almost answered my thoughts as he laid his hand on hers and
spoke aloud
»Ill be of better cheer Nell« he said »there must be good fortune in
store for thee I do not ask it for myself but thee Such miseries must fall
on thy innocent head without it that I cannot but believe but that being
tempted it will come at last«
She looked cheerfully into his face but made no answer
»When I think« said he »of the many years many in thy short life that
thou hast lived alone with me of thy monotonous existence knowing no
companions of thy own age nor any childish pleasures of the solitude in which
thou hast grown to be what thou art and in which thou hast lived apart from
nearly all thy kind but one old man I sometimes fear I have dealt hardly by
thee Nell«
»Grandfather« cried the child in unfeigned surprise
»Not in intention no no« said he »I have ever looked forward to the time
that should enable thee to mix amongst the gayest and prettiest and take thy
station with the best But I still look forward Nell I still look forward And
if I should be forced to leave thee meanwhile how have I fitted thee for
struggles with the world The poor bird yonder is as well qualified to
encounter it and be turned adrift upon its mercies Hark I hear Kit outside
Go to him Nell go to him«
She rose and hurrying away stopped returned back and put her arms about
the old mans neck then left him and hurried away again but faster this time
to hide her falling tears
»A word in your ear sir« said the old man in a hurried whisper »I have
been rendered uneasy by what you said the other night and can only plead that I
have done all for the best that it is too late to retract if I could though I
cannot and that I hope to triumph yet All is for her sake I have borne great
poverty myself and would spare her the sufferings that poverty carries with it
I would spare her the miseries that brought her mother my own dear child to an
early grave I would leave her not with resources which could be easily spent
or squandered away but with what would place her beyond the reach of want for
ever You mark me sir She shall have no pittance but a fortune Hush I can
say no more than that now or at any other time and she is here again«
The eagerness with which all this was poured into my ear the trembling of
the hand with which he clasped my arm the strained and starting eyes he fixed
upon me the wild vehemence and agitation of his manner filled me with
amazement All that I had heard and seen and a great part of what he had said
himself led me to suppose that he was a wealthy man I could form no
comprehension of his character unless he were one of those miserable wretches
who having made gain the sole end and object of their lives and having
succeeded in amassing great riches are constantly tortured by the dread of
poverty and beset by fears of loss and ruin Many things he had said which I
had been at a loss to understand were quite reconcileable with the idea thus
presented to me and at length I concluded that beyond all doubt he was one of
this unhappy race
The opinion was not the result of hasty consideration for which indeed
there was no opportunity at that time as the child came back directly and soon
occupied herself in preparations for giving Kit a writing lesson of which it
seemed he had a couple every week and one regularly on that evening to the
great mirth and enjoyment both of himself and his instructress To relate how it
was a long time before his modesty could be so far prevailed upon as to admit of
his sitting down in the parlour in the presence of an unknown gentleman how
when he did sit down he tucked up his sleeves and squared his elbows and put
his face close to the copybook and squinted horribly at the lines how from
the very first moment of having the pen in his hand he began to wallow in
blots and to daub himself with ink up to the very roots of his hair how if
he did by accident form a letter properly he immediately smeared it out again
with his arm in his preparations to make another how at every fresh mistake
there was a fresh burst of merriment from the child and a louder and not less
hearty laugh from poor Kit himself and how there was all the way through
notwithstanding a gentle wish on her part to teach and an anxious desire on
his to learn to relate all these particulars would no doubt occupy more space
and time than they deserve It will be sufficient to say that the lesson was
given that evening passed and night came on that the old man again grew
restless and impatient that he quitted the house secretly at the same hour as
before and that the child was once more left alone within its gloomy walls
And now that I have carried this history so far in my own character and
introduced these personages to the reader I shall for the convenience of the
narrative detach myself from its further course and leave those who have
prominent and necessary parts in it to speak and act for themselves
Chapter IV
Mr and Mrs Quilp resided on Tower Hill and in her bower on Tower Hill Mrs
Quilp was left to pine the absence of her lord when he quitted her on the
business which he has been already seen to transact
Mr Quilp could scarcely be said to be of any particular trade or calling
though his pursuits were diversified and his occupations numerous He collected
the rents of whole colonies of filthy streets and alleys by the waterside
advanced money to the seamen and petty officers of merchant vessels had a share
in the ventures of divers mates of East Indiamen smoked his smuggled cigars
under the very nose of the Custom House and made appointments on Change with
men in glazed hats and round jackets pretty well every day On the Surrey side
of the river was a small ratinfested dreary yard called »Quilps Wharf« in
which were a little wooden countinghouse burrowing all awry in the dust as if
it had fallen from the clouds and ploughed into the ground a few fragments of
rusty anchors several large iron rings some piles of rotten wood and two or
three heaps of old sheet copper crumpled cracked and battered On Quilps
Wharf Daniel Quilp was a shipbreaker yet to judge from these appearances he
must either have been a shipbreaker on a very small scale or have broken his
ships up very small indeed Neither did the place present any extraordinary
aspect of life or activity as its only human occupant was an amphibious boy in
a canvas suit whose sole change of occupation was from sitting on the head of a
pile and throwing stones into the mud when the tide was out to standing with
his hands in his pockets gazing listlessly on the motion and on the bustle of
the river at highwater
The dwarfs lodging on Tower Hill comprised besides the needful
accommodation for himself and Mrs Quilp a small sleepingcloset for that
ladys mother who resided with the couple and waged perpetual war with Daniel
of whom notwithstanding she stood in no slight dread Indeed the ugly
creature contrived by some means or other whether by his ugliness or his
ferocity or his natural cunning is no great matter to impress with a wholesome
fear of his anger most of those with whom he was brought into daily contact and
communication Over nobody had he such complete ascendency as Mrs Quilp herself
a pretty little mildspoken blueeyed woman who having allied herself in
wedlock to the dwarf in one of those strange infatuations of which examples are
by no means scarce performed a sound practical penance for her folly every day
of her life
It has been said that Mrs Quilp was pining in her bower In her bower she
was but not alone for besides the old lady her mother of whom mention has
recently been made there were present some halfdozen ladies of the
neighbourhood who had happened by a strange accident and also by a little
understanding among themselves to drop in one after another just about
teatime This being a season favourable to conversation and the room being a
cool shady lazy kind of place with some plants at the open window shutting
out the dust and interposing pleasantly enough between the teatable within and
the old Tower without it is no wonder that the ladies felt an inclination to
talk and linger especially when there are taken into account the additional
inducements of fresh butter new bread shrimps and watercresses
Now the ladies being together under these circumstances it was extremely
natural that the discourse should turn upon the propensity of mankind to
tyrannise over the weaker sex and the duty that devolved upon the weaker sex to
resist that tyranny and assert their rights and dignity It was natural for four
reasons firstly because Mrs Quilp being a young woman and notoriously under
the dominion of her husband ought to be excited to rebel secondly because Mrs
Quilps parent was known to be laudably shrewish in her disposition and inclined
to resist male authority thirdly because each visitor wished to show for
herself how superior she was in this respect to the generality of her sex find
fourthly because the company being accustomed to scandalise each other in
pairs were deprived of their usual subject of conversation now that they were
all assembled in close friendship and had consequently no better employment
than to attack the common enemy
Moved by these considerations a stout lady opened the proceedings by
inquiring with an air of great concern and sympathy how Mr Quilp was
whereunto Mr Quilps wifes mother replied sharply »Oh he was well enough
nothing much was ever the matter with him and ill weeds were sure to thrive«
All the ladies then sighed in concert shook their heads gravely and looked at
Mrs Quilp as at a martyr
»Ah« said the spokeswoman »I wish youd give her a little of your advice
Mrs Jiniwin« Mrs Quilp had been a Miss Jiniwin it should be observed
»nobody knows better than you maam what us women owe to ourselves«
»Owe indeed maam« replied Mrs Jiniwin »When my poor husband her dear
father was alive if he had ever venturd a cross word to me Id have « the
good old lady did not finish the sentence but she twisted off the head of a
shrimp with a vindictiveness which seemed to imply that the action was in some
degree a substitute for words In this light it was clearly understood by the
other party who immediately replied with great approbation »You quite enter
into my feelings maam and its jist what Id do myself«
»But you have no call to do it« said Mrs Jiniwin »Luckily for you you
have no more occasion to do it than I had«
»No woman need have if she was true to herself« rejoined the stout lady
»Do you hear that Betsy« said Mrs Jiniwin in a warning voice »How often
have I said the very same words to you and almost gone down on my knees when I
spoke em«
Poor Mrs Quilp who had looked in a state of helplessness from one face of
condolence to another coloured smiled and shook her head doubtfully This was
the signal for a general clamour which beginning in a low murmur gradually
swelled into a great noise in which everybody spoke at once and all said that
she being a young woman had no right to set up her opinions against the
experiences of those who knew so much better that it was very wrong of her not
to take the advice of people who had nothing at heart but her good that it was
next door to being downright ungrateful to conduct herself in that manner that
if she had no respect for herself she ought to have some for other women all of
whom she compromised by her meekness and that if she had no respect for other
women the time would come when other women would have no respect for her and
she would be very sorry for that they could tell her Having dealt out these
admonitions the ladies fell to a more powerful assault than they had yet made
upon the mixed tea new bread fresh butter shrimps and watercresses and
said that their vexation was so great to see her going on like that that they
could hardly bring themselves to eat a single morsel
»Its all very fine to talk« said Mrs Quilp with much simplicity »but I
know that if I was to die tomorrow Quilp could marry anybody he pleased now
that he could I know«
There was quite a scream of indignation at this idea Marry whom he pleased
They would like to see him dare to think of marrying any of them they would
like to see the faintest approach to such a thing One lady a widow was quite
certain she should stab him if he hinted at it
»Very well« said Mrs Quilp nodding her head »as I said just now its
very easy to talk but I say again that I know that Im sure Quilp has such
a way with him when he likes that the bestlooking woman here couldnt refuse
him if I was dead and she was free and he chose to make love to her Come«
Everybody bridled up at this remark as much as to say »I know you mean me
Let him try thats all« And yet for some hidden reason they were all angry
with the widow and each lady whispered in her neighbours ear that it was very
plain the said widow thought herself the person referred to and what a puss she
was
»Mother knows« said Mrs Quilp »that what I say is quite correct for she
often said so before we were married Didnt you say so mother«
This inquiry involved the respected lady in rather a delicate position for
she certainly had been an active party in making her daughter Mrs Quilp and
besides it was not supporting the family credit to encourage the idea that she
had married a man whom nobody else would have On the other hand to exaggerate
the captivating qualities of her soninlaw would be to weaken the cause of
revolt in which all her energies were deeply engaged Beset by these opposing
considerations Mrs Jiniwin admitted the powers of insinuation but denied the
right to govern and with a timely compliment to the stout lady brought back the
discussion to the point from which it had strayed
»Oh Its a sensible and proper thing indeed what Mrs George has said«
exclaimed the old lady »If women are only true to themselves But Betsy
isnt and mores the shame and pity«
»Before Id let a man order me about as Quilp orders her« said Mrs George
»before Id consent to stand in awe of a man as she does of him Id Id kill
myself and write a letter first to say he did it«
This remark being loudly commended and approved of another lady from the
Minories put in her word
»Mr Quilp may be a very nice man« said this lady »and I suppose theres
no doubt he is because Mrs Quilp says he is and Mrs Jiniwin says he is and
they ought to know or nobody does But still he is not quite a what one calls
a handsome man nor quite a young man neither which might be a little excuse
for him if anything could be whereas his wife is young and is goodlooking
and is a woman which is the great thing after all«
This last clause being delivered with extraordinary pathos elicited a
corresponding murmur from the hearers stimulated by which the lady went on to
remark that if such a husband was cross and unreasonable with such a wife then
»If he is« interposed the mother putting down her teacup and brushing the
crumbs out of her lap preparatory to making a solemn declaration »If he is He
is the greatest tyrant that ever lived she darent call her soul her own he
makes her tremble with a word and even with a look he frightens her to death
and she hasnt the spirit to give him a word back no not a single word«
Notwithstanding that the fact had been notorious beforehand to all the
teadrinkers and had been discussed and expatiated on at every teadrinking in
the neighbourhood for the last twelve months this official communication was no
sooner made than they all began to talk at once and to vie with each other in
vehemence and volubility Mrs George remarked that people would talk that
people had often said this to her before that Mrs Simmons then and there
present had told her so twenty times that she had always said »No Henrietta
Simmons unless I see it with my own eyes and hear it with my own ears I never
will believe it« Mrs Simmons corroborated this testimony and added strong
evidence of her own The lady from the Minories recounted a successful course of
treatment under which she had placed her own husband who from manifesting one
month after marriage unequivocal symptoms of the tiger had by this means become
subdued into a perfect lamb Another lady recounted her own personal struggle
and final triumph in the course whereof she had found it necessary to call in
her mother and two aunts and to weep incessantly night and day for six weeks A
third who in the general confusion could secure no other listener fastened
herself upon a young woman still unmarried who happened to be amongst them and
conjured her as she valued her own peace of mind and happiness to profit by this
solemn occasion to take example from the weakness of Mrs Quilp and from that
time forth to direct her whole thoughts to taming and subduing the rebellious
spirit of man The noise was at its height and half the company had elevated
their voices into a perfect shriek in order to drown the voices of the other
half when Mrs Jiniwin was seen to change colour and shake her forefinger
stealthily as if exhorting them to silence Then and not until then Daniel
Quilp himself the cause and occasion of all this clamour was observed to be in
the room looking on and listening with profound attention
»Go on ladies go on« said Daniel »Mrs Quilp pray ask the ladies to
stop to supper and have a couple of lobsters and something light and
palatable«
»I I didnt ask them to tea Quilp« stammered his wife »Its quite an
accident«
»So much the better Mrs Quilp these accidental parties are always the
pleasantest« said the dwarf rubbing his hands so hard that he seemed to be
engaged in manufacturing of the dirt with which they were encrusted little
charges for popguns »What Not going ladies You are not going surely«
His fair enemies tossed their heads slightly as they sought their respective
bonnets and shawls but left all verbal contention to Mrs Jiniwin who finding
herself in the position of champion made a faint struggle to sustain the
character
»And why not stop to supper Quilp« said the old lady »if my daughter had
a mind«
»To be sure« rejoined Daniel »Why not«
»Theres nothing dishonest or wrong in a supper I hope« said Mrs Jiniwin
»Surely not« returned the dwarf »Why should there be Nor anything
unwholesome either unless theres lobstersalad or prawns which Im told are
not good for digestion«
»And you wouldnt like your wife to be attacked with that or anything else
that would make her uneasy would you« said Mrs Jiniwin
»Not for a score of worlds« replied the dwarf with a grin »Not even to
have a score of mothersinlaw at the same time and what a blessing that would
be«
»My daughters your wife Mr Quilp certainly« said the old lady with a
giggle meant for satirical and to imply that he needed to be reminded of the
fact »your wedded wife«
»So she is certainly So she is« observed the dwarf
»And she has a right to do as she likes I hope Quilp« said the old lady
trembling partly with anger and partly with a secret fear of her impish
soninlaw
»Hope she has« he replied »Oh Dont you know she has Dont you know she
has Mrs Jiniwin«
»I know she ought to have Quilp and would have if she was of my way of
thinking«
»Why ant you of your mothers way of thinking my dear« said the dwarf
turning round and addressing his wife »why dont you always imitate your
mother my dear Shes the ornament of her sex your father said so every day
of his life I am sure he did«
»Her father was a blessed creetur Quilp and worth twenty thousand of some
people« said Mrs Jiniwin »twenty hundred million thousand«
»I should like to have known him« remarked the dwarf »I dare say he was a
blessed creature then but Im sure he is now It was a happy release I believe
he had suffered a long time«
The old lady gave a gasp but nothing came of it Quilp resumed with the
same malice in his eye and the same sarcastic politeness on his tongue
»You look ill Mrs Jiniwin I know you have been exciting yourself too much
talking perhaps for it is your weakness Go to bed Do go to bed«
»I shall go when I please Quilp and not before«
»But please to go now Do please to go now« said the dwarf
The old woman looked angrily at him but retreated as he advanced and
falling back before him suffered him to shut the door upon her and bolt her out
among the guests who were by this time crowding down stairs Being left alone
with his wife who sat trembling in a corner with her eyes fixed upon the
ground the little man planted himself before her at some distance and folding
his arms looked steadily at her for a long time without speaking
»Oh you nice creature« were the words with which he broke silence smacking
his lips as if this were no figure of speech and she were actually a sweetmeat
»Oh you precious darling oh you delicious charmer«
Mrs Quilp sobbed and knowing the nature of her pleasant lord appeared
quite as much alarmed by these compliments as she would have been by the most
extreme demonstrations of violence
»Shes such« said the dwarf with a ghastly grin »such a jewel such a
diamond such a pearl such a ruby such a golden casket set with gems of all
sorts Shes such a treasure Im so fond of her«
The poor little woman shivered from head to foot and raising her eyes to
his face with an imploring look suffered them to droop again and sobbed once
more
»The best of her is« said the dwarf advancing with a sort of skip which
what with the crookedness of his legs the ugliness of his face and the mockery
of his manner was perfectly goblinlike »the best of her is that shes so
meek and shes so mild and she never has a will of her own and she has such
an insinuating mother«
Uttering these latter words with a gloating maliciousness within a hundred
degrees of which no one but himself could possibly approach Mr Quilp planted
his two hands on his knees and straddling his legs out very wide apart stooped
slowly down and down and down until by screwing his head very much on one
side he came between his wifes eyes and the floor
»Mrs Quilp«
»Yes Quilp«
»Am I nice to look at Should I be the handsomest creature in the world if I
had but whiskers Am I quite a ladys man as it is am I Mrs Quilp«
Mrs Quilp dutifully replied »Yes Quilp« and fascinated by his gaze
remained looking timidly at him while he treated her with a succession of such
horrible grimaces as none but himself and nightmares had the power of assuming
During the whole of this performance which was somewhat of the longest he
preserved a dead silence except when by an unexpected skip or leap he made
his wife start backward with an irrepressible shriek Then he chuckled
»Mrs Quilp« he said at last
»Yes Quilp« she meekly replied
Instead of pursuing the theme he had in his mind Quilp rose folded his
arms again and looked at her more sternly than before while she averted her
eyes and kept them on the ground
»Mrs Quilp«
»Yes Quilp«
»If ever you listen to these beldames again Ill bite you«
With this laconic threat which he accompanied with a snarl that gave him
the appearance of being particularly in earnest Mr Quilp bade her clear the
teaboard away and bring the rum The spirit being set before him in a huge
casebottle which had originally come out of some ships locker he ordered
cold water and the box of cigars and these being supplied he settled himself
in an armchair with his large head and face squeezed up against the back and
his little legs planted on the table
»Now Mrs Quilp« he said »I feel in a smoking humour and shall probably
blaze away all night But sit where you are if you please in case I want you«
His wife returned no other reply than the customary »Yes Quilp« and the
small lord of the creation took his first cigar and mixed his first glass of
grog The sun went down and the stars peeped out the Tower turned from its own
proper colours to grey and from grey to black the room became perfectly dark
and the end of the cigar a deep fiery red but still Mr Quilp went on smoking
and drinking in the same position and staring listlessly out of window with the
doglike smile always on his face save when Mrs Quilp made some involuntary
movement of restlessness or fatigue and then it expanded into a grin of
delight
Chapter V
Whether Mr Quilp took any sleep by snatches of a few winks at a time or
whether he sat with his eyes wide open all night long certain it is that he
kept his cigar alight and kindled every fresh one from the ashes of that which
was nearly consumed without requiring the assistance of a candle Nor did the
striking of the clocks hour after hour appear to inspire him with any sense of
drowsiness or any natural desire to go to rest but rather to increase his
wakefulness which he showed at every such indication of the progress of the
night by a suppressed cackling in his throat and a motion of his shoulders
like one who laughs heartily but at the same time slily and by stealth
At length the day broke and poor Mrs Quilp shivering with the cold of
early morning and harassed by fatigue and want of sleep was discovered sitting
patiently on her chair raising her eyes at intervals in mute appeal to the
compassion and clemency of her lord and gently reminding him by an occasional
cough that she was still unpardoned and that her penance had been of long
duration But her dwarfish spouse still smoked his cigar and drank his rum
without heeding her and it was not until the sun had some time risen and the
activity and noise of city day were rife in the street that he deigned to
recognise her presence by any word or sign He might not have done so even then
but for certain impatient tappings at the door which seemed to denote that some
pretty hard knuckles were actively engaged upon the other side
»Why dear me« he said looking round with a malicious grin »its day open
the door sweet Mrs Quilp«
His obedient wife withdrew the bolt and her lady mother entered
Now Mrs Jiniwin pounced into the room with great impetuosity for
supposing her soninlaw to be still abed she had come to relieve her feelings
by pronouncing a strong opinion upon his general conduct and character Seeing
that he was up and dressed and that the room appeared to have been occupied
ever since she quitted it on the previous evening she stopped short in some
embarrassment
Nothing escaped the hawks eye of the ugly little man who perfectly
understanding what passed in the old ladys mind turned uglier still in the
fulness of his satisfaction and bade her good morning with a leer of triumph
»Why Betsy« said the old woman »you havent been a you dont mean to
say youve been a «
»Sitting up all night« said Quilp supplying the conclusion of the
sentence »Yes she has«
»All night« cried Mrs Jiniwin
»Aye all night Is the dear old lady deaf« said Quilp with a smile of
which a frown was part »Who says man and wife are bad company Ha ha The time
has flown«
»Youre a brute« exclaimed Mrs Jiniwin
»Come come« said Quilp wilfully misunderstanding her of course »you
mustnt call her names Shes married now you know And though she did beguile
the time and keep me from my bed you must not be so tenderly careful of me as
to be out of humour with her Bless you for a dear old lady Heres your
health«
»I am much obliged to you« returned the old woman testifying by a certain
restlessness in her hands a vehement desire to shake her matronly fist at her
soninlaw »Oh Im very much obliged to you«
»Grateful soul« cried the dwarf »Mrs Quilp«
»Yes Quilp« said the timid sufferer
»Help your mother to get breakfast Mrs Quilp I am going to the wharf this
morning the earlier the better so be quick«
Mrs Jiniwin made a faint demonstration of rebellion by sitting down in a
chair near the door and folding her arms as if in a resolute determination to do
nothing But a few whispered words from her daughter and a kind inquiry from
her soninlaw whether she felt faint with a hint that there was abundance of
cold water in the next apartment routed these symptoms effectually and she
applied herself to the prescribed preparations with sullen diligence
While they were in progress Mr Quilp withdrew to the adjoining room and
turning back his coatcollar proceeded to smear his countenance with a damp
towel of very unwholesome appearance which made his complexion rather more
cloudy than it had been before But while he was thus engaged his caution and
inquisitiveness did not forsake him With a face as sharp and cunning as ever
he often stopped even in this short process and stood listening for any
conversation in the next room of which he might be the theme
»Ah« he said after a short effort of attention »it was not the towel over
my ears I thought it wasnt Im a little hunchy villain and a monster am I
Mrs Jiniwin Oh«
The pleasure of this discovery called up the old doglike smile in full
force When he had quite done with it he shook himself in a very doglike
manner and rejoined the ladies
Mr Quilp now walked up to the front of a lookingglass and was standing
there putting on his neckerchief when Mrs Jiniwin happening to be behind
him could not resist the inclination she felt to shake her fist at her tyrant
soninlaw It was the gesture of an instant but as she did so and accompanied
the action with a menacing look she met his eye in the glass catching her in
the very act The same glance at the mirror conveyed to her the reflection of a
horribly grotesque and distorted face with the tongue lolling out and the next
instant the dwarf turning about with a perfectly bland and placid look
inquired in a tone of great affection
»How are you now my dear old darling«
Slight and ridiculous as the incident was it made him appear such a little
fiend and withal such a keen and knowing one that the old woman felt too much
afraid of him to utter a single word and suffered herself to be led with
extraordinary politeness to the breakfasttable Here he by no means diminished
the impression he had just produced for he ate hard eggs shell and all
devoured gigantic prawns with the heads and tails on chewed tobacco and
watercresses at the same time and with extraordinary greediness drank boiling
tea without winking bit his fork and spoon till they bent again and in short
performed so many horrifying and uncommon acts that the women were nearly
frightened out of their wits and began to doubt if he were really a human
creature At last having gone through these proceedings and many others which
were equally a part of his system Mr Quilp left them reduced to a very
obedient and humbled state and betook himself to the riverside where he took
boat for the wharf on which he had bestowed his name
It was flood tide when Daniel Quilp sat himself down in the wherry to cross
to the opposite shore A fleet of barges were coming lazily on some sideways
some head first some stern first all in a wrongheaded dogged obstinate way
bumping up against the larger craft running under the bows of steamboats
getting into every kind of nook and corner where they had no business and being
crunched on all sides like so many walnutshells while each with its pair of
long sweeps struggling and splashing in the water looked like some lumbering
fish in pain In some of the vessels at anchor all hands were busily engaged in
coiling ropes spreading out sails to dry taking in or discharging their
cargoes in others no life was visible but two or three tarry boys and perhaps
a barking dog running to and fro upon the deck or scrambling up to look over the
side and bark the louder for the view Coming slowly on through the forests of
masts was a great steamship beating the water in short impatient strokes with
her heavy paddles as though she wanted room to breathe and advancing in her
huge bulk like a sea monster among the minnows of the Thames On either hand
were long black tiers of colliers between them vessels slowly working out of
harbour with sails glistening in the sun and creaking noise on board reechoed
from a hundred quarters The water and all upon it was in active motion dancing
and buoyant and bubbling up while the old grey Tower and piles of building on
the shore with many a churchspire shooting up between looked coldly on and
seemed to disdain their chafing neighbour
Daniel Quilp who was not much affected by a bright morning save in so far
as it spared him the trouble of carrying an umbrella caused himself to be put
ashore hard by the wharf and proceeded thither through a narrow lane which
partaking of the amphibious character of its frequenters had as much water as
mud in its composition and a very liberal supply of both Arrived at his
destination the first object that presented itself to his view was a pair of
very imperfectly shod feet elevated in the air with the soles upwards which
remarkable appearance was referable to the boy who being of an eccentric spirit
and having a natural taste for tumbling was now standing on his head and
contemplating the aspect of the river under these uncommon circumstances He was
speedily brought on his heels by the sound of his masters voice and as soon as
his head was in its right position Mr Quilp to speak expressively in the
absence of a better verb »punched it« for him
»Come you let me alone« said the boy parrying Quilps hand with both his
elbows alternately »Youll get something you wont like if you dont and so I
tell you«
»You dog« snarled Quilp »Ill beat you with an iron rod Ill scratch you
with a rusty nail Ill pinch your eyes if you talk to me I will«
With these threats he clenched his hand again and dexterously diving in
between the elbows and catching the boys head as it dodged from side to side
gave it three or four good hard knocks Having now carried his point and
insisted on it he left off
»You wont do it again« said the boy nodding his head and drawing back
with the elbows ready in case of the worst »now«
»Stand still you dog« said Quilp »I wont do it again because Ive done
it as often as I want Here Take the key«
»Why dont you hit one of your size« said the boy approaching very slowly
»Where is there one of my size you dog« returned Quilp »Take the key or
Ill brain you with it« Indeed he gave him a smart tap with the handle as he
spoke »Now open the countinghouse«
The boy sulkily complied muttering at first but desisting when he looked
round and saw that Quilp was following him with a steady look And here it may
be remarked that between this boy and the dwarf there existed a strange kind of
mutual liking How born or bred or how nourished upon blows and threats on one
side and retorts and defiances on the other is not to the purpose Quilp would
certainly suffer nobody to contradict him but the boy and the boy would
assuredly not have submitted to be so knocked about by anybody but Quilp when
he had the power to run away at any time he chose
»Now« said Quilp passing into the wooden countinghouse »you mind the
wharf Stand upon your head again and Ill cut one of your feet off«
The boy made no answer but directly Quilp had shut himself in stood on his
head before the door then walked on his hands to the back and stood on his head
there and then to the opposite side and repeated the performance There were
indeed four sides to the countinghouse but he avoided that one where the
window was deeming it probable that Quilp would be looking out of it This was
prudent for in point of fact the dwarf knowing his disposition was lying in
wait at a little distance from the sash armed with a large piece of wood which
being rough and jagged and studded in many parts with broken nails might
possibly have hurt him
It was a dirty little box this countinghouse with nothing in it but an
old rickety desk and two stools a hatpeg an ancient almanack an inkstand
with no ink and the stump of one pen and an eightday clock which hadnt gone
for eighteen years at least and of which the minute hand had been twisted off
for a toothpick Daniel Quilp pulled his hat over his brows climbed on to the
desk which had a flat top and stretching his short length upon it went to
sleep with the ease of an old practitioner intending no doubt to compensate
himself for the deprivation of last nights rest by a long and sound nap
Sound it might have been but long it was not for he had not been asleep a
quarter of an hour when the boy opened the door and thrust in his head which
was like a bundle of badlypicked oakum Quilp was a light sleeper and started
up directly
»Heres somebody for you« said the boy
»Who«
»I dont know«
»Ask« said Quilp seizing the trifle of wood before mentioned and throwing
it at him with such dexterity that it was well the boy disappeared before it
reached the spot on which he had stood »Ask you dog«
Not caring to venture within range of such missiles again the boy
discreetly sent in his stead the first cause of the interruption who now
presented herself at the door
»What Nelly« cried Quilp
»Yes« said the child hesitating whether to enter or retreat for the dwarf
just roused with his dishevelled hair hanging all about him and a yellow
handkerchief over his head was something fearful to behold »its only me
sir«
»Come in« said Quilp without getting off the desk »Come in Stay Just
look out into the yard and see whether theres a boy standing on his head«
»No sir« replied Nell »Hes on his feet«
»Youre sure he is« said Quilp »Well Now come in and shut the door
Whats your message Nelly«
The child handed him a letter Mr Quilp without changing his position
otherwise than to turn over a little more on his side and rest his chin on his
hand proceeded to make himself acquainted with its contents
Chapter VI
Little Nell stood timidly by with her eyes raised to the countenance of Mr
Quilp as he read the letter plainly showing by her looks that while she
entertained some fear and distrust of the little man she was much inclined to
laugh at his uncouth appearance and grotesque attitude And yet there was
visible on the part of the child a painful anxiety for his reply and a
consciousness of his power to render it disagreeable or distressing which was
strongly at variance with this impulse and restrained it more effectually than
she could possibly have done by any efforts of her own
That Mr Quilp was himself perplexed and that in no small degree by the
contents of the letter was sufficiently obvious Before he had got through the
first two or three lines he began to open his eyes very wide and to frown most
horribly the next two or three caused him to scratch his head in an uncommonly
vicious manner and when he came to the conclusion he gave a long dismal whistle
indicative of surprise and dismay After folding and laying it down beside him
he bit the nails of all his ten fingers with extreme voracity and taking it up
sharply read it again The second perusal was to all appearance as
unsatisfactory as the first and plunged him into a profound reverie from which
he awakened to another assault upon his nails and a long stare at the child who
with her eyes turned towards the ground awaited his further pleasure
»Halloa here« he said at length in a voice and with a suddenness which
made the child start as though a gun had been fired off at her ear »Nelly«
»Yes sir«
»Do you know whats inside this letter Nell«
»No sir«
»Are you sure quite sure quite certain upon your soul«
»Quite sure sir«
»Do you wish you may die if you do know hey« said the dwarf
»Indeed I dont know« returned the child
»Well« muttered Quilp as he marked her earnest look »I believe you Humph
Gone already Gone in fourandtwenty hours What the devil has he done with it
Thats the mystery«
This reflection set him scratching his head and biting his nails once
more While he was thus employed his features gradually relaxed into what was
with him a cheerful smile but which in any other man would have been a ghastly
grin of pain and when the child looked up again she found that he was regarding
her with extraordinary favour and complacency
»You look very pretty today Nelly charmingly pretty Are you tired
Nelly«
»No sir Im in a hurry to get back for he will be anxious while I am
away«
»Theres no hurry little Nell no hurry at all« said Quilp »How should
you like to be my number two Nelly«
»To be what sir«
»My number two Nelly my second my Mrs Quilp« said the dwarf
The child looked frightened but seemed not to understand him which Mr
Quilp observing hastened to explain his meaning more distinctly
»To be Mrs Quilp the second when Mrs Quilp the first is dead sweet
Nell« said Quilp wrinkling up his eyes and luring her towards him with his
bent forefinger »to be my wife my little cherrycheeked redlipped wife Say
that Mrs Quilp lives five years or only four youll be just the proper age
for me Ha ha Be a good girl Nelly a very good girl and see if one of these
days you dont come to be Mrs Quilp of Tower Hill«
So far from being sustained and stimulated by this delightful prospect the
child shrunk from him and trembled Mr Quilp either because frightening
anybody afforded him a constitutional delight or because it was pleasant to
contemplate the death of Mrs Quilp number one and the elevation of Mrs Quilp
number two to her post and title or because he was determined for purposes of
his own to be agreeable and goodhumoured at that particular time only laughed
and feigned to take no heed of her alarm
»You shall come with me to Tower Hill and see Mrs Quilp that is
directly« said the dwarf »Shes very fond of you Nell though not so fond as
I am You shall come home with me«
»I must go back indeed« said the child »He told me to return directly I
had the answer«
»But you havent it Nelly« retorted the dwarf »and wont have it and
cant have it until I have been home so you see that to do your errand you
must go with me Reach me yonder hat my dear and well go directly« With
that Mr Quilp suffered himself to roll gradually off the desk until his short
legs touched the ground when he got upon them and led the way from the
countinghouse to the wharf outside where the first objects that presented
themselves were the boy who had stood on his head and another young gentleman of
about his own stature rolling in the mud together locked in a tight embrace
and cuffing each other with mutual heartiness
»Its Kit« cried Nelly clasping her hands »poor Kit who came with me oh
pray stop them Mr Quilp«
»Ill stop em« cried Quilp diving into the little countinghouse and
returning with a thick stick »Ill stop em Now my boys fight away Ill
fight you both Ill take both of you both together both together«
With which defiances the dwarf flourished his cudgel and dancing round the
combatants and treading upon them and skipping over them in a kind of frenzy
laid about him now on one and now on the other in a most desperate manner
always aiming at their heads and dealing such blows as none but the veriest
little savage would have inflicted This being warmer work than they had
calculated upon speedily cooled the courage of the belligerents who scrambled
to their feet and called for quarter
»Ill beat you to a pulp you dogs« said Quilp vainly endeavouring to get
near either of them for a parting blow »Ill bruise you till youre
coppercoloured Ill break your faces till you havent a profile between you I
will«
»Come you drop that stick or itll be worse for you« said his boy dodging
round him and watching an opportunity to rush in »you drop that stick«
»Come a little nearer and Ill drop it on your skull you dog« said Quilp
with gleaming eyes »a little nearer nearer yet«
But the boy declined the invitation until his master was apparently a little
off his guard when he darted in and seizing the weapon tried to wrest it from
his grasp Quilp who was as strong as a lion easily kept his hold until the
boy was tugging at it with his utmost power when he suddenly let it go and sent
him reeling backwards so that he fell violently upon his head The success of
this manoeuvre tickled Mr Quilp beyond description and he laughed and stamped
upon the ground as at a most irresistible jest
»Never mind« said the boy nodding his head and rubbing it at the same
time »you see if ever I offer to strike anybody again because they say youre a
uglier dwarf than can be seen anywheres for a penny thats all«
»Do you mean to say Im not you dog« returned Quilp
»No« retorted the boy
»Then what do you fight on my wharf for you villain« said Quilp
»Because he said so« replied the boy pointing to Kit »not because you
ant«
»Then why did he say« bawled Kit »that Miss Nelly was ugly and that she
and my master was obliged to do whatever his master liked Why did he say that«
»He said what he did because hes a fool and you said what you did because
youre very wise and clever almost too clever to live unless youre very
careful of yourself Kit« said Quilp with great suavity in his manner but
still more of quiet malice about his eyes and mouth »Heres sixpence for you
Kit Always speak the truth At all times Kit speak the truth Lock the
countinghouse you dog and bring me the key«
The other boy to whom this order was addressed did as he was told and was
rewarded for his partisanship in behalf of his master by a dexterous rap on the
nose with the key which brought the water into his eyes Then Mr Quilp
departed with the child and Kit in a boat and the boy revenged himself by
dancing on his head at intervals on the extreme verge of the wharf during the
whole time they crossed the river
There was only Mrs Quilp at home and she little expecting the return of
her lord was just composing herself for a refreshing slumber when the sound of
his footsteps roused her She had barely time to seem to be occupied in some
needlework when he entered accompanied by the child having left Kit down
stairs
»Heres Nelly Trent dear Mrs Quilp« said her husband »A glass of wine
my dear and a biscuit for she has had a long walk Shell sit with you my
soul while I write a letter«
Mrs Quilp looked tremblingly in her spouses face to know what this unusual
courtesy might portend and obedient to the summons she saw in his gesture
followed him into the next room
»Mind what I say to you« whispered Quilp »See if you can get out of her
anything about her grandfather or what they do or how they live or what he
tells her Ive my reasons for knowing if I can You women talk more freely to
one another than you do to us and you have a soft mild way with you thatll
win upon her Do you hear«
»Yes Quilp«
»Go then Whats the matter now«
»Dear Quilp« faltered his wife »I love the child if you could do without
making me deceive her «
The dwarf muttering a terrible oath looked round as if for some weapon with
which to inflict condign punishment upon his disobedient wife The submissive
little woman hurriedly entreated him not to be angry and promised to do as he
bade her
»Do you hear me« whispered Quilp nipping and pinching her arm »worm
yourself into her secrets I know you can Im listening recollect If youre
not sharp enough Ill creak the door and woe betide you if I have to creak it
much Go«
Mrs Quilp departed according to order Her amiable husband ensconcing
himself behind the partly opened door and applying his ear close to it began
to listen with a face of great craftiness and attention
Poor Mrs Quilp was thinking however in what manner to begin or what kind
of inquiries she could make it was not until the door creaking in a very
urgent manner warned her to proceed without further consideration that the
sound of her voice was heard
»How very often you have come backwards and forwards lately to Mr Quilp my
dear«
»I have said so to grandfather a hundred times« returned Nell innocently
»And what has he said to that«
»Only sighed and dropped his head and seemed so sad and wretched that if
you could have seen him I am sure you must have cried you could not have helped
it more than I I know How that door creaks«
»It often does« returned Mrs Quilp with an uneasy glance towards it »But
your grandfather he used not to be so wretched«
»Oh no« said the child eagerly »so different we were once so happy and he
so cheerful and contented You cannot think what a sad change has fallen on us
since«
»I am very very sorry to hear you speak like this my dear« said Mrs
Quilp And she spoke the truth
»Thank you« returned the child kissing her cheek »you are always kind to
me and it is a pleasure to talk to you I can speak to no one else about him
but poor Kit I am very happy still I ought to feel happier perhaps than I do
but you cannot think how it grieves me sometimes to see him alter so«
»Hell alter again Nelly« said Mrs Quilp »and be what he was before«
»Oh if God would only let that come about« said the child with streaming
eyes »but it is a long time now since he first began to I thought I saw that
door moving«
»Its the wind« said Mrs Quilp faintly »Began to «
»To be so thoughtful and dejected and to forget our old way of spending the
time in the long evenings« said the child
»I used to read to him by the fireside and he sat listening and when I
stopped and we began to talk he told me about my mother and how she once
looked and spoke just like me when she was a little child Then he used to take
me on his knee and try to make me understand that she was not lying in her
grave but had flown to a beautiful country beyond the sky where nothing died
or ever grew old we were very happy once«
»Nelly Nelly« said the poor woman »I cant bear to see one as young as
you so sorrowful Pray dont cry«
»I do so very seldom« said Nell »but I have kept this to myself a long
time and I am not quite well I think for the tears come into my eyes and I
cannot keep them back I dont mind telling you my grief for I know you will
not tell it to any one again«
Mrs Quilp turned away her head and made no answer
»Then« said the child »we often walked in the fields and among the green
trees and when we came home at night we liked it better for being tired and
said what a happy place it was And if it was dark and rather dull we used to
say what did it matter to us for it only made us remember our last walk with
greater pleasure and look forward to our next one But now we never have
these walks and though it is the same house it is darker and much more gloomy
than it used to be Indeed«
She paused here but though the door creaked more than once Mrs Quilp said
nothing
»Mind you dont suppose« said the child earnestly »that grandfather is
less kind to me than he was I think he loves me better every day and is kinder
and more affectionate than he was the day before You do not know how fond he is
of me«
»I am sure he loves you dearly« said Mrs Quilp
»Indeed indeed he does« cried Nell »as dearly as I love him But I have
not told you the greatest change of all and this you must never breathe again
to any one He has no sleep or rest but that which he takes by day in his easy
chair for every night and nearly all night long he is away from home«
»Nelly«
»Hush« said the child laying her finger on her lip and looking round
»When he comes home in the morning which is generally just before day I let
him in Last night he was very late and it was quite light I saw that his face
was deadly pale that his eyes were bloodshot and that his legs trembled as he
walked When I had gone to bed again I heard him groan I got up and ran back
to him and heard him say before he knew that I was there that he could not
bear his life much longer and if it was not for the child would wish to die
What shall I do Oh what shall I do«
The fountains of her heart were opened the child overpowered by the weight
of her sorrows and anxieties by the first confidence she had ever shown and
the sympathy with which her little tale had been received hid her face in the
arms of her helpless friend and burst into a passion of tears
In a few moments Mr Quilp returned and expressed the utmost surprise to
find her in this condition which he did very naturally and with admirable
effect for that kind of acting had been rendered familiar to him by long
practice and he was quite at home in it
»Shes tired you see Mrs Quilp« said the dwarf squinting in a hideous
manner to imply that his wife was to follow his lead »Its a long way from her
home to the wharf and then she was alarmed to see a couple of young scoundrels
fighting and was timorous on the water besides All this together has been too
much for her Poor Nell«
Mr Quilp unintentionally adopted the very best means he could have devised
for the recovery of his young visitor by patting her on the head Such an
application from any other hand might not have produced a remarkable effect but
the child shrunk so quickly from his touch and felt such an instinctive desire
to get out of his reach that she rose directly and declared herself ready to
return
»But youd better wait and dine with Mrs Quilp and me« said the dwarf
»I have been away too long sir already« returned Nell drying her eyes
»Well« said Mr Quilp »if you will go you will Nelly Heres the note
Its only to say that I shall see him tomorrow or maybe next day and that I
couldnt do that little business for him this morning Goodbye Nelly Here
you sir take care of her dye hear«
Kit who appeared at the summons deigned to make no reply to so needless an
injunction and after staring at Quilp in a threatening manner as if he doubted
whether he might not have been the cause of Nelly shedding tears and felt more
than half disposed to revenge the fact upon him on the mere suspicion turned
about and followed his young mistress who had by this time taken her leave of
Mrs Quilp and departed
»Youre a keen questioner ant you Mrs Quilp« said the dwarf turning
upon her as soon as they were left alone
»What more could I do« returned his wife mildly
»What more could you do« sneered Quilp »couldnt you have done something
less couldnt you have done what you had to do without appearing in your
favourite part of the crocodile you minx«
»I am very sorry for the child Quilp« said his wife »Surely Ive done
enough Ive led her on to tell her secret when she supposed we were alone and
you were by God forgive me«
»You led her on You did a great deal truly« said Quilp »What did I tell
you about making me creak the door Its lucky for you that from what she let
fall Ive got the clue I want for if I hadnt Id have visited the failure
upon you«
Mrs Quilp being fully persuaded of this made no reply Her husband added
with some exultation
»But you may thank your fortunate stars the same stars that made you Mrs
Quilp you may thank them that Im upon the old gentlemans track and have got
a new light So let me hear no more about this matter now or at any other
time and dont get anything too nice for dinner for I shant be home to it«
So saying Mr Quilp put his hat on and took himself off and Mrs Quilp who
was afflicted beyond measure by the recollection of the part she had just acted
shut herself up in her chamber and smothering her head in the bedclothes
bemoaned her fault more bitterly than many less tenderhearted persons would
have mourned a much greater offence for in the majority of cases conscience
is an elastic and very flexible article which will bear a deal of stretching
and adapt itself to a great variety of circumstances Some people by prudent
management and leaving it off piece by piece like a flannel waistcoat in warm
weather even contrive in time to dispense with it altogether but there be
others who can assume the garment and throw it off at pleasure and this being
the greatest and most convenient improvement is the one most in vogue
Chapter VII
»Fred« said Mr Swiveller »remember the once popular melody of Begone dull
care fan the sinking flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship and pass
the rosy wine«
Mr Richard Swivellers apartments were in the neighbourhood of Drury Lane
and in addition to this conveniency of situation had the advantage of being over
a tobacconists shop so that he was enabled to procure a refreshing sneeze at
any time by merely stepping out on the staircase and was saved the trouble and
expense of maintaining a snuffbox It was in these apartments that Mr Swiveller
made use of the expressions above recorded for the consolation and
encouragement of his desponding friend and it may not be uninteresting or
improper to remark that even these brief observations partook in a double sense
of the figurative and poetical character of Mr Swivellers mind as the rosy
wine was in fact represented by one glass of cold ginandwater which was
replenished as occasion required from a bottle and jug upon the table and was
passed from one to another in a scarcity of tumblers which as Mr Swivellers
was a bachelors establishment may be acknowledged without a blush By a like
pleasant fiction his single chamber was always mentioned in the plural number
In its disengaged times the tobacconist had announced it in his window as
apartments for a single gentleman and Mr Swiveller following up the hint
never failed to speak of it as his rooms his lodgings or his chambers
conveying to his hearers a notion of indefinite space and leaving their
imaginations to wander through long suites of lofty halls at pleasure
In this flight of fancy Mr Swiveller was assisted by a deceptive piece of
furniture in reality a bedstead but in semblance a bookcase which occupied a
prominent situation in his chamber and seemed to defy suspicion and challenge
inquiry There is no doubt that by day Mr Swiveller firmly believed this
secret convenience to be a bookcase and nothing more that he closed his eyes to
the bed resolutely denied the existence of the blankets and spurned the
bolster from his thoughts No word of its real use no hint of its nightly
service no allusion to its peculiar properties had ever passed between him and
his most intimate friends Implicit faith in the deception was the first article
of his creed To be the friend of Swiveller you must reject all circumstantial
evidence all reason observation and experience and repose a blind belief in
the bookcase It was his pet weakness and he cherished it
»Fred« said Mr Swiveller finding that his former adjuration had been
productive of no effect »Pass the rosy«
Young Trent with an impatient gesture pushed the glass towards him and
fell again into the moody attitude from which he had been unwillingly roused
»Ill give you Fred« said his friend stirring the mixture »a little
sentiment appropriate to the occasion Heres May the «
»Pshaw« interposed the other »You worry me to death with your chattering
You can be merry under any circumstances«
»Why Mr Trent« returned Dick »there is a proverb which talks about being
merry and wise There are some people who can be merry and cant be wise and
some who can be wise or think they can and cant be merry Im one of the
first sort If the proverbs a good un I suppose its better to keep to half
of it than none at all events Id rather be merry and not wise than be like
you neither one nor tother«
»Bah« muttered his friend peevishly
»With all my heart« said Mr Swiveller »In the polite circles I believe
this sort of thing isnt usually said to a gentleman in his own apartments but
never mind that Make yourself at home« Adding to this retort an observation to
the effect that his friend appeared to be rather cranky in point of temper
Richard Swiveller finished the rosy and applied himself to the composition of
another glassful in which after tasting it with great relish he proposed a
toast to an imaginary company
»Gentlemen Ill give you if you please Success to the ancient family of
the Swivellers and good luck to Mr Richard in particular Mr Richard
gentlemen« said Dick with great emphasis »who spends all his money on his
friends and is Bah d for his pains Hear hear«
»Dick« said the other returning to his seat after having paced the room
twice or thrice »will you talk seriously for two minutes if I show you a way
to make your fortune with very little trouble«
»Youve shown me so many« returned Dick »and nothing has come of any one
of em but empty pockets «
»Youll tell a different story of this one before a very long time is
over« said his companion drawing his chair to the table »You saw my sister
Nell«
»What about her« returned Dick
»She has a pretty face has she not«
»Why certainly« replied Dick »I must say for her that theres not any
very strong family likeness between her and you«
»Has she a pretty face« repeated his friend impatiently
»Yes« said Dick »she has a pretty face a very pretty face What of that«
»Ill tell you« returned his friend »Its very plain that the old man and
I will remain at daggersdrawn to the end of our lives and that I have nothing
to expect from him You see that I suppose«
»A bat might see that with the sun shining« said Dick
»Its equally plain that the money which the old flint rot him first
taught me to expect that I should share with her at his death will all be hers
is it not«
»I should say it was« replied Dick »unless the way in which I put the case
to him made an impression It may have done so It was powerful Fred Here is
a jolly old grandfather that was strong I thought very friendly and
natural Did it strike you in that way«
»It didnt strike him« returned the other »so we neednt discuss it Now
look here Nell is nearly fourteen«
»Fine girl of her age but small« observed Richard Swiveller
parenthetically
»If I am to go on be quiet for one minute« returned Trent fretting at the
very slight interest the other appeared to take in the conversation »Now Im
coming to the point«
»Thats right« said Dick
»The girl has strong affections and brought up as she has been may at her
age be easily influenced and persuaded If I take her in hand I will be bound
by a very little coaxing and threatening to bend her to my will Not to beat
about the bush for the advantages of the scheme would take a week to tell
whats to prevent your marrying her«
Richard Swiveller who had been looking over the rim of the tumbler while
his companion addressed the foregoing remarks to him with great energy and
earnestness of manner no sooner heard these words than he evinced the utmost
consternation and with difficulty ejaculated the monosyllable
»What«
»I say whats to prevent« repeated the other with a steadiness of manner
of the effect of which upon his companion he was well assured by long
experience »whats to prevent your marrying her«
»And she nearly fourteen« cried Dick
»I dont mean marrying her now« returned the brother angrily »say in two
years time in three in four Does the old man look like a longliver«
»He dont look like it« said Dick shaking his head »but these old people
theres no trusting em Fred Theres an aunt of mine down in Dorsetshire
that was going to die when I was eight years old and hasnt kept her word yet
Theyre so aggravating so unprincipled so spiteful unless theres apoplexy
in the family Fred you cant calculate upon em and even then they deceive
you just as often as not«
»Look at the worst side of the question then« said Trent as steadily as
before and keeping his eyes upon his friend »Suppose he lives«
»To be sure« said Dick »Theres the rub«
»I say« resumed his friend »suppose he lives and I persuaded or if the
word sounds more feasible forced Nell to a secret marriage with you What do
you think would come of that«
»A family and an annual income of nothing to keep em on« said Richard
Swiveller after some reflection
»I tell you« returned the other with an increased earnestness which
whether it were real or assumed had the same effect on his companion »that he
lives for her that his whole energies and thoughts are bound up in her that he
would no more disinherit her for an act of disobedience than he would take me
into his favour again for any act of obedience or virtue that I could possibly
be guilty of He could not do it You or any other man with eyes in his head may
see that if he chooses«
»It seems improbable certainly« said Dick musing
»It seems improbable because it is improbable« his friend returned »If you
would furnish him with an additional inducement to forgive you let there be an
irreconcileable breach a most deadly quarrel between you and me let there be
a pretence of such a thing I mean of course and hell do so fast enough As
to Nell constant dropping will wear away a stone you know you may trust to me
as far as she is concerned So whether he lives or dies what does it come to
That you become the sole inheritor of the wealth of this rich old hunks that
you and I spend it together and that you get into the bargain a beautiful
young wife«
»I suppose theres no doubt about his being rich« said Dick
»Doubt Did you hear what he let fall the other day when we were there
Doubt What will you doubt next Dick«
It would be tedious to pursue the conversation through all its artful
windings or to develop the gradual approaches by which the heart of Richard
Swiveller was gained It is sufficient to know that vanity interest poverty
and every spendthrift consideration urged him to look upon the proposal with
favour and that where all other inducements were wanting the habitual
carelessness of his disposition stepped in and still weighed down the scale on
the same side To these impulses must be added the complete ascendency which his
friend had long been accustomed to exercise over him an ascendency exerted in
the beginning sorely at the expense of the unfortunate Dicks purse and
prospects but still maintained without the slightest relaxation
notwithstanding that Dick suffered for all his friends vices and was in nine
cases out of ten looked upon as his designing tempter when he was indeed
nothing but his thoughtless lightheaded tool
The motives on the other side were something deeper than any which Richard
Swiveller entertained or understood but these being left to their own
development require no present elucidation The negotiation was concluded very
pleasantly and Mr Swiveller was in the act of stating in flowery terms that he
had no insurmountable objection to marrying anybody plentifully endowed with
money or moveables who could be induced to take him when he was interrupted in
his observations by a knock at the door and the consequent necessity of crying
»Come in«
The door was opened but nothing came in except a soapy arm and a strong
gush of tobacco The gush of tobacco came from the shop down stairs and the
soapy arm proceeded from the body of a servant girl who being then and there
engaged in cleaning the stairs had just drawn it out of a warm pail to take in a
letter which letter she now held in her hand proclaiming aloud with that
quick perception of surnames peculiar to her class that it was for Mister
Snivelling
Dick looked rather pale and foolish when he glanced at the direction and
still more so when he came to look at the inside observing that this was one of
the inconveniences of being a ladys man and that it was very easy to talk as
they had been talking but he had quite forgotten her
»Her Who« demanded Trent
»Sophy Wackles« said Dick
»Whos she«
»Shes all my fancy painted her sir thats what she is« said Mr
Swiveller taking a long pull at »the rosy« and looking gravely at his friend
»She is lovely shes divine You know her«
»I remember« said his companion carelessly »What of her«
»Why sir« returned Dick »between Miss Sophia Wackles and the humble
individual who has now the honour to address you warm and tender sentiments
have been engendered sentiments of the most honourable and inspiring kind The
Goddess Diana sir that calls aloud for the chase is not more particular in
her behaviour than Sophia Wackles I can tell you that«
»Am I to believe theres anything real in what you say« demanded his
friend »you dont mean to say that any lovemaking has been going on«
»Lovemaking yes Promising no« said Dick »There can be no action for
breach thats one comfort Ive never committed myself in writing Fred«
»And whats in the letter pray«
»A reminder Fred for tonight a small party of twenty making two
hundred light fantastic toes in all supposing every lady and gentleman to have
the proper complement I must go if its only to begin breaking off the affair
Ill do it dont you be afraid I should like to know whether she left this
herself If she did unconscious of any bar to her happiness its affecting
Fred«
To solve this question Mr Swiveller summoned the handmaid and ascertained
that Miss Sophy Wackles had indeed left the letter with her own hands and that
she had come accompanied for decorums sake no doubt by a younger Miss
Wackles and that on learning that Mr Swiveller was at home and being requested
to walk up stairs she was extremely shocked and professed that she would rather
die Mr Swiveller heard this account with a degree of admiration not altogether
consistent with the project in which he had just concurred but his friend
attached very little importance to his behaviour in this respect probably
because he knew that he had influence sufficient to control Richard Swivellers
proceedings in this or any other matter whenever he deemed it necessary for
the advancement of his own purposes to exert it
Chapter VIII
Business disposed of Mr Swiveller was inwardly reminded of its being nigh
dinnertime and to the intent that his health might not be endangered by longer
abstinence despatched a message to the nearest eatinghouse requiring an
immediate supply of boiled beef and greens for two With this demand however
the eatinghouse having experience of its customer declined to comply
churlishly sending back for answer that if Mr Swiveller stood in need of beef
perhaps he would be so obliging as to come there and eat it bringing with him
as grace before meat the amount of a certain small account which had been long
outstanding Not at all intimidated by this rebuff but rather sharpened in wits
and appetite Mr Swiveller forwarded the same message to another and more
distant eatinghouse adding to it by way of rider that the gentleman was
induced to send so far not only by the great fame and popularity its beef had
acquired but in consequence of the extreme toughness of the beef retailed at
the obdurate cooks shop which rendered it quite unfit not merely for
gentlemanly food but for any human consumption The good effect of this politic
course was demonstrated by the speedy arrival of a small pewter pyramid
curiously constructed of platters and covers whereof the boiledbeefplates
formed the base and a foaming quartpot the apex the structure being resolved
into its component parts afforded all things requisite and necessary for a
hearty meal to which Mr Swiveller and his friend applied themselves with great
keenness and enjoyment
»May the present moment« said Dick sticking his fork into a large
carbuncular potato »be the worst of our lives I like this plan of sending em
with the peel on theres a charm in drawing a potato from its native element
if I may so express it to which the rich and powerful are strangers Ah Man
wants but little here below nor wants that little long How true that is
after dinner«
»I hope the eatinghouse keeper will want but little and that he may not
want that little long« returned his companion »but I suspect youve no means
of paying for this«
»I shall be passing presently and Ill call« said Dick winking his eye
significantly »The waiters quite helpless The goods are gone Fred and
theres an end of it«
In point of fact, it would seem that the waiter felt this wholesome truth
for when he returned for the empty plates and dishes and was informed by Mr
Swiveller with dignified carelessness that he would call and settle when he
should be passing presently he displayed some perturbation of spirit and
muttered a few remarks about payment on delivery and no trust and other
unpleasant subjects but was fain to content himself with inquiring at what hour
it was likely the gentleman would call in order that being personally
responsible for the beef greens and sundries he might take care to be in the
way at the time Mr Swiveller after mentally calculating his engagements to a
nicety replied that he should look in at from two minutes before six to seven
minutes past and the man disappearing with this feeble consolation Richard
Swiveller took a greasy memorandumbook from his pocket and made an entry
therein
»Is that a reminder in case you should forget to call« said Trent with a
sneer
»Not exactly Fred« replied the imperturbable Richard continuing to write
with a businesslike air »I enter in this little book the names of the streets
that I cant go down while the shops are open This dinner today closes Long
Acre I bought a pair of boots in Great Queen Street last week and made that no
thoroughfare too Theres only one avenue to the Strand left open now and I
shall have to stop up that tonight with a pair of gloves The roads are closing
so fast in every direction that in about a months time unless my aunt sends
me a remittance I shall have to go three or four miles out of town to get over
the way«
»Theres no fear of her failing in the end« said Trent
»Why I hope not« returned Mr Swiveller »but the average number of
letters it takes to soften her is six and this time we have got as far as eight
without any effect at all Ill write another tomorrow morning I mean to blot
it a good deal and shake some water over it out of the peppercastor to make it
look penitent Im in such a state of mind that I hardly know what I write
blot if you could see me at this minute shedding tears for my past misconduct
peppercastor my hand trembles when I think blot again if that dont
produce the effect its all over«
By this time Mr Swiveller had finished his entry and he now replaced his
pencil in its little sheath and closed the book in a perfectly grave and
serious frame of mind His friend discovered that it was time for him to fulfil
some other engagement and Richard Swiveller was accordingly left alone in
company with the rosy wine and his own meditations touching Miss Sophy Wackles
»Its rather sudden« said Dick shaking his head with a look of infinite
wisdom and running on as he was accustomed to do with scraps of verse as if
they were only prose in a hurry »when the heart of a man is depressed with
fears the mist is dispelled when Miss Wackles appears shes a very nice girl
Shes like the red red rose thats newly sprung in June theres no denying
that shes also like a melody thats sweetly played in tune Its really very
sudden Not that theres any need on account of Freds little sister to turn
cool directly but its better not to go too far If I begin to cool at all I
must begin at once I see that Theres the chance of an action for breach
thats one reason Theres the chance of Sophys getting another husband thats
another Theres the chance of no theres no chance of that but its as well
to be on the safe side«
This undeveloped consideration was the possibility which Richard Swiveller
sought to conceal even from himself of his not being proof against the charms
of Miss Wackles and in some unguarded moment by linking his fortunes to hers
for ever of putting it out of his own power to further the notable scheme to
which he had so readily become a party For all these reasons he decided to
pick a quarrel with Miss Wackles without delay and casting about for a pretext
determined in favour of groundless jealousy Having made up his mind on this
important point he circulated the glass from his right hand to his left and
back again pretty freely to enable him to act his part with the greater
discretion and then after making some slight improvements in his toilet bent
his steps towards the spot hallowed by the fair object of his meditations
This spot was at Chelsea for there Miss Sophia Wackles resided with her
widowed mother and two sisters in conjunction with whom she maintained a very
small dayschool for young ladies of proportionate dimensions a circumstance
which was made known to the neighbourhood by an oval board over the front
firstfloor window whereon appeared in circumambient flourishes the words
»Ladies Seminary« and which was further published and proclaimed at intervals
between the hours of halfpast nine and ten in the morning by a straggling and
solitary young lady of tender years standing on the scraper on the tips of her
toes and making futile attempts to reach the knocker with a spellingbook The
several duties of instruction in this establishment were thus discharged
English grammar composition geography and the use of the dumbbells by Miss
Melissa Wackles writing arithmetic dancing music and general fascination
by Miss Sophy Wackles the art of needlework marking and samplery by Miss
Jane Wackles corporal punishment fasting and other tortures and terrors by
Mrs Wackles Miss Melissa Wackles was the eldest daughter Miss Sophy the next
and Miss Jane the youngest Miss Melissa might have seen fiveandthirty summers
or thereabouts and verged on the autumnal Miss Sophy was a fresh
goodhumoured buxom girl of twenty and Miss Jane numbered scarcely sixteen
years Mrs Wackles was an excellent but rather venomous old lady of
threescore
To this Ladies Seminary then Richard Swiveller hied with designs
obnoxious to the peace of the fair Sophia who arrayed in virgin white
embellished by no ornament but one blushing rose received him on his arrival
in the midst of very elegant not to say brilliant preparations such as the
embellishment of the room with the little flowerpots which always stood on the
windowsill outside save in windy weather when they blew into the area the
choice attire of the dayscholars who were allowed to grace the festival the
unwonted curls of Miss Jane Wackles who had kept her head during the whole of
the preceding day screwed up tight in a yellow playbill and the solemn
gentility and stately bearing of the old lady and her eldest daughter which
struck Mr Swiveller as being uncommon but made no further impression upon him
The truth is and as there is no accounting for tastes even a taste so
strange as this may be recorded without being looked upon as a wilful and
malicious invention the truth is that neither Mrs Wackles nor her eldest
daughter had at any time greatly favoured the pretensions of Mr Swiveller they
being accustomed to make slight mention of him as a gay young man and to sigh
and shake their heads ominously whenever his name was mentioned Mr
Swivellers conduct in respect to Miss Sophy having been of that vague and
dilatory kind which is usually looked upon as betokening no fixed matrimonial
intentions the young lady herself began in course of time to deem it highly
desirable that it should be brought to an issue one way or other Hence she
had at last consented to play off against Richard Swiveller a stricken
marketgardener known to be ready with his offer on the smallest encouragement
and hence as this occasion had been specially assigned for the purpose that
great anxiety on her part for Richard Swivellers presence which had occasioned
her to leave the note he has been seen to receive »If he has any expectations
at all or any means of keeping a wife well« said Mrs Wackles to her eldest
daughter »hell state em to us now or never« »If he really cares about me«
thought Miss Sophy »he must tell me so tonight«
But all these sayings and doings and thinkings being unknown to Mr
Swiveller affected him not in the least he was debating in his mind how he
could best turn jealous and wishing that Sophy were for that occasion only
far less pretty than she was or that she were her own sister which would have
served his turn as well when the company came and among them the
marketgardener whose name was Cheggs But Mr Cheggs came not alone or
unsupported for he prudently brought along with him his sister Miss Cheggs
who making straight to Miss Sophy and taking her by both hands and kissing her
on both cheeks hoped in an audible whisper that they had not come too early
»Too early No« replied Sophy
»Oh my dear« rejoined Miss Cheggs in the same whisper as before »Ive
been so tormented so worried that its a mercy we were not here at four
oclock in the afternoon Alick has been in such a state of impatience to come
Youd hardly believe that he was dressed before dinnertime and has been looking
at the clock and teasing me ever since Its all your fault you naughty thing«
Miss Sophy blushed and Mr Cheggs who was bashful before ladies blushed
too and Miss Sophys mother and sisters to prevent Mr Cheggs from blushing
more lavished civilities and attentions upon him and left Richard Swiveller to
take care of himself Here was the very thing he wanted here was good cause
reason and foundation for pretending to be angry but having this cause
reason and foundation which he had come expressly to seek not expecting to
find Richard Swiveller was angry in sound earnest and wondered what the devil
Cheggs meant by his impudence
However Mr Swiveller had Miss Sophys hand for the first quadrille
countrydances being low were utterly proscribed and so gained an advantage
over his rival who sat despondingly in a corner and contemplated the glorious
figure of the young lady as she moved through the mazy dance Nor was this the
only start Mr Swiveller had of the marketgardener for determining to show
the family what quality of man they trifled with and influenced perhaps by his
late libations he performed such feats of agility and such spins and twirls as
filled the company with astonishment and in particular caused a very long
gentleman who was dancing with a very short scholar to stand quite transfixed
by wonder and admiration Even Mrs Wackles forgot for the moment to snub three
small young ladies who were inclined to be happy and could not repress a rising
thought that to have such a dancer as that in the family would be a pride
indeed
At this momentous crisis Miss Cheggs proved herself a vigorous and useful
ally for not confining herself to expressing by scornful smiles a contempt for
Mr Swivellers accomplishments she took every opportunity of whispering into
Miss Sophys ear expressions of condolence and sympathy on her being worried by
such a ridiculous creature declaring that she was frightened to death lest
Alick should fall upon him and beat him in the fulness of his wrath and
entreating Miss Sophy to observe how the eyes of the said Alick gleamed with
love and fury passions it may be observed which being too much for his eyes
rushed into his nose also and suffused it with a crimson glow
»You must dance with Miss Cheggs« said Miss Sophy to Dick Swiveller after
she had herself danced twice with Mr Cheggs and made great show of encouraging
his advances »Shes such a nice girl and her brothers quite delightful«
»Quite delightful is he« muttered Dick »Quite delighted too I should say
from the manner in which hes looking this way«
Here Miss Jane previously instructed for the purpose interposed her many
curls and whispered her sister to observe how jealous Mr Cheggs was
»Jealous Like his impudence« said Richard Swiveller
»His impudence Mr Swiveller« said Miss Jane tossing her head »Take care
he dont hear you sir or you may be sorry for it«
»Oh pray Jane « said Miss Sophy
»Nonsense« replied her sister »Why shouldnt Mr Cheggs be jealous if he
likes I like that certainly Mr Cheggs has as good a right to be jealous as
anybody else has and perhaps he may have a better right soon if he hasnt
already You know best about that Sophy«
Though this was a concerted plot between Miss Sophy and her sister
originating in humane intentions and having for its object the inducing Mr
Swiveller to declare himself in time it failed in its effect for Miss Jane
being one of those young ladies who are prematurely shrill and shrewish gave
such undue importance to her part that Mr Swiveller retired in dudgeon
resigning his mistress to Mr Cheggs and conveying a defiance into his looks
which that gentleman indignantly returned
»Did you speak to me sir« said Mr Cheggs following him into a corner
»Have the kindness to smile sir in order that we may not be suspected Did
you speak to me sir«
Mr Swiveller looked with a supercilious smile at Mr Cheggss toes then
raised his eyes from them to his ancle from that to his shin from that to his
knee and so on very gradually keeping up his right leg until he reached his
waistcoat when he raised his eyes from button to button until he reached his
chin and travelling straight up the middle of his nose came at last to his
eyes when he said abruptly
»No sir I didnt«
»Hem« said Mr Cheggs glancing over his shoulder »have the goodness to
smile again sir Perhaps you wished to speak to me sir«
»No sir I didnt do that either«
»Perhaps you may have nothing to say to me now sir« said Mr Cheggs
fiercely
At these words Richard Swiveller withdrew his eyes from Mr Cheggss face
and travelling down the middle of his nose and down his waistcoat and down his
right leg reached his toes again and carefully surveyed them this done he
crossed over and coming up the other leg and thence approaching by the
waistcoat as before said when he had got to his eyes »No sir I havent«
»Oh indeed sir« said Mr Cheggs »Im glad to hear it You know where Im
to be found I suppose sir in case you should have anything to say to me«
»I can easily inquire sir when I want to know«
»Theres nothing more we need say I believe sir«
»Nothing more sir« With that they closed the tremendous dialogue by
frowning mutually Mr Cheggs hastened to tender his hand to Miss Sophy and Mr
Swiveller sat himself down in a corner in a very moody state
Hard by this corner Mrs Wackles and Miss Wackles were seated looking on
at the dance and unto Mrs and Miss Wackles Miss Cheggs occasionally darted
when her partner was occupied with his share of the figure and made some remark
or other which was gall and wormwood to Richard Swivellers soul Looking into
the eyes of Mrs and Miss Wackles for encouragement and sitting very upright
and uncomfortable on a couple of hard stools were two of the dayscholars and
when Miss Wackles smiled and Mrs Wackles smiled the two little girls on the
stools sought to curry favour by smiling likewise in gracious acknowledgment of
which attention the old lady frowned them down instantly and said that if they
dared to be guilty of such an impertinence again they should be sent under
convoy to their respective homes This threat caused one of the young ladies
she being of a weak and trembling temperament to shed tears and for this
offence they were both filed off immediately with a dreadful promptitude that
struck terror into the souls of all the pupils
»Ive got such news for you« said Miss Cheggs approaching once more
»Alick has been saying such things to Sophy Upon my word you know its quite
serious and in earnest thats clear«
»Whats he been saying my dear« demanded Mrs Wackles
»All manner of things« replied Miss Cheggs »you cant think how out he has
been speaking«
Richard Swiveller considered it advisable to hear no more but taking
advantage of a pause in the dancing and the approach of Mr Cheggs to pay his
court to the old lady swaggered with an extremely careful assumption of extreme
carelessness towards the door passing on the way Miss Jane Wackles who in all
the glory of her curls was holding a flirtation as good practice when no better
was to be had with a feeble old gentleman who lodged in the parlour Near the
door sat Miss Sophy still fluttered and confused by the attentions of Mr
Cheggs and by her side Richard Swiveller lingered for a moment to exchange a
few parting words
»My boat is on the shore and my bark is on the sea but before I pass this
door I will say farewell to thee« murmured Dick looking gloomily upon her
»Are you going« said Miss Sophy whose heart sunk within her at the result
of her stratagem but who affected a light indifference notwithstanding
»Am I going« echoed Dick bitterly »Yes I am What then«
»Nothing except that its very early« said Miss Sophy »but you are your
own master of course«
»I would that I had been my own mistress too« said Dick »before I had ever
entertained a thought of you Miss Wackles I believed you true and I was blest
in so believing but now I mourn that eer I knew a girl so fair yet so
deceiving«
Miss Sophy bit her lip and affected to look with great interest after Mr
Cheggs who was quaffing lemonade in the distance
»I came here« said Dick rather oblivious of the purpose with which he had
really come »with my bosom expanded my heart dilated and my sentiments of a
corresponding description I go away with feelings that may be conceived but
cannot be described feeling within myself the desolating truth that my best
affections have experienced this night a stifler«
»I am sure I dont know what you mean Mr Swiveller« said Miss Sophy with
downcast eyes »Im very sorry if «
»Sorry maam« said Dick »sorry in the possession of a Cheggs But I wish
you a very good night concluding with this slight remark that there is a young
lady growing up at this present moment for me who has not only great personal
attractions but great wealth and who has requested her next of kin to propose
for my hand which having a regard for some members of her family I have
consented to promise Its a gratifying circumstance which youll be glad to
hear that a young and lovely girl is growing into a woman expressly on my
account and is now saving up for me I thought Id mention it I have now
merely to apologise for trespassing so long upon your attention Good night«
»Theres one good thing springs out of all this« said Richard Swiveller to
himself when he had reached home and was hanging over the candle with the
extinguisher in his hand »which is that I now go heart and soul neck and
heels with Fred in all his scheme about little Nelly and right glad hell be
to find me so strong upon it He shall know all about that tomorrow and in the
mean time as its rather late Ill try and get a wink or two of the balmy«
»The balmy« came almost as soon as it was courted In a very few minutes Mr
Swiveller was fast asleep dreaming that he had married Nelly Trent and come
into the property and that his first act of power was to lay waste the
marketgarden of Mr Cheggs and turn it into a brickfield
Chapter IX
The child in her confidence with Mrs Quilp had but feebly described the
sadness and sorrow of her thoughts or the heaviness of the cloud which overhung
her home and cast dark shadows on its hearth Besides that it was very
difficult to impart to any person not intimately acquainted with the life she
led an adequate sense of its gloom and loneliness a constant fear of in some
way committing or injuring the old man to whom she was so tenderly attached had
restrained her even in the midst of her hearts overflowing and made her timid
of allusion to the main cause of her anxiety and distress
For it was not the monotonous days unchequered by variety and uncheered by
pleasant companionship it was not the dark dreary evenings or the long solitary
nights it was not the absence of every slight and easy pleasure for which young
hearts beat high or the knowing nothing of childhood but its weakness and its
easily wounded spirit that had wrung such tears from Nell To see the old man
struck down beneath the pressure of some hidden grief to mark his wavering and
unsettled state to be agitated at times with a dreadful fear that his mind was
wandering and to trace in his words and looks the dawning of despondent
madness to watch and wait and listen for confirmation of these things day after
day and to feel and know that come what might they were alone in the world
with no one to help or advise or care about them these were causes of
depression and anxiety that might have sat heavily on an older breast with many
influences at work to cheer and gladden it but how heavily on the mind of a
young child to whom they were ever present and who was constantly surrounded by
all that could keep such thoughts in restless action
And yet to the old mans vision Nell was still the same When he could
for a moment disengage his mind from the phantom that haunted and brooded on it
always there was his young companion with the same smile for him the same
earnest words the same merry laugh the same love and care that sinking deep
into his soul seemed to have been present to him through his whole life And so
he went on content to read the book of her heart from the page first presented
to him little dreaming of the story that lay hidden in its other leaves and
murmuring within himself that at least the child was happy
She had been once She had gone singing through the dim rooms and moving
with gay and lightsome step among their dusty treasures making them older by
her young life and sterner and more grim by her gay and cheerful presence But
now the chambers were cold and gloomy and when she left her own little room to
while away the tedious hours and sat in one of them she was still and
motionless as their inanimate occupants and had no heart to startle the echoes
hoarse from their long silence with her voice
In one of these rooms was a window looking into the street where the child
sat many and many a long evening and often far into the night alone and
thoughtful None are so anxious as those who watch and wait at these times
mournful fancies came flocking on her mind in crowds
She would take her station here at dusk and watch the people as they
passed up and down the street or appeared at the windows of the opposite
houses wondering whether those rooms were as lonesome as that in which she sat
and whether those people felt it company to see her sitting there as she did
only to see them look out and draw in their heads again There was a crooked
stack of chimneys on one of the roofs in which by often looking at them she
had fancied ugly faces that were frowning over at her and trying to peer into
the room and she felt glad when it grew too dark to make them out though she
was sorry too when the man came to light the lamps in the street for it made
it late and very dull inside Then she would draw in her head to look round
the room and see that everything was in its place and hadnt moved and looking
out into the street again would perhaps see a man passing with a coffin on his
back and two or three others silently following him to a house where somebody
lay dead which made her shudder and think of such things until they suggested
afresh the old mans altered face and manner and a new train of fears and
speculations If he were to die if sudden illness had happened to him and he
were never to come home again alive if one night he should come home and
kiss and bless her as usual and after she had gone to bed and had fallen asleep
and was perhaps dreaming pleasantly and smiling in her sleep he should kill
himself and his blood come creeping creeping on the ground to her own bedroom
door These thoughts were too terrible to dwell upon and again she would have
recourse to the street now trodden by fewer feet and darker and more silent
than before The shops were closing fast and lights began to shine from the
upper windows as the neighbours went to bed By degrees these dwindled away
and disappeared or were replaced here and there by a feeble rushcandle which
was to burn all night Still there was one late shop at no great distance which
sent forth a ruddy glare upon the pavement even yet and looked bright and
companionable But in a little time this closed the light was extinguished
and all was gloomy and quiet except when some stray footsteps sounded on the
pavement or a neighbour out later than his wont knocked lustily at his
housedoor to rouse the sleeping inmates
When the night had worn away thus far and seldom now until it had the
child would close the window and steal softly down stairs thinking as she went
that if one of those hideous faces below which often mingled with her dreams
were to meet her by the way rendering itself visible by some strange light of
its own, how terrified she would be But these fears vanished before a
welltrimmed lamp and the familiar aspect of her own room After praying
fervently and with many bursting tears for the old man and the restoration of
his peace of mind and the happiness they had once enjoyed she would lay her
head upon the pillow and sob herself to sleep often starting up again before
the daylight came to listen for the bell and respond to the imaginary summons
which had roused her from her slumber
One night the third after Nellys interview with Mrs Quilp the old man
who had been weak and ill all day said he should not leave home The childs
eyes sparkled at the intelligence but her joy subsided when they reverted to
his worn and sickly face
»Two days« he said »two whole clear days have passed and there is no
reply What did he tell thee Nell«
»Exactly what I told you dear grandfather indeed«
»True« said the old man faintly »Yes But tell me again Nell My head
fails me What was it that he told thee Nothing more than that he would see me
tomorrow or next day That was in the note«
»Nothing more« said the child »Shall I go to him again tomorrow dear
grandfather Very early I will be there and back before breakfast«
The old man shook his head and sighing mournfully drew her towards him
»Twould be of no use my dear no earthly use But if he deserts me Nell
at this moment if he deserts me now when I should with his assistance be
recompensed for all the time and money I have lost and all the agony of mind I
have undergone which makes me what you see I am ruined and worse far worse
than that have mined thee for whom I ventured all If we are beggars «
»What if we are« said the child boldly »Let us be beggars and be happy«
»Beggars and happy« said the old man »Poor child«
»Dear grandfather« cried the girl with an energy which shone in her flushed
face trembling voice and impassioned gesture »I am not a child in that I
think but even if I am oh hear me pray that we may beg or work in open roads
or fields to earn a scanty living rather than live as we do now«
»Nelly« said the old man
»Yes yes rather than live as we do now« the child repeated more
earnestly than before »If you are sorrowful let me know why and be sorrowful
too if you waste away and are paler and weaker every day let me be your nurse
and try to comfort you If you are poor let us be poor together but let me be
with you do let me be with you do not let me see such change and not know why
or I shall break my heart and die Dear grandfather let us leave this sad place
tomorrow and beg our way from door to door«
The old man covered his face with his hands and hid it in the pillow of the
couch on which he lay
»Let us be beggars« said the child passing an arm round his neck »I have
no fear but we shall have enough I am sure we shall Let us walk through
country places and sleep in fields and under trees and never think of money
again or anything that can make you sad but rest at nights and have the sun
and wind upon our faces in the day and thank God together Let us never set
foot in dark rooms or melancholy houses any more but wander up and down
wherever we like to go and when you are tired you shall stop to rest in the
pleasantest place that we can find and I will go and beg for both«
The childs voice was lost in sobs as she dropped upon the old mans neck
nor did she weep alone
These were not words for other ears nor was it a scene for other eyes And
yet other ears and eyes were there and greedily taking in all that passed and
moreover they were the ears and eyes of no less a person than Mr Daniel Quilp
who having entered unseen when the child first placed herself at the old mans
side refrained actuated no doubt by motives of the purest delicacy from
interrupting the conversation and stood looking on with his accustomed grin
Standing however being a tiresome attitude to a gentleman already fatigued
with walking and the dwarf being one of that kind of persons who usually make
themselves at home he soon cast his eyes upon a chair into which he skipped
with uncommon agility and perching himself on the back with his feet upon the
seat was thus enabled to look on and listen with greater comfort to himself
besides gratifying at the same time that taste for doing something fantastic and
monkeylike which on all occasions had strong possession of him Here then he
sat one leg cocked carelessly over the other his chin resting on the palm of
his hand his head turned a little on one side and his ugly features twisted
into a complacent grimace And in this position the old man happening in course
of time to look that way at length chanced to see him to his unbounded
astonishment
The child uttered a suppressed shriek on beholding this agreeable figure in
their first surprise both she and the old man not knowing what to say and half
doubting its reality looked shrinkingly at it Not at all disconcerted by this
reception Daniel Quilp preserved the same attitude merely nodding twice or
thrice with great condescension At length the old man pronounced his name and
inquired how he came there
»Through the door« said Quilp pointing over his shoulder with his thumb
»Im not quite small enough to get through keyholes I wish I was I want to
have some talk with you particularly and in private With nobody present
neighbour Goodbye little Nelly«
Nell looked at the old man who nodded to her to retire and kissed her
cheek
»Ah« said the dwarf smacking his lips »what a nice kiss that was just
upon the rosy part What a capital kiss«
Nell was none the slower in going away for this remark Quilp looked after
her with an admiring leer and when she had closed the door fell to
complimenting the old man upon her charms
»Such a fresh blooming modest little bud neighbour« said Quilp nursing
his short leg and making his eyes twinkle very much »such a chubby rosy
cosy little Nell«
The old man answered by a forced smile and was plainly struggling with a
feeling of the keenest and most exquisite impatience It was not lost upon
Quilp who delighted in torturing him or indeed anybody else when he could
»Shes so« said Quilp speaking very slowly and feigning to be quite
absorbed in the subject »so small so compact so beautifully modelled so
fair with such blue veins and such a transparent skin and such little feet
and such winning ways but bless me youre nervous Why neighbour whats the
matter I swear to you« continued the dwarf dismounting from the chair and
sitting down in it with a careful slowness of gesture very different from the
rapidity with which he had sprung up unheard »I swear to you that I had no idea
old blood ran so fast or kept so warm I thought it was sluggish in its course
and cool quite cool I am pretty sure it ought to be Yours must be out of
order neighbour«
»I believe it is« groaned the old man clasping his head with both hands
»Theres burning fever here and something now and then to which I fear to give
a name«
The dwarf said never a word but watched his companion as he paced
restlessly up and down the room and presently returned to his seat Here he
remained with his head bowed upon his breast for some time and then suddenly
raising it said
»Once and once for all have you brought me any money«
»No« returned Quilp
»Then« said the old man clenching his hands desperately and looking
upward »the child and I are lost«
»Neighbour« said Quilp glancing sternly at him and beating his hand twice
or thrice upon the table to attract his wandering attention »let me be plain
with you and play a fairer game than when you held all the cards and I saw but
the backs and nothing more You have no secret from me now«
The old man looked up trembling
»You are surprised« said Quilp »Well perhaps thats natural You have no
secret from me now I say no not one For now I know that all those sums of
money that all those loans advances and supplies that you have had from me
have found their way to shall I say the word«
»Aye« replied the old man »say it if you will«
»To the gamingtable« rejoined Quilp »your nightly haunt This was the
precious scheme to make your fortune was it this was the secret certain source
of wealth in which I was to have sunk my money if I had been the fool you took
me for this was your inexhaustible mine of gold your El Dorado eh«
»Yes« cried the old man turning upon him with gleaming eyes »it was It
is It will be till I die«
»That I should have been blinded« said Quilp looking contemptuously at
him »by a mere shallow gambler«
»I am no gambler« cried the old man fiercely »I call Heaven to witness
that I never played for gain of mine or love of play that at every piece I
staked I whispered to myself that orphans name and called on Heaven to bless
the venture which it never did Whom did it prosper Who were those with whom
I played Men who lived by plunder profligacy and riot squandering their gold
in doing ill and propagating vice and evil My winnings would have been from
them my winnings would have been bestowed to the last farthing on a young
sinless child whose life they would have sweetened and made happy What would
they have contracted The means of corruption wretchedness and misery Who
would not have hoped in such a cause Tell me that Who would not have hoped as
I did«
»When did you first begin this mad career« asked Quilp his taunting
inclination subdued for a moment by the old mans grief and wildness
»When did I first begin« he rejoined passing his hand across his brow
»When was it that I first began When should it be but when I began to think
how little I had saved how long a time it took to save at all how short a time
I might have at my age to live and how she would be left to the rough mercies
of the world with barely enough to keep her from the sorrows that wait on
poverty then it was that I began to think about it«
»After you first came to me to get your precious grandson packed off to
sea« said Quilp
»Shortly after that« replied the old man »I thought of it a long time and
had it in my sleep for months Then I began I found no pleasure in it I
expected none What has it ever brought me but anxious days and sleepless
nights but loss of health and peace of mind and gain of feebleness and
sorrow«
»You lost what money you had laid by first and then came to me While I
thought you were making your fortune as you said you were you were making
yourself a beggar eh Dear me And so it comes to pass that I hold every
security you could scrape together and a bill of sale upon the upon the stock
and property« said Quilp standing up and looking about him as if to assure
himself that none of it had been taken away »But did you never win«
»Never« groaned the old man »Never won back my loss«
»I thought« sneered the dwarf »that if a man played long enough he was
sure to win at last or at the worst not to come off a loser«
»And so he is« cried the old man suddenly rousing himself from his state
of despondency and lashed into the most violent excitement »so he is I have
felt that from the first I have always known it Ive seen it I never felt it
half so strongly as I feel it now Quilp I have dreamed three nights of
winning the same large sum I never could dream that dream before though I have
often tried Do not desert me now I have this chance I have no resource but
you give me some help let me try this one last hope«
The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head
»See Quilp good tenderhearted Quilp« said the old man drawing some
scraps of paper from his pocket with a trembling hand and clasping the dwarfs
arm »only see here Look at these figures the result of long calculation and
painful and hard experience I must win I only want a little help once more a
few pounds but two score pounds dear Quilp«
»The last advance was seventy« said the dwarf »and it went in one night«
»I know it did« answered the old man »but that was the very worst fortune
of all and the time had not come then Quilp consider consider« the old man
cried trembling so much the while that the papers in his hand fluttered as if
they were shaken by the wind »that orphan child If I were alone I could die
with gladness perhaps even anticipate that doom which is dealt out so
unequally coming as it does on the proud and happy in their strength and
shunning the needy and afflicted and all who court it in their despair but
what I have done has been for her Help me for her sake I implore you not for
mine for hers«
»Im sorry Ive got an appointment in the city« said Quilp looking at his
watch with perfect selfpossession »or I should have been very glad to have
spent half an hour with you while you composed yourself very glad«
»Nay Quilp good Quilp« gasped the old man catching at his skirts »you
and I have talked together more than once of her poor mothers story The fear
of her coming to poverty has perhaps been bred in me by that Do not be hard
upon me but take that into account You are a great gainer by me Oh spare me
the money for this one last hope«
»I couldnt do it really« said Quilp with unusual politeness »though I
tell you what and this is a circumstance worth bearing in mind as showing how
the sharpest among us may be taken in sometimes I was so deceived by the
penurious way in which you lived alone with Nelly «
»All done to save money for tempting fortune and to make her triumph
greater« cried the old man
»Yes yes I understand that now« said Quilp »but I was going to say I was
so deceived by that your miserly way the reputation you had among those who
knew you of being rich and your repeated assurances that you would make of my
advances treble and quadruple the interest you paid me that Id have advanced
you even now what you want on your simple note of hand if I hadnt
unexpectedly become acquainted with your secret way of life«
»Who is it« retorted the old man desperately »that notwithstanding all my
caution told you Come Let me know the name the person«
The crafty dwarf bethinking himself that his giving up the child would lead
to the disclosure of the artifice he had employed which as nothing was to be
gained by it it was well to conceal stopped short in his answer and said
»Now who do you think«
»It was Kit it must have been the boy he played the spy and you tampered
with him« said the old man
»How came you to think of him« said the dwarf in a tone of great
commiseration »Yes it was Kit Poor Kit«
So saying he nodded in a friendly manner and took his leave stopping when
he had passed the outer door a little distance and grinning with extraordinary
delight
»Poor Kit« muttered Quilp »I think it was Kit who said I was an uglier
dwarf than could be seen anywhere for a penny wasnt it Ha ha ha Poor Kit«
And with that he went his way still chuckling as he went
Chapter X
Daniel Quilp neither entered nor left the old mans house unobserved In the
shadow of an archway nearly opposite leading to one of the many passages which
diverged from the main street there lingered one who having taken up his
position when the twilight first came on still maintained it with undiminished
patience and leaning against the wall with the manner of a person who had a
long time to wait and being well used to it was quite resigned scarcely
changed his attitude for the hour together
This patient lounger attracted little attention from any of those who
passed and bestowed as little upon them His eyes were constantly directed
towards one object the window at which the child was accustomed to sit If he
withdrew them for a moment it was only to glance at a clock in some
neighbouring shop and then to strain his sight once more in the old quarter
with increased earnestness and attention
It has been remarked that this personage evinced no weariness in his place
of concealment nor did he long as his waiting was But as the time went on he
manifested some anxiety and surprise glancing at the clock more frequently and
at the window less hopefully than before At length the clock was hidden from
his sight by some envious shutters then the church steeples proclaimed eleven
at night then the quarter past and then the conviction seemed to obtrude
itself on his mind that it was of no use tarrying there any longer
That the conviction was an unwelcome one and that he was by no means
willing to yield to it was apparent from his reluctance to quit the spot from
the tardy steps with which he often left it still looking over his shoulder at
the same window and from the precipitation with which he as often returned
when a fancied noise or the changing and imperfect light induced him to suppose
it had been softly raised At length he gave the matter up as hopeless for
that night and suddenly breaking into a run as though to force himself away
scampered off at his utmost speed nor once ventured to look behind him lest he
should be tempted back again
Without relaxing his pace or stopping to take breath this mysterious
individual dashed on through a great many alleys and narrow ways until he at
length arrived in a square paved court when he subsided into a walk and making
for a small house from the window of which a light was shining lifted the latch
of the door and passed in
»Bless us« cried a woman turning sharply round »whos that Oh Its you
Kit«
»Yes mother its me«
»Why how tired you look my dear«
»Old master ant gone out tonight« said Kit »and so she hasnt been at
the window at all« With which words he sat down by the fire and looked very
mournful and discontented
The room in which Kit sat himself down in this condition was an extremely
poor and homely place but with that air of comfort about it nevertheless
which or the spot must be a wretched one indeed cleanliness and order can
always impart in some degree Late as the Dutch clock showed it to be the poor
woman was still hard at work at an ironingtable a young child lay sleeping in
a cradle near the fire and another a sturdy boy of two or three years old
very wide awake with a very tight nightcap on his head and a nightgown very
much too small for him on his body was sitting bolt upright in a
clothesbasket staring over the rim with his great round eyes and looking as
if he had thoroughly made up his mind never to go to sleep any more which as
he had already declined to take his natural rest and had been brought out of bed
in consequence opened a cheerful prospect for his relations and friends It was
rather a queerlooking family Kit his mother and the children being all
strongly alike
Kit was disposed to be out of temper as the best of us are too often but
he looked at the youngest child who was sleeping soundly and from him to his
other brother in the clothesbasket and from him to their mother who had been
at work without complaint since morning and thought it would be a better and
kinder thing to be goodhumoured So he rocked the cradle with his foot made a
face at the rebel in the clothesbasket which put him in high goodhumour
directly and stoutly determined to be talkative and make himself agreeable
»Ah mother« said Kit taking out his claspknife and falling upon a great
piece of bread and meat which she had had ready for him hours before »what a
one you are There ant many such as you I know«
»I hope there are many a great deal better Kit« said Mrs Nubbles »and
that there are or ought to be accordin to what the parson at chapel says«
»Much he knows about it« returned Kit contemptuously »Wait till hes a
widder and works like you do and gets as little and does as much and keeps
his spirit up the same and then Ill ask him whats oclock and trust him for
being right to half a second«
»Well« said Mrs Nubbles evading the point »your beers down there by the
fender Kit«
»I see« replied her son taking up the porter pot »my love to you mother
And the parsons health too if you like I dont bear him any malice not I«
»Did you tell me just now that your master hadnt gone out tonight«
inquired Mrs Nubbles
»Yes« said Kit »worse luck«
»You should say better luck I think« returned his mother »because Miss
Nelly wont have been left alone«
»Ah« said Kit »I forgot that I said worse luck because Ive been
watching ever since eight oclock and seen nothing of her«
»I wonder what shed say« cried his mother stopping in her work and
looking round »if she knew that every night when she poor thing is sitting
alone at that window you are watching in the open street for fear any harm
should come to her and that you never leave the place or come home to your bed
though youre ever so tired till such time as you think shes safe in hers«
»Never mind what shed say« replied Kit with something like a blush on his
uncouth face »shell never know nothing and consequently shell never say
nothing«
Mrs Nubbles ironed away in silence for a minute or two and coming to the
fireplace for another iron glanced stealthily at Kit while she rubbed it on a
board and dusted it with a duster but said nothing until she had returned to
her table again when holding the iron at an alarmingly short distance from her
cheek to test its temperature and looking round with a smile she observed
»I know what some people would say Kit «
»Nonsense« interposed Kit with a perfect apprehension of what was to
follow
»No but they would indeed Some people would say that youd fallen in love
with her I know they would«
To this Kit only replied by bashfully bidding his mother »get out« and
forming sundry strange figures with his legs and arms accompanied by
sympathetic contortions of his face Not deriving from these means the relief
which he sought he bit off an immense mouthful from the bread and meat and
took a quick drink of the porter by which artificial aids he choked himself and
effected a diversion of the subject
»Speaking seriously though Kit« said his mother taking up the theme
afresh after a time »for of course I was only in joke just now its very good
and thoughtful and like you to do this and never let anybody know it though
some day I hope she may come to know it for Im sure she would be very grateful
to you and feel it very much Its a cruel thing to keep the dear child shut up
there I dont wonder that the old gentleman wants to keep it from you«
»He dont think its cruel bless you« said Kit »and dont mean it to be
so or he wouldnt do it I do consider mother that he wouldnt do it for all
the gold and silver in the world No no that he wouldnt I know him better
than that«
»Then what does he do it for and why does he keep it so close from you«
said Mrs Nubbles
»That I dont know« returned her son »If he hadnt tried to keep it so
close though I should never have found it out for it was his getting me away
at night and sending me off so much earlier than he used to that first made me
curious to know what was going on Hark whats that«
»Its only somebody outside«
»Its somebody crossing over here« said Kit standing up to listen »and
coming very fast too He cant have gone out after I left and the house caught
fire mother«
The boy stood for a moment really bereft by the apprehension he had
conjured up of the power to move The footsteps drew nearer the door was
opened with a hasty hand and the child herself pale and breathless and
hastily wrapped in a few disordered garments hurried into the room
»Miss Nelly What is the matter« cried mother and son together
»I must not stay a moment« she returned »grandfather has been taken very
ill I found him in a fit upon the floor «
»Ill run for a doctor« said Kit seizing his brimless hat »Ill be there
directly Ill «
»No no« cried Nell »there is one there youre not wanted you you
must never come near us any more«
»What« roared Kit
»Never again« said the child »Dont ask me why for I dont know Pray
dont ask me why pray dont be sorry pray dont be vexed with me I have
nothing to do with it indeed«
Kit looked at her with his eyes stretched wide and opened and shut his
mouth a great many times but couldnt get out one word
»He complains and raves of you« said the child »I dont know what you have
done but I hope its nothing very bad«
»I done« roared Kit
»He cries that youre the cause of all his misery« returned the child with
tearful eyes »he screamed and called for you they say you must not come near
him or he will die You must not return to us any more I came to tell you I
thought it would be better that I should come than somebody quite strange Oh
Kit what have you done You in whom I trusted so much and who were almost the
only friend I had«
The unfortunate Kit looked at his young mistress harder and harder and with
eyes growing wider and wider but was perfectly motionless and silent
»I have brought his money for the week« said the child looking to the
woman and laying it on the table »and and a little more for he was always
good and kind to me I hope he will be sorry and do well somewhere else and not
take this to heart too much It grieves me very much to part with him like this
but there is no help It must be done Good night«
With the tears streaming down her face and her slight figure trembling with
the agitation of the scene she had left the shock she had received the errand
she had just discharged and a thousand painful and affectionate feelings the
child hastened to the door and disappeared as rapidly as she had come
The poor woman who had no cause to doubt her son but every reason for
relying on his honesty and truth was staggered notwithstanding by his not
having advanced one word in his defence Visions of gallantry knavery robbery
and of the nightly absences from home for which he had accounted so strangely
having been occasioned by some unlawful pursuit flocked into her brain and
rendered her afraid to question him She rocked herself upon a chair wringing
her hands and weeping bitterly but Kit made no attempt to comfort her and
remained quite bewildered The baby in the cradle woke up and cried the boy in
the clothesbasket fell over on his back with the basket upon him and was seen
no more the mother wept louder yet and rocked faster but Kit insensible to
all the din and tumult remained in a state of utter stupefaction
Chapter XI
Quiet and solitude were destined to hold uninterrupted rule no longer beneath
the roof that sheltered the child Next morning the old man was in a raging
fever accompanied with delirium and sinking under the influence of this
disorder he lay for many weeks in imminent peril of his life There was watching
enough now but it was the watching of strangers who made a greedy trade of it
and who in the intervals of their attendance upon the sick man huddled
together with a ghastly goodfellowship and ate and drank and made merry for
disease and death were their ordinary household gods
Yet in all the hurry and crowding of such a time the child was more alone
than she had ever been before alone in spirit alone in her devotion to him who
was wasting away upon his burning bed alone in her unfeigned sorrow and her
unpurchased sympathy Day after day and night after night found her still by
the pillow of the unconscious sufferer still anticipating his every want still
listening to those repetitions of her name and those anxieties and cares for
her which were ever uppermost among his feverish wanderings
The house was no longer theirs Even the sick chamber seemed to be retained
on the uncertain tenure of Mr Quilps favour The old mans illness had not
lasted many days when he took formal possession of the premises and all upon
them in virtue of certain legal powers to that effect which few understood and
none presumed to call in question This important step secured with the
assistance of a man of law whom he brought with him for the purpose the dwarf
proceeded to establish himself and his coadjutor in the house as an assertion
of his claim against all comers and then set about making his quarters
comfortable after his own fashion
To this end Mr Quilp encamped in the back parlour having first put an
effectual stop to any further business by shutting up the shop Having looked
out from among the old furniture the handsomest and most commodious chair he
could possibly find which he reserved for his own use and an especially
hideous and uncomfortable one which he considerately appropriated to the
accommodation of his friend he caused them to be carried into this room and
took up his position in great state The apartment was very far removed from the
old mans chamber but Mr Quilp deemed it prudent as a precaution against
infection from fever and a means of wholesome fumigation not only to smoke
himself without cessation but to insist upon it that his legal friend did the
like Moreover he sent an express to the wharf for the tumbling boy who
arriving with all despatch was enjoined to sit himself down in another chair
just inside the door continually to smoke a great pipe which the dwarf had
provided for the purpose and to take it from his lips under any pretence
whatever were it only for one minute at a time if he dared These arrangements
completed Mr Quilp looked round him with chuckling satisfaction and remarked
that he called that comfort
The legal gentleman whose melodious name was Brass might have called it
comfort also but for two drawbacks one was that he could by no exertion sit
easy in his chair the seat of which was very hard angular slippery and
sloping the other that tobaccosmoke always caused him great internal
discomposure and annoyance But as he was quite a creature of Mr Quilps and
had a thousand reasons for conciliating his good opinion he tried to smile and
nodded his acquiescence with the best grace he could assume This Brass was an
attorney of no very good repute from Bevis Marks in the city of London he was
a tall meagre man with a nose like a wen a protruding forehead retreating
eyes and hair of a deep red He wore a long black surtout reaching nearly to
his ancles short black trousers high shoes and cotton stockings of a bluish
grey He had a cringing manner but a very harsh voice and his blandest smiles
were so extremely forbidding that to have had his company under the least
repulsive circumstances one would have wished him to be out of temper that he
might only scowl
Quilp looked at his legal adviser and seeing that he was winking very much
in the anguish of his pipe that he sometimes shuddered when he happened to
inhale its full flavour and that he constantly fanned the smoke from him was
quite overjoyed and rubbed his hands with glee
»Smoke away you dog« said Quilp turning to the boy »fill your pipe again
and smoke it fast down to the last whiff or Ill put the sealingwaxed end of
it in the fire and rub it red hot upon your tongue«
Luckily the boy was casehardened and would have smoked a small limekiln
if anybody had treated him with it Wherefore he only muttered a brief defiance
of his master and did as he was ordered
»Is it good Brass is it nice is it fragrant do you feel like the Grand
Turk« said Quilp
Mr Brass thought that if he did the Grand Turks feelings were by no means
to be envied but he said it was famous and he had no doubt he felt very like
that Potentate
»This is the way to keep off fever« said Quilp »this is the way to keep
off every calamity of life Well never leave off all the time we stop here
smoke away you dog or you shall swallow the pipe«
»Shall we stop here long Mr Quilp« inquired his legal friend when the
dwarf had given his boy this gentle admonition
»We must stop I suppose till the old gentleman up stairs is dead«
returned Quilp
»He he he« laughed Mr Brass »oh very good«
»Smoke away« cried Quilp »Never stop you can talk as you smoke Dont
lose time«
»He he he« cried Brass faintly as he again applied himself to the odious
pipe »But if he should get better Mr Quilp«
»Then we shall stop till he does and no longer« returned the dwarf
»How kind it is of you sir to wait till then« said Brass »Some people
sir would have sold or removed the goods oh dear the very instant the law
allowed em Some people sir would have been all flintiness and granite Some
people sir would have «
»Some people would have spared themselves the jabbering of such a parrot as
you« interposed the dwarf
»He he he« cried Brass »You have such spirits«
The smoking sentinel at the door interposed in this place and without
taking his pipe from his lips growled
»Heres the gal a comin down«
»The what you dog« said Quilp
»The gal« returned the boy »Are you deaf«
»Oh« said Quilp drawing in his breath with great relish as if he were
taking soup »you and I will have such a settling presently theres such a
scratching and bruising in store for you my dear young friend Aha Nelly How
is he now my duck of diamonds«
»Hes very bad« replied the weeping child
»What a pretty little Nell« cried Quilp
»Oh beautiful sir beautiful indeed« said Brass »Quite charming«
»Has she come to sit upon Quilps knee« said the dwarf in what he meant to
be a soothing tone »or is she going to bed in her own little room inside here
Which is poor Nelly going to do«
»What a remarkably pleasant way he has with children« muttered Brass as if
in confidence between himself and the ceiling »upon my word its quite a treat
to hear him«
»Im not going to stay at all« faltered Nell »I want a few things out of
that room and then I I wont come down here any more«
»And a very nice little room it is« said the dwarf looking into it as the
child entered »Quite a bower Youre sure youre not going to use it youre
sure youre not coming back Nelly«
»No« replied the child hurrying away with the few articles of dress she
had come to remove »never again Never again«
»Shes very sensitive« said Quilp looking after her »Very sensitive
thats a pity The bedstead is much about my size I think I shall make it my
little room«
Mr Brass encouraging this idea as he would have encouraged any other
emanating from the same source the dwarf walked in to try the effect This he
did by throwing himself on his back upon the bed with his pipe in his mouth
and then kicking up his legs and smoking violently Mr Brass applauding this
picture very much and the bed being soft and comfortable Mr Quilp determined
to use it both as a sleeping place by night and as a kind of Divan by day and
in order that it might be converted to the latter purpose at once remained
where he was and smoked his pipe out The legal gentleman being by this time
rather giddy and perplexed in his ideas for this was one of the operations of
the tobacco on his nervous system took the opportunity of slinking away into
the open air where in course of time he recovered sufficiently to return with
a countenance of tolerable composure He was soon led on by the malicious dwarf
to smoke himself into a relapse and in that state stumbled upon a settee where
he slept till morning
Such were Mr Quilps first proceedings on entering upon his new property
He was for some days restrained by business from performing any particular
pranks as his time was pretty well occupied between taking with the assistance
of Mr Brass a minute inventory of all the goods in the place and going abroad
upon his other concerns which happily engaged him for several hours at a time
His avarice and caution being now thoroughly awakened however he was never
absent from the house one night and his eagerness for some termination good or
bad to the old mans disorder increasing rapidly as the time passed by soon
began to vent itself in open murmurs and exclamations of impatience
Nell shrunk timidly from all the dwarfs advances towards conversation and
fled from the very sound of his voice nor were the lawyers smiles less
terrible to her than Quilps grimaces She lived in such continual dread and
apprehension of meeting one or other of them on the stairs or in the passages if
she stirred from her grandfathers chamber that she seldom left it for a
moment until late at night when the silence encouraged her to venture forth
and breathe the purer air of some empty room
One night she had stolen to her usual window and was sitting there very
sorrowfully for the old man had been worse that day when she thought she
heard her name pronounced by a voice in the street Looking down she recognised
Kit whose endeavours to attract her attention had roused her from her sad
reflections
»Miss Nell« said the boy in a low voice
»Yes« replied the child doubtful whether she ought to hold any
communication with the supposed culprit but inclining to her old favourite
still »what do you want«
»I have wanted to say a word to you for a long time« the boy replied »but
the people below have driven me away and wouldnt let me see you You dont
believe I hope you dont really believe that I deserve to be cast off as I
have been do you miss«
»I must believe it« returned the child »Or why would grandfather have been
so angry with you«
»I dont know« replied Kit »Im sure I never deserved it from him no nor
from you I can say that with a true and honest heart any way And then to be
driven from the door when I only came to ask how old master was «
»They never told me that« said the child »I didnt know it indeed I
wouldnt have had them do it for the world«
»Thankee miss« returned Kit »its comfortable to hear you say that I
said I never would believe that it was your doing«
»That was right« said the child eagerly
»Miss Nell« cried the boy coming under the window and speaking in a lower
tone »there are new masters down stairs Its a change for you«
»It is indeed« replied the child
»And so it will be for him when he gets better« said the boy pointing
towards the sick room
» If he ever does« added the child unable to restrain her tears
»Oh hell do that hell do that« said Kit »Im sure he will You mustnt
be cast down Miss Nell Now dont be pray«
These words of encouragement and consolation were few and roughly said but
they affected the child and made her for the moment weep the more
»Hell be sure to get better now« said the boy anxiously »if you dont
give way to low spirits and turn ill yourself which would make him worse and
throw him back just as he was recovering When he does say a good word say a
kind word for me Miss Nell«
»They tell me I must not even mention your name to him for a long long
time« rejoined the child »I dare not and even if I might what good would a
kind word do you Kit We shall be very poor We shall scarcely have bread to
eat«
»Its not that I may be taken back« said the boy »that I ask the favour of
you It isnt for the sake of food and wages that Ive been waiting about so
long in hopes to see you Dont think that Id come in a time of trouble to
talk of such things as them«
The child looked gratefully and kindly at him but waited that he might
speak again
»No its not that« said Kit hesitating »its something very different
from that I havent got much sense I know but if he could be brought to
believe that Id been a faithful servant to him doing the best I could and
never meaning harm perhaps he mightnt «
Here Kit faltered so long that the child entreated him to speak out and
quickly for it was very late and time to shut the window
»Perhaps he mightnt think it over venturesome of me to say well then to
say this« cried Kit with sudden boldness »This home is gone from you and him
Mother and I have got a poor one but thats better than this with all these
people here and why not come there till hes had time to look about and find
a better«
The child did not speak Kit in the relief of having made his proposition
found his tongue loosened and spoke out in its favour with his utmost
eloquence
»You think« said the boy »that its very small and inconvenient So it is
but its very clean Perhaps you think it would be noisy but theres not a
quieter court than ours in all the town Dont be afraid of the children the
baby hardly ever cries and the other one is very good besides Id mind em
They wouldnt vex you much Im sure Do try Miss Nell do try The little
front room up stairs is very pleasant You can see a piece of the churchclock
through the chimneys and almost tell the time mother says it would be just the
thing for you and so it would and youd have her to wait upon you both and me
to run of errands We dont mean money bless you youre not to think of that
Will you try him Miss Nell Only say youll try him Do try to make old master
come and ask him first what I have done Will you only promise that Miss
Nell«
Before the child could reply to this earnest solicitation the streetdoor
opened and Mr Brass thrusting out his nightcapped head called in a surly
voice »Whos there« Kit immediately glided away and Nell closing the window
softly drew back into the room
Before Mr Brass had repeated his inquiry many times Mr Quilp also
embellished with a nightcap emerged from the same door and looked carefully up
and down the street and up at all the windows of the house from the opposite
side Finding that there was nobody in sight he presently returned into the
house with his legal friend protesting as the child heard from the staircase
that there was a league and plot against him that he was in danger of being
robbed and plundered by a band of conspirators who prowled about the house at
all seasons and that he would delay no longer but take immediate steps for
disposing of the property and returning to his own peaceful roof Having growled
forth these and a great many other threats of the same nature he coiled
himself once more in the childs little bed and Nell crept softly up the
stairs
It was natural enough that her short and unfinished dialogue with Kit should
leave a strong impression on her mind and influence her dreams that night and
her recollections for a long long time Surrounded by unfeeling creditors and
mercenary attendants upon the sick and meeting in the height of her anxiety and
sorrow with little regard or sympathy even from the women about her it is not
surprising that the affectionate heart of the child should have been touched to
the quick by one kind and generous spirit however uncouth the temple in which
it dwelt Thank Heaven that the temples of such spirits are not made with hands
and that they may be even more worthily hung with poor patchwork than with
purple and fine linen
Chapter XII
At length the crisis of the old mans disorder was past and he began to mend
By very slow and feeble degrees his consciousness came back but the mind was
weakened and its functions were impaired He was patient and quiet often sat
brooding but not despondently for a long space was easily amused even by a
sunbeam on the wall or ceiling made no complaint that the days were long or
the nights tedious and appeared indeed to have lost all count of time and
every sense of care or weariness He would sit for hours together with Nells
small hand in his playing with the fingers and stopping sometimes to smooth her
hair or kiss her brow and when he saw that tears were glistening in her eyes
would look amazed about him for the cause and forget his wonder even while he
looked
The child and he rode out the old man propped up with pillows and the
child beside him They were hand in hand as usual The noise and motion in the
streets fatigued his brain at first but he was not surprised or curious or
pleased or irritated He was asked if he remembered this or that »O yes« he
said »quite well why not« Sometimes he turned his head and looked with
earnest gaze and outstretched neck after some stranger in the crowd until he
disappeared from sight but to the question why he did this he answered not a
word
He was sitting in his easy chair one day and Nell upon a stool beside him
when a man outside the door inquired if he might enter »Yes« he said without
emotion »it was Quilp he knew Quilp was master there Of course he might come
in« And so he did
»Im glad to see you well again at last neighbour« said the dwarf sitting
down opposite to him »Youre quite strong now«
»Yes« said the old man feebly »yes«
»I dont want to hurry you you know neighbour« said the dwarf raising
his voice for the old mans senses were duller than they had been »but as
soon as you can arrange your future proceedings the better«
»Surely« said the old man »The better for all parties«
»You see« pursued Quilp after a short pause »the goods being once removed
this house would be uncomfortable uninhabitable in fact«
»You say true« returned the old man »Poor Nell too what would she do«
»Exactly« bawled the dwarf nodding his head »thats very well observed
Then will you consider about it neighbour«
»I will certainly« replied the old man »We shall not stop here«
»So I supposed« said the dwarf »I have sold the things They have not
yielded quite as much as they might have done but pretty well pretty well
Todays Tuesday When shall they be moved Theres no hurry shall we say this
afternoon«
»Say Friday morning« returned the old man
»Very good« said the dwarf »So be it with the understanding that I
cant go beyond that day neighbour on any account«
»Good« returned the old man »I shall remember it«
Mr Quilp seemed rather puzzled by the strange even spiritless way in which
all this was said but as the old man nodded his head and repeated »on Friday
morning I shall remember it« he had no excuse for dwelling on the subject any
further and so took a friendly leave with many expressions of goodwill and
many compliments to his friend on his looking so remarkably well and went below
stairs to report progress to Mr Brass
All that day and all the next the old man remained in this state He
wandered up and down the house and into and out of the various rooms as if with
some vague intent of bidding them adieu but he referred neither by direct
allusions nor in any other manner to the interview of the morning or the
necessity of finding some other shelter An indistinct idea he had that the
child was desolate and in want of help for he often drew her to his bosom and
bade her be of good cheer saying that they would not desert each other but he
seemed unable to contemplate their real position more distinctly and was still
the listless passionless creature that suffering of mind and body had left
him
We call this a state of childishness but it is the same poor hollow mockery
of it that death is of sleep Where in the dull eyes of doating men are the
laughing light and life of childhood the gaiety that has known no check the
frankness that has felt no chill the hope that has never withered the joys
that fade in blossoming Where in the sharp lineaments of rigid and unsightly
death is the calm beauty of slumber telling of rest for the waking hours that
are past and gentle hopes and loves for those which are to come Lay death and
sleep down side by side and say who shall find the two akin Send forth the
child and childish man together and blush for the pride that libels our own old
happy state and gives its title to an ugly and distorted image
Thursday arrived and there was no alteration in the old man But a change
came upon him that evening as he and the child sat silently together
In a small dull yard below his window there was a tree green and
flourishing enough for such a place and as the air stirred among its leaves
it threw a rippling shadow on the white wall The old man sat watching the
shadows as they trembled in this patch of light until the sun went down and
when it was night and the moon was slowly rising he still sat in the same
spot
To one who had been tossing on a restless bed so long even these few green
leaves and this tranquil light although it languished among chimneys and
housetops were pleasant things They suggested quiet places afar off and
rest and peace
The child thought more than once that he was moved and had forborne to
speak But now he shed tears tears that it lightened her aching heart to see
and making as though he would fall upon his knees besought her to forgive
him
»Forgive you what« said Nell interposing to prevent his purpose »Oh
grandfather what should I forgive«
»All that is past all that has come upon thee Nell all that was done in
that uneasy dream« returned the old man
»Do not talk so« said the child »Pray do not Let us speak of something
else«
»Yes yes we will« he rejoined »And it shall be of what we talked of long
ago many months months is it or weeks or days which is it Nell«
»I do not understand you« said the child
»It has come back upon me today it has all come back since we have been
sitting here I bless thee for it Nell«
»For what dear grandfather«
»For what you said when we were first made beggars Nell Let us speak
softly Hush for if they knew our purpose down stairs they would cry that I
was mad and take thee from me We will not stop here another day We will go
far away from here«
»Yes let us go« said the child earnestly »Let us begone from this place
and never turn back or think of it again Let us wander barefoot through the
world rather than linger here«
»We will« answered the old man »we will travel afoot through the fields
and woods and by the side of rivers and trust ourselves to God in the places
where He dwells It is far better to lie down at night beneath an open sky like
that yonder see how bright it is than to rest in close rooms which are
always full of care and weary dreams Thou and I together Nell may be cheerful
and happy yet and learn to forget this time as if it had never been«
»We will be happy« cried the child »We never can be here«
»No we never can again never again thats truly said« rejoined the old
man »Let us steal away tomorrow morning early and softly that we may not be
seen or heard and leave no trace or track for them to follow by Poor Nell
Thy cheek is pale and thy eyes are heavy with watching and weeping for me I
know for me but thou wilt be well again and merry too when we are far away
Tomorrow morning dear well turn our faces from this scene of sorrow and be
as free and happy as the birds«
And then the old man clasped his hands above her head and said in a few
broken words that from that time forth they would wander up and down together
and never part more until Death took one or other of the twain
The childs heart beat high with hope and confidence She had no thought of
hunger or cold or thirst or suffering She saw in this but a return of the
simple pleasures they had once enjoyed a relief from the gloomy solitude in
which she had lived an escape from the heartless people by whom she had been
surrounded in her late time of trial the restoration of the old mans health
and peace and a life of tranquil happiness Sun and stream and meadow and
summer days shone brightly in her view and there was no dark tint in all the
sparkling picture
The old man had slept for some hours soundly in his bed and she was yet
busily engaged in preparing for their flight There were a few articles of
clothing for herself to carry and a few for him old garments such as became
their fallen fortunes laid out to wear and a staff to support his feeble
steps put ready for his use But this was not all her task for now she must
visit the old rooms for the last time
And how different the parting with them was from any she had expected and
most of all from that which she had oftenest pictured to herself How could she
ever have thought of bidding them farewell in triumph when the recollection of
the many hours she had passed among them rose to her swelling heart and made
her feel the wish a cruelty lonely and sad though many of those hours had been
She sat down at the window where she had spent so many evenings darker far
than this and every thought of hope or cheerfulness that had occurred to her
in that place came vividly upon her mind and blotted out all its dull and
mournful associations in an instant
Her own little room too where she had so often knelt down and prayed at
night prayed for the time which she hoped was dawning now the little room
where she had slept so peacefully and dreamed such pleasant dreams It was hard
not to be able to glance round it once more and to be forced to leave it
without one kind look or grateful tear There were some trifles there poor
useless things that she would have liked to take away but that was
impossible
This brought to mind her bird her poor bird who hung there yet She wept
bitterly for the loss of this little creature until the idea occurred to her
she did not know how or why it came into her head that it might by some
means fall into the hands of Kit who would keep it for her sake and think
perhaps that she had left it behind in the hope that he might have it and as
an assurance that she was grateful to him She was calmed and comforted by the
thought and went to rest with a lighter heart
From many dreams of rambling through light and sunny places but with some
vague object unattained which ran indistinctly through them all she awoke to
find that it was yet night and that the stars were shining brightly in the sky
At length the day began to glimmer and the stars to grow pale and dim As soon
as she was sure of this she arose and dressed herself for the journey
The old man was yet asleep and as she was unwilling to disturb him she
left him to slumber on until the sun rose He was anxious that they should
leave the house without a minutes loss of time and was soon ready
The child then took him by the hand and they trod lightly and cautiously
down the stairs trembling whenever a board creaked and often stopping to
listen The old man had forgotten a kind of wallet which contained the light
burden he had to carry and the going back a few steps to fetch it seemed an
interminable delay
At last they reached the passage on the ground floor where the snoring of
Mr Quilp and his legal friend sounded more terrible in their ears than the
roars of lions The bolts of the door were rusty and difficult to unfasten
without noise When they were all drawn back it was found to be locked and
worst of all the key was gone Then the child remembered for the first time
one of the nurses having told her that Quilp always locked both the housedoors
at night and kept the keys on the table in his bedroom
It was not without great fear and trepidation that little Nell slipped off
her shoes and gliding through the storeroom of old curiosities where Mr Brass
the ugliest piece of goods in all the stock lay sleeping on a mattress
passed into her own little chamber
Here she stood for a few moments quite transfixed with terror at the sight
of Mr Quilp who was hanging so far out of bed that he almost seemed to be
standing on his head and who either from the uneasiness of this posture or in
one of his agreeable habits was gasping and growling with his mouth wide open
and the whites or rather the dirty yellows of his eyes distinctly visible It
was no time however to ask whether anything ailed him so possessing herself
of the key after one hasty glance about the room and repassing the prostrate
Mr Brass she rejoined the old man in safety They got the door open without
noise and passing into the street stood still
»Which way« said the child
The old man looked irresolutely and helplessly first at her then to the
right and left then at her again and shook his head It was plain that she was
thenceforth his guide and leader The child felt it but had no doubts or
misgiving and putting her hand in his led him gently away
It was the beginning of a day in June the deep blue sky unsullied by a
cloud and teeming with brilliant light The streets were as yet nearly free
from passengers the houses and shops were closed and the healthy air of
morning fell like breath from angels on the sleeping town
The old man and the child passed on through the glad silence elate with
hope and pleasure They were alone together once again every object was bright
and fresh nothing reminded them otherwise than by contrast of the monotony
and constraint they had left behind church towers and steeples frowning and
dark at other times now shone in the sun each humble nook and corner rejoiced
in light and the sky dimmed only by excessive distance shed its placid smile
on everything beneath
Forth from the city while it yet slumbered went the two poor adventurers
wandering they knew not whither
Chapter XIII
Daniel Quilp of Tower Hill and Sampson Brass of Bevis Marks in the city of
London Gentleman one of her Majestys attorneys of the Courts of Kings Bench
and Common Pleas at Westminster and a solicitor of the High Court of Chancery
slumbered on unconscious and unsuspicious of any mischance until a knocking at
the street door often repeated and gradually mounting up from a modest single
rap to a perfect battery of knocks fired in long discharges with a very short
interval between caused the said Daniel Quilp to struggle into a horizontal
position and to stare at the ceiling with a drowsy indifference betokening
that he heard the noise and rather wondered at the same and couldnt be at the
trouble of bestowing any further thought upon the subject
As the knocking however instead of accommodating itself to his lazy state
increased in vigour and became more importunate as if in earnest remonstrance
against his falling asleep again now that he had once opened his eyes Daniel
Quilp began by degrees to comprehend the possibility of there being somebody at
the door and thus he gradually came to recollect that it was Friday morning
and he had ordered Mrs Quilp to be in waiting upon him at an early hour
Mr Brass after writhing about in a great many strange attitudes and
often twisting his face and eyes into an expression like that which is usually
produced by eating gooseberries very early in the season was by this time awake
also Seeing that Mr Quilp invested himself in his everyday garments he
hastened to do the like putting on his shoes before his stockings and
thrusting his legs into his coat sleeves and making such other small mistakes
in his toilet as are not uncommon to those who dress in a hurry and labour
under the agitation of having been suddenly roused
While the attorney was thus engaged the dwarf was groping under the table
muttering desperate imprecations on himself and mankind in general and all
inanimate objects to boot which suggested to Mr Brass the question »whats
the matter«
»The key« said the dwarf looking viciously at him »the doorkey thats
the matter Dye know anything of it«
»How should I know anything of it sir« returned Mr Brass
»How should you« repeated Quilp with a sneer »Youre a nice lawyer ant
you Ugh you idiot«
Not caring to represent to the dwarf in his present humour that the loss of
a key by another person could scarcely be said to affect his Brasss legal
knowledge in any material degree Mr Brass humbly suggested that it must have
been forgotten overnight and was doubtless at that moment in its native
keyhole Notwithstanding that Mr Quilp had a strong conviction to the
contrary founded on his recollection of having carefully taken it out he was
fain to admit that this was possible and therefore went grumbling to the door
where sure enough he found it
Now just as Mr Quilp laid his hand upon the lock and saw with great
astonishment that the fastenings were undone the knocking came again with most
irritating violence and the daylight which had been shining through the
keyhole was intercepted on the outside by a human eye The dwarf was very much
exasperated and wanting somebody to wreak his illhumour upon determined to
dart out suddenly and favour Mrs Quilp with a gentle acknowledgment of her
attention in making that hideous uproar
With this view he drew back the lock very silently and softly and opening
the door all at once pounced out upon the person on the other side who had at
that moment raised the knocker for another application and at whom the dwarf
ran head first throwing out his hands and feet together and biting the air in
the fulness of his malice
So far however from rushing upon somebody who offered no resistance and
implored his mercy Mr Quilp was no sooner in the arms of the individual whom
he had taken for his wife than he found himself complimented with two staggering
blows on the head and two more of the same quality in the chest and closing
with his assailant such a shower of buffets rained down upon his person as
sufficed to convince him that he was in skilful and experienced hands Nothing
daunted by this reception he clung tight to his opponent and bit and hammered
away with such goodwill and heartiness that it was at least a couple of
minutes before he was dislodged Then and not until then Daniel Quilp found
himself all flushed and dishevelled in the middle of the street with Mr
Richard Swiveller performing a kind of dance round him and requiring to know
»whether he wanted any more«
»Theres plenty more of it at the same shop« said Mr Swiveller by turns
advancing and retreating in a threatening attitude »a large and extensive
assortment always on hand country orders executed with promptitude and
despatch will you have a little more sir dont say no if youd rather
not«
»I thought it was somebody else« said Quilp rubbing his shoulders »why
didnt you say who you were«
»Why didnt you say who you were« returned Dick »instead of flying out of
the house like a Bedlamite«
»It was you that that knocked« said the dwarf getting up with a short
groan »was it«
»Yes I am the man« replied Dick »That lady had begun when I came but she
knocked too soft so I relieved her« As he said this he pointed towards Mrs
Quilp who stood trembling at a little distance
»Humph« muttered the dwarf darting an angry look at his wife »I thought
it was your fault And you sir dont you know there has been somebody ill
here that you knock as if youd beat the door down«
»Damme« answered Dick »thats why I did it I thought there was somebody
dead here«
»You came for some purpose I suppose« said Quilp »What is it you want«
»I want to know how the old gentleman is« rejoined Mr Swiveller »and to
hear from Nell herself with whom I should like to have a little talk Im a
friend of the family sir at least Im the friend of one of the family and
thats the same thing«
»Youd better walk in then« said the dwarf »Go on sir go on Now Mrs
Quilp after you maam«
Mrs Quilp hesitated but Mr Quilp insisted And it was not a contest of
politeness or by any means a matter of form for she knew very well that her
husband wished to enter the house in this order that he might have a favourable
opportunity of inflicting a few pinches on her arms which were seldom free from
impressions of his fingers in black and blue colours Mr Swiveller who was not
in the secret was a little surprised to hear a suppressed scream and looking
round to see Mrs Quilp following him with a sudden jerk but he did not remark
on these appearances and soon forgot them
»Now Mrs Quilp« said the dwarf when they had entered the shop »go you up
stairs if you please to Nellys room and tell her that shes wanted«
»You seem to make yourself at home here« said Dick who was unacquainted
with Mr Quilps authority
»I am at home young gentleman« returned the dwarf
Dick was pondering what these words might mean and still more what the
presence of Mr Brass might mean when Mrs Quilp came hurrying down stairs
declaring that the rooms above were empty
»Empty you fool« said the dwarf
»I give you my word Quilp« answered his trembling wife »that I have been
into every room and theres not a soul in any of them«
»And that« said Mr Brass clapping his hands once with an emphasis
»explains the mystery of the key«
Quilp looked frowningly at him and frowningly at his wife and frowningly
at Richard Swiveller but receiving no enlightenment from any of them hurried
up stairs whence he soon hurried down again confirming the report which had
been already made
»Its a strange way of going« he said glancing at Swiveller »very strange
not to communicate with me who am such a close and intimate friend of his Ah
hell write to me no doubt or hell bid Nelly write yes yes thats what
hell do Nellys very fond of me Pretty Nell«
Mr Swiveller looked as he was all openmouthed astonishment Still
glancing furtively at him Quilp turned to Mr Brass and observed with assumed
carelessness that this need not interfere with the removal of the goods
»For indeed« he added »we knew that theyd go away today but not that
theyd go so early or so quietly But they have their reasons they have their
reasons«
»Where in the devils name are they gone« said the wondering Dick
Quilp shook his head and pursed up his lips in a manner which implied that
he knew very well but was not at liberty to say
»And what« said Dick looking at the confusion about him »what do you mean
by moving the goods«
»That I have bought em sir« rejoined Quilp »Eh What then«
»Has the sly old fox made his fortune then and gone to live in a tranquil
cot in a pleasant spot with a distant view of the changing sea« said Dick in
great bewilderment
»Keeping his place of retirement very close that he may not be visited too
often by affectionate grandsons and their devoted friends eh« added the dwarf
rubbing his hands hard »I say nothing but is that your meaning«
Richard Swiveller was utterly aghast at this unexpected alteration of
circumstances which threatened the complete overthrow of the project in which
he bore so conspicuous a part and seemed to nip his prospects in the bud
Having only received from Frederick Trent late on the previous night
information of the old mans illness he had come upon a visit of condolence and
inquiry to Nell prepared with the first instalment of that long train of
fascinations which was to fire her heart at last And here when he had been
thinking of all kinds of graceful and insinuating approaches and meditating on
the fearful retaliation which was slowly working against Sophy Wackles here
were Nell the old man and all the money gone melted away decamped he knew
not whither as if with a foreknowledge of the scheme and a resolution to
defeat it in the very outset before a step was taken
In his secret heart Daniel Quilp was both surprised and troubled by the
flight which had been made It had not escaped his keen eye that some
indispensable articles of clothing were gone with the fugitives and knowing the
old mans weak state of mind he marvelled what that course of proceeding might
be in which he had so readily procured the concurrence of the child It must not
be supposed or it would be a gross injustice to Mr Quilp that he was tortured
by any disinterested anxiety on behalf of either His uneasiness arose from a
misgiving that the old man had some secret store of money which he had not
suspected and the idea of its escaping his clutches overwhelmed him with
mortification and selfreproach
In this frame of mind it was some consolation to him to find that Richard
Swiveller was for different reasons evidently irritated and disappointed by
the same cause It was plain thought the dwarf that he had come there on
behalf of his friend to cajole or frighten the old man out of some small
fraction of that wealth of which they supposed him to have an abundance
Therefore it was a relief to vex his heart with a picture of the riches the old
man hoarded and to expatiate on his cunning in removing himself even beyond the
reach of importunity
»Well« said Dick with a blank look »I suppose its of no use my staying
here«
»Not the least in the world« rejoined the dwarf
»Youll mention that I called perhaps« said Dick
Mr Quilp nodded and said he certainly would the very first time he saw
them
»And say« added Mr Swiveller »say sir that I was wafted here upon the
pinions of concord that I came to remove with the rake of friendship the
seeds of mutual wiolence and heartburning and to sow in their place the germs
of social harmony Will you have the goodness to charge yourself with that
commission sir«
»Certainly« rejoined Quilp
»Will you be kind enough to add to it sir« said Dick producing a very
small limp card »that that is my address and that I am to be found at home
every morning Two distinct knocks sir will produce the slavey at any time My
particular friends sir are accustomed to sneeze when the door is opened to
give her to understand that they are my friends and have no interested motives
in asking if Im at home I beg your pardon will you allow me to look at that
card again«
»Oh by all means« rejoined Quilp
»By a slight and not unnatural mistake sir« said Dick substituting
another in its stead »I had handed you the passticket of a select convivial
circle called the Glorious Apollers of which I have the honour to be Perpetual
Grand That is the proper document sir Good morning«
Quilp bade him good day the Perpetual Grand Master of the Glorious
Apollers elevating his hat in honour of Mrs Quilp dropped it carelessly on
the side of his head again and disappeared with a flourish
By this time certain vans had arrived for the conveyance of the goods and
divers strong men in caps were balancing chests of drawers and other trifles of
that nature upon their heads and performing muscular feats which heightened
their complexions considerably Not to be behindhand in the bustle Mr Quilp
went to work with surprising vigour hustling and driving the people about like
an evil spirit setting Mrs Quilp upon all kinds of arduous and impracticable
tasks carrying great weights up and down with no apparent effort kicking the
boy from the wharf whenever he could get near him and inflicting with his
loads a great many sly bumps and blows on the shoulders of Mr Brass as he
stood upon the doorsteps to answer all the inquiries of curious neighbours
which was his department His presence and example diffused such alacrity among
the persons employed that in a few hours the house was emptied of everything
but pieces of matting empty porterpots and scattered fragments of straw
Seated like an African chief on one of these pieces of matting the dwarf
was regaling himself in the parlour with bread and cheese and beer when he
observed without appearing to do so that a boy was prying in at the outer door
Assured that it was Kit though he saw little more than his nose Mr Quilp
hailed him by his name whereupon Kit came in and demanded what he wanted
»Come here you sir« said the dwarf »Well so your old master and young
mistress have gone«
»Where« rejoined Kit looking round
»Do you mean to say you dont know where« answered Quilp sharply »Where
have they gone eh«
»I dont know« said Kit
»Come« retorted Quilp »lets have no more of this Do you mean to say that
you dont know they went away by stealth as soon as it was light this morning«
»No« said the boy in evident surprise
»You dont know that« cried Quilp »Dont I know that you were hanging
about the house the other night like a thief eh Werent you told then«
»No« replied the boy
»You were not« said Quilp »What were you told then what were you talking
about«
Kit who knew no particular reason why he should keep the matter secret now
related the purpose for which he had come on that occasion and the proposal he
had made
»Oh« said the dwarf after a little consideration »Then I think theyll
come to you yet«
»Do you think they will« cried Kit eagerly
»Aye I think they will« returned the dwarf »Now when they do let me
know dye hear Let me know and Ill give you something I want to do em a
kindness and I cant do em a kindness unless I know where they are You hear
what I say«
Kit might have returned some answer which would not have been agreeable to
his irascible questioner if the boy from the wharf who had been skulking about
the room in search of anything that might have been left about by accident had
not happened to cry »Heres a bird Whats to be done with this«
»Wring its neck« rejoined Quilp
»Oh no dont do that« said Kit stepping forward »Give it to me«
»Oh yes I dare say« cried the other boy »Come You let the cage alone
and let me wring its neck will you He said I was to do it You let the cage
alone will you«
»Give it here give it to me you dogs« roared Quilp »Fight for it you
dogs or Ill wring its neck myself«
Without further persuasion the two boys fell upon each other tooth and
nail while Quilp holding up the cage in one hand and chopping the ground with
his knife in an ecstasy urged them on by his taunts and cries to fight more
fiercely They were a pretty equal match and rolled about together exchanging
blows which were by no means childs play until at length Kit planting a
welldirected hit in his adversarys chest disengaged himself sprung nimbly
up and snatching the cage from Quilps hands made off with his prize
He did not stop once until he reached home where his bleeding face
occasioned great consternation and caused the elder child to howl dreadfully
»Goodness gracious Kit what is the matter what have you been doing«
cried Mrs Nubbles
»Never you mind mother« answered her son wiping his face on the
jacktowel behind the door »Im not hurt dont you be afraid for me Ive been
a fightin for a bird and won him thats all Hold your noise little Jacob I
never see such a naughty boy in all my days«
»You have been a fighting for a bird« exclaimed his mother
»Ah Fightin for a bird« replied Kit »and here he is Miss Nellys bird
mother that they was agoin to wring the neck of I stopped that though ha ha
ha They wouldnt wring his neck and me by no no It wouldnt do mother it
wouldnt do at all Ha ha ha«
Kit laughing so heartily with his swoln and bruised face looking out of the
towel made little Jacob laugh and then his mother laughed and then the baby
crowed and kicked with great glee and then they all laughed in concert partly
because of Kits triumph and partly because they were very fond of each other
When this fit was over Kit exhibited the bird to both children as a great and
precious rarity it was only a poor linnet and looking about the wall for an
old nail made a scaffolding of a chair and table and twisted it out with great
exultation
»Let me see« said the boy »I think Ill hang him in the winder because
its more light and cheerful and he can see the sky there if he looks up very
much Hes such a one to sing I can tell you«
So the scaffolding was made again and Kit climbing up with the poker for
a hammer knocked in the nail and hung up the cage to the immeasurable delight
of the whole family When it had been adjusted and straightened a great many
times and he had walked backwards into the fireplace in his admiration of it
the arrangement was pronounced to be perfect
»And now mother« said the boy »before I rest any more Ill go out and
see if I can find a horse to hold and then I can buy some birdseed and a bit
of something nice for you into the bargain«
Chapter XIV
As it was very easy for Kit to persuade himself that the old house was in his
way his way being anywhere he tried to look upon his passing it at once more
as a matter of imperative and disagreeable necessity quite apart from any
desire of his own to which he could not choose but yield It is not uncommon
for people who are much better fed and taught than Christopher Nubbles had ever
been to make duties of their inclinations in matters of more doubtful
propriety and to take great credit for the selfdenial with which they gratify
themselves
There was no need of any caution this time and no fear of being detained by
having to play out a return match with Daniel Quilps boy The place was
entirely deserted and looked as dusty and dingy as if it had been so for
months A rusty padlock was fastened on the door ends of discoloured blinds and
curtains flapped drearily against the halfopened upper windows and the crooked
holes cut in the closed shutters below were black with the darkness of the
inside Some of the glass in the window he had so often watched had been broken
in the rough hurry of the morning and that room looked more deserted and dull
than any A group of idle urchins had taken possession of the doorsteps some
were plying the knocker and listening with delighted dread to the hollow sounds
it spread through the dismantled house others were clustered about the
keyhole watching half in jest and half in earnest for the ghost which an
hours gloom added to the mystery that hung about the late inhabitants had
already raised Standing all alone in the midst of the business and bustle of
the street the house looked a picture of cold desolation and Kit who
remembered the cheerful fire that used to burn there on a winters night and the
no less cheerful laugh that made the small room ring turned quite mournfully
away
It must be especially observed in justice to poor Kit that he was by no
means of a sentimental turn and perhaps had never heard that adjective in all
his life He was only a softhearted grateful fellow and had nothing genteel or
polite about him consequently instead of going home again in his grief to
kick the children and abuse his mother for when your finely strung people are
out of sorts they must have everybody else unhappy likewise he turned his
thoughts to the vulgar expedient of making them more comfortable if he could
Bless us what a number of gentlemen on horseback there were riding up and
down and how few of them wanted their horses held A good city speculator or a
parliamentary commissioner could have told to a fraction from the crowds that
were cantering about what sum of money was realised in London in the course of
a year by holding horses alone And undoubtedly it would have been a very large
one if only a twentieth part of the gentlemen without grooms had had occasion
to alight but they had not and it is often an illnatured circumstance like
this which spoils the most ingenious estimate in the world
Kit walked about now with quick steps and now with slow now lingering as
some rider slackened his horses pace and looked about him and now darting at
full speed up a byestreet as he caught a glimpse of some distant horseman going
lazily up the shady side of the road and promising to stop at every door But
on they all went one after another and there was not a penny stirring »I
wonder« thought the boy »if one of these gentlemen knew there was nothing in
the cupboard at home whether hed stop on purpose and make believe that he
wanted to call somewhere that I might earn a trifle«
He was quite tired out with pacing the streets to say nothing of repeated
disappointments and was sitting down upon a step to rest when there approached
towards him a little clattering jingling fourwheeled chaise drawn by a little
obstinate roughcoated pony and driven by a little fat placidfaced old
gentleman Beside the little old gentleman sat a little old lady plump and
placid like himself and the pony was coming along at his own pace and doing
exactly as he pleased with the whole concern If the old gentleman remonstrated
by shaking the reins the pony replied by shaking his head It was plain that
the utmost the pony would consent to do was to go in his own way up any street
that the old gentleman particularly wished to traverse but that it was an
understanding between them that he must do this after his own fashion or not at
all
As they passed where he sat Kit looked so wistfully at the little turnout
that the old gentleman looked at him Kit rising and putting his hand to his
hat the old gentleman intimated to the pony that he wished to stop to which
proposal the pony who seldom objected to that part of his duty graciously
acceded
»I beg your pardon sir« said Kit »Im sorry you stopped sir I only
meant did you want your horse minded«
»Im going to get down in the next street« returned the old gentleman »If
you like to come on after us you may have the job«
Kit thanked him and joyfully obeyed The pony ran off at a sharp angle to
inspect a lamppost on the opposite side of the way and then went off at a
tangent to another lamppost on the other side Having satisfied himself that
they were of the same pattern and materials he came to a stop apparently
absorbed in meditation
»Will you go on sir« said the old gentleman gravely »or are we to wait
here for you till its too late for our appointment«
The pony remained immoveable
»Oh you naughty Whisker« said the old lady »Fie upon you Im ashamed of
such conduct«
The pony appeared to be touched by this appeal to his feelings for he
trotted on directly though in a sulky manner and stopped no more until he came
to a door whereon was a brass plate with the words Witherden Notary Here the
old gentleman got out and helped out the old lady and then took from under the
seat a nosegay resembling in shape and dimensions a fullsized warmingpan with
the handle cut short off This the old lady carried into the house with a staid
and stately air and the old gentleman who had a clubfoot followed close upon
her
They went as it was easy to tell from the sound of their voices into the
front parlour which seemed to be a kind of office The day being very warm and
the street a quiet one the windows were wide open and it was easy to hear
through the Venetian blinds all that passed inside
At first there was a great shaking of hands and shuffling of feet succeeded
by the presentation of the nosegay for a voice supposed by the listener to be
that of Mr Witherden the Notary was heard to exclaim a great many times »oh
delicious« »oh fragrant indeed« and a nose also supposed to be the property
of that gentleman was heard to inhale the scent with a snuffle of exceeding
pleasure
»I brought it in honour of the occasion sir« said the old lady
»Ah an occasion indeed maam an occasion which does honour to me maam
honour to me« rejoined Mr Witherden the Notary »I have had many a gentleman
articled to me maam many a one Some of them are now rolling in riches
unmindful of their old companion and friend maam others are in the habit of
calling upon me to this day and saying Mr Witherden some of the pleasantest
hours I ever spent in my life were spent in this office were spent sir upon
this very stool but there was never one among the number maam attached as I
have been to many of them of whom I augured such bright things as I do of your
only son«
»Oh dear« said the old lady »How happy you do make us when you tell us
that to be sure«
»I tell you maam« said Mr Witherden »what I think as an honest man
which as the poet observes is the noblest work of God I agree with the poet
in every particular maam The mountainous Alps on the one hand or a
hummingbird on the other is nothing in point of workmanship to an honest man
or woman or woman«
»Anything that Mr Witherden can say of me« observed a small quiet voice
»I can say with interest of him I am sure«
»Its a happy circumstance a truly happy circumstance« said the Notary
»to happen too upon his eightandtwentieth birthday and I hope I know how to
appreciate it I trust Mr Garland my dear sir that we may mutually
congratulate each other upon this auspicious occasion«
To this the old gentleman replied that he felt assured they might There
appeared to be another shaking of hands in consequence and when it was over
the old gentleman said that though he said it who should not he believed no
son had ever been a greater comfort to his parents than Abel Garland had been to
his
»Marrying as his mother and I did late in life sir after waiting for a
great many years until we were well enough off coming together when we were
no longer young and then being blessed with one child who has always been
dutiful and affectionate why its a source of great happiness to us both
sir«
»Of course it is I have no doubt of it« returned the Notary in a
sympathising voice »Its the contemplation of this sort of thing that makes me
deplore my fate in being a bachelor There was a young lady once sir the
daughter of an outfitting warehouse of the first respectability but thats a
weakness Chuckster bring in Mr Abels articles«
»You see Mr Witherden« said the old lady »that Abel has not been brought
up like the run of young men He has always had a pleasure in our society and
always been with us Abel has never been absent from us for a day has he my
dear«
»Never my dear« returned the old gentleman »except when he went to
Margate one Saturday with Mr Tomkinley that had been a teacher at that school
he went to and came back upon the Monday but he was very ill after that you
remember my dear it was quite a dissipation«
»He was not used to it you know« said the old lady »and he couldnt bear
it thats the truth Besides he had no comfort in being there without us and
had nobody to talk to or enjoy himself with«
»That was it you know« interposed the same small quiet voice that had
spoken once before »I was quite abroad mother quite desolate and to think
that the sea was between us oh I never shall forget what I felt when I first
thought that the sea was between us«
»Very natural under the circumstances« observed the Notary »Mr Abels
feelings did credit to his nature and credit to your nature maam and his
fathers nature and human nature I trace the same current now flowing through
all his quiet and unobtrusive proceedings I am about to sign my name you
observe at the foot of the articles which Mr Chuckster will witness and
placing my finger upon this blue wafer with the vandyked corners I am
constrained to remark in a distinct tone of voice dont be alarmed maam it
is merely a form of law that I deliver this as my act and deed Mr Abel will
place his name against the other wafer repeating the same cabalistic words and
the business is over Ha ha ha You see how easily these things are done«
There was a short silence apparently while Mr Abel went through the
prescribed form and then the shaking of hands and shuffling of feet were
renewed and shortly afterwards there was a clinking of wineglasses and a great
talkativeness on the part of everybody In about a quarter of an hour Mr
Chuckster with a pen behind his ear and his face inflamed with wine appeared
at the door and condescending to address Kit by the jocose appellation of
»Young Snob« informed him that the visitors were coming out
Out they came forthwith Mr Witherden who was short chubby
freshcoloured brisk and pompous leading the old lady with extreme
politeness and the father and son following them arm in arm Mr Abel who had
a quaint oldfashioned air about him looked nearly of the same age as his
father and bore a wonderful resemblance to him in face and figure though
wanting something of his full round cheerfulness and substituting in its
place a timid reserve In all other respects in the neatness of the dress and
even in the clubfoot he and the old gentleman were precisely alike
Having seen the old lady safely in her seat and assisted in the arrangement
of her cloak and a small basket which formed an indispensable portion of her
equipage Mr Abel got into a little box behind which had evidently been made
for his express accommodation and smiled at everybody present by turns
beginning with his mother and ending with the pony There was then a great todo
to make the pony hold up his head that the bearingrein might be fastened at
last even this was effected and the old gentleman taking his seat and the
reins put his hand in his pocket to find a sixpence for Kit
He had no sixpences neither had the old lady nor Mr Abel nor the Notary
nor Mr Chuckster The old gentleman thought a shilling too much but there was
no shop in the street to get change at so he gave it to the boy
»There« he said jokingly »Im coming here again next Monday at the same
time and mind youre here my lad to work it out«
»Thank you sir« said Kit »Ill be sure to be here«
He was quite serious but they all laughed heartily at his saying so
especially Mr Chuckster who roared outright and appeared to relish the joke
amazingly As the pony with a presentiment that he was going home or a
determination that he would not go anywhere else which was the same thing
trotted away pretty nimbly Kit had no time to justify himself and went his way
also Having expended his treasure in such purchases as he knew would be most
acceptable at home not forgetting some seed for the wonderful bird he hastened
back as fast as he could so elated with his success and great goodfortune
that he more than half expected Nell and the old man would have arrived before
him
Chapter XV
Often while they were yet pacing the silent streets of the town on the morning
of their departure the child trembled with a mingled sensation of hope and fear
as in some faroff figure imperfectly seen in the clear distance her fancy
traced a likeness to honest Kit But although she would gladly have given him
her hand and thanked him for what he had said at their last meeting it was
always a relief to find when they came nearer to each other that the person
who approached was not he but a stranger for even if she had not dreaded the
effect which the sight of him might have wrought upon her fellowtraveller she
felt that to bid farewell to anybody now and most of all to him who had been so
faithful and so true was more than she could bear It was enough to leave dumb
things behind and objects that were insensible both to her love and sorrow To
have parted from her only other friend upon the threshold of that wild journey
would have wrung her heart indeed
Why is it that we can better bear to part in spirit than in body and while
we have the fortitude to act farewell have not the nerve to say it On the eve
of long voyages or an absence of many years friends who are tenderly attached
will separate with the usual look the usual pressure of the hand planning one
final interview for the morrow while each well knows that it is but a poor
feint to save the pain of uttering that one word and that the meeting will
never be Should possibilities be worse to bear than certainties We do not shun
our dying friends the not having distinctly taken leave of one among them whom
we left in all kindness and affection will often embitter the whole remainder
of a life
The town was glad with morning light places that had shown ugly and
distrustful all night long now wore a smile and sparkling sunbeams dancing on
chamber windows and twinkling through blind and curtain before sleepers eyes
shed light even into dreams and chased away the shadows of the night Birds in
hot rooms covered up close and dark felt it was morning and chafed and grew
restless in their little cells brighteyed mice crept back to their tiny homes
and nestled timidly together the sleek housecat forgetful of her prey sat
winking at the rays of sun starting through keyhole and cranny in the door and
longed for her stealthy run and warm sleek bask outside The nobler beasts
confined in dens stood motionless behind their bars and gazed on fluttering
boughs and sunshine peeping through some little window with eyes in which old
forests gleamed then trod impatiently the track their prisoned feet had worn
and stopped and gazed again Men in their dungeons stretched their cramped cold
limbs and cursed the stone that no bright sun could warm The flowers that sleep
by night opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day The light
creations mind was everywhere and all things owned its power
The two pilgrims often pressing each others hands or exchanging a smile
or cheerful look pursued their way in silence Bright and happy as it was
there was something solemn in the long deserted streets from which like
bodies without souls all habitual character and expression had departed
leaving but one dead uniform repose that made them all alike All was so still
at that early hour that the few pale people whom they met seemed as much
unsuited to the scene as the sickly lamp which had been here and there left
burning was powerless and faint in the full glory of the sun
Before they had penetrated very far into the labyrinth of mens abodes which
yet lay between them and the outskirts this aspect began to melt away and
noise and bustle to usurp its place Some straggling carts and coaches rumbling
by first broke the charm then others came then others yet more active then a
crowd The wonder was at first to see a tradesmans room window open but it
was a rare thing to see one closed then smoke rose slowly from the chimneys
and sashes were thrown up to let in air and doors were opened and servant
girls looking lazily in all directions but their brooms scattered brown clouds
of dust into the eyes of shrinking passengers or listened disconsolately to
milkmen who spoke of country fairs and told of waggons in the mews with
awnings and all things complete and gallant swains to boot which another hour
would see upon their journey
This quarter passed they came upon the haunts of commerce and great
traffic where many people were resorting and business was already rife The
old man looked about him with a startled and bewildered gaze for these were
places that he hoped to shun He pressed his finger on his lip and drew the
child along by narrow courts and winding ways nor did he seem at ease until
they had left it far behind often casting a backward look towards it murmuring
that ruin and selfmurder were crouching in every street and would follow if
they scented them and that they could not fly too fast
Again this quarter passed they came upon a straggling neighbourhood where
the mean houses parcelled off in rooms and windows patched with rags and paper
told of the populous poverty that sheltered there The shops sold goods that
only poverty could buy and sellers and buyers were pinched and griped alike
Here were poor streets where faded gentility essayed with scanty space and
shipwrecked means to make its last feeble stand but taxgatherer and creditor
came there as elsewhere and the poverty that yet faintly struggled was hardly
less squalid and manifest than that which had long ago submitted and given up
the game
This was a wide wide track for the humble followers of the camp of wealth
pitch their tents round about it for many a mile but its character was still
the same Damp rotten houses many to let many yet building many halfbuilt
and mouldering away lodgings where it would be hard to tell which needed pity
most those who let or those who came to take children scantily fed and
clothed spread over every street and sprawling in the dust scolding mothers
stamping their slipshod feet with noisy threats upon the pavement shabby
fathers hurrying with dispirited looks to the occupation which brought them
daily bread and little more manglingwomen washerwomen cobblers tailors
chandlers driving their trades in parlours and kitchens and back rooms and
garrets and sometimes all of them under the same roof brickfields skirting
gardens paled with staves of old casks or timber pillaged from houses burnt
down and blackened and blistered by the flames mounds of dockweed nettles
coarse grass and oystershells heaped in rank confusion small dissenting
chapels to teach with no lack of illustration the miseries of Earth and
plenty of new churches erected with a little superfluous wealth to show the
way to Heaven
At length these streets becoming more straggling yet dwindled and dwindled
away until there were only small garden patches bordering the road with many a
summerhouse innocent of paint and built of old timber or some fragments of a
boat green as the tough cabbagestalks that grew about it and grottoed at the
seams with toadstools and tightsticking snails To these succeeded pert
cottages two and two with plots of ground in front laid out in angular beds
with stiff box borders and narrow paths between where footstep never strayed to
make the gravel rough Then came the publichouse freshly painted in green and
white with teagardens and a bowling green spurning its old neighbour with the
horsetrough where the waggons stopped then fields and then some houses one
by one of goodly size with lawns some even with a lodge where dwelt a porter
and his wife Then came a turnpike then fields again with trees and
haystacks then a hill and on the top of that the traveller might stop and
looking back at old Saint Pauls looming through the smoke its cross peeping
above the cloud if the day were clear and glittering in the sun and casting
his eyes upon the Babel out of which it grew until he traced it down to the
furthest outposts of the invading army of bricks and mortar whose station lay
for the present nearly at his feet might feel at last that he was clear of
London
Near such a spot as this and in a pleasant field the old man and his
little guide if guide she were who knew not whither they were bound sat down
to rest She had had the precaution to furnish her basket with some slices of
bread and meat and here they made their frugal breakfast
The freshness of the day the singing of the birds the beauty of the waving
grass the deep green leaves the wild flowers and the thousand exquisite
scents and sounds that floated in the air deep joys to most of us but most
of all to those whose life is in a crowd or who live solitarily in great cities
as in the bucket of a human well sunk into their breasts and made them very
glad The child had repeated her artless prayers once that morning more
earnestly perhaps than she had ever done in all her life but as she felt all
this they rose to her lips again The old man took off his hat he had no
memory for the words but he said amen and that they were very good
There had been an old copy of the Pilgrims Progress with strange plates
upon a shelf at home over which she had often pored whole evenings wondering
whether it was true in every word and where those distant countries with the
curious names might be As she looked back upon the place they had left one
part of it came strongly on her mind
»Dear grandfather« she said »only that this place is prettier and a great
deal better than the real one if that in the book is like it I feel as if we
were both Christian and laid down on this grass all the cares and troubles we
brought with us never to take them up again«
»No never to return never to return« replied the old man waving his
hand towards the city »Thou and I are free of it now Nell They shall never
lure us back«
»Are you tired« said the child »are you sure you dont feel ill from this
long walk«
»I shall never feel ill again now that we are once away« was his reply
»Let us be stirring Nell We must be further away a long long way further
We are too near to stop and be at rest Come«
There was a pool of clear water in the field in which the child laved her
hands and face and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again She
would have the old man refresh himself in this way too and making him sit down
upon the grass cast the water on him with her hands and dried it with her
simple dress
»I can do nothing for myself my darling« said the grandfather »I dont
know how it is I could once but the times gone Dont leave me Nell say
that thoult not leave me I loved thee all the while indeed I did If I lose
thee too my dear I must die«
He laid his head upon her shoulder and moaned piteously The time had been
and a very few days before when the child could not have restrained her tears
and must have wept with him But now she soothed him with gentle and tender
words smiled at his thinking they could ever part and rallied him cheerfully
upon the jest He was soon calmed and fell asleep singing to himself in a low
voice like a little child
He awoke refreshed and they continued their journey The road was pleasant
lying between beautiful pastures and fields of corn about which poised high in
the clear blue sky the lark trilled out her happy song The air came laden with
the fragrance it caught upon its way and the bees upborne upon its scented
breath hummed forth their drowsy satisfaction as they floated by
They were now in the open country the houses were very few and scattered at
long intervals often miles apart Occasionally they came upon a cluster of poor
cottages some with a chair or low board put across the open door to keep the
scrambling children from the road others shut up close while all the family
were working in the fields These were often the commencement of a little
village and after an interval came a wheelwrights shed or perhaps a
blacksmiths forge then a thriving farm with sleepy cows lying about the yard
and horses peering over the low wall and scampering away when harnessed horses
passed upon the road as though in triumph at their freedom There were dull
pigs too turning up the ground in search of dainty food and grunting their
monotonous grumblings as they prowled about or crossed each other in their
quest plump pigeons skimming round the roof or strutting on the eaves and
ducks and geese far more graceful in their own conceit waddling awkwardly
about the edges of the pond or sailing glibly on its surface The farmyard
passed then came the little inn the humbler beershop and the village
tradesmans then the lawyers and the parsons at whose dread names the
beershop trembled the church then peeped out modestly from a clump of trees
then there were a few more cottages then the cage and pound and not
unfrequently on a bank by the wayside a deep old dusty well Then came the
trimhedged fields on either hand and the open road again
They walked all day and slept that night at a small cottage where beds were
let to travellers Next morning they were afoot again and though jaded at
first and very tired recovered before long and proceeded briskly forward
They often stopped to rest but only for a short space at a time and still
kept on having had but slight refreshment since the morning It was nearly five
oclock in the afternoon when drawing near another cluster of labourers huts
the child looked wistfully in each doubtful at which to ask for permission to
rest awhile and buy a draught of milk
It was not easy to determine for she was timid and fearful of being
repulsed Here was a crying child and there a noisy wife In this the people
seemed too poor in that too many At length she stopped at one where the
family were seated round the table chiefly because there was an old man
sitting in a cushioned chair beside the hearth and she thought he was a
grandfather and would feel for hers
There were besides the cottager and his wife and three young sturdy
children brown as berries The request was no sooner preferred than granted
The eldest boy ran out to fetch some milk the second dragged two stools towards
the door and the youngest crept to his mothers gown and looked at the
strangers from beneath his sunburnt hand
»God save you master« said the old cottager in a thin piping voice »are
you travelling far«
»Yes sir a long way« replied the child for her grandfather appealed to
her
»From London« inquired the old man
The child said yes
Ah He had been in London many a time used to go there often once with
waggons It was nigh twoandthirty year since he had been there last and he
did hear say there were great changes Like enough He had changed himself
since then Twoandthirtyyear was a long time and eightyfour a great age
though there was some he had known that had lived to very hard upon a hundred
and not so hearty as he neither no nothing like it
»Sit thee down master in the elbow chair« said the old man knocking his
stick upon the brick floor and trying to do so sharply »Take a pinch out o
that box I dont take much myself for it comes dear but I find it wakes me up
sometimes and yere but a boy to me I should have a son pretty nigh as old as
you if hed lived but they listed him for a soger he come back home though
for all he had but one poor leg He always said hed be buried near the sundial
he used to climb upon when he was a baby did my poor boy and his words come
true you can see the place with your own eyes weve kept the turf up ever
since«
He shook his head and looking at his daughter with watery eyes said she
neednt be afraid that he was going to talk about that any more He didnt wish
to trouble nobody and if he had troubled anybody by what he said he asked
pardon that was all
The milk arrived and the child producing her little basket and selecting
its best fragments for her grandfather they made a hearty meal The furniture
of the room was very homely of course a few rough chairs and a table a corner
cupboard with their little stock of crockery and delf a gaudy teatray
representing a lady in bright red walking out with a very blue parasol a few
common coloured scripture subjects in frames upon the wall and chimney an old
dwarf clothespress and an eightday clock with a few bright saucepans and a
kettle comprised the whole But everything was clean and neat and as the child
glanced round she felt a tranquil air of comfort and content to which she had
long been unaccustomed
»How far is it to any town or village« she asked of the husband
»A matter of good five mile my dear« was the reply »but youre not going
on tonight«
»Yes yes Nell« said the old man hastily urging her too by signs
»Further on further on darling further away if we walk till midnight«
»Theres a good barn hard by master« said the man »or theres travellers
lodging I know at the Plow an Harrer Excuse me but you do seem a little
tired and unless youre very anxious to get on «
»Yes yes we are« returned the old man fretfully »Further away dear
Nell pray further away«
»We must go on indeed« said the child yielding to his restless wish »We
thank you very much but we cannot stop so soon Im quite ready grandfather«
But the woman had observed from the young wanderers gait that one of her
little feet was blistered and sore and being a woman and a mother too she
would not suffer her to go until she had washed the place and applied some
simple remedy which she did so carefully and with such a gentle hand
roughgrained and hard though it was with work that the childs heart was too
full to admit of her saying more than a fervent »God bless you« nor could she
look back nor trust herself to speak until they had left the cottage some
distance behind When she turned her head she saw that the whole family even
the old grandfather were standing in the road watching them as they went and
so with many waves of the hand and cheering nods and on one side at least not
without tears they parted company
They trudged forward more slowly and painfully than they had done yet for
another mile or thereabouts when they heard the sound of wheels behind them
and looking round observed an empty cart approaching pretty briskly The driver
on coming up to them stopped his horse and looked earnestly at Nell
»Didnt you stop to rest at a cottage yonder« he said
»Yes sir« replied the child
»Ah They asked me to look out for you« said the man »Im going your way
Give me your hand jump up master«
This was a great relief for they were very much fatigued and could scarcely
crawl along To them the jolting cart was a luxurious carriage and the ride the
most delicious in the world Nell had scarcely settled herself on a little heap
of straw in one corner when she fell asleep for the first time that day
She was awakened by the stopping of the cart which was about to turn up a
byelane The driver kindly got down to help her out and pointing to some trees
at a very short distance before them said that the town lay there and that
they had better take the path which they would see leading through the
churchyard Accordingly towards this spot they directed their weary steps
Chapter XVI
The sun was setting when they reached the wicketgate at which the path began
and as the rain falls upon the just and unjust alike it shed its warm tint
even upon the restingplaces of the dead and bade them be of good hope for its
rising on the morrow The church was old and grey with ivy clinging to the
walls and round the porch Shunning the tombs it crept about the mounds
beneath which slept poor humble men twining for them the first wreaths they had
ever won but wreaths less liable to wither and far more lasting in their kind
than some which were graven deep in stone and marble and told in pompous terms
of virtues meekly hidden for many a year and only revealed at last to executors
and mourning legatees
The clergymans horse stumbling with a dull blunt sound among the graves
was cropping the grass at once deriving orthodox consolation from the dead
parishioners and enforcing last Sundays text that this was what all flesh came
to a lean ass who had sought to expound it also without being qualified and
ordained was pricking his ears in an empty pound hard by and looking with
hungry eyes upon his priestly neighbour
The old man and the child quitted the gravel path and strayed among the
tombs for there the ground was soft and easy to their tired feet As they
passed behind the church they heard voices near at hand and presently came on
those who had spoken
They were two men who were seated in easy attitudes upon the grass and so
busily engaged as to be at first unconscious of intruders It was not difficult
to divine that they were of a class of itinerant showmen exhibitors of the
freaks of Punch for perched crosslegged upon a tombstone behind them was a
figure of that hero himself his nose and chin as hooked and his face as beaming
as usual Perhaps his imperturbable character was never more strikingly
developed for he preserved his usual equable smile notwithstanding that his
body was dangling in a most uncomfortable position all loose and limp and
shapeless while his long peaked cap unequally balanced against his exceedingly
slight legs threatened every instant to bring him toppling down
In part scattered upon the ground at the feet of the two men and in part
jumbled together in a long flat box were the other persons of the Drama The
heros wife and one child the hobbyhorse the doctor the foreign gentleman
who not being familiar with the language is unable in the representation to
express his ideas otherwise than by the utterance of the word »Shallabalah«
three distinct times the radical neighbour who will by no means admit that a
tin bell is an organ the executioner and the devil were all here Their
owners had evidently come to that spot to make some needful repairs in the stage
arrangements for one of them was engaged in binding together a small gallows
with thread while the other was intent upon fixing a new black wig with the
aid of a small hammer and some tacks upon the head of the radical neighbour
who had been beaten bald
They raised their eyes when the old man and his young companion were close
upon them and pausing in their work returned their looks of curiosity One of
them the actual exhibitor no doubt was a little merryfaced man with a
twinkling eye and a red nose who seemed to have unconsciously imbibed something
of his heros character The other that was he who took the money had rather
a careful and cautious look which was perhaps inseparable from his occupation
also
The merry man was the first to greet the strangers with a nod and following
the old mans eyes he observed that perhaps that was the first time he had ever
seen a Punch off the stage Punch it may be remarked seemed to be pointing
with the tip of his cap to a most flourishing epitaph and to be chuckling over
it with all his heart
»Why do you come here to do this« said the old man sitting down beside
them and looking at the figures with extreme delight
»Why you see« rejoined the little man »were putting up for tonight at
the publichouse yonder and it wouldnt do to let em see the present company
undergoing repair«
»No« cried the old man making signs to Nell to listen »why not eh why
not«
»Because it would destroy all the delusion and take away all the interest
wouldnt it« replied the little man »Would you care a hapenny for the Lord
Chancellor if you knowd him in private and without his wig certainly not«
»Good« said the old man venturing to touch one of the puppets and drawing
away his hand with a shrill laugh »Are you going to show em tonight are
you«
»That is the intention governor« replied the other »and unless Im much
mistaken Tommy Codlin is a calculating at this minute what weve lost through
your coming upon us Cheer up Tommy it cant be much«
The little man accompanied these latter words with a wink expressive of the
estimate he had formed of the travellers finances
To this Mr Codlin who had a surly grumbling manner replied as he
twitched Punch off the tombstone and flung him into the box
»I dont care if we havent lost a farden but youre too free If you stood
in front of the curtain and see the publics faces as I do youd know human
natur better«
»Ah its been the spoiling of you Tommy your taking to that branch«
rejoined his companion »When you played the ghost in the reglar drama in the
fairs you believed in everything except ghosts But now youre a universal
mistruster I never see a man so changed«
»Never mind« said Mr Codlin with the air of a discontented philosopher
»I know better now and praps Im sorry for it«
Turning over the figures in the box like one who knew and despised them Mr
Codlin drew one forth and held it up for the inspection of his friend
»Look here heres all this Judys clothes falling to pieces again You
havent got a needle and thread I suppose«
The little man shook his head and scratched it ruefully as he contemplated
this severe indisposition of a principal performer Seeing that they were at a
loss the child said timidly
»I have a needle sir in my basket and thread too Will you let me try to
mend it for you I think I could do it neater than you could«
Even Mr Codlin had nothing to urge against a proposal so seasonable Nelly
kneeling down beside the box was soon busily engaged in her task and
accomplishing it to a miracle
While she was thus engaged the merry little man looked at her with an
interest which did not appear to be diminished when he glanced at her helpless
companion When she had finished her work he thanked her and inquired whither
they were travelling
»Nno further tonight I think« said the child looking towards her
grandfather
»If youre wanting a place to stop at« the man remarked »I should advise
you to take up at the same house with us Thats it The long low white house
there Its very cheap«
The old man notwithstanding his fatigue would have remained in the
churchyard all night if his new acquaintances had remained there too As he
yielded to this suggestion a ready and rapturous assent they all rose and
walked away together he keeping close to the box of puppets in which he was
quite absorbed the merry little man carrying it slung over his arm by a strap
attached to it for the purpose Nelly having hold of her grandfathers hand and
Mr Codlin sauntering slowly behind casting up at the church tower and
neighbouring trees such looks as he was accustomed in townpractice to direct to
drawingroom and nursery windows when seeking for a profitable spot on which to
plant the show
The publichouse was kept by a fat old landlord and landlady who made no
objection to receiving their new guests but praised Nellys beauty and were at
once prepossessed in her behalf There was no other company in the kitchen but
the two showmen and the child felt very thankful that they had fallen upon such
good quarters The landlady was very much astonished to learn that they had come
all the way from London and appeared to have no little curiosity touching their
farther destination The child parried her inquiries as well as she could and
with no great trouble for finding that they appeared to give her pain the old
lady desisted
»These two gentlemen have ordered supper in an hours time« she said
taking her into the bar »and your best plan will be to sup with them Meanwhile
you shall have a little taste of something thatll do you good for Im sure you
must want it after all youve gone through today Now dont look after the old
gentleman because when youve drank that he shall have some too«
As nothing could induce the child to leave him alone however or to touch
anything in which he was not the first and greatest sharer the old lady was
obliged to help him first When they had been thus refreshed the whole house
hurried away into an empty stable where the show stood and where by the light
of a few flaring candles stuck round a hoop which hung by a line from the
ceiling it was to be forthwith exhibited
And now Mr Thomas Codlin the misanthrope after blowing away at the Pans
pipes until he was intensely wretched took his station on one side of the
checked drapery which concealed the mover of the figures and putting his hands
in his pockets prepared to reply to all questions and remarks of Punch and to
make a dismal feint of being his most intimate private friend of believing in
him to the fullest and most unlimited extent of knowing that he enjoyed day and
night a merry and glorious existence in that temple and that he was at all
times and under every circumstance the same intelligent and joyful person that
the spectators then beheld him All this Mr Codlin did with the air of a man
who had made up his mind for the worst and was quite resigned his eye slowly
wandering about during the briskest repartee to observe the effect upon the
audience and particularly the impression made upon the landlord and landlady
which might be productive of very important results in connexion with the
supper
Upon this head however he had no cause for any anxiety for the whole
performance was applauded to the echo and voluntary contributions were showered
in with a liberality which testified yet more strongly to the general delight
Among the laughter none was more loud and frequent than the old mans Nells
was unheard for she poor child with her head drooping on his shoulder had
fallen asleep and slept too soundly to be roused by any of his efforts to
awaken her to a participation in his glee
The supper was very good but she was too tired to eat and yet would not
leave the old man until she had kissed him in his bed He happily insensible to
every care and anxiety sat listening with a vacant smile and admiring face to
all that his new friends said and it was not until they retired yawning to
their room that he followed the child up stairs
It was but a loft partitioned into two compartments where they were to
rest but they were well pleased with their lodging and had hoped for none so
good The old man was uneasy when he had lain down and begged that Nell would
come and sit at his bedside as she had done for so many nights She hastened to
him and sat there till he slept
There was a little window hardly more than a chink in the wall in her
room and when she left him she opened it quite wondering at the silence The
sight of the old church and the graves about it in the moonlight and the dark
trees whispering among themselves made her more thoughtful than before She
closed the window again and sitting down upon the bed thought of the life that
was before them
She had a little money but it was very little and when that was gone they
must begin to beg There was one piece of gold among it and an emergency might
come when its worth to them would be increased a hundredfold It would be best
to hide this coin and never produce it unless their case was absolutely
desperate and no other resource was left them
Her resolution taken she sewed the piece of gold into her dress and going
to bed with a lighter heart sunk into a deep slumber
Chapter XVII
Another bright day shining in through the small casement and claiming
fellowship with the kindred eyes of the child awoke her At sight of the
strange room and its unaccustomed objects she started up in alarm wondering how
she had been moved from the familiar chamber in which she seemed to have fallen
asleep last night and whither she had been conveyed But another glance around
called to her mind all that had lately passed and she sprung from her bed
hoping and trustful
It was yet early and the old man being still asleep she walked out into
the churchyard brushing the dew from the long grass with her feet and often
turning aside into places where it grew longer than in others that she might
not tread upon the graves She felt a curious kind of pleasure in lingering
among these houses of the dead and read the inscriptions on the tombs of the
good people a great number of good people were buried there passing on from
one to another with increasing interest
It was a very quiet place as such a place should be save for the cawing of
the rooks who had built their nests among the branches of some tall old trees
and were calling to one another high up in the air First one sleek bird
hovering near his ragged house as it swung and dangled in the wind uttered his
hoarse cry quite by chance as it would seem and in a sober tone as though he
were but talking to himself Another answered and he called again but louder
than before then another spoke and then another and each time the first
aggravated by contradiction insisted on his case more strongly Other voices
silent till now struck in from boughs lower down and higher up and midway and
to the right and left and from the treetops and others arriving hastily from
the grey church turrets and old belfry window joined the clamour which rose and
fell and swelled and dropped again and still went on and all this noisy
contention amidst a skimming to and fro and lighting on fresh branches and
frequent change of place which satirised the old restlessness of those who lay
so still beneath the moss and turf below and the strife in which they had worn
away their lives
Frequently raising her eyes to the trees whence these sounds came down and
feeling as though they made the place more quiet than perfect silence would have
done the child loitered from grave to grave now stopping to replace with
careful hands the bramble which had started from some green mound it helped to
keep in shape and now peeping through one of the low latticed windows into the
church with its worm books upon the desks and baize of whitenedgreen
mouldering from the pew sides and leaving the naked wood to view There were the
seats where the poor old people sat worn spare and yellow like themselves the
rugged font where children had their names the homely altar where they knelt in
after life the plain black tressels that bore their weight on their last visit
to the cool old shady church Everything told of long use and quiet slow decay
the very bellrope in the porch was frayed into a fringe and hoary with old
age
She was looking at a humble stone which told of a young man who had died at
twentythree years old fiftyfive years ago when she heard a faltering step
approaching and looking round saw a feeble woman bent with the weight of years
who tottered to the foot of that same grave and asked her to read the writing on
the stone The old woman thanked her when she had done saying that she had had
the words by heart for many a long long year but could not see them now
»Were you his mother« said the child
»I was his wife my dear«
She the wife of a young man of threeandtwenty Ah true It was fiftyfive
years ago
»You wonder to hear me say that« remarked the old woman shaking her head
»Youre not the first Older folk than you have wondered at the same thing
before now Yes I was his wife Death doesnt change us more than life my
dear«
»Do you come here often« asked the child
»I sit here very often in the summer time« she answered »I used to come
here once to cry and mourn but that was a weary while ago bless God«
»I pluck the daisies as they grow and take them home« said the old woman
after a short silence »I like no flowers so well as these and havent for
fiveandfifty years Its a long time and Im getting very old«
Then growing garrulous upon a theme which was new to one listener though it
were but a child she told her how she had wept and moaned and prayed to die
herself when this happened and how when she first came to that place a young
creature strong in love and grief she had hoped that her heart was breaking as
it seemed to be But that time passed by and although she continued to be sad
when she came there still she could bear to come and so went on until it was
pain no longer but a solemn pleasure and a duty she had learned to like And
now that fiveandfifty years were gone she spoke of the dead man as if he had
been her son or grandson with a kind of pity for his youth growing out of her
own old age and an exalting of his strength and manly beauty as compared with
her own weakness and decay and yet she spoke about him as her husband too and
thinking of herself in connexion with him as she used to be and not as she was
now talked of their meeting in another world as if he were dead but yesterday
and she separated from her former self were thinking of the happiness of that
comely girl who seemed to have died with him
The child left her gathering the flowers that grew upon the grave and
thoughtfully retraced her steps
The old man was by this time up and dressed Mr Codlin still doomed to
contemplate the harsh realities of existence was packing among his linen the
candleends which had been saved from the previous nights performance while
his companion received the compliments of all the loungers in the stableyard
who unable to separate him from the mastermind of Punch set him down as next
in importance to that merry outlaw and loved him scarcely less When he had
sufficiently acknowledged his popularity he came in to breakfast at which meal
they all sat down together
»And where are you going today« said the little man addressing himself to
Nell
»Indeed I hardly know we have not determined yet« replied the child
»Were going on to the races« said the little man »If thats your way and
you like to have us for company let us travel together If you prefer going
alone only say the word and youll find that we shant trouble you«
»Well go with you« said the old man »Nell with them with them«
The child considered for a moment and reflecting that she must shortly beg
and could scarcely hope to do so at a better place than where crowds of rich
ladies and gentlemen were assembled together for purposes of enjoyment and
festivity determined to accompany these men so far She therefore thanked the
little man for his offer and said glancing timidly towards his friend that if
there was no objection to their accompanying them as far as the race town
»Objection« said the little man »Now be gracious for once Tommy and say
that youd rather they went with us I know you would Be gracious Tommy«
»Trotters« said Mr Codlin who talked very slowly and eat very greedily
as is not uncommon with philosophers and misanthropes »youre too free«
»Why what harm can it do« urged the other
»No harm at all in this particular case perhaps« replied Mr Codlin »but
the principles a dangerous one and youre too free I tell you«
»Well are they to go with us or not«
»Yes they are« said Mr Codlin »but you might have made a favour of it
mightnt you«
The real name of the little man was Harris but it had gradually merged into
the less euphonious one of Trotters which with the prefatory adjective Short
had been conferred upon him by reason of the small size of his legs Short
Trotters however being a compound name inconvenient of use in friendly
dialogue the gentleman on whom it had been bestowed was known among his
intimates either as Short or Trotters and was seldom accosted at full length
as Short Trotters except in formal conversations and on occasions of ceremony
Short then or Trotters as the reader pleases returned unto the
remonstrance of his friend Mr Thomas Codlin a jocose answer calculated to turn
aside his discontent and applying himself with great relish to the cold boiled
beef the tea and bread and butter strongly impressed upon his companions that
they should do the like Mr Codlin indeed required no such persuasion as he
had already eat as much as he could possibly carry and was now moistening his
clay with strong ale whereof he took deep draughts with a silent relish and
invited nobody to partake thus again strongly indicating his misanthropical
turn of mind
Breakfast being at length over Mr Codlin called the bill and charging the
ale to the company generally a practice also savouring of misanthropy divided
the sumtotal into two fair and equal parts assigning one moiety to himself and
friend and the other to Nelly and her grandfather These being duly discharged
and all things ready for their departure they took farewell of the landlord and
landlady and resumed their journey
And here Mr Codlins false position in society and the effect it wrought
upon his wounded spirit were strongly illustrated for whereas he had been last
night accosted by Mr Punch as master and had by inference left the audience to
understand that he maintained that individual for his own luxurious
entertainment and delight here he was now painfully walking beneath the
burden of that same Punchs temple and bearing it bodily upon his shoulders on
a sultry day and along a dusty road In place of enlivening his patron with a
constant fire of wit or the cheerful rattle of his quarterstaff on the heads of
his relations and acquaintance here was that beaming Punch utterly devoid of
spine all slack and drooping in a dark box with his legs doubled up round his
neck and not one of his social qualities remaining
Mr Codlin trudged heavily on exchanging a word or two at intervals with
Short and stopping to rest and growl occasionally Short led the way with the
flat box the private luggage which was not extensive tied up in a bundle and
a brazen trumpet slung from his shoulderblade Nell and her grandfather walked
next him on either hand and Thomas Codlin brought up the rear
When they came to any town or village or even to a detached house of good
appearance Short blew a blast upon the brazen trumpet and carolled a fragment
of a song in that hilarious tone common to Punches and their consorts If people
hurried to the windows Mr Codlin pitched the temple and hastily unfurling the
drapery and concealing Short therewith flourished hysterically on the pipes and
performed an air Then the entertainment began as soon as might be Mr Codlin
having the responsibility of deciding on its length and of protracting or
expediting the time for the heros final triumph over the enemy of mankind
according as he judged that the aftercrop of halfpence would be plentiful or
scant When it had been gathered in to the last farthing he resumed his load
and on they went again
Sometimes they played out the toll across a bridge or ferry and once
exhibited by particular desire at a turnpike where the collector being drunk
in his solitude paid down a shilling to have it to himself There was one small
place of rich promise in which their hopes were blighted for a favourite
character in the play having goldlace upon his coat and being a meddling
woodenheaded fellow was held to be a libel on the beadle for which reason the
authorities enforced a quick retreat but they were generally well received and
seldom left a town without a troop of ragged children shouting at their heels
They made a long days journey despite these interruptions and were yet
upon the road when the moon was shining in the sky Short beguiled the time with
songs and jests and made the best of everything that happened Mr Codlin on
the other hand cursed his fate and all the hollow things of earth but Punch
especially and limped along with the theatre on his back a prey to the
bitterest chagrin
They had stopped to rest beneath a fingerpost where four roads met and Mr
Codlin in his deep misanthropy had let down the drapery and seated himself in
the bottom of the show invisible to mortal eyes and disdainful of the company
of his fellowcreatures when two monstrous shadows were seen stalking towards
them from a turning in the road by which they had come The child was at first
quite terrified by the sight of these gaunt giants for such they looked as
they advanced with lofty strides beneath the shadow of the trees but Short
telling her there was nothing to fear blew a blast upon the trumpet which was
answered by a cheerful shout
»Its Grinders lot ant it« cried Mr Short in a loud key
»Yes« replied a couple of shrill voices
»Come on then« said Short »Lets have a look at you I thought it was
you«
Thus invited Grinders lot approached with redoubled speed and soon came up
with the little party
Mr Grinders company familiarly termed a lot consisted of a young
gentleman and a young lady on stilts and Mr Grinder himself who used his
natural legs for pedestrian purposes and carried at his back a drum The public
costume of the young people was of the Highland kind but the night being damp
and cold the young gentleman wore over his kilt a mans pea jacket reaching to
his ancles and a glazed hat the young lady too was muffled in an old cloth
pelisse and had a handkerchief tied about her head Their Scotch bonnets
ornamented with plumes of jet black feathers Mr Grinder carried on his
instrument
»Bound for the races I see« said Mr Grinder coming up out of breath »So
are we How are you Short« With that they shook hands in a very friendly
manner The young people being too high up for the ordinary salutations saluted
Short after their own fashion The young gentleman twisted up his right stilt
and patted him on the shoulder and the young lady rattled her tambourine
»Practice« said Short pointing to the stilts
»No« returned Grinder »It comes either to walkin in em or carryin of
em and they like walkin in em best Its wery pleasant for the prospects
Which road are you takin We go the nighest«
»Why the fact is« said Short »that we are going the longest way because
then we could stop for the night a mile and a half on But three or four mile
gained tonight is so many saved tomorrow and if you keep on I think our best
way is to do the same«
»Wheres your partner« inquired Grinder
»Here he is« cried Mr Thomas Codlin presenting his head and face in the
proscenium of the stage and exhibiting an expression of countenance not often
seen there »and hell see his partner boiled alive before hell go on tonight
Thats what he says«
»Well dont say such things as them in a spear which is dewoted to
something pleasanter« urged Short »Respect associations Tommy even if you do
cut up rough«
»Rough or smooth« said Mr Codlin beating his hand on the little footboard
where Punch when suddenly struck with the symmetry of his legs and their
capacity for silk stockings is accustomed to exhibit them to popular
admiration »rough or smooth I wont go further than the mile and a half
tonight I put up at the Jolly Sandboys and nowhere else If you like to come
there come there If you like to go on by yourself go on by yourself and do
without me if you can«
So saying Mr Codlin disappeared from the scene and immediately presented
himself outside the theatre took it on his shoulders at a jerk and made off
with most remarkable agility
Any further controversy being now out of the question Short was fain to
part with Mr Grinder and his pupils and to follow his morose companion After
lingering at the fingerpost for a few minutes to see the stilts frisking away
in the moonlight and the bearer of the drum toiling slowly after them he blew a
few notes upon the trumpet as a parting salute and hastened with all speed to
follow Mr Codlin With this view he gave his unoccupied hand to Nell and
bidding her be of good cheer as they would soon be at the end of their journey
for that night and stimulating the old man with a similar assurance led them
at a pretty swift pace towards their destination which he was the less
unwilling to make for as the moon was now overcast and the clouds were
threatening rain
Chapter XVIII
The Jolly Sandboys was a small roadside inn of pretty ancient date with a
sign representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity with as many jugs of
ale and bags of gold creaking and swinging on its post on the opposite side of
the road As the travellers had observed that day many indications of their
drawing nearer and nearer to the race town such as gipsy camps carts laden
with gambling booths and their appurtenances itinerant showmen of various
kinds and beggars and trampers of every degree all wending their way in the
same direction Mr Codlin was fearful of finding the accommodations
forestalled this fear increasing as he diminished the distance between himself
and the hostelry he quickened his pace and notwithstanding the burden he had
to carry maintained a round trot until he reached the threshold Here he had
the gratification of finding that his fears were without foundation for the
landlord was leaning against the doorpost looking lazily at the rain which had
by this time begun to descend heavily and no tinkling of cracked bell nor
boisterous shout nor noisy chorus gave note of company within
»All alone« said Mr Codlin putting down his burden and wiping his
forehead
»All alone as yet« rejoined the landlord glancing at the sky »but we
shall have more company tonight I expect Here one of you boys carry that
show into the barn Make haste in out of the wet Tom when it came on to rain I
told em to make the fire up and theres a glorious blaze in the kitchen I can
tell you«
Mr Codlin followed with a willing mind and soon found that the landlord
had not commended his preparations without good reason A mighty fire was
blazing on the hearth and roaring up the wide chimney with a cheerful sound
which a large iron cauldron bubbling and simmering in the heat lent its
pleasant aid to swell There was a deep red ruddy blush upon the room and when
the landlord stirred the fire sending the flames skipping and leaping up when
he took off the lid of the iron pot and there rushed out a savoury smell while
the bubbling sound grew deeper and more rich and an unctuous steam came
floating out hanging in a delicious mist above their heads when he did this
Mr Codlins heart was touched He sat down in the chimneycorner and smiled
Mr Codlin sat smiling in the chimneycorner eyeing the landlord as with a
roguish look he held the cover in his hand and feigning that his doing so was
needful to the welfare of the cookery suffered the delightful steam to tickle
the nostrils of his guest The glow of the fire was upon the landlords bald
head and upon his twinkling eye and upon his watering mouth and upon his
pimpled face and upon his round fat figure Mr Codlin drew his sleeve across
his lips and said in a murmuring voice »What is it«
»Its a stew of tripe« said the landlord smacking his lips »and
cowheel« smacking them again »and bacon« smacking them once more »and
steak« smacking them for the fourth time »and peas cauliflowers new
potatoes and sparrowgrass all working up together in one delicious gravy«
Having come to the climax he smacked his lips a great many times and taking a
long hearty sniff of the fragrance that was hovering about put on the cover
again with the air of one whose toils on earth were over
»At what time will it be ready« asked Mr Codlin faintly
»Itll be done to a turn« said the landlord looking up to the clock and
the very clock had a colour in its fat white face and looked a clock for Jolly
Sandboys to consult »itll be done to a turn at twentytwo minutes before
eleven«
»Then« said Mr Codlin »fetch me a pint of warm ale and dont let nobody
bring into the room even so much as a biscuit till the time arrives«
Nodding his approval of this decisive and manly course of procedure the
landlord retired to draw the beer and presently returning with it applied
himself to warm the same in a small tin vessel shaped funnelwise for the
convenience of sticking it far down in the fire and getting at the bright
places This was soon done and he handed it over to Mr Codlin with that creamy
froth upon the surface which is one of the happy circumstances attendant on
mulled malt
Greatly softened by this soothing beverage Mr Codlin now bethought him of
his companions and acquainted mine host of the Sandboys that their arrival
might be shortly looked for The rain was rattling against the windows and
pouring down in torrents and such was Mr Codlins extreme amiability of mind
that he more than once expressed his earnest hope that they would not be so
foolish as to get wet
At length they arrived drenched with the rain and presenting a most
miserable appearance notwithstanding that Short had sheltered the child as well
as he could under the skirts of his own coat and they were nearly breathless
from the haste they had made But their steps were no sooner heard upon the road
than the landlord who had been at the outer door anxiously watching for their
coming rushed into the kitchen and took the cover off The effect was
electrical They all came in with smiling faces though the wet was dripping from
their clothes upon the floor and Shorts first remark was »What a delicious
smell«
It is not very difficult to forget rain and mud by the side of a cheerful
fire and in a bright room They were furnished with slippers and such dry
garments as the house or their own bundles afforded and ensconcing themselves
as Mr Codlin had already done in the warm chimneycorner soon forgot their
late troubles or only remembered them as enhancing the delights of the present
time Overpowered by the warmth and comfort and the fatigue they had undergone
Nelly and the old man had not long taken their seats here when they fell
asleep
»Who are they« whispered the landlord
Short shook his head and wished he knew himself
»Dont you know« asked the host turning to Mr Codlin
»Not I« he replied »Theyre no good I suppose«
»Theyre no harm« said Short »Depend upon that I tell you what its
plain that the old man ant in his right mind «
»If you havent got anything newer than that to say« growled Mr Codlin
glancing at the clock »youd better let us fix our minds upon the supper and
not disturb us«
»Hear me out wont you« retorted his friend »Its very plain to me
besides that theyre not used to this way of life Dont tell me that that
handsome child has been in the habit of prowling about as shes done these last
two or three days I know better«
»Well who does tell you she has« growled Mr Codlin again glancing at the
clock and from it to the cauldron »cant you think of anything more suitable to
present circumstances than saying things and then contradicting em«
»I wish somebody would give you your supper« returned Short »for therell
be no peace till youve got it Have you seen how anxious the old man is to get
on always wanting to be furder away furder away Have you seen that«
»Ah what then« muttered Thomas Codlin
»This then« said Short »He has given his friends the slip Mind what I
say he has given his friends the slip and persuaded this delicate young
creetur all along of her fondness for him to be his guide and travelling
companion where to he knows no more than the man in the moon Now Im not a
going to stand that«
»Youre not a going to stand that« cried Mr Codlin glancing at the clock
again and pulling his hair with both hands in a kind of frenzy but whether
occasioned by his companions observation or the tardy pace of Time it was
difficult to determine »Heres a world to live in«
»I« repeated Short emphatically and slowly »am not a going to stand it I
am not a going to see this fair young child a falling into bad hands and
getting among people that shes no more fit for than they are to get among
angels as their ordinary chums Therefore when they dewelope an intention of
parting company from us I shall take measures for detaining of em and
restoring em to their friends who I dare say have had their disconsolation
pasted up on every wall in London by this time«
»Short« said Mr Codlin who with his head upon his hands and his elbows
on his knees had been shaking himself impatiently from side to side up to this
point and occasionally stamping on the ground but who now looked up with eager
eyes »its possible that there may be uncommon good sense in what youve said
If there is and there should be a reward Short remember that were partners
in everything«
His companion had only time to nod a brief assent to this position for the
child awoke at the instant They had drawn close together during the previous
whispering and now hastily separated and were rather awkwardly endeavouring to
exchange some casual remarks in their usual tone when strange footsteps were
heard without and fresh company entered
These were no other than four very dismal dogs who came pattering in one
after the other headed by an old bandy dog of particularly mournful aspect who
stopping when the last of his followers had got as far as the door erected
himself upon his hind legs and looked round at his companions who immediately
stood upon their hind legs in a grave and melancholy row Nor was this the only
remarkable circumstance about these dogs for each of them wore a kind of little
coat of some gaudy colour trimmed with tarnished spangles and one of them had a
cap upon his head tied very carefully under his chin which had fallen down
upon his nose and completely obscured one eye add to this that the gaudy coats
were all wet through and discoloured with rain and that the wearers were
splashed and dirty and some idea may be formed of the unusual appearance of
these new visitors to the Jolly Sandboys
Neither Short nor the landlord nor Thomas Codlin however was in the least
surprised merely remarking that these were Jerrys dogs and that Jerry could
not be far behind So there the dogs stood patiently winking and gaping and
looking extremely hard at the boiling pot until Jerry himself appeared when
they all dropped down at once and walked about the room in their natural manner
This posture it must be confessed did not much improve their appearance as
their own personal tails and their coat tails both capital things in their way
did not agree together
Jerry the manager of these dancing dogs was a tall blackwhiskered man in
a velveteen coat who seemed well known to the landlord and his guests and
accosted them with great cordiality Disencumbering himself of a barrel organ
which he placed upon a chair and retaining in his hand a small whip wherewith
to awe his company of comedians he came up to the fire to dry himself and
entered into conversation
»Your people dont usually travel in character do they« said Short
pointing to the dresses of the dogs »It must come expensive if they do«
»No« replied Jerry »no its not the custom with us But weve been
playing a little on the road today and we come out with a new wardrobe at the
races so I didnt think it worth while to stop to undress Down Pedro«
This was addressed to the dog with the cap on who being a new member of the
company and not quite certain of his duty kept his unobscured eye anxiously on
his master and was perpetually starting upon his hind legs when there was no
occasion and falling down again
»Ive got a animal here« said Jerry putting his hand into the capacious
pocket of his coat and diving into one corner as if he were feeling for a small
orange or an apple or some such article »a animal here wot I think you know
something of Short«
»Ah« cried Short »lets have a look at him«
»Here he is« said Jerry producing a little terrier from his pocket »He
was once a Toby of yours warnt he«
In some versions of the great drama of Punch there is a small dog a modern
innovation supposed to be the private property of that gentleman whose name
is always Toby This Toby has been stolen in youth from another gentleman and
fraudulently sold to the confiding hero who having no guile himself has no
suspicion that it lurks in others but Toby entertaining a grateful
recollection of his old master and scorning to attach himself to any new
patrons not only refuses to smoke a pipe at the bidding of Punch but to mark
his old fidelity more strongly seizes him by the nose and wrings the same with
violence at which instance of canine attachment the spectators are deeply
affected This was the character which the little terrier in question had once
sustained if there had been any doubt upon the subject he would speedily have
resolved it by his conduct for not only did he on seeing Short give the
strongest tokens of recognition but catching sight of the flat box he barked so
furiously at the pasteboard nose which he knew was inside that his master was
obliged to gather him up and put him into his pocket again to the great relief
of the whole company
The landlord now busied himself in laying the cloth in which process Mr
Codlin obligingly assisted by setting forth his own knife and fork in the most
convenient place and establishing himself behind them When everything was
ready the landlord took off the cover for the last time and then indeed there
burst forth such a goodly promise of supper that if he had offered to put it on
again or had hinted at postponement he would certainly have been sacrificed on
his own hearth
However he did nothing of the kind but instead thereof assisted a stout
servant girl in turning the contents of the cauldron into a large tureen a
proceeding which the dogs proof against various hot splashes which fell upon
their noses watched with terrible eagerness At length the dish was lifted on
the table and mugs of ale having been previously set round little Nell
ventured to say grace and supper began
At this juncture the poor dogs were standing on their hind legs quite
surprisingly the child having pity on them was about to cast some morsels of
food to them before she tasted it herself hungry though she was when their
master interposed
»No my dear no not an atom from anybodys hand but mine if you please
That dog« said Jerry pointing out the old leader of the troop and speaking in
a terrible voice »lost a halfpenny today He goes without his supper«
The unfortunate creature dropped upon his fore legs directly wagged his
tail and looked imploringly at his master
»You must be more careful Sir« said Jerry walking coolly to the chair
where he had placed the organ and setting the stop »Come here Now Sir you
play away at that while we have supper and leave off if you dare«
The dog immediately began to grind most mournful music His master having
shown him the whip resumed his seat and called up the others who at his
directions formed in a row standing upright as a file of soldiers
»Now gentlemen« said Jerry looking at them attentively »The dog whose
names called eats The dogs whose names ant called keep quiet Carlo«
The lucky individual whose name was called snapped up the morsel thrown
towards him but none of the others moved a muscle In this manner they were fed
at the discretion of their master Meanwhile the dog in disgrace ground hard at
the organ sometimes in quick time sometimes in slow but never leaving off for
an instant When the knives and forks rattled very much or any of his fellows
got an unusually large piece of fat he accompanied the music with a short howl
but he immediately checked it on his master looking round and applied himself
with increased diligence to the Old Hundredth
Chapter XIX
Supper was not yet over when there arrived at the Jolly Sandboys two more
travellers bound for the same haven as the rest who had been walking in the
rain for some hours and came in shining and heavy with water One of these was
the proprietor of a giant and a little lady without legs or arms who had
jogged forward in a van the other a silent gentleman who earned his living by
showing tricks upon the cards and who had rather deranged the natural
expression of his countenance by putting small leaden lozenges into his eyes and
bringing them out at his mouth which was one of his professional
accomplishments The name of the first of these newcomers was Vuffin the
other probably as a pleasant satire upon his ugliness was called Sweet
William To render them as comfortable as he could the landlord bestirred
himself nimbly and in a very short time both gentlemen were perfectly at their
ease
»Hows the Giant« said Short when they all sat smoking round the fire
»Rather weak upon his legs« returned Mr Vuffin »I begin to be afraid hes
going at the knees«
»Thats a bad lookout« said Short
»Aye Bad indeed« replied Mr Vuffin contemplating the fire with a sigh
»Once get a giant shaky on his legs and the public care no more about him than
they do for a dead cabbagestalk«
»What becomes of the old giants« said Short turning to him again after a
little reflection
»Theyre usually kept in carawans to wait upon the dwarfs« said Mr Vuffin
»The maintaining of em must come expensive when they cant be shown eh«
remarked Short eyeing him doubtfully
»Its better that than letting em go upon the parish or about the
streets« said Mr Vuffin »Once make a giant common and giants will never draw
again Look at wooden legs If there was only one man with a wooden leg what a
property hed be«
»So he would« observed the landlord and Short both together »Thats very
true«
»Instead of which« pursued Mr Vuffin »if you was to advertise Shakspeare
played entirely by wooden legs its my belief you wouldnt draw a sixpence«
»I dont suppose you would« said Short And the landlord said so too
»This shows you see« said Mr Vuffin waving his pipe with an
argumentative air »this shows the policy of keeping the usedup giants still in
the carawans where they get food and lodging for nothing all their lives and
in general very glad they are to stop there There was one giant a black un
as left his carawan some year ago and took to carrying coachbills about London
making himself as cheap as crossingsweepers He died I make no insinuation
against anybody in particular« said Mr Vuffin looking solemnly round »but he
was ruining the trade and he died«
The landlord drew his breath hard and looked at the owner of the dogs who
nodded and said gruffly that he remembered
»I know you do Jerry« said Mr Vuffin with profound meaning »I know you
remember it Jerry and the universal opinion was that it served him right
Why I remember the time when old Maunders as had threeandtwenty wans I
remember the time when old Maunders had in his cottage in Spa Fields in the
winter time when the season was over eight male and female dwarfs setting down
to dinner every day who was waited on by eight old giants in green coats red
smalls blue cotton stockings and highlows and there was one dwarf as had
grown elderly and wicious who whenever his giant wasnt quick enough to please
him used to stick pins in his legs not being able to reach up any higher I
know thats a fact for Maunders told it me himself«
»What about the dwarfs when they get old« inquired the landlord
»The older a dwarf is the better worth he is« returned Mr Vuffin »a
greyheaded dwarf well wrinkled is beyond all suspicion But a giant weak in
the legs and not standing upright keep him in the carawan but never show
him never show him for any persuasion that can be offered«
While Mr Vuffin and his two friends smoked their pipes and beguiled the
time with such conversation as this the silent gentleman sat in a warm corner
swallowing or seeming to swallow sixpennyworth of halfpence for practice
balancing a feather upon his nose and rehearsing other feats of dexterity of
that kind without paying any regard whatever to the company who in their turn
left him utterly unnoticed At length the weary child prevailed upon her
grandfather to retire and they withdrew leaving the company yet seated round
the fire and the dogs fast asleep at a humble distance
After bidding the old man good night Nell retired to her poor garret but
had scarcely closed the door when it was gently tapped at She opened it
directly and was a little startled by the sight of Mr Thomas Codlin whom she
had left to all appearance fast asleep down stairs
»What is the matter« said the child
»Nothings the matter my dear« returned her visitor »Im your friend
Perhaps you havent thought so but its me thats your friend not him«
»Not who« the child inquired
»Short my dear I tell you what« said Codlin »for all his having a kind
of way with him that youd be very apt to like Im the real openhearted man
I maynt look it but I am indeed«
The child began to be alarmed considering that the ale had taken effect
upon Mr Codlin and that this commendation of himself was the consequence
»Shorts very well and seems kind« resumed the misanthrope »but he
overdoes it Now I dont«
Certainly if there were any fault in Mr Codlins usual deportment it was
that he rather underdid his kindness to those about him than overdid it But
the child was puzzled and could not tell what to say
»Take my advice« said Codlin »dont ask me why but take it As long as
you travel with us keep as near me as you can Dont offer to leave us not on
any account but always stick to me and say that Im your friend Will you bear
that in mind my dear and always say that it was me that was your friend«
»Say so where and when« inquired the child innocently
»Oh nowhere in particular« replied Codlin a little put out as it seemed
by the question »Im only anxious that you should think me so and do me
justice You cant think what an interest I have in you Why didnt you tell me
your little history that about you and the poor old gentleman Im the best
adviser that ever was and so interested in you so much more interested than
Short I think theyre breaking up down stairs you neednt tell Short you
know that weve had this little talk together God bless you Recollect the
friend Codlins the friend not Short Shorts very well as far as he goes but
the real friend is Codlin not Short«
Eking out these professions with a number of benevolent and protecting looks
and great fervour of manner Thomas Codlin stole away on tiptoe leaving the
child in a state of extreme surprise She was still ruminating upon his curious
behaviour when the floor of the crazy stairs and landing cracked beneath the
tread of the other travellers who were passing to their beds When they had all
passed and the sound of their footsteps had died away one of them returned
and after a little hesitation and rustling in the passage as if he were
doubtful what door to knock at knocked at hers
»Yes« said the child from within
»Its me Short« a voice called through the keyhole »I only wanted to
say that we must be off early tomorrow morning my dear because unless we get
the start of the dogs and the conjurer the villages wont be worth a penny
Youll be sure to be stirring early and go with us Ill call you«
The child answered in the affirmative and returning his good night heard
him creep away She felt some uneasiness at the anxiety of these men increased
by the recollection of their whispering together down stairs and their slight
confusion when she awoke nor was she quite free from a misgiving that they were
not the fittest companions she could have stumbled on Her uneasiness however
was nothing weighed against her fatigue and she soon forgot it in sleep
Very early next morning Short fulfilled his promise and knocking softly at
her door entreated that she would get up directly as the proprietor of the
dogs was still snoring and if they lost no time they might get a good deal in
advance both of him and the conjurer who was talking in his sleep and from
what he could be heard to say appeared to be balancing a donkey in his dreams
She started from her bed without delay and roused the old man with so much
expedition that they were both ready as soon as Short himself to that
gentlemans unspeakable gratification and relief
After a very unceremonious and scrambling breakfast of which the staple
commodities were bacon and bread and beer they took leave of the landlord and
issued from the door of the Jolly Sandboys The morning was fine and warm the
ground cool to the feet after the late rain the hedges gayer and more green
the air clear and everything fresh and healthful Surrounded by these
influences they walked on pleasantly enough
They had not gone very far when the child was again struck by the altered
behaviour of Mr Thomas Codlin who instead of plodding on sulkily by himself as
he had heretofore done kept close to her and when he had an opportunity of
looking at her unseen by his companion warned her by certain wry faces and
jerks of the head not to put any trust in Short but to reserve all confidences
for Codlin Neither did he confine himself to looks and gestures for when she
and her grandfather were walking on beside the aforesaid Short and that little
man was talking with his accustomed cheerfulness on a variety of indifferent
subjects Thomas Codlin testified his jealousy and distrust by following close
at her heels and occasionally admonishing her ancles with the legs of the
theatre in a very abrupt and painful manner
All these proceedings naturally made the child more watchful and suspicious
and she soon observed that whenever they halted to perform outside a village
alehouse or other place Mr Codlin while he went through his share of the
entertainments kept his eye steadily upon her and the old man or with a show of
great friendship and consideration invited the latter to lean upon his arm and
so held him tight until the representation was over and they again went forward
Even Short seemed to change in this respect and to mingle with his goodnature
something of a desire to keep them in safe custody This increased the childs
misgivings and made her yet more anxious and uneasy
Meanwhile they were drawing near the town where the races were to begin
next day for from passing numerous groups of gipsies and trampers on the road
wending their way towards it and straggling out from every byway and
crosscountry lane they gradually fell into a stream of people some walking by
the side of covered carts others with horses others with donkeys others
toiling on with heavy loads upon their backs but all tending to the same point
The publichouses by the wayside from being empty and noiseless as those in the
remoter parts had been now sent out boisterous shouts and clouds of smoke and
from the misty windows clusters of broad red faces looked down upon the road
On every piece of waste or common ground some small gambler drove his noisy
trade and bellowed to the idle passersby to stop and try their chance the
crowd grew thicker and more noisy gilt gingerbread in blanketstalls exposed
its glories to the dust and often a fourhorse carriage dashing by obscured
all objects in the gritty cloud it raised and left them stunned and blinded
far behind
It was dark before they reached the town itself and long indeed the few
last miles had been Here all was tumult and confusion the streets were filled
with throngs of people many strangers were there it seemed by the looks they
cast about the churchbells rang out their noisy peals and flags streamed
from windows and housetops In the large innyards waiters flitted to and fro
and ran against each other horses clattered on the uneven stones carriage
steps fell rattling down and sickening smells from many dinners came in a heavy
lukewarm breath upon the sense In the smaller publichouses fiddles with all
their might and main were squeaking out the tune to staggering feet drunken
men oblivious of the burden of their song joined in a senseless howl which
drowned the tinkling of the feeble bell and made them savage for their drink
vagabond groups assembled round the doors to see the stroller women dance and
add their uproar to the shrill flageolet and deafening drum
Through this delirious scene the child frightened and repelled by all she
saw led on her bewildered charge clinging close to her conductor and
trembling lest in the press she should be separated from him and left to find
her way alone Quickening their steps to get clear of all the roar and riot
they at length passed through the town and made for the racecourse which was
upon an open heath situated on an eminence a full mile distant from its
furthest bounds
Although there were many people here none of the best favoured or best
clad busily erecting tents and driving stakes in the ground and hurrying to
and fro with dusty feet and many a grumbled oath although there were tired
children cradled on heaps of straw beneath the wheels of carts crying
themselves to sleep and poor lean horses and donkeys just turned loose
grazing among the men and women and pots and kettles and halflighted fires
and ends of candles flaring and wasting in the air for all this the child
felt it an escape from the town and drew her breath more freely After a scanty
supper the purchase of which reduced her little stock so low that she had only
a few halfpence with which to buy a breakfast on the morrow she and the old man
lay down to rest in a corner of a tent and slept despite the busy preparations
that were going on around them all night long
And now they had come to the time when they must beg their bread Soon after
sunrise in the morning she stole out from the tent and rambling into some
fields at a short distance plucked a few wild roses and such humble flowers
purposing to make them into little nosegays and offer them to the ladies in the
carriages when the company arrived Her thoughts were not idle while she was
thus employed when she returned and was seated beside the old man in one corner
of the tent tying her flowers together while the two men lay dozing in another
corner she plucked him by the sleeve and slightly glancing towards them said
in a low voice
»Grandfather dont look at those I talk of and dont seem as if I spoke of
anything but what I am about What was that you told me before we left the old
house That if they knew what we were going to do they would say that you were
mad and part us«
The old man turned to her with an aspect of wild terror but she checked him
by a look and bidding him hold some flowers while she tied them up and so
bringing her lips closer to his ear said
»I know that was what you told me You neednt speak dear I recollect it
very well It was not likely that I should forget it Grandfather these men
suspect that we have secretly left our friends and mean to carry us before some
gentleman and have us taken care of and sent back If you let your hand tremble
so we can never get away from them but if youre only quiet now we shall do
so easily«
»How« muttered the old man »Dear Nelly how They will shut me up in a
stone room dark and cold and chain me up to the wall Nell flog me with
whips and never let me see thee more«
»Youre trembling again« said the child »Keep close to me all day Never
mind them dont look at them but me I shall find a time when we can steal
away When I do mind you come with me and do not stop or speak a word Hush
Thats all«
»Holloa what are you up to my dear« said Mr Codlin raising his head
and yawning Then observing that his companion was fast asleep he added in an
earnest whisper »Codlins the friend remember not Short«
»Making some nosegays« the child replied »I am going to try and sell some
these three days of the races Will you have one as a present I mean«
Mr Codlin would have risen to receive it but the child hurried towards him
and placed it in his hand He stuck it in his buttonhole with an air of
ineffable complacency for a misanthrope and leering exultingly at the
unconscious Short muttered as he laid himself down again »Tom Codlins the
friend by G«
As the morning wore on the tents assumed a gayer and more brilliant
appearance and long lines of carriages came rolling softly on the turf Men who
had lounged about all night in smockfrocks and leather leggings came out in
silken vests and hats and plumes as jugglers or mountebanks or in gorgeous
liveries as softspoken servants at gambling booths or in sturdy yeoman dress
as decoys at unlawful games Blackeyed gipsy girls hooded in showy
handkerchiefs sallied forth to tell fortunes and pale slender women with
consumptive faces lingered upon the footsteps of ventriloquists and conjurers
and counted the sixpences with anxious eyes long before they were gained As
many of the children as could be kept within bounds were stowed away with all
the other signs of dirt and poverty among the donkeys carts and horses and
as many as could not be thus disposed of ran in and out in all intricate spots
crept between peoples legs and carriage wheels and came forth unharmed from
under horses hoofs The dancingdogs the stilts the little lady and the tall
man and all the other attractions with organs out of number and bands
innumerable emerged from the holes and corners in which they had passed the
night and flourished boldly in the sun
Along the uncleared course Short led his party sounding the brazen trumpet
and revelling in the voice of Punch and at his heels went Thomas Codlin
bearing the show as usual and keeping his eye on Nelly and her grandfather as
they rather lingered in the rear The child bore upon her arm the little basket
with her flowers and sometimes stopped with timid and modest looks to offer
them at some gay carriage but alas there were many bolder beggars there
gipsies who promised husbands and other adepts in their trade and although
some ladies smiled gently as they shook their heads and others cried to the
gentlemen beside them »See what a pretty face« they let the pretty face pass
on and never thought that it looked tired or hungry
There was but one lady who seemed to understand the child and she was one
who sat alone in a handsome carriage while two young men in dashing clothes
who had just dismounted from it talked and laughed loudly at a little distance
appearing to forget her quite There were many ladies all around but they
turned their backs or looked another way or at the two young men not
unfavourably at them and left her to herself She motioned away a gipsywoman
urgent to tell her fortune saying that it was told already and had been for
some years but called the child towards her and taking her flowers put money
into her trembling hand and bade her go home and keep at home for Gods sake
Many a time they went up and down those long long lines seeing everything
but the horses and the race when the bell rung to clear the course going back
to rest among the carts and donkeys and not coming out again until the heat was
over Many a time too was Punch displayed in the full zenith of his humour
but all this while the eye of Thomas Codlin was upon them and to escape without
notice was impracticable
At length late in the day Mr Codlin pitched the show in a convenient
spot and the spectators were soon in the very triumph of the scene The child
sitting down with the old man close behind it had been thinking how strange it
was that horses who were such fine honest creatures should seem to make
vagabonds of all the men they drew about them when a loud laugh at some
extemporaneous witticism of Mr Shorts having allusion to the circumstances of
the day roused her from her meditation and caused her to look around
If they were ever to get away unseen that was the very moment Short was
plying the quarterstaves vigorously and knocking the characters in the fury of
the combat against the sides of the show the people were looking on with
laughing faces and Mr Codlin had relaxed into a grim smile as his roving eye
detected hands going into waistcoat pockets and groping secretly for sixpences
If they were ever to get away unseen that was the very moment They seized it
and fled
They made a path through booths and carriages and throngs of people and
never once stopped to look behind The bell was ringing and the course was
cleared by the time they reached the ropes but they dashed across it insensible
to the shouts and screeching that assailed them for breaking in upon its
sanctity and creeping under the brow of the hill at a quick pace made for the
open fields
Chapter XX
Day after day as he bent his steps homeward returning from some new effort to
procure employment Kit raised his eyes to the window of the little room he had
so much commended to the child and hoped to see some indication of her
presence His own earnest wish coupled with the assurance he had received from
Quilp filled him with the belief that she would yet arrive to claim the humble
shelter he had offered and from the death of each days hope another hope
sprung up to live tomorrow
»I think they must certainly come tomorrow eh mother« said Kit laying
aside his hat with a weary air and sighing as he spoke »They have been gone a
week They surely couldnt stop away more than a week could they now«
The mother shook her head and reminded him how often he had been
disappointed already
»For the matter of that« said Kit »you speak true and sensible enough as
you always do mother Still I do consider that a week is quite long enough for
em to be rambling about dont you say so«
»Quite long enough Kit longer than enough but they may not come back for
all that«
Kit was for a moment disposed to be vexed by this contradiction and not the
less so from having anticipated it in his own mind and knowing how just it was
But the impulse was only momentary and the vexed look became a kind one before
it had crossed the room
»Then what do you think mother has become of em You dont think theyve
gone to sea anyhow«
»Not gone for sailors certainly« returned the mother with a smile »But I
cant help thinking that they have gone to some foreign country«
»I say« cried Kit with a rueful face »dont talk like that mother«
»I am afraid they have and thats the truth« she said »Its the talk of
all the neighbours and there are some even that know of their having been seen
on board ship and can tell you the name of the place theyve gone to which is
more than I can my dear for its a very hard one«
»I dont believe it« said Kit »Not a word of it A set of idle
chatterboxes how should they know«
»They may be wrong of course« returned the mother »I cant tell about
that though I dont think its at all unlikely that theyre in the right for
the talk is that the old gentleman had put by a little money that nobody knew
of not even that ugly little man you talk to me about whats his name
Quilp and that he and Miss Nell have gone to live abroad where it cant be
taken from them and they will never be disturbed That dont seem very far out
of the way now do it«
Kit scratched his head mournfully in reluctant admission that it did not
and clambering up to the old nail took down the cage and set himself to clean it
and to feed the bird His thoughts reverting from this occupation to the little
old gentleman who had given him the shilling he suddenly recollected that that
was the very day nay nearly the very hour at which the little old gentleman
had said he should be at the Notarys house again He no sooner remembered this
than he hung up the cage with great precipitation and hastily explaining the
nature of his errand went off at full speed to the appointed place
It was some two minutes after the time when he reached the spot which was a
considerable distance from his home but by great good luck the little old
gentleman had not yet arrived at least there was no ponychaise to be seen and
it was not likely that he had come and gone again in so short a space Greatly
relieved to find that he was not too late Kit leant against a lamppost to take
breath and waited the advent of the pony and his charge
Sure enough before long the pony came trotting round the corner of the
street looking as obstinate as pony might and picking his steps as if he were
spying about for the cleanest places and would by no means dirty his feet or
hurry himself inconveniently Behind the pony sat the little old gentleman and
by the old gentlemans side sat the little old lady carrying just such a
nosegay as she had brought before
The old gentleman the old lady the pony and the chaise came up the
street in perfect unanimity until they arrived within some half a dozen doors
of the Notarys house when the pony deceived by a brassplate beneath a
tailors knocker came to a halt and maintained by a sturdy silence that that
was the house they wanted
»Now sir will you have the goodness to go on this is not the place« said
the old gentleman
The pony looked with great attention into a fireplug which was near him
and appeared to be quite absorbed in contemplating it
»Oh dear such a naughty Whisker« cried the old lady »After being so good
too and coming along so well I am quite ashamed of him I dont know what we
are to do with him I really dont«
The pony having thoroughly satisfied himself as to the nature and properties
of the fireplug looked into the air after his old enemies the flies and as
there happened to be one of them tickling his ear at that moment he shook his
head and whisked his tail after which he appeared full of thought but quite
comfortable and collected The old gentleman having exhausted his powers of
persuasion alighted to lead him whereupon the pony perhaps because he held
this to be a sufficient concession perhaps because he happened to catch sight
of the other brassplate or perhaps because he was in a spiteful humour darted
off with the old lady and stopped at the right house leaving the old gentleman
to come panting on behind
It was then that Kit presented himself at the ponys head and touched his
hat with a smile
»Why bless me« cried the old gentleman »the lad is here My dear do you
see«
»I said Id be here sir« said Kit patting Whiskers neck »I hope youve
had a pleasant ride sir Hes a very nice little pony«
»My dear« said the old gentleman »This is an uncommon lad a good lad Im
sure«
»Im sure he is« rejoined the old lady »A very good lad and I am sure he
is a good son«
Kit acknowledged these expressions of confidence by touching his hat again
and blushing very much The old gentleman then handed the old lady out and
after looking at him with an approving smile they went into the house talking
about him as they went Kit could not help feeling Presently Mr Witherden
smelling very hard at the nosegay came to the window and looked at him and
after that Mr Abel came and looked at him and after that the old gentleman and
lady came and looked at him again and after that they all came and looked at
him together which Kit feeling very much embarrassed by made a pretence of
not observing Therefore he patted the pony more and more and this liberty the
pony most handsomely permitted
The faces had not disappeared from the window many moments when Mr
Chuckster in his official coat and with his hat hanging on his head just as it
happened to fall from its peg appeared upon the pavement and telling him he
was wanted inside bade him go in and he would mind the chaise the while In
giving him this direction Mr Chuckster remarked that he wished that he might be
blessed if he could make out whether he Kit was precious raw or precious deep
but intimated by a distrustful shake of the head that he inclined to the latter
opinion
Kit entered the office in a great tremor for he was not used to going among
strange ladies and gentlemen and the tin boxes and bundles of dusty papers had
in his eyes an awful and venerable air Mr Witherden too was a bustling
gentleman who talked loud and fast and all eyes were upon him and he was very
shabby
»Well boy« said Mr Witherden »you came to work out that shilling not
to get another hey«
»No indeed sir« replied Kit taking courage to look up »I never thought
of such a thing«
»Father alive« said the Notary
»Dead sir«
»Mother«
»Yes sir«
»Married again eh«
Kit made answer not without some indignation that she was a widow with
three children and that as to her marrying again if the gentleman knew her he
wouldnt think of such a thing At this reply Mr Witherden buried his nose in
the flowers again and whispered behind the nosegay to the old gentleman that he
believed the lad was as honest a lad as need be
»Now« said Mr Garland when they had made some further inquiries of him »I
am not going to give you anything «
»Thank you sir« Kit replied and quite seriously too for this
announcement seemed to free him from the suspicion which the Notary had hinted
» But« resumed the old gentleman »perhaps I may want to know something
more about you so tell me where you live and Ill put it down in my
pocketbook«
Kit told him and the old gentleman wrote down the address with his pencil
He had scarcely done so when there was a great uproar in the street and the
old lady hurrying to the window cried that Whisker had run away upon which Kit
darted out to the rescue and the others followed
It seemed that Mr Chuckster had been standing with his hands in his pockets
looking carelessly at the pony and occasionally insulting him with such
admonitions as Stand still Be quiet Woaa and the like which by a pony
of spirit cannot be borne Consequently the pony being deterred by no
considerations of duty or obedience and not having before him the slightest
fear of the human eye had at length started off and was at that moment
rattling down the street Mr Chuckster with his hat off and a pen behind his
ear hanging on in the rear of the chaise and making futile attempts to draw it
the other way to the unspeakable admiration of all beholders Even in running
away however Whisker was perverse for he had not gone very far when he
suddenly stopped and before assistance could be rendered commenced backing at
nearly as quick a pace as he had gone forward By these means Mr Chuckster was
pushed and hustled to the office again in a most inglorious manner and arrived
in a state of great exhaustion and discomfiture
The old lady then stepped into her seat and Mr Abel whom they had come to
fetch into his The old gentleman after reasoning with the pony on the extreme
impropriety of his conduct and making the best amends in his power to Mr
Chuckster took his place also and they drove away waving a farewell to the
Notary and his clerk and more than once turning to nod kindly to Kit as he
watched them from the road
Chapter XXI
Kit turned away and very soon forgot the pony and the chaise and the little
old lady and the little old gentleman and the little young gentleman to boot
in thinking what could have become of his late master and his lovely grandchild
who were the fountainhead of all his meditations Still casting about for some
plausible means of accounting for their nonappearance and of persuading
himself that they must soon return he bent his steps towards home intending to
finish the task which the sudden recollection of his contract had interrupted
and then to sally forth once more to seek his fortune for the day
When he came to the corner of the court in which he lived lo and behold
there was the pony again Yes there he was looking more obstinate than ever
and alone in the chaise keeping a steady watch upon his every wink sat Mr
Abel who lifting up his eyes by chance and seeing Kit pass by nodded to him
as though he would have nodded his head off
Kit wondered to see the pony again so near his own home too but it never
occurred to him for what purpose the pony might have come there or where the
old lady and the old gentleman had gone until he lifted the latch of the door
and walking in found them seated in the room in conversation with his mother
at which unexpected sight he pulled off his hat and made his best bow in some
confusion
»We are here before you you see Christopher« said Mr Garland smiling
»Yes sir« said Kit and as he said it he looked towards his mother for an
explanation of the visit
»The gentlemans been kind enough my dear« said she in reply to this mute
interrogation »to ask me whether you were in a good place or in any place at
all and when I told him no you were not in any he was so good as to say that
«
»That we wanted a good lad in our house« said the old gentleman and the old
lady both together »and that perhaps we might think of it if we found
everything as we would wish it to be«
As this thinking of it plainly meant the thinking of engaging Kit he
immediately partook of his mothers anxiety and fell into a great flutter for
the little old couple were very methodical and cautious and asked so many
questions that he began to be afraid there was no chance of his success
»You see my good woman« said Mrs Garland to Kits mother »that its
necessary to be very careful and particular in such a matter as this for were
only three in family and are very quiet regular folks and it would be a sad
thing if we made any kind of mistake and found things different from what we
hoped and expected«
To this Kits mother replied that certainly it was quite true and quite
right and quite proper and Heaven forbid that she should shrink or have cause
to shrink from any inquiry into her character or that of her son who was a
very good son though she was his mother in which respect she was bold to say
he took after his father who was not only a good son to his mother but the
best of husbands and the best of fathers besides which Kit could and would
corroborate she knew and so would little Jacob and the baby likewise if they
were old enough which unfortunately they were not though as they didnt know
what a loss they had had perhaps it was a great deal better that they should be
as young as they were and so Kits mother wound up a long story by wiping her
eyes with her apron and patting little Jacobs head who was rocking the cradle
and staring with all his might at the strange lady and gentleman
When Kits mother had done speaking the old lady struck in again and said
that she was quite sure she was a very honest and very respectable person or she
never would have expressed herself in that manner and that certainly the
appearance of the children and the cleanliness of the house deserved great
praise and did her the utmost credit whereat Kits mother dropped a curtsey and
became consoled Then the good woman entered into a long and minute account of
Kits life and history from the earliest period down to that time not omitting
to make mention of his miraculous fall out of a backparlour window when an
infant of tender years or his uncommon sufferings in a state of measles which
were illustrated by correct imitations of the plaintive manner in which he
called for toast and water day and night and said »dont cry mother I shall
soon be better« for proof of which statements reference was made to Mrs Green
lodger at the cheesemongers round the corner and divers other ladies and
gentlemen in various parts of England and Wales and one Mr Brown who was
supposed to be then a corporal in the East Indies and who could of course be
found with very little trouble within whose personal knowledge the
circumstances had occurred This narration ended Mr Garland put some questions
to Kit respecting his qualifications and general acquirements while Mrs
Garland noticed the children and hearing from Kits mother certain remarkable
circumstances which had attended the birth of each related certain other
remarkable circumstances which had attended the birth of her own son Mr Abel
from which it appeared that both Kits mother and herself had been above and
beyond all other women of what condition or age soever peculiarly hemmed in
with perils and dangers Lastly inquiry was made into the nature and extent of
Kits wardrobe and a small advance being made to improve the same he was
formally hired at an annual income of Six Pounds over and above his board and
lodging by Mr and Mrs Garland of Abel Cottage Finchley
It would be difficult to say which party appeared most pleased with this
arrangement the conclusion of which was hailed with nothing but pleasant looks
and cheerful smiles on both sides It was settled that Kit should repair to his
new abode on the next day but one in the morning and finally the little old
couple after bestowing a bright halfcrown on little Jacob and another on the
baby took their leaves being escorted as far as the street by their new
attendant who held the obdurate pony by the bridle while they took their seats
and saw them drive away with a lightened heart
»Well mother« said Kit hurrying back into the house »I think my
fortunes about made now«
»I should think it was indeed Kit« rejoined his mother »Six pound a year
Only think«
»Ah« said Kit trying to maintain the gravity which the consideration of
such a sum demanded but grinning with delight in spite of himself »Theres a
property«
Kit drew a long breath when he had said this and putting his hands deep
into his pockets as if there were one years wages at least in each looked at
his mother as though he saw through her and down an immense perspective of
sovereigns beyond
»Please God well make such a lady of you for Sundays mother such a
scholar of Jacob such a child of the baby such a room of the one up stairs
Six pound a year«
»Hem« croaked a strange voice »Whats that about six pound a year What
about six pound a year« And as the voice made this inquiry Daniel Quilp walked
in with Richard Swiveller at his heels
»Who said he was to have six pound a year« said Quilp looking sharply
round »Did the old man say it or did little Nell say it And whats he to have
it for and where are they eh«
The good woman was so much alarmed by the sudden apparition of this unknown
piece of ugliness that she hastily caught the baby from its cradle and
retreated into the furthest corner of the room while little Jacob sitting upon
his stool with his hands on his knees looked full at him in a species of
fascination roaring lustily all the time Richard Swiveller took an easy
observation of the family over Mr Quilps head and Quilp himself with his
hands in his pockets smiled in an exquisite enjoyment of the commotion he
occasioned
»Dont be frightened mistress« said Quilp after a pause »Your son knows
me I dont eat babies I dont like em It will be as well to stop that young
screamer though in case I should be tempted to do him a mischief Holloa sir
Will you be quiet«
Little Jacob stemmed the course of two tears which he was squeezing out of
his eyes and instantly subsided into a silent horror
»Mind you dont break out again you villain« said Quilp looking sternly
at him »or Ill make faces at you and throw you into fits I will Now you sir
why havent you been to me as you promised«
»What should I come for« retorted Kit »I hadnt any business with you no
more than you had with me«
»Here mistress« said Quilp turning quickly away and appealing from Kit
to his mother »When did his old master come or send here last Is he here now
If not wheres he gone«
»He has not been here at all« she replied »I wish we knew where they have
gone for it would make my son a good deal easier in his mind and me too If
youre the gentleman named Mr Quilp I should have thought youd have known
and so I told him only this very day«
»Humph« muttered Quilp evidently disappointed to believe that this was
true »Thats what you tell this gentleman too is it«
»If the gentleman comes to ask the same question I cant tell him anything
else sir and I only wish I could for our own sakes« was the reply
Quilp glanced at Richard Swiveller and observed that having met him on the
threshold he assumed that he had come in search of some intelligence of the
fugitives He supposed he was right
»Yes« said Dick »that was the object of the present expedition I fancied
it possible but let us go ring fancys knell Ill begin it«
»You seem disappointed« observed Quilp
»A baffler sir a baffler thats all« returned Dick »I have entered upon
a speculation which has proved a baffler and a Being of brightness and beauty
will be offered up a sacrifice at Cheggss altar Thats all sir«
The dwarf eyed Richard with a sarcastic smile but Richard who had been
taking a rather strong lunch with a friend observed him not and continued to
deplore his fate with mournful and despondent looks Quilp plainly discerned
that there was some secret reason for this visit and his uncommon
disappointment and in the hope that there might be means of mischief lurking
beneath it resolved to worm it out He had no sooner adopted this resolution
than he conveyed as much honesty into his face as it was capable of expressing
and sympathised with Mr Swiveller exceedingly
»I am disappointed myself« said Quilp »out of mere friendly feeling for
them but you have real reasons private reasons I have no doubt for your
disappointment and therefore it comes heavier than mine«
»Why of course it does« Dick observed testily
»Upon my word Im very sorry very sorry Im rather cast down myself As
we are companions in adversity shall we be companions in the surest way of
forgetting it If you had no particular business now to lead you in another
direction« urged Quilp plucking him by the sleeve and looking slyly up into
his face out of the corners of his eyes »there is a house by the waterside
where they have some of the noblest Schiedam reputed to be smuggled but
thats between ourselves that can be got in all the world The landlord knows
me Theres a little summerhouse overlooking the river where we might take a
glass of this delicious liquor with a whiff of the best tobacco its in this
case and of the rarest quality to my certain knowledge and be perfectly snug
and happy could we possibly contrive it or is there any very particular
engagement that peremptorily takes you another way Mr Swiveller eh«
As the dwarf spoke Dicks face relaxed into a compliant smile and his
brows slowly unbent By the time he had finished Dick was looking down at Quilp
in the same sly manner as Quilp was looking up at him and there remained
nothing more to be done but to set out for the house in question This they did
straightway The moment their backs were turned little Jacob thawed and
resumed his crying from the point where Quilp had frozen him
The summerhouse of which Mr Quilp had spoken was a rugged wooden box
rotten and bare to see which overhung the rivers mud and threatened to slide
down into it The tavern to which it belonged was a crazy building sapped and
undermined by the rats and only upheld by great bars of wood which were reared
against its walls and had propped it up so long that even they were decaying
and yielding with their load and of a windy night might be heard to creak and
crack as if the whole fabric were about to come toppling down The house stood
if anything so old and feeble could be said to stand on a piece of waste
ground blighted with the unwholesome smoke of factory chimneys and echoing the
clank of iron wheels and rush of troubled water Its internal accommodations
amply fulfilled the promise of the outside The rooms were low and damp the
clammy walls were pierced with chinks and holes the rotten floors had sunk from
their level the very beams started from their places and warned the timid
stranger from their neighbourhood
To this inviting spot entreating him to observe its beauties as they passed
along Mr Quilp led Richard Swiveller and on the table of the summerhouse
scored deep with many a gallows and initial letter there soon appeared a wooden
keg full of the vaunted liquor Drawing it off into the glasses with the skill
of a practised hand and mixing it with about a third part of water Mr Quilp
assigned to Richard Swiveller his portion and lighting his pipe from an end of
a candle in a very old and battered lantern drew himself together upon a seat
and puffed away
»Is it good« said Quilp as Richard Swiveller smacked his lips »is it
strong and fiery Does it make you wink and choke and your eyes water and
your breath come short does it«
»Does it« cried Dick throwing away part of the contents of his glass and
filling it up with water »why man you dont mean to tell me that you drink
such fire as this«
»No« rejoined Quilp »Not drink it Look here And here And here again
Not drink it«
As he spoke Daniel Quilp drew off and drank three small glassfuls of the
raw spirit and then with a horrible grimace took a great many pulls at his
pipe and swallowing the smoke discharged it in a heavy cloud from his nose
This feat accomplished he drew himself together in his former position and
laughed excessively
»Give us a toast« cried Quilp rattling on the table in a dexterous manner
with his fist and elbow alternately in a kind of tune »a woman a beauty
Lets have a beauty for our toast and empty our glasses to the last drop Her
name come«
»If you want a name« said Dick »heres Sophy Wackles«
»Sophy Wackles« screamed the dwarf »Miss Sophy Wackles that is Mrs
Richard Swiveller that shall be that shall be ha ha ha«
»Ah« said Dick »you might have said that a few weeks ago but it wont do
now my buck Immolating herself upon the shrine of Cheggs «
»Poison Cheggs cut Cheggss ears off« rejoined Quilp »I wont hear of
Cheggs Her name is Swiveller or nothing Ill drink her health again and her
fathers and her mothers and to all her sisters and brothers the glorious
family of the Wackleses all the Wackleses in one glass down with it to the
dregs«
»Well« said Richard Swiveller stopping short in the act of raising the
glass to his lips and looking at the dwarf in a species of stupor as he
flourished his arms and legs about »youre a jolly fellow but of all the jolly
fellows I ever saw or heard of you have the queerest and most extraordinary way
with you upon my life you have«
This candid declaration tended rather to increase than restrain Mr Quilps
eccentricities and Richard Swiveller astonished to see him in such a
roystering vein and drinking not a little himself for company began
imperceptibly to become more companionable and confiding so that being
judiciously led on by Mr Quilp he grew at last very confiding indeed Having
once got him into this mood and knowing now the keynote to strike whenever he
was at a loss Daniel Quilps task was comparatively an easy one and he was
soon in possession of the whole details of the scheme contrived between the easy
Dick and his more designing friend
»Stop« said Quilp »Thats the thing thats the thing It can be brought
about it shall be brought about Theres my hand upon it I am your friend from
this minute«
»What do you think theres still a chance« inquired Dick in surprise at
this encouragement
»A chance« echoed the dwarf »a certainty Sophy Wackles may become a
Cheggs or anything else she likes but not a Swiveller Oh you lucky dog Hes
richer than any Jew alive youre a made man I see in you now nothing but
Nellys husband rolling in gold and silver Ill help you It shall be done
Mind my words it shall be done«
»But how« said Dick
»Theres plenty of time« rejoined the dwarf »and it shall be done Well
sit down and talk it over again all the way through Fill your glass while Im
gone I shall be back directly directly«
With these hasty words Daniel Quilp withdrew into a dismantled
skittleground behind the publichouse and throwing himself upon the ground
actually screamed and rolled about in uncontrollable delight
»Heres sport« he cried »sport ready to my hand all invented and
arranged and only to be enjoyed It was this shallowpated fellow who made my
bones ache tother day was it It was his friend and fellowplotter Mr Trent
that once made eyes at Mrs Quilp and leered and looked was it After
labouring for two or three years in their precious scheme to find that theyve
got a beggar at last and one of them tied for life Ha ha ha He shall marry
Nell He shall have her and Ill be the first man when the knots tied hard
and fast to tell em what theyve gained and what Ive helped em to Here will
be a clearing of old scores here will be a time to remind em what a capital
friend I was and how I helped them to the heiress Ha ha ha«
In the height of his ecstasy Mr Quilp had like to have met with a
disagreeable check for rolling very near a broken dogkennel there leapt forth
a large fierce dog who but that his chain was of the shortest would have
given him a disagreeable salute As it was the dwarf remained upon his back in
perfect safety taunting the dog with hideous faces and triumphing over him in
his inability to advance another inch though there were not a couple of feet
between them
»Why dont you come and bite me why dont you come and tear me to pieces
you coward« said Quilp hissing and worrying the animal till he was nearly mad
»Youre afraid you bully youre afraid you know you are«
The dog tore and strained at his chain with starting eyes and furious bark
but there the dwarf lay snapping his fingers with gestures of defiance and
contempt When he had sufficiently recovered from his delight he rose and with
his arms akimbo achieved a kind of demondance round the kennel just without
the limits of the chain driving the dog quite wild Having by this means
composed his spirits and put himself in a pleasant train he returned to his
unsuspicious companion whom he found looking at the tide with exceeding
gravity and thinking of that same gold and silver which Mr Quilp had
mentioned
Chapter XXII
The remainder of that day and the whole of the next were a busy time for the
Nubbles family to whom everything connected with Kits outfit and departure was
matter of as great moment as if he had been about to penetrate into the interior
of Africa or to take a cruise round the world It would be difficult to suppose
that there ever was a box which was opened and shut so many times within
fourandtwenty hours as that which contained his wardrobe and necessaries and
certainly there never was one which to two small eyes presented such a mine of
clothing as this mighty chest with its three shirts and proportionate allowance
of stockings and pockethandkerchiefs disclosed to the astonished vision of
little Jacob At last it was conveyed to the carriers at whose house at
Finchley Kit was to find it next day and the box being gone there remained but
two questions for consideration firstly whether the carrier would lose or
dishonestly feign to lose the box upon the road secondly whether Kits mother
perfectly understood how to take care of herself in the absence of her son
»I dont think theres hardly a chance of his really losing it but carriers
are under great temptation to pretend they lose things no doubt« said Mrs
Nubbles apprehensively in reference to the first point
»No doubt about it« returned Kit with a serious look »upon my word
mother I dont think it was right to trust it to itself Somebody ought to have
gone with it Im afraid«
»We cant help it now« said his mother »but it was foolish and wrong
People oughtnt to be tempted«
Kit inwardly resolved that he would never tempt a carrier any more save
with an empty box and having formed this Christian determination he turned his
thoughts to the second question
»You know you must keep up your spirits mother and not be lonesome because
Im not at home I shall very often be able to look in when I come into town I
dare say and I shall send you a letter sometimes and when the quarter comes
round I can get a holiday of course and then see if we dont take little Jacob
to the play and let him know what oysters means«
»I hope plays maynt be sinful Kit but Im amost afraid« said Mrs
Nubbles
»I know who has been putting that in your head« rejoined her son
disconsolately »thats Little Bethel again Now I say mother pray dont take
to going there regularly for if I was to see your goodhumoured face that has
always made home cheerful turned into a grievous one and the baby trained to
look grievous too and to call itself a young sinner bless its heart and a
child of the devil which is calling its dead father names if I was to see
this and see little Jacob looking grievous likewise I should so take it to
heart that Im sure I should go and list for a soldier and run my head on
purpose against the first cannonball I saw coming my way«
»Oh Kit dont talk like that«
»I would indeed mother and unless you want to make me feel very wretched
and uncomfortable youll keep that bow on your bonnet which youd more than
half a mind to pull off last week Can you suppose theres any harm in looking
as cheerful and being as cheerful as our poor circumstances will permit Do I
see anything in the way Im made which calls upon me to be a snivelling
solemn whispering chap sneaking about as if I couldnt help it and expressing
myself in a most unpleasant snuffle on the contrairy dont I see every reason
why I shouldnt Just hear this Ha ha ha Ant that as natral as walking and
as good for the health Ha ha ha Ant that as natral as a sheeps bleating or
a pigs grunting or a horses neighing or a birds singing Ha ha ha Isnt
it mother«
There was something contagious in Kits laugh for his mother who had
looked grave before first subsided into a smile and then fell to joining in it
heartily which occasioned Kit to say that he knew it was natural and to laugh
the more Kit and his mother laughing together in a pretty loud key woke the
baby who finding that there was something very jovial and agreeable in
progress was no sooner in its mothers arms than it began to kick and laugh
most vigorously This new illustration of his argument so tickled Kit that he
fell backward in his chair in a state of exhaustion pointing at the baby and
shaking his sides till he rocked again After recovering twice or thrice and as
often relapsing he wiped his eyes and said grace and a very cheerful meal
their scanty supper was
With more kisses and hugs and tears than many young gentlemen who start
upon their travels and leave wellstocked homes behind them would deem within
the bounds of probability if matter so low could be herein set down Kit left
the house at an early hour next morning and set out to walk to Finchley
feeling a sufficient pride in his appearance to have warranted his
excommunication from Little Bethel from that time forth if he had ever been one
of that mournful congregation
Lest anybody should feel a curiosity to know how Kit was clad it may be
briefly remarked that he wore no livery but was dressed in a coat of
pepperandsalt with waistcoat of canary colour and nether garments of
irongrey besides these glories he shone in the lustre of a new pair of boots
and an extremely stiff and shiny hat which on being struck anywhere with the
knuckles sounded like a drum And in this attire rather wondering that he
attracted so little attention and attributing the circumstance to the
insensibility of those who got up early he made his way towards Abel Cottage
Without encountering any more remarkable adventure on the road than meeting
a lad in a brimless hat the exact counterpart of his old one on whom he
bestowed half the sixpence he possessed Kit arrived in course of time at the
carriers house where to the lasting honour of human nature he found the box
in safety Receiving from the wife of this immaculate man a direction to Mr
Garlands he took the box upon his shoulder and repaired thither directly
To be sure it was a beautiful little cottage with a thatched roof and
little spires at the gableends and pieces of stained glass in some of the
windows almost as large as pocketbooks On one side of the house was a little
stable just the size for the pony with a little room over it just the size
for Kit White curtains were fluttering and birds in cages that looked as
bright as if they were made of gold were singing at the windows plants were
arranged on either side of the path and clustered about the door and the
garden was bright with flowers in full bloom which shed a sweet odour all
round and had a charming and elegant appearance Everything within the house
and without seemed to be the perfection of neatness and order In the garden
there was not a weed to be seen and to judge from some dapper gardeningtools
a basket and a pair of gloves which were lying in one of the walks old Mr
Garland had been at work in it that very morning
Kit looked about him and admired and looked again and this a great many
times before he could make up his mind to turn his head another way and ring the
bell There was abundance of time to look about him again though when he had
rung it for nobody came so after ringing it twice or thrice he sat down upon
his box and waited
He rung the bell a great many times and yet nobody came But at last as he
was sitting upon the box thinking about giants castles and princesses tied up
to pegs by the hair of their heads and dragons bursting out from behind gates
and other incidents of the like nature common in storybooks to youths of low
degree on their first visit to strange houses the door was gently opened and a
little servantgirl very tidy modest and demure but very pretty too
appeared
»I suppose youre Christopher sir« said the servantgirl
Kit got off the box and said yes he was
»Im afraid youve rung a good many times perhaps« she rejoined »but we
couldnt hear you because weve been catching the pony«
Kit rather wondered what this meant but as he couldnt stop there asking
questions he shouldered the box again and followed the girl into the hall
where through a backdoor he descried Mr Garland leading Whisker in triumph up
the garden after that selfwilled pony had as he afterwards learned dodged
the family round a small paddock in the rear for one hour and three quarters
The old gentleman received him very kindly and so did the old lady whose
previous good opinion of him was greatly enhanced by his wiping his boots on the
mat until the soles of his feet burnt again He was then taken into the parlour
to be inspected in his new clothes and when he had been surveyed several times
and had afforded by his appearance unlimited satisfaction he was taken into the
stable where the pony received him with uncommon complaisance and thence into
the little chamber he had already observed which was very clean and
comfortable and thence into the garden in which the old gentleman told him he
would be taught to employ himself and where he told him besides what great
things he meant to do to make him comfortable and happy if he found he
deserved it All these kindnesses Kit acknowledged with various expressions of
gratitude and so many touches of the new hat that the brim suffered
considerably When the old gentleman had said all he had to say in the way of
promise and advice and Kit had said all he had to say in the way of assurance
and thankfulness he was handed over again to the old lady who summoning the
little servantgirl whose name was Barbara instructed her to take him down
stairs and give him something to eat and drink after his walk
Down stairs therefore Kit went and at the bottom of the stairs there was
such a kitchen as was never before seen or heard of out of a toyshop window
with everything in it as bright and glowing and as precisely ordered too as
Barbara herself And in this kitchen Kit sat himself down at a table as white
as a tablecloth to eat cold meat and drink small ale and use his knife and
fork the more awkwardly because there was an unknown Barbara looking on and
observing him
It did not appear however that there was anything remarkably tremendous
about this strange Barbara who having lived a very quiet life blushed very
much and was quite as embarrassed and uncertain what she ought to say or do as
Kit could possibly be When he had sat for some little time attentive to the
ticking of the sober clock he ventured to glance curiously at the dresser and
there among the plates and dishes were Barbaras little workbox with a
sliding lid to shut in the balls of cotton and Barbaras prayerbook and
Barbaras hymnbook and Barbaras Bible Barbaras little lookingglass hung in
a good light near the window and Barbaras bonnet was on a nail behind the
door From all these mute signs and tokens of her presence he naturally glanced
at Barbara herself who sat as mute as they shelling peas into a dish and just
when Kit was looking at her eyelashes and wondering quite in the simplicity of
his heart what colour her eyes might be it perversely happened that Barbara
raised her head a little to look at him when both pair of eyes were hastily
withdrawn and Kit leant over his plate and Barbara over her peashells each
in extreme confusion at having been detected by the other
Chapter XXIII
Mr Richard Swiveller wending homeward from the Wilderness for such was the
appropriate name of Quilps choice retreat after a sinuous and corkscrew
fashion with many checks and stumbles after stopping suddenly and staring
about him then as suddenly running forward for a few paces and as suddenly
halting again and shaking his head doing everything with a jerk and nothing by
premeditation Mr Richard Swiveller wending his way homeward after this
fashion which is considered by evilminded men to be symbolical of
intoxication and is not held by such persons to denote that state of deep
wisdom and reflection in which the actor knows himself to be began to think
that possibly he had misplaced his confidence and that the dwarf might not be
precisely the sort of person to whom to entrust a secret of such delicacy and
importance And being led and tempted on by this remorseful thought into a
condition which the evilminded class before referred to would term the maudlin
state or stage of drunkenness it occurred to Mr Swiveller to cast his hat upon
the ground and moan crying aloud that he was an unhappy orphan and that if he
had not been an unhappy orphan things had never come to this
»Left an infant by my parents at an early age« said Mr Swiveller
bewailing his hard lot »cast upon the world in my tenderest period and thrown
upon the mercies of a deluding dwarf who can wonder at my weakness Heres a
miserable orphan for you Here« said Mr Swiveller raising his voice to a high
pitch and looking sleepily round »is a miserable orphan«
»Then« said somebody hard by »let me be a father to you«
Mr Swiveller swayed himself to and fro to preserve his balance and
looking into a kind of haze which seemed to surround him at last perceived two
eyes dimly twinkling through the mist which he observed after a short time were
in the neighbourhood of a nose and mouth Casting his eyes down towards that
quarter in which with reference to a mans face his legs are usually to be
found he observed that the face had a body attached and when he looked more
intently he was satisfied that the person was Mr Quilp who indeed had been in
his company all the time but whom he had some vague idea of having left a mile
or two behind
»You have deceived an orphan sir« said Mr Swiveller solemnly
»I Im a second father to you« replied Quilp
»You my father sir« retorted Dick »Being all right myself sir I request
to be left alone instantly sir«
»What a funny fellow you are« cried Quilp
»Go sir« returned Dick leaning against a post and waving his hand »Go
deceiver go some day sir praps youll waken from pleasures dream to
know the grief of orphans forsaken Will you go sir«
The dwarf taking no heed of this adjuration Mr Swiveller advanced with the
view of inflicting upon him condign chastisement But forgetting his purpose or
changing his mind before he came close to him he seized his hand and vowed
eternal friendship declaring with an agreeable frankness that from that time
forth they were brothers in everything but personal appearance Then he told his
secret over again with the addition of being pathetic on the subject of Miss
Wackles who he gave Mr Quilp to understand was the occasion of any slight
incoherency he might observe in his speech at that moment which was
attributable solely to the strength of his affection and not to rosy wine or
other fermented liquor And then they went on arminarm very lovingly
together
»Im as sharp« said Quilp to him at parting »as sharp as a ferret and as
cunning as a weasel You bring Trent to me assure him that Im his friend
though I fear he a little distrusts me I dont know why I have not deserved
it and youve both of you made your fortunes in perspective«
»Thats the worst of it« returned Dick »These fortunes in perspective look
such a long way off«
»But they look smaller than they really are on that account« said Quilp
pressing his arm »Youll have no conception of the value of your prize until
you draw close to it Mark that«
»Dye think not« said Dick
»Aye I do and I am certain of what I say thats better« returned the
dwarf »You bring Trent to me Tell him I am his friend and yours why
shouldnt I be«
»Theres no reason why you shouldnt certainly« replied Dick »and perhaps
there are a great many why you should at least there would be nothing strange
in your wanting to be my friend if you were a choice spirit but then you know
youre not a choice spirit«
»I not a choice spirit« cried Quilp
»Devil a bit sir« returned Dick »A man of your appearance couldnt be If
youre any spirit at all sir youre an evil spirit Choice spirits« added
Dick smiting himself on the breast »are quite a differentlooking sort of
people you may take your oath of that sir«
Quilp glanced at his freespoken friend with a mingled expression of cunning
and dislike and wringing his hand almost at the same moment declared that he
was an uncommon character and had his warmest esteem With that they parted Mr
Swiveller to make the best of his way home and sleep himself sober and Quilp to
cogitate upon the discovery he had made and exult in the prospect of the rich
field of enjoyment and reprisal it opened to him
It was not without great reluctance and misgiving that Mr Swiveller next
morning his head racked by the fumes of the renowned Schiedam repaired to the
lodging of his friend Trent which was in the roof of an old house in an old
ghostly inn and recounted by very slow degrees what had yesterday taken place
between him and Quilp Nor was it without great surprise and much speculation on
Quilps probable motives nor without many bitter comments on Dick Swivellers
folly that his friend received the tale
»I dont defend myself Fred« said the penitent Richard »but the fellow
has such a queer way with him and is such an artful dog that first of all he
set me upon thinking whether there was any harm in telling him and while I was
thinking screwed it out of me If you had seen him drink and smoke as I did
you couldnt have kept anything from him Hes a Salamander you know thats
what he is«
Without inquiring whether Salamanders were of necessity good confidential
agents or whether a fireproof man was as a matter of course trustworthy
Frederick Trent threw himself into a chair and burying his head in his hands
endeavoured to fathom the motives which had led Quilp to insinuate himself into
Richard Swivellers confidence for that the disclosure was of his seeking
and had not been spontaneously revealed by Dick was sufficiently plain from
Quilps seeking his company and enticing him away
The dwarf had twice encountered him when he was endeavouring to obtain
intelligence of the fugitives This perhaps as he had not shown any previous
anxiety about them was enough to awaken suspicion in the breast of a creature
so jealous and distrustful by nature setting aside any additional impulse to
curiosity that he might have derived from Dicks incautious manner But knowing
the scheme they had planned why should he offer to assist it This was a
question more difficult of solution but as knaves generally overreach
themselves by imputing their own designs to others the idea immediately
presented itself that some circumstances of irritation between Quilp and the old
man arising out of their secret transactions and not unconnected perhaps with
his sudden disappearance now rendered the former desirous of revenging himself
upon him by seeking to entrap the sole object of his love and anxiety into a
connexion of which he knew he had a dread and hatred As Frederick Trent
himself utterly regardless of his sister had this object at heart only second
to the hope of gain it seemed to him the more likely to be Quilps main
principle of action Once investing the dwarf with a design of his own in
abetting them which the attainment of their purpose would serve it was easy to
believe him sincere and hearty in the cause and as there could be no doubt of
his proving a powerful and useful auxiliary Trent determined to accept his
invitation and go to his house that night and if what he said and did confirmed
him in the impression he had formed to let him share the labour of their plan
but not the profit
Having revolved these things in his mind and arrived at this conclusion he
communicated to Mr Swiveller as much of his meditations as he thought proper
Dick would have been perfectly satisfied with less and giving him the day to
recover himself from his late salamandering accompanied him at evening to Mr
Quilps house
Mightily glad Mr Quilp was to see them or mightily glad he seemed to be
and fearfully polite Mr Quilp was to Mrs Quilp and Mrs Jiniwin and very
sharp was the look he cast on his wife to observe how she was affected by the
recognition of young Trent Mrs Quilp was as innocent as her own mother of any
emotion painful or pleasant which the sight of him awakened but as her
husbands glance made her timid and confused and uncertain what to do or what
was required of her Mr Quilp did not fail to assign her embarrassment to the
cause he had in his mind and while he chuckled at his penetration was secretly
exasperated by his jealousy
Nothing of this appeared however On the contrary Mr Quilp was all
blandness and suavity and presided over the casebottle of rum with
extraordinary openheartedness
»Why let me see« said Quilp »It must be a matter of nearly two years since
we were first acquainted«
»Nearer three I think« said Trent
»Nearer three« cried Quilp »How fast time flies Does it seem as long as
that to you Mrs Quilp«
»Yes I think it seems full three years Quilp« was the unfortunate reply
»Oh indeed maam« thought Quilp »you have been pining have you Very
good maam«
»It seems to me but yesterday that you went out to Demerara in the Mary
Anne« said Quilp »but yesterday I declare Well I like a little wildness I
was wild myself once«
Mr Quilp accompanied this admission with such an awful wink indicative of
old rovings and backslidings that Mrs Jiniwin was indignant and could not
forbear from remarking under her breath that he might at least put off his
confessions until his wife was absent for which act of boldness and
insubordination Mr Quilp first stared her out of countenance and then drank her
health ceremoniously
»I thought youd come back directly Fred I always thought that« said
Quilp setting down his glass »And when the Mary Anne returned with you on
board instead of a letter to say what a contrite heart you had and how happy
you were in the situation that had been provided for you I was amused
exceedingly amused Ha ha ha«
The young man smiled but not as though the theme was the most agreeable one
that could have been selected for his entertainment and for that reason Quilp
pursued it
»I always will say« he resumed »that when a rich relation having two young
people sisters or brothers or brother and sister dependent on him attaches
himself exclusively to one and casts off the other he does wrong«
The young man made a movement of impatience but Quilp went on as calmly as
if he were discussing some abstract question in which nobody present had the
slightest personal interest
»Its very true« said Quilp »that your grandfather urged repeated
forgiveness ingratitude riot and extravagance and all that but as I told
him these are common faults But hes a scoundrel said he Granting that said
I for the sake of argument of course a great many young noblemen and
gentlemen are scoundrels too But he wouldnt be convinced«
»I wonder at that Mr Quilp« said the young man sarcastically
»Well so did I at the time« returned Quilp »but he was always obstinate
He was in a manner a friend of mine but he was always obstinate and
wrongheaded Little Nell is a nice girl a charming girl but youre her
brother Frederick Youre her brother after all as you told him the last time
you met he cant alter that«
»He would if he could confound him for that and all other kindnesses« said
the young man impatiently »But nothing can come of this subject now and let us
have done with it in the Devils name«
»Agreed« returned Quilp »agreed on my part readily Why have I alluded to
it Just to show you Frederick that I have always stood your friend You
little knew who was your friend and who your foe now did you You thought I
was against you and so there has been a coolness between us but it was all on
your side entirely on your side Lets shake hands again Fred«
With his head sunk down between his shoulders and a hideous grin
overspreading his face the dwarf stood up and stretched his short arm across
the table After a moments hesitation the young man stretched out his to meet
it Quilp clutched his fingers in a grip that for the moment stopped the current
of the blood within them and pressing his other hand upon his lip and frowning
towards the unsuspicious Richard released them and sat down
This action was not lost upon Trent who knowing that Richard Swiveller was
a mere tool in his hands and knew no more of his designs than he thought proper
to communicate saw that the dwarf perfectly understood their relative position
and fully entered into the character of his friend It is something to be
appreciated even in knavery This silent homage to his superior abilities no
less than a sense of the power with which the dwarfs quick perception had
already invested him inclined the young man towards that ugly worthy and
determined him to profit by his aid
It being now Mr Quilps cue to change the subject with all convenient
expedition lest Richard Swiveller in his heedlessness should reveal anything
which it was inexpedient for the women to know he proposed a game at
fourhanded cribbage and partners being cut for Mrs Quilp fell to Frederick
Trent and Dick himself to Quilp Mrs Jiniwin being very fond of cards was
carefully excluded by her soninlaw from any participation in the game and had
assigned to her the duty of occasionally replenishing the glasses from the
casebottle Mr Quilp from that moment keeping one eye constantly upon her
lest she should by any means procure a taste of the same and thereby
tantalising the wretched old lady who was as much attached to the casebottle
as the cards in a double degree and most ingenious manner
But it was not to Mrs Jiniwin alone that Mr Quilps attention was
restricted as several other matters required his constant vigilance Among his
various eccentric habits he had a humorous one of always cheating at cards
which rendered necessary on his part not only a close observance of the game
and a sleightofhand in counting and scoring but also involved the constant
correction by looks and frowns and kicks under the table of Richard
Swiveller who being bewildered by the rapidity with which his cards were told
and the rate at which the pegs travelled down the board could not be prevented
from sometimes expressing his surprise and incredulity Mrs Quilp too was the
partner of young Trent and for every look that passed between them and every
word they spoke and every card they played the dwarf had eyes and ears not
occupied alone with what was passing above the table but with signals that
might be exchanging beneath it which he laid all kinds of traps to detect
besides often treading on his wifes toes to see whether she cried out or
remained silent under the infliction in which latter case it would have been
quite clear that Trent had been treading on her toes before Yet in the most of
all these distractions the one eye was upon the old lady always and if she so
much as stealthily advanced a teaspoon towards a neighbouring glass which she
often did for the purpose of abstracting but one sup of its sweet contents
Quilps hand would overset it in the very moment of her triumph and Quilps
mocking voice implore her to regard her precious health And in any one of these
his many cares from first to last Quilp never flagged nor faltered
At length when they had played a great many rubbers and drawn pretty freely
upon the casebottle Mr Quilp warned his lady to retire to rest and that
submissive wife complying and being followed by her indignant mother Mr
Swiveller fell asleep The dwarf beckoning his remaining companion to the other
end of the room held a short conference with him in whispers
»Its as well not to say more than one can help before our worthy friend«
said Quilp making a grimace towards the slumbering Dick »Is it a bargain
between us Fred Shall he marry little rosy Nell byandby«
»You have some end of your own to answer of course« returned the other
»Of course I have dear Fred« said Quilp grinning to think how little he
suspected what the real end was »Its retaliation perhaps perhaps whim I have
influence Fred to help or oppose Which way shall I use it There are a pair
of scales and it goes into one«
»Throw it into mine then« said Trent
»Its done Fred« rejoined Quilp stretching out his clenched hand and
opening it as if he had let some weight fall out »Its in the scale from this
time and turns it Fred Mind that«
»Where have they gone« asked Trent
Quilp shook his head and said that point remained to be discovered which
it might be easily When it was they would begin their preliminary advances
He would visit the old man or even Richard Swiveller might visit him and by
affecting a deep concern in his behalf and imploring him to settle in some
worthy home lead to the childs remembering him with gratitude and favour Once
impressed to this extent it would be easy he said to win her in a year or
two for she supposed the old man to be poor as it was a part of his jealous
policy in common with many other misers to feign to be so to those about him
»He has feigned it often enough to me of late« said Trent
»Oh and to me too« replied the dwarf »Which is more extraordinary as I
know how rich he really is«
»I suppose you should« said Trent
»I think I should indeed« rejoined the dwarf and in that at least he
spoke the truth
After a few more whispered words they returned to the table and the young
man rousing Richard Swiveller informed him that he was waiting to depart This
was welcome news to Dick who started up directly After a few words of
confidence in the result of their project had been exchanged they bade the
grinning Quilp good night
Quilp crept to the window as they passed in the street below and listened
Trent was pronouncing an encomium upon his wife and they were both wondering by
what enchantment she had been brought to marry such a misshapen wretch as he
The dwarf after watching their retreating shadows with a wider grin than his
face had yet displayed stole softly in the dark to bed
In this hatching of their scheme neither Trent nor Quilp had had one
thought about the happiness or misery of poor innocent Nell It would have been
strange if the careless profligate who was the butt of both had been harassed
by any such consideration for his high opinion of his own merits and deserts
rendered the project rather a laudable one than otherwise and if he had been
visited by so unwonted a guest as reflection he would being a brute only in
the gratification of his appetites have soothed his conscience with the plea
that he did not mean to beat or kill his wife and would therefore after all
said and done be a very tolerable average husband
Chapter XXIV
It was not until they were quite exhausted and could no longer maintain the pace
at which they had fled from the raceground that the old man and the child
ventured to stop and sit down to rest upon the borders of a little wood Here
though the course was hidden from their view they could yet faintly distinguish
the noise of distant shouts the hum of voices and the beating of drums
Climbing the eminence which lay between them and the spot they had left the
child could even discern the fluttering flags and white tops of booths but no
person was approaching towards them and their restingplace was solitary and
still
Some time elapsed before she could reassure her trembling companion or
restore him to a state of moderate tranquillity His disordered imagination
represented to him a crowd of persons stealing towards them beneath the cover of
the bushes lurking in every ditch and peeping from the boughs of every
rustling tree He was haunted by apprehensions of being led captive to some
gloomy place where he would be chained and scourged and worse than all where
Nell could never come to see him save through iron bars and gratings in the
wall His terrors affected the child Separation from her grandfather was the
greatest evil she could dread and feeling for the time as though go where they
would they were to be hunted down and could never be safe but in hiding her
heart failed her and her courage drooped
In one so young and so unused to the scenes in which she had lately moved
this sinking of the spirit was not surprising But Nature often enshrines
gallant and noble hearts in weak bosoms oftenest God bless her in female
breasts and when the child casting her tearful eyes upon the old man
remembered how weak he was and how destitute and helpless he would be if she
failed him her heart swelled within her and animated her with new strength and
fortitude
»We are quite safe now and have nothing to fear indeed dear grandfather«
she said
»Nothing to fear« returned the old man »Nothing to fear if they took me
from thee Nothing to fear if they parted us Nobody is true to me No not one
Not even Nell«
»Oh do not say that« replied the child »for if ever anybody was true at
heart and earnest I am I am sure you know I am«
»Then how« said the old man looking fearfully round »how can you bear to
think that we are safe when they are searching for me everywhere and may come
here and steal upon us even while were talking«
»Because Im sure we have not been followed« said the child »Judge for
yourself dear grandfather look round and see how quiet and still it is We
are alone together and may ramble where we like Not safe Could I feel easy
did I feel at ease when any danger threatened you«
»True too« he answered pressing her hand but still looking anxiously
about »What noise was that«
»A bird« said the child »flying into the wood and leading the way for us
to follow You remember that we said we would walk in woods and fields and by
the side of rivers and how happy we would be you remember that But here
while the sun shines above our heads and everything is bright and happy we are
sitting sadly down and losing time See what a pleasant path and theres the
bird the same bird now he flies to another tree and stays to sing Come«
When they rose up from the ground and took the shady track which led them
through the wood she bounded on before printing her tiny footsteps in the
moss which rose elastic from so light a pressure and gave it back as mirrors
throw off breath and thus she lured the old man on with many a backward look
and merry beck now pointing stealthily to some lone bird as it perched and
twittered on a branch that strayed across their path now stopping to listen to
the songs that broke the happy silence or watch the sun as it trembled through
the leaves and stealing in among the ivied trunks of stout old trees opened
long paths of light As they passed onward parting the boughs that clustered in
their way the serenity which the child had first assumed stole into her breast
in earnest the old man cast no longer fearful looks behind but felt at ease
and cheerful for the further they passed into the deep green shade the more
they felt that the tranquil mind of God was there and shed its peace on them
At length the path becoming clearer and less intricate brought them to the
end of the wood and into a public road Taking their way along it for a short
distance they came to a lane so shaded by the trees on either hand that they
met together overhead and arched the narrow way A broken fingerpost announced
that this led to a village three miles off and thither they resolved to bend
their steps
The miles appeared so long that they sometimes thought they must have missed
their road But at last to their great joy it led downwards in a steep
descent with overhanging banks over which the footpaths led and the clustered
houses of the village peeped from the woody hollow below
It was a very small place The men and boys were playing at cricket on the
green and as the other folks were looking on they wandered up and down
uncertain where to seek a humble lodging There was but one old man in the
little garden before his cottage and him they were timid of approaching for he
was the schoolmaster and had »School« written up over his window in black
letters on a white board He was a pale simplelooking man of a spare and
meagre habit and sat among his flowers and beehives smoking his pipe in the
little porch before his door
»Speak to him dear« the old man whispered
»I am almost afraid to disturb him« said the child timidly »He does not
seem to see us Perhaps if we wait a little he may look this way«
They waited but the schoolmaster cast no look towards them and still sat
thoughtful and silent in the little porch He had a kind face In his plain old
suit of black he looked pale and meagre They fancied too a lonely air about
him and his house but perhaps that was because the other people formed a merry
company upon the green and he seemed the only solitary man in all the place
They were very tired and the child would have been bold enough to address
even a schoolmaster but for something in his manner which seemed to denote that
he was uneasy or distressed As they stood hesitating at a little distance they
saw that he sat for a few minutes at a time like one in a brown study then laid
aside his pipe and took a few turns in his garden then approached the gate and
looked towards the green then took up his pipe again with a sigh and sat down
thoughtfully as before
As nobody else appeared and it would soon be dark Nell at length took
courage and when he had resumed his pipe and seat ventured to draw near
leading her grandfather by the hand The slight noise they made in raising the
latch of the wicketgate caught his attention He looked at them kindly but
seemed disappointed too and slightly shook his head
Nell dropped a curtsey and told him they were poor travellers who sought a
shelter for the night which they would gladly pay for so far as their means
allowed The schoolmaster looked earnestly at her as she spoke laid aside his
pipe and rose up directly
»If you could direct us anywhere sir« said the child »we should take it
very kindly«
»You have been walking a long way« said the schoolmaster
»A long way sir« the child replied
»Youre a young traveller my child« he said laying his hand gently on her
head »Your grandchild friend«
»Aye sir« cried the old man »and the stay and comfort of my life«
»Come in« said the schoolmaster
Without further preface he conducted them into his little schoolroom which
was parlour and kitchen likewise and told them that they were welcome to remain
under his roof till morning Before they had done thanking him he spread a
coarse white cloth upon the table with knives and platters and bringing out
some bread and cold meat and a jug of beer besought them to eat and drink
The child looked round the room as she took her seat There were a couple of
forms notched and cut and inked all over a small deal desk perched on four
legs at which no doubt the master sat a few dogseared books upon a high
shelf and beside them a motley collection of pegtops balls kites
fishinglines marbles halfeaten apples and other confiscated property of
idle urchins Displayed on hooks upon the wall in all their terrors were the
cane and ruler and near them on a small shelf of its own, the dunces cap
made of old newspapers and decorated with glaring wafers of the largest size
But the great ornaments of the walls were certain moral sentences fairly copied
in good round text and wellworked sums in simple addition and multiplication
evidently achieved by the same hand which were plentifully pasted all round the
room for the double purpose as it seemed of bearing testimony to the
excellence of the school and kindling a worthy emulation in the bosoms of the
scholars
»Yes« said the old schoolmaster observing that her attention was caught by
these latter specimens »Thats beautiful writing my dear«
»Very sir« replied the child modestly »is it yours«
»Mine« he returned taking out his spectacles and putting them on to have
a better view of the triumphs so dear to his heart »I couldnt write like that
nowadays No Theyre all done by one hand a little hand it is not so old as
yours but a very clever one«
As the schoolmaster said this he saw that a small blot of ink had been
thrown on one of the copies so he took a penknife from his pocket and going up
to the wall carefully scraped it out When he had finished he walked slowly
backward from the writing admiring it as one might contemplate a beautiful
picture but with something of sadness in his voice and manner which quite
touched the child though she was unacquainted with its cause
»A little hand indeed« said the poor schoolmaster »Far beyond all his
companions in his learning and his sports too how did he ever come to be so
fond of me That I should love him is no wonder but that he should love me «
and there the schoolmaster stopped and took off his spectacles to wipe them as
though they had grown dim
»I hope there is nothing the matter sir« said Nell anxiously
»Not much my dear« returned the schoolmaster »I hoped to have seen him on
the green tonight He was always foremost among them But hell be there
tomorrow«
»Has he been ill« asked the child with a childs quick sympathy
»Not very They said he was wandering in his head yesterday dear boy and
so they said the day before But thats a part of that kind of disorder its
not a bad sign not at all a bad sign«
The child was silent He walked to the door and looked wistfully out The
shadows of night were gathering and all was still
»If he could lean upon anybodys arm he would come to me I know« he said
returning into the room »He always came into the garden to say good night But
perhaps his illness has only just taken a favourable turn and its too late for
him to come out for its very damp and theres a heavy dew Its much better he
shouldnt come tonight«
The schoolmaster lighted a candle fastened the windowshutter and closed
the door But after he had done this and sat silent a little time he took down
his hat and said he would go and satisfy himself if Nell would sit up till he
returned The child readily complied and he went out
She sat there halfanhour or more feeling the place very strange and
lonely for she had prevailed upon the old man to go to bed and there was
nothing to be heard but the ticking of an old clock and the whistling of the
wind among the trees When he returned he took his seat in the chimney corner
but remained silent for a long time At length he turned to her and speaking
very gently hoped she would say a prayer that night for a sick child
»My favourite scholar« said the poor schoolmaster smoking a pipe he had
forgotten to light and looking mournfully round upon the walls »It is a little
hand to have done all that and waste away with sickness It is a very very
little hand«
Chapter XXV
After a sound nights rest in a chamber in the thatched roof in which it seemed
the sexton had for some years been a lodger but which he had lately deserted
for a wife and a cottage of his own the child rose early in the morning and
descended to the room where she had supped last night As the schoolmaster had
already left his bed and gone out she bestirred herself to make it neat and
comfortable and had just finished its arrangement when the kind host returned
He thanked her many times and said that the old dame who usually did such
offices for him had gone to nurse the little scholar whom he had told her of
The child asked how he was and hoped he was better
»No« rejoined the schoolmaster shaking his head sorrowfully »no better
They even say he is worse«
»I am very sorry for that sir« said the child
The poor schoolmaster appeared to be gratified by her earnest manner but
yet rendered more uneasy by it for he added hastily that anxious people often
magnified an evil and thought it greater than it was »for my part« he said in
his quiet patient way »I hope its not so I dont think he can be worse«
The child asked his leave to prepare breakfast and her grandfather coming
down stairs they all three partook of it together While the meal was in
progress their host remarked that the old man seemed much fatigued and
evidently stood in need of rest
»If the journey you have before you is a long one« he said »and dont
press you for one day youre very welcome to pass another night here I should
really be glad if you would friend«
He saw that the old man looked at Nell uncertain whether to accept or
decline his offer and added
»I shall be glad to have your young companion with me for one day If you
can do a charity to a lone man and rest yourself at the same time do so If
you must proceed upon your journey I wish you well through it and will walk a
little way with you before school begins«
»What are we to do Nell« said the old man irresolutely »say what were to
do dear«
It required no great persuasion to induce the child to answer that they had
better accept the invitation and remain She was happy to show her gratitude to
the kind schoolmaster by busying herself in the performance of such household
duties as his little cottage stood in need of When these were done she took
some needlework from her basket and sat herself down upon a stool beside the
lattice where the honeysuckle and woodbine entwined their tender stems and
stealing into the room filled it with their delicious breath Her grandfather
was basking in the sun outside breathing the perfume of the flowers and idly
watching the clouds as they floated on before the light summer wind
As the schoolmaster after arranging the two forms in due order took his
seat behind his desk and made other preparations for school the child was
apprehensive that she might be in the way and offered to withdraw to her little
bedroom But this he would not allow and as he seemed pleased to have her
there she remained busying herself with her work
»Have you many scholars sir« she asked
The poor schoolmaster shook his head and said that they barely filled the
two forms
»Are the others clever sir« asked the child glancing at the trophies on
the wall
»Good boys« returned the schoolmaster »good boys enough my dear but
theyll never do like that«
A small whiteheaded boy with a sunburnt face appeared at the door while he
was speaking and stopping there to make a rustic bow came in and took his seat
upon one of the forms The whiteheaded boy then put an open book astonishingly
dogseared upon his knees and thrusting his hands into his pockets began
counting the marbles with which they were filled displaying in the expression
of his face a remarkable capacity of totally abstracting his mind from the
spelling on which his eyes were fixed Soon afterwards another whiteheaded
little boy came straggling in and after him a redheaded lad and after him two
more with white heads and then one with a flaxen poll and so on until the
forms were occupied by a dozen boys or thereabouts with heads of every colour
but grey and ranging in their ages from four years old to fourteen years or
more for the legs of the youngest were a long way from the floor when he sat
upon the form and the eldest was a heavy goodtempered foolish fellow about
half a head taller than the schoolmaster
At the top of the first form the post of honour in the school was the
vacant place of the little sick scholar and at the head of the row of pegs on
which those who came in hats or caps were wont to hang them up one was left
empty No boy attempted to violate the sanctity of seat or peg but many a one
looked from the empty spaces to the schoolmaster and whispered his idle
neighbour behind his hand
Then began the hum of conning over lessons and getting them by heart the
whispered jest and stealthy game and all the noise and drawl of school and in
the midst of the din sat the poor schoolmaster the very image of meekness and
simplicity vainly attempting to fix his mind upon the duties of the day and to
forget his little friend But the tedium of his office reminded him more
strongly of the willing scholar and his thoughts were rambling from his pupils
it was plain
None knew this better than the idlest boys who growing bolder with
impunity waxed louder and more daring playing oddoreven under the masters
eye eating apples openly and without rebuke pinching each other in sport or
malice without the least reserve and cutting their autographs in the very legs
of his desk The puzzled dunce who stood beside it to say his lesson out of
book looked no longer at the ceiling for forgotten words but drew closer to
the masters elbow and boldly cast his eye upon the page the wag of the little
troop squinted and made grimaces at the smallest boy of course holding no
book before his face and his approving audience knew no constraint in their
delight If the master did chance to rouse himself and seem alive to what was
going on the noise subsided for a moment and no eyes met his but wore a
studious and a deeply humble look but the instant he relapsed again it broke
out afresh and ten times louder than before
Oh how some of those idle fellows longed to be outside and how they looked
at the open door and window as if they half meditated rushing violently out
plunging into the woods and being wild boys and savages from that time forth
What rebellious thoughts of the cool river and some shady bathingplace beneath
willow trees with branches dipping in the water kept tempting and urging that
sturdy boy who with his shirtcollar unbuttoned and flung back as far as it
could go sat fanning his flushed face with a spellingbook wishing himself a
whale or a tittlebat or a fly or anything but a boy at school on that hot
broiling day Heat ask that other boy whose seat being nearest to the door
gave him opportunities of gliding out into the garden and driving his companions
to madness by dipping his face into the bucket of the well and then rolling on
the grass ask him if there were ever such a day as that when even the bees
were diving deep down into the cups of flowers and stopping there as if they
had made up their minds to retire from business and be manufacturers of honey no
more The day was made for laziness and lying on ones back in green places
and staring at the sky till its brightness forced one to shut ones eyes and go
to sleep and was this a time to be poring over musty books in a dark room
slighted by the very sun itself Monstrous
Nell sat by the window occupied with her work but attentive still to all
that passed though sometimes rather timid of the boisterous boys The lessons
over writing time began and there being but one desk and that the masters
each boy sat at it in turn and laboured at his crooked copy while the master
walked about This was a quieter time for he would come and look over the
writers shoulder and tell him mildly to observe how such a letter was turned
in such a copy on the wall praise such an upstroke here and such a downstroke
there and bid him take it for his model Then he would stop and tell them what
the sick child had said last night and how he had longed to be among them once
again and such was the poor schoolmasters gentle and affectionate manner that
the boys seemed quite remorseful that they had worried him so much and were
absolutely quiet eating no apples cutting no names inflicting no pinches and
making no grimaces for full two minutes afterwards
»I think boys« said the schoolmaster when the clock struck twelve »that I
shall give an extra halfholiday this afternoon«
At this intelligence the boys led on and headed by the tall boy raised a
great shout in the midst of which the master was seen to speak but could not
be heard As he held up his hand however in token of his wish that they should
be silent they were considerate enough to leave off as soon as the
longestwinded among them were quite out of breath
»You must promise me first« said the schoolmaster »that youll not be
noisy or at least if you are that youll go away and be so away out of the
village I mean Im sure you wouldnt disturb your old playmate and companion«
There was a general murmur and perhaps a very sincere one for they were
but boys in the negative and the tall boy perhaps as sincerely as any of
them called those about him to witness that he had only shouted in a whisper
»Then pray dont forget theres my dear scholars« said the schoolmaster
»what I have asked you and do it as a favour to me Be as happy as you can and
dont be unmindful that you are blessed with health Goodbye all«
»Thankee sir« and »goodbye sir« were said a great many times in a
variety of voices and the boys went out very slowly and softly But there was
the sun shining and there were the birds singing as the sun only shines and the
birds only sing on holidays and halfholidays there were the trees waving to
all free boys to climb and nestle among their leafy branches the hay
entreating them to come and scatter it to the pure air the green corn gently
beckoning towards wood and stream the smooth ground rendered smoother still by
blending lights and shadows inviting to runs and leaps and long walks God
knows whither It was more than boy could bear and with a joyous whoop the
whole cluster took to their heels and spread themselves about shouting and
laughing as they went
»Its natural thank Heaven« said the poor schoolmaster looking after
them »Im very glad they didnt mind me«
It is difficult however to please everybody as most of us would have
discovered even without the fable which bears that moral and in the course of
the afternoon several mothers and aunts of pupils looked in to express their
entire disapproval of the schoolmasters proceeding A few confined themselves
to hints such as politely inquiring what redletter day or saints day the
almanack said it was a few these were the profound village politicians argued
that it was a slight to the throne and an affront to church and state and
savoured of revolutionary principles to grant a halfholiday upon any lighter
occasion than the birthday of the Monarch but the majority expressed their
displeasure on private grounds and in plain terms arguing that to put the
pupils on this short allowance of learning was nothing but an act of downright
robbery and fraud and one old lady finding that she could not inflame or
irritate the peaceable schoolmaster by talking to him bounced out of his house
and talked at him for halfanhour outside his own window to another old lady
saying that of course he would deduct this halfholiday from his weekly charge
or of course he would naturally expect to have an opposition started against
him there was no want of idle chaps in that neighbourhood here the old lady
raised her voice and some chaps who were too idle even to be schoolmasters
might soon find that there were other chaps put over their heads and so she
would have them take care and look pretty sharp about them But all these
taunts and vexations failed to elicit one word from the meek schoolmaster who
sat with the child by his side a little more dejected perhaps but quite
silent and uncomplaining
Towards night an old woman came tottering up the garden as speedily as she
could and meeting the schoolmaster at the door said he was to go to Dame
Wests directly and had best run on before her He and the child were on the
point of going out together for a walk and without relinquishing her hand the
schoolmaster hurried away leaving the messenger to follow as she might
They stopped at a cottagedoor and the schoolmaster knocked softly at it
with his hand It was opened without loss of time They entered a room where a
little group of women were gathered about one older than the rest who was
crying very bitterly and sat wringing her hands and rocking herself to and fro
»Oh dame« said the schoolmaster drawing near her chair »is it so bad as
this«
»Hes going fast« cried the old woman »my grandsons dying Its all along
of you You shouldnt see him now but for his being so earnest on it This is
what his learning has brought him to Oh dear dear dear what can I do«
»Do not say that I am in any fault« urged the gentle schoolmaster »I am
not hurt dame No no You are in great distress of mind and dont mean what
you say I am sure you dont«
»I do« returned the old woman »I mean it all If he hadnt been poring
over his books out of fear of you he would have been well and merry now I know
he would«
The schoolmaster looked round upon the other women as if to entreat some one
among them to say a kind word for him but they shook their heads and murmured
to each other that they never thought there was much good in learning and that
this convinced them Without saying a word in reply or giving them a look of
reproach he followed the old woman who had summoned him and who had now
rejoined them into another room where his infant friend halfdressed lay
stretched upon a bed
He was a very young boy quite a little child His hair still hung in curls
about his face and his eyes were very bright but their light was of Heaven
not earth The schoolmaster took a seat beside him and stooping over the
pillow whispered his name The boy sprung up stroked his face with his hand
and threw his wasted arms round his neck crying out that he was his dear kind
friend
»I hope I always was I meant to be God knows« said the poor schoolmaster
»Who is that« said the boy seeing Nell »I am afraid to kiss her lest I
should make her ill Ask her to shake hands with me«
The sobbing child came closer up and took the little languid hand in hers
Releasing his again after a time the sick boy laid him gently down
»You remember the garden Harry« whispered the schoolmaster anxious to
rouse him for a dulness seemed gathering upon the child »and how pleasant it
used to be in the evening time You must make haste to visit it again for I
think the very flowers have missed you and are less gay than they used to be
You will come soon my dear very soon now wont you«
The boy smiled faintly so very very faintly and put his hand upon his
friends grey head He moved his lips too but no voice came from them no not
a sound
In the silence that ensued the hum of distant voices borne upon the evening
air came floating through the open window »Whats that« said the sick child
opening his eyes
»The boys at play upon the green«
He took a handkerchief from his pillow and tried to wave it above his head
But the feeble arm dropped powerless down
»Shall I do it« said the schoolmaster
»Please wave it at the window« was the faint reply »Tie it to the lattice
Some of them may see it there Perhaps theyll think of me and look this way«
He raised his head and glanced from the fluttering signal to his idle bat
that lay with slate and book and other boyish property upon a table in the room
And then he laid him softly down once more and asked if the little girl were
there for he could not see her
She stepped forward and pressed the passive hand that lay upon the
coverlet The two old friends and companions for such they were though they
were man and child held each other in a long embrace and then the little
scholar turned his face towards the wall and fell asleep
The poor schoolmaster sat in the same place holding the small cold hand in
his and chafing it It was but the hand of a dead child He felt that and yet
he chafed it still and could not lay it down
Chapter XXVI
Almost brokenhearted Nell withdrew with the schoolmaster from the bedside and
returned to his cottage In the midst of her grief and tears she was yet careful
to conceal their real cause from the old man for the dead boy had been a
grandchild and left but one aged relative to mourn his premature decay
She stole away to bed as quickly as she could and when she was alone gave
free vent to the sorrow with which her breast was overcharged But the sad scene
she had witnessed was not without its lesson of content and gratitude of
content with the lot which left her health and freedom and gratitude that she
was spared to the one relative and friend she loved and to live and move in a
beautiful world when so many young creatures as young and full of hope as she
were stricken down and gathered to their graves How many of the mounds in
that old churchyard where she had lately strayed grew green above the graves of
children And though she thought as a child herself and did not perhaps
sufficiently consider to what a bright and happy existence those who die young
are borne and how in death they lose the pain of seeing others die around them
bearing to the tomb some strong affection of their hearts which makes the old
die many times in one long life still she thought wisely enough to draw a
plain and easy moral from what she had seen that night and to store it deep in
her mind
Her dreams were of the little scholar not coffined and covered up but
mingling with angels and smiling happily The sun darting his cheerful rays
into the room awoke her and now there remained but to take leave of the poor
schoolmaster and wander forth once more
By the time they were ready to depart school had begun In the darkened
room the din of yesterday was going on again a little sobered and softened
down perhaps but only a very little if at all The schoolmaster rose from his
desk and walked with them to the gate
It was with a trembling and reluctant hand that the child held out to him
the money which the lady had given her at the races for her flowers faltering
in her thanks as she thought how small the sum was and blushing as she offered
it But he bade her put it up and stooping to kiss her cheek turned back into
his house
They had not gone halfadozen paces when he was at the door again the old
man retraced his steps to shake hands and the child did the same
»Good fortune and happiness go with you« said the poor schoolmaster »I am
quite a solitary man now If you ever pass this way again youll not forget the
little villageschool«
»We shall never forget it sir« rejoined Nell »nor ever forget to be
grateful to you for your kindness to us«
»I have heard such words from the lips of children very often« said the
schoolmaster shaking his head and smiling thoughtfully »but they were soon
forgotten I had attached one young friend to me the better friend for being
young but thats over God bless you«
They bade him farewell very many times and turned away walking slowly and
often looking back until they could see him no more At length they had left
the village far behind and even lost sight of the smoke among the trees They
trudged onward now at a quicker pace resolving to keep the main road and go
wherever it might lead them
But main roads stretch a long long way With the exception of two or three
inconsiderable clusters of cottages which they passed without stopping and one
lonely roadside publichouse where they had some bread and cheese this highway
had led them to nothing late in the afternoon and still lengthened out far
in the distance the same dull tedious winding course that they had been
pursuing all day As they had no resource however but to go forward they
still kept on though at a much slower pace being very weary and fatigued
The afternoon had worn away into a beautiful evening when they arrived at a
point where the road made a sharp turn and struck across a common On the border
of this common and close to the hedge which divided it from the cultivated
fields a caravan was drawn up to rest upon which by reason of its situation
they came so suddenly that they could not have avoided it if they would
It was not a shabby dingy dusty cart but a smart little house upon
wheels with white dimity curtains festooning the windows and windowshutters
of green picked out with panels of a staring red in which happilycontrasted
colours the whole concern shone brilliant Neither was it a poor caravan drawn
by a single donkey or emaciated horse for a pair of horses in pretty good
condition were released from the shafts and grazing on the frouzy grass Neither
was it a gipsy caravan for at the open door graced with a bright brass
knocker sat a Christian lady stout and comfortable to look upon who wore a
large bonnet trembling with bows And that it was not an unprovided or destitute
caravan was clear from this ladys occupation which was the very pleasant and
refreshing one of taking tea The teathings including a bottle of rather
suspicious character and a cold knuckle of ham were set forth upon a drum
covered with a white napkin and there as if at the most convenient roundtable
in all the world sat this roving lady taking her tea and enjoying the
prospect
It happened that at that moment the lady of the caravan had her cup which
that everything about her might be of a stout and comfortable kind was a
breakfast cup to her lips and that having her eyes lifted to the sky in her
enjoyment of the full flavour of the tea not unmingled possibly with just the
slightest dash or gleam of something out of the suspicious bottle but this is
mere speculation and not distinct matter of history it happened that being
thus agreeably engaged she did not see the travellers when they first came up
It was not until she was in the act of setting down the cup and drawing a long
breath after the exertion of causing its contents to disappear that the lady of
the caravan beheld an old man and a young child walking slowly by and glancing
at her proceedings with eyes of modest but hungry admiration
»Hey« cried the lady of the caravan scooping the crumbs out of her lap and
swallowing the same before wiping her lips »Yes to be sure Who won the
HelterSkelter Plate child«
»Won what maam« asked Nell
»The HelterSkelter Plate at the races child the plate that was run for
on the second day«
»On the second day maam«
»Second day Yes second day« repeated the lady with an air of impatience
»Cant you say who won the HelterSkelter Plate when youre asked the question
civilly«
»I dont know maam«
»Dont know« repeated the lady of the caravan »why you were there I saw
you with my own eyes«
Nell was not a little alarmed to hear this supposing that the lady might be
intimately acquainted with the firm of Short and Codlin but what followed
tended to reassure her
»And very sorry I was« said the lady of the caravan »to see you in company
with a Punch a low practical wulgar wretch that people should scorn to look
at«
»I was not there by choice« returned the child »we didnt know our way
and the two men were very kind to us and let us travel with them Do you do
you know them maam«
»Know em child« cried the lady of the caravan in a sort of shriek »Know
them But youre young and inexperienced and thats your excuse for asking sich
a question Do I look as if I knowd em does the caravan look as if it knowd
em«
»No maam no« said the child fearing she had committed some grievous
fault »I beg your pardon«
It was granted immediately though the lady still appeared much ruffled and
discomposed by the degrading supposition The child then explained that they had
left the races on the first day and were travelling to the next town on that
road where they purposed to spend the night As the countenance of the stout
lady began to clear up she ventured to inquire how far it was The reply
which the stout lady did not come to until she had thoroughly explained that
she went to the races on the first day in a gig and as an expedition of
pleasure and that her presence there had no connexion with any matters of
business or profit was that the town was eight miles off
This discouraging information a little dashed the child who could scarcely
repress a tear as she glanced along the darkening road Her grandfather made no
complaint but he sighed heavily as he leaned upon his staff and vainly tried
to pierce the dusty distance
The lady of the caravan was in the act of gathering her tea equipage
together preparatory to clearing the table but noting the childs anxious
manner she hesitated and stopped The child curtseyed thanked her for her
information and giving her hand to the old man had already got some fifty yards
or so away when the lady of the caravan called to her to return
»Come nearer nearer still« said she beckoning to her to ascend the
steps »Are you hungry child«
»Not very but we are tired and its it is a long way «
»Well hungry or not you had better have some tea« rejoined her new
acquaintance »I suppose you are agreeable to that old gentleman«
The grandfather humbly pulled off his hat and thanked her The lady of the
caravan then bade him come up the steps likewise but the drum proving an
inconvenient table for two they descended again and sat upon the grass where
she handed down to them the teatray the bread and butter the knuckle of ham
and in short everything of which she had partaken herself except the bottle
which she had already embraced an opportunity of slipping into her pocket
»Set em out near the hind wheels child thats the best place« said
their friend superintending the arrangements from above »Now hand up the
teapot for a little more hot water and a pinch of fresh tea and then both of
you eat and drink as much as you can and dont spare anything thats all I ask
of you«
They might perhaps have carried out the ladys wish if it had been less
freely expressed or even if it had not been expressed at all But as this
direction relieved them from any shadow of delicacy or uneasiness they made a
hearty meal and enjoyed it to the utmost
While they were thus engaged the lady of the caravan alighted on the earth
and with her hands clasped behind her and her large bonnet trembling
excessively walked up and down in a measured tread and very stately manner
surveying the caravan from time to time with an air of calm delight and
deriving particular gratification from the red panels and the brass knocker
When she had taken this gentle exercise for some time she sat down upon the
steps and called George whereupon a man in a carters frock who had been so
shrouded in a hedge up to this time as to see everything that passed without
being seen himself parted the twigs that concealed him and appeared in a
sitting attitude supporting on his legs a bakingdish and a halfgallon stone
bottle and bearing in his right hand a knife and in his left a fork
»Yes Missus« said George
»How did you find the cold pie George«
»It warnt amiss mum«
»And the beer« said the lady of the caravan with an appearance of being
more interested in this question than the last »is it passable George«
»Its more flatterer than it might be« George returned »but it ant so bad
for all that«
To set the mind of his mistress at rest he took a sip amounting in
quantity to a pint or thereabouts from the stone bottle and then smacked his
lips winked his eye and nodded his head No doubt with the same amiable
desire he immediately resumed his knife and fork as a practical assurance that
the beer had wrought no bad effect upon his appetite
The lady of the caravan looked on approvingly for some time and then said
»Have you nearly finished«
»Wery nigh mum« And indeed after scraping the dish all round with his
knife and carrying the choice brown morsels to his mouth and after taking such
a scientific pull at the stone bottle that by degrees almost imperceptible to
the sight his head went further and further back until he lay nearly at his
full length upon the ground this gentleman declared himself quite disengaged
and came forth from his retreat
»I hope I havent hurried you George« said his mistress who appeared to
have a great sympathy with his late pursuit
»If you have« returned the follower wisely reserving himself for any
favourable contingency that might occur »we must make up for it next time
thats all«
»We are not a heavy load George«
»Thats always what the ladies say« replied the man looking a long way
round as if he were appealing to Nature in general against such monstrous
propositions »If you see a woman a driving youll always perceive that she
never will keep her whip still the horse cant go fast enough for her If
cattle have got their proper load you never can persuade a woman that theyll
not bear something more What is the cause of this here«
»Would these two travellers make much difference to the horses if we took
them with us« asked his mistress offering no reply to the philosophical
inquiry and pointing to Nell and the old man who were painfully preparing to
resume their journey on foot
»Theyd make a difference in course« said George doggedly
»Would they make much difference« repeated his mistress »They cant be
very heavy«
»The weight o the pair mum« said George eyeing them with the look of a
man who was calculating within half an ounce or so »would be a trifle under
that of Oliver Cromwell«
Nell was very much surprised that the man should be so accurately acquainted
with the weight of one whom she had read of in books as having lived
considerably before their time but speedily forgot the subject in the joy of
hearing that they were to go forward in the caravan for which she thanked its
lady with unaffected earnestness She helped with great readiness and alacrity
to put away the teathings and other matters that were lying about and the
horses being by that time harnessed mounted into the vehicle followed by her
delighted grandfather Their patroness then shut the door and sat herself down
by her drum at an open window and the steps being struck by George and stowed
under the carriage away they went with a great noise of flapping and creaking
and straining and the bright brass knocker which nobody ever knocked at
knocking one perpetual double knock of its own accord as they jolted heavily
along
Chapter XXVII
When they had travelled slowly forward for some short distance Nell ventured to
steal a look round the caravan and observe it more closely One half of it
that moiety in which the comfortable proprietress was then seated was
carpeted and so partitioned off at the further end as to accommodate a
sleepingplace constructed after the fashion of a berth on board ship which
was shaded like the little windows with fair white curtains and looked
comfortable enough though by what kind of gymnastic exercise the lady of the
caravan ever contrived to get into it was an unfathomable mystery The other
half served for a kitchen and was fitted up with a stove whose small chimney
passed through the roof It held also a closet or larder several chests a
great pitcher of water and a few cookingutensils and articles of crockery
These latter necessaries hung upon the walls which in that portion of the
establishment devoted to the lady of the caravan were ornamented with such
gayer and lighter decorations as a triangle and a couple of wellthumbed
tambourines
The lady of the caravan sat at one window in all the pride and poetry of the
musical instruments and little Nell and her grandfather sat at the other in all
the humility of the kettle and saucepans while the machine jogged on and
shifted the darkening prospect very slowly At first the two travellers spoke
little and only in whispers but as they grew more familiar with the place they
ventured to converse with greater freedom and talked about the country through
which they were passing and the different objects that presented themselves
until the old man fell asleep which the lady of the caravan observing invited
Nell to come and sit beside her
»Well child« she said »how do you like this way of travelling«
Nell replied that she thought it was very pleasant indeed to which the lady
assented in the case of people who had their spirits For herself she said she
was troubled with a lowness in that respect which required a constant stimulant
though whether the aforesaid stimulant was derived from the suspicious bottle of
which mention has been already made or from other sources she did not say
»Thats the happiness of you young people« she continued »You dont know
what it is to be low in your feelings You always have your appetites too and
what a comfort that is«
Nell thought that she could sometimes dispense with her own appetite very
conveniently and thought moreover that there was nothing either in the ladys
personal appearance or in her manner of taking tea to lead to the conclusion
that her natural relish for meat and drink had at all failed her She silently
assented however as in duty bound to what the lady had said and waited until
she should speak again
Instead of speaking however she sat looking at the child for a long time
in silence and then getting up brought out from a corner a large roll of
canvas about a yard in width which she laid upon the floor and spread open with
her foot until it nearly reached from one end of the caravan to the other
»There child« she said »read that«
Nell walked down it and read aloud in enormous black letters the
inscription »JARLEYS WAXWORK«
»Read it again« said the lady complacently
»Jarleys WaxWork« repeated Nell
»Thats me« said the lady »I am Mrs Jarley«
Giving the child an encouraging look intended to reassure her and let her
know that although she stood in the presence of the original Jarley she must
not allow herself to be utterly overwhelmed and borne down the lady of the
caravan unfolded another scroll whereon was the inscription »One hundred
figures the full size of life« and then another scroll on which was written
»The only stupendous collection of real waxwork in the world« and then several
smaller scrolls with such inscriptions as »Now exhibiting within« »The genuine
and only Jarley« »Jarleys unrivalled collection« »Jarley is the delight of
the Nobility and Gentry« »The Royal Family are the patrons of Jarley« When
she had exhibited these leviathans of public announcement to the astonished
child she brought forth specimens of the lesser fry in the shape of handbills
some of which were couched in the form of parodies on popular melodies as
»Believe me if all Jarleys waxwork so rare« »I saw thy show in youthful
prime« »Over the water to Jarley« while to consult all tastes others were
composed with a view to the lighter and more facetious spirits as a parody on
the favourite of »If I had a donkey« beginning
If I knowd a donkey wot wouldnt go
To see Mrs JARLEYS waxwork show
Do you think Id acknowledge him
Oh no no
Then run to Jarleys
besides several compositions in prose purporting to be dialogues between the
Emperor of China and an oyster or the Archbishop of Canterbury and a dissenter
on the subject of churchrates but all having the same moral namely that the
reader must make haste to Jarleys and that children and servants were admitted
at halfprice When she had brought all these testimonials of her important
position in society to bear upon her young companion Mrs Jarley rolled them
up and having put them carefully away sat down again and looked at the child
in triumph
»Never go into the company of a filthy Punch any more« said Mrs Jarley
»after this«
»I never saw any waxwork maam« said Nell »Is it funnier than Punch«
»Funnier« said Mrs Jarley in a shrill voice »It is not funny at all«
»Oh« said Nell with all possible humility
»It isnt funny at all« repeated Mrs Jarley »Its calm and whats that
word again critical no classical thats it its calm and classical No
low beatings and knockings about no jokings and squeakings like your precious
Punches but always the same with a constantly unchanging air of coldness and
gentility and so like life that if waxwork only spoke and walked about youd
hardly know the difference I wont go so far as to say that as it is Ive
seen waxwork quite like life but Ive certainly seen some life that was
exactly like waxwork«
»Is it here maam« asked Nell whose curiosity was awakened by this
description
»Is what here child«
»The waxwork maam«
»Why bless you child what are you thinking of How could such a
collection be here where you see everything except the inside of one little
cupboard and a few boxes Its gone on in the other wans to the assemblyrooms
and there itll be exhibited the day after tomorrow You are going to the same
town and youll see it I dare say Its natural to expect that youll see it
and Ive no doubt you will I suppose you couldnt stop away if you was to try
ever so much«
»I shall not be in the town I think maam« said the child
»Not there« cried Mrs Jarley »Then where will you be«
»I I dont quite know I am not certain«
»You dont mean to say that youre travelling about the country without
knowing where youre going to« said the lady of the caravan »What curious
people you are What line are you in You looked to me at the races child as
if you were quite out of your element and had got there by accident«
»We were there quite by accident« returned Nell confused by this abrupt
questioning »We are poor people maam and are only wandering about We have
nothing to do I wish we had«
»You amaze me more and more« said Mrs Jarley after remaining for some
time as mute as one of her own figures »Why what do you call yourselves Not
beggars«
»Indeed maam I dont know what else we are« returned the child
»Lord bless me« said the lady of the caravan »I never heard of such a
thing Whod have thought it«
She remained so long silent after this exclamation that Nell feared she
felt her having been induced to bestow her protection and conversation upon one
so poor to be an outrage upon her dignity that nothing could repair This
persuasion was rather confirmed than otherwise by the tone in which she at
length broke silence and said
»And yet you can read And write too I shouldnt wonder«
»Yes maam« said the child fearful of giving new offence by the
confession
»Well and what a thing that is« returned Mrs Jarley »I cant«
Nell said indeed in a tone which might imply either that she was reasonably
surprised to find the genuine and only Jarley who was the delight of the
Nobility and Gentry and the peculiar pet of the Royal Family destitute of these
familiar arts or that she presumed so great a lady could scarcely stand in need
of such ordinary accomplishments In whatever way Mrs Jarley received the
response it did not provoke her to further questioning or tempt her into any
more remarks at the time for she relapsed into a thoughtful silence and
remained in that state so long that Nell withdrew to the other window and
rejoined her grandfather who was now awake
At length the lady of the caravan shook off her fit of meditation and
summoning the driver to come under the window at which she was seated held a
long conversation with him in a low tone of voice as if she were asking his
advice on an important point and discussing the pros and cons of some very
weighty matter This conference at length concluded she drew in her head again
and beckoned Nell to approach
»And the old gentleman too« said Mrs Jarley »for I want to have a word
with him Do you want a good situation for your granddaughter master If you
do I can put her in the way of getting one What do you say«
»I cant leave her« answered the old man »We cant separate What would
become of me without her«
»I should have thought you were old enough to take care of yourself if you
ever will be« retorted Mrs Jarley sharply
»But he never will be« said the child in an earnest whisper »I fear he
never will be again Pray do not speak harshly to him We are very thankful to
you« she added aloud »but neither of us could part from the other if all the
wealth of the world were halved between us«
Mrs Jarley was a little disconcerted by this reception of her proposal and
looked at the old man who tenderly took Nells hand and detained it in his own
as if she could have very well dispensed with his company or even his earthly
existence After an awkward pause she thrust her head out of the window again
and had another conference with the driver upon some point on which they did not
seem to agree quite so readily as on their former topic of discussion but they
concluded at last and she addressed the grandfather again
»If youre really disposed to employ yourself« said Mrs Jarley »there
would be plenty for you to do in the way of helping to dust the figures and
take the checks and so forth What I want your granddaughter for is to point
em out to the company they would be soon learnt and she has a way with her
that people wouldnt think unpleasant though she does come after me for Ive
been always accustomed to go round with visitors myself which I should keep on
doing now only that my spirits make a little ease absolutely necessary Its
not a common offer bear in mind« said the lady rising into the tone and
manner in which she was accustomed to address her audiences »its Jarleys
waxwork remember The dutys very light and genteel the company particularly
select the exhibition takes place in assemblyrooms townhalls large rooms at
inns or auction galleries There is none of your openair wagrancy at Jarleys
recollect there is no tarpaulin and sawdust at Jarleys remember Every
expectation held out in the handbills is realised to the utmost and the whole
forms an effect of imposing brilliancy hitherto unrivalled in this kingdom
Remember that the price of admission is only sixpence and that this is an
opportunity which may never occur again«
Descending from the sublime when she had reached this point to the details
of common life Mrs Jarley remarked that with reference to salary she could
pledge herself to no specific sum until she had sufficiently tested Nells
abilities and narrowly watched her in the performance of her duties But board
and lodging both for her and her grandfather she bound herself to provide and
she furthermore passed her word that the board should always be good in quality
and in quantity plentiful
Nell and her grandfather consulted together and while they were so engaged
Mrs Jarley with her hands behind her walked up and down the caravan as she had
walked after tea on the dull earth with uncommon dignity and selfesteem Nor
will this appear so slight a circumstance as to be unworthy of mention when it
is remembered that the caravan was in uneasy motion all the time and that none
but a person of great natural stateliness and acquired grace could have forborne
to stagger
»Now child« cried Mrs Jarley coming to a halt as Nell turned towards
her
»We are very much obliged to you maam« said Nell »and thankfully accept
your offer«
»And youll never be sorry for it« returned Mrs Jarley »Im pretty sure
of that So as thats all settled let us have a bit of supper«
In the meanwhile the caravan blundered on as if it too had been drinking
strong beer and was drowsy and came at last upon the paved streets of a town
which were clear of passengers and quiet for it was by this time near
midnight and the townspeople were all abed As it was too late an hour to
repair to the exhibition room they turned aside into a piece of waste ground
that lay just within the old towngate and drew up there for the night near to
another caravan which notwithstanding that it bore on the lawful panel the
great name of Jarley and was employed besides in conveying from place to place
the waxwork which was its countrys pride was designated by a grovelling
stampoffice as a Common Stage Waggon and numbered too seven thousand odd
hundred as though its precious freight were mere flour or coals
This illused machine being empty for it had deposited its burden at the
place of exhibition and lingered here until its services were again required
was assigned to the old man as his sleepingplace for the night and within its
wooden walls Nell made him up the best bed she could from the materials at
hand For herself she was to sleep in Mrs Jarleys own travellingcarriage as
a signal mark of that ladys favour and confidence
She had taken leave of her grandfather and was returning to the other
waggon when she was tempted by the pleasant coolness of the night to linger for
a little while in the air The moon was shining down upon the old gateway of the
town leaving the low archway very black and dark and with a mingled sensation
of curiosity and fear she slowly approached the gate and stood still to look
up at it wondering to see how dark and grim and old and cold it looked
There was an empty niche from which some old statue had fallen or been
carried away hundreds of years ago and she was thinking what strange people it
must have looked down upon when it stood there and how many hard struggles
might have taken place and how many murders might have been done upon that
silent spot when there suddenly emerged from the black shade of the arch a
man The instant he appeared she recognised him Who could have failed to
recognise in that instant the ugly misshapen Quilp
The street beyond was so narrow and the shadow of the houses on one side of
the way so deep that he seemed to have risen out of the earth But there he
was The child withdrew into a dark corner and saw him pass close to her He
had a stick in his hand and when he had got clear of the shadow of the
gateway he leant upon it looked back directly as it seemed towards where
she stood and beckoned
To her oh no thank God not to her for as she stood in an extremity of
fear hesitating whether to scream for help or come from her hidingplace and
fly before he should draw nearer there issued slowly forth from the arch
another figure that of a boy who carried on his back a trunk
»Faster sirrah« cried Quilp looking up at the old gateway and showing in
the moonlight like some monstrous image that had come down from its niche and
was casting a backward glance at its old house »faster«
»Its a dreadful heavy load sir« the boy pleaded »Ive come on very fast
considering«
»You have come fast considering« retorted Quilp »you creep you dog you
crawl you measure distance like a worm There are the chimes now halfpast
twelve«
He stopped to listen and then turning upon the boy with a suddenness and
ferocity that made him start asked at what hour that London coach passed the
corner of the road The boy replied at one
»Come on then« said Quilp »or I shall be too late Faster do you hear
me Faster«
The boy made all the speed he could and Quilp led onward constantly
turning back to threaten him and urge him to greater haste Nell did not dare
to move until they were out of sight and hearing and then hurried to where she
had left her grandfather feeling as if the very passing of the dwarf so near
him must have filled him with alarm and terror But he was sleeping soundly and
she softly withdrew
As she was making her way to her own bed she determined to say nothing of
this adventure as upon whatever errand the dwarf had come and she feared it
must have been in search of them it was clear by his inquiry about the London
coach that he was on his way homeward and as he had passed through that place
it was but reasonable to suppose that they were safer from his inquiries there
than they could be elsewhere These reflections did not remove her own alarm
for she had been too much terrified to be easily composed and felt as if she
were hemmed in by a legion of Quilps and the very air itself were filled with
them
The delight of the Nobility and Gentry and the patronised of Royalty had by
some process of selfabridgment known only to herself got into her travelling
bed where she was snoring peacefully while the large bonnet carefully
disposed upon the drum was revealing its glories by the light of a dim lamp
that swung from the roof The childs bed was already made upon the floor and
it was a great comfort to her to hear the steps removed as soon as she had
entered and to know that all easy communication between persons outside and the
brass knocker was by this means effectually prevented Certain guttural sounds
too which from time to time ascended through the floor of the caravan and a
rustling of straw in the same direction apprised her that the driver was
couched upon the ground beneath and gave her an additional feeling of security
Notwithstanding these protections she could get none but broken sleep by
fits and starts all night for fear of Quilp who throughout her uneasy dreams
was somehow connected with the waxwork or was waxwork himself or was Mrs
Jarley and waxwork too or was himself Mrs Jarley waxwork and a barrel
organ all in one and yet not exactly any of them either At length towards
break of day that deep sleep came upon her which succeeds to weariness and
overwatching and which has no consciousness but one of overpowering and
irresistible enjoyment
Chapter XXVIII
Sleep hung upon the eyelids of the child so long that when she awoke Mrs
Jarley was already decorated with her large bonnet and actively engaged in
preparing breakfast She received Nells apology for being so late with perfect
good humour and said that she should not have roused her if she had slept on
until noon
»Because it does you good« said the lady of the caravan »when youre
tired to sleep as long as ever you can and get the fatigue quite off and
thats another blessing of your time of life you can sleep so very sound«
»Have you had a bad night maam« asked Nell
»I seldom have anything else child« replied Mrs Jarley with the air of a
martyr »I sometimes wonder how I bear it«
Remembering the snores which had proceeded from that cleft in the caravan in
which the proprietress of the waxwork passed the night Nell rather thought she
must have been dreaming of lying awake However she expressed herself very
sorry to hear such a dismal account of her state of health and shortly
afterwards sat down with her grandfather and Mrs Jarley to breakfast The meal
finished Nell assisted to wash the cups and saucers and put them in their
proper places and these household duties performed Mrs Jarley arrayed herself
in an exceedingly bright shawl for the purpose of making a progress through the
streets of the town
»The wan will come on to bring the boxes« said Mrs Jarley »and you had
better come in it child I am obliged to walk very much against my will but
the people expect it of me and public characters cant be their own masters and
mistresses in such matters as these How do I look child«
Nell returned a satisfactory reply and Mrs Jarley after sticking a great
many pins into various parts of her figure and making several abortive attempts
to obtain a full view of her own back was at last satisfied with her
appearance and went forth majestically
The caravan followed at no great distance As it went jolting through the
streets Nell peeped from the window curious to see in what kind of place they
were and yet fearful of encountering at every turn the dreaded face of Quilp
It was a pretty large town with an open square which they were crawling slowly
across and in the middle of which was the TownHall with a clocktower and a
weathercock There were houses of stone houses of red brick houses of yellow
brick houses of lath and plaster and houses of wood many of them very old
with withered faces carved upon the beams and staring down into the street
These had very little winking windows and lowarched doors and in some of the
narrower ways quite overhung the pavement The streets were very clean very
sunny very empty and very dull A few idle men lounged about the two inns and
the empty marketplace and the tradesmens doors and some old people were
dozing in chairs outside an almshouse wall but scarcely any passengers who
seemed bent on going anywhere or to have any object in view went by and if
perchance some straggler did his footsteps echoed on the hot bright pavement
for minutes afterwards Nothing seemed to be going on but the clocks and they
had such drowsy faces such heavy lazy hands and such cracked voices that they
surely must have been too slow The very dogs were all asleep and the flies
drunk with moist sugar in the grocers shop forgot their wings and briskness
and baked to death in dusty corners of the window
Rumbling along with most unwonted noise the caravan stopped at last at the
place of exhibition where Nell dismounted amidst an admiring group of children
who evidently supposed her to be an important item of the curiosities and were
fully impressed with the belief that her grandfather was a cunning device in
wax The chests were taken out with all convenient despatch and taken in to be
unlocked by Mrs Jarley who attended by George and another man in velveteen
shorts and a drab hat ornamented with turnpike tickets were waiting to dispose
their contents consisting of red festoons and other ornamental devices in
upholstery work to the best advantage in the decoration of the room
They all got to work without loss of time and very busy they were As the
stupendous collection were yet concealed by cloths lest the envious dust should
injure their complexions Nell bestirred herself to assist in the embellishment
of the room in which her grandfather also was of great service The two men
being well used to it did a great deal in a short time and Mrs Jarley served
out the tin tacks from a linen pocket like a tollcollectors which she wore for
the purpose and encouraged her assistants to renewed exertion
While they were thus employed a tallish gentleman with a hook nose and
black hair dressed in a military surtout very short and tight in the sleeves
and which had once been frogged and braided all over but was now sadly shorn of
its garniture and quite threadbare dressed too in ancient grey pantaloons
fitting tight to the leg and a pair of pumps in the winter of their existence
looked in at the door and smiled affably Mrs Jarleys back being then towards
him the military gentleman shook his forefinger as a sign that her myrmidons
were not to apprise her of his presence and stealing up close behind her
tapped her on the neck and cried playfully »Boh«
»What Mr Slum« cried the lady of the waxwork »Lor whod have thought
of seeing you here«
»Pon my soul and honour« said Mr Slum »thats a good remark Pon my
soul and honour thats a wise remark Who would have thought it George my
faithful feller how are you«
George received this advance with a surly indifference observing that he
was well enough for the matter of that and hammering lustily all the time
»I came here« said the military gentleman turning to Mrs Jarley »pon
my soul and honour I hardly know what I came here for It would puzzle me to
tell you it would by Gad I wanted a little inspiration a little freshening
up a little change of ideas and Pon my soul and honour« said the military
gentleman checking himself and looking round the room »what a devilish
classical thing this is By Gad its quite Minervian«
»Itll look well enough when it comes to be finished« observed Mrs Jarley
»Well enough« said Mr Slum »Will you believe me when I say its the
delight of my life to have dabbled in poetry when I think Ive exercised my pen
upon this charming theme By the way any orders Is there any little thing I
can do for you«
»It comes so very expensive sir« replied Mrs Jarley »and I really dont
think it does much good«
»Hush No no« returned Mr Slum elevating his hand »No fibs Ill not
hear it Dont say it dont do good Dont say it I know better«
»I dont think it does« said Mrs Jarley
»Ha ha« cried Mr Slum »youre giving way youre coming down Ask the
perfumers ask the blackingmakers ask the hatters ask the old lotteryoffice
keepers ask any man among em what my poetry has done for him and mark my
words he blesses the name of Slum If hes an honest man he raises his eyes to
heaven and blesses the name of Slum mark that You are acquainted with
Westminster Abbey Mrs Jarley«
»Yes surely«
»Then upon my soul and honour maam youll find in a certain angle of that
dreary pile called Poets Corner a few smaller names than Slum« retorted that
gentleman tapping himself expressively on the forehead to imply that there was
some slight quantity of brain behind it »Ive got a little trifle here now«
said Mr Slum taking off his hat which was full of scraps of paper »a little
trifle here thrown off in the heat of the moment which I should say was
exactly the thing you wanted to set this place on fire with Its an acrostic
the name at this moment is Warren but the ideas a convertible one and a
positive inspiration for Jarley Have the acrostic«
»I suppose its very dear« said Mrs Jarley
»Five shillings« returned Mr Slum using his pencil as a toothpick
»Cheaper than any prose«
»I couldnt give more than three« said Mrs Jarley
» And six« retorted Slum »Come Threeandsix«
Mrs Jarley was not proof against the poets insinuating manner and Mr
Slum entered the order in a small notebook as a threeandsixpenny one Mr
Slum then withdrew to alter the acrostic after taking a most affectionate leave
of his patroness and promising to return as soon as he possibly could with a
fair copy for the printer
As his presence had not interfered with or interrupted the preparations
they were now far advanced and were completed shortly after his departure When
the festoons were all put up as tastily as they might be the stupendous
collection was uncovered and there were displayed on a raised platform some
two feet from the floor running round the room and parted from the rude public
by a crimson rope breast high divers sprightly effigies of celebrated
characters singly and in groups clad in glittering dresses of various climes
and times and standing more or less unsteadily upon their legs with their eyes
very wide open and their nostrils very much inflated and the muscles of their
legs and arms very strongly developed and all their countenances expressing
great surprise All the gentlemen were very pigeonbreasted and very blue about
the beards and all the ladies were miraculous figures and all the ladies and
all the gentlemen were looking intensely nowhere and staring with extraordinary
earnestness at nothing
When Nell had exhausted her first raptures at this glorious sight Mrs
Jarley ordered the room to be cleared of all but herself and the child and
sitting herself down in an armchair in the centre formally invested Nell with
a willow wand long used by herself for pointing out the characters and was at
great pains to instruct her in her duty
»That« said Mrs Jarley in her exhibition tone as Nell touched a figure at
the beginning of the platform »is an unfortunate Maid of Honour in the Time of
Queen Elizabeth who died from pricking her finger in consequence of working
upon a Sunday Observe the blood which is trickling from her finger also the
goldeyed needle of the period with which she is at work«
All this Nell repeated twice or thrice pointing to the finger and the
needle at the right times and then passed on to the next
»That ladies and gentlemen« said Mrs Jarley »is Jasper Packlemerton of
atrocious memory who courted and married fourteen wives and destroyed them
all by tickling the soles of their feet when they were sleeping in the
consciousness of innocence and virtue On being brought to the scaffold and
asked if he was sorry for what he had done he replied yes he was sorry for
having let em off so easy and hoped all Christian husbands would pardon him
the offence Let this be a warning to all young ladies to be particular in the
character of the gentlemen of their choice Observe that his fingers are curled
as if in the act of tickling and that his face is represented with a wink as
he appeared when committing his barbarous murders«
When Nell knew all about Mr Packlemerton and could say it without
faltering Mrs Jarley passed on to the fat man and then to the thin man the
tall man the short man the old lady who died of dancing at a hundred and
thirtytwo the wild boy of the woods the woman who poisoned fourteen families
with pickled walnuts and other historical characters and interesting but
misguided individuals And so well did Nell profit by her instructions and so
apt was she to remember them that by the time they had been shut up together
for a couple of hours she was in full possession of the history of the whole
establishment and perfectly competent to the enlightenment of visitors
Mrs Jarley was not slow to express her admiration at this happy result and
carried her young friend and pupil to inspect the remaining arrangements within
doors by virtue of which the passage had been already converted into a grove of
green baize hung with the inscriptions she had already seen Mr Slums
productions and a highly ornamented table placed at the upper end for Mrs
Jarley herself at which she was to preside and take the money in company with
his Majesty King George the Third Mr Grimaldi as clown Mary Queen of Scots
an anonymous gentleman of the Quaker persuasion and Mr Pitt holding in his
hand a correct model of the bill for the imposition of the window duty The
preparations without doors had not been neglected either a nun of great
personal attractions was telling her beads on the little portico over the door
and a brigand with the blackest possible head of hair and the clearest possible
complexion was at that moment going round the town in a cart consulting the
miniature of a lady
It now only remained that Mr Slums compositions should be judiciously
distributed that the pathetic effusions should find their way to all private
houses and tradespeople and that the parody commencing »If I knowd a donkey«
should be confined to the taverns and circulated only among the lawyers clerks
and choice spirits of the place When this had been done and Mrs Jarley had
waited upon the boardingschools in person with a handbill composed expressly
for them in which it was distinctly proved that waxwork refined the mind
cultivated the taste and enlarged the sphere of the human understanding that
indefatigable lady sat down to dinner and drank out of the suspicious bottle to
a flourishing campaign
Chapter XXIX
Unquestionably Mrs Jarley had an inventive genius In the midst of the various
devices for attracting visitors to the exhibition little Nell was not
forgotten The light cart in which the Brigand usually made his perambulations
being gaily dressed with flags and streamers and the Brigand placed therein
contemplating the miniature of his beloved as usual Nell was accommodated with
a seat beside him decorated with artificial flowers and in this state and
ceremony rode slowly through the town every morning dispersing handbills from a
basket to the sound of drum and trumpet The beauty of the child coupled with
her gentle and timid bearing produced quite a sensation in the little country
place The Brigand heretofore a source of exclusive interest in the streets
became a mere secondary consideration and to be important only as a part of the
show of which she was the chief attraction Grownup folks began to be
interested in the brighteyed girl and some score of little boys fell
desperately in love and constantly left inclosures of nuts and apples directed
in smalltext at the waxwork door
This desirable impression was not lost on Mrs Jarley who lest Nell should
become too cheap soon sent the Brigand out alone again and kept her in the
exhibition room where she described the figures every halfhour to the great
satisfaction of admiring audiences And these audiences were of a very superior
description including a great many young ladies boardingschools whose favour
Mrs Jarley had been at great pains to conciliate by altering the face and
costume of Mr Grimaldi as clown to represent Mr Lindley Murray as he appeared
when engaged in the composition of his English Grammar and turning a murderess
of great renown into Mrs Hannah More both of which likenesses were admitted
by Miss Monflathers who was at the head of the head Boarding and Day
Establishment in the town and who condescended to take a Private View with
eight chosen young ladies to be quite startling from their extreme correctness
Mr Pitt in a nightcap and bedgown and without his boots represented the poet
Cowper with perfect exactness and Mary Queen of Scots in a dark wig white
shirtcollar and male attire was such a complete image of Lord Byron that the
young ladies quite screamed when they saw it Miss Monflathers however rebuked
this enthusiasm and took occasion to reprove Mrs Jarley for not keeping her
collection more select observing that His Lordship had held certain opinions
quite incompatible with waxwork honours and adding something about a Dean and
Chapter which Mrs Jarley did not understand
Although her duties were sufficiently laborious Nell found in the lady of
the caravan a very kind and considerate person who had not only a peculiar
relish for being comfortable herself but for making everybody about her
comfortable also which latter taste it may be remarked is even in persons
who live in much finer places than caravans a far more rare and uncommon one
than the first and is not by any means its necessary consequence As her
popularity procured her various little fees from the visitors on which her
patroness never demanded any toll and as her grandfather too was well treated
and useful she had no cause of anxiety in connexion with the waxwork beyond
that which sprung from her recollection of Quilp and her fears that he might
return and one day suddenly encounter them
Quilp indeed was a perpetual nightmare to the child who was constantly
haunted by a vision of his ugly face and stunted figure She slept for their
better security in the room where the waxwork figures were and she never
retired to this place at night but she tortured herself she could not help it
with imagining a resemblance in some one or other of their deathlike faces
to the dwarf and this fancy would sometimes so gain upon her that she would
almost believe he had removed the figure and stood within the clothes Then
there were so many of them with their great glassy eyes and as they stood one
behind the other all about her bed they looked so like living creatures and
yet so unlike in their grim stillness and silence that she had a kind of terror
of them for their own sakes and would often lie watching their dusky figures
until she was obliged to rise and light a candle or go and sit at the open
window and feel a companionship in the bright stars At these times she would
recall the old house and the window at which she used to sit alone and then she
would think of poor Kit and all his kindness until the tears came into her
eyes and she would weep and smile together
Often and anxiously at this silent hour her thoughts reverted to her
grandfather and she would wonder how much he remembered of their former life
and whether he was ever really mindful of the change in their condition and of
their late helplessness and destitution When they were wandering about she
seldom thought of this but now she could not help considering what would become
of them if he fell sick or her own strength were to fail her He was very
patient and willing happy to execute any little task and glad to be of use
but he was in the same listless state with no prospect of improvement a mere
child a poor thoughtless vacant creature a harmless fond old man
susceptible of tender love and regard for her and of pleasant and painful
impressions but alive to nothing more It made her very sad to know that this
was so so sad to see it that sometimes when he sat idly by smiling and
nodding to her when she looked round or when he caressed some little child and
carried it to and fro as he was fond of doing by the hour together perplexed
by its simple questions yet patient under his own infirmity and seeming almost
conscious of it too and humbled even before the mind of an infant so sad it
made her to see him thus that she would burst into tears and withdrawing into
some secret place fall down upon her knees and pray that he might be restored
But the bitterness of her grief was not in beholding him in this condition
when he was at least content and tranquil nor in her solitary meditations on
his altered state though these were trials for a young heart Cause for deeper
and heavier sorrow was yet to come
One evening a holiday night with them Nell and her grandfather went out to
walk They had been rather closely confined for some days and the weather being
warm they strolled a long distance Clear of the town they took a footpath
which struck through some pleasant fields judging that it would terminate in
the road they quitted and enable them to return that way It made however a
much wider circuit than they had supposed and thus they were tempted onward
until sunset when they reached the track of which they were in search and
stopped to rest
It had been gradually getting overcast and now the sky was dark and
lowering save where the glory of the departing sun piled up masses of gold and
burning fire decaying embers of which gleamed here and there through the black
veil and shone redly down upon the earth The wind began to moan in hollow
murmurs as the sun went down carrying glad day elsewhere and a train of dull
clouds coming up against it menaced thunder and lightning Large drops of rain
soon began to fall and as the storm clouds came sailing onward others
supplied the void they left behind and spread over all the sky Then was heard
the low rumbling of distant thunder then the lightning quivered and then the
darkness of an hour seemed to have gathered in an instant
Fearful of taking shelter beneath a tree or hedge the old man and the child
hurried along the high road hoping to find some house in which they could seek
a refuge from the storm which had now burst forth in earnest and every moment
increased in violence Drenched with the pelting rain confused by the deafening
thunder and bewildered by the glare of the forked lightning they would have
passed a solitary house without being aware of its vicinity had not a man who
was standing at the door called lustily to them to enter
»Your ears ought to be better than other folks at any rate if you make so
little of the chance of being struck blind« he said retreating from the door
and shading his eyes with his hands as the jagged lightning came again »What
were you going past for eh« he added as he closed the door and led the way
along a passage to a room behind
»We didnt see the house sir till we heard you calling« Nell replied
»No wonder« said the man »with this lightning in ones eyes bytheby
You had better stand by the fire here and dry yourselves a bit You can call
for what you like if you want anything If you dont want anything you are not
obliged to give an order Dont be afraid of that This is a publichouse
thats all The Valiant Soldier is pretty well known hereabouts«
»Is this house called the Valiant Soldier sir« asked Nell
»I thought everybody knew that« replied the landlord »Where have you come
from if you dont know the Valiant Soldier as well as the church catechism
This is the Valiant Soldier by James Groves Jem Groves honest Jem Groves
as is a man of unblemished moral character and has a good dry skittleground
If any man has got anything to say again Jem Groves let him say it to Jem
Groves and Jem Groves can accommodate him with a customer on any terms from
four pound a side to forty«
With these words the speaker tapped himself on the waistcoat to intimate
that he was the Jem Groves so highly eulogized sparred scientifically at a
counterfeit Jem Groves who was sparring at society in general from a black
frame over the chimneypiece and applying a halfemptied glass of spirits and
water to his lips drank Jem Grovess health
The night being warm there was a large screen drawn across the room for a
barrier against the heat of the fire It seemed as if somebody on the other side
of this screen had been insinuating doubts of Mr Grovess prowess and had
thereby given rise to these egotistical expressions for Mr Groves wound up his
defiance by giving a loud knock upon it with his knuckles and pausing for a
reply from the other side
»There ant many men« said Mr Groves no answer being returned »who would
ventur to cross Jem Groves under his own roof Theres only one man I know
that has nerve enough for that and that mans not a hundred mile from here
neither But hes worth a dozen men and I let him say of me whatever he likes
in consequence he knows that«
In return for this complimentary address a very gruff hoarse voice bade Mr
Groves »hold his nise and light a candle« And the same voice remarked that the
same gentleman »neednt waste his breath in brag for most people knew pretty
well what sort of stuff he was made of«
»Nell theyre theyre playing cards« whispered the old man suddenly
interested »Dont you hear them«
»Look sharp with that candle« said the voice »its as much as I can do to
see the pips on the cards as it is and get this shutter closed as quick as you
can will you Your beer will be the worse for tonights thunder I expect
Game Sevenandsixpence to me old Isaac Hand over«
»Do you hear Nell do you hear them« whispered the old man again with
increased earnestness as the money chinked upon the table
»I havent seen such a storm as this« said a sharp cracked voice of most
disagreeable quality when a tremendous peal of thunder had died away »since
the night when old Luke Withers won thirteen times running on the red We all
said he had the Devils luck and his own and as it was the kind of night for
the Devil to be out and busy I suppose he was looking over his shoulder if
anybody could have seen him«
»Ah« returned the gruff voice »for all old Lukes winning through thick
and thin of late years I remember the time when he was the unluckiest and
unfortunatest of men He never took a dicebox in his hand or held a card but
he was plucked pigeoned and cleaned out completely«
»Do you hear what he says« whispered the old man »Do you hear that Nell«
The child saw with astonishment and alarm that his whole appearance had
undergone a complete change His face was flushed and eager his eyes were
strained his teeth set his breath came short and thick and the hand he laid
upon her arm trembled so violently that she shook beneath its grasp
»Bear witness« he muttered looking upward »that I always said it that I
knew it dreamed of it felt it was the truth and that it must be so What
money have we Nell Come I saw you with some money yesterday What money have
we Give it to me«
»No no let me keep it grandfather« said the frightened child »Let us go
away from here Do not mind the rain Pray let us go«
»Give it to me I say« returned the old man fiercely
»Hush hush dont cry Nell If I spoke sharply dear I didnt mean it
Its for thy good I have wronged thee Nell but I will right thee yet I will
indeed Where is the money«
»Do not take it« said the child »Pray do not take it dear For both our
sakes let me keep it or let me throw it away better let me throw it away
than you take it now Let us go do let us go«
»Give me the money« returned the old man »I must have it There there
thats my dear Nell Ill right thee one day child Ill right thee never
fear«
She took from her pocket a little purse He seized it with the same rapid
impatience which had characterised his speech and hastily made his way to the
other side of the screen It was impossible to restrain him and the trembling
child followed close behind
The landlord had placed a light upon the table and was engaged in drawing
the curtain of the window The speakers whom they had heard were two men who
had a pack of cards and some silver money between them while upon the screen
itself the games they had played were scored in chalk The man with the rough
voice was a burly fellow of middle age with large black whiskers broad cheeks
a coarse wide mouth and bull neck which was pretty freely displayed as his
shirtcollar was only confined by a loose red neckerchief He wore his hat
which was of a brownishwhite and had beside him a thick knotted stick The
other man whom his companion had called Isaac was of a more slender figure
stooping and high in the shoulders with a very illfavoured face and a most
sinister and villainous squint
»Now old gentleman« said Isaac looking round »Do you know either of us
This side of the screen is private sir«
»No offence I hope« returned the old man
»But by G sir there is offence« said the other interrupting him »when
you intrude yourself upon a couple of gentlemen who are particularly engaged«
»I had no intention to offend« said the old man looking anxiously at the
cards »I thought that «
»But you had no right to think sir« retorted the other »What the devil
has a man at your time of life to do with thinking«
»Now bully boy« said the stout man raising his eyes from his cards for
the first time »cant you let him speak«
The landlord who had apparently resolved to remain neutral until he knew
which side of the question the stout man would espouse chimed in at this place
with »Ah to be sure cant you let him speak Isaac List«
»Cant I let him speak« sneered Isaac in reply mimicking as nearly as he
could in his shrill voice the tones of the landlord »Yes I can let him
speak Jemmy Groves«
»Well then do it will you« said the landlord
Mr Lists squint assumed a portentous character which seemed to threaten a
prolongation of this controversy when his companion who had been looking
sharply at the old man put a timely stop to it
»Who knows« said he with a cunning look »but the gentleman may have
civilly meant to ask if he might have the honour to take a hand with us«
»I did mean it« cried the old man »That is what I mean That is what I
want now«
»I thought so« returned the same man »Then who knows but the gentleman
anticipating our objection to play for love civilly desired to play for money«
The old man replied by shaking the little purse in his eager hand and then
throwing it down upon the table and gathering up the cards as a miser would
clutch at gold
»Oh That indeed « said Isaac »if thats what the gentleman meant I beg
the gentlemans pardon Is this the gentlemans little purse A very pretty
little purse Rather a light purse« added Isaac throwing it into the air and
catching it dexterously »but enough to amuse a gentleman for half an hour or
so«
»Well make a fourhanded game of it and take in Groves« said the stout
man »Come Jemmy«
The landlord who conducted himself like one who was well used to such
little parties approached the table and took his seat The child in a perfect
agony drew her grandfather aside and implored him even then to come away
»Come and we may be so happy« said the child
»We will be happy« replied the old man hastily »Let me go Nell The means
of happiness are on the cards and the dice We must rise from little winnings to
great Theres little to be won here but great will come in time I shall but
win back my own and its all for thee my darling«
»God help us« cried the child »Oh what hard fortune brought us here«
»Hush« rejoined the old man laying his hand upon her mouth »Fortune will
not bear chiding We must not reproach her or she shuns us I have found that
out«
»Now mister« said the stout man »If youre not coming yourself give us
the cards will you«
»I am coming« cried the old man »Sit thee down Nell sit thee down and
look on Be of good heart its all for thee all every penny I dont tell
them no no or else they wouldnt play dreading the chance that such a cause
must give me Look at them See what they are and what thou art Who doubts that
we must win«
»The gentleman has thought better of it and isnt coming« said Isaac
making as though he would rise from the table »Im sorry the gentlemans
daunted nothing venture nothing have but the gentleman knows best«
»Why I am ready You have all been slow but me« said the old man »I
wonder who is more anxious to begin than I«
As he spoke he drew a chair to the table and the other three closing round
it at the same time the game commenced
The child sat by and watched its progress with a troubled mind Regardless
of the run of luck and mindful only of the desperate passion which had its hold
upon her grandfather losses and gains were to her alike Exulting in some brief
triumph or cast down by a defeat there he sat so wild and restless so
feverishly and intensely anxious so terribly eager so ravenous for the paltry
stakes that she could have almost better borne to see him dead And yet she was
the innocent cause of all this torture and he gambling with such a savage
thirst for gain as the most insatiable gambler never felt had not one selfish
thought
On the contrary the other three knaves and gamesters by their trade
while intent upon their game were yet as cool and quiet as if every virtue had
been centered in their breasts Sometimes one would look up to smile to another
or to snuff the feeble candle or to glance at the lightning as it shot through
the open window and fluttering curtain or to listen to some louder peal of
thunder than the rest with a kind of momentary impatience as if it put him
out but there they sat with a calm indifference to everything but their cards
perfect philosophers in appearance and with no greater show of passion or
excitement than if they had been made of stone
The storm had raged for full three hours the lightning had grown fainter
and less frequent the thunder from seeming to roll and break above their
heads had gradually died away into a deep hoarse distance and still the game
went on and still the anxious child was quite forgotten
Chapter XXX
At length the play came to an end and Mr Isaac List rose the only winner Mat
and the landlord bore their losses with professional fortitude Isaac pocketed
his gains with the air of a man who had quite made up his mind to win all
along and was neither surprised nor pleased
Nells little purse was exhausted but although it lay empty by his side
and the other players had now risen from the table the old man sat poring over
the cards dealing them as they had been dealt before and turning up the
different hands to see what each man would have held if they had still been
playing He was quite absorbed in this occupation when the child drew near and
laid her hand upon his shoulder telling him it was near midnight
»See the curse of poverty Nell« he said pointing to the packs he had
spread out upon the table »If I could have gone on a little longer only a
little longer the luck would have turned on my side Yes its as plain as the
marks upon the cards See here and there and here again«
»Put them away« urged the child »Try to forget them«
»Try to forget them« he rejoined raising his haggard face to hers and
regarding her with an incredulous stare »To forget them How are we ever to
grow rich if I forget them«
The child could only shake her head
»No no Nell« said the old man patting her cheek »they must not be
forgotten We must make amends for this as soon as we can Patience patience
and well right thee yet I promise thee Lose today win tomorrow And
nothing can be won without anxiety and care nothing Come I am ready«
»Do you know what the time is« said Mr Groves who was smoking with his
friends »Past twelve oclock «
» And a rainy night« added the stout man
»The Valiant Soldier by James Groves Good beds Cheap entertainment for
man and beast« said Mr Groves quoting his signboard »Halfpast twelve
oclock«
»Its very late« said the uneasy child »I wish we had gone before What
will they think of us It will be two oclock by the time we get back What
would it cost sir if we stopped here«
»Two good beds oneandsixpence supper and beer one shilling total two
shillings and sixpence« replied the Valiant Soldier
Now Nell had still the piece of gold sewn in her dress and when she came
to consider the lateness of the hour and the somnolent habits of Mrs Jarley
and to imagine the state of consternation in which they would certainly throw
that good lady by knocking her up in the middle of the night and when she
reflected on the other hand that if they remained where they were and rose
early in the morning they might get back before she awoke and could plead the
violence of the storm by which they had been overtaken as a good apology for
their absence she decided after a great deal of hesitation to remain She
therefore took her grandfather aside and telling him that she had still enough
left to defray the cost of their lodging proposed that they should stay there
for the night
»If I had had but that money before if I had only known of it a few
minutes ago« muttered the old man
»We will decide to stop here if you please« said Nell turning hastily to
the landlord
»I think thats prudent« returned Mr Groves »You shall have your suppers
directly«
Accordingly when Mr Groves had smoked his pipe out knocked out the ashes
and placed it carefully in a corner of the fireplace with the bowl downwards
he brought in the bread and cheese and beer with many high encomiums upon
their excellence and bade his guests fall to and make themselves at home Nell
and her grandfather ate sparingly for both were occupied with their own
reflections the other gentlemen for whose constitutions beer was too weak and
tame a liquid consoled themselves with spirits and tobacco
As they would leave the house very early in the morning the child was
anxious to pay for their entertainment before they retired to bed But as she
felt the necessity of concealing her little hoard from her grandfather and had
to change the piece of gold she took it secretly from its place of concealment
and embraced an opportunity of following the landlord when he went out of the
room and tendered it to him in the little bar
»Will you give me the change here if you please« said the child
Mr James Groves was evidently surprised and looked at the money and rang
it and looked at the child and at the money again as though he had a mind to
inquire how she came by it The coin being genuine however and changed at his
house he probably felt like a wise landlord that it was no business of his
At any rate he counted out the change and gave it her The child was returning
to the room where they had passed the evening when she fancied she saw a figure
just gliding in at the door There was nothing but a long dark passage between
this door and the place where she had changed the money and being very certain
that no person had passed in or out while she stood there the thought struck
her that she had been watched
But by whom When she reentered the room she found its inmates exactly as
she had left them The stout fellow lay upon two chairs resting his head on his
hand and the squinting man reposed in a similar attitude on the opposite side
of the table Between them sat her grandfather looking intently at the winner
with a kind of hungry admiration and hanging upon his words as if he were some
superior being She was puzzled for a moment and looked round to see if any one
else were there No Then she asked her grandfather in a whisper whether anybody
had left the room while she was absent »No« he said »nobody«
It must have been her fancy then and yet it was strange that without
anything in her previous thoughts to lead to it she should have imagined this
figure so very distinctly She was still wondering and thinking of it when a
girl came to light her to bed
The old man took leave of the company at the same time and they went up
stairs together It was a great rambling house with dull corridors and wide
staircases which the flaring candles seemed to make more gloomy She left her
grandfather in his chamber and followed her guide to another which was at the
end of a passage and approached by some halfdozen crazy steps This was
prepared for her The girl lingered a little while to talk and tell her
grievances She had not a good place she said the wages were low and the work
was hard She was going to leave it in a fortnight the child couldnt recommend
her to another she supposed Indeed she was afraid another would be difficult
to get after living there for the house had a very indifferent character there
was far too much cardplaying and such like She was very much mistaken if some
of the people who came there oftenest were quite as honest as they might be but
she wouldnt have it known that she had said so for the world Then there were
some rambling allusions to a rejected sweetheart who had threatened to go a
soldiering a final promise of knocking at the door early in the morning and
»Good night«
The child did not feel comfortable when she was left alone She could not
help thinking of the figure stealing through the passage down stairs and what
the girl had said did not tend to reassure her The men were very illlooking
They might get their living by robbing and murdering travellers Who could tell
Reasoning herself out of these fears or losing sight of them for a little
while there came the anxiety to which the adventures of the night gave rise
Here was the old passion awakened again in her grandfathers breast and to what
further distraction it might tempt him Heaven only knew What fears their
absence might have occasioned already Persons might be seeking for them even
then Would they be forgiven in the morning or turned adrift again Oh why had
they stopped in that strange place It would have been better under any
circumstances to have gone on
At last sleep gradually stole upon her a broken fitful sleep troubled
by dreams of falling from high towers and waking with a start and in great
terror A deeper slumber followed this and then What That figure in the
room
A figure was there Yes she had drawn up the blind to admit the light when
it should be dawn and there between the foot of the bed and the dark casement
it crouched and slunk along groping its way with noiseless hands and stealing
round the bed She had no voice to cry for help no power to move but lay
still watching it
On it came on silently and stealthily to the beds head The breath so
near her pillow that she shrunk back into it lest those wandering hands should
light upon her face Back again it stole to the window then turned its head
towards her
The dark form was a mere blot upon the lighter darkness of the room but she
saw the turning of the head and felt and knew how the eyes looked and the ears
listened There it remained motionless as she At length still keeping the
face towards her it busied its hands in something and she heard the chink of
money
Then on it came again silent and stealthy as before and replacing the
garments it had taken from the bedside dropped upon its hands and knees and
crawled away How slowly it seemed to move now that she could hear but not see
it creeping along the floor It reached the door at last and stood upon its
feet The steps creaked beneath its noiseless tread and it was gone
The first impulse of the child was to fly from the terror of being by
herself in that room to have somebody by not to be alone and then her
power of speech would be restored With no consciousness of having moved she
gained the door
There was the dreadful shadow pausing at the bottom of the steps
She could not pass it she might have done so perhaps in the darkness
without being seized but her blood curdled at the thought The figure stood
quite still and so did she not boldly but of necessity for going back into
the room was hardly less terrible than going on
The rain beat fast and furiously without and ran down in plashing streams
from the thatched roof Some summer insect with no escape into the air flew
blindly to and fro beating its body against the walls and ceiling and filling
the silent place with murmurs The figure moved again The child involuntarily
did the same Once in her grandfathers room she would be safe
It crept along the passage until it came to the very door she longed so
ardently to reach The child in the agony of being so near had almost darted
forward with the design of bursting into the room and closing it behind her
when the figure stopped again
The idea flashed suddenly upon her what if it entered there and had a
design upon the old mans life She turned faint and sick It did It went in
There was a light inside The figure was now within the chamber and she still
dumb quite dumb and almost senseless stood looking on
The door was partly open Not knowing what she meant to do but meaning to
preserve him or be killed herself she staggered forward and looked in
What sight was that which met her view
The bed had not been lain on but was smooth and empty And at a table sat
the old man himself the only living creature there his white face pinched and
sharpened by the greediness which made his eyes unnaturally bright counting
the money of which his hands had robbed her
Chapter XXXI
With steps more faltering and unsteady than those with which she had approached
the room the child withdrew from the door and groped her way back to her own
chamber The terror she had lately felt was nothing compared with that which now
oppressed her No strange robber no treacherous host conniving at the plunder
of his guests or stealing to their beds to kill them in their sleep no nightly
prowler however terrible and cruel could have awakened in her bosom half the
dread which the recognition of her silent visitor inspired The greyheaded old
man gliding like a ghost into her room and acting the thief while he supposed
her fast asleep then bearing off his prize and hanging over it with the ghastly
exultation she had witnessed was worse immeasurably worse and far more
dreadful for the moment to reflect upon than anything her wildest fancy
could have suggested If he should return there was no lock or bolt upon the
door and if distrustful of having left some money yet behind he should come
back to seek for more a vague awe and horror surrounded the idea of his
slinking in again with stealthy tread and turning his face toward the empty
bed while she shrank down close at his feet to avoid his touch which was
almost insupportable She sat and listened Hark A footstep on the stairs and
now the door was slowly opening It was but imagination yet imagination had all
the terrors of reality nay it was worse for the reality would have come and
gone and there an end but in imagination it was always coming and never went
away
The feeling which beset the child was one of dim uncertain horror She had
no fear of the dear old grandfather in whose love for her this disease of the
brain had been engendered but the man she had seen that night wrapt in the
game of chance lurking in her room and counting the money by the glimmering
light seemed like another creature in his shape a monstrous distortion of his
image a something to recoil from and be the more afraid of because it bore a
likeness to him and kept close about her as he did She could scarcely connect
her own affectionate companion save by his loss with this old man so like yet
so unlike him She had wept to see him dull and quiet How much greater cause
she had for weeping now
The child sat watching and thinking of these things until the phantom in
her mind so increased in gloom and terror that she felt it would be a relief to
hear the old mans voice or if he were asleep even to see him and banish
some of the fears that clustered round his image She stole down the stairs and
passage again The door was still ajar as she had left it and the candle
burning as before
She had her own candle in her hand prepared to say if he were waking that
she was uneasy and could not rest and had come to see if his were still alight
Looking into the room she saw him lying calmly on his bed and so took courage
to enter
Fast asleep No passion in the face no avarice no anxiety no wild desire
all gentle tranquil and at peace This was not the gambler or the shadow in
her room this was not even the worn and jaded man whose face had so often met
her own in the grey morning light this was her dear old friend her harmless
fellowtraveller her good kind grandfather
She had no fear as she looked upon his slumbering features but she had a
deep and weighty sorrow and it found its relief in tears
»God bless him« said the child stooping softly to kiss his placid cheek
»I see too well now that they would indeed part us if they found us out and
shut him up from the light of the sun and sky He has only me to help him God
bless us both«
Lighting her candle she retreated as silently as she had come and gaining
her own room once more sat up during the remainder of that long long
miserable night
At last the day turned her waning candle pale and she fell asleep She was
quickly roused by the girl who had shown her up to bed and as soon as she was
dressed prepared to go down to her grandfather But first she searched her
pocket and found that her money was all gone not a sixpence remained
The old man was ready and in a few seconds they were on their road The
child thought he rather avoided her eye and appeared to expect that she would
tell him of her loss She felt she must do that or he might suspect the truth
»Grandfather« she said in a tremulous voice after they had walked about a
mile in silence »do you think they are honest people at the house yonder«
»Why« returned the old man trembling »Do I think them honest yes they
played honestly«
»Ill tell you why I ask« rejoined Nell »I lost some money last night
out of my bedroom I am sure Unless it was taken by somebody in jest only in
jest dear grandfather which would make me laugh heartily if I could but know
it «
»Who would take money in jest« returned the old man in a hurried manner
»Those who take money take it to keep Dont talk of jest«
»Then it was stolen out of my room dear« said the child whose last hope
was destroyed by the manner of this reply
»But is there no more Nell« said the old man »no more anywhere Was it
all taken every farthing of it was there nothing left«
»Nothing« replied the child
»We must get more« said the old man »we must earn it Nell hoard it up
scrape it together come by it somehow Never mind this loss Tell nobody of it
and perhaps we may regain it Dont ask how we may regain it and a great
deal more but tell nobody or trouble may come of it And so they took it out
of thy room when thou wert asleep« he added in a compassionate tone very
different from the secret cunning way in which he had spoken until now »Poor
Nell poor little Nell«
The child hung down her head and wept The sympathising tone in which he
spoke was quite sincere she was sure of that It was not the lightest part of
her sorrow to know that this was done for her
»Not a word about it to any one but me« said the old man »no not even to
me« he added hastily »for it can do no good All the losses that ever were
are not worth tears from thy eyes darling Why should they be when we will win
them back«
»Let them go« said the child looking up »Let them go once and for ever
and I would never shed another tear if every penny had been a thousand pounds«
»Well well« returned the old man checking himself as some impetuous
answer rose to his lips »she knows no better I ought to be thankful for it«
»But listen to me« said the child earnestly »will you listen to me«
»Aye aye Ill listen« returned the old man still without looking at her
»a pretty voice It has always a sweet sound to me It always had when it was
her mothers poor child«
»Let me persuade you then oh do let me persuade you« said the child
»to think no more of gains or losses and to try no fortune but the fortune we
pursue together«
»We pursue this aim together« retorted her grandfather still looking away
and seeming to confer with himself »Whose image sanctifies the game«
»Have we been worse off« resumed the child »since you forgot these cares
and we have been travelling on together Have we not been much better and
happier without a home to shelter us than ever we were in that unhappy house
when they were on your mind«
»She speaks the truth« murmured the old man in the same tone as before »It
must not turn me but it is the truth no doubt it is«
»Only remember what we have been since that bright morning when we turned
our backs upon it for the last time« said Nell »only remember what we have
been since we have been free of all those miseries what peaceful days and
quiet nights we have had what pleasant times we have known what happiness we
have enjoyed If we have been tired or hungry we have been soon refreshed and
slept the sounder for it Think what beautiful things we have seen and how
contented we have felt And why was this blessed change«
He stopped her with a motion of his hand and bade her talk to him no more
just then for he was busy After a time he kissed her cheek still motioning
her to silence and walked on looking far before him and sometimes stopping
and gazing with a puckered brow upon the ground as if he were painfully trying
to collect his disordered thoughts Once she saw tears in his eyes When he had
gone on thus for some time he took her hand in his as he was accustomed to do
with nothing of the violence or animation of his late manner and so by degrees
so fine that the child could not trace them he settled down into his usual
quiet way and suffered her to lead him where she would
When they presented themselves in the midst of the stupendous collection
they found as Nell had anticipated that Mrs Jarley was not yet out of bed
and that although she had suffered some uneasiness on their account overnight
and had indeed sat up for them until past eleven oclock she had retired in the
persuasion that being overtaken by storm at some distance from home they had
sought the nearest shelter and would not return before morning Nell
immediately applied herself with great assiduity to the decoration and
preparation of the room and had the satisfaction of completing her task and
dressing herself neatly before the beloved of the Royal Family came down to
breakfast
»We havent had« said Mrs Jarley when the meal was over »more than eight
of Miss Monflatherss young ladies all the time weve been here and theres
twentysix of em as I was told by the cook when I asked her a question or two
and put her on the freelist We must try em with a parcel of new bills and
you shall take it my dear and see what effect that has upon em«
The proposed expedition being one of paramount importance Mrs Jarley
adjusted Nells bonnet with her own hands and declaring that she certainly did
look very pretty and reflected credit on the establishment dismissed her with
many commendations and certain needful directions as to the turnings on the
right which she was to take and the turnings on the left which she was to
avoid Thus instructed Nell had no difficulty in finding out Miss Monflatherss
Boarding and Day Establishment which was a large house with a high wall and a
large gardengate with a large brass plate and a small grating through which
Miss Monflatherss parlourmaid inspected all visitors before admitting them
for nothing in the shape of a man no not even a milkman was suffered
without special licence to pass that gate Even the taxgatherer who was
stout and wore spectacles and a broadbrimmed hat had the taxes handed through
the grating More obdurate than gate of adamant or brass this gate of Miss
Monflatherss frowned on all mankind The very butcher respected it as a gate of
mystery and left off whistling when he rang the bell
As Nell approached the awful door it turned slowly upon its hinges with a
creaking noise and forth from the solemn grove beyond came a long file of
young ladies two and two all with open books in their hands and some with
parasols likewise And last of the goodly procession came Miss Monflathers
bearing herself a parasol of lilac silk and supported by two smiling teachers
each mortally envious of the other and devoted unto Miss Monflathers
Confused by the looks and whispers of the girls Nell stood with downcast
eyes and suffered the procession to pass on until Miss Monflathers bringing up
the rear approached her when she curtsied and presented her little packet on
receipt whereof Miss Monflathers commanded that the line should halt
»Youre the waxwork child are you not« said Miss Monflathers
»Yes maam« replied Nell colouring deeply for the young ladies had
collected about her and she was the centre on which all eyes were fixed
»And dont you think you must be a very wicked little child« said Miss
Monflathers who was of rather uncertain temper and lost no opportunity of
impressing moral truths upon the tender minds of the young ladies »to be a
waxwork child at all«
Poor Nell had never viewed her position in this light and not knowing what
to say remained silent blushing more deeply than before
»Dont you know« said Miss Monflathers »that its very naughty and
unfeminine and a perversion of the properties wisely and benignantly
transmitted to us with expansive powers to be roused from their dormant state
through the medium of cultivation«
The two teachers murmured their respectful approval of this homethrust and
looked at Nell as though they would have said that there indeed Miss Monflathers
had hit her very hard Then they smiled and glanced at Miss Monflathers and
then their eyes meeting they exchanged looks which plainly said that each
considered herself smiler in ordinary to Miss Monflathers and regarded the
other as having no right to smile and that her so doing was an act of
presumption and impertinence
»Dont you feel how naughty it is of you« resumed Miss Monflathers »to be
a waxwork child when you might have the proud consciousness of assisting to
the extent of your infant powers the manufactures of your country of improving
your mind by the constant contemplation of the steamengine and of earning a
comfortable and independent subsistence of from twoandninepence to three
shillings per week Dont you know that the harder you are at work the happier
you are«
»How doth the little « murmured one of the teachers in quotation from
Doctor Watts
»Eh« said Miss Monflathers turning smartly round »Who said that«
Of course the teacher who had not said it indicated the rival who had whom
Miss Monflathers frowningly requested to hold her peace by that means throwing
the informing teacher into raptures of joy
»The little busy bee« said Miss Monflathers drawing herself up »is
applicable only to genteel children
In books or work or healthful play
is quite right as far as they are concerned and the work means painting on
velvet fancy needlework or embroidery In such cases as these« pointing to
Nell with her parasol »and in the case of all poor peoples children we
should read it thus
In work work work In work alway
Let my first years be past
That I may give for evry day
Some good account at last«
A deep hum of applause rose not only from the two teachers but from all the
pupils who were equally astonished to hear Miss Monflathers improvising after
this brilliant style for although she had been long known as a politician she
had never appeared before as an original poet Just then somebody happened to
discover that Nell was crying and all eyes were again turned towards her
There were indeed tears in her eyes and drawing out her handkerchief to
brush them away she happened to let it fall Before she could stoop to pick it
up one young lady of about fifteen or sixteen who had been standing a little
apart from the others as though she had no recognised place among them sprang
forward and put it in her hand She was gliding timidly away again when she was
arrested by the governess
»It was Miss Edwards who did that I know« said Miss Monflathers
predictively »Now I am sure that was Miss Edwards«
It was Miss Edwards and everybody said it was Miss Edwards and Miss
Edwards herself admitted that it was
»Is it not« said Miss Monflathers putting down her parasol to take a
severer view of the offender »a most remarkable thing Miss Edwards that you
have an attachment to the lower classes which always draws you to their sides
or rather is it not a most extraordinary thing that all I say and do will not
wean you from propensities which your original station in life have unhappily
rendered habitual to you you extremely vulgarminded girl«
»I really intended no harm maam« said a sweet voice »It was a momentary
impulse indeed«
»An impulse« repeated Miss Monflathers scornfully »I wonder that you
presume to speak of impulses to me« both the teachers assented »I am
astonished« both the teachers were astonished »I suppose it is an impulse
which induces you to take the part of every grovelling and debased person that
comes in your way« both the teachers supposed so too
»But I would have you know Miss Edwards« resumed the governess in a tone
of increased severity »that you cannot be permitted if it be only for the
sake of preserving a proper example and decorum in this establishment that you
cannot be permitted and that you shall not be permitted to fly in the face of
your superiors in this exceedingly gross manner If you have no reason to feel a
becoming pride before waxwork children there are young ladies here who have
and you must either defer to those young ladies or leave the establishment Miss
Edwards«
This young lady being motherless and poor was apprenticed at the school
taught for nothing teaching others what she learnt for nothing boarded for
nothing lodged for nothing and set down and rated as something immeasurably
less than nothing by all the dwellers in the house The servantmaids felt her
inferiority for they were better treated free to come and go and regarded in
their stations with much more respect The teachers were infinitely superior
for they had paid to go to school in their time and were paid now The pupils
cared little for a companion who had no grand stories to tell about home no
friends to come with posthorses and be received in all humility with cake and
wine by the governess no deferential servant to attend and bear her home for
the holidays nothing genteel to talk about and nothing to display But why was
Miss Monflathers always vexed and irritated with the poor apprentice how did
that come to pass
Why the gayest feather in Miss Monflatherss cap and the brightest glory
of Miss Monflatherss school was a baronets daughter the real live daughter
of a real live baronet who by some extraordinary reversal of the Laws of
Nature, was not only plain in features but dull in intellect while the poor
apprentice had both a ready wit and a handsome face and figure It seems
incredible Here was Miss Edwards who only paid a small premium which had been
spent long ago every day outshining and excelling the baronets daughter who
learned all the extras or was taught them all and whose halfyearly bill came
to double that of any other young ladys in the school making no account of the
honour and reputation of her pupilage Therefore and because she was a
dependant Miss Monflathers had a great dislike to Miss Edwards and was
spiteful to her and aggravated by her and when she had compassion on little
Nell verbally fell upon and maltreated her as we have already seen
»You will not take the air today Miss Edwards« said Miss Monflathers
»Have the goodness to retire to your own room and not to leave it without
permission«
The poor girl was moving hastily away when she was suddenly in nautical
phrase brought to by a subdued shriek from Miss Monflathers
»She has passed me without any salute« cried the governess raising her
eyes to the sky »She has actually passed me without the slightest
acknowledgment of my presence«
The young lady turned and curtsied Nell could see that she raised her dark
eyes to the face of her superior and that their expression and that of her
whole attitude for the instant was one of mute but most touching appeal against
this ungenerous usage Miss Monflathers only tossed her head in reply and the
great gate closed upon a bursting heart
»As for you you wicked child« said Miss Monflathers turning to Nell
»tell your mistress that if she presumes to take the liberty of sending to me
any more I will write to the legislative authorities and have her put in the
stocks or compelled to do penance in a white sheet and you may depend upon it
that you shall certainly experience the treadmill if you dare to come here
again Now ladies on«
The procession filed off two and two with the books and parasols and Miss
Monflathers calling the baronets daughter to walk with her and smooth her
ruffled feelings discarded the two teachers who by this time had exchanged
their smiles for looks of sympathy and left them to bring up the rear and
hate each other a little more for being obliged to walk together
Chapter XXXII
Mrs Jarleys wrath on first learning that she had been threatened with the
indignity of Stocks and Penance passed all description The genuine and only
Jarley exposed to public scorn jeered by children and flouted by beadles The
delight of the Nobility and Gentry shorn of a bonnet which a Lady Mayoress might
have sighed to wear and arrayed in a white sheet as a spectacle of
mortification and humility And Miss Monflathers the audacious creature who
presumed even in the dimmest and remotest distance of her imagination to
conjure up the degrading picture »I am amost inclined« said Mrs Jarley
bursting with the fulness of her anger and the weakness of her means of revenge
»to turn atheist when I think of it«
But instead of adopting this course of retaliation Mrs Jarley on second
thoughts brought out the suspicious bottle and ordering glasses to be set
forth upon her favourite drum and sinking into a chair behind it called her
satellites about her and to them several times recounted word for word the
affronts she had received This done she begged them in a kind of deep despair
to drink then laughed then cried then took a little sip herself then laughed
and cried again and took a little more and so by degrees the worthy lady
went on increasing in smiles and decreasing in tears until at last she could
not laugh enough at Miss Monflathers who from being an object of dire
vexation became one of sheer ridicule and absurdity
»For which of us is best off I wonder« quoth Mrs Jarley »she or me Its
only talking when all is said and done and if she talks of me in the stocks
why I can talk of her in the stocks which is a good deal funnier if we come to
that Lord what does it matter after all«
Having arrived at this comfortable frame of mind to which she had been
greatly assisted by certain short interjectional remarks of the philosophical
George Mrs Jarley consoled Nell with many kind words and requested as a
personal favour that whenever she thought of Miss Monflathers she would do
nothing else but laugh at her all the days of her life
So ended Mrs Jarleys wrath which subsided long before the going down of
the sun Nells anxieties however were of a deeper kind and the checks they
imposed upon her cheerfulness were not so easily removed
That evening as she had dreaded her grandfather stole away and did not
come back until the night was far spent Worn out as she was and fatigued in
mind and body she sat up alone counting the minutes until he returned
penniless brokenspirited and wretched but still hotly bent upon his
infatuation
»Get me money« he said wildly as they parted for the night »I must have
money Nell It shall be paid thee back with gallant interest one day but all
the money that comes into thy hands must be mine not for myself but to use
for thee Remember Nell to use for thee«
What could the child do with the knowledge she had but give him every penny
that came into her hands lest he should be tempted on to rob their
benefactress If she told the truth so thought the child he would be treated
as a madman if she did not supply him with money he would supply himself
supplying him she fed the fire that burnt him up and put him perhaps beyond
recovery Distracted by these thoughts borne down by the weight of the sorrow
which she dared not tell tortured by a crowd of apprehensions whenever the old
man was absent and dreading alike his stay and his return the colour forsook
her cheek her eye grew dim and her heart was oppressed and heavy All her old
sorrows had come back upon her augmented by new fears and doubts by day they
were ever present to her mind by night they hovered round her pillow and
haunted her in dreams
It was natural that in the midst of her affliction she should often revert
to that sweet young lady of whom she had only caught a hasty glance but whose
sympathy expressed in one slight brief action dwelt in her memory like the
kindnesses of years She would often think if she had such a friend as that to
whom to tell her griefs how much lighter her heart would be that if she were
but free to hear that voice she would be happier Then she would wish that she
were something better that she were not quite so poor and humble that she
dared address her without fearing a repulse and then feel that there was an
immeasurable distance between them and have no hope that the young lady thought
of her any more
It was now holidaytime at the schools and the young ladies had gone home
and Miss Monflathers was reported to be flourishing in London and damaging the
hearts of middleaged gentlemen but nobody said anything about Miss Edwards
whether she had gone home or whether she had any home to go to whether she was
still at the school or anything about her But one evening as Nell was
returning from a lonely walk she happened to pass the inn where the
stagecoaches stopped just as one drove up and there was the beautiful girl
she so well remembered pressing forward to embrace a young child whom they were
helping down from the roof
Well this was her sister her little sister much younger than Nell whom
she had not seen so the story went afterwards for five years and to bring
whom to that place on a short visit she had been saving her poor means all that
time Nell felt as if her heart would break when she saw them meet They went a
little apart from the knot of people who had congregated about the coach and
fell upon each others neck and sobbed and wept with joy Their plain and
simple dress the distance which the child had come alone their agitation and
delight and the tears they shed would have told their history by themselves
They became a little more composed in a short time and went away not so
much hand in hand as clinging to each other »Are you sure youre happy
sister« said the child as they passed where Nell was standing »Quite happy
now« she answered »But always« said the child »Ah sister why do you turn
away your face«
Nell could not help following at a little distance They went to the house
of an old nurse where the elder sister had engaged a bedroom for the child »I
shall come to you early every morning« she said »and we can be together all
the day« »Why not at nighttime too Dear sister would they be angry with
you for that«
Why were the eyes of little Nell wet that night with tears like those of
the two sisters Why did she bear a grateful heart because they had met and
feel it pain to think that they would shortly part Let us not believe that any
selfish reference unconscious though it might have been to her own trials
awoke this sympathy but thank God that the innocent joys of others can strongly
move us and that we even in our fallen nature have one source of pure emotion
which must be prized in Heaven
By mornings cheerful glow but oftener still by evenings gentle light the
child with a respect for the short and happy intercourse of these two sisters
which forbade her to approach and say a thankful word although she yearned to
do so followed them at a distance in their walks and rambles stopping when
they stopped sitting on the grass when they sat down rising when they went on
and feeling it a companionship and delight to be so near them Their evening
walk was by a rivers side Here every night the child was too unseen by
them unthought of unregarded but feeling as if they were her friends as if
they had confidences and trusts together as if her load were lightened and less
hard to bear as if they mingled their sorrows and found mutual consolation It
was a weak fancy perhaps the childish fancy of a young and lonely creature but
night after night and still the sisters loitered in the same place and still
the child followed with a mild and softened heart
She was much startled on returning home one night to find that Mrs Jarley
had commanded an announcement to be prepared to the effect that the stupendous
collection would only remain in its present quarters one day longer in
fulfilment of which threat for all announcements connected with public
amusements are well known to be irrevocable and most exact the stupendous
collection shut up next day
»Are we going from this place directly maam« said Nell
»Look here child« returned Mrs Jarley »Thatll inform you« And so
saying Mrs Jarley produced another announcement wherein it was stated that
in consequence of numerous inquiries at the waxwork door and in consequence of
crowds having been disappointed in obtaining admission the Exhibition would be
continued for one week longer and would reopen next day
»For now that the schools are gone and the regular sightseers exhausted«
said Mrs Jarley »we come to the General Public and they want stimulating«
Upon the following day at noon Mrs Jarley established herself behind the
highlyornamented table attended by the distinguished effigies before
mentioned and ordered the doors to be thrown open for the readmission of a
discerning and enlightened public But the first days operations were by no
means of a successful character inasmuch as the general public though they
manifested a lively interest in Mrs Jarley personally and such of her waxen
satellites as were to be seen for nothing were not affected by any impulses
moving them to the payment of sixpence a head Thus notwithstanding that a
great many people continued to stare at the entry and the figures therein
displayed and remained there with great perseverance by the hour at a time to
hear the barrelorgan played and to read the bills and notwithstanding that
they were kind enough to recommend their friends to patronise the exhibition in
the like manner until the doorway was regularly blockaded by half the
population of the town who when they went off duty were relieved by the other
half it was not found that the treasury was any the richer or that the
prospects of the establishment were at all encouraging
In this depressed state of the classical market Mrs Jarley made
extraordinary efforts to stimulate the popular taste and whet the popular
curiosity Certain machinery in the body of the nun on the leads over the door
was cleaned up and put in motion so that the figure shook its head
paralytically all day long to the great admiration of a drunken but very
Protestant barber over the way who looked upon the said paralytic motion as
typical of the degrading effect wrought upon the human mind by the ceremonies of
the Romish Church and discoursed upon that theme with great eloquence and
morality The two carters constantly passed in and out of the exhibitionroom
under various disguises protesting aloud that the sight was better worth the
money than anything they had beheld in all their lives and urging the
bystanders with tears in their eyes not to neglect such a brilliant
gratification Mrs Jarley sat in the payplace chinking silver moneys from
noon till night and solemnly calling upon the crowd to take notice that the
price of admission was only sixpence and that the departure of the whole
collection on a short tour among the Crowned Heads of Europe was positively
fixed for that day week
»So be in time be in time be in time« said Mrs Jarley at the close of
every such address »Remember that this is Jarleys stupendous collection of
upwards of One Hundred Figures and that it is the only collection in the world
all others being impostors and deceptions Be in time be in time be in time«
Chapter XXXIII
As the course of this tale requires that we should become acquainted somewhere
hereabouts with a few particulars connected with the domestic economy of Mr
Sampson Brass and as a more convenient place than the present is not likely to
occur for that purpose the historian takes the friendly reader by the hand and
springing with him into the air and cleaving the same at a greater rate than
ever Don Cleophas Leandro Perez Zambullo and his familiar travelled through that
pleasant region in company alights with him upon the pavement of Bevis Marks
The intrepid aeronauts alight before a small dark house once the residence
of Mr Sampson Brass
In the parlour window of this little habitation which is so close upon the
footway that the passenger who takes the wall brushes the dim glass with his
coatsleeve much to its improvement for it is very dirty in this parlour
window in the days of its occupation by Sampson Brass there hung all awry and
slack and discoloured by the sun a curtain of faded green so threadbare from
long service as by no means to intercept the view of the little dark room but
rather to afford a favourable medium through which to observe it accurately
There was not much to look at A rickety table with spare bundles of papers
yellow and ragged from long carriage in the pocket ostentatiously displayed
upon its top a couple of stools set face to face on opposite sides of this
crazy piece of furniture a treacherous old chair by the fireplace whose
withered arms had hugged full many a client and helped to squeeze him dry a
secondhand wigbox used as a depository for blank writs and declarations and
other small forms of law once the sole contents of the head which belonged to
the wig which belonged to the box as they were now of the box itself two or
three common books of practice a jar of ink a pouncebox a stunted
hearthbroom a carpet trodden to shreds but still clinging with the tightness
of desperation to its tacks these with the yellow wainscot of the walls the
smokediscoloured ceiling the dust and cobwebs were among the most prominent
decorations of the office of Mr Sampson Brass
But this was mere stilllife of no greater importance than the plate
BRASS Solicitor upon the door and the bill First floor to let to a single
gentleman which was tied to the knocker The office commonly held two examples
of animated nature more to the purpose of this history and in whom it has a
stronger interest and more particular concern Of these one was Mr Brass
himself who has already appeared in these pages The other was his clerk
assistant housekeeper secretary confidential plotter adviser intriguer and
bill of cost increaser Miss Brass a kind of amazon at common law of whom it
may be desirable to offer a brief description
Miss Sally Brass then was a lady of thirtyfive or thereabouts of a gaunt
and bony figure and a resolute bearing which if it repressed the softer
emotions of love and kept admirers at a distance certainly inspired a feeling
akin to awe in the breasts of those male strangers who had the happiness to
approach her In face she bore a striking resemblance to her brother Sampson
so exact indeed was the likeness between them that had it consorted with Miss
Brasss maiden modesty and gentle womanhood to have assumed her brothers
clothes in a frolic and sat down beside him it would have been difficult for
the oldest friend of the family to determine which was Sampson and which Sally
especially as the lady carried upon her upper lip certain reddish
demonstrations which if the imagination had been assisted by her attire might
have been mistaken for a beard These were however in all probability nothing
more than eyelashes in a wrong place as the eyes of Miss Brass were quite free
from any such natural impertinences In complexion Miss Brass was sallow
rather a dirty sallow so to speak but this hue was agreeably relieved by the
healthy glow which mantled in the extreme tip of her laughing nose Her voice
was exceedingly impressive deep and rich in quality and once heard not
easily forgotten Her usual dress was a green gown in colour not unlike the
curtain of the office window made tight to the figure and terminating at the
throat where it was fastened behind by a peculiarly large and massive button
Feeling no doubt that simplicity and plainness are the soul of elegance Miss
Brass wore no collar or kerchief except upon her head which was invariably
ornamented with a brown gauze scarf like the wing of the fabled vampire and
which twisted into any form that happened to suggest itself formed an easy and
graceful headdress
Such was Miss Brass in person In mind she was of a strong and vigorous
turn having from her earliest youth devoted herself with uncommon ardour to the
study of the law not wasting her speculations upon its eagle flights which are
rare but tracing it attentively through all the slippery and eellike crawlings
in which it commonly pursues its way Nor had she like many persons of great
intellect confined herself to theory or stopped short where practical
usefulness begins inasmuch as she could engross faircopy fill up printed
forms with perfect accuracy and in short transact any ordinary duty of the
office down to pouncing a skin of parchment or mending a pen It is difficult to
understand how possessed of these combined attractions she should remain Miss
Brass but whether she had steeled her heart against mankind or whether those
who might have wooed and won her were deterred by fears that being learned in
the law she might have too near her fingers ends those particular statutes
which regulate what are familiarly termed actions for breach certain it is that
she was still in a state of celibacy and still in daily occupation of her old
stool opposite to that of her brother Sampson And equally certain it is by the
way that between these two stools a great many people had come to the ground
One morning Mr Sampson Brass sat upon his stool copying some legal process
and viciously digging his pen deep into the paper as if he were writing upon
the very heart of the party against whom it was directed and Miss Sally Brass
sat upon her stool making a new pen preparatory to drawing out a little bill
which was her favourite occupation and so they sat in silence for a long time
until Miss Brass broke silence
»Have you nearly done Sammy« said Miss Brass for in her mild and feminine
lips Sampson became Sammy and all things were softened down
»No« returned her brother »It would have been all done though if you had
helped at the right time«
»Oh yes indeed« cried Miss Sally »you want my help dont you you
too that are going to keep a clerk«
»Am I going to keep a clerk for my own pleasure or because of my own wish
you provoking rascal« said Mr Brass putting his pen in his mouth and
grinning spitefully at his sister »What do you taunt me about going to keep a
clerk for«
It may be observed in this place lest the fact of Mr Brass calling a lady
a rascal should occasion any wonderment or surprise that he was so habituated
to having her near him in a mans capacity that he had gradually accustomed
himself to talk to her as though she were really a man And this feeling was so
perfectly reciprocal that not only did Mr Brass often call Miss Brass a
rascal or even put an adjective before the rascal but Miss Brass looked upon
it as quite a matter of course and was as little moved as any other lady would
be by being called an angel
»What do you taunt me after three hours talk last night with going to
keep a clerk for« repeated Mr Brass grinning again with the pen in his mouth
like some noblemans or gentlemans crest »Is it my fault«
»All I know is« said Miss Sally smiling drily for she delighted in
nothing so much as irritating her brother »that if every one of your clients is
to force us to keep a clerk whether we want to or not you had better leave off
business strike yourself off the roll and get taken in execution as soon as
you can«
»Have we got any other client like him« said Brass »Have we got another
client like him now will you answer me that«
»Do you mean in the face« said his sister
»Do I mean in the face« sneered Sampson Brass reaching over to take up the
billbook and fluttering its leaves rapidly »Look here Daniel Quilp Esquire
Daniel Quilp Esquire Daniel Quilp Esquire all through Whether should I
take a clerk that he recommends and says this is the man for you or lose all
this eh«
Miss Sally deigned to make no reply but smiled again and went on with her
work
»But I know what it is« resumed Brass after a short silence »Youre afraid
you wont have as long a finger in the business as youve been used to have Do
you think I dont see through that«
»The business wouldnt go on very long I expect without me« returned his
sister composedly »Dont you be a fool and provoke me Sammy but mind what
youre doing and do it«
Sampson Brass who was at heart in great fear of his sister sulkily bent
over his writing again and listened as she said
»If I determined that the clerk ought not to come of course he wouldnt be
allowed to come You know that well enough so dont talk nonsense«
Mr Brass received this observation with increased meekness merely
remarking under his breath that he didnt like that kind of joking and that
Miss Sally would be a much better fellow if she forbore to aggravate him To
this compliment Miss Sally replied that she had a relish for the amusement and
had no intention to forego its gratification Mr Brass not caring as it
seemed to pursue the subject any further they both plied their pens at a great
pace and there the discussion ended
While they were thus employed the window was suddenly darkened as by some
person standing close against it As Mr Brass and Miss Sally looked up to
ascertain the cause the top sash was nimbly lowered from without and Quilp
thrust in his head
»Hallo« he said standing on tiptoe on the windowsill and looking down
into the room »Is there anybody at home Is there any of the Devils ware here
Is Brass at a premium eh«
»Ha ha ha« laughed the lawyer in an affected ecstasy »Oh very good
sir Oh very good indeed Quite eccentric Dear me what humour he has«
»Is that my Sally« croaked the dwarf ogling the fair Miss Brass »Is it
Justice with the bandage off her eyes and without the sword and scales Is it
the Strong Arm of the Law Is it the Virgin of Bevis«
»What an amazing flow of spirits« cried Brass »Upon my word its quite
extraordinary«
»Open the door« said Quilp »Ive got him here Such a clerk for you
Brass such a prize such an ace of trumps Be quick and open the door or if
theres another lawyer near and he should happen to look out of window hell
snap him up before your eyes he will«
It is probable that the loss of the phoenix of clerks even to a rival
practitioner would not have broken Mr Brasss heart but pretending great
alacrity he rose from his seat and going to the door returned introducing
his client who led by the hand no less a person than Mr Richard Swiveller
»There she is« said Quilp stopping short at the door and wrinkling up his
eyebrows as he looked towards Miss Sally »there is the woman I ought to have
married there is the beautiful Sarah there is the female who has all the
charms of her sex and none of their weaknesses Oh Sally Sally«
To this amorous address Miss Brass briefly responded »Bother«
»Hardhearted as the metal from which she takes her name« said Quilp »Why
dont she change it melt down the brass and take another name«
»Hold your nonsense Mr Quilp do« returned Miss Sally with a grim smile
»I wonder youre not ashamed of yourself before a strange young man«
»The strange young man« said Quilp handing Dick Swiveller forward »is too
susceptible himself not to understand me well This is Mr Swiveller my
intimate friend a gentleman of good family and great expectations but who
having rather involved himself by youthful indiscretion is content for a time
to fill the humble station of a clerk humble but here most enviable What a
delicious atmosphere«
If Mr Quilp spoke figuratively and meant to imply that the air breathed by
Miss Sally Brass was sweetened and rarefied by that dainty creature he had
doubtless good reason for what he said But if he spoke of the delights of the
atmosphere of Mr Brasss office in a literal sense he had certainly a peculiar
taste as it was of a close and earthy kind and besides being frequently
impregnated with strong whiffs of the secondhand wearing apparel exposed for
sale in Dukes Place and Houndsditch had a decided flavour of rats and mice
and a taint of mouldiness Perhaps some doubts of its pure delight presented
themselves to Mr Swiveller as he gave vent to one or two short abrupt sniffs
and looked incredulously at the grinning dwarf
»Mr Swiveller« said Quilp »being pretty well accustomed to the
agricultural pursuits of sowing wild oats Miss Sally prudently considers that
half a loaf is better than no bread To be out of harms way he prudently thinks
is something too and therefore he accepts your brothers offer Brass Mr
Swiveller is yours«
»I am very glad sir« said Mr Brass »very glad indeed Mr Swiveller
sir is fortunate enough to have your friendship You may be very proud sir to
have the friendship of Mr Quilp«
Dick murmured something about never wanting a friend or a bottle to give
him and also gasped forth his favourite allusion to the wing of friendship and
its never moulting a feather but his faculties appeared to be absorbed in the
contemplation of Miss Sally Brass at whom he stared with blank and rueful
looks which delighted the watchful dwarf beyond measure As to the divine Miss
Sally Brass herself she rubbed her hands as men of business do and took a few
turns up and down the office with her pen behind her ear
»I suppose« said the dwarf turning briskly to his legal friend »that Mr
Swiveller enters upon his duties at once Its Monday morning«
»At once if you please sir by all means« returned Brass
»Miss Sally will teach him law the delightful study of the law« said
Quilp »shell be his guide his friend his companion his Blackstone his Coke
upon Littleton his Young Lawyers Best Companion«
»He is exceedingly eloquent« said Brass like a man abstracted and looking
at the roofs of the opposite houses with his hands in his pockets »he has an
extraordinary flow of language Beautiful really«
»With Miss Sally« Quilp went on »and the beautiful fictions of the law
his days will pass like minutes Those charming creations of the poet John Doe
and Richard Roe when they first dawn upon him will open a new world for the
enlargement of his mind and the improvement of his heart«
»Oh beautiful beautiful Beautiful indeed« cried Brass »Its a treat
to hear him«
»Where will Mr Swiveller sit« said Quilp looking round
»Why well buy another stool sir« returned Brass »We hadnt any thoughts
of having a gentleman with us sir until you were kind enough to suggest it
and our accommodations not extensive Well look about for a secondhand stool
sir In the meantime if Mr Swiveller will take my seat and try his hand at a
fair copy of this ejectment as I shall be out pretty well all the morning «
»Walk with me« said Quilp »I have a word or two to say to you on points of
business Can you spare the time«
»Can I spare the time to walk with you sir Youre joking sir youre
joking with me« replied the lawyer putting on his hat »Im ready sir quite
ready My time must be fully occupied indeed sir not to leave me time to walk
with you Its not everybody sir who has an opportunity of improving himself
by the conversation of Mr Quilp«
The dwarf glanced sarcastically at his brazen friend and with a short dry
cough turned upon his heel to bid adieu to Miss Sally After a very gallant
parting on his side and a very cool and gentlemanly sort of one on hers he
nodded to Dick Swiveller and withdrew with the attorney
Dick stood at the desk in a state of utter stupefaction staring with all
his might at the beauteous Sally as if she had been some curious animal whose
like had never lived When the dwarf got into the street he mounted again upon
the windowsill and looked into the office for a moment with a grinning face
as a man might peep into a cage Dick glanced upward at him but without any
token of recognition and long after he had disappeared still stood gazing upon
Miss Sally Brass seeing or thinking of nothing else and rooted to the spot
Miss Brass being by this time deep in the bill of costs took no notice
whatever of Dick but went scratching on with a noisy pen scoring down the
figures with evident delight and working like a steamengine There stood Dick
gazing now at the green gown now at the brown headdress now at the face and
now at the rapid pen in a state of stupid perplexity wondering how he got into
the company of that strange monster and whether it was a dream and he would
ever wake At last he heaved a deep sigh and began slowly pulling off his coat
Mr Swiveller pulled off his coat and folded it up with great elaboration
staring at Miss Sally all the time then put on a blue jacket with a double row
of gilt buttons which he had originally ordered for aquatic expeditions but
had brought with him that morning for office purposes and still keeping his
eye upon her suffered himself to drop down silently upon Mr Brasss stool
Then he underwent a relapse and becoming powerless again rested his chin upon
his hand and opened his eyes so wide that it appeared quite out of the
question that he could ever close them any more
When he had looked so long that he could see nothing Dick took his eyes off
the fair object of his amazement turned over the leaves of the draft he was to
copy dipped his pen into the inkstand and at last and by slow approaches
began to write But he had not written halfadozen words when reaching over to
the inkstand to take a fresh dip he happened to raise his eyes There was the
intolerable brown headdress there was the green gown there in short was
Miss Sally Brass arrayed in all her charms and more tremendous than ever
This happened so often that Mr Swiveller by degrees began to feel strange
influences creeping over him horrible desires to annihilate this Sally Brass
mysterious promptings to knock her headdress off and try how she looked without
it There was a very large ruler on the table a large black shining ruler
Mr Swiveller took it up and began to rub his nose with it
From rubbing his nose with the ruler to poising it in his hand and giving
it an occasional flourish after the tomahawk manner the transition was easy and
natural In some of these flourishes it went close to Miss Sallys head the
ragged edges of the headdress fluttered with the wind it raised advance it but
an inch and that great brown knot was on the ground yet still the unconscious
maiden worked away and never raised her eyes
Well this was a great relief It was a good thing to write doggedly and
obstinately until he was desperate and then snatch up the ruler and whirl it
about the brown headdress with the consciousness that he could have it off if
he liked It was a good thing to draw it back and rub his nose very hard with
it if he thought Miss Sally was going to look up and to recompense himself
with more hardy flourishes when he found she was still absorbed By these means
Mr Swiveller calmed the agitation of his feelings until his applications to
the ruler became less fierce and frequent and he could even write as many as
halfadozen consecutive lines without having recourse to it which was a
great victory
Chapter XXXIV
In course of time that is to say after a couple of hours or so of diligent
application Miss Brass arrived at the conclusion of her task and recorded the
fact by wiping her pen upon the green gown and taking a pinch of snuff from a
little round tin box which she carried in her pocket Having disposed of this
temperate refreshment she arose from her stool tied her papers into a formal
packet with red tape and taking them under her arm marched out of the office
Mr Swiveller had scarcely sprung off his feet and commenced the performance
of a maniac hornpipe when he was interrupted in the fulness of his joy at
being again alone by the opening of the door and the reappearance of Miss
Sallys head
»I am going out« said Miss Brass
»Very good maam« returned Dick »And dont hurry yourself on my account
to come back maam« he added inwardly
»If anybody comes on office business take their messages and say that the
gentleman who attends to that matter isnt in at present will you« said Miss
Brass
»I will maam« replied Dick
»I shant be very long« said Miss Brass retiring
»Im sorry to hear it maam« rejoined Dick when she had shut the door »I
hope you may be unexpectedly detained maam If you could manage to be run
over maam but not seriously so much the better«
Uttering these expressions of goodwill with extreme gravity Mr Swiveller
sat down in the clients chair and pondered then took a few turns up and down
the room and fell into the chair again
»So Im Brasss clerk am I« said Dick »Brasss clerk eh And the clerk
of Brasss sister clerk to a female Dragon Very good very good What shall I
be next Shall I be a convict in a felt hat and a grey suit trotting about a
dockyard with my number neatly embroidered on my uniform and the order of the
garter on my leg restrained from chafing my ancle by a twisted belcher
handkerchief Shall I be that Will that do or is it too genteel Whatever you
please have it your own way of course«
As he was entirely alone it may be presumed that in these remarks Mr
Swiveller addressed himself to his fate or destiny whom as we learn by the
precedents it is the custom of heroes to taunt in a very bitter and ironical
manner when they find themselves in situations of an unpleasant nature This is
the more probable from the circumstance of Mr Swiveller directing his
observations to the ceiling which these bodily personages are usually supposed
to inhabit except in theatrical cases when they live in the heart of the
great chandelier
»Quilp offers me this place which he says he can insure me« resumed Dick
after a thoughtful silence and telling off the circumstances of his position
one by one upon his fingers »Fred who I could have taken my affidavit would
not have heard of such a thing backs Quilp to my astonishment and urges me to
take it also staggerer number one My aunt in the country stops the supplies
and writes an affectionate note to say that she has made a new will and left me
out of it staggerer number two No money no credit no support from Fred
who seems to turn steady all at once notice to quit the old lodgings
staggerers three four five and six Under an accumulation of staggerers no
man can be considered a free agent No man knocks himself down if his destiny
knocks him down his destiny must pick him up again Then Im very glad that
mine has brought all this upon itself and I shall be as careless as I can and
make myself quite at home to spite it So go on my buck« said Mr Swiveller
taking his leave of the ceiling with a significant nod »and let us see which of
us will be tired first«
Dismissing the subject of his downfall with these reflections which were no
doubt very profound and are indeed not altogether unknown in certain systems of
moral philosophy Mr Swiveller shook off his despondency and assumed the
cheerful ease of an irresponsible clerk
As a means towards his composure and selfpossession he entered into a more
minute examination of the office than he had yet had time to make looked into
the wigbox the books and inkbottle untied and inspected all the papers
carved a few devices on the table with the sharp blade of Mr Brasss penknife
and wrote his name on the inside of the wooden coalscuttle Having as it were
taken formal possession of his clerkship in virtue of these proceedings he
opened the window and leaned negligently out of it until a beerboy happened to
pass whom he commanded to set down his tray and to serve him with a pint of
mild porter which he drank upon the spot and promptly paid for with the view
of breaking ground for a system of future credit and opening a correspondence
tending thereto without loss of time Then three or four little boys dropped
in on legal errands from three or four attorneys of the Brass grade whom Mr
Swiveller received and dismissed with about as professional a manner and as
correct and comprehensive an understanding of their business as would have been
shown by a clown in a pantomime under similar circumstances These things done
and over he got upon his stool again and tried his hand at drawing caricatures
of Miss Brass with a pen and ink whistling very cheerfully all the time
He was occupied in this diversion when a coach stopped near the door and
presently afterwards there was a loud doubleknock As this was no business of
Mr Swivellers the person not ringing the office bell he pursued his
diversion with perfect composure notwithstanding that he rather thought there
was nobody else in the house
In this however he was mistaken for after the knock had been repeated
with increased impatience the door was opened and somebody with a very heavy
tread went up the stairs and into the room above Mr Swiveller was wondering
whether this might be another Miss Brass twin sister to the Dragon when there
came a rapping of knuckles at the office door
»Come in« said Dick »Dont stand upon ceremony The business will get
rather complicated if Ive many more customers Come in«
»Oh please« said a little voice very low down in the doorway »will you
come and show the lodgings«
Dick leant over the table and descried a small slipshod girl in a dirty
coarse apron and bib which left nothing of her visible but her face and feet
She might as well have been dressed in a violincase
»Why who are you« said Dick
To which the only reply was »Oh please will you come and show the
lodgings«
There never was such an oldfashioned child in her looks and manner She
must have been at work from her cradle She seemed as much afraid of Dick as
Dick was amazed at her
»I havnt got anything to do with the lodgings« said Dick »Tell em to
call again«
»Oh but please will you come and show the lodgings« returned the girl
»its eighteen shillings a week and us finding plate and linen Boots and
clothes is extra and fires in wintertime is eightpence a day«
»Why dont you show em yourself You seem to know all about em« said
Dick
»Miss Sally said I wasnt to because people wouldnt believe the attendance
was good if they saw how small I was first«
»Well but theyll see how small you are afterwards wont they« said Dick
»Ah But then theyll have taken em for a fortnight certain« replied the
child with a shrewd look »and people dont like moving when theyre once
settled«
»This is a queer sort of thing« muttered Dick rising »What do you mean to
say you are the cook«
»Yes I do plain cooking« replied the child »Im housemaid too I do all
the work of the house«
»I suppose Brass and the Dragon and I do the dirtiest part of it« thought
Dick And he might have thought much more being in a doubtful and hesitating
mood but that the girl again urged her request and certain mysterious bumping
sounds on the passage and staircase seemed to give note of the applicants
impatience Richard Swiveller therefore sticking a pen behind each ear and
carrying another in his mouth as a token of his great importance and devotion to
business hurried out to meet and treat with the single gentleman
He was a little surprised to perceive that the bumping sounds were
occasioned by the progress up stairs of the single gentlemans trunk which
being nearly twice as wide as the staircase and exceedingly heavy withal it
was no easy matter for the united exertions of the single gentleman and the
coachman to convey up the steep ascent But there they were crushing each
other and pushing and pulling with all their might and getting the trunk tight
and fast in all kinds of impossible angles and to pass them was out of the
question for which sufficient reason Mr Swiveller followed slowly behind
entering a new protest on every stair against the house of Mr Sampson Brass
being thus taken by storm
To these remonstrances the single gentleman answered not a word but when
the trunk was at last got into the bedroom sat down upon it and wiped his bald
head and face with his handkerchief He was very warm and well he might be
for not to mention the exertion of getting the trunk up stairs he was closely
muffled in winter garments though the thermometer had stood all day at
eightyone in the shade
»I believe sir« said Richard Swiveller taking his pen out of his mouth
»that you desire to look at these apartments They are very charming apartments
sir They command an uninterrupted view of of over the way and they are
within one minutes walk of of the corner of the street There is exceedingly
mild porter sir in the immediate vicinity and the contingent advantages are
extraordinary«
»Whats the rent« said the single gentleman
»One pound per week« replied Dick improving on the terms
»Ill take em«
»The boots and clothes are extras« said Dick »and the fires in wintertime
are «
»Are all agreed to« answered the single gentleman
»Two weeks certain« said Dick »are the «
»Two weeks« cried the single gentleman gruffly eyeing him from top to toe
»Two years I shall live here for two years Here Ten pounds down The
bargains made«
»Why you see« said Dick »my name is not Brass and «
»Who said it was My names not Brass What then«
»The name of the master of the house is« said Dick
»Im glad of it« returned the single gentleman »its a good name for a
lawyer Coachman you may go So may you sir«
Mr Swiveller was so much confounded by the single gentleman riding
roughshod over him at this rate that he stood looking at him almost as hard as
he had looked at Miss Sally The single gentleman however was not in the
slightest degree affected by this circumstance but proceeded with perfect
composure to unwind the shawl which was tied round his neck and then to pull
off his boots Freed of these encumbrances he went on to divest himself of his
other clothing which he folded up piece by piece and ranged in order on the
trunk Then he pulled down the windowblinds drew the curtains wound up his
watch and quite leisurely and methodically got into bed
»Take down the bill« were his parting words as he looked out from between
the curtains »and let nobody call me till I ring the bell«
With that the curtains closed and he seemed to snore immediately
»This is a most remarkable and supernatural sort of house« said Mr
Swiveller as he walked into the office with the bill in his hand »Shedragons
in the business conducting themselves like professional gentlemen plain cooks
of three feet high appearing mysteriously from under ground strangers walking
in and going to bed without leave or licence in the middle of the day If he
should be one of the miraculous fellows that turn up now and then and has gone
to sleep for two years I shall be in a pleasant situation Its my destiny
however and I hope Brass may like it I shall be sorry if he dont But its no
business of mine I have nothing whatever to do with it«
Chapter XXXV
Mr Brass on returning home received the report of his clerk with much
complacency and satisfaction and was particular in inquiring after the
tenpound note which proving on examination to be a good and lawful note of
the Governor and Company of the Bank of England increased his goodhumour
considerably Indeed he so overflowed with liberality and condescension that
in the fulness of his heart he invited Mr Swiveller to partake of a bowl of
punch with him at that remote and indefinite period which is currently
denominated one of these days and paid him many handsome compliments on the
uncommon aptitude for business which his conduct on the first day of his
devotion to it had so plainly evinced
It was a maxim with Mr Brass that the habit of paying compliments kept a
mans tongue oiled without any expense and as that useful member ought never
to grow rusty or creak in turning on its hinges in the case of a practitioner of
the law in whom it should be always glib and easy he lost few opportunities of
improving himself by the utterance of handsome speeches and eulogistic
expressions And this had passed into such a habit with him that if he could
not be correctly said to have his tongue at his fingers ends he might
certainly be said to have it anywhere but in his face which being as we have
already seen of a harsh and repulsive character was not oiled so easily but
frowned above all the smooth speeches one of natures beacons warning off
those who navigated the shoals and breakers of the World or of that dangerous
strait the Law and admonishing them to seek less treacherous harbours and try
their fortune elsewhere
While Mr Brass by turns overwhelmed his clerk with compliments and
inspected the tenpound note Miss Sally showed little emotion and that of no
pleasurable kind for as the tendency of her legal practice had been to fix her
thoughts on small gains and gripings and to whet and sharpen her natural
wisdom she was not a little disappointed that the single gentleman had obtained
the lodgings at such an easy rate arguing that when he was seen to have set his
mind upon them he should have been at the least charged double or treble the
usual terms and that in exact proportion as he pressed forward Mr Swiveller
should have hung back But neither the opinion of Mr Brass nor the
dissatisfaction of Miss Sally wrought any impression upon that young gentleman
who throwing the responsibility of this and all other acts and deeds thereafter
to be done by him upon his unlucky destiny was quite resigned and comfortable
fully prepared for the worst and philosophically indifferent to the best
»Good morning Mr Richard« said Brass on the second day of Mr
Swivellers clerkship »Sally found you a secondhand stool sir yesterday
evening in Whitechapel Shes a rare fellow at a bargain I can tell you Mr
Richard Youll find that a firstrate stool sir take my word for it«
»Its rather a crazy one to look at« said Dick
»Youll find it a most amazing stool to sit down upon you may depend«
returned Mr Brass »It was bought in the open street just opposite the
hospital and as it has been standing there a month or two it has got rather
dusty and a little brown from being in the sun thats all«
»I hope it hasnt got any fevers or anything of that sort in it« said Dick
sitting himself down discontentedly between Mr Sampson and the chaste Sally
»One of the legs is longer than the others«
»Then we get a bit of timber in sir« retorted Brass »Ha ha ha We get a
bit of timber in sir and thats another advantage of my sisters going to
market for us Miss Brass Mr Richard is the «
»Will you keep quiet« interrupted the fair subject of these remarks
looking up from her papers »How am I to work if you keep on chattering«
»What an uncertain chap you are« returned the lawyer »Sometimes youre all
for a chat At another time youre all for work A man never knows what humour
hell find you in«
»Im in a working humour now« said Sally »so dont disturb me if you
please And dont take him« Miss Sally pointed with the feather of her pen to
Richard »off his business He wont do more than he can help I dare say«
Mr Brass had evidently a strong inclination to make an angry reply but was
deterred by prudent or timid considerations as he only muttered something about
aggravation and a vagabond not associating the terms with any individual but
mentioning them as connected with some abstract ideas which happened to occur to
him They went on writing for a long time in silence after this in such a dull
silence that Mr Swiveller who required excitement had several times fallen
asleep and written divers strange words in an unknown character with his eyes
shut when Miss Sally at length broke in upon the monotony of the office by
pulling out the little tin box taking a noisy pinch of snuff and then
expressing her opinion that Mr Richard Swiveller had done it
»Done what maam« said Richard
»Do you know« returned Miss Brass »that the lodger isnt up yet that
nothing has been seen or heard of him since he went to bed yesterday afternoon«
»Well maam« said Dick »I suppose he may sleep his ten pound out in
peace and quietness if he likes«
»Ah I begin to think hell never wake« observed Miss Sally
»Its a very remarkable circumstance« said Brass laying down his pen
»really very remarkable Mr Richard youll remember if this gentleman should
be found to have hung himself to the bedpost or any unpleasant accident of
that kind should happen youll remember Mr Richard that this tenpound note
was given to you in part payment of two years rent Youll bear that in mind
Mr Richard you had better make a note of it sir in case you should ever be
called upon to give evidence«
Mr Swiveller took a large sheet of foolscap and with a countenance of
profound gravity began to make a very small note in one corner
»We can never be too cautious« said Mr Brass »There is a deal of
wickedness going about the world a deal of wickedness Did the gentleman happen
to say sir but never mind that at present sir finish that little
memorandum first«
Dick did so and handed it to Mr Brass who had dismounted from his stool
and was walking up and down the office
»Oh this is the memorandum is it« said Brass running his eye over the
document »Very good Now Mr Richard did the gentleman say anything else«
»No«
»Are you sure Mr Richard« said Brass solemnly »that the gentleman said
nothing else«
»Devil a word sir« replied Dick
»Think again sir« said Brass »its my duty sir in the position in which
I stand and as an honourable member of the legal profession the first
profession in this country sir or in any other country or in any of the
planets that shine above us at night and are supposed to be inhabited its my
duty sir as an honourable member of that profession not to put to you a
leading question in a matter of this delicacy and importance Did the gentleman
sir who took the first floor of you yesterday afternoon and who brought with
him a box of property a box of property say anything more than is set down
in this memorandum«
»Come dont be a fool« said Miss Sally
Dick looked at her and then at Brass and then at Miss Sally again and
still said »No«
»Pooh pooh Deuce take it Mr Richard how dull you are« cried Brass
relaxing into a smile »Did he say anything about his property there«
»Thats the way to put it« said Miss Sally nodding to her brother
»Did he say for instance« added Brass in a kind of comfortable cozy tone
»I dont assert that he did say so mind I only ask you to refresh your
memory did he say for instance that he was a stranger in London that it
was not his humour or within his ability to give any references that he felt
we had a right to require them and that in case anything should happen to
him at any time he particularly desired that whatever property he had upon the
premises should be considered mine as some slight recompense for the trouble
and annoyance I should sustain and were you in short« added Brass still
more comfortably and cozily than before »were you induced to accept him on my
behalf as a tenant upon those conditions«
»Certainly not« replied Dick
»Why then Mr Richard« said Brass darting at him a supercilious and
reproachful look »its my opinion that youve mistaken your calling and will
never make a lawyer«
»Not if you live a thousand years« added Miss Sally Whereupon the brother
and sister took each a noisy pinch of snuff from the little tin box and fell
into a gloomy thoughtfulness
Nothing further passed up to Mr Swivellers dinnertime which was at three
oclock and seemed about three weeks in coming At the first stroke of the
hour the new clerk disappeared At the last stroke of five he reappeared and
the office as if by magic became fragrant with the smell of gin and water and
lemonpeel
»Mr Richard« said Brass »this mans not up yet Nothing will wake him
sir Whats to be done«
»I should let him have his sleep out« returned Dick
»Sleep out« cried Brass »why he has been asleep now sixandtwenty hours
We have been moving chests of drawers over his head we have knocked double
knocks at the streetdoor we have made the servantgirl fall down stairs
several times shes a light weight and it dont hurt her much but nothing
wakes him«
»Perhaps a ladder« suggested Dick »and getting in at the firstfloor
window «
»But then theres a door between besides the neighbours would be up in
arms« said Brass
»What do you say to getting on the roof of the house through the trapdoor
and dropping down the chimney« suggested Dick
»That would be an excellent plan« said Brass »if anybody would be« and
here he looked very hard at Mr Swiveller »would be kind and friendly and
generous enough to undertake it I dare say it would not be anything like as
disagreeable as one supposes«
Dick had made the suggestion thinking that the duty might possibly fall
within Miss Sallys department As he said nothing further and declined taking
the hint Mr Brass was fain to propose that they should go up stairs together
and make a last effort to awaken the sleeper by some less violent means which
if they failed on this last trial must positively be succeeded by stronger
measures Mr Swiveller assenting armed himself with his stool and the large
ruler and repaired with his employer to the scene of action where Miss Brass
was already ringing a handbell with all her might and yet without producing
the smallest effect upon their mysterious lodger
»They are his boots Mr Richard« said Brass
»Very obstinatelooking articles they are too« quoth Richard Swiveller And
truly they were as sturdy and bluff a pair of boots as one would wish to see
as firmly planted on the ground as if their owners legs and feet had been in
them and seeming with their broad soles and blunt toes to hold possession of
their place by main force
»I cant see anything but the curtain of the bed« said Brass applying his
eye to the keyhole of the door »Is he a strong man Mr Richard«
»Very« answered Dick
»It would be an extremely unpleasant circumstance if he was to bounce out
suddenly« said Brass »Keep the stairs clear I should be more than a match for
him of course but Im the master of the house and the laws of hospitality
must be respected Hallo there Hallo hallo«
While Mr Brass with his eye curiously twisted into the keyhole uttered
these sounds as a means of attracting the lodgers attention and while Miss
Brass plied the handbell Mr Swiveller put his stool close against the wall by
the side of the door and mounting on the top and standing bolt upright so that
if the lodger did make a rush he would most probably pass him in its onward
fury began a violent battery with the ruler upon the upper panels of the door
Captivated with his own ingenuity and confident in the strength of his
position which he had taken up after the method of those hardy individuals who
open the pit and gallery doors of theatres on crowded nights Mr Swiveller
rained down such a shower of blows that the noise of the bell was drowned and
the small servant who lingered on the stairs below ready to fly at a moments
notice was obliged to hold her ears lest she should be rendered deaf for life
Suddenly the door was unlocked on the inside and flung violently open The
small servant flew to the coalcellar Miss Sally dived into her own bedroom
Mr Brass who was not remarkable for personal courage ran into the next
street and finding that nobody followed him armed with a poker or other
offensive weapon put his hands in his pockets walked very slowly all at once
and whistled
Meanwhile Mr Swiveller on the top of the stool drew himself into as flat
a shape as possible against the wall and looked not unconcernedly down upon
the single gentleman who appeared at the door growling and cursing in a very
awful manner and with the boots in his hand seemed to have an intention of
hurling them down stairs on speculation This idea however he abandoned He
was turning into his room again still growling vengefully when his eyes met
those of the watchful Richard
»Have you been making that horrible noise« said the single gentleman
»I have been helping sir« returned Dick keeping his eye upon him and
waving the ruler gently in his right hand as an indication of what the single
gentleman had to expect if he attempted any violence
»How dare you then« said the lodger »eh«
To this Dick made no other reply than by inquiring whether the lodger held
it to be consistent with the conduct and character of a gentleman to go to sleep
for sixandtwenty hours at a stretch and whether the peace of an amiable and
virtuous family was to weigh as nothing in the balance
»Is my peace nothing« said the single gentleman
»Is their peace nothing sir« returned Dick »I dont wish to hold out any
threats sir indeed the law does not allow of threats for to threaten is an
indictable offence but if ever you do that again take care youre not sat
upon by the coroner and buried in a cross road before you wake We have been
distracted with fears that you were dead sir« said Dick gently sliding to the
ground »and the short and the long of it is that we cannot allow single
gentlemen to come into this establishment and sleep like double gentlemen
without paying extra for it«
»Indeed« cried the lodger
»Yes sir indeed« returned Dick yielding to his destiny and saying
whatever came uppermost »an equal quantity of slumber was never got out of one
bed and bedstead and if youre going to sleep in that way you must pay for a
doublebedded room«
Instead of being thrown into a greater passion by these remarks the lodger
lapsed into a broad grin and looked at Mr Swiveller with twinkling eyes He was
a brownfaced sunburnt man and appeared browner and more sunburnt from having
a white nightcap on As it was clear that he was a choleric fellow in some
respects Mr Swiveller was relieved to find him in such good humour and to
encourage him in it smiled himself
The lodger in the testiness of being so rudely roused had pushed his
nightcap very much on one side of his bald head This gave him a rakish
eccentric air which now that he had leisure to observe it charmed Mr
Swiveller exceedingly therefore by way of propitiation he expressed his hope
that the gentleman was going to get up and further that he would never do so
any more
»Come here you impudent rascal« was the lodgers answer as he reentered
his room
Mr Swiveller followed him in leaving the stool outside but reserving the
ruler in case of a surprise He rather congratulated himself on his prudence
when the single gentleman without notice or explanation of any kind
doublelocked the door
»Can you drink anything« was his next inquiry
Mr Swiveller replied that he had very recently been assuaging the pangs of
thirst but that he was still open to a modest quencher if the materials were
at hand Without another word spoken on either side the lodger took from his
great trunk a kind of temple shining as of polished silver and placed it
carefully on the table
Greatly interested in his proceedings Mr Swiveller observed him closely
Into one little chamber of this temple he dropped an egg into another some
coffee into a third a compact piece of raw steak from a neat tin case into a
fourth he poured some water Then with the aid of a phosphorusbox and some
matches he procured a light and applied it to a spiritlamp which had a place
of its own below the temple then he shut down the lids of all the little
chambers then he opened them and then by some wonderful and unseen agency
the steak was done the egg was boiled the coffee was accurately prepared and
his breakfast was ready
»Hot water « said the lodger handing it to Mr Swiveller with as much
coolness as if he had a kitchen fire before him »extraordinary rum sugar
and a travelling glass Mix for yourself And make haste«
Dick complied his eyes wandering all the time from the temple on the table
which seemed to do everything to the great trunk which seemed to hold
everything The lodger took his breakfast like a man who was used to work these
miracles and thought nothing of them
»The man of the house is a lawyer is he not« said the lodger
Dick nodded The rum was amazing
»The woman of the house whats she«
»A dragon« said Dick
The single gentleman perhaps because he had met with such things in his
travels or perhaps because he was a single gentleman evinced no surprise but
merely inquired »Wife or Sister« »Sister« said Dick »So much the better«
said the single gentleman »he can get rid of her when he likes«
»I want to do as I like young man« he added after a short silence »to go
to bed when I like get up when I like come in when I like go out when I like
to be asked no questions and be surrounded by no spies In this last respect
servants are the devil Theres only one here«
»And a very little one« said Dick
»And a very little one« repeated the lodger »Well the place will suit me
will it«
»Yes« said Dick
»Sharks I suppose« said the lodger
Dick nodded assent and drained his glass
»Let them know my humour« said the single gentleman rising »If they
disturb me they lose a good tenant If they know me to be that they know
enough If they try to know more its a notice to quit Its better to
understand these things at once Good day«
»I beg your pardon« said Dick halting in his passage to the door which
the lodger prepared to open »When he who adores thee has left but the name «
»What do you mean«
» But the name« said Dick »has left but the name in case of letters or
parcels «
»I never have any« returned the lodger
»Or in case anybody should call«
»Nobody ever calls on me«
»If any mistake should arise from not having the name dont say it was my
fault sir« added Dick still lingering »Oh blame not the bard «
»Ill blame nobody« said the lodger with such irascibility that in a
moment Dick found himself on the staircase and the locked door between them
Mr Brass and Miss Sally were lurking hard by having been indeed only
routed from the keyhole by Mr Swivellers abrupt exit As their utmost
exertions had not enabled them to overhear a word of the interview however in
consequence of a quarrel for precedence which though limited of necessity to
pushes and pinches and such quiet pantomime had lasted the whole time they
hurried him down to the office to hear his account of the conversation
This Mr Swiveller gave them faithfully as regarded the wishes and
character of the single gentleman and poetically as concerned the great trunk
of which he gave a description more remarkable for brilliancy of imagination
than a strict adherence to truth declaring with many strong asseverations
that it contained a specimen of every kind of rich food and wine known in these
times and in particular that it was of a selfacting kind and served up
whatever was required as he supposed by clockwork He also gave them to
understand that the cooking apparatus roasted a fine piece of sirloin of beef
weighing about six pounds avoirdupois in two minutes and a quarter as he had
himself witnessed and proved by his sense of taste and further that however
the effect was produced he had distinctly seen water boil and bubble up when
the single gentleman winked from which facts he Mr Swiveller was led to
infer that the lodger was some great conjurer or chemist or both whose
residence under that roof could not fail at some future day to shed a great
credit and distinction on the name of Brass and add a new interest to the
history of Bevis Marks
There was one point which Mr Swiveller deemed it unnecessary to enlarge
upon and that was the fact of the modest quencher which by reason of its
intrinsic strength and its coming close upon the heels of the temperate beverage
he had discussed at dinner awakened a slight degree of fever and rendered
necessary two or three other modest quenchers at the publichouse in the course
of the evening
Chapter XXXVI
As the single gentleman after some weeks occupation of his lodgings still
declined to correspond by word or gesture either with Mr Brass or his sister
Sally but invariably chose Richard Swiveller as his channel of communication
and as he proved himself in all respects a highly desirable inmate paying for
everything beforehand giving very little trouble making no noise and keeping
early hours Mr Richard imperceptibly rose to an important position in the
family as one who had influence over this mysterious lodger and could
negotiate with him for good or evil when nobody else durst approach his
person
If the truth must be told even Mr Swivellers approaches to the single
gentleman were of a very distant kind and met with small encouragement but as
he never returned from a monosyllabic conference with the unknown without
quoting such expressions as »Swiveller I know I can rely upon you« »I have
no hesitation in saying Swiveller that I entertain a regard for you«
»Swiveller you are my friend and will stand by me I am sure« with many other
short speeches of the same familiar and confiding kind purporting to have been
addressed by the single gentleman to himself and to form the staple of their
ordinary discourse neither Mr Brass nor Miss Sally for a moment questioned the
extent of his influence but accorded to him their fullest and most unqualified
belief
But quite apart from and independent of this source of popularity Mr
Swiveller had another which promised to be equally enduring and to lighten his
position considerably
He found favour in the eyes of Miss Sally Brass Let not the light scorners
of female fascination erect their ears to listen to a new tale of love which
shall serve them for a jest for Miss Brass however accurately formed to be
beloved was not of the loving kind That amiable virgin having clung to the
skirts of the Law from her earliest youth having sustained herself by their
aid as it were in her first running alone and maintained a firm grasp upon
them ever since had passed her life in a kind of legal childhood She had been
remarkable when a tender prattler for an uncommon talent in counterfeiting the
walk and manner of a bailiff in which character she had learned to tap her
little playfellows on the shoulder and to carry them off to imaginary
sponginghouses with a correctness of imitation which was the surprise and
delight of all who witnessed her performances and which was only to be exceeded
by her exquisite manner of putting an execution into her dolls house and
taking an exact inventory of the chairs and tables These artless sports had
naturally soothed and cheered the decline of her widowed father a most
exemplary gentleman called old Foxey by his friends from his extreme
sagacity who encouraged them to the utmost and whose chief regret on finding
that he drew near to Houndsditch churchyard was that his daughter could not
take out an attorneys certificate and hold a place upon the roll Filled with
this affectionate and touching sorrow he had solemnly confided her to his son
Sampson as an invaluable auxiliary and from the old gentlemans decease to the
period of which we treat Miss Sally Brass had been the prop and pillar of his
business
It is obvious that having devoted herself from infancy to this one pursuit
and study Miss Brass could know but little of the world otherwise than in
connection with the law and that from a lady gifted with such high tastes
proficiency in those gentler and softer arts in which women usually excel was
scarcely to be looked for Miss Sallys accomplishments were all of a masculine
and strictly legal kind They began with the practice of an attorney and they
ended with it She was in a state of lawful innocence so to speak The law had
been her nurse And as bandylegs or such physical deformities in children are
held to be the consequence of bad nursing so if in a mind so beautiful any
moral twist or bandiness could be found Miss Sally Brasss nurse was alone to
blame
It was on this lady then that Mr Swiveller burst in full freshness as
something new and hitherto undreamed of lighting up the office with scraps of
song and merriment conjuring with inkstands and boxes of wafers catching three
oranges in one hand balancing stools upon his chin and penknives on his nose
and constantly performing a hundred other feats with equal ingenuity for with
such unbendings did Richard in Mr Brasss absence relieve the tedium of his
confinement These social qualities which Miss Sally first discovered by
accident gradually made such an impression upon her that she would entreat Mr
Swiveller to relax as though she were not by which Mr Swiveller nothing loth
would readily consent to do By these means a friendship sprung up between them
Mr Swiveller gradually came to look upon her as her brother Sampson did and as
he would have looked upon any other clerk He imparted to her the mystery of
going the odd man or plain Newmarket for fruit gingerbeer baked potatoes or
even a modest quencher of which Miss Brass did not scruple to partake He would
often persuade her to undertake his share of writing in addition to her own
nay he would sometimes reward her with a hearty slap on the back and protest
that she was a devilish good fellow a jolly dog and so forth all of which
compliments Miss Sally would receive in entire good part and with perfect
satisfaction
One circumstance troubled Mr Swivellers mind very much and that was that
the small servant always remained somewhere in the bowels of the earth under
Bevis Marks and never came to the surface unless the single gentleman rang his
bell when she would answer it and immediately disappear again She never went
out or came into the office or had a clean face or took off the coarse apron
or looked out of any one of the windows or stood at the streetdoor for a
breath of air or had any rest or enjoyment whatever Nobody ever came to see
her nobody spoke of her nobody cared about her Mr Brass had said once that
he believed she was a lovechild which means anything but a child of love
and that was all the information Richard Swiveller could obtain
»Its of no use asking the dragon« thought Dick one day as he sat
contemplating the features of Miss Sally Brass »I suspect if I asked any
questions on that head our alliance would be at an end I wonder whether she is
a dragon bythebye or something in the mermaid way She has rather a scaly
appearance But mermaids are fond of looking at themselves in the glass which
she cant be And they have a habit of combing their hair which she hasnt No
shes a dragon«
»Where are you going old fellow« said Dick aloud as Miss Sally wiped her
pen as usual on the green dress and uprose from her seat
»To dinner« answered the dragon
»To dinner« thought Dick »thats another circumstance I dont believe
that small servant ever has anything to eat«
»Sammy wont be home« said Miss Brass »Stop till I come back I shant be
long«
Dick nodded and followed Miss Brass with his eyes to the door and with
his ears to a little back parlour where she and her brother took their meals
»Now« said Dick walking up and down with his hands in his pockets »Id
give something if I had it to know how they use that child and where they
keep her My mother must have been a very inquisitive woman I have no doubt Im
marked with a note of interrogation somewhere My feelings I smother but thou
hast been the cause of this anguish my upon my word« said Mr Swiveller
checking himself and falling thoughtfully into the clients chair »I should
like to know how they use her«
After running on in this way for some time Mr Swiveller softly opened
the office door with the intention of darting across the street for a glass of
the mild porter At that moment he caught a parting glimpse of the brown
headdress of Miss Brass flitting down the kitchen stairs »And by Jove«
thought Dick »shes going to feed the small servant Now or never«
First peeping over the handrail and allowing the headdress to disappear in
the darkness below he groped his way down and arrived at the door of a back
kitchen immediately after Miss Brass had entered the same bearing in her hand a
cold leg of mutton It was a very dark miserable place very low and very damp
the walls disfigured by a thousand rents and blotches The water was trickling
out of a leaky butt and a most wretched cat was lapping up the drops with the
sickly eagerness of starvation The grate which was a wide one was wound and
screwed up tight so as to hold no more than a little thin sandwich of fire
Everything was locked up the coalcellar the candlebox the saltbox the
meatsafe were all padlocked There was nothing that a beetle could have
lunched upon The pinched and meagre aspect of the place would have killed a
chameleon he would have known at the first mouthful that the air was not
eatable and must have given up the ghost in despair
The small servant stood with humility in presence of Miss Sally and hung
her head
»Are you there« said Miss Sally
»Yes maam« was the answer in a weak voice
»Go further away from the leg of mutton or youll be picking it I know«
said Miss Sally
The girl withdrew into a corner while Miss Brass took a key from her
pocket and opening the safe brought from it a dreary waste of cold potatoes
looking as eatable as Stonehenge This she placed before the small servant
ordering her to sit down before it and then taking up a great carvingknife
made a mighty show of sharpening it upon the carvingfork
»Do you see this« said Miss Brass slicing off about two square inches of
cold mutton after all this preparation and holding it out on the point of the
fork
The small servant looked hard enough at it with her hungry eyes to see every
shred of it small as it was and answered »Yes«
»Then dont you ever go and say« retorted Miss Sally »that you hadnt meat
here There eat it up«
This was soon done »Now do you want any more« said Miss Sally
The hungry creature answered with a faint »No« They were evidently going
through an established form
»Youve been helped once to meat« said Miss Brass summing up the facts
»you have had as much as you can eat youre asked if you want any more and you
answer No Then dont you ever go and say you were allowanced mind that«
With those words Miss Sally put the meat away and locked the safe and then
drawing near to the small servant overlooked her while she finished the
potatoes
It was plain that some extraordinary grudge was working in Miss Brasss
gentle breast and that it was that which impelled her without the smallest
present cause to rap the child with the blade of the knife now on her hand
now on her head and now on her back as if she found it quite impossible to
stand so close to her without administering a few slight knocks But Mr
Swiveller was not a little surprised to see his fellowclerk after walking
slowly backwards towards the door as if she were trying to withdraw herself
from the room but could not accomplish it dart suddenly forward and falling on
the small servant give her some hard blows with her clenched hand The victim
cried but in a subdued manner as if she feared to raise her voice and Miss
Sally comforting herself with a pinch of snuff ascended the stairs just as
Richard had safely reached the office
Chapter XXXVII
The single gentleman among his other peculiarities and he had a very plentiful
stock of which he every day furnished some new specimen took a most
extraordinary and remarkable interest in the exhibition of Punch If the sound
of a Punchs voice at ever so remote a distance reached Bevis Marks the
single gentleman though in bed and asleep would start up and hurrying on his
clothes make for the spot with all speed and presently return at the head of a
long procession of idlers having in the midst the theatre and its proprietors
Straightway the stage would be set up in front of Mr Brasss house the single
gentleman would establish himself at the firstfloor window and the
entertainment would proceed with all its exciting accompaniments of fife and
drum and shout to the excessive consternation of all sober votaries of business
in that silent thoroughfare It might have been expected that when the play was
done both players and audience would have dispersed but the epilogue was as
bad as the play for no sooner was the Devil dead than the manager of the
puppets and his partner were summoned by the single gentleman to his chamber
where they were regaled with strong waters from his private store and where
they held with him long conversations the purport of which no human being could
fathom But the secret of these discussions was of little importance It was
sufficient to know that while they were proceeding the concourse without still
lingered round the house that boys beat upon the drum with their fists and
imitated Punch with their tender voices that the officewindow was rendered
opaque by flattened noses and the keyhole of the streetdoor luminous with
eyes that every time the single gentleman or either of his guests was seen at
the upper window or so much as the end of one of their noses was visible there
was a great shout of execration from the excluded mob who remained howling and
yelling and refusing consolation until the exhibitors were delivered up to
them to be attended elsewhere It was sufficient in short to know that Bevis
Marks was revolutionised by these popular movements and that peace and
quietness fled from its precincts
Nobody was rendered more indignant by these proceedings than Mr Sampson
Brass who as he could by no means afford to lose so profitable an inmate
deemed it prudent to pocket his lodgers affront along with his cash and to
annoy the audiences who clustered round his door by such imperfect means of
retaliation as were open to him and which were confined to the trickling down
of foul water on their heads from unseen wateringpots pelting them with
fragments of tile and mortar from the roof of the house and bribing the drivers
of hackney cabriolets to come suddenly round the corner and dash in among them
precipitately It may at first sight be matter of surprise to the thoughtless
few that Mr Brass being a professional gentleman should not have legally
indicted some party or parties active in the promotion of the nuisance but
they will be good enough to remember that as Doctors seldom take their own
prescriptions and Divines do not always practise what they preach so lawyers
are shy of meddling with the Law on their own account knowing it to be an edged
tool of uncertain application very expensive in the working and rather
remarkable for its properties of close shaving than for its always shaving the
right person
»Come« said Mr Brass one afternoon »this is two days without a Punch Im
in hopes he has run through em all at last«
»Why are you in hopes« returned Miss Sally »What harm do they do«
»Heres a pretty sort of a fellow« cried Brass laying down his pen in
despair »Now heres an aggravating animal«
»Well what harm do they do« retorted Sally
»What harm« cried Brass »Is it no harm to have a constant hallooing and
hooting under ones very nose distracting one from business and making one
grind ones teeth with vexation Is it no harm to be blinded and choked up and
have the kings highway stopped with a set of screamers and roarers whose
throats must be made of of «
»Brass« suggested Mr Swiveller
»Ah of brass« said the lawyer glancing at his clerk to assure himself
that he had suggested the word in good faith and without any sinister intention
»Is that no harm«
The lawyer stopped short in his invective and listening for a moment and
recognising the wellknown voice rested his head upon his hand raised his eyes
to the ceiling and muttered faintly
»Theres another«
Up went the single gentlemans window directly
»Theres another« repeated Brass »and if I could get a break and four
blood horses to cut into the Marks when the crowd is at its thickest Id give
eighteenpence and never grudge it«
The distant squeak was heard again The single gentlemans door burst open
He ran violently down the stairs out into the street and so past the window
without any hat towards the quarter whence the sound proceeded bent no
doubt upon securing the strangers services directly
»I wish I only knew who his friends were« muttered Sampson filling his
pocket with papers »if theyd just get up a pretty little Commission de
lunatico at the Grays Inn Coffee House and give me the job Id be content to
have the lodgings empty for one while at all events«
With which words and knocking his hat over his eyes as if for the purpose
of shutting out even a glimpse of the dreadful visitation Mr Brass rushed from
the house and hurried away
As Mr Swiveller was decidedly favourable to these performances upon the
ground that looking at a Punch or indeed looking at anything out of window was
better than working and as he had been for this reason at some pains to
awaken in his fellowclerk a sense of their beauties and manifold deserts both
he and Miss Sally rose as with one accord and took up their positions at the
window upon the sill whereof as in a post of honour sundry young ladies and
gentlemen who were employed in the dry nurture of babies and who made a point
of being present with their young charges on such occasions had already
established themselves as comfortably as the circumstances would allow
The glass being dim Mr Swiveller agreeably to a friendly custom which he
had established between them hitched off the brown headdress from Miss Sallys
head and dusted it carefully therewith By the time he had handed it back and
its beautiful wearer had put it on again which she did with perfect composure
and indifference the lodger returned with the show and showmen at his heels
and a strong addition to the body of spectators The exhibitor disappeared with
all speed behind the drapery and his partner stationing himself by the side of
the theatre surveyed the audience with a remarkable expression of melancholy
which became more remarkable still when he breathed a hornpipe tune into that
sweet musical instrument which is popularly termed a mouthorgan without at all
changing the mournful expression of the upper part of his face though his mouth
and chin were of necessity in lively spasms
The drama proceeded to its close and held the spectators enchained in the
customary manner The sensation which kindles in large assemblies when they are
relieved from a state of breathless suspense and are again free to speak and
move was yet rife when the lodger as usual summoned the men up stairs
»Both of you« he called from the window for only the actual exhibitor a
little fat man prepared to obey the summons »I want to talk to you Come both
of you«
»Come Tommy« said the little man
»I ant a talker« replied the other »Tell him so What should I go and
talk for«
»Dont you see the gentlemans got a bottle and glass up there« returned
the little man
»And couldnt you have said so at first« retorted the other with sudden
alacrity »Now what are you waiting for Are you going to keep the gentleman
expecting us all day havent you no manners«
With this remonstrance the melancholy man who was no other than Mr Thomas
Codlin pushed past his friend and brother in the craft Mr Harris otherwise
Short or Trotters and hurried before him to the single gentlemans apartment
»Now my men« said the single gentleman »you have done very well What
will you take Tell that little man behind to shut the door«
»Shut the door cant you« said Mr Codlin turning gruffly to his friend
»You might have knowed that the gentleman wanted the door shut without being
told I think«
Mr Short obeyed observing under his breath that his friend seemed
unusually cranky and expressing a hope that there was no dairy in the
neighbourhood or his temper would certainly spoil its contents
The gentleman pointed to a couple of chairs and intimated by an emphatic
nod of his head that he expected them to be seated Messrs Codlin and Short
after looking at each other with considerable doubt and indecision at length
sat down each on the extreme edge of the chair pointed out to him and held
their hats very tight while the single gentleman filled a couple of glasses
from a bottle on the table beside him and presented them in due form
»Youre pretty well browned by the sun both of you« said their
entertainer »Have you been travelling«
Mr Short replied in the affirmative with a nod and a smile Mr Codlin
added a corroborative nod and a short groan as if he still felt the weight of
the Temple on his shoulders
»To fairs markets races and so forth I suppose« pursued the single
gentleman
»Yes sir« returned Short »pretty nigh all over the West of England«
»I have talked to men of your craft from North East and South« returned
their host in rather a hasty manner »but I never lighted on any from the West
before«
»Its our reglar summer circuit is the West master« said Short »thats
where it is We takes the East of London in the spring and winter and the West
of England in the summertime Manys the hard days walking in rain and mud
and with never a penny earned weve had down in the West«
»Let me fill your glass again«
»Much obleeged to you sir I think I will« said Mr Codlin suddenly
thrusting in his own and turning Shorts aside »Im the sufferer sir in all
the travelling and in all the staying at home In town or country wet or dry
hot or cold Tom Codlin suffers But Tom Codlin isnt to complain for all that
Oh no Short may complain but if Codlin grumbles by so much as a word oh
dear down with him down with him directly It isnt his place to grumble
Thats quite out of the question«
»Codlin ant without his usefulness« observed Short with an arch look »but
he dont always keep his eyes open He falls asleep sometimes you know
Remember them last races Tommy«
»Will you never leave off aggravating a man« said Codlin »Its very like I
was asleep when fiveandtenpence was collected in one round isnt it I was
attending to my business and couldnt have my eyes in twenty places at once
like a peacock no more than you could If I ant a match for an old man and a
young child you ant neither so dont throw that out against me for the cap
fits your head quite as correct as it fits mine«
»You may as well drop the subject Tom« said Short »It isnt particular
agreeable to the gentleman I dare say«
»Then you shouldnt have brought it up« returned Mr Codlin »and I ask the
gentlemans pardon on your account as a giddy chap that likes to hear himself
talk and dont much care what he talks about so that he does talk«
Their entertainer had sat perfectly quiet in the beginning of this dispute
looking first at one man and then at the other as if he were lying in wait for
an opportunity of putting some further question or reverting to that from which
the discourse had strayed But from the point where Mr Codlin was charged with
sleepiness he had shown an increasing interest in the discussion which now
attained a very high pitch
»You are the two men I want« he said »the two men I have been looking for
and searching after Where are that old man and that child you speak of«
»Sir« said Short hesitating and looking towards his friend
»The old man and his grandchild who travelled with you where are they It
will be worth your while to speak out I assure you much better worth your
while than you believe They left you you say at those races as I
understand They have been traced to that place and there lost sight of Have
you no clue can you suggest no clue to their recovery«
»Did I always say Thomas« cried Short turning with a look of amazement to
his friend »that there was sure to be an inquiry after them two travellers«
»You said« returned Mr Codlin »Did I always say that that ere blessed
child was the most interesting I ever see Did I always say I loved her and
doated on her Pretty creetur I think I hear her now Codlins my friend she
says with a tear of gratitude a trickling down her little eye Codlins my
friend she says not Short Shorts very well she says Ive no quarrel with
Short he means kind I dare say but Codlin she says has the feelings for my
money though he maynt look it«
Repeating these words with great emotion Mr Codlin rubbed the bridge of
his nose with his coatsleeve and shaking his head mournfully from side to
side left the single gentleman to infer that from the moment when he lost
sight of his dear young charge his peace of mind and happiness had fled
»Good Heaven« said the single gentleman pacing up and down the room »have
I found these men at last only to discover that they can give me no information
or assistance It would have been better to have lived on in hope from day to
day and never to have lighted on them than to have my expectations scattered
thus«
»Stay a minute« said Short »A man of the name of Jerry you know Jerry
Thomas«
»Oh dont talk to me of Jerrys« replied Mr Codlin »How can I care a
pinch of snuff for Jerrys when I think of that ere darling child Codlins my
friend she says dear good kind Codlin as is always a devising pleasures for
me I dont object to Short she says but I cotton to Codlin Once« said that
gentleman reflectively »she called me Father Codlin I thought I should have
bust«
»A man of the name of Jerry sir« said Short turning from his selfish
colleague to their new acquaintance »wot keeps a company of dancing dogs told
me in a accidental sort of a way that he had seen the old gentleman in
connexion with a travelling waxwork unbeknown to him As theyd given us the
slip and nothing had come of it and this was down in the country that hed
been seen I took no measures about it and asked no questions But I can if
you like«
»Is this man in town« said the impatient single gentleman »Speak faster«
»No he isnt but he will be tomorrow for he lodges in our house« replied
Mr Short rapidly
»Then bring him here« said the single gentleman »Heres a sovereign
apiece If I can find these people through your means it is but a prelude to
twenty more Return to me tomorrow and keep your own counsel on this subject
though I need hardly tell you that for youll do so for your own sakes Now
give me your address and leave me«
The address was given the two men departed the crowd went with them and
the single gentleman for two mortal hours walked in uncommon agitation up and
down his room over the wondering heads of Mr Swiveller and Miss Sally Brass
Chapter XXXVIII
Kit for it happens at this juncture not only that we have breathing time to
follow his fortunes but that the necessities of these adventures so adapt
themselves to our ease and inclination as to call upon us imperatively to pursue
the track we most desire to take Kit while the matters treated of in the last
fifteen chapters were yet in progress was as the reader may suppose gradually
familiarising himself more and more with Mr and Mrs Garland Mr Abel the
pony and Barbara and gradually coming to consider them one and all as his
particular private friends and Abel Cottage Finchley as his own proper home
Stay the words are written and may go but if they convey any notion that
Kit in the plentiful board and comfortable lodging of his new abode began to
think slightingly of the poor fare and furniture of his old dwelling they do
their office badly and commit injustice Who so mindful of those he left at home
albeit they were but a mother and two young babies as Kit What boastful
father in the fulness of his heart ever related such wonders of his infant
prodigy as Kit never wearied of telling Barbara in the evening time concerning
little Jacob Was there ever such a mother as Kits mother on her sons
showing or was there ever such comfort in poverty as in the poverty of Kits
family if any correct judgment might be arrived at from his own glowing
account
And let me linger in this place for an instant to remark that if ever
household affections and loves are graceful things they are graceful in the
poor The ties that bind the wealthy and the proud to home may be forged on
earth but those which link the poor man to his humble hearth are of the truer
metal and bear the stamp of Heaven The man of high descent may love the halls
and lands of his inheritance as a part of himself as trophies of his birth and
power his associations with them are associations of pride and wealth and
triumph the poor mans attachment to the tenements he holds which strangers
have held before and may tomorrow occupy again has a worthier root struck
deep into a purer soil His household gods are of flesh and blood with no alloy
of silver gold or precious stone he has no property but in the affections of
his own heart and when they endear bare floors and walls despite of rags and
toil and scanty fare that man has his love of home from God and his rude hut
becomes a solemn place
Oh if those who rule the destinies of nations would but remember this if
they would but think how hard it is for the very poor to have engendered in
their hearts that love of home from which all domestic virtues spring when
they live in dense and squalid masses where social decency is lost or rather
never found if they would but turn aside from the wide thoroughfares and
great houses and strive to improve the wretched dwellings in byeways where
only Poverty may walk many low roofs would point more truly to the sky than
the loftiest steeple that now rears proudly up from the midst of guilt and
crime and horrible disease to mock them by its contrast In hollow voices from
Workhouse Hospital and Jail this truth is preached from day to day and has
been proclaimed for years It is no light matter no outcry from the working
vulgar no mere question of the peoples health and comforts that may be
whistled down on Wednesday nights In love of home the love of country has its
rise and who are the truer patriots or the better in time of need those who
venerate the land owning its wood and stream and earth and all that they
produce or those who love their country boasting not a foot of ground in all
its wide domain
Kit knew nothing about such questions but he knew that his old home was a
very poor place and that his new one was very unlike it and yet he was
constantly looking back with grateful satisfaction and affectionate anxiety and
often indited squarefolded letters to his mother inclosing a shilling or
eighteen or such other small remittance which Mr Abels liberality enabled
him to make Sometimes being in the neighbourhood he had leisure to call upon
her and then great was the joy and pride of Kits mother and extremely noisy
the satisfaction of little Jacob and the baby and cordial the congratulations
of the whole court who listened with admiring ears to the accounts of Abel
Cottage and could never be told too much of its wonders and magnificence
Although Kit was in the very highest favour with the old lady and gentleman
and Mr Abel and Barbara it is certain that no member of the family evinced
such a remarkable partiality for him as the selfwilled pony who from being
the most obstinate and opinionated pony on the face of the earth was in his
hands the meekest and most tractable of animals It is true that in exact
proportion as he became manageable by Kit he became utterly ungovernable by
anybody else as if he had determined to keep him in the family at all risks
and hazards and that even under the guidance of his favourite he would
sometimes perform a great variety of strange freaks and capers to the extreme
discomposure of the old ladys nerves but as Kit always represented that this
was only his fun or a way he had of showing his attachment to his employers
Mrs Garland gradually suffered herself to be persuaded into the belief in
which she at last became so strongly confirmed that if in one of these
ebullitions he had overturned the chaise she would have been quite satisfied
that he did it with the very best intentions
Besides becoming in a short time a perfect marvel in all stable matters Kit
soon made himself a very tolerable gardener a handy fellow within doors and an
indispensable attendant on Mr Abel who every day gave him some new proof of
his confidence and approbation Mr Witherden the Notary too regarded him with
a friendly eye and even Mr Chuckster would sometimes condescend to give him a
slight nod or to honour him with that peculiar form of recognition which is
called »taking a sight« or to favour him with some other salute combining
pleasantry with patronage
One morning Kit drove Mr Abel to the Notarys office as he sometimes did
and having set him down at the house was about to drive off to a livery stable
hard by when this same Mr Chuckster emerged from the office door and cried
»Woaaaaaa« dwelling upon the note a long time for the purpose of
striking terror into the ponys heart and asserting the supremacy of man over
the inferior animals
»Pull up Snobby« cried Mr Chuckster addressing himself to Kit »Youre
wanted inside here«
»Has Mr Abel forgotten anything I wonder« said Kit as he dismounted
»Ask no questions Snobby« returned Mr Chuckster »but go and see Woaaa
then will you If that pony was mine Id break him«
»You must be very gentle with him if you please« said Kit »or youll find
him troublesome Youd better not keep on pulling his ears please I know he
wont like it«
To this remonstrance Mr Chuckster deigned no other answer than addressing
Kit with a lofty and distant air as »young feller« and requesting him to cut
and come again with all speed The »young feller« complying Mr Chuckster put
his hands in his pockets and tried to look as if he were not minding the pony
but happened to be lounging there by accident
Kit scraped his shoes very carefully for he had not yet lost his reverence
for the bundles of papers and the tin boxes and tapped at the office door
which was quickly opened by the Notary himself
»Oh come in Christopher« said Mr Witherden
»Is that the lad« asked an elderly gentleman but of a stout bluff figure
who was in the room
»Thats the lad« said Mr Witherden »He fell in with my client Mr
Garland sir at this very door I have reason to think he is a good lad sir
and that you may believe what he says Let me introduce Mr Abel Garland sir
his young master my articled pupil sir and most particular friend my most
particular friend sir« repeated the Notary drawing out his silk handkerchief
and flourishing it about his face
»Your servant sir« said the stranger gentleman
»Yours sir Im sure« replied Mr Abel mildly »You were wishing to speak
to Christopher sir«
»Yes I was Have I your permission«
»By all means«
»My business is no secret or I should rather say it need be no secret here
« said the stranger observing that Mr Abel and the Notary were preparing to
retire »It relates to a dealer in curiosities with whom he lived and in whom I
am earnestly and warmly interested I have been a stranger to this country
gentlemen for very many years and if I am deficient in form and ceremony I
hope you will forgive me«
»No forgiveness is necessary sir none whatever« replied the Notary And
so said Mr Abel
»I have been making inquiries in the neighbourhood in which his old master
lived« said the stranger »and I learn that he was served by this lad I have
found out his mothers house and have been directed by her to this place as the
nearest in which I should be likely to find him Thats the cause of my
presenting myself here this morning«
»I am very glad of any cause sir« said the Notary »which procures me the
honour of this visit«
»Sir« retorted the stranger »you speak like a mere man of the world and I
think you something better Therefore pray do not sink your real character in
paying unmeaning compliments to me«
»Hem« coughed the Notary »Youre a plain speaker sir«
»And a plain dealer« returned the stranger »It may be my long absence and
inexperience that lead me to the conclusion but if plain speakers are scarce in
this part of the world I fancy plain dealers are still scarcer If my speaking
should offend you sir my dealing I hope will make amends«
Mr Witherden seemed a little disconcerted by the elderly gentlemans mode
of conducting the dialogue and as for Kit he looked at him in openmouthed
astonishment wondering what kind of language he would address to him if he
talked in that free and easy way to a Notary It was with no harshness however
though with something of constitutional irritability and haste that he turned
to Kit and said
»If you think my lad that I am pursuing these inquiries with any other
view than that of serving and reclaiming those I am in search of you do me a
very great wrong and deceive yourself Dont be deceived I beg of you but
rely upon my assurance The fact is gentlemen« he added turning again to the
Notary and his pupil »that I am in a very painful and wholly unexpected
position I came to this city with a darling object at my heart expecting to
find no obstacle or difficulty in the way of its attainment I find myself
suddenly checked and stopped short in the execution of my design by a mystery
which I cannot penetrate Every effort I have made to penetrate it has only
served to render it darker and more obscure and I am afraid to stir openly in
the matter lest those whom I anxiously pursue should fly still farther from
me I assure you that if you could give me any assistance you would not be
sorry to do so if you knew how greatly I stand in need of it and what a load
it would relieve me from«
There was a simplicity in this confidence which occasioned it to find a
quick response in the breast of the goodnatured Notary who replied in the
same spirit that the stranger had not mistaken his desire and that if he could
be of service to him he would most readily
Kit was then put under examination and closely questioned by the unknown
gentleman touching his old master and the child their lonely way of life
their retired habits and strict seclusion The nightly absence of the old man
the solitary existence of the child at those times his illness and recovery
Quilps possession of the house and their sudden disappearance were all the
subjects of much questioning and answer Finally Kit informed the gentleman
that the premises were now to let and that a board upon the door referred all
inquirers to Mr Sampson Brass Solicitor of Bevis Marks from whom he might
perhaps learn some further particulars
»Not by inquiry« said the gentleman shaking his head »I live there«
»Live at Brasss the attorneys« cried Mr Witherden in some surprise
having professional knowledge of the gentleman in question
»Aye« was the reply »I entered on his lodgings tother day chiefly
because I had seen this very board It matters little to me where I live and I
had a desperate hope that some intelligence might be cast in my way there which
would not reach me elsewhere Yes I live at Brasss more shame for me I
suppose«
»Thats a mere matter of opinion« said the Notary shrugging his shoulders
»He is looked upon as rather a doubtful character«
»Doubtful« echoed the other »I am glad to hear theres any doubt about it
I supposed that had been thoroughly settled long ago But will you let me speak
a word or two with you in private«
Mr Witherden consenting they walked into that gentlemans private closet
and remained there in close conversation for some quarter of an hour when
they returned into the outer office The stranger had left his hat in Mr
Witherdens room and seemed to have established himself in this short interval
on quite a friendly footing
»Ill not detain you any longer now« he said putting a crown into Kits
hand and looking towards the Notary »You shall hear from me again Not a word
of this you know except to your master and mistress«
»Mother sir would be glad to know « said Kit faltering
»Glad to know what«
»Anything so that it was no harm about Miss Nell«
»Would she Well then you may tell her if she can keep a secret But mind
not a word of this to anybody else Dont forget that Be particular«
»Ill take care sir« said Kit »Thankee sir and good morning«
Now it happened that the gentleman in his anxiety to impress upon Kit that
he was not to tell anybody what had passed between them followed him out to the
door to repeat his caution and it further happened that at that moment the eyes
of Mr Richard Swiveller were turned in that direction and beheld his
mysterious friend and Kit together
It was quite an accident and the way in which it came about was this Mr
Chuckster being a gentleman of a cultivated taste and refined spirit was one
of that Lodge of Glorious Apollos whereof Mr Swiveller was Perpetual Grand Mr
Swiveller passing through the street in the execution of some Brazen errand
and beholding one of his Glorious Brotherhood intently gazing on a pony crossed
over to give him that fraternal greeting with which Perpetual Grands are by the
very constitution of their office bound to cheer and encourage their disciples
He had scarcely bestowed upon him his blessing and followed it with a general
remark touching the present state and prospects of the weather when lifting up
his eyes he beheld the single gentleman of Bevis Marks in earnest conversation
with Christopher Nubbles
»Hallo« said Dick »who is that«
»He called to see my Governor this morning« replied Mr Chuckster »beyond
that I dont know him from Adam«
»At least you know his name« said Dick
To which Mr Chuckster replied with an elevation of speech becoming a
Glorious Apollo that he was »everlastingly blessed« if he did
»All I know my dear feller« said Mr Chuckster running his fingers
through his hair »is that he is the cause of my having stood here twenty
minutes for which I hate him with a mortal and undying hatred and would pursue
him to the confines of eternity if I could afford the time«
While they were thus discoursing the subject of their conversation who had
not appeared to recognise Mr Richard Swiveller reentered the house and Kit
came down the steps and joined them to whom Mr Swiveller again propounded his
inquiry with no better success
»He is a very nice gentleman sir« said Kit »and thats all I know about
him«
Mr Chuckster waxed wroth at this answer and without applying the remark to
any particular case mentioned as a general truth that it was expedient to
break the heads of Snobs and to tweak their noses Without expressing his
concurrence in this sentiment Mr Swiveller after a few moments of abstraction
inquired which way Kit was driving and being informed declared it was his
way and that he would trespass on him for a lift Kit would gladly have
declined the proffered honour but as Mr Swiveller was already established in
the seat beside him he had no means of doing so otherwise than by a forcible
ejectment and therefore drove briskly off so briskly indeed as to cut short
the leavetaking between Mr Chuckster and his Grand Master and to occasion the
former gentleman some inconvenience from having his corns squeezed by the
impatient pony
As Whisker was tired of standing and Mr Swiveller was kind enough to
stimulate him by shrill whistles and various sporting cries they rattled off
at too sharp a pace to admit of much conversation especially as the pony
incensed by Mr Swivellers admonitions took a particular fancy for the
lampposts and cartwheels and evinced a strong desire to run on the pavement
and rasp himself against the brick walls It was not therefore until they had
arrived at the stable and the chaise had been extricated from a very small
doorway into which the pony dragged it under the impression that he could take
it along with him into his usual stall that Mr Swiveller found time to talk
»Its hard work« said Richard »What do you say to some beer«
Kit at first declined but presently consented and they adjourned to the
neighbouring bar together
»Well drink our friend whatshisname« said Dick holding up the bright
frothy pot » that was talking to you this morning you know I know him a
good fellow but eccentric very heres whatshis name«
Kit pledged him
»He lives in my house« said Dick »at least in the house occupied by the
firm in which Im a sort of a of a managing partner a difficult fellow to
get anything out of but we like him we like him«
»I must be going sir if you please« said Kit moving away
»Dont be in a hurry Christopher« replied his patron »well drink your
mother«
»Thank you sir«
»An excellent woman that mother of yours Christopher« said Mr Swiveller
»Who ran to catch me when I fell and kissed the place to make it well My
mother A charming woman Hes a liberal sort of fellow We must get him to do
something for your mother Does he know her Christopher«
Kit shook his head and glancing slyly at his questioner thanked him and
made off before he could say another word
»Humph« said Mr Swiveller pondering »this is queer Nothing but mysteries
in connection with Brasss house Ill keep my own counsel however Everybody
and anybody has been in my confidence as yet but now I think Ill set up in
business for myself Queer very queer«
After pondering deeply and with a face of exceeding wisdom for some time
Mr Swiveller drank some more of the beer and summoning a small boy who had
been watching his proceedings poured forth the few remaining drops as a
libation on the gravel and bade him carry the empty vessel to the bar with his
compliments and above all things to lead a sober and temperate life and
abstain from all intoxicating and exciting liquors Having giving him this piece
of moral advice for his trouble which as he wisely observed was far better
than halfpence the Perpetual Grand Master of the Glorious Apollos thrust his
hands into his pockets and sauntered away still pondering as he went
Chapter XXXIX
All that day though he waited for Mr Abel until evening Kit kept clear of his
mothers house determined not to anticipate the pleasures of the morrow but to
let them come in their full rush of delight for tomorrow was the great and
longlookedfor epoch in his life tomorrow was the end of his first quarter
the day of receiving for the first time one fourth part of his annual income
of Six Pounds in one vast sum of Thirty Shillings tomorrow was to be a
halfholiday devoted to a whirl of entertainments and little Jacob was to know
what oysters meant and to see a play
All manner of incidents combined in favour of the occasion not only had Mr
and Mrs Garland forewarned him that they intended to make no deduction for his
outfit from the great amount but to pay it him unbroken in all its gigantic
grandeur not only had the unknown gentleman increased the stock by the sum of
five shillings which was a perfect godsend and in itself a fortune not only
had these things come to pass which nobody could have calculated upon or in
their wildest dreams have hoped but it was Barbaras quarter too Barbaras
quarter that very day and Barbara had a halfholiday as well as Kit and
Barbaras mother was going to make one of the party and to take tea with Kits
mother and cultivate her acquaintance
To be sure Kit looked out of his window very early that morning to see which
way the clouds were flying and to be sure Barbara would have been at hers too
if she had not sat up so late overnight starching and ironing small pieces of
muslin and crimping them into frills and sewing them on to other pieces to
form magnificent wholes for next days wear But they were both up very early
for all that and had small appetites for breakfast and less for dinner and
were in a state of great excitement when Barbaras mother came in with
astonishing accounts of the fineness of the weather out of doors but with a
very large umbrella notwithstanding for people like Barbaras mother seldom
make holiday without one and when the bell rung for them to go up stairs and
receive their quarters money in gold and silver
Well wasnt Mr Garland kind when he said »Christopher heres your money
and you have earned it well« and wasnt Mrs Garland kind when she said
»Barbara heres yours and Im much pleased with you« and didnt Kit sign his
name bold to his receipt and didnt Barbara sign her name all a trembling to
hers and wasnt it beautiful to see how Mrs Garland poured out Barbaras
mother a glass of wine and didnt Barbaras mother speak up when she said
»Heres blessing you maam as a good lady and you sir as a good gentleman
and Barbara my love to you and heres towards you Mr Christopher« and
wasnt she as long drinking it as if it had been a tumblerful and didnt she
look genteel standing there with her gloves on and wasnt there plenty of
laughing and talking among them as they reviewed all these things upon the top
of the coach and didnt they pity the people who hadnt got a holiday
But Kits mother again wouldnt anybody have supposed she had come of a
good stock and been a lady all her life There she was quite ready to receive
them with a display of teathings that might have warmed the heart of a
chinashop and little Jacob and the baby in such a state of perfection that
their clothes looked as good as new though Heaven knows they were old enough
Didnt she say before they had sat down five minutes that Barbaras mother was
exactly the sort of lady she expected and didnt Barbaras mother say that
Kits mother was the very picture of what she had expected and didnt Kits
mother compliment Barbaras mother on Barbara and didnt Barbaras mother
compliment Kits mother on Kit and wasnt Barbara herself quite fascinated with
little Jacob and did ever a child show off when he was wanted as that child
did or make such friends as he made
»And we are both widows too« said Barbaras mother »We must have been made
to know each other«
»I havent a doubt about it« returned Mrs Nubbles »And what a pity it is
we didnt know each other sooner«
»But then you know its such a pleasure« said Barbaras mother »to have
it brought about by ones son and daughter that its fully made up for Now
ant it«
To this Kits mother yielded her full assent and tracing things back from
effects to causes they naturally reverted to their deceased husbands
respecting whose lives deaths and burials they compared notes and discovered
sundry circumstances that tallied with wonderful exactness such as Barbaras
father having been exactly four years and ten months older than Kits father
and one of them having died on a Wednesday and the other on a Thursday and both
of them having been of a very fine make and remarkably goodlooking with other
extraordinary coincidences These recollections being of a kind calculated to
cast a shadow on the brightness of the holiday Kit diverted the conversation to
general topics and they were soon in great force again and as merry as before
Among other things Kit told them about his old place and the extraordinary
beauty of Nell of whom he had talked to Barbara a thousand times already but
the lastnamed circumstance failed to interest his hearers to anything like the
extent he had supposed and even his mother said looking accidentally at
Barbara at the same time that there was no doubt Miss Nell was very pretty but
she was but a child after all and there were many young women quite as pretty
as she and Barbara mildly observed that she should think so and that she never
could help believing Mr Christopher must be under a mistake which Kit
wondered at very much not being able to conceive what reason she had for
doubting him Barbaras mother too observed that it was very common for young
folks to change at about fourteen or fifteen and whereas they had been very
pretty before to grow up quite plain which truth she illustrated by many
forcible examples especially one of a young man who being a builder with
great prospects had been particular in his attentions to Barbara but whom
Barbara would have nothing to say to which though everything happened for the
best she almost thought was a pity Kit said he thought so too and so he did
honestly and he wondered what made Barbara so silent all at once and why his
mother looked at him as if he shouldnt have said it
However it was high time now to be thinking of the play for which great
preparation was required in the way of shawls and bonnets not to mention one
handkerchief full of oranges and another of apples which took some time tying
up in consequence of the fruit having a tendency to roll out at the corners At
length everything was ready and they went off very fast Kits mother carrying
the baby who was dreadfully wide awake and Kit holding little Jacob in one
hand and escorting Barbara with the other a state of things which occasioned
the two mothers who walked behind to declare that they looked quite family
folks and caused Barbara to blush and say »Now dont mother« But Kit said
she had no call to mind what they said and indeed she need not have had if she
had known how very far from Kits thoughts any lovemaking was Poor Barbara
At last they got to the theatre which was Astleys and in some two minutes
after they had reached the yet unopened door little Jacob was squeezed flat
and the baby had received divers concussions and Barbaras mothers umbrella
had been carried several yards off and passed back to her over the shoulders of
the people and Kit had hit a man on the head with the handkerchief of apples
for scrowdging his parent with unnecessary violence and there was a great
uproar But when they were once past the payplace and tearing away for very
life with their checks in their hands and above all when they were fairly in
the theatre and seated in such places that they couldnt have had better if
they had picked them out and taken them beforehand all this was looked upon as
quite a capital joke and an essential part of the entertainment
Dear dear what a place it looked that Astleys with all the paint
gilding and lookingglass the vague smell of horses suggestive of coming
wonders the curtain that hid such gorgeous mysteries the clean white sawdust
down in the circus the company coming in and taking their places the fiddlers
looking carelessly up at them while they tuned their instruments as if they
didnt want the play to begin and knew it all beforehand What a glow was that
which burst upon them all when that long clear brilliant row of lights came
slowly up and what the feverish excitement when the little bell rang and the
music began in good earnest with strong parts for the drums and sweet effects
for the triangles Well might Barbaras mother say to Kits mother that the
gallery was the place to see from and wonder it wasnt much dearer than the
boxes well might Barbara feel doubtful whether to laugh or cry in her flutter
of delight
Then the play itself the horses which little Jacob believed from the first
to be alive and the ladies and gentlemen of whose reality he could be by no
means persuaded having never seen or heard anything at all like them the
firing which made Barbara wink the forlorn lady who made her cry the
tyrant who made her tremble the man who sang the song with the ladysmaid
and danced the chorus who made her laugh the pony who reared up on his hind
legs when he saw the murderer and wouldnt hear of walking on all fours again
until he was taken into custody the clown who ventured on such familiarities
with the military man in boots the lady who jumped over the nineandtwenty
ribbons and came down safe upon the horses back everything was delightful
splendid and surprising Little Jacob applauded till his hands were sore Kit
cried »ankor« at the end of everything the threeact piece included and
Barbaras mother beat her umbrella on the floor in her ecstasies until it was
nearly worn down to the gingham
In the midst of all these fascinations Barbaras thoughts seemed to have
been still running on what Kit had said at teatime for when they were coming
out of the play she asked him with an hysterical simper if Miss Nell was as
handsome as the lady who jumped over the ribbons
»As handsome as her« said Kit »Double as handsome«
»Oh Christopher Im sure she was the beautifullest creature ever was«
said Barbara
»Nonsense« returned Kit »She was well enough I dont deny that but think
how she was dressed and painted and what a difference that made Why you are a
good deal betterlooking than her Barbara«
»Oh Christopher« said Barbara looking down
»You are any day« said Kit »and sos your mother«
Poor Barbara
What was all this though even all this to the extraordinary dissipation
that ensued when Kit walking into an oystershop as bold as if he lived there
and not so much as looking at the counter or the man behind it led his party
into a box a private box fitted up with red curtains white tablecloth and
cruetstand complete and ordered a fierce gentleman with whiskers who acted
as waiter and called him him Christopher Nubbles sir to bring three dozen of
his largestsized oysters and to look sharp about it Yes Kit told this
gentleman to look sharp and he not only said he would look sharp but he
actually did and presently came running back with the newest loaves and the
freshest butter and the largest oysters ever seen Then said Kit to this
gentleman »A pot of beer« just so and the gentleman instead of replying
»Sir did you address that language to me« only said »Pot o beer sir Yes
sir« and went off and fetched it and put it on the table in a small
decanterstand like those which blind mens dogs carry about the streets in
their mouths to catch the halfpence in and both Kits mother and Barbaras
mother declared as he turned away that he was one of the slimmest and
gracefullest young men she had ever looked upon
Then they fell to work upon the supper in earnest and there was Barbara
that foolish Barbara declaring that she could not eat more than two and
wanting more pressing than you would believe before she would eat four though
her mother and Kits mother made up for it pretty well and ate and laughed and
enjoyed themselves so thoroughly that it did Kit good to see them and made him
laugh and eat likewise from strong sympathy But the greatest miracle of the
night was little Jacob who ate oysters as if he had been born and bred to the
business sprinkled the pepper and the vinegar with a discretion beyond his
years and afterwards built a grotto on the table with the shells There was
the baby too who had never closed an eye all night but had sat as good as
gold trying to force a large orange into his mouth and gazing intently at the
lights in the chandelier there he was sitting up in his mothers lap staring
at the gas without winking and making indentations in his soft visage with an
oystershell to that degree that a heart of iron must have loved him In short
there never was a more successful supper and when Kit ordered in a glass of
something hot to finish with and proposed Mr and Mrs Garland before sending
it round there were not six happier people in all the world
But all happiness has an end hence the chief pleasure of its next
beginning and as it was now growing late they agreed it was time to turn
their faces homewards So after going a little out of their way to see Barbara
and Barbaras mother safe to a friends house where they were to pass the night
Kit and his mother left them at the door with an early appointment for
returning to Finchley next morning and a great many plans for next quarters
enjoyment Then Kit took little Jacob on his back and giving his arm to his
mother and a kiss to the baby they all trudged merrily home together
Chapter XL
Full of that vague kind of penitence which holidays awaken next morning Kit
turned out at sunrise and with his faith in last nights enjoyments a little
shaken by cool daylight and the return to everyday duties and occupations went
to meet Barbara and her mother at the appointed place And being careful not to
awaken any of the little household who were yet resting from their unusual
fatigues Kit left his money on the chimneypiece with an inscription in chalk
calling his mothers attention to the circumstance and informing her that it
came from her dutiful son and went his way with a heart something heavier than
his pockets but free from any very great oppression notwithstanding
Oh these holidays why will they leave us some regret why cannot we push
them back only a week or two in our memories so as to put them at once at that
convenient distance whence they may be regarded either with a calm indifference
or a pleasant effort of recollection why will they hang about us like the
flavour of yesterdays wine suggestive of headaches and lassitude and those
good intentions for the future which under the earth form the everlasting
pavement of a large estate and upon it usually endure until dinnertime or
thereabouts
Who will wonder that Barbara had a headache or that Barbaras mother was
disposed to be cross or that she slightly underrated Astleys and thought the
clown was older than they had taken him to be last night Kit was not surprised
to hear her say so not he He had already had a misgiving that the inconstant
actors in that dazzling vision had been doing the same thing the night before
last and would do it again that night and the next and for weeks and months
to come though he would not be there Such is the difference between yesterday
and today We are all going to the play or coming home from it
However the Sun himself is weak when he first rises and gathers strength
and courage as the day gets on By degrees they began to recall circumstances
more and more pleasant in their nature until what between talking walking
and laughing they reached Finchley in such good heart that Barbaras mother
declared she never felt less tired or in better spirits And so said Kit
Barbara had been silent all the way but she said so too Poor little Barbara
She was very quiet
They were at home in such good time that Kit had rubbed down the pony and
made him as spruce as a racehorse before Mr Garland came down to breakfast
which punctual and industrious conduct the old lady and the old gentleman and
Mr Abel highly extolled At his usual hour or rather at his usual minute and
second for he was the soul of punctuality Mr Abel walked out to be overtaken
by the London coach and Kit and the old gentleman went to work in the garden
This was not the least pleasant of Kits employments On a fine day they
were quite a family party the old lady sitting hard by with her workbasket on
a little table the old gentleman digging or pruning or clipping about with a
large pair of shears or helping Kit in some way or other with great assiduity
and Whisker looking on from his paddock in placid contemplation of them all
Today they were to trim the grapevine so Kit mounted halfway up a short
ladder and began to snip and hammer away while the old gentleman with a great
interest in his proceedings handed up the nails and shreds of cloth as he
wanted them The old lady and Whisker looked on as usual
»Well Christopher« said Mr Garland »and so you have made a new friend
eh«
»I beg your pardon sir« returned Kit looking down from the ladder
»You have made a new friend I hear from Mr Abel« said the old gentleman
»at the office«
»Oh Yes sir yes He behaved very handsome sir«
»Im glad to hear it« returned the old gentleman with a smile »He is
disposed to behave more handsomely still though Christopher«
»Indeed sir Its very kind in him but I dont want him to Im sure«
said Kit hammering stoutly at an obdurate nail
»He is rather anxious« pursued the old gentleman »to have you in his own
service take care what youre doing or you will fall down and hurt yourself«
»To have me in his service sir« cried Kit who had stopped short in his
work and faced about on the ladder like some dexterous tumbler »Why sir I
dont think he can be in earnest when he says that«
»Oh But he is indeed« said Mr Garland »And he has told Mr Abel so«
»I never heard of such a thing« muttered Kit looking ruefully at his
master and mistress »I wonder at him that I do«
»You see Christopher« said Mr Garland »this is a point of much
importance to you and you should understand and consider it in that light This
gentleman is able to give you more money than I not I hope to carry through
the various relations of master and servant more kindness and confidence but
certainly Christopher to give you more money«
»Well« said Kit »after that sir «
»Wait a moment« interposed Mr Garland »That is not all You were a very
faithful servant to your old employers as I understand and should this
gentleman recover them as it is his purpose to attempt doing by every means in
his power I have no doubt that you being in his service would meet with your
reward Besides« added the old gentleman with stronger emphasis »besides
having the pleasure of being again brought into communication with those to whom
you seem to be very strongly and disinterestedly attached You must think of all
this Christopher and not be rash or hasty in your choice«
Kit did suffer one twinge one momentary pang in keeping the resolution he
had already formed when this last argument passed swiftly into his thoughts
and conjured up the realization of all his hopes and fancies But it was gone in
a minute and he sturdily rejoined that the gentleman must look out for somebody
else as he did think he might have done at first
»He has no right to think that Id be led away to go to him sir« said Kit
turning round again after half a minutes hammering »Does he think Im a fool«
»He may perhaps Christopher if you refuse his offer« said Mr Garland
gravely
»Then let him sir« retorted Kit »what do I care sir what he thinks why
should I care for his thinking sir when I know that I should be a fool and
worse than a fool sir to leave the kindest master and mistress that ever was
or can be who took me out of the streets a very poor and hungry lad indeed
poorer and hungrier perhaps than even you think for sir to go to him or
anybody If Miss Nell was to come back maam« added Kit turning suddenly to
his mistress »why that would be another thing and perhaps if she wanted me I
might ask you now and then to let me work for her when all was done at home But
when she comes back I see now that shell be rich as old master always said she
would and being a rich young lady what could she want of me No no« added
Kit shaking his head sorrowfully »shell never want me any more and bless
her I hope she never may though I should like to see her too«
Here Kit drove a nail into the wall very hard much harder than was
necessary and having done so faced about again
»Theres the pony sir« said Kit »Whisker maam and he knows so well
Im talking about him that he begins to neigh directly sir would he let
anybody come near him but me maam Heres the garden sir and Mr Abel
maam Would Mr Abel part with me sir or is there anybody that could be
fonder of the garden maam It would break mothers heart sir and even little
Jacob would have sense enough to cry his eyes out maam if he thought that Mr
Abel could wish to part with me so soon after having told me only the other
day that he hoped we might be together for years to come «
There is no telling how long Kit might have stood upon the ladder
addressing his master and mistress by turns and generally turning towards the
wrong person if Barbara had not at that moment come running up to say that a
messenger from the office had brought a note which with an expression of some
surprise at Kits oratorical appearance she put into her masters hand
»Oh« said the old gentleman after reading it »ask the messenger to walk
this way« Barbara tripping off to do as she was bid he turned to Kit and said
that they would not pursue the subject any further and that Kit could not be
more unwilling to part with them than they would be to part with Kit a
sentiment which the old lady very generously echoed
»At the same time Christopher« added Mr Garland glancing at the note in
his hand »if the gentleman should want to borrow you now and then for an hour
or so or even a day or so at a time we must consent to lend you and you must
consent to be lent Oh here is the young gentleman How do you do sir«
This salutation was addressed to Mr Chuckster who with his hat extremely
on one side and his hair a long way beyond it came swaggering up the walk
»Hope I see you well sir« returned that gentleman »Hope I see you well
maam Charming box this sir Delicious country to be sure«
»You want to take Kit back with you I find« observed Mr Garland
»I have got a chariotcab waiting on purpose« replied the clerk »A very
spanking grey in that cab sir if youre a judge of horseflesh«
Declining to inspect the spanking grey on the plea that he was but poorly
acquainted with such matters and would but imperfectly appreciate his beauties
Mr Garland invited Mr Chuckster to partake of a slight repast in the way of
lunch That gentleman readily consenting certain cold viands flanked with ale
and wine were speedily prepared for his refreshment
At this repast Mr Chuckster exerted his utmost abilities to enchant his
entertainers and impress them with a conviction of the mental superiority of
those who dwelt in town with which view he led the discourse to the small
scandal of the day in which he was justly considered by his friends to shine
prodigiously Thus he was in a condition to relate the exact circumstances of
the difference between the Marquis of Mizzler and Lord Bobby which it appeared
originated in a disputed bottle of champagne and not in a pigeonpie as
erroneously reported in the newspapers neither had Lord Bobby said to the
Marquis of Mizzler »Mizzler one of us two tells a lie and Im not the man«
as incorrectly stated by the same authorities but »Mizzler you know where Im
to be found and damme sir find me if you want me« which of course
entirely changed the aspect of this interesting question and placed it in a
very different light He also acquainted them with the precise amount of the
income guaranteed by the Duke of Thigsberry to Violetta Stetta of the Italian
Opera which it appeared was payable quarterly and not halfyearly as the
public had been given to understand and which was exclusive and not inclusive
as had been monstrously stated of jewellery perfumery hairpowder for five
footmen and two daily changes of kid gloves for a page Having entreated the
old lady and gentleman to set their minds at rest on these absorbing points for
they might rely on his statement being the correct one Mr Chuckster
entertained them with theatrical chitchat and the court circular and so wound
up a brilliant and fascinating conversation which he had maintained alone and
without any assistance whatever for upwards of threequarters of an hour
»And now that the nag has got his wind again« said Mr Chuckster rising in
a graceful manner »Im afraid I must cut my stick«
Neither Mr nor Mrs Garland offered any opposition to his tearing himself
away feeling no doubt that such a man could ill be spared from his proper
sphere of action and therefore Mr Chuckster and Kit were shortly afterwards
upon their way to town Kit being perched upon the box of the cabriolet beside
the driver and Mr Chuckster seated in solitary state inside with one of his
boots sticking out at each of the front windows
When they reached the Notarys house Kit followed into the office and was
desired by Mr Abel to sit down and wait for the gentleman who wanted him had
gone out and perhaps might not return for some time This anticipation was
strictly verified for Kit had had his dinner and his tea and had read all the
lighter matter in the LawList and the PostOffice Directory and had fallen
asleep a great many times before the gentleman whom he had seen before came
in which he did at last in a very great hurry
He was closeted with Mr Witherden for some little time and Mr Abel had
been called in to assist at the conference before Kit wondering very much what
he was wanted for was summoned to attend them
»Christopher« said the gentleman turning to him directly he entered the
room »I have found your old master and young mistress«
»No sir Have you though« returned Kit his eyes sparkling with delight
»Where are they sir How are they sir Are they are they near here«
»A long way from here« returned the gentleman shaking his head »But I am
going away tonight to bring them back and I want you to go with me«
»Me sir« cried Kit full of joy and surprise
»The place« said the strange gentleman turning thoughtfully to the
Notary »indicated by this man of the dogs is how far from here sixty
miles«
»From sixty to seventy«
»Humph If we travel post all night we shall reach there in good time
tomorrow morning Now the only question is as they will not know me and the
child God bless her would think that any stranger pursuing them had a design
upon her grandfathers liberty can I do better than take this lad whom they
both know and will readily remember as an assurance to them of my friendly
intentions«
»Certainly not« replied the Notary »Take Christopher by all means«
»I beg your pardon sir« said Kit who had listened to this discourse with
a lengthening countenance »but if thats the reason Im afraid I should do
more harm than good Miss Nell sir she knows me and would trust in me I am
sure but old master I dont know why gentlemen nobody does would not bear
me in his sight after he had been ill and Miss Nell herself told me that I must
not go near him or let him see me any more I should spoil all that you were
doing if I went Im afraid Id give the world to go but you had better not
take me sir«
»Another difficulty« cried the impetuous gentleman »Was ever man so beset
as I Is there nobody else that knew them nobody else in whom they had any
confidence Solitary as their lives were is there no one person who would serve
my purpose«
»Is there Christopher« said the Notary
»Not one sir« replied Kit »Yes though theres my mother«
»Did they know her« said the single gentleman
»Know her sir why she was always coming backwards and forwards They were
as kind to her as they were to me Bless you sir she expected theyd come back
to her house«
»Then where the devil is the woman« said the impatient gentleman catching
up his hat »Why isnt she here Why is that woman always out of the way when
she is most wanted«
In a word the single gentleman was bursting out of the office bent upon
laying violent hands on Kits mother forcing her into a postchaise and
carrying her off when this novel kind of abduction was with some difficulty
prevented by the joint efforts of Mr Abel and the Notary who restrained him by
dint of their remonstrances and persuaded him to sound Kit upon the probability
of her being able and willing to undertake such a journey on so short a notice
This occasioned some doubts on the part of Kit and some violent
demonstrations on that of the single gentleman and a great many soothing
speeches on that of the Notary and Mr Abel The upshot of the business was
that Kit after weighing the matter in his mind and considering it carefully
promised on behalf of his mother that she should be ready within two hours
from that time to undertake the expedition and engaged to produce her in that
place in all respects equipped and prepared for the journey before the
specified period had expired
Having given this pledge which was rather a bold one and not particularly
easy of redemption Kit lost no time in sallying forth and taking measures for
its immediate fulfilment
Chapter XLI
Kit made his way through the crowded streets dividing the stream of people
dashing across the busy roadways diving into lanes and alleys and stopping or
turning aside for nothing until he came in front of the Old Curiosity Shop
when he came to a stand partly from habit and partly from being out of breath
It was a gloomy autumn evening and he thought the old place had never
looked so dismal as in its dreary twilight The windows broken the rusty sashes
rattling in their frames the deserted house a dull barrier dividing the glaring
lights and bustle of the street into two long lines and standing in the midst
cold dark and empty presented a cheerless spectacle which mingled harshly
with the bright prospects the boy had been building up for its late inmates and
came like a disappointment or misfortune Kit would have had a good fire roaring
up the empty chimneys lights sparkling and shining through the windows people
moving briskly to and fro voices in cheerful conversation something in unison
with the new hopes that were astir He had not expected that the house would
wear any different aspect had known indeed that it could not but coming upon
it in the midst of eager thoughts and expectations it checked the current in
its flow and darkened it with a mournful shadow
Kit however fortunately for himself was not learned enough or
contemplative enough to be troubled with presages of evil afar off and having
no mental spectacles to assist his vision in this respect saw nothing but the
dull house which jarred uncomfortably upon his previous thoughts So almost
wishing that he had not passed it though hardly knowing why he hurried on
again making up by his increased speed for the few moments he had lost
»Now if she should be out« thought Kit as he approached the poor dwelling
of his mother »and I not able to find her this impatient gentleman would be in
a pretty taking And sure enough theres no light and the doors fast Now God
forgive me for saying so but if this is Little Bethels doing I wish Little
Bethel was was farther off« said Kit checking himself and knocking at the
door
A second knock brought no reply from within the house but caused a woman
over the way to look out and inquire who that was awanting Mrs Nubbles
»Me« said Kit »Shes at at Little Bethel I suppose« getting out the
name of the obnoxious conventicle with some reluctance and laying a spiteful
emphasis upon the words
The neighbour nodded assent
»Then pray tell me where it is« said Kit »for I have come on a pressing
matter and must fetch her out even if she was in the pulpit«
It was not very easy to procure a direction to the fold in question as none
of the neighbours were of the flock that resorted thither and few knew anything
more of it than the name At last a gossip of Mrs Nubbless who had
accompanied her to chapel on one or two occasions when a comfortable cup of tea
had preceded her devotions furnished the needful information which Kit had no
sooner obtained than he started off again
Little Bethel might have been nearer and might have been in a straighter
road though in that case the reverend gentleman who presided over its
congregation would have lost his favourite allusion to the crooked ways by which
it was approached and which enabled him to liken it to Paradise itself in
contradistinction to the parish church and the broad thoroughfare leading
thereunto Kit found it at last after some trouble and pausing at the door to
take breath that he might enter with becoming decency passed into the chapel
It was not badly named in one respect being in truth a particularly little
Bethel a Bethel of the smallest dimensions with a small number of small
pews and a small pulpit in which a small gentleman by trade a Shoemaker and
by calling a Divine was delivering in a by no means small voice a by no means
small sermon judging of its dimensions by the condition of his audience which
if their gross amount were but small comprised a still smaller number of
hearers as the majority were slumbering
Among these was Kits mother who finding it matter of extreme difficulty
to keep her eyes open after the fatigues of last night and feeling their
inclination to close strongly backed and seconded by the arguments of the
preacher had yielded to the drowsiness that overpowered her and fallen asleep
though not so soundly but that she could from time to time utter a slight and
almost inaudible groan as if in recognition of the orators doctrines The baby
in her arms was as fast asleep as she and little Jacob whose youth prevented
him from recognising in this prolonged spiritual nourishment anything half as
interesting as oysters was alternately very fast asleep and very wide awake as
his inclination to slumber or his terror of being personally alluded to in the
discourse gained the mastery over him
»And now Im here« thought Kit gliding into the nearest empty pew which
was opposite his mothers and on the other side of the little aisle »how am I
ever to get at her or persuade her to come out I might as well be twenty miles
off Shell never wake till its all over and there goes the clock again If he
would but leave off for a minute or if theyd only sing«
But there was little encouragement to believe that either event would happen
for a couple of hours to come The preacher went on telling them what he meant
to convince them of before he had done and it was clear that if he only kept to
onehalf of his promises and forgot the other he was good for that time at
least
In his desperation and restlessness Kit cast his eyes about the chapel and
happening to let them fall upon a little seat in front of the clerks desk
could scarcely believe them when they showed him Quilp
He rubbed them twice or thrice but still they insisted that Quilp was
there and there indeed he was sitting with his hands upon his knees and his
hat between them on a little wooden bracket with the accustomed grin on his
dirty face and his eyes fixed upon the ceiling He certainly did not glance at
Kit or at his mother and appeared utterly unconscious of their presence still
Kit could not help feeling directly that the attention of the sly little fiend
was fastened upon them and upon nothing else
But astounded as he was by the apparition of the dwarf among the Little
Bethelites and not free from a misgiving that it was the forerunner of some
trouble or annoyance he was compelled to subdue his wonder and to take active
measures for the withdrawal of his parent as the evening was now creeping on
and the matter grew serious Therefore the next time little Jacob woke Kit set
himself to attract his wandering attention and this not being a very difficult
task one sneeze effected it he signed to him to rouse his mother
Illluck would have it however that just then the preacher in a
forcible exposition of one head of his discourse leaned over upon the
pulpitdesk so that very little more of him than his legs remained inside and
while he made vehement gestures with his right hand and held on with his left
stared or seemed to stare straight into little Jacobs eyes threatening him
by his strained look and attitude so it appeared to the child that if he so
much as moved a muscle he the preacher would be literally and not
figuratively down upon him that instant In this fearful state of things
distracted by the sudden appearance of Kit and fascinated by the eyes of the
preacher the miserable Jacob sat bold upright wholly incapable of motion
strongly disposed to cry but afraid to do so and returning his pastors gaze
until his infant eyes seemed starting from their sockets
»If I must do it openly I must« thought Kit With that he walked softly
out of his pew and into his mothers and as Mr Swiveller would have observed
if he had been present collared the baby without speaking a word
»Hush mother« whispered Kit »Come along with me Ive got something to
tell you«
»Where am I« said Mrs Nubbles
»In this blessed Little Bethel« returned her son peevishly
»Blessed indeed« cried Mrs Nubbles catching at the word »Oh
Christopher how have I been edified this night«
»Yes yes I know« said Kit hastily »but come along mother everybodys
looking at us Dont make a noise bring Jacob thats right«
»Stay Satan stay« cried the preacher as Kit was moving off
»The gentleman says youre to stay Christopher« whispered his mother
»Stay Satan stay« roared the preacher again »Tempt not the woman that
doth incline her ear to thee but hearken to the voice of him that calleth He
hath a lamb from the fold« cried the preacher raising his voice still higher
and pointing to the baby »He beareth off a lamb a precious lamb He goeth
about like a wolf in the night season and inveigleth the tender lambs«
Kit was the besttempered fellow in the world but considering this strong
language and being somewhat excited by the circumstances in which he was
placed he faced round to the pulpit with the baby in his arms and replied
aloud »No I dont Hes my brother«
»Hes my brother« cried the preacher
»He isnt« said Kit indignantly »How can you say such a thing And dont
call me names if you please what harm have I done I shouldnt have come to
take em away unless I was obliged you may depend upon that I wanted to do it
very quiet but you wouldnt let me Now you have the goodness to abuse Satan
and them as much as you like sir and to let me alone if you please«
So saying Kit marched out of the chapel followed by his mother and little
Jacob and found himself in the open air with an indistinct recollection of
having seen the people wake up and look surprised and of Quilp having remained
throughout the interruption in his old attitude without moving his eyes from
the ceiling or appearing to take the smallest notice of anything that passed
»Oh Kit« said his mother with her handkerchief to her eyes »what have
you done I never can go there again never«
»Im glad of it mother What was there in the little bit of pleasure you
took last night that made it necessary for you to be lowspirited and sorrowful
to Thats the way you do If youre happy or merry ever you come here to say
along with that chap that youre sorry for it More shame for you mother I
was going to say«
»Hush dear« said Mrs Nubbles »you dont mean what you say I know but
youre talking sinfulness«
»Dont mean it But I do mean it« retorted Kit »I dont believe mother
that harmless cheerfulness and good humour are thought greater sins in Heaven
than shirtcollars are and I do believe that those chaps are just about as
right and sensible in putting down the one as in leaving off the other thats
my belief But I wont say anything more about it if youll promise not to cry
thats all and you take the baby thats a lighter weight and give me little
Jacob and as we go along which we must do pretty quick Ill give you the news
I bring which will surprise you a little I can tell you There thats right
Now you look as if youd never seen Little Bethel in all your life as I hope
you never will again and heres the baby and little Jacob you get atop of my
back and catch hold of me tight round the neck and whenever a Little Bethel
parson calls you a precious lamb or says your brothers one you tell him its
the truest things hes said for a twelvemonth and that if hed got a little
more of the lamb himself and less of the mintsauce not being quite so sharp
and sour over it I should like him all the better Thats what youve got to
say to him Jacob«
Talking on in this way half in jest and half in earnest and cheering up
his mother the children and himself by the one simple process of determining
to be in a good humour Kit led them briskly forward and on the road home he
related what had passed at the Notarys house and the purpose with which he had
intruded on the solemnities of Little Bethel
His mother was not a little startled on learning what service was required
of her and presently fell into a confusion of ideas of which the most
prominent were that it was a great honour and dignity to ride in a postchaise
and that it was a moral impossibility to leave the children behind But this
objection and a great many others founded on certain articles of dress being
at the wash and certain other articles having no existence in the wardrobe of
Mrs Nubbles were overcome by Kit who opposed to each and every of them the
pleasure of recovering Nell and the delight it would be to bring her back in
triumph
»Theres only ten minutes now mother« said Kit when they reached home
»Theres a bandbox Throw in what you want and well be off directly«
To tell how Kit then hustled into the box all sorts of things which could
by no remote contingency be wanted and how he left out everything likely to be
of the smallest use how a neighbour was persuaded to come and stop with the
children and how the children at first cried dismally and then laughed
heartily on being promised all kinds of impossible and unheardof toys how
Kits mother wouldnt leave off kissing them and how Kit couldnt make up his
mind to be vexed with her for doing it would take more time and room than you
and I can spare So passing over all such matters it is sufficient to say that
within a few minutes after the two hours had expired Kit and his mother arrived
at the Notarys door where a postchaise was already waiting
»With four horses I declare« said Kit quite aghast at the preparations
»Well you are going to do it mother Here she is sir Heres my mother Shes
quite ready sir«
»Thats well« returned the gentleman »Now dont be in a flutter maam
youll be taken great care of Wheres the box with the new clothing and
necessaries for them«
»Here it is« said the Notary »In with it Christopher«
»All right sir« replied Kit »Quite ready now sir«
»Then come along« said the single gentleman And thereupon he gave his arm
to Kits mother handed her into the carriage as politely as you please and
took his seat beside her
Up went the steps bang went the door round whirled the wheels and off
they rattled with Kits mother hanging out at one window waving a damp
pockethandkerchief and screaming out a great many messages to little Jacob and
the baby of which nobody heard a word
Kit stood in the middle of the road and looked after them with tears in his
eyes not brought there by the departure he witnessed but by the return to
which he looked forward »They went away« he thought »on foot with nobody to
speak to them or say a kind word at parting and theyll come back drawn by
four horses with this rich gentleman for their friend and all their troubles
over Shell forget that she taught me to write «
Whatever Kit thought about after this took some time to think of for he
stood gazing up the lines of shining lamps long after the chaise had
disappeared and did not return into the house until the Notary and Mr Abel
who had themselves lingered outside till the sound of the wheels was no longer
distinguishable had several times wondered what could possibly detain him
Chapter XLII
It behoves us to leave Kit for a while thoughtful and expectant and to follow
the fortunes of little Nell resuming the thread of the narrative at the point
where it was left some chapters back
In one of those wanderings in the evening time when following the two
sisters at a humble distance she felt in her sympathy with them and her
recognition in their trials of something akin to her own loneliness of spirit a
comfort and consolation which made such moments a time of deep delight though
the softened pleasure they yielded was of that kind which lives and dies in
tears in one of those wanderings at the quiet hour of twilight when sky and
earth and air and rippling water and sound of distant bells claimed kindred
with the emotions of the solitary child and inspired her with soothing
thoughts but not of a childs world or its easy joys in one of those rambles
which had now become her only pleasure or relief from care light had faded into
darkness and evening deepened into night and still the young creature lingered
in the gloom feeling a companionship in Nature so serene and still when noise
of tongues and glare of garish lights would have been solitude indeed
The sisters had gone home and she was alone She raised her eyes to the
bright stars looking down so mildly from the wide worlds of air and gazing on
them found new stars burst upon her view and more beyond and more beyond
again until the whole great expanse sparkled with shining spheres rising
higher and higher in immeasurable space eternal in their numbers as in their
changeless and incorruptible existence She bent over the calm river and saw
them shining in the same majestic order as when the dove beheld them gleaming
through the swollen waters upon the mountaintops down far below and dead
mankind a million fathoms deep
The child sat silently beneath a tree hushed in her very breath by the
stillness of the night and all its attendant wonders The time and place awoke
reflection and she thought with a quiet hope less hope perhaps than
resignation on the past and present and what was yet before her Between the
old man and herself there had come a gradual separation harder to bear than any
former sorrow Every evening and often in the daytime too he was absent
alone and although she well knew where he went and why too well from the
constant drain upon her scanty purse and from his haggard look he evaded all
inquiry maintained a strict reserve and even shunned her presence
She sat meditating sorrowfully upon this change and mingling it as it
were with everything about her when the distant churchclock bell struck nine
Rising at the sound she retraced her steps and turned thoughtfully towards the
town
She had gained a little wooden bridge which thrown across the stream led
into a meadow in her way when she came suddenly upon a ruddy light and looking
forward more attentively discerned that it proceeded from what appeared to be
an encampment of gipsies who had made a fire in one corner at no great distance
from the path and were sitting or lying round it As she was too poor to have
any fear of them she did not alter her course which indeed she could not
have done without going a long way round but quickened her pace a little and
kept straight on
A movement of timid curiosity impelled her when she approached the spot to
glance towards the fire There was a form between it and her the outline
strongly developed against the light which caused her to stop abruptly Then
as if she had reasoned with herself and were assured that it could not be or
had satisfied herself that it was not that of the person she had supposed she
went on again
But at that instant the conversation whatever it was which had been
carrying on near this fire was resumed and the tones of the voice that spoke
she could not distinguish words sounded as familiar to her as her own
She turned and looked back The person had been seated before but was now
in a standing posture and leaning forward on a stick on which he rested both
hands The attitude was no less familiar to her than the tone of voice had been
It was her grandfather
Her first impulse was to call to him her next to wonder who his associates
could be and for what purpose they were together Some vague apprehension
succeeded and yielding to the strong inclination it awakened she drew nearer
to the place not advancing across the open field however but creeping towards
it by the hedge
In this way she advanced within a few feet of the fire and standing among a
few young trees could both see and hear without much danger of being observed
There were no women or children as she had seen in other gipsy camps they
had passed in their wayfaring and but one gipsy a tall athletic man who
stood with his arms folded leaning against a tree at a little distance off
looking now at the fire and now under his black eyelashes at three other men
who were there with a watchful but halfconcealed interest in their
conversation Of these her grandfather was one the others she recognised as
the first cardplayers at the publichouse on the eventful night of the storm
the man whom they had called Isaac List and his gruff companion One of the
low arched gipsytents common to that people was pitched hard by but it
either was or appeared to be empty
»Well are you going« said the stout man looking up from the ground where
he was lying at his ease into her grandfathers face »You were in a mighty
hurry a minute ago Go if you like Youre your own master I hope«
»Dont vex him« returned Isaac List who was squatting like a frog on the
other side of the fire and had so screwed himself up that he seemed to be
squinting all over »he didnt mean any offence«
»You keep me poor and plunder me and make a sport and jest of me besides«
said the old man turning from one to the other »Yell drive me mad among ye«
The utter irresolution and feebleness of the greyhaired child contrasted
with the keen and cunning looks of those in whose hands he was smote upon the
little listeners heart But she constrained herself to attend to all that
passed and to note each look and word
»Confound you what do you mean« said the stout man rising a little and
supporting himself on his elbow »Keep you poor Youd keep us poor if you
could wouldnt you Thats the way with you whining puny pitiful players
When you lose youre martyrs but I dont find that when you win you look upon
the other losers in that light As to plunder« cried the fellow raising his
voice »Damme what do you mean by such ungentlemanly language as plunder eh«
The speaker laid himself down again at full length and gave one or two
short angry kicks as if in further expression of his unbounded indignation It
was quite plain that he acted the bully and his friend the peacemaker for some
particular purpose or rather it would have been to any one but the weak old
man for they exchanged glances quite openly both with each other and with the
gipsy who grinned his approval of the jest until his white teeth shone again
The old man stood helplessly among them for a little time and then said
turning to his assailant
»You yourself were speaking of plunder just now you know Dont be so
violent with me You were were you not«
»Not of plundering among present company Honour among among gentlemen
sir« returned the other who seemed to have been very near giving an awkward
termination to the sentence
»Dont be hard upon him Jowl« said Isaac List »Hes very sorry for giving
offence There go on with what you were saying go on«
»Im a jolly old tenderhearted lamb I am« cried Mr Jowl »to be sitting
here at my time of life giving advice when I know it wont be taken and that I
shall get nothing but abuse for my pains But thats the way Ive gone through
life Experience has never put a chill upon my warmheartedness«
»I tell you hes very sorry dont I« remonstrated Isaac List »and that he
wishes youd go on«
»Does he wish it« said the other
»Ay« groaned the old man sitting down and rocking himself to and fro »Go
on go on Its in vain to fight with it I cant do it go on«
»I go on then« said Jowl »where I left off when you got up so quick If
youre persuaded that its time for luck to turn as it certainly is and find
that you havent means enough to try it and thats where it is for you know
yourself that you never have the funds to keep on long enough at a sitting
help yourself to what seems put in your way on purpose Borrow it I say and
when youre able pay it back again«
»Certainly« Isaac List struck in »if this good lady as keeps the waxworks
has money and does keep it in a tin box when she goes to bed and doesnt lock
her door for fear of fire it seems a easy thing quite a Providence I should
call it but then Ive been religiously brought up«
»You see Isaac« said his friend growing more eager and drawing himself
closer to the old man while he signed to the gipsy not to come between them
»you see Isaac strangers are going in and out every hour of the day nothing
would be more likely than for one of these strangers to get under the good
ladys bed or lock himself in the cupboard suspicion would be very wide and
would fall a long way from the mark no doubt Id give him his revenge to the
last farthing he brought whatever the amount was«
»But could you« urged Isaac List »Is your bank strong enough«
»Strong enough« answered the other with assumed disdain »Here you sir
give me that box out of the straw«
This was addressed to the gipsy who crawled into the low tent on all fours
and after some rummaging and rustling returned with a cashbox which the man
who had spoken opened with a key he wore about his person
»Do you see this« he said gathering up the money in his hand and letting
it drop back into the box between his fingers like water »Do you hear it Do
you know the sound of gold There put it back and dont talk about banks
again Isaac till youve got one of your own«
Isaac List with great apparent humility protested that he had never
doubted the credit of a gentleman so notorious for his honourable dealing as Mr
Jowl and that he had hinted at the production of the box not for the
satisfaction of his doubts for he could have none but with a view to being
regaled with a sight of so much wealth which though it might be deemed by some
but an unsubstantial and visionary pleasure was to one in his circumstances a
source of extreme delight only to be surpassed by its safe depository in his
own personal pockets Although Mr List and Mr Jowl addressed themselves to
each other it was remarkable that they both looked narrowly at the old man
who with his eyes fixed upon the fire sat brooding over it yet listening
eagerly as it seemed from a certain involuntary motion of the head or
twitching of the face from time to time to all they said
»My advice« said Jowl lying down again with a careless air »is plain I
have given it in fact I act as a friend Why should I help a man to the means
perhaps of winning all I have unless I considered him my friend Its foolish
I dare say to be so thoughtful of the welfare of other people but thats my
constitution and I cant help it so dont blame me Isaac List«
»I blame you« returned the person addressed »not for the world Mr Jowl
I wish I could afford to be as liberal as you and as you say he might pay it
back if he won and if he lost «
»Youre not to take that into consideration at all« said Jowl »But suppose
he did and nothings less likely from all I know of chances why its
better to lose other peoples money than ones own I hope«
»Ah« cried Isaac List rapturously »the pleasures of winning The delight
of picking up the money the bright shining yellowboys and sweeping em
into ones pocket The deliciousness of having a triumph at last and thinking
that one didnt stop short and turn back but went halfway to meet it The
but youre not going old gentleman«
»Ill do it« said the old man who had risen and taken two or three hurried
steps away and now returned as hurriedly »Ill have it every penny«
»Why thats brave« cried Isaac jumping up and slapping him on the
shoulder »and I respect you for having so much young blood left Ha ha ha
Joe Jowls half sorry he advised you now Weve got the laugh against him Ha
ha ha«
»He gives me my revenge mind« said the old man pointing to him eagerly
with his shrivelled hand »mind he stakes coin against coin down to the last
one in the box be there many or few Remember that«
»Im witness« returned Isaac »Ill see fair between you«
»I have passed my word« said Jowl with feigned reluctance »and Ill keep
it When does this match come off I wish it was over Tonight«
»I must have the money first« said the old man »and that Ill have
tomorrow «
»Why not tonight« urged Jowl
»Its late now and I should be flushed and flurried« said the old man »It
must be softly done No tomorrow night«
»Then tomorrow be it« said Jowl »A drop of comfort here Luck to the best
man Fill«
The gipsy produced three tin cups and filled them to the brim with brandy
The old man turned aside and muttered to himself before he drank Her own name
struck upon the listeners ear coupled with some wish so fervent that he
seemed to breathe it in an agony of supplication
»God be merciful to us« cried the child within herself »and help us in
this trying hour What shall I do to save him«
The remainder of their conversation was carried on in a lower tone of voice
and was sufficiently concise relating merely to the execution of the project
and the best precautions for diverting suspicion The old man then shook hands
with his tempters and withdrew
They watched his bowed and stooping figure as it retreated slowly and when
he turned his head to look back which he often did waved their hands or
shouted some brief encouragement It was not until they had seen him gradually
diminish into a mere speck upon the distant road that they turned to each
other and ventured to laugh aloud
»So« said Jowl warming his hands at the fire »its done at last He
wanted more persuading than I expected Its three weeks ago since we first put
this in his head Whatll he bring do you think«
»Whatever he brings its halved between us« returned Isaac List
The other man nodded »We must make quick work of it« he said »and then
cut his acquaintance or we may be suspected Sharps the word«
List and the gipsy acquiesced When they had all three amused themselves a
little with their victims infatuation they dismissed the subject as one which
had been sufficiently discussed and began to talk in a jargon which the child
did not understand As their discourse appeared to relate to matters in which
they were warmly interested however she deemed it the best time for escaping
unobserved and crept away with slow and cautious steps keeping in the shadow
of the hedges or forcing a path through them or the dry ditches until she
could emerge upon the road at a point beyond their range of vision Then she
fled homeward as quickly as she could torn and bleeding from the wounds of
thorns and briars but more lacerated in mind and threw herself upon her bed
distracted
The first idea that flashed upon her mind was flight instant flight
dragging him from that place and rather dying of want upon the roadside than
ever exposing him again to such terrible temptations Then she remembered that
the crime was not to be committed until next night and there was the
intermediate time for thinking and resolving what to do Then she was
distracted with a horrible fear that he might be committing it at that moment
with a dread of hearing shrieks and cries piercing the silence of the night
with fearful thoughts of what he might be tempted and led on to do if he were
detected in the act and had but a woman to struggle with It was impossible to
bear such torture She stole to the room where the money was opened the door
and looked in God be praised He was not there and she was sleeping soundly
She went back to her own room and tried to prepare herself for bed But who
could sleep sleep who could lie passively down distracted by such terrors
They came upon her more and more strongly yet Half undressed and with her hair
in wild disorder she flew to the old mans bedside clasped him by the wrist
and roused him from his sleep
»Whats this« he cried starting up in bed and fixing his eyes upon her
spectral face
»I have had a dreadful dream« said the child with an energy that nothing
but such terrors could have inspired »A dreadful horrible dream I have had it
once before It is a dream of greyhaired men like you in darkened rooms by
night robbing sleepers of their gold Up up« The old man shook in every
joint and folded his hands like one who prays
»Not to me« said the child »not to me to Heaven to save us from such
deeds This dream is too real I cannot sleep I cannot stay here I cannot
leave you alone under the roof where such dreams come Up We must fly«
He looked at her as if she were a spirit she might have been for all the
look of earth she had and trembled more and more
»There is no time to lose I will not lose one minute« said the child »Up
and away with me«
»Tonight« murmured the old man
»Yes tonight« replied the child »Tomorrow night will be too late The
dream will have come again Nothing but flight can save us Up«
The old man rose from his bed his forehead bedewed with the cold sweat of
fear and bending before the child as if she had been an angel messenger sent
to lead him where she would made ready to follow her She took him by the hand
and led him on As they passed the door of the room he had proposed to rob she
shuddered and looked up into his face What a white face was that and with what
a look did he meet hers
She took him to her own chamber and still holding him by the hand as if
she feared to lose him for an instant gathered together the little stock she
had and hung her basket on her arm The old man took his wallet from her hands
and strapped it on his shoulders his staff too she had brought away and
then she led him forth
Through the strait streets and narrow crooked outskirts their trembling
feet passed quickly Up the steep hill too crowned by the old grey castle they
toiled with rapid steps and had not once looked behind
But as they drew nearer the ruined walls the moon rose in all her gentle
glory and from their venerable age garlanded with ivy moss and waving
grass the child looked back upon the sleeping town deep in the valleys shade
and on the faroff river with its winding track of light and on the distant
hills and as she did so she clasped the hand she held less firmly and
bursting into tears fell upon the old mans neck
Chapter XLIII
Her momentary weakness past the child again summoned the resolution which had
until now sustained her and endeavouring to keep steadily in her view the one
idea that they were flying from disgrace and crime and that her grandfathers
preservation must depend solely on her firmness unaided by one word of advice
or any helping hand urged him onward and looked back no more
While he subdued and abashed seemed to crouch before her and to shrink
and cower down as if in the presence of some superior creature the child
herself was sensible of a new feeling within her which elevated her nature and
inspired her with an energy and confidence she had never known There was no
divided responsibility now the whole burden of their two lives had fallen upon
her and henceforth she must think and act for both »I have saved him« she
thought »In all dangers and distresses I will remember that«
At any other time the recollection of having deserted the friend who had
shown them so much homely kindness without a word of justification the
thought that they were guilty in appearance of treachery and ingratitude
even the having parted from the two sisters would have filled her with sorrow
and regret But now all other considerations were lost in the new uncertainties
and anxieties of their wild and wandering life and the very desperation of
their condition roused and stimulated her
In the pale moonlight which lent a wanness of its own to the delicate face
where thoughtful care already mingled with the winning grace and loveliness of
youth the too bright eye the spiritual head the lips that pressed each other
with such high resolve and courage of the heart the slight figure firm in its
bearing and yet so very weak told their silent tale but told it only to the
wind that rustled by which taking up its burden carried perhaps to some
mothers pillow faint dreams of childhood fading in its bloom and resting in
the sleep that knows no waking
The night crept on apace the moon went down the stars grew pale and dim
and morning cold as they slowly approached Then from behind a distant hill
the noble sun rose up driving the mists in phantom shapes before it and
clearing the earth of their ghostly forms till darkness came again When it had
climbed higher into the sky and there was warmth in its cheerful beams they
laid them down to sleep upon a bank hard by some water
But Nell retained her grasp upon the old mans arm and long after he was
slumbering soundly watched him with untiring eyes Fatigue stole over her at
last her grasp relaxed tightened relaxed again and they slept side by side
A confused sound of voices mingling with her dreams awoke her A man of
very uncouth and rough appearance was standing over them and two of his
companions were looking on from a long heavy boat which had come close to the
bank while they were sleeping The boat had neither oar nor sail but was towed
by a couple of horses who with the rope to which they were harnessed slack and
dripping in the water were resting on the path
»Holloa« said the man roughly »Whats the matter here«
»We were only asleep sir« said Nell »We have been walking all night«
»A pair of queer travellers to be walking all night« observed the man who
had first accosted them »One of you is a trifle too old for that sort of work
and the other a trifle too young Where are you going«
Nell faltered and pointed at hazard towards the West upon which the man
inquired if she meant a certain town which he named Nell to avoid more
questioning said »Yes that was the place«
»Where have you come from« was the next question and this being an easier
one to answer Nell mentioned the name of the village in which their friend the
schoolmaster dwelt as being less likely to be known to the men or to provoke
further inquiry
»I thought somebody had been robbing and illusing you might be« said the
man »Thats all Good day«
Returning his salute and feeling greatly relieved by his departure Nell
looked after him as he mounted one of the horses and the boat went on It had
not gone very far when it stopped again and she saw the men beckoning to her
»Did you call to me« said Nell running up to them
»You may go with us if you like« replied one of those in the boat »Were
going to the same place«
The child hesitated for a moment Thinking as she had thought with great
trepidation more than once before that the men whom she had seen with her
grandfather might perhaps in their eagerness for the booty follow them and
regaining their influence over him set hers at nought and that if they went
with these men all traces of them must surely be lost at that spot determined
to accept the offer The boat came close to the bank again and before she had
had any more time for consideration she and her grandfather were on board and
gliding smoothly down the canal
The sun shone pleasantly on the bright water which was sometimes shaded by
trees and sometimes open to a wide extent of country intersected by running
streams and rich with wooded hills cultivated land and sheltered farms Now
and then a village with its modest spire thatched roofs and gableends would
peep out from among the trees and more than once a distant town with great
church towers looming through its smoke and high factories or workshops rising
above the mass of houses would come in view and by the length of time it
lingered in the distance show them how slowly they travelled Their way lay
for the most part through the low grounds and open plains and except these
distant places and occasionally some men working in the fields or lounging on
the bridges under which they passed to see them creep along nothing encroached
on their monotonous and secluded track
Nell was rather disheartened when they stopped at a kind of wharf late in
the afternoon to learn from one of the men that they would not reach their
place of destination until next day and that if she had no provision with her
she had better buy it there She had but a few pence having already bargained
with them for some bread but even of these it was necessary to be very careful
as they were on their way to an utterly strange place with no resource
whatever A small loaf and a morsel of cheese therefore were all she could
afford and with these she took her place in the boat again and after half an
hours delay during which the men were drinking at the publichouse proceeded
on the journey
They brought some beer and spirits into the boat with them and what with
drinking freely before and again now were soon in a fair way of being
quarrelsome and intoxicated Avoiding the small cabin therefore which was very
dark and filthy and to which they often invited both her and her grandfather
Nell sat in the open air with the old man by her side listening to their
boisterous hosts with a palpitating heart and almost wishing herself safe on
shore again though she should have to walk all night
They were in truth very rugged noisy fellows and quite brutal among
themselves though civil enough to their two passengers Thus when a quarrel
arose between the man who was steering and his friend in the cabin upon the
question who had first suggested the propriety of offering Nell some beer and
when the quarrel led to a scuffle in which they beat each other fearfully to
her inexpressible terror neither visited his displeasure upon her but each
contented himself with venting it on his adversary on whom in addition to
blows he bestowed a variety of compliments which happily for the child were
conveyed in terms to her quite unintelligible The difference was finally
adjusted by the man who had come out of the cabin knocking the other into it
head first and taking the helm into his own hands without evincing the least
discomposure himself or causing any in his friend who being of a tolerably
strong constitution and perfectly inured to such trifles went to sleep as he
was with his heels upwards and in a couple of minutes or so was snoring
comfortably
By this time it was night again and though the child felt cold being but
poorly clad her anxious thoughts were far removed from her own suffering or
uneasiness and busily engaged in endeavouring to desire some scheme for their
joint subsistence The same spirit which had supported her on the previous
night upheld and sustained her now Her grandfather lay sleeping safely at her
side and the crime to which his madness urged him was not committed That was
her comfort
How every circumstance of her short eventful life came thronging into her
mind as they travelled on Slight incidents never thought of or remembered
until now faces seen once and ever since forgotten words scarcely heeded at
the time scenes of a year ago and those of yesterday mixing up and linking
themselves together familiar places shaping themselves out in the darkness from
things which when approached were of all others the most remote and most
unlike them sometimes a strange confusion in her mind relative to the occasion
of her being there and the place to which she was going and the people she was
with and imagination suggesting remarks and questions which sounded so plainly
in her ears that she would start and turn and be almost tempted to reply
all the fancies and contradictions common in watching and excitement and
restless change of place beset the child
She happened while she was thus engaged to encounter the face of the man
on deck in whom the sentimental stage of drunkenness had now succeeded to the
boisterous and who taking from his mouth a short pipe quilted over with
string for its longer preservation requested that she would oblige him with a
song
»Youve got a very pretty voice a very soft eye and a very strong memory«
said this gentleman »the voice and eye Ive got evidence for and the memorys
an opinion of my own And Im never wrong Let me hear a song this minute«
»I dont think I know one sir« returned Nell
»You know fortyseven songs« said the man with a gravity which admitted of
no altercation on the subject »Fortysevens your number Let me hear one of
em the best Give me a song this minute«
Not knowing what might be the consequences of irritating her friend and
trembling with the fear of doing so poor Nell sang him some little ditty which
she had learned in happier times and which was so agreeable to his ear that on
its conclusion he in the same peremptory manner requested to be favoured with
another to which he was so obliging as to roar a chorus to no particular tune
and with no words at all but which amply made up in its amazing energy for its
deficiency in other respects The noise of this vocal performance awakened the
other man who staggering upon deck and shaking his late opponent by the hand
swore that singing was his pride and joy and chief delight and that he desired
no better entertainment With a third call more imperative than either of the
two former Nell felt obliged to comply and this time a chorus was maintained
not only by the two men together but also by the third man on horseback who
being by his position debarred from a nearer participation in the revels of the
night roared when his companions roared and rent the very air In this way
with little cessation and singing the same songs again and again the tired and
exhausted child kept them in good humour all that night and many a cottager
who was roused from his soundest sleep by the discordant chorus as it floated
away upon the wind hid his head beneath the bedclothes and trembled at the
sounds
At length the morning dawned It was no sooner light than it began to rain
heavily As the child could not endure the intolerable vapours of the cabin
they covered her in return for her exertions with some pieces of sailcloth
and ends of tarpaulin which sufficed to keep her tolerably dry and to shelter
her grandfather besides As the day advanced the rain increased At noon it
poured down more hopelessly and heavily than ever without the faintest promise
of abatement
They had for some time been gradually approaching the place for which they
were bound The water had become thicker and dirtier other barges coming from
it passed them frequently the paths of coalash and huts of staring brick
marked the vicinity of some great manufacturing town while scattered streets
and houses and smoke from distant furnaces indicated that they were already in
the outskirts Now the clustered roofs and piles of buildings trembling with
the working of engines and dimly resounding with their shrieks and throbbings
the tall chimneys vomiting forth a black vapour which hung in a dense
illfavoured cloud above the housetops and filled the air with gloom the clank
of hammers beating upon iron the roar of busy streets and noisy crowds
gradually augmenting until all the various sounds blended into one and none was
distinguishable for itself announced the termination of their journey
The boat floated into the wharf to which it belonged The men were occupied
directly The child and her grandfather after waiting in vain to thank them or
ask them whither they should go passed through a dirty lane into a crowded
street and stood amid its din and tumult and in the pouring rain as strange
bewildered and confused as if they had lived a thousand years before and were
raised from the dead and placed there by a miracle
Chapter XLIV
The throng of people hurried by in two opposite streams with no symptom of
cessation or exhaustion intent upon their own affairs and undisturbed in their
business speculations by the roar of carts and waggons laden with clashing
wares the slipping of horses feet upon the wet and greasy pavement the
rattling of the rain on windows and umbrellatops the jostling of the more
impatient passengers and all the noise and tumult of a crowded street in the
high tide of its occupation while the two poor strangers stunned and
bewildered by the hurry they beheld but had no part in looked mournfully on
feeling amidst the crowd a solitude which has no parallel but in the thirst of
the shipwrecked mariner who tost to and fro upon the billows of a mighty
ocean his red eyes blinded by looking on the water which hems him in on every
side has not one drop to cool his burning tongue
They withdrew into a low archway for shelter from the rain and watched the
faces of those who passed to find in one among them a ray of encouragement or
hope Some frowned some smiled some muttered to themselves some made slight
gestures as if anticipating the conversation in which they would shortly be
engaged some wore the cunning look of bargaining and plotting some were
anxious and eager some slow and dull in some countenances were written gain
in others loss It was like being in the confidence of all these people to
stand quietly there looking into their faces as they flitted past In busy
places where each man has an object of his own and feels assured that every
other man has his his character and purpose are written broadly in his face In
the public walks and lounges of a town people go to see and to be seen and
there the same expression with little variety is repeated a hundred times The
workingday faces come nearer to the truth and let it out more plainly
Falling into that kind of abstraction which such a solitude awakens the
child continued to gaze upon the passing crowd with a wondering interest
amounting almost to a temporary forgetfulness of her own condition But cold
wet hunger want of rest and lack of any place in which to lay her aching
head soon brought her thoughts back to the point whence they had strayed No
one passed who seemed to notice them or to whom she durst appeal After some
time they left their place of refuge from the weather and mingled with the
concourse
Evening came on They were still wandering up and down with fewer people
about them but with the same sense of solitude in their own breasts and the
same indifference from all around The lights in the streets and shops made them
feel yet more desolate for with their help night and darkness seemed to come
on faster Shivering with the cold and damp ill in body and sick to death at
heart the child needed her utmost firmness and resolution even to creep along
Why had they ever come to this noisy town when there were peaceful country
places in which at least they might have hungered and thirsted with less
suffering than in its squalid strife They were but an atom here in a mountain
heap of misery the very sight of which increased their hopelessness and
suffering
The child had not only to endure the accumulated hardships of their
destitute condition but to bear the reproaches of her grandfather who began to
murmur at having been led away from their late abode and demand that they
should return to it Being now penniless and no relief or prospect of relief
appearing they retraced their steps through the deserted streets and went back
to the wharf hoping to find the boat in which they had come and to be allowed
to sleep on board that night But here again they were disappointed for the
gate was closed and some fierce dogs barking at their approach obliged them
to retreat
»We must sleep in the open air tonight dear« said the child in a weak
voice as they turned away from this last repulse »and tomorrow we will beg
our way to some quiet part of the country and try to earn our bread in very
humble work«
»Why did you bring me here« returned the old man fiercely »I cannot bear
these close eternal streets We came from a quiet part Why did you force me to
leave it«
»Because I must have that dream I told you of no more« said the child
with a momentary firmness that lost itself in tears »and we must live among
poor people or it will come again Dear grandfather you are old and weak I
know but look at me I never will complain if you will not but I have some
suffering indeed«
»Ah poor houseless wandering motherless child« cried the old man
clasping his hands and gazing as if for the first time upon her anxious face
her travelstained dress and bruised and swollen feet »has all my agony of
care brought her to this at last Was I a happy man once and have I lost
happiness and all I had for this«
»If we were in the country now« said the child with assumed cheerfulness
as they walked on looking about them for a shelter »we should find some good
old tree stretching out his green arms as if he loved us and nodding and
rustling as if he would have us fall asleep thinking of him while he watched
Please God we shall be there soon tomorrow or next day at the farthest and
in the meantime let us think dear that it was a good thing we came here for
we are lost in the crowd and hurry of this place and if any cruel people should
pursue us they could surely never trace us further Theres comfort in that
And heres a deep old doorway very dark bat quite dry and warm too for the
wind dont blow in here Whats that«
Uttering a half shriek she recoiled from a black figure which came suddenly
out of the dark recess in which they were about to take refuge and stood still
looking at them
»Speak again« it said »do I know the voice«
»No« replied the child timidly »we are strangers and having no money for
a nights lodging were going to rest here«
There was a feeble lamp at no great distance the only one in the place
which was a kind of square yard but sufficient to show how poor and mean it
was To this the figure beckoned them at the same time drawing within its
rays as if to show that it had no desire to conceal itself or take them at an
advantage
The form was that of a man miserably clad and begrimed with smoke which
perhaps by its contrast with the natural colour of his skin made him look paler
than he really was That he was naturally of a very wan and pallid aspect
however his hollow cheeks sharp features and sunken eyes no less than a
certain look of patient endurance sufficiently testified His voice was harsh
by nature but not brutal and though his face besides possessing the
characteristics already mentioned was overshadowed by a quantity of long dark
hair its expression was neither ferocious nor bad
»How came you to think of resting there« he said »Or how« he added
looking more attentively at the child »do you come to want a place of rest at
this time of night«
»Our misfortunes« the grandfather answered »are the cause«
»Do you know« said the man looking still more earnestly at Nell »how wet
she is and that the damp streets are not a place for her«
»I know it well God help me« he replied »What can I do«
The man looked at Nell again and gently touched her garments from which
the rain was running off in little streams »I can give you warmth« he said
after a pause »nothing else Such lodging as I have is in that house«
pointing to the doorway from which he had emerged »but she is safer and better
there than here The fire is in a rough place but you can pass the night beside
it safely if youll trust yourselves to me You see that red light yonder«
They raised their eyes and saw a lurid glare hanging in the dark sky the
dull reflection of some distant fire
»Its not far« said the man »Shall I take you there You were going to
sleep upon cold bricks I can give you a bed of warm ashes nothing better«
Without waiting for any further reply than he saw in their looks he took
Nell in his arms and bade the old man follow
Carrying her as tenderly and as easily too as if she had been an infant
and showing himself both swift and sure of foot he led the way through what
appeared to be the poorest and most wretched quarter of the town not turning
aside to avoid the overflowing kennels or running waterspouts but holding his
course regardless of such obstructions and making his way straight through
them They had proceeded thus in silence for some quarter of an hour and had
lost sight of the glare to which he had pointed in the dark and narrow ways by
which they had come when it suddenly burst upon them again streaming up from
the high chimney of a building close before them
»This is the place« he said pausing at a door to put Nell down and take
her hand »Dont be afraid Theres nobody here will harm you«
It needed a strong confidence in this assurance to induce them to enter and
what they saw inside did not diminish their apprehension and alarm In a large
and lofty building supported by pillars of iron with great black apertures in
the upper walls open to the external air echoing to the roof with the beating
of hammers and roar of furnaces mingled with the hissing of redhot metal
plunged in water and a hundred strange unearthly noises never heard elsewhere
in this gloomy place moving like demons among the flame and smoke dimly and
fitfully seen flushed and tormented by the burning fires and wielding great
weapons a faulty blow from any one of which must have crushed some workmans
skull a number of men laboured like giants Others reposing upon heaps of
coals or ashes with their faces turned to the black vault above slept or
rested from their toil Others again opening the whitehot furnacedoors cast
fuel on the flames which came rushing and roaring forth to meet it and licked
it up like oil Others drew forth with clashing noise upon the ground great
sheets of glowing steel emitting an insupportable heat and a dull deep light
like that which reddens in the eyes of savage beasts
Through these bewildering sights and deafening sounds their conductor led
them to where in a dark portion of the building one furnace burnt by night and
day so at least they gathered from the motion of his lips for as yet they
could only see him speak not hear him The man who had been watching this fire
and whose task was ended for the present gladly withdrew and left them with
their friend who spreading Nells little cloak upon a heap of ashes and
showing her where she could hang her outer clothes to dry signed to her and the
old man to lie down and sleep For himself he took his station on a rugged mat
before the furnacedoor and resting his chin upon his hands watched the flame
as it shone through the iron chinks and the white ashes as they fell into their
bright hot grave below
The warmth of her bed hard and humble as it was combined with the great
fatigue she had undergone soon caused the tumult of the place to fall with a
gentler sound upon the childs tired ears and was not long in lulling her to
sleep The old man was stretched beside her and with her hand upon his neck she
lay and dreamed
It was yet night when she awoke nor did she know how long or for how short
a time she had slept But she found herself protected both from any cold air
that might find its way into the building and from the scorching heat by some
of the workmens clothes and glancing at their friend saw that he sat in
exactly the same attitude looking with a fixed earnestness of attention towards
the fire and keeping so very still that he did not even seem to breathe She
lay in the state between sleeping and waking looking so long at his motionless
figure that at length she almost feared he had died as he sat there and softly
rising and drawing close to him ventured to whisper in his ear
He moved and glancing from her to the place she had lately occupied as if
to assure himself that it was really the child so near him looked inquiringly
into her face
»I feared you were ill« she said »The other men are all in motion and you
are so very quiet«
»They leave me to myself« he replied »They know my humour They laugh at
me but dont harm me in it See yonder there thats my friend«
»The fire« said the child
»It has been alive as long as I have« the man made answer »We talk and
think together all night long«
The child glanced quickly at him in her surprise but he had turned his eyes
in their former direction and was musing as before
»Its like a book to me« he said »the only book I ever learned to read
and many an old story it tells me Its music for I should know its voice among
a thousand and there are other voices in its roar It has its pictures too You
dont know how many strange faces and different scenes I trace in the redhot
coals Its my memory that fire and shows me all my life«
The child bending down to listen to his words could not help remarking
with what brightened eyes he continued to speak and muse
»Yes« he said with a faint smile »it was the same when I was quite a
baby and crawled about it till I fell asleep My father watched it then«
»Had you no mother« asked the child
»No she was dead Women work hard in these parts She worked herself to
death they told me and as they said so then the fire has gone on saying the
same thing ever since I suppose it was true I have always believed it«
»Were you brought up here then« said the child
»Summer and winter« he replied »Secretly at first but when they found it
out they let him keep me here So the fire nursed me the same fire It has
never gone out«
»You are fond of it« said the child
»Of course I am He died before it I saw him fall down just there where
those ashes are burning now and wondered I remember why it didnt help him«
»Have you been here ever since« asked the child
»Ever since I came to watch it but there was a while between and a very
cold dreary while it was It burned all the time though and roared and leaped
when I came back as it used to do in our play days You may guess from looking
at me what kind of child I was but for all the difference between us I was a
child and when I saw you in the street tonight you put me in mind of myself
as I was after he died and made me wish to bring you to the fire I thought of
those old times again when I saw you sleeping by it You should be sleeping
now Lie down again poor child lie down again«
With that he led her to her rude couch and covering her with the clothes
with which she had found herself enveloped when she woke returned to his seat
whence he moved no more unless to feed the furnace but remained motionless as a
statue The child continued to watch him for a little time but soon yielded to
the drowsiness that came upon her and in the dark strange place and on the
heap of ashes slept as peacefully as if the room had been a palace chamber and
the bed a bed of down
When she awoke again broad day was shining through the lofty openings in
the walls and stealing in slanting rays but midway down seemed to make the
building darker than it had been at night The clang and tumult were still going
on and the remorseless fires were burning fiercely as before for few changes
of night and day brought rest or quiet there
Her friend parted his breakfast a scanty mess of coffee and some coarse
bread with the child and her grandfather and inquired whither they were
going She told him that they sought some distant country place remote from
towns or even other villages and with a faltering tongue inquired what road
they would do best to take
»I know little of the country« he said shaking his head »for such as I
pass all our lives before our furnace doors and seldom go forth to breathe But
there are such places yonder«
»And far from here« said Nell
»Aye surely How could they be near us and be green and fresh The road
lies too through miles and miles all lighted up by fires like ours a
strange black road and one that would frighten you by night«
»We are here and must go on« said the child boldly for she saw that the
old man listened with anxious ears to this account
»Rough people paths never made for little feet like yours a dismal
blighted way is there no turning back my child«
»There is none« cried Nell pressing forward »If you can direct us do If
not pray do not seek to turn us from our purpose Indeed you do not know the
danger that we shun and how right and true we are in flying from it or you
would not try to stop us I am sure you would not«
»God forbid if it is so« said their uncouth protector glancing from the
eager child to her grandfather who hung his head and bent his eyes upon the
ground »Ill direct you from the door the best I can I wish I could do more«
He showed them then by which road they must leave the town and what
course they should hold when they had gained it He lingered so long on these
instructions that the child with a fervent blessing tore herself away and
stayed to hear no more
But before they had reached the corner of the lane the man came running
after them and pressing her hand left something in it two old battered
smokeencrusted penny pieces Who knows but they shone as brightly in the eyes
of angels as golden gifts that have been chronicled on tombs
And thus they separated the child to lead her sacred charge farther from
guilt and shame the labourer to attach a fresh interest to the spot where his
guests had slept and read new histories in his furnace fire
Chapter XLV
In all their journeying they had never longed so ardently they had never so
pined and wearied for the freedom of pure air and open country as now No not
even on that memorable morning when deserting their old home they abandoned
themselves to the mercies of a strange world and left all the dumb and
senseless things they had known and loved behind not even then had they so
yearned for the fresh solitudes of wood hillside and field as now when the
noise and dirt and vapour of the great manufacturing town reeking with lean
misery and hungry wretchedness hemmed them in on every side and seemed to shut
out hope and render escape impossible
»Two days and nights« thought the child »He said two days and nights we
should have to spend among such scenes as these Oh if we live to reach the
country once again if we get clear of these dreadful places though it is only
to lie down and die with what a grateful heart I shall thank God for so much
mercy«
With thoughts like this and with some vague design of travelling to a great
distance among streams and mountains where only very poor and simple people
lived and where they might maintain themselves by very humble helping work in
farms free from such terrors as that from which they fled the child with no
resource but the poor mans gift and no encouragement but that which flowed
from her own heart and its sense of the truth and right of what she did nerved
herself to this last journey and boldly pursued her task
»We shall be very slow today dear« she said as they toiled painfully
through the streets »my feet are sore and I have pains in all my limbs from
the wet of yesterday I saw that he looked at us and thought of that when he
said how long we should be upon the road«
»It was a dreary way he told us of« returned her grandfather piteously
»Is there no other road Will you not let me go some other way than this«
»Places lie beyond these« said the child firmly »where we may live in
peace and be tempted to do no harm We will take the road that promises to have
that end and we would not turn out of it if it were a hundred times worse than
our fears lead us to expect We would not dear would we«
»No« replied the old man wavering in his voice no less than in his
manner »No Let us go on I am ready I am quite ready Nell«
The child walked with more difficulty than she had led her companion to
expect for the pains that racked her joints were of no common severity and
every exertion increased them But they wrung from her no complaint or look of
suffering and though the two travellers proceeded very slowly they did
proceed Clearing the town in course of time they began to feel that they were
fairly on their way
A long suburb of redbrick houses some with patches of gardenground
where coaldust and factory smoke darkened the shrinking leaves and coarse rank
flowers and where the struggling vegetation sickened and sank under the hot
breath of kiln and furnace making them by its presence seem yet more blighting
and unwholesome than in the town itself a long flat straggling suburb
passed they came by slow degrees upon a cheerless region where not a blade
of grass was seen to grow where not a bud put forth its promise in the spring
where nothing green could live but on the surface of the stagnant pools which
here and there lay idly sweltering by the black roadside
Advancing more and more into the shadow of this mournful place its dark
depressing influence stole upon their spirits and filled them with a dismal
gloom On every side and far as the eye could see into the heavy distance tall
chimneys crowding on each other and presenting that endless repetition of the
same dull ugly form which is the horror of oppressive dreams poured out
their plague of smoke obscured the light and made foul the melancholy air On
mounds of ashes by the wayside sheltered only by a few rough boards or rotten
penthouse roofs strange engines spun and writhed like tortured creatures
clanking their iron chains shrieking in their rapid whirl from time to time as
though in torment unendurable and making the ground tremble with their agonies
Dismantled houses here and there appeared tottering to the earth propped up by
fragments of others that had fallen down unroofed windowless blackened
desolate but yet inhabited Men women children wan in their looks and ragged
in attire tended the engines fed their tributary fire begged upon the road
or scowled halfnaked from the doorless houses Then came more of the wrathful
monsters whose like they almost seemed to be in their wildness and their
untamed air screeching and turning round and round again and still before
behind and to the right and left was the same interminable perspective of
brick towers never ceasing in their black vomit blasting all things living or
inanimate shutting out the face of day and closing in on all these horrors
with a dense dark cloud
But nighttime in this dreadful spot night when the smoke was changed
to fire when every chimney spirted up its flame and places that had been dark
vaults all day now shone redhot with figures moving to and fro within their
blazing jaws and calling to one another with hoarse cries night when the
noise of every strange machine was aggravated by the darkness when the people
near them looked wilder and more savage when bands of unemployed labourers
paraded the roads or clustered by torchlight round their leaders who told
them in stern language of their wrongs and urged them on to frightful cries
and threats when maddened men armed with sword and firebrand spurning the
tears and prayers of women who would restrain them rushed forth on errands of
terror and destruction to work no ruin half so surely as their own night
when carts came rumbling by filled with rude coffins for contagious disease
and death had been busy with the living crops when orphans cried and
distracted women shrieked and followed in their wake night when some called
for bread and some for drink to drown their cares and some with tears and
some with staggering feet and some with bloodshot eyes went brooding home
night which unlike the night that Heaven sends on earth brought with it no
peace nor quiet nor signs of blessed sleep who shall tell the terrors of the
night to the young wandering child
And yet she lay down with nothing between her and the sky and with no
fear for herself for she was past it now put up a prayer for the poor old man
So very weak and spent she felt so very calm and unresisting that she had no
thought of any wants of her own but prayed that God would raise up some friend
for him She tried to recall the way they had come and to look in the direction
where the fire by which they had slept last night was burning She had forgotten
to ask the name of the poor man their friend and when she had remembered him
in her prayers it seemed ungrateful not to turn one look towards the spot where
he was watching
A penny loaf was all they had had that day It was very little but even
hunger was forgotten in the strange tranquillity that crept over her senses She
lay down very gently and with a quiet smile upon her face fell into a
slumber It was not like sleep and yet it must have been or why those
pleasant dreams of the little scholar all night long
Morning came Much weaker diminished powers even of sight and hearing and
yet the child made no complaint perhaps would have made none even if she had
not had that inducement to be silent travelling by her side She felt a
hopelessness of their ever being extricated together from that forlorn place a
dull conviction that she was very ill perhaps dying but no fear or anxiety
A loathing of food that she was not conscious of until they expended their
last penny in the purchase of another loaf prevented her partaking even of this
poor repast Her grandfather ate greedily which she was glad to see
Their way lay through the same scenes as yesterday with no variety or
improvement There was the same thick air difficult to breathe the same
blighted ground the same hopeless prospect the same misery and distress
Objects appeared more dim the noise less the path more rugged and uneven for
sometimes she stumbled and became roused as it were in the effort to prevent
herself from falling Poor child the cause was in her tottering feet
Towards the afternoon her grandfather complained bitterly of hunger She
approached one of the wretched hovels by the wayside and knocked with her hand
upon the door
»What would you have here« said a gaunt man opening it
»Charity A morsel of bread«
»Do you see that« returned the man hoarsely pointing to a kind of bundle
on the ground »Thats a dead child I and five hundred other men were thrown
out of work three months ago That is my third dead child and last Do you
think I have charity to bestow or a morsel of bread to spare«
The child recoiled from the door and it closed upon her Impelled by strong
necessity she knocked at another a neighbouring one which yielding to the
slight pressure of her hand flew open
It seemed that a couple of poor families lived in this hovel for two women
each among children of her own occupied different portions of the room In the
centre stood a grave gentleman in black who appeared to have just entered and
who held by the arm a boy
»Here woman« he said »heres your deaf and dumb son You may thank me for
restoring him to you He was brought before me this morning charged with
theft and with any other boy it would have gone hard I assure you But as I
had compassion on his infirmities and thought he might have learnt no better I
have managed to bring him back to you Take more care of him for the future«
»And wont you give me back my son« said the other woman hastily rising
and confronting him »Wont you give me back my son sir who was transported
for the same offence«
»Was he deaf and dumb woman« asked the gentleman sternly
»Was he not sir«
»You know he was not«
»He was« cried the woman »He was deaf dumb and blind to all that was
good and right from his cradle Her boy may have learnt no better where did
mine learn better where could he who was there to teach him better or where
was it to be learnt«
»Peace woman« said the gentleman »your boy was in possession of all his
senses«
»He was« cried the mother »and he was the more easy to be led astray
because he had them If you save this boy because he may not know right from
wrong why did you not save mine who was never taught the difference You
gentlemen have as good a right to punish her boy that God has kept in ignorance
of sound and speech as you have to punish mine that you kept in ignorance
yourselves How many of the girls and boys ah men and women too that are
brought before you and you dont pity are deaf and dumb in their minds and go
wrong in that state and are punished in that state body and soul while you
gentlemen are quarrelling among yourselves whether they ought to learn this or
that Be a just man sir and give me back my son«
»You are desperate« said the gentleman taking out his snuffbox »and I am
sorry for you«
»I am desperate« returned the woman »and you have made me so Give me back
my son to work for these helpless children Be a just man sir and as you
have had mercy upon this boy give me back my son«
The child had seen and heard enough to know that this was not a place at
which to ask for alms She led the old man softly from the door and they
pursued their journey
With less and less of hope or strength as they went on but with an
undiminished resolution not to betray by any word or sign her sinking state so
long as she had energy to move the child throughout the remainder of that hard
day compelled herself to proceed not even stopping to rest as frequently as
usual to compensate in some measure for the tardy pace at which she was obliged
to walk Evening was drawing on but had not closed in when still travelling
among the same dismal objects they came to a busy town
Faint and spiritless as they were its streets were insupportable After
humbly asking for relief at some few doors and being repulsed they agreed to
make their way out of it as speedily as they could and try if the inmates of
any lone house beyond would have more pity on their exhausted state
They were dragging themselves along through the last street and the child
felt that the time was close at hand when her enfeebled powers would bear no
more There appeared before them at this juncture going in the same direction
as themselves a traveller on foot who with a portmanteau strapped to his
back leaned upon a stout stick as he walked and read from a book which he held
in his other hand
It was not an easy matter to come up with him and beseech his aid for he
walked fast and was a little distance in advance At length he stopped to
look more attentively at some passage in his book Animated with a ray of hope
the child shot on before her grandfather and going close to the stranger
without rousing him by the sound of her footsteps began in a few faint words
to implore his help
He turned his head The child clapped her hands together uttered a wild
shriek and fell senseless at his feet
Chapter XLVI
It was the poor schoolmaster No other than the poor schoolmaster Scarcely less
moved and surprised by the sight of the child than she had been on recognising
him he stood for a moment silent and confounded by this unexpected
apparition without even the presence of mind to raise her from the ground
But quickly recovering his selfpossession he threw down his stick and
book and dropping on one knee beside her endeavoured by such simple means as
occurred to him to restore her to herself while her grandfather standing idly
by wrung his hands and implored her with many endearing expressions to speak
to him were it only a word
»She is quite exhausted« said the schoolmaster glancing upward into his
face »You have taxed her powers too far friend«
»She is perishing of want« rejoined the old man »I never thought how weak
and ill she was till now«
Casting a look upon him halfreproachful and halfcompassionate the
schoolmaster took the child in his arms and bidding the old man gather up her
little basket and follow him directly bore her away at his utmost speed
There was a small inn within sight to which it would seem he had been
directing his steps when so unexpectedly overtaken Towards this place he
hurried with his unconscious burden and rushing into the kitchen and calling
upon the company there assembled to make way for Gods sake deposited it on a
chair before the fire
The company who rose in confusion on the schoolmasters entrance did as
people usually do under such circumstances Everybody called for his or her
favourite remedy which nobody brought each cried for more air at the same
time carefully excluding what air there was by closing round the object of
sympathy and all wondered why somebody else didnt do what it never appeared to
occur to them might be done by themselves
The landlady however who possessed more readiness and activity than any of
them and who had withal a quicker perception of the merits of the case soon
came running in with a little hot brandy and water followed by her
servantgirl carrying vinegar hartshorn smellingsalts and such other
restoratives which being duly administered recovered the child so far as to
enable her to thank them in a faint voice and to extend her hand to the poor
schoolmaster who stood with an anxious face hard by Without suffering her to
speak another word or so much as to stir a finger any more the women
straightway carried her off to bed and having covered her up warm bathed her
cold feet and wrapped them in flannel they despatched a messenger for the
doctor
The doctor who was a rednosed gentleman with a great bunch of seals
dangling below a waistcoat of ribbed black satin arrived with all speed and
taking his seat by the bedside of poor Nell drew out his watch and felt her
pulse Then he looked at her tongue then he felt her pulse again and while he
did so he eyed the halfemptied wineglass as if in profound abstraction
»I should give her « said the doctor at length »a teaspoonful every now
and then of hot brandy and water«
»Why thats exactly what weve done sir« said the delighted landlady
»I should also« observed the doctor who had passed the footbath on the
stairs »I should also« said the doctor in the voice of an oracle »put her
feet in hot water and wrap them up in flannel I should likewise« said the
doctor with increased solemnity »give her something light for supper the wing
of a roasted fowl now «
»Why goodness gracious me sir its cooking at the kitchen fire this
instant« cried the landlady And so indeed it was for the schoolmaster had
ordered it to be put on and it was getting on so well that the doctor might
have smelt it if he had tried perhaps he did
»You may then« said the doctor rising gravely »give her a glass of hot
mulled port wine if she likes wine «
»And a toast sir« suggested the landlady
»Ay« said the doctor in the tone of a man who makes a dignified
concession »And a toast of bread But be very particular to make it of bread
if you please maam«
With which parting injunction slowly and portentously delivered the doctor
departed leaving the whole house in admiration of that wisdom which tallied so
closely with their own Everybody said he was a very shrewd doctor indeed and
knew perfectly what peoples constitutions were which there appears some reason
to suppose he did
While her supper was preparing the child fell into a refreshing sleep from
which they were obliged to rouse her when it was ready As she evinced
extraordinary uneasiness on learning that her grandfather was below stairs and
as she was greatly troubled at the thought of their being apart he took his
supper with her Finding her still very restless on this head they made him up
a bed in an inner room to which he presently retired The key of this chamber
happened by good fortune to be on that side of the door which was in Nells
room she turned it on him when the landlady had withdrawn and crept to bed
again with a thankful heart
The schoolmaster sat for a long time smoking his pipe by the kitchen fire
which was now deserted thinking with a very happy face on the fortunate
chance which had brought him so opportunely to the childs assistance and
parrying as well as in his simple way he could the inquisitive
crossexamination of the landlady who had a great curiosity to be made
acquainted with every particular of Nells life and history The poor
schoolmaster was so openhearted and so little versed in the most ordinary
cunning or deceit that she could not have failed to succeed in the first five
minutes but that he happened to be unacquainted with what she wished to know
and so he told her The landlady by no means satisfied with this assurance
which she considered an ingenious evasion of the question rejoined that he had
his reasons of course Heaven forbid that she should wish to pry into the
affairs of her customers which indeed were no business of hers who had so many
of her own She had merely asked a civil question and to be sure she knew it
would meet with a civil answer She was quite satisfied quite She had rather
perhaps that he would have said at once that he didnt choose to be
communicative because that would have been plain and intelligible However she
had no right to be offended of course He was the best judge and had a perfect
right to say what he pleased nobody could dispute that for a moment Oh dear
no
»I assure you my good lady« said the mild schoolmaster »that I have told
you the plain truth As I hope to be saved I have told you the truth«
»Why then I do believe you are in earnest« rejoined the landlady with
ready goodhumour »and Im very sorry I have teased you But curiosity you
know is the curse of our sex and thats the fact«
The landlord scratched his head as if he thought the curse sometimes
involved the other sex likewise but he was prevented from making any remark to
that effect if he had it in contemplation to do so by the schoolmasters
rejoinder
»You should question me for halfadozen hours at a sitting and welcome
and I would answer you patiently for the kindness of heart you have shown
tonight if I could« he said »As it is please to take care of her in the
morning and let me know early how she is and to understand that I am paymaster
for the three«
So parting with them on most friendly terms not the less cordial perhaps
for this last direction the schoolmaster went to his bed and the host and
hostess to theirs
The report in the morning was that the child was better but was extremely
weak and would at least require a days rest and careful nursing before she
could proceed upon her journey The schoolmaster received this communication
with perfect cheerfulness observing that he had a day to spare two days for
that matter and could very well afford to wait As the patient was to sit up
in the evening he appointed to visit her in her room at a certain hour and
rambling out with his book did not return until the hour arrived
Nell could not help weeping when they were left alone whereat and at sight
of her pale face and wasted figure the simple schoolmaster shed a few tears
himself at the same time showing in very energetic language how foolish it was
to do so and how very easily it could be avoided if one tried
»It makes me unhappy even in the midst of all this kindness« said the
child »to think that we should be a burden upon you How can I ever thank you
If I had not met you so far from home I must have died and he would have been
left alone«
»Well not talk about dying« said the schoolmaster »and as to burdens I
have made my fortune since you slept at my cottage«
»Indeed« cried the child joyfully
»Oh yes« returned her friend »I have been appointed clerk and schoolmaster
to a village a long way from here and a long way from the old one as you may
suppose at fiveandthirty pounds a year Fiveandthirty pounds«
»I am very glad« said the child »so very very glad«
»I am on my way there now« resumed the schoolmaster »They allowed me the
stagecoach hire outside stagecoach hire all the way Bless you they grudge
me nothing But as the time at which I am expected there left me ample leisure
I determined to walk instead How glad I am to think I did so«
»How glad should we be«
»Yes yes« said the schoolmaster moving restlessly in his chair
»certainly thats very true But you where are you going where are you
coming from what have you been doing since you left me what had you been doing
before Now tell me do tell me I know very little of the world and perhaps
you are better fitted to advise me in its affairs than I am qualified to give
advice to you but I am very sincere and I have a reason you have not
forgotten it for loving you I have felt since that time as if my love for him
who died had been transferred to you who stood beside his bed If this« he
added looking upwards »is the beautiful creation that springs from ashes let
its peace prosper with me as I deal tenderly and compassionately by this young
child«
The plain frank kindness of the honest schoolmaster the affectionate
earnestness of his speech and manner the truth which was stamped upon his every
word and look gave the child a confidence in him which the utmost arts of
treachery and dissimulation could never have awakened in her breast She told
him all that they had no friend or relative that she had fled with the old
man to save him from a madhouse and all the miseries he dreaded that she was
flying now to save him from himself and that she sought an asylum in some
remote and primitive place where the temptation before which he fell would
never enter and her late sorrows and distresses could have no place
The schoolmaster heard her with astonishment »This child« he thought
»has this child heroically persevered under all doubts and dangers struggled
with poverty and suffering upheld and sustained by strong affection and the
consciousness of rectitude alone And yet the world is full of such heroism
Have I yet to learn that the hardest and bestborne trials are those which are
never chronicled in any earthly record and are suffered every day And should I
be surprised to hear the story of this child«
What more he thought or said matters not It was concluded that Nell and
her grandfather should accompany him to the village whither he was bound and
that he should endeavour to find them some humble occupation by which they could
subsist »We shall be sure to succeed« said the schoolmaster heartily »The
cause is too good a one to fail«
They arranged to proceed upon their journey next evening as a stagewaggon
which travelled for some distance on the same road as they must take would stop
at the inn to change horses and the driver for a small gratuity would give Nell
a place inside A bargain was soon struck when the waggon came and in due time
it rolled away with the child comfortably bestowed among the softer packages
her grandfather and the schoolmaster walking on beside the driver and the
landlady and all the good folks of the inn screaming out their good wishes and
farewells
What a soothing luxurious drowsy way of travelling to lie inside that
slowlymoving mountain listening to the tinkling of the horses bells the
occasional smacking of the carters whip the smooth rolling of the great broad
wheels the rattle of the harness the cheery goodnights of passing travellers
jogging past on little shortstepped horses all made pleasantly indistinct by
the thick awning which seemed made for lazy listening under till one fell
asleep The very going to sleep still with an indistinct idea as the head
jogged to and fro upon the pillow of moving onward with no trouble or fatigue
and hearing all these sounds like dreamy music lulling to the senses and the
slow waking up and finding ones self staring out through the breezy curtain
halfopened in the front far up into the cold bright sky with its countless
stars and downward at the drivers lantern dancing on like its namesake Jack of
the swamps and marshes and sideways at the dark grim trees and forward at the
long bare road rising up up up until it stopped abruptly at a sharp high
ridge as if there were no more road and all beyond was sky and the stopping
at the inn to bait and being helped out and going into a room with fire and
candles and winking very much and being agreeably reminded that the night was
cold and anxious for very comforts sake to think it colder than it was What
a delicious journey was that journey in the waggon
Then the going on again so fresh at first and shortly afterwards so
sleepy The waking from a sound nap as the mail came dashing past like a highway
comet with gleaming lamps and rattling hoofs and visions of a guard behind
standing up to keep his feet warm and of a gentleman in a fur cap opening his
eyes and looking wild and stupefied the stopping at the turnpike where the man
was gone to bed and knocking at the door until he answered with a smothered
shout from under the bedclothes in the little room above where the faint light
was burning and presently came down nightcapped and shivering to throw the
gate wide open and wish all waggons off the road except by day The cold sharp
interval between night and morning the distant streak of light widening and
spreading and turning from grey to white and from white to yellow and from
yellow to burning red the presence of day with all its cheerfulness and life
men and horses at the plough birds in the trees and hedges and boys in
solitary fields frightening them away with rattles The coming to a town
people busy in the markets light carts and chaises round the tavern yard
tradesmen standing at their doors men running horses up and down the street for
sale pigs plunging and grunting in the dirty distance getting off with long
strings at their legs running into clean chemists shops and being dislodged
with brooms by prentices the nightcoach changing horses the passengers
cheerless cold ugly and discontented with three months growth of hair in
one night the coachman fresh as from a bandbox and exquisitely beautiful by
contrast so much bustle so many things in motion such a variety of
incidents when was there a journey with so many delights as that journey in
the waggon
Sometimes walking for a mile or two while her grandfather rode inside and
sometimes even prevailing upon the schoolmaster to take her place and lie down
to rest Nell travelled on very happily until they came to a large town where
the waggon stopped and where they spent a night They passed a large church
and in the streets were a number of old houses built of a kind of earth or
plaster crossed and recrossed in a great many directions with black beams
which gave them a remarkable and very ancient look The doors too were arched
and low some with oaken portals and quaint benches where the former
inhabitants had sat on summer evenings The windows were latticed in little
diamond panes that seemed to wink and blink upon the passengers as if they were
dim of sight They had long since got clear of the smoke and furnaces except in
one or two solitary instances where a factory planted among fields withered the
space about it like a burning mountain When they had passed through this town
they entered again upon the country and began to draw near their place of
destination
It was not so near however but that they spent another night upon the
road not that their doing so was quite an act of necessity but that the
schoolmaster when they approached within a few miles of his village had a
fidgety sense of his dignity as the new clerk and was unwilling to make his
entry in dusty shoes and traveldisordered dress It was a fine clear autumn
morning when they came upon the scene of his promotion and stopped to
contemplate its beauties
»See heres the church« cried the delighted schoolmaster in a low voice
»and that old building close beside it is the schoolhouse Ill be sworn
Fiveandthirty pounds a year in this beautiful place«
They admired everything the old grey porch the mullioned windows the
venerable gravestones dotting the green churchyard the ancient tower the very
weathercock the brown thatched roofs of cottage barn and homestead peeping
from among the trees the stream that rippled by the distant watermill the blue
Welsh mountains far away It was for such a spot the child had wearied in the
dense dark miserable haunts of labour Upon her bed of ashes and amidst the
squalid horrors through which they had forced their way visions of such scenes
beautiful indeed but not more beautiful than this sweet reality had been
always present to her mind They had seemed to melt into a dim and airy
distance as the prospect of ever beholding them again grew fainter but as
they receded she had loved and panted for them more
»I must leave you somewhere for a few minutes« said the schoolmaster at
length breaking the silence into which they had fallen in their gladness »I
have a letter to present and inquiries to make you know Where shall I take
you To the little inn yonder«
»Let us wait here« rejoined Nell »The gate is open We will sit in the
church porch till you come back«
»A good place too« said the schoolmaster leading the way towards it
disencumbering himself of his portmanteau and placing it on the stone seat »Be
sure that I come back with good news and am not long gone«
So the happy schoolmaster put on a brandnew pair of gloves which he had
carried in a little parcel in his pocket all the way and hurried off full of
ardour and excitement
The child watched him from the porch until the intervening foliage hid him
from her view and then stepped softly out into the old churchyard so solemn
and quiet that every rustle of her dress upon the fallen leaves which strewed
the path and made her footsteps noiseless seemed an invasion of its silence It
was a very aged ghostly place the church had been built many hundreds of years
ago and had once had a convent or monastery attached for arches in ruins
remains of oriel windows and fragments of blackened walls were yet standing
while other portions of the old building which had crumbled away and fallen
down were mingled with the churchyard earth and overgrown with grass as if
they too claimed a buryingplace and sought to mix their ashes with the dust of
men Hard by these gravestones of dead years and forming a part of the ruin
which some pains had been taken to render habitable in modern times were two
small dwellings with sunken windows and oaken doors fast hastening to decay
empty and desolate
Upon these tenements the attention of the child became exclusively riveted
She knew not why The church the ruin the antiquated graves had equal claims
at least upon a strangers thoughts but from the moment when her eyes first
rested on these two dwellings she could turn to nothing else Even when she had
made the circuit of the enclosure and returning to the porch sat pensively
waiting for their friend she took her station where she could still look upon
them and felt as if fascinated towards that spot
Chapter XLVII
Kits mother and the single gentleman upon whose track it is expedient to
follow with hurried steps lest this history should be chargeable with
inconstancy and the offence of leaving its characters in situations of
uncertainty and doubt Kits mother and the single gentleman speeding onward
in the postchaiseandfour whose departure from the Notarys door we have
already witnessed soon left the town behind them and struck fire from the
flints of the broad highway
The good woman being not a little embarrassed by the novelty of her
situation and certain material apprehensions that perhaps by this time little
Jacob or the baby or both had fallen into the fire or tumbled down stairs
or had been squeezed behind doors or had scalded their windpipes in
endeavouring to allay their thirst at the spouts of teakettles preserved an
uneasy silence and meeting from the window the eyes of turnpikemen
omnibusdrivers and others felt in the new dignity of her position like a
mourner at a funeral who not being greatly afflicted by the loss of the
departed recognizes his everyday acquaintance from the window of the mourning
coach but is constrained to preserve a decent solemnity and the appearance of
being indifferent to all external objects
To have been indifferent to the companionship of the single gentleman would
have been tantamount to being gifted with nerves of steel Never did chaise
inclose or horses draw such a restless gentleman as he He never sat in the
same position for two minutes together but was perpetually tossing his arms and
legs about pulling up the sashes and letting them violently down or thrusting
his head out of one window to draw it in again and thrust it out of another He
carried in his pocket too a firebox of mysterious and unknown construction
and as sure as ever Kits mother closed her eyes so surely whisk rattle
fizz there was the single gentleman consulting his watch by a flame of fire
and letting the sparks fall down among the straw as if there were no such thing
as a possibility of himself and Kits mother being roasted alive before the boys
could stop their horses Whenever they halted to change there he was out of
the carriage without letting down the steps bursting about the innyard like a
lighted cracker pulling out his watch by lamplight and forgetting to look at it
before he put it up again and in short committing so many extravagances that
Kits mother was quite afraid of him Then when the horses were to in he came
like a Harlequin and before they had gone a mile out came the watch and the
firebox together and Kits mother was wide awake again with no hope of a wink
of sleep for that stage
»Are you comfortable« the single gentleman would say after one of these
exploits turning sharply round
»Quite sir thank you«
»Are you sure Ant you cold«
»It is a little chilly sir« Kits mother would reply
»I knew it« cried the single gentleman letting down one of the front
glasses »She wants some brandy and water Of course she does How could I
forget it Hallo Stop at the next inn and call out for a glass of hot brandy
and water«
It was in vain for Kits mother to protest that she stood in need of nothing
of the kind The single gentleman was inexorable and whenever he had exhausted
all other modes and fashions of restlessness it invariably occurred to him that
Kits mother wanted brandy and water
In this way they travelled on until near midnight when they stopped to
supper for which meal the single gentleman ordered everything eatable that the
house contained and because Kits mother didnt eat everything at once and eat
it all he took it into his head that she must be ill
»Youre faint« said the single gentleman who did nothing himself but walk
about the room »I see whats the matter with you maam Youre faint«
»Thank you sir Im not indeed«
»I know you are Im sure of it I drag this poor woman from the bosom of
her family at a minutes notice and she goes on getting fainter and fainter
before my eyes Im a pretty fellow How many children have you got maam«
»Two sir besides Kit«
»Boys maam«
»Yes sir«
»Are they christened«
»Only half baptised as yet sir«
»Im godfather to both of em Remember that if you please maam You had
better have some mulled wine«
»I couldnt touch a drop indeed sir«
»You must« said the single gentleman »I see you want it I ought to have
thought of it before«
Immediately flying to the bell and calling for mulled wine as impetuously
as if it had been wanted for instant use in the recovery of some person
apparently drowned the single gentleman made Kits mother swallow a bumper of
it at such a high temperature that the tears ran down her face and then hustled
her off to the chaise again where not impossibly from the effects of this
agreeable sedative she soon became insensible to his restlessness and fell
fast asleep Nor were the happy effects of this prescription of a transitory
nature as notwithstanding that the distance was greater and the journey
longer than the single gentleman had anticipated she did not awake until it
was broad day and they were clattering over the pavement of a town
»This is the place« cried her companion letting down all the glasses
»Drive to the waxwork«
The boy on the wheeler touched his hat and setting spurs to his horse to
the end that they might go in brilliantly all four broke into a smart canter
and dashed through the streets with a noise that brought the good folks
wondering to their doors and windows and drowned the sober voices of the
townclocks as they chimed out halfpast eight They drove up to a door round
which a crowd of persons were collected and there stopped
»Whats this« said the single gentleman thrusting out his head »Is
anything the matter here«
»A wedding sir a wedding« cried several voices »Hurrah«
The single gentleman rather bewildered by finding himself the centre of
this noisy throng alighted with the assistance of one of the postilions and
handed out Kits mother at sight of whom the populace cried out »Heres
another wedding« and roared and leaped for joy
»The world has gone mad I think« said the single gentleman pressing
through the concourse with his supposed bride »Stand back here will you and
let me knock«
Anything that makes a noise is satisfactory to a crowd A score of dirty
hands were raised directly to knock for him and seldom has a knocker of equal
powers been made to produce more deafening sounds than this particular engine on
the occasion in question Having rendered these voluntary services the throng
modestly retired a little preferring that the single gentleman should bear
their consequences alone
»Now sir what do you want« said a man with a large white bow at his
buttonhole opening the door and confronting him with a very stoical aspect
»Who has been married here my friend« said the single gentleman
»I have«
»You and to whom in the devils name«
»What right have you to ask« returned the bridegroom eyeing him from top
to toe
»What right« cried the single gentleman drawing the arm of Kits mother
more tightly through his own for that good woman evidently had it in
contemplation to run away »A right you little dream of Mind good people if
this fellow has been marrying a minor tut tut that cant be Where is the
child you have here my good fellow You call her Nell Where is she«
As he propounded this question which Kits mother echoed somebody in a
room near at hand uttered a great shriek and a stout lady in a white dress
came running to the door and supported herself upon the bridegrooms arm
»Where is she« cried this lady »What news have you brought me What has
become of her«
The single gentleman started back and gazed upon the face of the late Mrs
Jarley that morning wedded to the philosophic George to the eternal wrath and
despair of Mr Slum the poet with looks of conflicting apprehension
disappointment and incredulity At length he stammered out
»I ask you where she is What do you mean«
»Oh sir« cried the bride »If you have come here to do her any good why
werent you here a week ago«
»She is not not dead« said the person to whom she addressed herself
turning very pale
»No not so bad as that«
»I thank God« cried the single gentleman feebly »Let me come in«
They drew back to admit him and when he had entered closed the door
»You see in me good people« he said turning to the newlymarried couple
»one to whom life itself is not dearer than the two persons whom I seek They
would not know me My features are strange to them but if they or either of
them are here take this good woman with you and let them see her first for
her they both know If you deny them from any mistaken regard or fear for them
judge of my intentions by their recognition of this person as their old humble
friend«
»I always said it« cried the bride »I knew she was not a common child
Alas sir we have no power to help you for all that we could do has been
tried in vain«
With that they related to him without disguise or concealment all that
they knew of Nell and her grandfather from their first meeting with them down
to the time of their sudden disappearance adding which was quite true that
they had made every possible effort to trace them but without success having
been at first in great alarm for their safety as well as on account of the
suspicions to which they themselves might one day be exposed in consequence of
their abrupt departure They dwelt upon the old mans imbecility of mind upon
the uneasiness the child had always testified when he was absent upon the
company he had been supposed to keep and upon the increased depression which
had gradually crept over her and changed her both in health and spirits Whether
she had missed the old man in the night and knowing or conjecturing whither he
had bent his steps had gone in pursuit or whether they had left the house
together they had no means of determining Certain they considered it that
there was but slender prospect left of hearing of them again and that whether
their flight originated with the old man or with the child there was now no
hope of their return
To all this the single gentleman listened with the air of a man quite borne
down by grief and disappointment He shed tears when they spoke of the
grandfather and appeared in deep affliction
Not to protract this portion of our narrative and to make short work of a
long story let it be briefly written that before the interview came to a close
the single gentleman deemed he had sufficient evidence of having been told the
truth and that he endeavoured to force upon the bride and bridegroom an
acknowledgment of their kindness to the unfriended child which however they
steadily declined accepting In the end the happy couple jolted away in the
caravan to spend their honeymoon in a country excursion and the single
gentleman and Kits mother stood ruefully before their carriagedoor
»Where shall we drive you sir« said the postboy
»You may drive me« said the single gentleman »to the « He was not going
to add »inn« but he added it for the sake of Kits mother and to the inn they
went
Rumours had already got abroad that the little girl who used to show the
waxwork was the child of great people who had been stolen from her parents in
infancy and had only just been traced Opinion was divided whether she was the
daughter of a prince a duke an earl a viscount or a baron but all agreed
upon the main fact and that the single gentleman was her father and all bent
forward to catch a glimpse though it were only of the tip of his noble nose as
he rode away desponding in his fourhorse chaise
What would he have given to know and what sorrow would have been saved if
he had only known that at that moment both child and grandfather were seated in
the old church porch patiently awaiting the schoolmasters return
Chapter XLVIII
Popular rumour concerning the single gentleman and his errand travelling from
mouth to mouth and waxing stronger in the marvellous as it was bandied about
for your popular rumour unlike the rolling stone of the proverb is one which
gathers a deal of moss in its wanderings up and down occasioned his
dismounting at the inndoor to be looked upon as an exciting and attractive
spectacle which could scarcely be enough admired and drew together a large
concourse of idlers who having recently been as it were thrown out of
employment by the closing of the waxwork and the completion of the nuptial
ceremonies considered his arrival as little else than a special providence and
hailed it with demonstrations of the liveliest joy
Not at all participating in the general sensation but wearing the depressed
and wearied look of one who sought to meditate on his disappointment in silence
and privacy the single gentleman alighted and handed out Kits mother with a
gloomy politeness which impressed the lookerson extremely That done he gave
her his arm and escorted her into the house while several active waiters ran on
before as a skirmishing party to clear the way and to show the room which was
ready for their reception
»Any room will do« said the single gentleman »Let it be near at hand
thats all«
»Close here sir if you please to walk this way«
»Would the gentleman like this room« said a voice as a little
outoftheway door at the foot of the well staircase flew briskly open and a
head popped out »Hes quite welcome to it Hes as welcome as flowers in May
or coals at Christmas Would you like this room sir Honour me by walking in
Do me the favour pray«
»Goodness gracious me« cried Kits mother falling back in extreme
surprise »only think of this«
She had some reason to be astonished for the person who proffered the
gracious invitation was no other than Daniel Quilp The little door out of which
he had thrust his head was close to the inn larder and there he stood bowing
with grotesque politeness as much at his ease as if the door were that of his
own house blighting all the legs of mutton and cold roast fowls by his close
companionship and looking like the evil genius of the cellars come from
underground upon some work of mischief
»Would you do me the honour« said Quilp
»I prefer being alone« replied the single gentleman
»Oh« said Quilp And with that he darted in again with one jerk and
clapped the little door to like a figure in a Dutch clock when the hour
strikes
»Why it was only last night sir« whispered Kits mother »that I left him
in Little Bethel«
»Indeed« said her fellowpassenger »When did that person come here
waiter«
»Come down by the nightcoach this morning sir«
»Humph And when is he going«
»Cant say sir really When the chambermaid asked him just now if he
should want a bed sir he first made faces at her and then wanted to kiss
her«
»Beg him to walk this way« said the single gentleman »I should be glad to
exchange a word with him tell him Beg him to come at once do you hear«
The man stared on receiving these instructions for the single gentleman had
not only displayed as much astonishment as Kits mother at sight of the dwarf
but standing in no fear of him had been at less pains to conceal his dislike
and repugnance He departed on his errand however and immediately returned
ushering in its object
»Your servant sir« said the dwarf »I encountered your messenger halfway
I thought youd allow me to pay my compliments to you I hope youre well I
hope youre very well«
There was a short pause while the dwarf with halfshut eyes and puckered
face stood waiting for an answer Receiving none he turned towards his more
familiar acquaintance
»Christophers mother« he cried »Such a dear lady such a worthy woman so
blest in her honest son How is Christophers mother Have change of air and
scene improved her Her little family too and Christopher Do they thrive Do
they flourish Are they growing into worthy citizens eh«
Making his voice ascend in the scale with every succeeding question Mr
Quilp finished in a shrill squeak and subsided into the panting look which was
customary with him and which whether it were assumed or natural had equally
the effect of banishing all expression from his face and rendering it as far
as it afforded any index to his mood or meaning a perfect blank
»Mr Quilp« said the single gentleman
The dwarf put his hand to his great flapped ear and counterfeited the
closest attention
»We two have met before «
»Surely« cried Quilp nodding his head »Oh surely sir Such an honour and
pleasure its both Christophers mother its both is not to be forgotten
so soon By no means«
»You may remember that the day I arrived in London and found the house to
which I drove empty and deserted I was directed by some of the neighbours to
you and waited upon you without stopping for rest or refreshment«
»How precipitate that was and yet what an earnest and vigorous measure«
said Quilp conferring with himself in imitation of his friend Mr Sampson
Brass
»I found« said the single gentleman »you most unaccountably in possession
of everything that had so recently belonged to another man and that other man
who up to the time of your entering upon his property had been looked upon as
affluent reduced to sudden beggary and driven from house and home«
»We had warrant for what we did my good sir« rejoined Quilp »we had our
warrant Dont say driven either He went of his own accord vanished in the
night sir«
»No matter« said the single gentleman angrily »He was gone«
»Yes he was gone« said Quilp with the same exasperating composure »No
doubt he was gone The only question was where And its a question still«
»Now what am I to think« said the single gentleman sternly regarding him
»of you who plainly indisposed to give me any information then nay
obviously holding back and sheltering yourself with all kinds of cunning
trickery and evasion are dogging my footsteps now«
»I dogging« cried Quilp
»Why are you not« returned his questioner fretted into a state of the
utmost irritation »Were you not a few hours since sixty miles off and in the
chapel to which this good woman goes to say her prayers«
»She was there too I think« said Quilp still perfectly unmoved »I might
say if I was inclined to be rude how do I know but you are dogging my
footsteps Yes I was at chapel What then Ive read in books that pilgrims
were used to go to chapel before they went on journeys to put up petitions for
their safe return Wise men journeys are very perilous especially outside the
coach Wheels come off horses take fright coachmen drive too fast coaches
overturn I always go to chapel before I start on journeys Its the last thing
I do on such occasions indeed«
That Quilp lied most heartily in this speech it needed no very great
penetration to discover although for anything that he suffered to appear in his
face voice or manner he might have been clinging to the truth with the quiet
constancy of a martyr
»In the name of all thats calculated to drive one crazy man« said the
unfortunate single gentleman »have you not for some reason of your own taken
upon yourself my errand dont you know with what object I have come here and
if you do know can you throw no light upon it«
»You think Im a conjurer sir« replied Quilp shrugging up his shoulders
»If I was I should tell my own fortune and make it«
»Ah we have said all we need say I see« returned the other throwing
himself impatiently upon a sofa »Pray leave us if you please«
»Willingly« returned Quilp »Most willingly Christophers mother my good
soul farewell A pleasant journey back sir Ahem«
With these parting words and with a grin upon his features altogether
indescribable but which seemed to be compounded of every monstrous grimace of
which men or monkeys are capable the dwarf slowly retreated and closed the door
behind him
»Oho« he said when he had regained his own room and sat himself down in a
chair with his arms akimbo »Oho Are you there my friend Indeed«
Chuckling as though in very great glee and recompensing himself for the
restraint he had lately put upon his countenance by twisting it into all
imaginable varieties of ugliness Mr Quilp rocking himself to and fro in his
chair and nursing his left leg at the same time fell into certain meditations
of which it may be necessary to relate the substance
First he reviewed the circumstances which had led to his repairing to that
spot which were briefly these Dropping in at Mr Sampson Brasss office on the
previous evening in the absence of that gentleman and his learned sister he
had lighted upon Mr Swiveller who chanced at the moment to be sprinkling a
glass of warm gin and water on the dust of the law and to be moistening his
clay as the phrase goes rather copiously But as clay in the abstract when
too much moistened becomes of a weak and uncertain consistency breaking down
in unexpected places retaining impressions but faintly and preserving no
strength or steadiness of character so Mr Swivellers clay having imbibed a
considerable quantity of moisture was in a very loose and slippery state
insomuch that the various ideas impressed upon it were fast losing their
distinctive character and running into each other It is not uncommon for human
clay in this condition to value itself above all things upon its great prudence
and sagacity and Mr Swiveller especially prizing himself upon these
qualities took occasion to remark that he had made strange discoveries in
connection with the single gentleman who lodged above which he had determined
to keep within his own bosom and which neither tortures nor cajolery should
ever induce him to reveal Of this determination Mr Quilp expressed his high
approval and setting himself in the same breath to goad Mr Swiveller on to
further hints soon made out that the single gentleman had been seen in
communication with Kit and that this was the secret which was never to be
disclosed
Possessed of this piece of information Mr Quilp directly supposed that the
single gentleman above stairs must be the same individual who had waited on him
and having assured himself by further inquiries that this surmise was correct
had no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that the intent and object of
his correspondence with Kit was the recovery of his old client and the child
Burning with curiosity to know what proceedings were afoot he resolved to
pounce upon Kits mother as the person least able to resist his arts and
consequently the most likely to be entrapped into such revelations as he sought
so taking an abrupt leave of Mr Swiveller he hurried to her house The good
woman being from home he made inquiries of a neighbour as Kit himself did soon
afterwards and being directed to the chapel betook himself there in order to
waylay her at the conclusion of the service
He had not sat in the chapel more than a quarter of an hour and with his
eyes piously fixed upon the ceiling was chuckling inwardly over the joke of his
being there at all when Kit himself appeared Watchful as a lynx one glance
showed the dwarf that he had come on business Absorbed in appearance as we
have seen and feigning a profound abstraction he noted every circumstance of
his behaviour and when he withdrew with his family shot out after him In
fine he traced them to the Notarys house learnt the destination of the
carriage from one of the postilions and knowing that a fast nightcoach started
for the same place at the very hour which was on the point of striking from a
street hard by darted round to the coachoffice without more ado and took his
seat upon the roof After passing and repassing the carriage on the road and
being passed and repassed by it sundry times in the course of the night
according as their stoppages were longer or shorter or their rate of travelling
varied they reached the town almost together Quilp kept the chaise in sight
mingled with the crowd learnt the single gentlemans errand and its failure
and having possessed himself of all that it was material to know hurried off
reached the inn before him had the interview just now detailed and shut
himself up in the little room in which he hastily reviewed all these
occurrences
»You are there are you my friend« he repeated greedily biting his nails
»I am suspected and thrown aside and Kits the confidential agent is he I
shall have to dispose of him I fear If we had come up with them this morning«
he continued after a thoughtful pause »I was ready to prove a pretty good
claim I could have made my profit But for these canting hypocrites the lad
and his mother I could get this fiery gentleman as comfortable into my net as
our old friend our mutual friend ha ha and chubby rosy Nell At the
worst its a golden opportunity not to be lost Let us find them first and
Ill find means of draining you of some of your superfluous cash sir while
there are prison bars and bolts and locks to keep your friend or kinsman
safely I hate your virtuous people« said the dwarf throwing off a bumper of
brandy and smacking his lips »ah I hate em every one«
This was not a mere empty vaunt but a deliberate avowal of his real
sentiments for Mr Quilp who loved nobody had by little and little come to
hate everybody nearly or remotely connected with his ruined client the old
man himself because he had been able to deceive him and elude his vigilance
the child because she was the object of Mrs Quilps commiseration and constant
selfreproach the single gentleman because of his unconcealed aversion to
himself Kit and his mother most mortally for the reasons shown Above and
beyond that general feeling of opposition to them which would have been
inseparable from his ravenous desire to enrich himself by these altered
circumstances Daniel Quilp hated them every one
In this amiable mood Mr Quilp enlivened himself and his hatreds with more
brandy and then changing his quarters withdrew to an obscure alehouse under
cover of which seclusion he instituted all possible inquiries that might lead to
the discovery of the old man and his grandchild But all was in vain Not the
slightest trace or clue could be obtained They had left the town by night no
one had seen them go no one had met them on the road the driver of no coach
cart or waggon had seen any travellers answering their description nobody had
fallen in with them or heard of them Convinced at last that for the present
all such attempts were hopeless he appointed two or three scouts with promises
of large rewards in case of their forwarding him any intelligence and returned
to London by next days coach
It was some gratification to Mr Quilp to find as he took his place upon
the roof that Kits mother was alone inside from which circumstance he derived
in the course of the journey much cheerfulness of spirit inasmuch as her
solitary condition enabled him to terrify her with many extraordinary
annoyances such as hanging over the side of the coach at the risk of his life
and staring in with his great goggle eyes which seemed in hers the more
horrible from his face being upside down dodging her in this way from one
window to another getting nimbly down whenever they changed horses and
thrusting his head in at the window with a dismal squint which ingenious
tortures had such an effect upon Mrs Nubbles that she was quite unable for the
time to resist the belief that Mr Quilp did in his own person represent and
embody that Evil Power who was so vigorously attacked at Little Bethel and
who by reason of her backslidings in respect of Astleys and oysters was now
frolicsome and rampant
Kit having been apprised by letter of his mothers intended return was
waiting for her at the coachoffice and great was his surprise when he saw
leering over the coachmans shoulder like some familiar demon invisible to all
eyes but his the wellknown face of Quilp
»How are you Christopher« croaked the dwarf from the coachtop »All
right Christopher Mothers inside«
»Why how did he come here mother« whispered Kit
»I dont know how he came or why my dear« rejoined Mrs Nubbles
dismounting with her sons assistance »but he has been a terrifying of me out
of my seven senses all this blessed day«
»He has« cried Kit
»You wouldnt believe it that you wouldnt« replied his mother »but dont
say a word to him for I really dont believe hes human Hush Dont turn round
as if I was talking of him but hes a squinting at me now in the full blaze of
the coachlamp quite awful«
In spite of his mothers injunction Kit turned sharply round to look Mr
Quilp was serenely gazing at the stars quite absorbed in celestial
contemplation
»Oh hes the artfullest creetur« cried Mrs Nubbles »But come away Dont
speak to him for the world«
»Yes I will mother What nonsense I say sir « Mr Quilp affected to
start and looked smilingly round »You let my mother alone will you« said
Kit »How dare you tease a poor lone woman like her making her miserable and
melancholy as if she hadnt got enough to make her so without you Ant you
ashamed of yourself you little monster«
»Monster« said Quilp inwardly with a smile »Ugliest dwarf that could be
seen anywhere for a penny monster ah«
»You show her any of your impudence again« resumed Kit shouldering the
bandbox »and I tell you what Mr Quilp I wont bear with you any more You
have no right to do it Im sure we never interfered with you This isnt the
first time and if ever you worry or frighten her again youll oblige me
though I should be very sorry to do it on account of your size to beat you«
Quilp said not a word in reply but walking so close to Kit as to bring his
eyes within two or three inches of his face looked fixedly at him retreated a
little distance without averting his gaze approached again again withdrew and
so on for halfadozen times like a head in a phantasmagoria Kit stood his
ground as if in expectation of an immediate assault but finding that nothing
came of these gestures snapped his fingers and walked away his mother dragging
him off as fast as she could and even in the midst of his news of little Jacob
and the baby looking anxiously over her shoulder to see if Quilp were
following
Chapter XLIX
Kits mother might have spared herself the trouble of looking back so often for
nothing was further from Mr Quilps thoughts than any intention of pursuing her
and her son or renewing the quarrel with which they had parted He went his
way whistling from time to time some fragments of a tune and with a face quite
tranquil and composed jogged pleasantly towards home entertaining himself as
he went with visions of the fears and terrors of Mrs Quilp who having
received no intelligence of him for three whole days and two nights and having
had no previous notice of his absence was doubtless by that time in a state of
distraction and constantly fainting away with anxiety and grief
This facetious probability was so congenial to the dwarfs humour and so
exquisitely amusing to him that he laughed as he went along until the tears ran
down his cheeks and more than once when he found himself in a byestreet
vented his delight in a shrill scream which greatly terrifying any lonely
passenger who happened to be walking on before him expecting nothing so little
increased his mirth and made him remarkably cheerful and lighthearted
In this happy flow of spirits Mr Quilp reached Tower Hill when gazing up
at the window of his own sittingroom he thought he descried more light than is
usual in a house of mourning Drawing nearer and listening attentively he
could hear several voices in earnest conversation among which he could
distinguish not only those of his wife and motherinlaw but the tongues of
men
»Ha« cried the jealous dwarf »Whats this Do they entertain visitors
while Im away«
A smothered cough from above was the reply He felt in his pockets for his
latchkey but had forgotten it There was no resource but to knock at the door
»A light in the passage« said Quilp peeping through the keyhole »A very
soft knock and by your leave my lady I may yet steal upon you unawares
Soho«
A very low and gentle rap received no answer from within But after a second
application to the knocker no louder than the first the door was softly opened
by the boy from the wharf whom Quilp instantly gagged with one hand and
dragged into the street with the other
»Youll throttle me master« whispered the boy »Let go will you«
»Whos up stairs you dog« retorted Quilp in the same tone »Tell me And
dont speak above your breath or Ill choke you in good earnest«
The boy could only point to the window and reply with a stifled giggle
expressive of such intense enjoyment that Quilp clutched him by the throat and
might have carried his threat into execution or at least have made very good
progress towards that end but for the boys nimbly extricating himself from his
grasp and fortifying himself behind the nearest post at which after some
fruitless attempts to catch him by the hair of the head his master was obliged
to come to a parley
»Will you answer me« said Quilp »Whats going on above«
»You wont let one speak« replied the boy »They ha ha ha they think
youre youre dead Ha ha ha«
»Dead« cried Quilp relaxing into a grim laugh himself »No Do they Do
they really you dog«
»They think youre youre drowned« replied the boy who in his malicious
nature had a strong infusion of his master »You was last seen on the brink of
the wharf and they think you tumbled over Ha ha«
The prospect of playing the spy under such delicious circumstances and of
disappointing them all by walking in alive gave more delight to Quilp than the
greatest stroke of good fortune could possibly have inspired him with He was no
less tickled than his hopeful assistant and they both stood for some seconds
grinning and gasping and wagging their heads at each other on either side of
the post like an unmatchable pair of Chinese idols
»Not a word« said Quilp making towards the door on tiptoe »Not a sound
not so much as a creaking board or a stumble against a cobweb Drowned eh
Mrs Quilp Drowned«
So saying he blew out the candle kicked off his shoes and groped his way
up stairs leaving his delighted young friend in an ecstasy of summersets on the
pavement
The bedroomdoor on the staircase being unlocked Mr Quilp slipped in and
planted himself behind the door of communication between that chamber and the
sittingroom which standing ajar to render both more airy and having a very
convenient chink of which he had often availed himself for purposes of espial
and had indeed enlarged with his pocketknife enabled him not only to hear
but to see distinctly what was passing
Applying his eye to this convenient place he descried Mr Brass seated at
the table with pen ink and paper and the casebottle of rum his own
casebottle and his own particular Jamaica convenient to his hand with hot
water fragrant lemons white lump sugar and all things fitting from which
choice materials Sampson by no means insensible to their claims upon his
attention had compounded a mighty glass of punch reeking hot which he was at
that very moment stirring up with a teaspoon and contemplating with looks in
which a faint assumption of sentimental regret struggled but weakly with a
bland and comfortable joy At the same table with both her elbows upon it was
Mrs Jiniwin no longer sipping other peoples punch feloniously with
teaspoons but taking deep draughts from a jorum of her own while her daughter
not exactly with ashes on her head or sackcloth on her back but preserving a
very decent and becoming appearance of sorrow nevertheless was reclining in an
easy chair and soothing her grief with a smaller allowance of the same glib
liquid There were also present a couple of waterside men bearing between
them certain machines called drags even these fellows were accommodated with a
stiff glass apiece and as they drank with a great relish and were naturally
of a rednosed pimplefaced convivial look their presence rather increased
than detracted from that decided appearance of comfort which was the great
characteristic of the party
»If I could poison that dear old ladys rum and water« murmured Quilp »Id
die happy«
»Ah« said Mr Brass breaking the silence and raising his eyes to the
ceiling with a sigh »who knows but he may be looking down upon us now Who
knows but he may be surveying of us from from somewheres or another and
contemplating us with a watchful eye Oh Lor«
Here Mr Brass stopped to drink half his punch and then resumed looking at
the other half as he spoke with a dejected smile
»I can almost fancy« said the lawyer shaking his head »that I see his eye
glistening down at the very bottom of my liquor When shall we look upon his
like again Never never One minute we are here« holding his tumbler before
his eyes »the next we are there« gulping down its contents and striking
himself emphatically a little below the chest »in the silent tomb To think
that I should be drinking his very rum It seems like a dream«
With the view no doubt of testing the reality of his position Mr Brass
pushed his tumbler as he spoke towards Mrs Jiniwin for the purpose of being
replenished and turned towards the attendant mariners
»The search has been quite unsuccessful then«
»Quite master But I should say that if he turns up anywhere hell come
ashore somewhere about Grinidge tomorrow at ebb tide eh mate«
The other gentleman assented observing that he was expected at the
Hospital and that several pensioners would be ready to receive him whenever he
arrived
»Then we have nothing for it but resignation« said Mr Brass »nothing but
resignation and expectation It would be a comfort to have his body it would
be a dreary comfort«
»Oh beyond a doubt« assented Mrs Jiniwin hastily »if we once had that
we should be quite sure«
»With regard to the descriptive advertisement« said Sampson Brass taking
up his pen »It is a melancholy pleasure to recall his traits Respecting his
legs now «
»Crooked certainly« said Mrs Jiniwin
»Do you think they were crooked« said Brass in an insinuating tone »I
think I see them now coming up the street very wide apart in nankeen pantaloons
a little shrunk and without straps Ah what a vale of tears we live in Do we
say crooked«
»I think they were a little so« observed Mrs Quilp with a sob
»Legs crooked« said Brass writing as he spoke »Large head short body
legs crooked «
»Very crooked« suggested Mrs Jiniwin
»Well not say very crooked maam« said Brass piously
»Let us not bear hard upon the weaknesses of the deceased He is gone
maam to where his legs will never come in question We will content
ourselves with crooked Mrs Jiniwin«
»I thought you wanted the truth« said the old lady »Thats all«
»Bless your eyes how I love you« muttered Quilp »There she goes again
Nothing but punch«
»This is an occupation« said the lawyer laying down his pen and emptying
his glass »which seems to bring him before my eyes like the Ghost of Hamlets
father in the very clothes that he wore on workadays His coat his
waistcoat his shoes and stockings his trousers his hat his wit and humour
his pathos and his umbrella all come before me like visions of my youth His
linen« said Mr Brass smiling fondly at the wall »his linen which was always
of a particular colour for such was his whim and fancy how plain I see his
linen now«
»You had better go on sir« said Mrs Jiniwin impatiently
»True maam true« cried Mr Brass »Our faculties must not freeze with
grief Ill trouble you for a little more of that maam A question now arises
with relation to his nose«
»Flat« said Mrs Jiniwin
»Aquiline« cried Quilp thrusting in his head and striking the feature
with his fist »Aquiline you hag Do you see it Do you call this flat Do you
Eh«
»Oh capital capital« shouted Brass from the mere force of habit
»Excellent How very good he is Hes a most remarkable man so extremely
whimsical Such an amazing power of taking people by surprise«
Quilp paid no regard whatever to these compliments nor to the dubious and
frightened look into which the lawyer gradually subsided nor to the shrieks of
his wife and motherinlaw nor to the latters running from the room nor to
the formers fainting away Keeping his eye fixed on Sampson Brass he walked up
to the table and beginning with his glass drank off the contents and went
regularly round until he had emptied the other two when he seized the
casebottle and hugging it under his arm surveyed him with a most
extraordinary leer
»Not yet Sampson« said Quilp »Not just yet«
»Oh very good indeed« cried Brass recovering his spirits a little »Ha ha
ha Oh exceedingly good Theres not another man alive who could carry it off
like that A most difficult position to carry off But he has such a flow of
goodhumour such an amazing flow«
»Good night« said the dwarf nodding expressively
»Good night sir good night« cried the lawyer retreating backwards
towards the door »This is a joyful occasion indeed extremely joyful Ha ha ha
oh very rich very rich indeed remarkably so«
Waiting until Mr Brasss ejaculations died away in the distance for he
continued to pour them out all the way down stairs Quilp advanced towards the
two men who yet lingered in a kind of stupid amazement
»Have you been dragging the river all day gentlemen« said the dwarf
holding the door open with great politeness
»And yesterday too master«
»Dear me youve had a deal of trouble Pray consider everything yours that
you find upon the upon the body Good night«
The men looked at each other but had evidently no inclination to argue the
point just then and shuffled out of the room The speedy clearance effected
Quilp locked the doors and still embracing the casebottle with shruggedup
shoulders and folded arms stood looking at his insensible wife like a
dismounted nightmare
Chapter L
Matrimonial differences are usually discussed by the parties concerned in the
form of dialogue in which the lady bears at least her full half share Those of
Mr and Mrs Quilp however were an exception to the general rule the remarks
which they occasioned being limited to a long soliloquy on the part of the
gentleman with perhaps a few deprecatory observations from the lady not
extending beyond a trembling monosyllable uttered at long intervals and in a
very submissive and humble tone On the present occasion Mrs Quilp did not for
a long time venture even on this gentle defence but when she had recovered from
her faintingfit sat in a tearful silence meekly listening to the reproaches
of her lord and master
Of these Mr Quilp delivered himself with the utmost animation and rapidity
and with so many distortions of limb and feature that even his wife although
tolerably well accustomed to his proficiency in these respects was wellnigh
beside herself with alarm But the Jamaica rum and the joy of having occasioned
a heavy disappointment by degrees cooled Mr Quilps wrath which from being at
savage heat dropped slowly at the bantering or chuckling point at which it
steadily remained
»So you thought I was dead and gone did you« said Quilp »You thought you
were a widow eh Ha ha ha you jade«
»Indeed Quilp« returned his wife »Im very sorry «
»Who doubts it« cried the dwarf »You very sorry to be sure you are Who
doubts that youre very sorry«
»I dont mean sorry that you have come home again alive and well« said his
wife »but sorry that I should have been led into such a belief I am glad to
see you Quilp indeed I am«
In truth Mrs Quilp did seem a great deal more glad to behold her lord than
might have been expected and did evince a degree of interest in his safety
which all things considered was rather unaccountable Upon Quilp however
this circumstance made no impression farther than as it moved him to snap his
fingers close to his wifes eyes with divers grins of triumph and derision
»How could you go away so long without saying a word to me or letting me
hear of you or know anything about you« asked the poor little woman sobbing
»How could you be so cruel Quilp«
»How could I be so cruel cruel« cried the dwarf »Because I was in the
humour Im in the humour now I shall be cruel when I like Im going away
again«
»Not again«
»Yes again Im going away now Im off directly I mean to go and live
wherever the fancy seizes me at the wharf at the countinghouse and be a
jolly bachelor You were a widow in anticipation Damme« screamed the dwarf
»Ill be a bachelor in earnest«
»You cant be serious Quilp« sobbed his wife
»I tell you« said the dwarf exulting in his project »that Ill be a
bachelor a devilmaycare bachelor and Ill have my bachelors hall at the
countinghouse and at such times come near it if you dare And mind too that I
dont pounce in upon you at unseasonable hours again for Ill be a spy upon
you and come and go like a mole or a weasel Tom Scott wheres Tom Scott«
»Here I am master« cried the voice of the boy as Quilp threw up the
window
»Wait there you dog« returned the dwarf »to carry a bachelors
portmanteau Pack it up Mrs Quilp Knock up the dear old lady to help knock
her up Halloa there Halloa«
With these exclamations Mr Quilp caught up the poker and hurrying to the
door of the good ladys sleepingcloset beat upon it therewith until she awoke
in inexpressible terror thinking that her amiable soninlaw surely intended to
murder her in justification of the legs she had slandered Impressed with this
idea she was no sooner fairly awake than she screamed violently and would have
quickly precipitated herself out of the window and through a neighbouring
skylight if her daughter had not hastened in to undeceive her and implore her
assistance Somewhat reassured by her account of the service she was required to
render Mrs Jiniwin made her appearance in a flannel dressinggown and both
mother and daughter trembling with terror and cold for the night was now far
advanced obeyed Mr Quilps directions in submissive silence Prolonging his
preparations as much as possible for their greater comfort that eccentric
gentleman superintended the packing of his wardrobe and having added to it with
his own hands a plate knife and fork spoon teacup and saucer and other
small household matters of that nature strapped up the portmanteau took it on
his shoulders and actually marched off without another word and with the
casebottle which he had never once put down still tightly clasped under his
arm Consigning his heavier burden to the care of Tom Scott when he reached the
street taking a dram from the bottle for his own encouragement and giving the
boy a rap on the head with it as a small taste for himself Quilp very
deliberately led the way to the wharf and reached it at between three and four
oclock in the morning
»Snug« said Quilp when he had groped his way to the wooden countinghouse
and opened the door with a key he carried about with him »Beautifully snug
Call me at eight you dog«
With no more formal leavetaking or explanation he clutched the
portmanteau shut the door on his attendant and climbing on the desk and
rolling himself up as round as a hedgehog in an old boatcloak fell fast
asleep
Being roused in the morning at the appointed time and roused with
difficulty after his late fatigues Quilp instructed Tom Scott to make a fire in
the yard of sundry pieces of old timber and to prepare some coffee for
breakfast for the better furnishing of which repast he entrusted him with
certain small moneys to be expended in the purchase of hot rolls butter
sugar Yarmouth bloaters and other articles of housekeeping so that in a few
minutes a savoury meal was smoking on the board With this substantial comfort
the dwarf regaled himself to his hearts content and being highly satisfied
with this free and gipsy mode of life which he had often meditated as
offering whenever he chose to avail himself of it an agreeable freedom from
the restraints of matrimony and a choice means of keeping Mrs Quilp and her
mother in a state of incessant agitation and suspense bestirred himself to
improve his retreat and render it more commodious and comfortable
With this view he issued forth to a place hard by where seastores were
sold purchased a secondhand hammock and had it slung in seamanlike fashion
from the ceiling of the countinghouse He also caused to be erected in the
same mouldy cabin an old ships stove with a rusty funnel to carry the smoke
through the roof and these arrangements completed surveyed them with ineffable
delight
»Ive got a countryhouse like Robinson Crusoe« said the dwarf ogling the
accommodations »a solitary sequestered desolateisland sort of spot where I
can be quite alone when I have business on hand and be secure from all spies
and listeners Nobody near me here but rats and they are fine stealthy secret
fellows I shall be as merry as a grig among these gentry Ill look out for one
like Christopher and poison him ha ha ha Business though business we
must be mindful of business in the midst of pleasure and the time has flown
this morning I declare«
Enjoining Tom Scott to await his return and not to stand upon his head or
throw a summerset or so much as walk upon his hands meanwhile on pain of
lingering torments the dwarf threw himself into a boat and crossing to the
other side of the river and then speeding away on foot reached Mr Swivellers
usual house of entertainment in Bevis Marks just as that gentleman sat down
alone to dinner in its dusky parlour
»Dick« said the dwarf thrusting his head in at the door »my pet my
pupil the apple of my eye hey hey«
»Oh youre there are you« returned Mr Swiveller »how are you«
»Hows Dick« retorted Quilp »Hows the cream of clerkship eh«
»Why rather sour sir« replied Mr Swiveller »Beginning to border upon
cheesiness in fact«
»Whats the matter« said the dwarf advancing »Has Sally proved unkind Of
all the girls that are so smart theres none like eh Dick«
»Certainly not« replied Mr Swiveller eating his dinner with great
gravity »none like her Shes the sphynx of private life is Sally B«
»Youre out of spirits« said Quilp drawing up a chair »Whats the
matter«
»The law dont agree with me« returned Dick »It isnt moist enough and
theres too much confinement I have been thinking of running away«
»Bah« said the dwarf »Where would you run to Dick«
»I dont know« returned Mr Swiveller »Towards Highgate I suppose
Perhaps the bells might strike up Turn again Swiveller Lord Mayor of London
Whittingtons name was Dick I wish cats were scarcer«
Quilp looked at his companion with his eyes screwed up into a comical
expression of curiosity and patiently awaited his further explanation upon
which however Mr Swiveller appeared in no hurry to enter as he ate a very
long dinner in profound silence finally pushed away his plate threw himself
back into his chair folded his arms and stared ruefully at the fire in which
some ends of cigars were smoking on their own account and sending up a fragrant
odour
»Perhaps youd like a bit of cake« said Dick at last turning to the
dwarf »Youre quite welcome to it You ought to be for its of your making«
»What do you mean« said Quilp
Mr Swiveller replied by taking from his pocket a small and very greasy
parcel slowly unfolding it and displaying a little slab of plumcake extremely
indigestible in appearance and bordered with a paste of white sugar an inch and
a half deep
»What should you say this was« demanded Mr Swiveller
»It looks like bridecake« replied the dwarf grinning
»And whose should you say it was« inquired Mr Swiveller rubbing the
pastry against his nose with a dreadful calmness »Whose«
»Not «
»Yes« said Dick »the same You neednt mention her name Theres no such
name now Her name is Cheggs now Sophy Cheggs Yet loved I as man never loved
that hadnt wooden legs and my heart my heart is breaking for the love of
Sophy Cheggs«
With this extemporary adaptation of a popular ballad to the distressing
circumstances of his own case Mr Swiveller folded up the parcel again beat it
very flat between the palms of his hands thrust it into his breast buttoned
his coat over it and folded his arms upon the whole
»Now I hope youre satisfied sir« said Dick »and I hope Freds
satisfied You went partners in the mischief and I hope you like it This is
the triumph I was to have is it Its like the old countrydance of that name
where there are two gentlemen to one lady and one has her and the other
hasnt but comes limping up behind to make out the figure But its Destiny
and mines a crusher«
Disguising his secret joy in Mr Swivellers defeat Daniel Quilp adopted
the surest means of soothing him by ringing the bell and ordering in a supply
of rosy wine that is to say of its usual representative which he put about
with great alacrity calling upon Mr Swiveller to pledge him in various toasts
derisive of Cheggs and eulogistic of the happiness of single men Such was
their impression on Mr Swiveller coupled with the reflection that no man could
oppose his destiny that in a very short space of time his spirits rose
surprisingly and he was enabled to give the dwarf an account of the receipt of
the cake which it appeared had been brought to Bevis Marks by the two
surviving Miss Wackleses in person and delivered at the office door with much
giggling and joyfulness
»Ha« said Quilp »It will be our turn to giggle soon And that reminds me
you spoke of young Trent where is he«
Mr Swiveller explained that his respectable friend had recently accepted a
responsible situation in a locomotive gaminghouse and was at that time absent
on a professional tour among the adventurous spirits of Great Britain
»Thats unfortunate« said the dwarf »for I came in fact to ask you about
him A thought has occurred to me Dick your friend over the way «
»Which friend«
»In the first floor«
»Yes«
»Your friend in the first floor Dick may know him«
»No he dont« said Mr Swiveller shaking his head
»Dont No because he has never seen him« rejoined Quilp »but if we were
to bring them together who knows Dick but Fred properly introduced would
serve his turn almost as well as little Nell or her grandfather who knows but
it might make the young fellows fortune and through him yours eh«
»Why the fact is you see« said Mr Swiveller »that they have been
brought together«
»Have been« cried the dwarf looking suspiciously at his companion
»Through whose means«
»Through mine« said Dick slightly confused »Didnt I mention it to you
the last time you called over yonder«
»You know you didnt« returned the dwarf
»I believe youre right« said Dick »No I didnt I recollect Oh yes I
brought em together that very day It was Freds suggestion«
»And what came of it«
»Why instead of my friends bursting into tears when he knew who Fred was
embracing him kindly and telling him that he was his grandfather or his
grandmother in disguise which we fully expected he flew into a tremendous
passion called him all manner of names said it was in a great measure his
fault that little Nell and the old gentleman had ever been brought to poverty
didnt hint at our taking anything to drink and and in short rather turned us
out of the room than otherwise«
»Thats strange« said the dwarf musing
»So we remarked to each other at the time« returned Dick coolly »but quite
true«
Quilp was plainly staggered by this intelligence over which he brooded for
some time in moody silence often raising his eyes to Mr Swivellers face and
sharply scanning its expression As he could read in it however no additional
information or anything to lead him to believe he had spoken falsely and as Mr
Swiveller left to his own meditations sighed deeply and was evidently growing
maudlin on the subject of Mrs Cheggs the dwarf soon broke up the conference
and took his departure leaving the bereaved one to his melancholy ruminations
»Have been brought together eh« said the dwarf as he walked the streets
alone »My friend has stolen a march upon me It led him to nothing and
therefore is no great matter save in the intention Im glad he has lost his
mistress Ha ha The blockhead mustnt leave the law at present Im sure of him
where he is whenever I want him for my own purposes and besides hes a good
unconscious spy on Brass and tells in his cups all that he sees and hears
Youre useful to me Dick and cost nothing but a little treating now and then
I am not sure that it may not be worth while before long to take credit with
the stranger Dick by discovering your designs upon the child but for the
present well remain the best friends in the world with your good leave«
Pursuing these thoughts and gasping as he went along after his own
peculiar fashion Mr Quilp once more crossed the Thames and shut himself up in
his Bachelors Hall which by reason of its newlyerected chimney depositing
the smoke inside the room and carrying none of it off was not quite so
agreeable as more fastidious people might have desired Such inconveniences
however instead of disgusting the dwarf with his new abode rather suited his
humour so after dining luxuriously from the publichouse he lighted his pipe
and smoked against the chimney until nothing of him was visible through the mist
but a pair of red and highly inflamed eyes with sometimes a dim vision of his
head and face as in a violent fit of coughing he slightly stirred the smoke
and scattered the heavy wreaths by which they were obscured In the midst of
this atmosphere which must infallibly have smothered any other man Mr Quilp
passed the evening with great cheerfulness solacing himself all the time with
the pipe and the casebottle and occasionally entertaining himself with a
melodious howl intended for a song but bearing not the faintest resemblance to
any scrap of any piece of music vocal or instrumental ever invented by man
Thus he amused himself until nearly midnight when he turned into his hammock
with the utmost satisfaction
The first sound that met his ears in the morning as he half opened his
eyes and finding himself so unusually near the ceiling entertained a drowsy
idea that he must have been transformed into a fly or bluebottle in the course
of the night was that of a stifled sobbing and weeping in the room Peeping
cautiously over the side of his hammock he descried Mrs Quilp to whom after
contemplating her for some time in silence he communicated a violent start by
suddenly yelling out
»Halloa«
»Oh Quilp« cried his poor little wife looking up »How you frightened
me«
»I meant to you jade« returned the dwarf »What do you want here Im
dead ant I«
»Oh please come home do come« said Mrs Quilp sobbing »well never do
so any more Quilp and after all it was only a mistake that grew out of our
anxiety«
»Out of your anxiety« grinned the dwarf »Yes I know that out of your
anxiety for my death I shall come home when I please I tell you I shall come
home when I please and go when I please Ill be a Will o the Wisp now here
now there dancing about you always starting up when you least expect me and
keeping you in a constant state of restlessness and irritation Will you
begone«
Mrs Quilp durst only make a gesture of entreaty
»I tell you no« cried the dwarf »No If you dare to come here again unless
youre sent for Ill keep watchdogs in the yard thatll growl and bite Ill
have mantraps cunningly altered and improved for catching women Ill have
spring guns that shall explode when you tread upon the wires and blow you into
little pieces Will you go«
»Do forgive me Do come back« said his wife earnestly
»Nooooo« roared Quilp »Not till my own good time and then Ill return
again as often as I choose and be accountable to nobody for my goings or
comings You see the door there Will you go«
Mr Quilp delivered this last command in such a very energetic voice and
moreover accompanied it with such a sudden gesture indicative of an intention
to spring out of his hammock and nightcapped as he was bear his wife home
again through the public streets that she sped away like an arrow Her worthy
lord stretched his neck and eyes until she had crossed the yard and then not
at all sorry to have had this opportunity of carrying his point and asserting
the sanctity of his castle fell into an immoderate fit of laughter and laid
himself down to sleep again
Chapter LI
The bland and openhearted proprietor of Bachelors Hall slept on amidst the
congenial accompaniments of rain mud dirt damp fog and rats until late in
the day when summoning his valet Tom Scott to assist him to rise and to
prepare breakfast he quitted his couch and made his toilet This duty
performed and his repast ended he again betook himself to Bevis Marks
This visit was not intended for Mr Swiveller but for his friend and
employer Mr Sampson Brass Both gentlemen however were from home nor was the
life and light of law Miss Sally at her post either The fact of their joint
desertion of the office was made known to all comers by a scrap of paper in the
handwriting of Mr Swiveller which was attached to the bellhandle and which
giving the reader no clue to the time of day when it was first posted furnished
him with the rather vague and unsatisfactory information that that gentleman
would »return in an hour«
»Theres a servant I suppose« said the dwarf knocking at the housedoor
»Shell do«
After a sufficiently long interval the door was opened and a small voice
immediately accosted him with »Oh please will you leave a card or message«
»Eh« said the dwarf looking down it was something quite new to him upon
the small servant
To this the child conducting her conversation as upon the occasion of her
first interview with Mr Swiveller again replied »Oh please will you leave a
card or message«
»Ill write a note« said the dwarf pushing past her into the office »and
mind your master has it directly he comes home« So Mr Quilp climbed up to the
top of a tall stool to write the note and the small servant carefully tutored
for such emergencies looked on with her eyes wide open ready if he so much as
abstracted a wafer to rush into the street and give the alarm to the police
As Mr Quilp folded his note which was soon written being a very short
one he encountered the gaze of the small servant He looked at her long and
earnestly
»How are you« said the dwarf moistening a wafer with horrible grimaces
The small servant perhaps frightened by his looks returned no audible
reply but it appeared from the motion of her lips that she was inwardly
repeating the same form of expression concerning the note or message
»Do they use you ill here is your mistress a Tartar« said Quilp with a
chuckle
In reply to the last interrogation the small servant with a look of
infinite cunning mingled with fear screwed up her mouth very tight and round
and nodded violently
Whether there was anything in the peculiar slyness of her action which
fascinated Mr Quilp or anything in the expression of her features at the
moment which attracted his attention for some other reason or whether it merely
occurred to him as a pleasant whim to stare the small servant out of
countenance certain it is that he planted his elbows square and firmly on the
desk and squeezing up his cheeks with his hands looked at her fixedly
»Where do you come from« he said after a long pause stroking his chin
»I dont know«
»Whats your name«
»Nothing«
»Nonsense« retorted Quilp »What does your mistress call you when she wants
you«
»A little devil« said the child
She added in the same breath as if fearful of any further questioning »But
please will you leave a card or message«
These unusual answers might naturally have provoked some more inquiries
Quilp however without uttering another word withdrew his eyes from the small
servant stroked his chin more thoughtfully than before and then bending over
the note as if to direct it with scrupulous and hairbreadth nicety looked at
her covertly but very narrowly from under his bushy eyebrows The result of
this secret survey was that he shaded his face with his hands and laughed
slyly and noiselessly until every vein in it was swollen almost to bursting
Pulling his hat over his brow to conceal his mirth and its effects he tossed
the letter to the child and hastily withdrew
Once in the street moved by some secret impulse he laughed and held his
sides and laughed again and tried to peer through the dusty area railings as
if to catch another glimpse of the child until he was quite tired out At last
he travelled back to the Wilderness which was within rifleshot of his bachelor
retreat and ordered tea in the wooden summerhouse that afternoon for three
persons an invitation to Miss Sally Brass and her brother to partake of that
entertainment at that place having been the object both of his journey and his
note
It was not precisely the kind of weather in which people usually take tea in
summerhouses far less in summerhouses in an advanced state of decay and
overlooking the slimy banks of a great river at low water Nevertheless it was
in this choice retreat that Mr Quilp ordered a cold collation to be prepared
and it was beneath its cracked and leaky roof that he in due course of time
received Mr Sampson and his sister Sally
»Youre fond of the beauties of nature« said Quilp with a grin »Is this
charming Brass Is it unusual unsophisticated primitive«
»Its delightful indeed sir« replied the lawyer
»Cool« said Quilp
»Nnot particularly so I think sir« rejoined Brass with his teeth
chattering in his head
»Perhaps a little damp and agueish« said Quilp
»Just damp enough to be cheerful sir« rejoined Brass »Nothing more sir
nothing more«
»And Sally« said the delighted dwarf »Does she like it«
»Shell like it better« returned that strongminded lady »when she has
tea so let us have it and dont bother«
»Sweet Sally« cried Quilp extending his arms as if about to embrace her
»Gentle charming overwhelming Sally«
»Hes a very remarkable man indeed« soliloquised Mr Brass »Hes quite a
Troubadour you know quite a Troubadour«
These complimentary expressions were uttered in a somewhat absent and
distracted manner for the unfortunate lawyer besides having a bad cold in his
head had got wet in coming and would have willingly borne some pecuniary
sacrifice if he could have shifted his present raw quarters to a warm room and
dried himself at a fire Quilp however who beyond the gratification of his
demon whims owed Sampson some acknowledgment of the part he had played in the
mourning scene of which he had been a hidden witness marked these symptoms of
uneasiness with a delight past all expression and derived from them a secret
joy which the costliest banquet could never have afforded him
It is worthy of remark too as illustrating a little feature in the
character of Miss Sally Brass that although on her own account she would have
borne the discomforts of the Wilderness with a very ill grace and would
probably indeed have walked off before the tea appeared she no sooner beheld
the latent uneasiness and misery of her brother than she developed a grim
satisfaction and began to enjoy herself after her own manner Though the wet
came stealing through the roof and trickling down upon their heads Miss Brass
uttered no complaint but presided over the tea equipage with imperturbable
composure While Mr Quilp in his uproarious hospitality seated himself upon
an empty beerbarrel vaunted the place as the most beautiful and comfortable in
the three kingdoms and elevating his glass drank to their next merrymeeting
in that jovial spot and Mr Brass with the rain plashing down into his
teacup made a dismal attempt to pluck up his spirits and appear at his ease
and Tom Scott who was in waiting at the door under an old umbrella exulted in
his agonies and bade fair to split his sides with laughing while all this was
passing Miss Sally Brass unmindful of the wet which dripped down upon her own
feminine person and fair apparel sat placidly behind the teaboard erect and
grizzly contemplating the unhappiness of her brother with a mind at ease and
content in her amiable disregard of self to sit there all night witnessing
the torments which his avaricious and grovelling nature compelled him to endure
and forbade him to resent And this it must be observed or the illustration
would be incomplete although in a business point of view she had the strongest
sympathy with Mr Sampson and would have been beyond measure indignant if he
had thwarted their client in any one respect
In the height of his boisterous merriment Mr Quilp having on some
pretence dismissed his attendant sprite for the moment resumed his usual manner
all at once dismounted from his cask and laid his hand upon the lawyers
sleeve
»A word« said the dwarf »before we go farther Sally harkee for a
minute«
Miss Sally drew closer as if accustomed to business conferences with their
host which were the better for not having air
»Business« said the dwarf glancing from brother to sister »Very private
business Lay your heads together when youre by yourselves«
»Certainly sir« returned Brass taking out his pocketbook and pencil
»Ill take down the heads if you please sir Remarkable documents« added the
lawyer raising his eyes to the ceiling »most remarkable documents He states
his points so clearly that its a treat to have em I dont know any act of
parliament thats equal to him in clearness«
»I shall deprive you of a treat« said Quilp »Put up your book We dont
want any documents So Theres a lad named Kit «
Miss Sally nodded implying that she knew of him
»Kit« said Mr Sampson »Kit Ha Ive heard the name before but I dont
exactly call to mind I dont exactly «
»Youre as slow as a tortoise and more thickheaded than a rhinoceros«
returned his obliging client with an impatient gesture
»Hes extremely pleasant« cried the obsequious Sampson »His acquaintance
with Natural History too is surprising Quite a Buffoon quite«
There is no doubt that Mr Brass intended some compliment or other and it
has been argued with show of reason that he would have said Buffon but made use
of a superfluous vowel Be this as it may Quilp gave him no time for
correction as he performed that office himself by more than tapping him on the
head with the handle of his umbrella
»Dont lets have any wrangling« said Miss Sally staying his hand »Ive
showed you that I know him and thats enough«
»Shes always foremost« said the dwarf patting her on the back and looking
contemptuously at Sampson »I dont like Kit Sally«
»Nor I« rejoined Miss Brass
»Nor I« said Sampson
»Why thats right« cried Quilp »Half our work is done already This Kit
is one of your honest people one of your fair characters a prowling prying
hound a hypocrite a doublefaced whitelivered sneaking spy a crouching cur
to those that feed and coax him and a barking yelping dog to all besides«
»Fearfully eloquent« cried Brass with a sneeze »Quite appalling«
»Come to the point« said Miss Sally »and dont talk so much«
»Right again« exclaimed Quilp with another contemptuous look at Sampson
»always foremost I say Sally he is a yelping insolent dog to all besides
and most of all to me In short I owe him a grudge«
»Thats enough sir« said Sampson
»No its not enough sir« sneered Quilp »will you hear me out Besides
that I owe him a grudge on that account he thwarts me at this minute and
stands between me and an end which might otherwise prove a golden one to us all
Apart from that I repeat that he crosses my humour and I hate him Now you
know the lad and can guess the rest Devise your own means of putting him out
of my way and execute them Shall it be done«
»It shall sir« said Sampson
»Then give me your hand« retorted Quilp »Sally girl yours I rely as
much or more on you than him Tom Scott comes back Lantern pipes more grog
and a jolly night of it«
No other word was spoken no other look exchanged which had the slightest
reference to this the real occasion of their meeting The trio were well
accustomed to act together and were linked to each other by ties of mutual
interest and advantage and nothing more was needed Resuming his boisterous
manner with the same ease with which he had thrown it off Quilp was in an
instant the same uproarious reckless little savage he had been a few seconds
before It was ten oclock at night before the amiable Sally supported her
beloved and loving brother from the Wilderness by which time he needed the
utmost support her tender frame could render his walk being from some unknown
reason anything but steady and his legs constantly doubling up in unexpected
places
Overpowered notwithstanding his late prolonged slumbers by the fatigues of
the last few days the dwarf lost no time in creeping to his dainty house and
was soon dreaming in his hammock Leaving him to visions in which perhaps the
quiet figures we quitted in the old church porch were not without their share
be it our task to rejoin them as they sat and watched
Chapter LII
After a long time the schoolmaster appeared at the wicketgate of the
churchyard and hurried towards them jingling in his hand as he came along a
bundle of rusty keys He was quite breathless with pleasure and haste when he
reached the porch and at first could only point towards the old building which
the child had been contemplating so earnestly
»You see those two old houses« he said at last
»Yes surely« replied Nell »I have been looking at them nearly all the
time you have been away«
»And you would have looked at them more curiously yet if you could have
guessed what I have to tell you« said her friend »One of those houses is
mine«
Without saying any more or giving the child time to reply the schoolmaster
took her hand and his honest face quite radiant with exultation led her to
the place of which he spoke
They stopped before its low arched door After trying several of the keys in
vain the schoolmaster found one to fit the huge lock which turned back
creaking and admitted them into the house
The room into which they entered was a vaulted chamber once nobly ornamented
by cunning architects and still retaining in its beautiful groined roof and
rich stone tracery choice remnants of its ancient splendour Foliage carved in
the stone and emulating the mastery of Natures hand yet remained to tell how
many times the leaves outside had come and gone while it lived on unchanged
The broken figures supporting the burden of the chimneypiece though mutilated
were still distinguishable for what they had been far different from the dust
without and showed sadly by the empty hearth like creatures who had outlived
their kind and mourned their own too slow decay
In some old time for even change was old in that old place a wooden
partition had been constructed in one part of the chamber to form a
sleepingcloset into which the light was admitted at the same period by a rude
window or rather niche cut in the solid wall This screen together with two
seats in the broad chimney had at some forgotten date been part of the church
or convent for the oak hastily appropriated to its present purpose had been
little altered from its former shape and presented to the eye a pile of
fragments of rich carving from old monkish stalls
An open door leading to a small room or cell dim with the light that came
through leaves of ivy completed the interior of this portion of the ruin It
was not quite destitute of furniture A few strange chairs whose arms and legs
looked as though they had dwindled away with age a table the very spectre of
its race a great old chest that had once held records in the church with other
quaintlyfashioned domestic necessaries and store of firewood for the winter
were scattered around and gave evident tokens of its occupation as a
dwellingplace at no very distant time
The child looked around her with that solemn feeling with which we
contemplate the work of ages that have become but drops of water in the great
ocean of eternity The old man had followed them but they were all three hushed
for a space and drew their breath softly as if they feared to break the
silence even by so slight a sound
»It is a very beautiful place« said the child in a low voice
»I almost feared you thought otherwise« returned the schoolmaster »You
shivered when we first came in as if you felt it cold or gloomy«
»It was not that« said Nell glancing round with a slight shudder »Indeed
I cannot tell you what it was but when I saw the outside from the church
porch the same feeling came over me It is its being so old and grey perhaps«
»A peaceful place to live in dont you think so« said her friend
»Oh yes« rejoined the child clasping her hands earnestly »A quiet happy
place a place to live and learn to die in« She would have said more but that
the energy of her thoughts caused her voice to falter and come in trembling
whispers from her lips
»A place to live and learn to live and gather health of mind and body in«
said the schoolmaster »for this old house is yours«
»Ours« cried the child
»Ay« returned the schoolmaster gaily »for many a merry year to come I
hope I shall be a close neighbour only next door but this house is yours«
Having now disburdened himself of his great surprise the schoolmaster sat
down and drawing Nell to his side told her how he had learnt that that ancient
tenement had been occupied for a very long time by an old person nearly a
hundred years of age who kept the keys of the church opened and closed it for
the services and showed it to strangers how she had died not many weeks ago
and nobody had yet been found to fill the office how learning all this in an
interview with the sexton who was confined to his bed by rheumatism he had
been bold to make mention of his fellowtraveller which had been so favourably
received by that high authority that he had taken courage acting on his
advice to propound the matter to the clergyman In a word the result of his
exertions was that Nell and her grandfather were to be carried before the
lastnamed gentleman next day and his approval of their conduct and appearance
reserved as a matter of form that they were already appointed to the vacant
post
»Theres a small allowance of money« said the schoolmaster »It is not
much but still enough to live upon in this retired spot By clubbing our funds
together we shall do bravely no fear of that«
»Heaven bless and prosper you« sobbed the child
»Amen my dear« returned her friend cheerfully »and all of us as it will
and has in leading us through sorrow and trouble to this tranquil life But we
must look at my house now Come«
They repaired to the other tenement tried the rusty keys as before at
length found the right one and opened the wormeaten door It led into a
chamber vaulted and old like that from which they had come but not so
spacious and having only one other little room attached It was not difficult
to divine that the other house was of right the schoolmasters and that he had
chosen for himself the least commodious in his care and regard for them Like
the adjoining habitation it held such old articles of furniture as were
absolutely necessary and had its stack of firewood
To make these dwellings as habitable and full of comfort as they could was
now their pleasant care In a short time each had its cheerful fire glowing and
crackling on the hearth and reddening the pale old wall with a hale and healthy
blush Nell busily plying her needle repaired the tattered windowhangings
drew together the rents that time had worn in the threadbare scraps of carpet
and made them whole and decent The schoolmaster swept and smoothed the ground
before the door trimmed the long grass trained the ivy and creeping plants
which hung their drooping heads in melancholy neglect and gave to the outer
walls a cheery air of home The old man sometimes by his side and sometimes
with the child lent his aid to both went here and there on little patient
services and was happy Neighbours too as they came from work proffered
their help or sent their children with such small presents or loans as the
strangers needed most It was a busy day and night came on and found them
wondering that there was yet so much to do and that it should be dark so soon
They took their supper together in the house which may be henceforth called
the childs and when they had finished their meal drew round the fire and
almost in whispers their hearts were too quiet and glad for loud expression
discussed their future plans Before they separated the schoolmaster read some
prayers aloud and then full of gratitude and happiness they parted for the
night
At that silent hour when her grandfather was sleeping peacefully in his
bed and every sound was hushed the child lingered before the dying embers and
thought of her past fortunes as if they had been a dream and she only now awoke
The glare of the sinking flame reflected in the oaken panels whose carved tops
were dimly seen in the dusky roof the aged walls where strange shadows came
and went with every flickering of the fire the solemn presence within of
that decay which falls on senseless things the most enduring in their nature
and without and round about on every side of Death filled her with deep and
thoughtful feelings but with none of terror or alarm A change had been
gradually stealing over her in the time of her loneliness and sorrow With
failing strength and heightening resolution there had sprung up a purified and
altered mind there had grown in her bosom blessed thoughts and hopes which are
the portion of few but the weak and drooping There were none to see the frail
perishable figure as it glided from the fire and leaned pensively at the open
casement none but the stars to look into the upturned face and read its
history The old church bell rang out the hour with a mournful sound as if it
had grown sad from so much communing with the dead and unheeded warning to the
living the fallen leaves rustled the grass stirred upon the graves all else
was still and sleeping
Some of those dreamless sleepers lay close within the shadow of the church
touching the wall as if they clung to it for comfort and protection Others had
chosen to lie beneath the changing shade of trees others by the path that
footsteps might come near them others among the graves of little children
Some had desired to rest beneath the very ground they had trodden in their daily
walks some where the setting sun might shine upon their beds some where its
light would fall upon them when it rose Perhaps not one of the imprisoned souls
had been able quite to separate itself in living thought from its old companion
If any had it had still felt for it a love like that which captives have been
known to bear towards the cell in which they have been long confined and even
at parting hung upon its narrow bounds affectionately
It was long before the child closed the window and approached her bed
Again something of the same sensation as before an involuntary chill a
momentary feeling akin to fear but vanishing directly and leaving no alarm
behind Again too dreams of the little scholar of the roof opening and a
column of bright faces rising far away into the sky as she had seen in some
old scriptural picture once and looking down on her asleep It was a sweet and
happy dream The quiet spot outside seemed to remain the same saving that
there was music in the air and a sound of angels wings After a time the
sisters came there hand in hand and stood among the graves And then the dream
grew dim and faded
With the brightness and joy of morning came the renewal of yesterdays
labours the revival of its pleasant thoughts the restoration of its energies
cheerfulness and hope They worked gaily in ordering and arranging their houses
until noon and then went to visit the clergyman
He was a simplehearted old gentleman of a shrinking subdued spirit
accustomed to retirement and very little acquainted with the world which he
had left many years before to come and settle in that place His wife had died
in the house in which he still lived and he had long since lost sight of any
earthly cares or hopes beyond it
He received them very kindly and at once showed an interest in Nell asking
her name and age her birthplace the circumstances which had led her there
and so forth The schoolmaster had already told her story They had no other
friends or home to leave he said and had come to share his fortunes He loved
the child as though she were his own
»Well well« said the clergyman »Let it be as you desire She is very
young«
»Old in adversity and trial sir« replied the schoolmaster
»God help her Let her rest and forget them« said the old gentleman »But
an old church is a dull and gloomy place for one so young as you my child«
»Oh no sir« returned Nell »I have no such thoughts indeed«
»I would rather see her dancing on the green at nights« said the old
gentleman laying his hand upon her head and smiling sadly »than have her
sitting in the shadow of our mouldering arches You must look to this and see
that her heart does not grow heavy among these solemn ruins Your request is
granted friend«
After more kind words they withdrew and repaired to the childs house
where they were yet in conversation on their happy fortune when another friend
appeared
This was a little old gentleman who lived in the parsonagehouse and had
resided there so they learnt soon afterwards ever since the death of the
clergymans wife which had happened fifteen years before He had been his
college friend and always his close companion in the first shock of his grief
he had come to console and comfort him and from that time they had never parted
company The little old gentleman was the active spirit of the place the
adjuster of all differences the promoter of all merrymakings the dispenser of
his friends bounty and of no small charity of his own besides the universal
mediator comforter and friend None of the simple villagers had cared to ask
his name or when they knew it to store it in their memory Perhaps from some
vague rumour of his college honours which had been whispered abroad on his first
arrival perhaps because he was an unmarried unencumbered gentleman he had
been called the bachelor The name pleased him or suited him as well as any
other and the Bachelor he had ever since remained And the bachelor it was it
may be added who with his own hands had laid in the stock of fuel which the
wanderers had found in their new habitation
The bachelor then to call him by his usual appellation lifted the
latch showed his little round mild face for a moment at the door and stepped
into the room like one who was no stranger to it
»You are Mr Marton the new schoolmaster« he said greeting Nells kind
friend
»I am sir«
»You come well recommended and I am glad to see you I should have been in
the way yesterday expecting you but I rode across the country to carry a
message from a sick mother to her daughter in service some miles off and have
but just now returned This is our young churchkeeper You are not the less
welcome friend for her sake or for this old mans nor the worse teacher for
having learnt humanity«
»She has been ill sir very lately« said the schoolmaster in answer to
the look with which their visitor regarded Nell when he had kissed her cheek
»Yes yes I know she has« he rejoined »There have been suffering and
heartache here«
»Indeed there have sir«
The little old gentleman glanced at the grandfather and back again at the
child whose hand he took tenderly in his and held
»You will be happier here« he said »we will try at least to make you so
You have made great improvements here already Are they the work of your hands«
»Yes sir«
»We may make some others not better in themselves but with better means
perhaps« said the bachelor »Let us see now let us see«
Nell accompanied him into the other little rooms and over both the houses
in which he found various small comforts wanting which he engaged to supply
from a certain collection of odds and ends he had at home and which must have
been a very miscellaneous and extensive one as it comprehended the most
opposite articles imaginable They all came however and came without loss of
time for the little old gentleman disappearing for some five or ten minutes
presently returned laden with old shelves rugs blankets and other household
gear and followed by a boy bearing a similar load These being cast on the
floor in a promiscuous heap yielded a quantity of occupation in arranging
erecting and putting away the superintendence of which task evidently afforded
the old gentleman extreme delight and engaged him for some time with great
briskness and activity When nothing more was left to be done he charged the
boy to run off and bring his schoolmates to be marshalled before their new
master and solemnly reviewed
»As good a set of fellows Marton as youd wish to see« he said turning
to the schoolmaster when the boy was gone »but I dont let em know I think so
That wouldnt do at all«
The messenger soon returned at the head of a long row of urchins great and
small who being confronted by the bachelor at the house door fell into
various convulsions of politeness clutching their hats and caps squeezing them
into the smallest possible dimensions and making all manner of bows and
scrapes which the little old gentleman contemplated with excessive
satisfaction and expressed his approval of by a great many nods and smiles
Indeed his approbation of the boys was by no means so scrupulously disguised as
he had led the schoolmaster to suppose inasmuch as it broke out in sundry loud
whispers and confidential remarks which were perfectly audible to them every
one
»This first boy schoolmaster« said the bachelor »is John Owen a lad of
good parts sir and frank honest temper but too thoughtless too playful too
lightheaded by far That boy my good sir would break his neck with pleasure
and deprive his parents of their chief comfort and between ourselves when you
come to see him at hare and hounds taking the fence and ditch by the
fingerpost and sliding down the face of the little quarry youll never forget
it Its beautiful«
John Owen having been thus rebuked and being in perfect possession of the
speech aside the bachelor singled out another boy
»Now look at that lad sir« said the bachelor »You see that fellow
Richard Evans his name is sir An amazing boy to learn blessed with a good
memory and a ready understanding and moreover with a good voice and ear for
psalmsinging in which he is the best among us Yet sir that boy will come to
a bad end hell never die in his bed hes always falling asleep in sermontime
and to tell you the truth Mr Marton I always did the same at his age and
feel quite certain that it was natural to my constitution and I couldnt help
it«
This hopeful pupil edified by the above terrible reproval the bachelor
turned to another
»But if we talk of examples to be shunned« said he »if we come to boys
that should be a warning and a beacon to all their fellows heres the one and
I hope you wont spare him This is the lad sir this one with the blue eyes
and light hair This is a swimmer sir this fellow a diver Lord save us
This is a boy sir who had a fancy for plunging into eighteen feet of water
with his clothes on and bringing up a blind mans dog who was being drowned by
the weight of his chain and collar while his master stood wringing his hands
upon the bank bewailing the loss of his guide and friend I sent the boy two
guineas anonymously sir« added the bachelor in his peculiar whisper
»directly I heard of it but never mention it on any account for he hasnt the
least idea that it came from me«
Having disposed of this culprit the bachelor turned to another and from
him to another and so on through the whole array laying for their wholesome
restriction within due bounds the same cutting emphasis on such of their
propensities as were dearest to his heart and were unquestionably referable to
his own precept and example Thoroughly persuaded in the end that he had made
them miserable by his severity he dismissed them with a small present and an
admonition to walk quietly home without any leapings scufflings or turnings
out of the way which injunction he informed the schoolmaster in the same
audible confidence he did not think he could have obeyed when he was a boy had
his life depended on it
Hailing these little tokens of the bachelors disposition as so many
assurances of his own welcome course from that time the schoolmaster parted
from him with a light heart and joyous spirits and deemed himself one of the
happiest men on earth The windows of the two old houses were ruddy again that
night with the reflection of the cheerful fires that burnt within and the
bachelor and his friend pausing to look upon them as they returned from their
evening walk spoke softly together of the beautiful child and looked round
upon the churchyard with a sigh
Chapter LIII
Nell was stirring early in the morning and having discharged her household
tasks and put everything in order for the good schoolmaster though sorely
against his will for he would have spared her the pains took down from its
nail by the fireside a little bundle of keys with which the bachelor had
formally invested her on the previous day and went out alone to visit the old
church
The sky was serene and bright the air clear perfumed with the fresh scent
of newly fallen leaves and grateful to every sense The neighbouring stream
sparkled and rolled onward with a tuneful sound the dew glistened on the green
mounds like tears shed by Good Spirits over the dead
Some young children sported among the tombs and hid from each other with
laughing faces They had an infant with them and had laid it down asleep upon a
childs grave in a little bed of leaves It was a new grave the
restingplace perhaps of some little creature who meek and patient in its
illness had often sat and watched them and now seemed to their minds
scarcely changed
She drew near and asked one of them whose grave it was The child answered
that that was not its name it was a garden his brothers It was greener he
said than all the other gardens and the birds loved it better because he had
been used to feed them When he had done speaking he looked at her with a
smile and kneeling down and nestling for a moment with his cheek against the
turf bounded merrily away
She passed the church gazing upward at its old tower went through the
wicket gate and so into the village The old sexton leaning on a crutch was
taking the air at his cottage door and gave her good morrow
»You are better« said the child stopping to speak to him
»Ay surely« returned the old man »Im thankful to say much better«
»You will be quite well soon«
»With Heavens leave and a little patience But come in come in«
The old man limped on before and warning her of the downward step which he
achieved himself with no small difficulty led the way into his little cottage
»It is but one room you see There is another up above but the stair has
got harder to climb o late years and I never use it Im thinking of taking to
it again next summer though«
The child wondered how a greyheaded man like him one of his trade too
could talk of time so easily He saw her eyes wandering to the tools that hung
upon the wall and smiled
»I warrant now« he said »that you think all those are used in making
graves«
»Indeed I wondered that you wanted so many«
»And well you might I am a gardener I dig the ground and plant things
that are to live and grow My works dont all moulder away and rot in the
earth You see that spade in the centre«
»The very old one so notched and worn Yes«
»Thats the sextons spade and its a wellused one as you see Were
healthy people here but it has done a power of work If it could speak now
that spade it would tell you of many an unexpected job that it and I have done
together but I forget em for my memorys a poor one Thats nothing new«
he added hastily »It always was«
»There are flowers and shrubs to speak to your other work« said the child
»Oh yes And tall trees But they are not so separate from the sextons
labours as you think«
»No«
»Not in my mind and recollection such as it is« said the old man
»Indeed they often help it For say that I planted such a tree for such a man
There it stands to remind me that he died When I look at its broad shadow and
remember what it was in his time it helps me to the age of my other work and I
can tell you pretty nearly when I made his grave«
»But it may remind you of one who is still alive« said the child
»Of twenty that are dead in connexion with that one who lives then«
rejoined the old man »wife husband parents brothers sisters children
friends a score at least So it happens that the sextons spade gets worn and
battered I shall need a new one next summer«
The child looked quickly towards him thinking that he jested with his age
and infirmity but the unconscious sexton was quite in earnest
»Ah« he said after a brief silence »People never learn They never learn
Its only we who turn up the ground where nothing grows and everything decays
who think of such things as these who think of them properly I mean You have
been into the church«
»I am going there now« the child replied
»Theres an old well there« said the sexton »right underneath the belfry
a deep dark echoing well Forty year ago you had only to let down the bucket
till the first knot in the rope was free of the windlass and you heard it
splashing in the cold dull water By little and little the water fell away so
that in ten year after that a second knot was made and you must unwind so much
rope or the bucket swung tight and empty at the end In ten years time the
water fell again and a third knot was made In ten years more the well dried
up and now if you lower the bucket till your arms are tired and let out
nearly all the cord youll hear it of a sudden clanking and rattling on the
ground below with a sound of being so deep and so far down that your heart
leaps into your mouth and you start away as if you were falling in«
»A dreadful place to come on in the dark« exclaimed the child who had
followed the old mans looks and words until she seemed to stand upon its brink
»What is it but a grave« said the sexton »What else And which of our old
folks knowing all this thought as the spring subsided of their own failing
strength and lessening life Not one«
»Are you very old yourself« asked the child involuntarily
»I shall be seventynine next summer«
»You still work when you are well«
»Work To be sure You shall see my gardens hereabout Look at the window
there I made and have kept that plot of ground entirely with my own hands By
this time next year I shall hardly see the sky the boughs will have grown so
thick I have my winter work at night besides«
He opened as he spoke a cupboard close to where he sat and produced some
miniature boxes carved in a homely manner and made of old wood
»Some gentlefolks who are fond of ancient days and what belongs to them«
he said »like to buy these keepsakes from our church and ruins Sometimes I
make them of scraps of oak that turn up here and there sometimes of bits of
coffins which the vaults have long preserved See here this is a little chest
of the last kind clasped at the edges with fragments of brass plates that had
writing on em once though it would be hard to read it now I havent many by
me at this time of year but these shelves will be full next summer«
The child admired and praised his work and shortly afterwards departed
thinking as she went how strange it was that this old man drawing from his
pursuits and everything around him one stern moral never contemplated its
application to himself and while he dwelt upon the uncertainty of human life
seemed both in word and deed to deem himself immortal But her musings did not
stop here for she was wise enough to think that by a good and merciful
adjustment this must be human nature and that the old sexton with his plans
for next summer was but a type of all mankind
Full of these meditations she reached the church It was easy to find the
key belonging to the outer door for each was labelled on a scrap of yellow
parchment Its very turning in the lock awoke a hollow sound and when she
entered with a faltering step the echoes that it raised in closing made her
start
If the peace of the simple village had moved the child more strongly
because of the dark and troubled ways that lay beyond and through which she had
journeyed with such failing feet what was the deep impression of finding
herself alone in that solemn building where the very light coming through
sunken windows seemed old and grey and the air redolent of earth and mould
seemed laden with decay purified by time of all its grosser particles and
sighing through arch and aisle and clustered pillars like the breath of ages
gone Here was the broken pavement worn so long ago by pious feet that Time
stealing on the pilgrims steps had trodden out their track and left but
crumbling stones Here were the rotten beam the sinking arch the sapped and
mouldering wall the lowly trench of earth the stately tomb on which no epitaph
remained all marble stone iron wood and dust one common monument of
ruin The best work and the worst the plainest and the richest the stateliest
and the least imposing both of Heavens work and Mans all found one common
level here and told one common tale
Some part of the edifice had been a baronial chapel and here were effigies
of warriors stretched upon their beds of stone with folded hands crosslegged
those who had fought in the Holy Wars girded with their swords and cased in
armour as they had lived Some of these knights had their own weapons helmets
coats of mail hanging upon the walls hard by and dangling from rusty hooks
Broken and dilapidated as they were they yet retained their ancient form and
something of their ancient aspect Thus violent deeds live after men upon the
earth and traces of war and bloodshed will survive in mournful shapes long
after those who worked the desolation are but atoms of earth themselves
The child sat down in this old silent place among the stark figures on
the tombs they made it more quiet there than elsewhere to her fancy and
gazing round with a feeling of awe tempered with a calm delight felt that now
she was happy and at rest She took a Bible from the shelf and read then
laying it down thought of the summer days and the bright springtime that would
come of the rays of sun that would fall in aslant upon the sleeping forms
of the leaves that would flutter at the window and play in glistening shadows
on the pavement of the songs of birds and growth of buds and blossoms out of
doors of the sweet air that would steal in and gently wave the tattered
banners overhead What if the spot awakened thoughts of death Die who would it
would still remain the same these sights and sounds would still go on as
happily as ever It would be no pain to sleep amidst them
She left the chapel very slowly and often turning back to gaze again and
coming to a low door which plainly led into the tower opened it and climbed
the winding stair in darkness save where she looked down through narrow
loopholes on the place she had left or caught a glimmering vision of the dusty
bells At length she gained the end of the ascent and stood upon the turret top
Oh the glory of the sudden burst of light the freshness of the fields and
woods stretching away on every side and meeting the bright blue sky the
cattle grazing in the pasturage the smoke that coming from among the trees
seemed to rise upward from the green earth the children yet at their gambols
down below all everything so beautiful and happy It was like passing from
death to life it was drawing nearer Heaven
The children were gone when she emerged into the porch and locked the
door As she passed the schoolhouse she could hear the busy hum of voices Her
friend had begun his labours only on that day The noise grew louder and
looking back she saw the boys come trooping out and disperse themselves with
merry shouts and play »Its a good thing« thought the child »I am very glad
they pass the church« And then she stopped to fancy how the noise would sound
inside and how gently it would seem to die away upon the ear
Again that day yes twice again she stole back to the old chapel and in
her former seat read from the same book or indulged the same quiet train of
thought Even when it had grown dusk and the shadows of coming night made it
more solemn still the child remained like one rooted to the spot and had no
fear or thought of stirring
They found her there at last and took her home She looked pale but very
happy until they separated for the night and then as the poor schoolmaster
stooped down to kiss her cheek he thought he felt a tear upon his face
Chapter LIV
The bachelor among his various occupations found in the old church a constant
source of interest and amusement Taking that pride in it which men conceive for
the wonders of their own little world he had made its history his study and
many a summer day within its walls and many a winters night beside the
parsonage fire had found the bachelor still poring over and adding to his
goodly store of tale and legend
As he was not one of those rough spirits who would strip fair Truth of every
little shadowy vestment in which time and teeming fancies love to array her
and some of which become her pleasantly enough serving like the waters of her
well to add new graces to the charms they half conceal and half suggest and to
awaken interest and pursuit rather than languor and indifference as unlike
this stern and obdurate class he loved to see the goddess crowned with those
garlands of wild flowers which tradition wreathes for her gentle wearing and
which are often freshest in their homeliest shapes he trod with a light step
and bore with a light hand upon the dust of centuries unwilling to demolish any
of the airy shrines that had been raised above it if any good feeling or
affection of the human heart were hiding thereabouts Thus in the case of an
ancient coffin of rough stone supposed for many generations to contain the
bones of a certain baron who after ravaging with cut and thrust and
plunder in foreign lands came back with a penitent and sorrowing heart to die
at home but which had been lately shown by learned antiquaries to be no such
thing as the baron in question so they contended had died hard in battle
gnashing his teeth and cursing with his latest breath the bachelor stoutly
maintained that the old tale was the true one that the baron repenting him of
the evil had done great charities and meekly given up the ghost and that if
ever baron went to heaven that baron was then at peace In like manner when
the aforesaid antiquaries did argue and contend that a certain secret vault was
not the tomb of a greyhaired lady who had been hanged and drawn and quartered
by glorious Queen Bess for succouring a wretched priest who fainted of thirst
and hunger at her door the bachelor did solemnly maintain against all comers
that the church was hallowed by the said poor ladys ashes that her remains had
been collected in the night from four of the citys gates and thither in secret
brought and there deposited and the bachelor did further being highly excited
at such times deny the glory of Queen Bess and assert the immeasurably greater
glory of the meanest woman in her realm who had a merciful and tender heart As
to the assertion that the flat stone near the door was not the grave of the
miser who had disowned his only child and left a sum of money to the church to
buy a peal of bells the bachelor did readily admit the same and that the place
had given birth to no such man In a word he would have had every stone and
plate of brass the monument only of deeds whose memory should survive All
others he was willing to forget They might be buried in consecrated ground but
he would have had them buried deep and never brought to light again
It was from the lips of such a tutor that the child learnt her easy task
Already impressed beyond all telling by the silent building and the peaceful
beauty of the spot in which it stood majestic age surrounded by perpetual
youth it seemed to her when she heard these things sacred to all goodness
and virtue It was another world where sin and sorrow never came a tranquil
place of rest where nothing evil entered
When the bachelor had given her in connexion with almost every tomb and flat
gravestone some history of its own, he took her down into the old crypt now a
mere dull vault and showed her how it had been lighted up in the time of the
monks and how amid lamps depending from the roof and swinging censers
exhaling scented odours and habits glittering with gold and silver and
pictures and precious stuffs and jewels all flashing and glistening through
the low arches the chaunt of aged voices had been many a time heard there at
midnight in old days while hooded figures knelt and prayed around and told
their rosaries of beads Thence he took her above ground again and showed her
high up in the old walls small galleries where the nuns had been wont to glide
along dimly seen in their dark dresses so far off or to pause like gloomy
shadows listening to the prayers He showed her too how the warriors whose
figures rested on the tombs had worn those rotting scraps of armour up above
how this had been a helmet and that a shield and that a gauntlet and how
they had wielded the great twohanded swords and beaten men down with yonder
iron mace All that he told the child she treasured in her mind and sometimes
when she awoke at night from dreams of those old times and rising from her bed
looked out at the dark church she almost hoped to see the windows lighted up
and hear the organs swell and sound of voices on the rushing wind
The old sexton soon got better and was about again From him the child
learnt many other things though of a different kind He was not able to work
but one day there was a grave to be made and he came to overlook the man who
dug it He was in a talkative mood and the child at first standing by his
side and afterwards sitting on the grass at his feet with her thoughtful face
raised towards his began to converse with him
Now the man who did the sextons duty was a little older than he though
much more active But he was deaf and when the sexton who peradventure on a
pinch might have walked a mile with great difficulty in halfadozen hours
exchanged a remark with him about his work the child could not help noticing
that he did so with an impatient kind of pity for his infirmity as if he were
himself the strongest and heartiest man alive
»Im sorry to see there is this to do« said the child when she approached
»I heard of no one having died«
»She lived in another hamlet my dear« returned the sexton »Three mile
away«
»Was she young«
»Ye yes« said the sexton »not more than sixtyfour I think David was
she more than sixtyfour«
David who was digging hard heard nothing of the question The sexton as
he could not reach to touch him with his crutch and was too infirm to rise
without assistance called his attention by throwing a little mould upon his red
nightcap
»Whats the matter now« said David looking up
»How old was Becky Morgan« asked the sexton
»Becky Morgan« repeated David
»Yes« replied the sexton adding in a half compassionate half irritable
tone which the old man couldnt hear »youre getting very deaf Davy very
deaf to be sure«
The old man stopped in his work and cleansing his spade with a piece of
slate he had by him for the purpose and scraping off in the process the
essence of Heaven knows how many Becky Morgans set himself to consider the
subject
»Let me think« quoth he »I saw last night what they had put upon the
coffin was it seventynine«
»No no« said the sexton
»Ah yes it was though« returned the old man with a sigh »For I remember
thinking she was very near our age Yes it was seventynine«
»Are you sure you didnt mistake a figure Davy« asked the sexton with
signs of some emotion
»What« said the old man »Say that again«
»Hes very deaf Hes very deaf indeed« cried the sexton petulantly »are
you sure youre right about the figures«
»Oh quite« replied the old man »Why not«
»Hes exceedingly deaf« muttered the sexton to himself »I think hes
getting foolish«
The child rather wondered what had led him to this belief as to say the
truth the old man seemed quite as sharp as he and was infinitely more robust
As the sexton said nothing more just then however she forgot it for the time
and spoke again
»You were telling me« she said »about your gardening Do you ever plant
things here«
»In the churchyard« returned the sexton »Not I«
»I have seen some flowers and little shrubs about« the child rejoined
»there are some over there you see I thought they were of your rearing though
indeed they grow but poorly«
»They grow as Heaven wills« said the old man »and it kindly ordains that
they shall never flourish here«
»I do not understand you«
»Why this is it« said the sexton »They mark the graves of those who had
very tender loving friends«
»I was sure they did« the child exclaimed »I am very glad to know they
do«
»Aye« returned the old man »but stay Look at them See how they hang
their heads and droop and wither Do you guess the reason«
»No« the child replied
»Because the memory of those who lie below passes away so soon At first
they tend them morning noon and night they soon begin to come less
frequently from once a day to once a week from once a week to once a month
then at long and uncertain intervals then not at all Such tokens seldom
flourish long I have known the briefest summer flowers outlive them«
»I grieve to hear it« said the child
»Ah so say the gentlefolks who come down here to look about them« returned
the old man shaking his head »but I say otherwise Its a pretty custom you
have in this part of the country they say to me sometimes to plant the graves
but its melancholy to see these things all withering or dead I crave their
pardon and tell them that as I take it tis a good sign for the happiness of
the living And so it is Its nature«
»Perhaps the mourners learn to look to the blue sky by day and to the stars
by night and to think that the dead are there and not in graves« said the
child in an earnest voice
»Perhaps so« replied the old man doubtfully »It may be«
»Whether it be as I believe it is or no« thought the child within herself
»Ill make this place my garden It will be no harm at least to work here day by
day and pleasant thoughts will come of it I am sure«
Her glowing cheek and moistened eye passed unnoticed by the sexton who
turned towards old David and called him by his name It was plain that Becky
Morgans age still troubled him though why the child could scarcely
understand
The second or third repetition of his name attracted the old mans
attention Pausing from his work he leant on his spade and put his hand to his
dull ear
»Did you call« he said
»I have been thinking Davy« replied the sexton »that she« he pointed to
the grave »must have been a deal older than you or me«
»Seventy nine« answered the old man with a shake of the head »I tell you
that I saw it«
»Saw it« replied the sexton »aye but Davy women dont always tell the
truth about their age«
»Thats true indeed« said the other old man with a sudden sparkle in his
eye »She might have been older«
»Im sure she must have been Why only think how old she looked You and I
seemed but boys to her«
»She did look old« rejoined David »Youre right She did look old«
»Call to mind how old she looked for many a long long year and say if she
could be but seventynine at last only our age« said the sexton
»Five year older at the very least« cried the other
»Five« retorted the sexton »Ten Good eighty I call to mind the time her
daughter died She was eightynine if she was a day and tries to pass upon us
now for ten year younger Oh human vanity«
The other old man was not behindhand with some moral reflections on this
fruitful theme and both adduced a mass of evidence of such weight as to render
it doubtful not whether the deceased was of the age suggested but whether she
had not almost reached the patriarchal term of a hundred When they had settled
this question to their mutual satisfaction the sexton with his friends
assistance rose to go
»Its chilly sitting here and I must be careful till the summer« he
said as he prepared to limp away
»What« asked old David
»Hes very deaf poor fellow« cried the sexton »Goodbye«
»Ah« said old David looking after him »Hes failing very fast He ages
every day«
And so they parted each persuaded that the other had less life in him than
himself and both greatly consoled and comforted by the little fiction they had
agreed upon respecting Becky Morgan whose decease was no longer a precedent of
uncomfortable application and would be no business of theirs for half a score
of years to come
The child remained for some minutes watching the deaf old man as he threw
out the earth with his shovel and often stopping to cough and fetch his
breath still muttered to himself with a kind of sober chuckle that the sexton
was wearing fast At length she turned away and walking thoughtfully through
the churchyard came unexpectedly upon the schoolmaster who was sitting on a
green grave in the sun reading
»Nell here« he said cheerfully as he closed his book »It does me good to
see you in the air and light I feared you were again in the church where you
so often are«
»Feared« replied the child sitting down beside him »Is it not a good
place«
»Yes yes« said the schoolmaster »But you must be gay sometimes nay
dont shake your head and smile so sadly«
»Not sadly if you knew my heart Do not look at me as if you thought me
sorrowful There is not a happier creature on earth than I am now«
Full of grateful tenderness the child took his hand and folded it between
her own »Its Gods will« she said when they had been silent for some time
»What«
»All this« she rejoined »all this about us But which of us is sad now
You see that I am smiling«
»And so am I« said the schoolmaster »smiling to think how often we shall
laugh in this same place Were you not talking yonder«
»Yes« the child rejoined
»Of something that has made you sorrowful«
There was a long pause
»What was it« said the schoolmaster tenderly »Come Tell me what it was«
»I rather grieve I do rather grieve to think« said the child bursting
into tears »that those who die about us are so soon forgotten«
»And do you think« said the schoolmaster marking the glance she had thrown
around »that an unvisited grave a withered tree a faded flower or two are
tokens of forgetfulness or cold neglect Do you think there are no deeds far
away from here in which these dead may be best remembered Nell Nell there
may be people busy in the world at this instant in whose good actions and good
thoughts these very graves neglected as they look to us are the chief
instruments«
»Tell me no more« said the child quickly »Tell me no more I feel I know
it How could I be unmindful of it when I thought of you«
»There is nothing« cried her friend »no nothing innocent or good that
dies and is forgotten Let us hold to that faith or none An infant a
prattling child dying in its cradle will live again in the better thoughts of
those who loved it and will play its part through them in the redeeming
actions of the world though its body be burnt to ashes or drowned in the
deepest sea There is not an angel added to the Host of Heaven but does its
blessed work on earth in those that loved it here Forgotten oh if the good
deeds of human creatures could be traced to their source how beautiful would
even death appear for how much charity mercy and purified affection would be
seen to have their growth in dusty graves«
»Yes« said the child »it is the truth I know it is Who should feel its
force so much as I in whom your little scholar lives again Dear dear good
friend if you knew the comfort you have given me«
The poor schoolmaster made her no answer but bent over her in silence for
his heart was full
They were yet seated in the same place when the grandfather approached
Before they had spoken many words together the church clock struck the hour of
school and their friend withdrew
»A good man« said the grandfather looking after him »a kind man Surely
he will never harm us Nell We are safe here at last eh We will never go
away from here«
The child shook her head and smiled
»She needs rest« said the old man patting her cheek »too pale too pale
She is not like what she was«
»When« asked the child
»Ha« said the old man »to be sure when How many weeks ago Could I
count them on my fingers Let them rest though theyre better gone«
»Much better dear« replied the child »We will forget them or if we ever
call them to mind it shall be only as some uneasy dream that has passed away«
»Hush« said the old man motioning hastily to her with his hand and looking
over his shoulder »no more talk of the dream and all the miseries it brought
There are no dreams here Tis a quiet place and they keep away Let us never
think about them lest they should pursue us again Sunken eyes and hollow
cheeks wet cold and famine and horrors before them all that were even
worse we must forget such things if we would be tranquil here«
»Thank Heaven« inwardly exclaimed the child »for this most happy change«
»I will be patient« said the old man »humble very thankful and obedient
if you will let me stay But do not hide from me do not steal away alone let
me keep beside you Indeed I will be very true and faithful Nell«
»I steal away alone why that« replied the child with assumed gaiety
»would be a pleasant jest indeed See here dear grandfather well make this
place our garden why not It is a very good one and tomorrow well begin
and work together side by side«
»It is a brave thought« cried her grandfather »Mind darling we begin
tomorrow«
Who so delighted as the old man when they next day began their labour Who
so unconscious of all associations connected with the spot as he They plucked
the long grass and nettles from the tombs thinned the poor shrubs and roots
made the turf smooth and cleared it of the leaves and weeds They were yet in
the ardour of their work when the child raising her head from the ground over
which she bent observed that the bachelor was sitting on the stile close by
watching them in silence
»A kind office« said the little gentleman nodding to Nell as she curtseyed
to him »Have you done all that this morning«
»It is very little sir« returned the child with downcast eyes »to what
we mean to do«
»Good work good work« said the bachelor »But do you only labour at the
graves of children and young people«
»We shall come to the others in good time sir« replied Nell turning her
head aside and speaking softly
It was a slight incident and might have been design or accident or the
childs unconscious sympathy with youth But it seemed to strike upon her
grandfather though he had not noticed it before He looked in a hurried manner
at the graves then anxiously at the child then pressed her to his side and
bade her stop to rest Something he had long forgotten appeared to struggle
faintly in his mind It did not pass away as weightier things had done but
came uppermost again and yet again and many times that day and often
afterwards Once while they were yet at work the child seeing that he often
turned and looked uneasily at her as though he were trying to resolve some
painful doubts or collect some scattered thoughts urged him to tell the reason
But he said it was nothing nothing and laying her head upon his arm patted
her fair cheek with his hand and muttered that she grew stronger every day and
would be a woman soon
Chapter LV
From that time there sprung up in the old mans mind a solicitude about the
child which never slept or left him There are chords in the human heart
strange varying strings which are only struck by accident which will remain
mute and senseless to appeals the most passionate and earnest and respond at
last to the slightest casual touch In the most insensible or childish minds
there is some train of reflection which art can seldom lead or skill assist
but which will reveal itself as great truths have done by chance and when the
discoverer has the plainest end in view From that time the old man never for
a moment forgot the weakness and devotion of the child from the time of that
slight incident he who had seen her toiling by his side through so much
difficulty and suffering and had scarcely thought of her otherwise than as the
partner of miseries which he felt severely in his own person and deplored for
his own sake at least as much as hers awoke to a sense of what he owed her and
what those miseries had made her Never no never once in one unguarded moment
from that time to the end did any care for himself any thought of his own
comfort any selfish consideration or regard distract his thoughts from the
gentle object of his love
He would follow her up and down waiting till she should tire and lean upon
his arm he would sit opposite to her in the chimneycorner content to watch
and look until she raised her head and smiled upon him as of old he would
discharge by stealth those household duties which tasked her powers too heavily
he would rise in the cold dark nights to listen to her breathing in her
sleep and sometimes crouch for hours by her bedside only to touch her hand He
who knows all can only know what hopes and fears and thoughts of deep
affection were in that one disordered brain and what a change had fallen on
the poor old man
Sometimes weeks had crept on then the child exhausted though with
little fatigue would pass whole evenings on a couch beside the fire At such
times the schoolmaster would bring in books and read to her aloud and seldom
an evening passed but the bachelor came in and took his turn of reading The
old man sat and listened with little understanding for the words but with
his eyes fixed upon the child and if she smiled or brightened with the story
he would say it was a good one and conceive a fondness for the very book When
in their evening talk the bachelor told some tale that pleased her as his
tales were sure to do the old man would painfully try to store it in his mind
nay when the bachelor left them he would sometimes slip out after him and
humbly beg that he would tell him such a part again that he might learn to win
a smile from Nell
But these were rare occasions happily for the child yearned to be out of
doors and walking in her solemn garden Parties too would come to see the
church and those who came speaking to others of the child sent more so even
at that season of the year they had visitors almost daily The old man would
follow them at a little distance through the building listening to the voice he
loved so well and when the strangers left and parted from Nell he would
mingle with them to catch up fragments of their conversation or he would stand
for the same purpose with his grey head uncovered at the gate as they passed
through
They always praised the child her sense and beauty and he was proud to
hear them But what was that so often added which wrung his heart and made
him sob and weep alone in some dull corner Alas even careless strangers
they who had no feeling for her but the interest of the moment they who would
go away and forget next week that such a being lived even they saw it even
they pitied her even they bade him good day compassionately and whispered as
they passed
The people of the village too of whom there was not one but grew to have a
fondness for poor Nell even among them there was the same feeling a
tenderness towards her a compassionate regard for her increasing every day
The very schoolboys lighthearted and thoughtless as they were even they cared
for her The roughest among them was sorry if he missed her in the usual place
upon his way to school and would turn out of the path to ask for her at the
latticed window If she were sitting in the church they perhaps might peep in
softly at the open door but they never spoke to her unless she rose and went
to speak to them Some feeling was abroad which raised the child above them all
So when Sunday came They were all poor country people in the church for
the castle in which the old family had lived was an empty ruin and there were
none but humble folks for seven miles around There as elsewhere they had an
interest in Nell They would gather round her in the porch before and after
service young children would cluster at her skirts and aged men and women
forsake their gossips to give her kindly greeting None of them young or old
thought of passing the child without a friendly word Many who came from three
or four miles distant brought her little presents the humblest and rudest had
good wishes to bestow
She had sought out the young children whom she first saw playing in the
churchyard One of these he who had spoken of his brother was her little
favourite and friend and often sat by her side in the church or climbed with
her to the towertop It was his delight to help her or to fancy that he did
so and they soon became close companions
It happened that as she was reading in the old spot by herself one day
this child came running in with his eyes full of tears and after holding her
from him and looking at her eagerly for a moment clasped his little arms
passionately about her neck
»What now« said Nell soothing him »What is the matter«
»She is not one yet« cried the boy embracing her still more closely »No
no Not yet«
She looked at him wonderingly and putting his hair back from his face and
kissing him asked what he meant
»You must not be one dear Nell« cried the boy »We cant see them They
never come to play with us or talk to us Be what you are You are better so«
»I do not understand you« said the child »Tell me what you mean«
»Why they say« replied the boy looking up into her face »that you will
be an Angel before the birds sing again But you wont be will you Dont
leave us Nell though the sky is bright Do not leave us«
The child dropped her head and put her hands before her face
»She cannot bear the thought« cried the boy exulting through his tears
»You will not go You know how sorry we should be Dear Nell tell me that
youll stay amongst us Oh Pray pray tell me that you will«
The little creature folded his hands and knelt down at her feet
»Only look at me Nell« said the boy »and tell me that youll stop and
then I shall know that they are wrong and will cry no more Wont you say yes
Nell«
Still the drooping head and hidden face and the child quite silent save
for her sobs
»After a time« pursued the boy trying to draw away her hand »the kind
angels will be glad to think that you are not among them and that you stayed
here to be with us Willy went away to join them but if he had known how I
should miss him in our little bed at night he never would have left me I am
sure«
Yet the child could make him no answer and sobbed as though her heart were
bursting
»Why would you go dear Nell I know you would not be happy when you heard
that we were crying for your loss They say that Willy is in Heaven now and
that its always summer there and yet Im sure he grieves when I lie down upon
his garden bed and he cannot turn to kiss me But if you do go Nell« said the
boy caressing her and pressing his face to hers »be fond of him for my sake
Tell him how I love him still and how much I loved you and when I think that
you two are together and are happy Ill try to bear it and never give you
pain by doing wrong indeed I never will«
The child suffered him to move her hands and put them round his neck There
was a tearful silence but it was not long before she looked upon him with a
smile and promised him in a very gentle quiet voice that she would stay and
be his friend as long as Heaven would let her He clapped his hands for joy
and thanked her many times and being charged to tell no person what had passed
between them gave her an earnest promise that he never would
Nor did he so far as the child could learn but was her quiet companion in
all her walks and musings and never again adverted to the theme which he felt
had given her pain although he was unconscious of its cause Something of
distrust lingered about him still for he would often come even in the dark
evenings and call in a timid voice outside the door to know if she were safe
within and being answered yes and bade to enter would take his station on a
low stool at her feet and sit there patiently until they came to seek and take
him home Sure as the morning came it found him lingering near the house to ask
if she were well and morning noon or night go where she would he would
forsake his playmates and his sports to bear her company
»And a good little friend he is too« said the old sexton to her once
»When his elder brother died elder seems a strange word for he was only seven
years old I remember this one took it sorely to heart«
The child thought of what the schoolmaster had told her and felt how its
truth was shadowed out even in this infant
»It has given him something of a quiet way I think« said the old man
»though for that he is merry enough at times Id wager now that you and he have
been listening by the old well«
»Indeed we have not« the child replied »I have been afraid to go near it
for I am not often down in that part of the church and do not know the ground«
»Come down with me« said the old man »I have known it from a boy Come«
They descended the narrow steps which led into the crypt and paused among
the gloomy arches in a dim and murky spot
»This is the place« said the old man »Give me your hand while you throw
back the cover lest you should stumble and fall in I am too old I mean
rheumatic to stoop myself«
»A black and dreadful place« exclaimed the child
»Look in« said the old man pointing downward with his finger
The child complied and gazed down into the pit
»It looks like a grave itself« said the old man
»It does« replied the child
»I have often had the fancy« said the sexton »that it might have been dug
at first to make the old place more gloomy and the old monks more religious
Its to be closed up and built over«
The child still stood looking thoughtfully into the vault
»We shall see« said the sexton »on what gay heads other earth will have
closed when the light is shut out from here God knows Theyll close it up
next spring«
»The birds sing again in spring« thought the child as she leaned at her
casement window and gazed at the declining sun »Spring a beautiful and happy
time«
Chapter LVI
A day or two after the Quilp teaparty at the Wilderness Mr Swiveller walked
into Sampson Brasss office at the usual hour and being alone in that Temple of
Probity placed his hat upon the desk and taking from his pocket a small parcel
of black crape applied himself to folding and pinning the same upon it after
the manner of a hatband Having completed the construction of this appendage he
surveyed his work with great complacency and put his hat on again very much
over one eye to increase the mournfulness of the effect These arrangements
perfected to his entire satisfaction he thrust his hands into his pockets and
walked up and down the office with measured steps
»It has always been the same with me« said Mr Swiveller »always Twas
ever thus from childhoods hour Ive seen my fondest hopes decay I never loved
a tree or flower but twas the first to fade away I never nursed a dear
Gazelle to glad me with its soft black eye but when it came to know me well
and love me it was sure to marry a marketgardener«
Overpowered by these reflections Mr Swiveller stopped short at the
clients chair and flung himself into its open arms
»And this« said Mr Swiveller with a kind of bantering composure »is
life I believe Oh certainly Why not Im quite satisfied I shall wear«
added Richard taking off his hat again and looking hard at it as if he were
only deterred by pecuniary considerations from spurning it with his foot »I
shall wear this emblem of womans perfidy in remembrance of her with whom I
shall never again thread the windings of the mazy whom I shall never more
pledge in the rosy who during the short remainder of my existence will murder
the balmy Ha ha ha«
It may be necessary to observe lest there should appear any incongruity in
the close of this soliloquy that Mr Swiveller did not wind up with a cheerful
hilarious laugh which would have been undoubtedly at variance with his solemn
reflections but that being in a theatrical mood he merely achieved that
performance which is designated in melodramas laughing like a fiend for it
seems that your fiends always laugh in syllables and always in three syllables
never more nor less which is a remarkable property in such gentry and one
worthy of remembrance
The baleful sounds had hardly died away and Mr Swiveller was still sitting
in a very grim state in the clients chair when there came a ring or if we
may adapt the sound to his then humour a knell at the office bell Opening
the door with all speed he beheld the expressive countenance of Mr Chuckster
between whom and himself a fraternal greeting ensued
»Youre devilish early at this pestiferous old slaughterhouse« said that
gentleman poising himself on one leg and shaking the other in an easy manner
»Rather« returned Dick
»Rather« retorted Mr Chuckster with that air of graceful trifling which
so well became him »I should think so Why my good feller do you know what
oclock it is halfpast nine am in the morning«
»Wont you come in« said Dick »All alone Swiveller solus Tis now the
witching «
»Hour of night«
»When churchyards yawn«
»And graves give up their dead«
At the end of this quotation in dialogue each gentleman struck an attitude
and immediately subsiding into prose walked into the office Such morsels of
enthusiasm are common among the Glorious Apollos and were indeed the links that
bound them together and raised them above the cold dull earth
»Well and how are you my buck« said Mr Chuckster taking a stool »I was
forced to come into the City upon some little private matters of my own and
couldnt pass the corner of the street without looking in but upon my soul I
didnt expect to find you It is so everlastingly early«
Mr Swiveller expressed his acknowledgments and it appearing on further
conversation that he was in good health and that Mr Chuckster was in the like
enviable condition both gentlemen in compliance with a solemn custom of the
ancient Brotherhood to which they belonged joined in a fragment of the popular
duet of »Alls Well« with a long shake at the end
»And whats the news« said Richard
»The towns as flat my dear feller« replied Mr Chuckster »as the surface
of a Dutch oven Theres no news Bythebye that lodger of yours is a most
extraordinary person He quite eludes the most vigorous comprehension you know
Never was such a feller«
»What has he been doing now« said Dick
»By Jove sir« returned Mr Chuckster taking out an oblong snuffbox the
lid whereof was ornamented with a foxs head curiously carved in brass »that
man is an unfathomable Sir that man has made friends with our articled clerk
Theres no harm in him but he is so amazingly slow and soft Now if he wanted
a friend why couldnt he have one that knew a thing or two and could do him
some good by his manners and conversation I have my faults sir« said Mr
Chuckster
»No no« interposed Mr Swiveller
»Oh yes I have I have my faults no man knows his faults better than I know
mine But« said Mr Chuckster »Im not meek My worst enemies every man has
his enemies sir and I have mine never accused me of being meek And I tell
you what sir if I hadnt more of these qualities that commonly endear man to
man than our articled clerk has Id steal a Cheshire cheese tie it round my
neck and drown myself Id die degraded as I had lived I would upon my
honour«
Mr Chuckster paused rapped the foxs head exactly on the nose with the
knuckle of the forefinger took a pinch of snuff and looked steadily at Mr
Swiveller as much as to say that if he thought he was going to sneeze he would
find himself mistaken
»Not contented sir« said Mr Chuckster »with making friends with Abel he
has cultivated the acquaintance of his father and mother Since he came home
from that wildgoose chase he has been there actually been there He
patronises young Snobby besides youll find sir that hell be constantly
coming backwards and forwards to this place yet I dont suppose that beyond the
common forms of civility he has ever exchanged halfadozen words with me Now
upon my soul you know« said Mr Chuckster shaking his head gravely as men
are wont to do when they consider things are going a little too far »this is
altogether such a lowminded affair that if I didnt feel for the governor and
know that he could never get on without me I should be obliged to cut the
connexion I should have no alternative«
Mr Swiveller who sat on another stool opposite to his friend stirred the
fire in an excess of sympathy but said nothing
»As to young Snob sir« pursued Mr Chuckster with a prophetic look
»youll find hell turn out bad In our profession we know something of human
nature and take my word for it that the feller that came back to work out that
shilling will show himself one of these days in his true colours Hes a low
thief sir He must be«
Mr Chuckster being roused would probably have pursued this subject
further and in more emphatic language but for a tap at the door which seeming
to announce the arrival of somebody on business caused him to assume a greater
appearance of meekness than was perhaps quite consistent with his late
declaration Mr Swiveller hearing the same sound caused his stool to revolve
rapidly on one leg until it brought him to his desk into which having
forgotten in the sudden flurry of his spirits to part with the poker he thrust
it as he cried »Come in«
Who should present himself but that very Kit who had been the theme of Mr
Chucksters wrath Never did man pluck up his courage so quickly or look so
fierce as Mr Chuckster when he found it was he Mr Swiveller stared at him
for a moment and then leaping from his stool and drawing out the poker from
its place of concealment performed the broadsword exercise with all the cuts
and guards complete in a species of frenzy
»Is the gentleman at home« said Kit rather astonished by this uncommon
reception
Before Mr Swiveller could make any reply Mr Chuckster took occasion to
enter his indignant protest against this form of inquiry which he held to be of
a disrespectful and snobbish tendency inasmuch as the inquirer seeing two
gentlemen then and there present should have spoken of the other gentleman or
rather for it was not impossible that the object of his search might be of
inferior quality should have mentioned his name leaving it to his hearers to
determine his degree as they thought proper Mr Chuckster likewise remarked
that he had some reason to believe this form of address was personal to himself
and that he was not a man to be trifled with as certain snobs whom he did not
more particularly mention or describe might find to their cost
»I mean the gentleman up stairs« said Kit turning to Richard Swiveller
»Is he at home«
»Why« rejoined Dick
»Because if he is I have a letter for him«
»From whom« said Dick
»From Mr Garland«
»Oh« said Dick with extreme politeness »Then you may hand it over sir
And if youre to wait for an answer sir you may wait in the passage sir
which is an airy and wellventilated apartment sir«
»Thank you« returned Kit »But I am to give it to himself if you please«
The excessive audacity of this retort so overpowered Mr Chuckster and so
moved his tender regard for his friends honour that he declared if he were
not restrained by official considerations he must certainly have annihilated
Kit upon the spot a resentment of the affront which he did consider under the
extraordinary circumstances of aggravation attending it could but have met with
the proper sanction and approval of a jury of Englishmen who he had no doubt
would have returned a verdict of Justifiable Homicide coupled with a high
testimony to the morals and character of the Avenger Mr Swiveller without
being quite so hot upon the matter was rather shamed by his friends
excitement and not a little puzzled how to act Kit being quite cool and
goodhumoured when the single gentleman was heard to call violently down the
stairs
»Didnt I see somebody for me come in« cried the lodger »Yes sir«
replied Dick »Certainly sir«
»Then where is he« roared the single gentleman
»Hes here sir« rejoined Mr Swiveller »Now young man dont you hear
youre to go up stairs Are you deaf«
Kit did not appear to think it worth his while to enter into any
altercation but hurried off and left the Glorious Apollos gazing at each other
in silence
»Didnt I tell you so« said Mr Chuckster »What do you think of that«
Mr Swiveller being in the main a goodnatured fellow and not perceiving in
the conduct of Kit any villany of enormous magnitude scarcely knew what answer
to return He was relieved from his perplexity however by the entrance of Mr
Sampson and his sister Sally at sight of whom Mr Chuckster precipitately
retired
Mr Brass and his lovely companion appeared to have been holding a
consultation over their temperate breakfast upon some matter of great interest
and importance On the occasion of such conferences they generally appeared in
the office some half an hour after their usual time and in a very smiling
state as though their late plots and designs had tranquillised their minds and
shed a light upon their toilsome way In the present instance they seemed
particularly gay Miss Sallys aspect being of a most oily kind and Mr Brass
rubbing his hands in an exceedingly jocose and lighthearted manner
»Well Mr Richard« said Brass »How are we this morning Are we pretty
fresh and cheerful sir eh Mr Richard«
»Pretty well sir« replied Dick
»Thats well« said Brass »Ha ha We should be as gay as larks Mr Richard
why not Its a pleasant world we live in sir a very pleasant world There
are bad people in it Mr Richard but if there were no bad people there would
be no good lawyers Ha ha Any letters by the post this morning Mr Richard«
Mr Swiveller answered in the negative
»Ha« said Brass »no matter If theres little business today therell be
more tomorrow A contented spirit Mr Richard is the sweetness of existence
Anybody been here sir«
»Only my friend« replied Dick »May we neer want a «
»Friend« Brass chimed in quickly »or a bottle to give him Ha ha Thats
the way the song runs isnt it A very good song Mr Richard very good I
like the sentiment of it Ha ha Your friends the young man from Witherdens
office I think yes May we neer want a Nobody else at all been Mr
Richard«
»Only somebody to the lodger« replied Mr Swiveller
»Oh indeed« cried Brass »Somebody to the lodger eh Ha ha May we neer
want a friend or a Somebody to the lodger eh Mr Richard«
»Yes« said Dick a little disconcerted by the excessive buoyancy of spirits
which his employer displayed »With him now«
»With him now« cried Brass »Ha ha There let em be merry and free toor
rul rol le Eh Mr Richard Ha ha«
»Oh certainly« replied Dick
»And who« said Brass shuffling among his papers »who is the lodgers
visitor not a lady visitor I hope eh Mr Richard The morals of the Marks
you know sir when lovely woman stoops to folly and all that eh Mr
Richard«
»Another young man who belongs to Witherdens too or half belongs there«
returned Richard »Kit they call him«
»Kit eh« said Brass »Strange name name of a dancingmasters fiddle
eh Mr Richard Ha ha Kits there is he Oh«
Dick looked at Miss Sally wondering that she didnt check this uncommon
exuberance on the part of Mr Sampson but as she made no attempt to do so and
rather appeared to exhibit a tacit acquiescence in it he concluded that they
had just been cheating somebody and receiving the bill
»Will you have the goodness Mr Richard« said Brass taking a letter from
his desk »just to step over to Peckham Rye with that Theres no answer but
its rather particular and should go by hand Charge the office with your
coachhire back you know dont spare the office get as much out of it as you
can clerks motto eh Mr Richard Ha ha«
Mr Swiveller solemnly doffed the aquatic jacket put on his coat took down
his hat from its peg pocketed the letter and departed As soon as he was gone
up rose Miss Sally Brass and smiling sweetly at her brother who nodded and
smote his nose in return withdrew also
Sampson Brass was no sooner left alone than he set the office door wide
open and establishing himself at his desk directly opposite so that he could
not fail to see anybody who came down stairs and passed out at the street door
began to write with extreme cheerfulness and assiduity humming as he did so in
a voice that was anything but musical certain vocal snatches which appeared to
have reference to the union between Church and State inasmuch as they were
compounded of the Evening Hymn and God save the King
Thus the attorney of Bevis Marks sat and wrote and hummed for a long
time except when he stopped to listen with a very cunning face and hearing
nothing went on humming louder and writing slower than ever At length in one
of these pauses he heard his lodgers door opened and shut and footsteps
coming down the stairs Then Mr Brass left off writing entirely and with his
pen in his hand hummed his very loudest shaking his head meanwhile from side
to side like a man whose whole soul was in the music and smiling in a manner
quite seraphic
It was towards this moving spectacle that the staircase and the sweet sounds
guided Kit on whose arrival before his door Mr Brass stopped his singing but
not his smiling and nodded affably at the same time beckoning to him with his
pen
»Kit« said Mr Brass in the pleasantest way imaginable »how do you do«
Kit being rather shy of his friend made a suitable reply and had his hand
upon the lock of the street door when Mr Brass called him softly back
»You are not to go if you please Kit« said the attorney in a mysterious
and yet businesslike way »You are to step in here if you please Dear me
dear me When I look at you« said the lawyer quitting his stool and standing
before the fire with his back towards it »I am reminded of the sweetest little
face that ever my eyes beheld I remember your coming there twice or thrice
when we were in possession Ah Kit my dear fellow gentlemen in my profession
have such painful duties to perform sometimes that you neednt envy us you
neednt indeed«
»I dont sir« said Kit »though it isnt for the like of me to judge«
»Our only consolation Kit« pursued the lawyer looking at him in a sort of
pensive abstraction »is that although we cannot turn away the wind we can
soften it we can temper it if I may say so to the shorn lambs«
»Shorn indeed« thought Kit »Pretty close« But he didnt say so
»On that occasion Kit« said Mr Brass »on that occasion that I have just
alluded to I had a hard battle with Mr Quilp for Mr Quilp is a very hard
man to obtain them the indulgence they had It might have cost me a client But
suffering virtue inspired me and I prevailed«
»Hes not so bad after all« thought honest Kit as the attorney pursed up
his lips and looked like a man who was struggling with his better feelings
»I respect you Kit« said Brass with emotion »I saw enough of your
conduct at that time to respect you though your station is humble and your
fortune lowly It isnt the waistcoat that I look at It is the heart The
checks in the waistcoat are but the wires of the cage But the heart is the
bird Ah How many sich birds are perpetually moulting and putting their beaks
through the wires to peck at all mankind«
This poetic figure which Kit took to be in special allusion to his own
checked waistcoat quite overcame him Mr Brasss voice and manner added not a
little to its effect for he discoursed with all the mild austerity of a hermit
and wanted but a cord round the waist of his rusty surtout and a skull on the
chimneypiece to be completely set up in that line of business
»Well well« said Sampson smiling as good men smile when they
compassionate their own weakness or that of their fellowcreatures »this is
wide of the bullseye Youre to take that if you please« As he spoke he
pointed to a couple of halfcrowns on the desk
Kit looked at the coins and then at Sampson and hesitated
»For yourself« said Brass
»From «
»No matter about the person they came from« replied the lawyer »Say me if
you like We have eccentric friends overhead Kit and we mustnt ask questions
or talk too much you understand Youre to take them thats all and between
you and me I dont think theyll be the last youll have to take from the same
place I hope not Goodbye Kit Goodbye«
With many thanks and many more selfreproaches for having on such slight
grounds suspected one who in their very first conversation turned out such a
different man from what he had supposed Kit took the money and made the best of
his way home Mr Brass remained airing himself at the fire and resumed his
vocal exercise and his seraphic smile simultaneously
»May I come in« said Miss Sally peeping
»Oh yes you may come in« returned her brother
»Ahem« coughed Miss Brass interrogatively
»Why yes« returned Sampson »I should say as good as done«
Chapter LVII
Mr Chucksters indignant apprehensions were not without foundation Certainly
the friendship between the single gentleman and Mr Garland was not suffered to
cool but had a rapid growth and flourished exceedingly They were soon in
habits of constant intercourse and communication and the single gentleman
labouring at this time under a slight attack of illness the consequence most
probably of his late excited feelings and subsequent disappointment furnished
a reason for their holding yet more frequent correspondence so that some one
of the inmates of Abel Cottage Finchley came backwards and forwards between
that place and Bevis Marks almost every day
As the pony had now thrown off all disguise and without any mincing of the
matter or beating about the bush sturdily refused to be driven by anybody but
Kit it generally happened that whether old Mr Garland came or Mr Abel Kit
was of the party Of all messages and inquiries Kit was in right of his
position the bearer thus it came about that while the single gentleman
remained indisposed Kit turned into Bevis Marks every morning with nearly as
much regularity as the General Postman
Mr Sampson Brass who no doubt had his reasons for looking sharply about
him soon learnt to distinguish the ponys trot and the clatter of the little
chaise at the corner of the street Whenever the sound reached his ears he
would immediately lay down his pen and fall to rubbing his hands and exhibiting
the greatest glee
»Ha ha« he would cry »Heres the pony again Most remarkable pony
extremely docile eh Mr Richard eh sir«
Dick would return some matterofcourse reply and Mr Brass standing on the
bottom rail of his stool so as to get a view of the street over the top of the
windowblind would take an observation of the visitors
»The old gentleman again« he would exclaim »a very prepossessing old
gentleman Mr Richard charming countenance sir extremely calm
benevolence in every feature sir He quite realises my idea of King Lear as he
appeared when in possession of his kingdom Mr Richard the same good humour
the same white hair and partial baldness the same liability to be imposed upon
Ah A sweet subject for contemplation sir very sweet«
Then Mr Garland having alighted and gone up stairs Sampson would nod and
smile to Kit from the window and presently walk out into the street to greet
him when some such conversation as the following would ensue
»Admirably groomed Kit« Mr Brass is patting the pony »does you great
credit amazingly sleek and bright to be sure He literally looks as if he had
been varnished all over«
Kit touches his hat smiles pats the pony himself and expresses his
conviction »that Mr Brass will not find many like him«
»A beautiful animal indeed« cries Brass »Sagacious too«
»Bless you« replies Kit »he knows what you say to him as well as a
Christian does«
»Does he indeed« cries Brass who has heard the same thing in the same
place from the same person in the same words a dozen times but is paralysed
with astonishment notwithstanding »Dear me«
»I little thought the first time I saw him sir« says Kit pleased with the
attorneys strong interest in his favourite »that I should come to be as
intimate with him as I am now«
»Ah« rejoins Mr Brass brimfull of moral precepts and love of virtue »A
charming subject of reflection for you very charming A subject of proper pride
and congratulation Christopher Honesty is the best policy I always find it
so myself I lost fortyseven pound ten by being honest this morning But its
all gain its gain«
Mr Brass slyly tickles his nose with his pen and looks at Kit with the
water standing in his eyes Kit thinks that if ever there was a good man who
belied his appearance that man is Sampson Brass
»A man« says Sampson »who loses fortyseven pound ten in one morning by
his honesty is a man to be envied If it had been eighty pound the
luxuriousness of feeling would have been increased Every pound lost would have
been a hundredweight of happiness gained The still small voice Christopher«
cries Brass smiling and tapping himself on the bosom »is asinging comic
songs within me and all is happiness and joy«
Kit is so improved by the conversation and finds it go so completely home
to his feelings that he is considering what he shall say when Mr Garland
appears The old gentleman is helped into the chaise with great obsequiousness
by Mr Sampson Brass and the pony after shaking his head several times and
standing for three or four minutes with all his four legs planted firmly on the
ground as if he had made up his mind never to stir from that spot but there to
live and die suddenly darts off without the smallest notice at the rate of
twelve English miles an hour Then Mr Brass and his sister who has joined him
at the door exchange an odd kind of smile not at all a pleasant one in its
expression and return to the society of Mr Richard Swiveller who during
their absence has been regaling himself with various feats of pantomime and is
discovered at his desk in a very flushed and heated condition violently
scratching out nothing with half a penknife
Whenever Kit came alone and without the chaise it always happened that
Sampson Brass was reminded of some mission calling Mr Swiveller if not to
Peckham Rye again at all events to some pretty distant place from which he
could not be expected to return for two or three hours or in all probability a
much longer period as that gentleman was not to say the truth renowned for
using great expedition on such occasions but rather for protracting and
spinning out the time to the very utmost limit of possibility Mr Swiveller out
of sight Miss Sally immediately withdrew Mr Brass would then set the office
door wide open hum his old tune with great gaiety of heart and smile
seraphically as before Kit coming down stairs would be called in entertained
with some moral and agreeable conversation perhaps entreated to mind the office
for an instant while Mr Brass stepped over the way and afterwards presented
with one or two halfcrowns as the case might be This occurred so often that
Kit nothing doubting but that they came from the single gentleman who had
already rewarded his mother with great liberality could not enough admire his
generosity and bought so many cheap presents for her and for little Jacob and
for the baby and for Barbara to boot that one or other of them was having some
new trifle every day of their lives
While these acts and deeds were in progress in and out of the office of
Sampson Brass Richard Swiveller being often left alone therein began to find
the time hang heavy on his hands For the better preservation of his
cheerfulness therefore and to prevent his faculties from rusting he provided
himself with a cribbageboard and pack of cards and accustomed himself to play
at cribbage with a dummy for twenty thirty or sometimes even fifty thousand
pounds a side besides many hazardous bets to a considerable amount
As these games were very silently conducted notwithstanding the magnitude
of the interests involved Mr Swiveller began to think that on those evenings
when Mr and Miss Brass were out and they often went out now he heard a kind
of snorting or hardbreathing sound in the direction of the door which it
occurred to him after some reflection must proceed from the small servant who
always had a cold from damp living Looking intently that way one night he
plainly distinguished an eye gleaming and glistening at the keyhole and having
now no doubt that his suspicions were correct he stole softly to the door and
pounced upon her before she was aware of his approach
»Oh I didnt mean any harm indeed upon my word I didnt« cried the small
servant struggling like a much larger one »Its so very dull down stairs
Please dont you tell upon me please dont«
»Tell upon you« said Dick »Do you mean to say you were looking through the
keyhole for company«
»Yes upon my word I was« replied the small servant
»How long have you been cooling your eye there« said Dick
»Oh ever since you first began to play them cards and long before«
Vague recollections of several fantastic exercises with which he had
refreshed himself after the fatigues of business and to all of which no doubt
the small servant was a party rather disconcerted Mr Swiveller but he was not
very sensitive on such points and recovered himself speedily
»Well come in« he said after a little consideration »Here sit down
and Ill teach you how to play«
»Oh I durstnt do it« rejoined the small servant »Miss Sally ud kill me
if she knowd I come up here«
»Have you got a fire down stairs« said Dick
»A very little one« replied the small servant
»Miss Sally couldnt kill me if she knowd I went down there so Ill come«
said Richard putting the cards into his pocket »Why how thin you are What do
you mean by it«
»It ant my fault«
»Could you eat any bread and meat« said Dick taking down his hat »Yes
Ah I thought so Did you ever taste beer«
»I had a sip of it once« said the small servant
»Heres a state of things« cried Mr Swiveller raising his eyes to the
ceiling »She never tasted it it cant be tasted in a sip Why how old are
you«
»I dont know«
Mr Swiveller opened his eyes very wide and appeared thoughtful for a
moment then bidding the child mind the door until he came back vanished
straightway
Presently he returned followed by the boy from the publichouse who bore
in one hand a plate of bread and beef and in the other a great pot filled with
some very fragrant compound which sent forth a grateful steam and was indeed
choice purl made after a particular recipe which Mr Swiveller had imparted to
the landlord at a period when he was deep in his books and desirous to
conciliate his friendship Relieving the boy of his burden at the door and
charging his little companion to fasten it to prevent surprise Mr Swiveller
followed her into the kitchen
»There« said Richard putting the plate before her »First of all clear
that off and then youll see whats next«
The small servant needed no second bidding and the plate was soon empty
»Next« said Dick handing the purl »take a pull at that but moderate your
transports you know for youre not used to it Well is it good«
»Oh isnt it« said the small servant
Mr Swiveller appeared gratified beyond all expression by this reply and
took a long draught himself steadfastly regarding his companion while he did
so These preliminaries disposed of he applied himself to teaching her the
game which she soon learnt tolerably well being both sharpwitted and cunning
»Now« said Mr Swiveller putting two sixpences into a saucer and trimming
the wretched candle when the cards had been cut and dealt »those are the
stakes If you win you get em all If I win I get em To make it seem more
real and pleasant I shall call you the Marchioness do you hear«
The small servant nodded
»Then Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller »fire away«
The Marchioness holding her cards very tight in both hands considered
which to play and Mr Swiveller assuming the gay and fashionable air which
such society required took another pull at the tankard and waited for her
lead
Chapter LVIII
Mr Swiveller and his partner played several rubbers with varying success until
the loss of three sixpences the gradual sinking of the purl and the striking
of ten oclock combined to render that gentleman mindful of the flight of Time
and the expediency of withdrawing before Mr Sampson and Miss Sally Brass
returned
»With which object in view Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller gravely »I
shall ask your ladyships permission to put the board in my pocket and to
retire from the presence when I have finished this tankard merely observing
Marchioness that since life like a river is flowing I care not how fast it
rolls on maam on while such purl on the bank still is growing and such eyes
light the waves as they run Marchioness your health You will excuse my
wearing my hat but the palace is damp and the marble floor is if I may be
allowed the expression sloppy«
As a precaution against this latter inconvenience Mr Swiveller had been
sitting for some time with his feet on the hob in which attitude he now gave
utterance to these apologetic observations and slowly sipped the last choice
drops of nectar
»The Baron Sampsono Brasso and his fair sister are you tell me at the
Play« said Mr Swiveller leaning his left arm heavily upon the table and
raising his voice and his right leg after the manner of a theatrical bandit
The Marchioness nodded
»Ha« said Mr Swiveller with a portentous frown »Tis well Marchioness
but no matter Some wine there Ho« He illustrated these melodramatic
morsels by handing the tankard to himself with great humility receiving it
haughtily drinking from it thirstily and smacking his lips fiercely
The small servant who was not so well acquainted with theatrical
conventionalities as Mr Swiveller having indeed never seen a play or heard
one spoken of except by chance through chinks of doors and in other forbidden
places was rather alarmed by demonstrations so novel in their nature and
showed her concern so plainly in her looks that Mr Swiveller felt it necessary
to discharge his brigand manner for one more suitable to private life as he
asked
»Do they often go where glory waits em and leave you here«
»Oh yes I believe you they do« returned the small servant »Miss Sallys
such a oneer for that she is«
»Such a what« said Dick
»Such a oneer« returned the Marchioness
After a moments reflection Mr Swiveller determined to forego his
responsible duty of setting her right and to suffer her to talk on as it was
evident that her tongue was loosened by the purl and her opportunities for
conversation were not so frequent as to render a momentary check of little
consequence
»They sometimes go to see Mr Quilp« said the small servant with a shrewd
look »they go to a many places bless you«
»Is Mr Brass a wunner« said Dick
»Not half what Miss Sally is he isnt« replied the small servant shaking
her head »Bless you hed never do anything without her«
»Oh He wouldnt wouldnt he« said Dick
»Miss Sally keeps him in such order« said the small servant »he always
asks her advice he does and he catches it sometimes Bless you you wouldnt
believe how much he catches it«
»I suppose« said Dick »that they consult together a good deal and talk
about a great many people about me for instance sometimes eh Marchioness«
The Marchioness nodded amazingly
»Complimentary« said Mr Swiveller
The Marchioness changed the motion of her head which had not yet left off
nodding and suddenly began to shake it from side to side with a vehemence
which threatened to dislocate her neck
»Humph« Dick muttered »Would it be any breach of confidence Marchioness
to relate what they say of the humble individual who has now the honour to «
»Miss Sally says youre a funny chap« replied his friend
»Well Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller »thats not uncomplimentary
Merriment Marchioness is not a bad or a degrading quality Old King Cole was
himself a merry old soul if we may put any faith in the pages of history«
»But she says« pursued his companion »that you ant to be trusted«
»Why really Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller thoughtfully »several
ladies and gentlemen not exactly professional persons but tradespeople
maam tradespeople have made the same remark The obscure citizen who keeps
the hotel over the way inclined strongly to that opinion tonight when I
ordered him to prepare the banquet Its a popular prejudice Marchioness and
yet I am sure I dont know why for I have been trusted in my time to a
considerable amount and I can safely say that I never forsook my trust until it
deserted me never Mr Brass is of the same opinion I suppose«
His friend nodded again with a cunning look which seemed to hint that Mr
Brass held stronger opinions on the subject than his sister and seeming to
recollect herself added imploringly »But dont you ever tell upon me or I
shall be beat to death«
»Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller rising »the word of a gentleman is as
good as his bond sometimes better as in the present case where his bond
might prove but a doubtful sort of security I am your friend and I hope we
shall play many more rubbers together in this same saloon But Marchioness«
added Richard stopping in his way to the door and wheeling slowly round upon
the small servant who was following with the candle »it occurs to me that you
must be in the constant habit of airing your eye at keyholes to know all this«
»I only wanted« replied the trembling Marchioness »to know where the key
of the safe was hid that was all and I wouldnt have taken much if I had
found it only enough to squench my hunger«
»You didnt find it then« said Dick »But of course you didnt or youd be
plumper Good night Marchioness Fare thee well and if for ever then for ever
fare thee well and put up the chain Marchioness in case of accidents«
With this parting injunction Mr Swiveller emerged from the house and
feeling that he had by this time taken quite as much to drink as promised to be
good for his constitution purl being a rather strong and heady compound
wisely resolved to betake himself to his lodgings and to bed at once Homeward
he went therefore and his apartments for he still retained the plural fiction
being at no great distance from the office he was soon seated in his own
bedchamber where having pulled off one boot and forgotten the other he fell
into deep cogitation
»This Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller folding his arms »is a very
extraordinary person surrounded by mysteries ignorant of the taste of beer
unacquainted with her own name which is less remarkable and taking a limited
view of society through the keyholes of doors can these things be her destiny
or has some unknown person started an opposition to the decrees of fate It is a
most inscrutable and unmitigated staggerer«
When his meditations had attained this satisfactory point he became aware
of his remaining boot of which with unimpaired solemnity he proceeded to
divest himself shaking his head with exceeding gravity all the time and
sighing deeply
»These rubbers« said Mr Swiveller putting on his nightcap in exactly the
same style as he wore his hat »remind me of the matrimonial fireside Cheggss
wife plays cribbage allfours likewise She rings the changes on em now From
sport to sport they hurry her to banish her regrets and when they win a smile
from her they think that she forgets but she dont By this time I should
say« added Richard getting his left cheek into profile and looking
complacently at the reflection of a very little scrap of whisker in the
lookingglass »by this time I should say the iron has entered into her soul
It serves her right«
Melting from this stern and obdurate into the tender and pathetic mood Mr
Swiveller groaned a little walked wildly up and down and even made a show of
tearing his hair which however he thought better of and wrenched the tassel
from his nightcap instead At last undressing himself with a gloomy resolution
he got into bed
Some men in his blighted position would have taken to drinking but as Mr
Swiveller had taken to that before he only took on receiving the news that
Sophy Wackles was lost to him for ever to playing the flute thinking after
mature consideration that it was a good sound dismal occupation not only in
unison with his own sad thoughts but calculated to awaken a fellowfeeling in
the bosoms of his neighbours In pursuance of this resolution he now drew a
little table to his bedside and arranging the light and a small oblong
musicbook to the best advantage took his flute from its box and began to play
most mournfully
The air was »Away with melancholy« a composition which when it is played
very slowly on the flute in bed with the further disadvantage of being
performed by a gentleman but imperfectly acquainted with the instrument who
repeats one note a great many times before he can find the next has not a
lively effect Yet for half the night or more Mr Swiveller lying sometimes
on his back with his eyes upon the ceiling and sometimes half out of bed to
correct himself by the book played this unhappy tune over and over again never
leaving off save for a minute or two at a time to take breath and soliloquise
about the Marchioness and then beginning again with renewed vigour It was not
until he had quite exhausted his several subjects of meditation and had
breathed into the flute the whole sentiment of the purl down to its very dregs
and had nearly maddened the people of the house and at both the next doors and
over the way that he shut up the musicbook extinguished the candle and
finding himself greatly lightened and relieved in his mind turned round and
fell asleep
He awoke in the morning much refreshed and having taken half an hours
exercise at the flute and graciously received a notice to quit from his
landlady who had been in waiting on the stairs for that purpose since the dawn
of day repaired to Bevis Marks where the beautiful Sally was already at her
post bearing in her looks a radiance mild as that which beameth from the
virgin moon
Mr Swiveller acknowledged her presence by a nod and exchanged his coat for
the aquatic jacket which usually took some time fitting on for in consequence
of a tightness in the sleeves it was only to be got into by a series of
struggles This difficulty overcome he took his seat at the desk
»I say« quoth Miss Brass abruptly breaking silence »you havent seen a
silver pencilcase this morning have you«
»I didnt meet many in the street« rejoined Mr Swiveller »I saw one a
stout pencilcase of respectable appearance but as he was in company with an
elderly penknife and a young toothpick with whom he was in earnest
conversation I felt a delicacy in speaking to him«
»No but have you« returned Miss Brass »Seriously you know«
»What a dull dog you must be to ask me such a question seriously« said Mr
Swiveller »Havent I this moment come«
»Well all I know is« replied Miss Sally »that its not to be found and
that it disappeared one day this week when I left it on the desk«
»Halloa« thought Richard »I hope the Marchioness hasnt been at work
here«
»There was a knife too« said Miss Sally »of the same pattern They were
given to me by my father years ago and are both gone You havent missed
anything yourself have you«
Mr Swiveller involuntarily clapped his hands to the jacket to be quite sure
that it was a jacket and not a skirted coat and having satisfied himself of the
safety of this his only moveable in Bevis Marks made answer in the negative
»Its a very unpleasant thing Dick« said Miss Brass pulling out the tin
box and refreshing herself with a pinch of snuff »but between you and me
between friends you know for if Sammy knew it I should never hear the last of
it some of the office money too that has been left about has gone in the
same way In particular I have missed three halfcrowns at three different
times«
»You dont mean that« cried Dick »Be careful what you say old boy for
this is a serious matter Are you quite sure Is there no mistake«
»It is so and there cant be any mistake at all« rejoined Miss Brass
emphatically
»Then by Jove« thought Richard laying down his pen »I am afraid the
Marchioness is done for«
The more he discussed the subject in his thoughts the more probable it
appeared to Dick that the miserable little servant was the culprit When he
considered on what a spare allowance of food she lived how neglected and
untaught she was and how her natural cunning had been sharpened by necessity
and privation he scarcely doubted it And yet he pitied her so much and felt
so unwilling to have a matter of such gravity disturbing the oddity of their
acquaintance that he thought and thought truly that rather than receive fifty
pounds down he would have the Marchioness proved innocent
While he was plunged in very profound and serious meditation upon this
theme Miss Sally sat shaking her head with an air of great mystery and doubt
when the voice of her brother Sampson carolling a cheerful strain was heard in
the passage and that gentleman himself beaming with virtuous smiles appeared
»Mr Richard sir good morning Here we are again sir entering upon
another day with our bodies strengthened by slumber and breakfast and our
spirits fresh and flowing Here we are Mr Richard rising with the sun to run
our little course our course of duty sir and like him to get through our
days work with credit to ourselves and advantage to our fellowcreatures A
charming reflection sir very charming«
While he addressed his clerk in these words Mr Brass was somewhat
ostentatiously engaged in minutely examining and holding up against the light a
fivepound banknote which he had brought in in his hand
Mr Richard not receiving his remarks with anything like enthusiasm his
employer turned his eyes to his face and observed that it wore a troubled
expression
»Youre out of spirits sir« said Brass »Mr Richard sir we should fall
to work cheerfully and not in a despondent state It becomes us Mr Richard
sir to «
Here the chaste Sarah heaved a loud sigh
»Dear me« said Mr Sampson »you too Is anything the matter Mr Richard
sir «
Dick glancing at Miss Sally saw that she was making signals to him to
acquaint her brother with the subject of their recent conversation As his own
position was not a very pleasant one until the matter was set at rest one way or
other he did so and Miss Brass plying her snuffbox at a most wasteful rate
corroborated his account
The countenance of Sampson fell and anxiety overspread his features
Instead of passionately bewailing the loss of his money as Miss Sally had
expected he walked on tiptoe to the door opened it looked outside shut it
softly returned on tiptoe and said in a whisper
»This is a most extraordinary and painful circumstance Mr Richard sir a
most painful circumstance The fact is that I myself have missed several small
sums from the desk of late and have refrained from mentioning it hoping that
accident would discover the offender but it has not done so it has not done
so Sally Mr Richard sir this is a particularly distressing affair«
As Sampson spoke he laid the banknote upon the desk among some papers in
an absent manner and thrust his hands into his pockets Richard Swiveller
pointed to it and admonished him to take it up
»No Mr Richard sir« rejoined Brass with emotion »I will not take it up
I will let it lie there sir To take it up Mr Richard sir would imply a
doubt of you and in you sir I have unlimited confidence We will let it lie
there sir if you please and we will not take it up by any means« With that
Mr Brass patted him twice or thrice on the shoulder in a most friendly manner
and entreated him to believe that he had as much faith in his honesty as he had
in his own
Although at another time Mr Swiveller might have looked upon this as a
doubtful compliment he felt it under the thenexisting circumstances a great
relief to be assured that he was not wrongfully suspected When he had made a
suitable reply Mr Brass wrung him by the hand and fell into a brown study as
did Miss Sally likewise Richard too remained in a thoughtful state fearing
every moment to hear the Marchioness impeached and unable to resist the
conviction that she must be guilty
When they had severally remained in this condition for some minutes Miss
Sally all at once gave a loud rap upon the desk with her clenched fist and
cried »Ive hit it« as indeed she had and chipped a piece out of it too
but that was not her meaning
»Well« cried Brass anxiously »Go on will you«
»Why« replied his sister with an air of triumph »hasnt there been
somebody always coming in and out of this office for the last three or four
weeks hasnt that somebody been left alone in it sometimes thanks to you and
do you mean to tell me that that somebody isnt the thief«
»What somebody« blustered Brass
»Why what do you call him Kit«
»Mr Garlands young man«
»To be sure«
»Never« cried Brass »Never Ill not hear of it Dont tell me « said
Sampson shaking his head and working with both his hands as if he were
clearing away ten thousand cobwebs »Ill never believe it of him Never«
»I say« repeated Miss Brass taking another pinch of snuff »that hes the
thief«
»I say« returned Sampson violently »that he is not What do you mean How
dare you Are characters to be whispered away like this Do you know that hes
the honestest and faithfullest fellow that ever lived and that he has an
irreproachable good name Come in come in«
These last words were not addressed to Miss Sally though they partook of
the tone in which the indignant remonstrances that preceded them had been
uttered They were addressed to some person who had knocked at the office door
and they had hardly passed the lips of Mr Brass when this very Kit himself
looked in
»Is the gentleman up stairs sir if you please«
»Yes Kit« said Brass still fired with an honest indignation and frowning
with knotted brows upon his sister »Yes Kit he is I am glad to see you Kit
I am rejoiced to see you Look in again as you come down stairs Kit That lad
a robber« cried Brass when he had withdrawn »with that frank and open
countenance Id trust him with untold gold Mr Richard sir have the goodness
to step directly to Wrasp and Cos in Broad Street and inquire if they have
had instructions to appear in Carkem and Painter That lad a robber« sneered
Sampson flushed and heated with his wrath »Am I blind deaf silly do I know
nothing of human nature when I see it before me Kit a robber Bah«
Flinging this final interjection at Miss Sally with immeasurable scorn and
contempt Sampson Brass thrust his head into his desk as if to shut the base
world from his view and breathed defiance from under its halfclosed lid
Chapter LIX
When Kit having discharged his errand came down stairs from the single
gentlemans apartment after the lapse of a quarter of an hour or so Mr Sampson
Brass was alone in the office He was not singing as usual nor was he seated at
his desk The open door showed him standing before the fire with his back
towards it and looking so very strange that Kit supposed he must have been
suddenly taken ill
»Is anything the matter sir« said Kit
»Matter« cried Brass »No Why anything the matter«
»You are so very pale« said Kit »that I should hardly have known you«
»Pooh pooh mere fancy« cried Brass stooping to throw up the cinders
»Never better Kit never better in all my life Merry too Ha ha Hows our
friend above stairs eh«
»A great deal better« said Kit
»Im glad to hear it« rejoined Brass »thankful I may say An excellent
gentleman worthy liberal generous gives very little trouble an admirable
lodger Ha ha Mr Garland hes well I hope Kit and the pony my friend
my particular friend you know Ha ha«
Kit gave a satisfactory account of all the little household at Abel Cottage
Mr Brass who seemed remarkably inattentive and impatient mounted on his
stool and beckoning him to come nearer took him by the buttonhole
»I have been thinking Kit« said the lawyer »that I could throw some
little emoluments in your mothers way You have a mother I think If I
recollect right you told me «
»Oh yes sir yes certainly«
»A widow I think an industrious widow«
»A harderworking woman or a better mother never lived sir«
»Ah« cried Brass »Thats affecting truly affecting A poor widow
struggling to maintain her orphans in decency and comfort is a delicious
picture of human goodness Put down your hat Kit«
»Thank you sir I must be going directly«
»Put it down while you stay at any rate« said Brass taking it from him
and making some confusion among the papers in finding a place for it on the
desk »I was thinking Kit that we have often houses to let for people we are
concerned for and matters of that sort Now you know were obliged to put
people into those houses to take care of em very often undeserving people
that we cant depend upon Whats to prevent our having a person that we can
depend upon and enjoying the delight of doing a good action at the same time I
say whats to prevent our employing this worthy woman your mother What with
one job and another theres lodging and good lodging too pretty well all
the year round rent free and a weekly allowance besides Kit that would
provide her with a great many comforts she dont at present enjoy Now what do
you think of that Do you see any objection My only desire is to serve you
Kit therefore if you do say so freely«
As Brass spoke he moved the hat twice or thrice and shuffled among the
papers again as if in search of something
»How can I see any objection to such a kind offer sir« replied Kit with
his whole heart »I dont know how to thank you sir I dont indeed«
»Why then« said Brass suddenly turning upon him and thrusting his face
close to Kits with such a repulsive smile that the latter even in the very
height of his gratitude drew back quite startled »Why then its done«
Kit looked at him in some confusion
»Done I say« added Sampson rubbing his hands and veiling himself again in
his usual oily manner »Ha ha and so you shall find Kit so you shall find
But dear me« said Brass »what a time Mr Richard is gone A sad loiterer to be
sure Will you mind the office one minute while I run up stairs Only one
minute Ill not detain you an instant longer on any account Kit«
Talking as he went Mr Brass bustled out of the office and in a very short
time returned Mr Swiveller came back almost at the same instant and as Kit
was leaving the room hastily to make up for lost time Miss Brass herself
encountered him in the doorway
»Oh« sneered Miss Sally looking after him as she entered »There goes your
pet Sammy eh«
»Ah There he goes« replied Brass »My pet if you please An honest
fellow Mr Richard sir a worthy fellow indeed«
»Hem« coughed Miss Brass
»I tell you you aggravating vagabond« said the angry Sampson »that Id
stake my life upon his honesty Am I never to hear the last of this Am I always
to be baited and beset by your mean suspicions Have you no regard for true
merit you malignant fellow If you come to that Id sooner suspect your
honesty than his«
Miss Sally pulled out the tin snuffbox and took a long slow pinch
regarding her brother with a steady gaze all the time
»She drives me wild Mr Richard sir« said Brass »she exasperates me
beyond all bearing I am heated and excited sir I know I am These are not
business manners sir nor business looks but she carries me out of myself«
»Why dont you leave him alone« said Dick
»Because she cant sir« retorted Brass »because to chafe and vex me is a
part of her nature sir and she will and must do it or I dont believe shed
have her health But never mind« said Brass »never mind Ive carried my
point Ive shown my confidence in the lad He has minded the office again Ha
ha Ugh you viper«
The beautiful virgin took another pinch and put the snuffbox in her
pocket still looking at her brother with perfect composure
»He has minded the office again« said Brass triumphantly »he has had my
confidence and he shall continue to have it he why wheres the «
»What have you lost« inquired Mr Swiveller
»Dear me« said Brass slapping all his pockets one after another and
looking into his desk and under it and upon it and wildly tossing the papers
about »the note Mr Richard sir the fivepound note what can have become of
it I laid it down here God bless me«
»What« cried Miss Sally starting up clapping her hands and scattering
the papers on the floor »Gone Now whos right Now whos got it Never mind
five pounds whats five pounds Hes honest you know quite honest It would
be mean to suspect him Dont run after him No no not for the world«
»Is it really gone though« said Dick looking at Brass with a face as pale
as his own
»Upon my word Mr Richard sir« replied the lawyer feeling in all his
pockets with looks of the greatest agitation »I fear this is a black business
Its certainly gone sir Whats to be done«
»Dont run after him« said Miss Sally taking more snuff »Dont run after
him on any account Give him time to get rid of it you know It would be cruel
to find him out«
Mr Swiveller and Sampson Brass looked from Miss Sally to each other in a
state of bewilderment and then as by one impulse caught up their hats and
rushed out into the street darting along in the middle of the road and
dashing aside all obstructions as though they were running for their lives
It happened that Kit had been running too though not so fast and having
the start of them by some few minutes was a good distance ahead As they were
pretty certain of the road he must have taken however and kept on at a great
pace they came up with him at the very moment when he had taken breath and
was breaking into a run again
»Stop« cried Sampson laying his hand on one shoulder while Mr Swiveller
pounced upon the other »Not so fast sir Youre in a hurry«
»Yes I am« said Kit looking from one to the other in great surprise
»I I can hardly believe it« panted Sampson »but something of value is
missing from the office I hope you dont know what«
»Know what good Heaven Mr Brass« cried Kit trembling from head to foot
»you dont suppose «
»No no« rejoined Brass quickly »I dont suppose anything Dont say I
said you did Youll come back quietly I hope«
»Of course I will« returned Kit »Why not«
»To be sure« said Brass »Why not I hope there may turn out to be no why
not If you knew the trouble Ive been in this morning through taking your
part Christopher youd be sorry for it«
»And I am sure youll be sorry for having suspected me sir« replied Kit
»Come Let us make haste back«
»Certainly« cried Brass »the quicker the better Mr Richard have the
goodness sir to take that arm Ill take this one Its not easy walking three
abreast but under these circumstances it must be done sir theres no help for
it«
Kit did turn from white to red and from red to white again when they
secured him thus and for a moment seemed disposed to resist But quickly
recollecting himself and remembering that if he made any struggle he would
perhaps be dragged by the collar through the public streets he only repeated
with great earnestness and with the tears standing in his eyes that they would
be sorry for this and suffered them to lead him off While they were on the
way back Mr Swiveller upon whom his present functions sat very irksomely
took an opportunity of whispering in his ear that if he would confess his guilt
even by so much as a nod and promise not to do so any more he would connive at
his kicking Sampson Brass on the shins and escaping up a court but Kit
indignantly rejecting this proposal Mr Richard had nothing for it but to hold
him tight until they reached Bevis Marks and ushered him into the presence of
the charming Sarah who immediately took the precaution of locking the door
»Now you know« said Brass »if this is a case of innocence it is a case
of that description Christopher where the fullest disclosure is the best
satisfaction for everybody Therefore if youll consent to an examination« he
demonstrated what kind of examination he meant by turning back the cuffs of his
coat »it will be a comfortable and pleasant thing for all parties«
»Search me« said Kit proudly holding up his arms »But mind sir I know
youll be sorry for this to the last day of your life«
»It is certainly a very painful occurrence« said Brass with a sigh as he
dived into one of Kits pockets and fished up a miscellaneous collection of
small articles »very painful Nothing here Mr Richard sir all perfectly
satisfactory Nor here sir Nor in the waistcoat Mr Richard nor in the coat
tails So far I am rejoiced I am sure«
Richard Swiveller holding Kits hat in his hand was watching the
proceedings with great interest and bore upon his face the slightest possible
indication of a smile as Brass shutting one of his eyes looked with the other
up the inside of one of the poor fellows sleeves as if it were a telescope
when Sampson turning hastily to him bade him search his hat
»Heres a handkerchief« said Dick
»No harm in that sir« rejoined Brass applying his eye to the other
sleeve and speaking in the voice of one who was contemplating an immense extent
of prospect »No harm in a handkerchief sir whatever The faculty dont
consider it a healthy custom I believe Mr Richard to carry ones
handkerchief in ones hat I have heard that it keeps the head too warm but
in every other point of view its being there is extremely satisfactory
extremely so«
An exclamation at once from Richard Swiveller Miss Sally and Kit himself
cut the lawyer short He turned his head and saw Dick standing with the
banknote in his hand
»In the hat« cried Brass in a sort of shriek
»Under the handkerchief and tucked beneath the lining« said Dick aghast
at the discovery
Mr Brass looked at him at his sister at the walls at the ceiling at the
floor everywhere but at Kit who stood quite stupefied and motionless
»And this« cried Sampson clasping his hands »is the world that turns upon
its own axis and has Lunar influences and revolutions round Heavenly Bodies
and various games of that sort This is human natur is it Oh natur natur
This is the miscreant that I was going to benefit with all my little arts and
that even now I feel so much for as to wish to let him go But« added Mr
Brass with greater fortitude »I am myself a lawyer and bound to set an example
in carrying the laws of my happy country into effect Sally my dear forgive me
and catch hold of him on the other side Mr Richard sir have the goodness to
run and fetch a constable The weakness is past and over sir and moral
strength returns A constable sir if you please«
Chapter LX
Kit stood as one entranced with his eyes opened wide and fixed upon the ground
regardless alike of the tremulous hold which Mr Brass maintained on one side of
his cravat and of the firmer grasp of Miss Sally upon the other although this
latter detention was in itself no small inconvenience as that fascinating
woman besides screwing her knuckles inconveniently into his throat from time to
time had fastened upon him in the first instance with so tight a grip that even
in the disorder and distraction of his thoughts he could not divest himself of
an uneasy sense of choking Between the brother and sister he remained in this
posture quite unresisting and passive until Mr Swiveller returned with a
police constable at his heels
This functionary being of course well used to such scenes looking upon
all kinds of robbery from petty larceny up to housebreaking or ventures on the
highway as matters in the regular course of business and regarding the
perpetrators in the light of so many customers coming to be served at the
wholesale and retail shop of criminal law where he stood behind the counter
received Mr Brasss statement of facts with about as much interest and
surprise as an undertaker might evince if required to listen to a
circumstantial account of the last illness of a person whom he was called in to
wait upon professionally and took Kit into custody with a decent indifference
»We had better« said this subordinate minister of justice »get to the
office while theres a magistrate sitting I shall want you to come along with
us Mr Brass and the « he looked at Miss Sally as if in some doubt whether
she might not be a griffin or other fabulous monster
»The lady eh« said Sampson
»Ah« replied the constable »Yes the lady Likewise the young man that
found the property«
»Mr Richard sir« said Brass in a mournful voice »A sad necessity But the
altar of our country sir «
»Youll have a hackneycoach I suppose« interrupted the constable holding
Kit whom his other captors had released carelessly by the arm a little above
the elbow »Be so good as send for one will you«
»But hear me speak a word« cried Kit raising his eyes and looking
imploringly about him »Hear me speak a word I am no more guilty than any one
of you Upon my soul I am not I a thief Oh Mr Brass you know me better I
am sure you know me better This is not right of you indeed«
»I give you my word constable « said Brass But here the constable
interposed with the constitutional principle »words be blowed« observing that
words were but spoonmeat for babes and sucklings and that oaths were the food
for strong men
»Quite true constable« assented Brass in the same mournful tone »Strictly
correct I give you my oath constable that down to a few minutes ago when
this fatal discovery was made I had such confidence in that lad that Id have
trusted him with a hackneycoach Mr Richard sir youre very slow sir«
»Who is there that knows me« cried Kit »that would not trust me that
does not ask anybody whether they have ever doubted me whether I have ever
wronged them of a farthing Was I ever once dishonest when I was poor and
hungry and is it likely I would begin now Oh consider what you do How can I
meet the kindest friends that ever human creature had with this dreadful charge
upon me«
Mr Brass rejoined that it would have been well for the prisoner if he had
thought of that before and was about to make some other gloomy observations
when the voice of the single gentleman was heard demanding from above stairs
what was the matter and what was the cause of all that noise and hurry Kit
made an involuntary start towards the door in his anxiety to answer for himself
but being speedily detained by the constable had the agony of seeing Sampson
Brass run out alone to tell the story in his own way
»And he can hardly believe it either« said Sampson when he returned »nor
nobody will I wish I could doubt the evidence of my senses but their
depositions are unimpeachable Its of no use crossexamining my eyes« cried
Sampson winking and rubbing them »they stick to their first account and will
Now Sarah I hear the coach in the Marks get on your bonnet and well be off
A sad errand a moral funeral quite«
»Mr Brass« said Kit »do me one favour Take me to Mr Witherdens first«
Sampson shook his head irresolutely
»Do« said Kit »My masters there For Heavens sake take me there
first«
»Well I dont know« stammered Brass who perhaps had his reasons for
wishing to show as fair as possible in the eyes of the notary »How do we stand
in point of time constable eh«
The constable who had been chewing a straw all this while with great
philosophy replied that if they went away at once they would have time enough
but that if they stood shillyshallying there any longer they must go straight
to the Mansion House and finally expressed his opinion that that was where it
was and that was all about it
Mr Richard Swiveller having arrived inside the coach and still remaining
immoveable in the most commodious corner with his face to the horses Mr Brass
instructed the officer to remove his prisoner and declared himself quite ready
Therefore the constable still holding Kit in the same manner and pushing him
on a little before him so as to keep him at about threequarters of an arms
length in advance which is the professional mode thrust him into the vehicle
and followed himself Miss Sally entered next and there being now four inside
Sampson Brass got upon the box and made the coachman drive on
Still completely stunned by the sudden and terrible change which had taken
place in his affairs Kit sat gazing out of the coach window almost hoping to
see some monstrous phenomenon in the streets which might give him reason to
believe he was in a dream Alas Everything was too real and familiar the same
succession of turnings the same houses the same streams of people running side
by side in different directions upon the pavement the same bustle of carts and
carriages in the road the same wellremembered objects in the shop windows a
regularity in the very noise and hurry which no dream ever mirrored Dreamlike
as the story was it was true He stood charged with robbery the note had been
found upon him though he was innocent in thought and deed and they were
carrying him back a prisoner
Absorbed in these painful ruminations thinking with a drooping heart of his
mother and little Jacob feeling as though even the consciousness of innocence
would be insufficient to support him in the presence of his friends if they
believed him guilty and sinking in hope and courage more and more as they drew
nearer to the notarys poor Kit was looking earnestly out of the window
observant of nothing when all at once as though it had been conjured up by
magic he became aware of the face of Quilp
And what a leer there was upon the face It was from the open window of a
tavern that it looked out and the dwarf had so spread himself over it with his
elbows on the windowsill and his head resting on both his hands that what
between this attitude and his being swoln with suppressed laughter he looked
puffed and bloated into twice his usual breadth Mr Brass on recognising him
immediately stopped the coach As it came to a halt directly opposite to where
he stood the dwarf pulled off his hat and saluted the party with a hideous and
grotesque politeness
»Aha« he cried »Where now Brass where now Sally with you too Sweet
Sally And Dick Pleasant Dick And Kit Honest Kit«
»Hes extremely cheerful« said Brass to the coachman »Very much so Ah
sir a sad business Never believe in honesty any more sir«
»Why not« returned the dwarf »Why not you rogue of a lawyer why not«
»Banknote lost in our office sir« said Brass shaking his head »Found in
his hat sir he previously left alone there no mistake at all sir chain
of evidence complete not a link wanting«
»What« cried the dwarf leaning half his body out of window »Kit a thief
Kit a thief Ha ha ha Why hes an uglierlooking thief than can be seen
anywhere for a penny Eh Kit eh Ha ha ha Have you taken Kit into custody
before he had time and opportunity to beat me Eh Kit eh« And with that he
burst into a yell of laughter manifestly to the great terror of the coachman
and pointed to a dyers pole hard by where a dangling suit of clothes bore some
resemblance to a man upon a gibbet
»Is it coming to that Kit« cried the dwarf rubbing his hands violently
»Ha ha ha ha What a disappointment for little Jacob and for his darling
mother Let him have the Bethel minister to comfort and console him Brass Eh
Kit eh Drive on coachey drive on Bye bye Kit all good go with you keep
up your spirits my love to the Garlands the dear old lady and gentleman Say
I inquired after em will you Blessings on em on you and on everybody Kit
Blessings on all the world«
With such good wishes and farewells poured out in a rapid torrent until
they were out of hearing Quilp suffered them to depart and when he could see
the coach no longer drew in his head and rolled upon the ground in an ecstasy
of enjoyment
When they reached the notarys which they were not long in doing for they
had encountered the dwarf in a bye street at a very little distance from the
house Mr Brass dismounted and opening the coach door with a melancholy
visage requested his sister to accompany him into the office with the view of
preparing the good people within for the mournful intelligence that awaited
them Miss Sally complying he desired Mr Swiveller to accompany them So into
the office they went Mr Sampson and his sister arminarm and Mr Swiveller
following alone
The notary was standing before the fire in the outer office talking to Mr
Abel and the elder Mr Garland while Mr Chuckster sat writing at the desk
picking up such crumbs of their conversation as happened to fall in his way
This posture of affairs Mr Brass observed through the glass door as he was
turning the handle and seeing that the notary recognised him he began to shake
his head and sigh deeply while that partition yet divided them
»Sir« said Sampson taking off his hat and kissing the two forefingers of
his righthand beaver glove »my name is Brass Brass of Bevis Marks sir I
have had the honour and pleasure sir of being concerned against you in some
little testamentary matters How do you do sir«
»My clerk will attend to any business you may have come upon Mr Brass«
said the notary turning away
»Thank you sir« said Brass »thank you I am sure Allow me sir to
introduce my sister quite one of us sir although of the weaker sex of
great use in my business sir I assure you Mr Richard sir have the goodness
to come forward if you please No really« said Brass stepping between the
notary and his private office towards which he had begun to retreat and
speaking in the tone of an injured man »really sir I must under favour
request a word or two with you indeed«
»Mr Brass« said the other in a decided tone »I am engaged You see that
I am occupied with these gentlemen If you will communicate your business to Mr
Chuckster yonder you will receive every attention«
»Gentlemen« said Brass laying his right hand on his waistcoat and looking
towards the father and son with a smooth smile »Gentlemen I appeal to you
really gentlemen consider I beg of you I am of the law I am styled
gentleman by Act of Parliament I maintain the title by the annual payment of
twelve pound sterling for a certificate I am not one of your players of music
stage actors writers of books or painters of pictures who assume a station
that the laws of their country dont recognise I am none of your strollers or
vagabonds If any man brings his action against me he must describe me as a
gentleman or his action is null and void I appeal to you is this quite
respectful Really gentlemen «
»Well will you have the goodness to state your business then Mr Brass«
said the notary
»Sir« rejoined Brass »I will Ah Mr Witherden you little know the but
I will not be tempted to travel from the point sir I believe the name of one
of these gentlemen is Garland«
»Of both« said the notary
»Indeed« rejoined Brass cringing excessively »But I might have known
that from the uncommon likeness Extremely happy I am sure to have the honour
of an introduction to two such gentlemen although the occasion is a most
painful one One of you gentlemen has a servant called Kit«
»Both« replied the notary
»Two Kits« said Brass smiling »Dear me«
»One Kit sir« returned Mr Witherden angrily »who is employed by both
gentlemen What of him«
»This of him sir« rejoined Brass dropping his voice impressively »That
young man sir that I have felt unbounded and unlimited confidence in and
always behaved to as if he was my equal that young man has this morning
committed a robbery in my office and been taken almost in the fact«
»This must be some falsehood« cried the notary
»It is not possible« said Mr Abel
»Ill not believe one word of it« exclaimed the old gentleman
Mr Brass looked mildly round upon them and rejoined
»Mr Witherden sir your words are actionable and if I was a man of low and
mean standing who couldnt afford to be slandered I should proceed for
damages Howsever sir being what I am I merely scorn such expressions The
honest warmth of the other gentleman I respect and Im truly sorry to be the
messenger of such unpleasant news I shouldnt have put myself in this painful
position I assure you but that the lad himself desired to be brought here in
the first instance, and I yielded to his prayers Mr Chuckster sir will you
have the goodness to tap at the window for the constable thats waiting in the
coach«
The three gentlemen looked at each other with blank faces when these words
were uttered and Mr Chuckster doing as he was desired and leaping off his
stool with something of the excitement of an inspired prophet whose foretellings
had in the fulness of time been realised held the door open for the entrance of
the wretched captive
Such a scene as there was when Kit came in and bursting into the rude
eloquence with which Truth at length inspired him called Heaven to witness that
he was innocent and that how the property came to be found upon him he knew
not Such a confusion of tongues before the circumstances were related and the
proofs disclosed Such a dead silence when all was told and his three friends
exchanged looks of doubt and amazement
»Is it not possible« said Mr Witherden after a long pause »that this
note may have found its way into the hat by some accident such as the removal
of papers on the desk for instance«
But this was clearly shown to be quite impossible Mr Swiveller though an
unwilling witness could not help proving to demonstration from the position in
which it was found that it must have been designedly secreted
»Its very distressing« said Brass »immensely distressing I am sure When
he comes to be tried I shall be very happy to recommend him to mercy on account
of his previous good character I did lose money before certainly but it
doesnt quite follow that he took it The presumptions against him strongly
against him but were Christians I hope«
»I suppose« said the constable looking round »that no gentleman here can
give evidence as to whether hes been flush of money of late Do you happen to
know sir«
»He has had money from time to time certainly« returned Mr Garland to
whom the man had put the question »But that as he always told me was given
him by Mr Brass himself«
»Yes to be sure« said Kit eagerly »You can bear me out in that sir«
»Eh« cried Brass looking from face to face with an expression of stupid
amazement
»The money you know the halfcrowns that you gave me from the lodger«
said Kit
»Oh dear me« cried Brass shaking his head and frowning heavily »This is a
bad case I find a very bad case indeed«
»What Did you give him no money on account of anybody sir« asked Mr
Garland with great anxiety
»I give him money sir« returned Sampson »Oh come you know this is too
barefaced Constable my good fellow we had better be going«
»What« shrieked Kit »Does he deny that he did ask him somebody pray
Ask him to tell you whether he did or not«
»Did you sir« asked the notary
»I tell you what gentlemen« replied Brass in a very grave manner »hell
not serve his case this way and really if you feel any interest in him you
had better advise him to go upon some other tack Did I sir Of course I never
did«
»Gentlemen« cried Kit on whom a light broke suddenly »Master Mr Abel
Mr Witherden every one of you he did it What I have done to offend him I
dont know but this is a plot to ruin me Mind gentlemen its a plot and
whatever comes of it I will say with my dying breath that he put that note in
my hat himself Look at him gentlemen see how he changes colour Which of us
looks the guilty person he or I«
»You hear him gentlemen« said Brass smiling »you hear him Now does
this case strike you as assuming rather a black complexion or does it not Is
it at all a treacherous case do you think or is it one of mere ordinary guilt
Perhaps gentlemen if he had not said this in your presence and I had reported
it youd have held this to be impossible likewise eh«
With such pacific and bantering remarks did Mr Brass refute the foul
aspersion on his character but the virtuous Sarah moved by stronger feelings
and having at heart perhaps a more jealous regard for the honour of her
family flew from her brothers side without any previous intimation of her
design and darted at the prisoner with the utmost fury It would undoubtedly
have gone hard with Kits face but that the wary constable foreseeing her
design drew him aside at the critical moment and thus placed Mr Chuckster in
circumstances of some jeopardy for that gentleman happening to be next the
object of Miss Brasss wrath and rage being like love and fortune blind was
pounced upon by the fair enslaver and had a false collar plucked up by the
roots and his hair very much dishevelled before the exertions of the company
could make her sensible of her mistake
The constable taking warning by this desperate attack and thinking perhaps
that it would be more satisfactory to the ends of justice if the prisoner were
taken before a magistrate whole rather than in small pieces led him back to
the hackneycoach without more ado and moreover insisted on Miss Brass becoming
an outside passenger to which proposal the charming creature after a little
angry discussion yielded her consent and so took her brother Sampsons place
upon the box Mr Brass with some reluctance agreeing to occupy her seat inside
These arrangements perfected they drove to the justiceroom with all speed
followed by the notary and his two friends in another coach Mr Chuckster alone
was left behind greatly to his indignation for he held the evidence he could
have given relative to Kits returning to work out the shilling to be so very
material as bearing upon his hypocritical and designing character that he
considered its suppression little better than a compromise of felony
At the justiceroom they found the single gentleman who had gone straight
there and was expecting them with desperate impatience But not fifty single
gentlemen rolled into one could have helped poor Kit who in half an hour
afterwards was committed for trial and was assured by a friendly officer on his
way to prison that there was no occasion to be cast down for the sessions would
soon be on and he would in all likelihood get his little affair disposed of
and be comfortably transported in less than a fortnight
Chapter LXI
Let moralists and philosophers say what they may it is very questionable
whether a guilty man would have felt half as much misery that night as Kit did
being innocent The world being in the constant commission of vast quantities
of injustice is a little too apt to comfort itself with the idea that if the
victim of its falsehood and malice have a clear conscience he cannot fail to be
sustained under his trials and somehow or other to come right at last »in
which case« say they who have hunted him down » though we certainly dont
expect it nobody will be better pleased than we« Whereas the world would do
well to reflect that injustice is in itself, to every generous and properly
constituted mind an injury of all others the most insufferable the most
torturing and the most hard to bear and that many clear consciences have gone
to their account elsewhere and many sound hearts have broken because of this
very reason the knowledge of their own deserts only aggravating their
sufferings and rendering them the less endurable
The world however was not in fault in Kits case But Kit was innocent
and knowing this and feeling that his best friends deemed him guilty that Mr
and Mrs Garland would look upon him as a monster of ingratitude that Barbara
would associate him with all that was bad and criminal that the pony would
consider himself forsaken and that even his own mother might perhaps yield to
the strong appearances against him and believe him to be the wretch he seemed
knowing and feeling all this he experienced at first an agony of mind which
no words can describe and walked up and down the little cell in which he was
locked up for the night almost beside himself with grief
Even when the violence of these emotions had in some degree subsided and he
was beginning to grow more calm there came into his mind a new thought the
anguish of which was scarcely less The child the bright star of the simple
fellows life she who always came back upon him like a beautiful dream who
had made the poorest part of his existence the happiest and best who had ever
been so gentle and considerate and good if she were ever to hear of this
what would she think As this idea occurred to him the walls of the prison
seemed to melt away and the old place to reveal itself in their stead as it
was wont to be on winter nights the fireside the little supper table the old
mans hat and coat and stick the halfopened door leading to her little
room they were all there And Nell herself was there and he both laughing
heartily as they had often done and when he had got as far as this Kit could
go no farther but flung himself upon his poor bedstead and wept
It was a long night which seemed as though it would have no end but he
slept too and dreamed always of being at liberty and roving about now with
one person and now with another but ever with a vague dread of being recalled
to prison not that prison but one which was in itself a dim idea not of a
place but of a care and sorrow of something oppressive and always present and
yet impossible to define At last the morning dawned and there was the jail
itself cold black and dreary and very real indeed
He was left to himself however and there was comfort in that He had
liberty to walk in a small paved yard at a certain hour and learnt from the
turnkey who came to unlock his cell and show him where to wash that there was
a regular time for visiting every day and that if any of his friends came to
see him he would be fetched down to the grate When he had given him this
information and a tin porringer containing his breakfast the man locked him up
again and went clattering along the stone passage opening and shutting a great
many other doors and raising numberless loud echoes which resounded through the
building for a long time as if they were in prison too and unable to get out
This turnkey had given him to understand that he was lodged like some few
others in the jail apart from the mass of prisoners because he was not
supposed to be utterly depraved and irreclaimable and had never occupied
apartments in that mansion before Kit was thankful for this indulgence and sat
reading the church catechism very attentively though he had known it by heart
from a little child until he heard the key in the lock and the man entered
again
»Now then« he said »come on«
»Where to sir« asked Kit
The man contented himself by briefly replying Wisitors and taking him by
the arm in exactly the same manner as the constable had done the day before led
him through several winding ways and strong gates into a passage where he
placed him at a grating and turned upon his heel Beyond this grating at the
distance of about four or five feet was another exactly like it In the space
between sat a turnkey reading a newspaper and outside the further railing Kit
saw with a palpitating heart his mother with the baby in her arms Barbaras
mother with her neverfailing umbrella and poor little Jacob staring in with
all his might as though he were looking for the bird or the wild beast and
thought the men were mere accidents with whom the bars could have no possible
concern
But when little Jacob saw his brother and thrusting his arms between the
rails to hug him found that he came no nearer but still stood afar off with
his head resting on the arm by which he held to one of the bars he began to cry
most piteously whereupon Kits mother and Barbaras mother who had restrained
themselves as much as possible burst out sobbing and weeping afresh Poor Kit
could not help joining them and not one of them could speak a word
During this melancholy pause the turnkey read his newspaper with a waggish
look he had evidently got among the facetious paragraphs until happening to
take his eyes off for an instant as if to get by dint of contemplation at the
very marrow of some joke of a deeper sort than the rest it appeared to occur to
him for the first time that somebody was crying
»Now ladies ladies« he said looking round with surprise »Id advise you
not to waste time like this Its allowanced here you know You mustnt let
that child make that noise either Its against all rules«
»Im his poor mother sir« sobbed Mrs Nubbles curtseying humbly »and
this is his brother sir Oh dear me dear me«
»Well« replied the turnkey folding his paper on his knee so as to get
with greater convenience at the top of the next column »It cant be helped you
know He aint the only one in the same fix You mustnt make a noise about it«
With that he went on reading The man was not unnaturally cruel or
hardhearted He had come to look upon felony as a kind of disorder like the
scarlet fever or erysipelas some people had it some hadnt just as it might
be
»Oh my darling Kit« said his mother whom Barbaras mother had charitably
relieved of the baby »that I should see my poor boy here«
»You dont believe that I did what they accused me of mother dear« cried
Kit in a choking voice
»I believe it« exclaimed the poor woman »I that never knew you tell a lie
or do a bad action from your cradle that have never had a moments sorrow on
your account except it was for the poor meals that you have taken with such
good humour and content that I forgot how little there was when I thought how
kind and thoughtful you were though you were but a child I believe it of the
son thats been a comfort to me from the hour of his birth until this time and
that I never laid down one night in anger with I believe it of you Kit «
»Why then thank God« said Kit clutching the bars with an earnestness that
shook them »and I can bear it mother Come what may I shall always have one
drop of happiness in my heart when I think that you said that«
At this the poor woman fell acrying again and Barbaras mother too And
little Jacob whose disjointed thoughts had by this time resolved themselves
into a pretty distinct impression that Kit couldnt go out for a walk if he
wanted and that there were no birds lions tigers or other natural
curiosities behind those bars nothing indeed but a caged brother added his
tears to theirs with as little noise as possible
Kits mother drying her eyes and moistening them poor soul more than she
dried them now took from the ground a small basket and submissively addressed
herself to the turnkey saying would he please to listen to her for a minute
The turnkey being in the very crisis and passion of a joke motioned to her
with his hand to keep silent one minute longer for her life Nor did he remove
his hand into its former posture but kept it in the same warning attitude until
he had finished the paragraph when he paused for a few seconds with a smile
upon his face as who should say »this editor is a comical blade a funny dog«
and then asked her what she wanted
»I have brought him a little something to eat« said the good woman »If you
please sir might he have it«
»Yes he may have it Theres no rule against that Give it to me when you
go and Ill take care he has it«
»No but if you please sir dont be angry with me sir I am his mother
and you had a mother once if I might only see him eat a little bit I should
go away so much more satisfied that he was all comfortable«
And again the tears of Kits mother burst forth and of Barbaras mother
and of little Jacob As to the baby it was crowing and laughing with all its
might under the idea apparently that the whole scene had been invented and
got up for its particular satisfaction
The turnkey looked as if he thought the request a strange one and rather out
of the common way but nevertheless he laid down his paper and coming round to
where Kits mother stood took the basket from her and after inspecting its
contents handed it to Kit and went back to his place It may be easily
conceived that the prisoner had no great appetite but he sat down on the
ground and ate as hard as he could while at every morsel he put into his
mouth his mother sobbed and wept afresh though with a softened grief that
bespoke the satisfaction the sight afforded her
While he was thus engaged Kit made some anxious inquiries about his
employers and whether they had expressed any opinion concerning him but all he
could learn was that Mr Abel had himself broken the intelligence to his mother
with great kindness and delicacy late on the previous night but had himself
expressed no opinion of his innocence or guilt Kit was on the point of
mustering courage to ask Barbaras mother about Barbara when the turnkey who
had conducted him reappeared a second turnkey appeared behind his visitors
and the third turnkey with the newspaper cried »Times up« adding in the same
breath »Now for the next party« and then plunging deep into his newspaper
again Kit was taken off in an instant with a blessing from his mother and a
scream from little Jacob ringing in his ears As he was crossing the next yard
with the basket in his hand under the guidance of his former conductor another
officer called to them to stop and came up with a pint pot of porter in his
hand
»This is Christopher Nubbles isnt it that come in last night for felony«
said the man
His comrade replied that this was the chicken in question »Then heres your
beer« said the other man to Christopher »What are you looking at There ant a
discharge in it«
»I beg your pardon« said Kit »Who sent it me«
»Why your friend« replied the man »Youre to have it every day he says
And so you will if he pays for it«
»My friend« repeated Kit
»Youre all abroad seemingly« returned the other man »Theres his letter
Take hold«
Kit took it and when he was locked up again read as follows
»Drink of this cup youll find theres a spell in its every drop gainst
the ills of mortality Talk of the cordial that sparkled for Helen Her cup was
a fiction but this is reality Barclay and Cos If they ever send it in a
flat state complain to the Governor Yours R S«
»R S« said Kit after some consideration »It must be Mr Richard
Swiveller Well its very kind of him and I thank him heartily«
Chapter LXII
A faint light twinkling from the window of the countinghouse on Quilps wharf
and looking inflamed and red through the nightfog as though it suffered from
it like an eye forewarned Mr Sampson Brass as he approached the wooden cabin
with a cautious step that the excellent proprietor his esteemed client was
inside and probably waiting with his accustomed patience and sweetness of
temper the fulfilment of the appointment which now brought Mr Brass within his
fair domain
»A treacherous place to pick ones steps in of a dark night« muttered
Sampson as he stumbled for the twentieth time over some stray lumber and
limped in pain »I believe that boy strews the ground differently every day on
purpose to bruise and maim one unless his master does it with his own hands
which is more than likely I hate to come to this place without Sally Shes
more protection than a dozen men«
As he paid this compliment to the merit of the absent charmer Mr Brass
came to a halt looking doubtfully towards the light and over his shoulder
»Whats he about I wonder« murmured the lawyer standing on tiptoe and
endeavouring to obtain a glimpse of what was passing inside which at that
distance was impossible »drinking I suppose making himself more fiery and
furious and heating his malice and mischievousness till they boil Im always
afraid to come here by myself when his accounts a pretty large one I dont
believe hed mind throttling me and dropping me softly into the river when the
tide was at its strongest any more than hed mind killing a rat indeed I
dont know whether he wouldnt consider it a pleasant joke Hark Now hes
singing«
Mr Quilp was certainly entertaining himself with vocal exercise but it was
rather a kind of chant than a song being a monotonous repetition of one
sentence in a very rapid manner with a long stress upon the last word which he
swelled into a dismal roar Nor did the burden of this performance bear any
reference to love or war or wine or loyalty or any other of the standard
topics of song but to a subject not often set to music or generally known in
ballads the words being these »The worthy magistrate after remarking that
the prisoner would find some difficulty in persuading a jury to believe his
tale committed him to take his trial at the approaching sessions and directed
the customary recognisances to be entered into for the prosecution«
Every time he came to this concluding word and had exhausted all possible
stress upon it Quilp burst into a shriek of laughter and began again
»Hes dreadfully imprudent« muttered Brass after he had listened to two or
three repetitions of the chant »Horribly imprudent I wish he was dumb I wish
he was deaf I wish he was blind Hang him« cried Brass as the chant began
again »I wish he was dead«
Giving utterance to these friendly aspirations in behalf of his client Mr
Sampson composed his face into its usual state of smoothness and waiting until
the shriek came again and was dying away went up to the wooden house and
knocked at the door
»Come in« cried the dwarf
»How do you do tonight sir« said Sampson peeping in »Ha ha ha How do
you do sir Oh dear me how very whimsical Amazingly whimsical to be sure«
»Come in you fool« returned the dwarf »and dont stand there shaking your
head and showing your teeth Come in you false witness you perjurer you
suborner of evidence come in«
»He has the richest humour« cried Brass shutting the door behind him »the
most amazing vein of comicality But isnt it rather injudicious sir «
»What« demanded Quilp »What Judas«
»Judas« cried Brass »He has such extraordinary spirits His humour is so
extremely playful Judas Oh yes dear me how very good Ha ha ha«
All this time Sampson was rubbing his hands and staring with ludicrous
surprise and dismay at a great goggleeyed bluntnosed figurehead of some
old ship which was reared up against the wall in a corner near the stove
looking like a goblin or hideous idol whom the dwarf worshipped A mass of
timber on its head carved into the dim and distant semblance of a cocked hat
together with a representation of a star on the left breast and epaulettes on
the shoulders denoted that it was intended for the effigy of some famous
admiral but without those helps any observer might have supposed it the
authentic portrait of a distinguished merman or great seamonster Being
originally much too large for the apartment which it was now employed to
decorate it had been sawn short off at the waist Even in this state it reached
from floor to ceiling and thrusting itself forward with that excessively
wideawake aspect and air of somewhat obtrusive politeness by which
figureheads are usually characterised seemed to reduce everything else to mere
pigmy proportions
»Do you know it« said the dwarf watching Sampsons eyes »Do you see the
likeness«
»Eh« said Brass holding his head on one side and throwing it a little
back as connoisseurs do »Now I look at it again I fancy I see a yes there
certainly is something in the smile that reminds me of and yet upon my word I
«
Now the fact was that Sampson having never seen anything in the smallest
degree resembling this substantial phantom was much perplexed being uncertain
whether Mr Quilp considered it like himself and had therefore bought it for a
family portrait or whether he was pleased to consider it as the likeness of
some enemy He was not very long in doubt for while he was surveying it with
that knowing look which people assume when they are contemplating for the first
time portraits which they ought to recognise but dont the dwarf threw down the
newspaper from which he had been chanting the words already quoted and seizing
a rusty iron bar which he used in lieu of poker dealt the figure such a stroke
on the nose that it rocked again
»Is it like Kit is it his picture his image his very self« cried the
dwarf aiming a shower of blows at the insensible countenance and covering it
with deep dimples »Is it the exact model and counterpart of the dog is it
is it is it« And with every repetition of the question he battered the great
image until the perspiration streamed down his face with the violence of the
exercise
Although this might have been a very comical thing to look at from a secure
gallery as a bullfight is found to be a comfortable spectacle by those who are
not in the arena and a house on fire is better than a play to people who dont
live near it there was something in the earnestness of Mr Quilps manner which
made his legal adviser feel that the countinghouse was a little too small and
a deal too lonely for the complete enjoyment of these humours Therefore he
stood as far off as he could while the dwarf was thus engaged whimpering out
but feeble applause and when Quilp left off and sat down again from pure
exhaustion approached with more obsequiousness than ever
»Excellent indeed« cried Brass »He he Oh very good sir You know« said
Sampson looking round as if in appeal to the bruised admiral »hes quite a
remarkable man quite«
»Sit down« said the dwarf »I bought the dog yesterday Ive been screwing
gimlets into him and sticking forks in his eyes and cutting my name on him I
mean to burn him at last«
»Ha ha« cried Brass »Extremely entertaining indeed«
»Come here« said Quilp beckoning him to draw near »Whats injudicious
hey«
»Nothing sir nothing Scarcely worth mentioning sir but I thought that
song admirably humorous in itself you know was perhaps rather «
»Yes« said Quilp »rather what«
»Just bordering or as one may say remotely verging upon the confines of
injudiciousness perhaps sir« returned Brass looking timidly at the dwarfs
cunning eyes which were turned towards the fire and reflected its red light
»Why« inquired Quilp without looking up
»Why you know sir« returned Brass venturing to be more familiar » the
fact is sir that any allusion to these little combinings together of friends
for objects in themselves extremely laudable but which the law terms
conspiracies are you take me sir best kept snug and among friends you
know«
»Eh« said Quilp looking up with a perfectly vacant countenance »What do
you mean«
»Cautious exceedingly cautious very right and proper« cried Brass
nodding his head »Mum sir even here my meaning sir exactly«
»Your meaning exactly you brazen scarecrow whats your meaning«
retorted Quilp »Why do you talk to me of combining together Do I combine Do I
know anything about your combinings«
»No no sir certainly not not by any means« returned Brass
»If you so wink and nod at me« said the dwarf looking about him as if for
his poker »Ill spoil the expression of your monkeys face I will«
»Dont put yourself out of the way I beg sir« rejoined Brass checking
himself with great alacrity »Youre quite right sir quite right I shouldnt
have mentioned the subject sir Its much better not to Youre quite right
sir Let us change it if you please You were asking sir Sally told me about
our lodger He has not returned sir«
»No« said Quilp heating some rum in a little saucepan and watching it to
prevent its boiling over »Why not«
»Why sir« returned Brass »he dear me Mr Quilp sir «
»Whats the matter« said the dwarf stopping his hand in the act of
carrying the saucepan to his mouth
»You have forgotten the water sir« said Brass »And excuse me sir but
its burning hot«
Deigning no other than a practical answer to this remonstrance Mr Quilp
raised the hot saucepan to his lips and deliberately drank off all the spirit
it contained which might have been in quantity about half a pint and had been
but a moment before when he took it off the fire bubbling and hissing
fiercely Having swallowed this gentle stimulant and shaken his fist at the
admiral he bade Mr Brass proceed
»But first« said Quilp with his accustomed grin »have a drop yourself a
nice drop a good warm fiery drop«
»Why sir« replied Brass »if there was such a thing as a mouthful of water
that could be got without trouble «
»Theres no such thing to be had here« cried the dwarf »Water for lawyers
Melted lead and brimstone you mean nice hot blistering pitch and tar thats
the thing for them eh Brass eh«
»Ha ha ha« laughed Mr Brass »Oh very biting and yet its like being
tickled theres a pleasure in it too sir«
»Drink that« said the dwarf who had by this time heated some more »Toss
it off dont leave any heeltap scorch your throat and be happy«
The wretched Sampson took a few short sips of the liquor which immediately
distilled itself into burning tears and in that form came rolling down his
cheeks into the pipkin again turning the colour of his face and eyelids to a
deep red and giving rise to a violent fit of coughing in the midst of which he
was still heard to declare with the constancy of a martyr that it was
»beautiful indeed« While he was yet in unspeakable agonies the dwarf renewed
their conversation
»The lodger« said Quilp »what about him«
»He is still sir« returned Brass with intervals of coughing »stopping
with the Garland family He has only been home once sir since the day of the
examination of that culprit He informed Mr Richard sir that he couldnt bear
the house after what had taken place that he was wretched in it and that he
looked upon himself as being in a certain kind of way the cause of the
occurrence A very excellent lodger sir I hope we may not lose him«
»Yah« cried the dwarf »Never thinking of anybody but yourself why dont
you retrench then scrape up hoard economise eh«
»Why sir« replied Brass »upon my word I think Sarahs as good an
economiser as any going I do indeed Mr Quilp«
»Moisten your clay wet the other eye drink man« cried the dwarf »You
took a clerk to oblige me«
»Delighted sir I am sure at any time« replied Sampson »Yes sir I
did«
»Then now you may discharge him« said Quilp »Theres a means of
retrenchment for you at once«
»Discharge Mr Richard sir« cried Brass
»Have you more than one clerk you parrot that you ask the question Yes«
»Upon my word sir« said Brass »I wasnt prepared for this «
»How could you be« sneered the dwarf »when I wasnt How often am I to
tell you that I brought him to you that I might always have my eye on him and
know where he was and that I had a plot a scheme a little quiet piece of
enjoyment afoot of which the very cream and essence was that this old man and
grandchild who have sunk underground I think should be while he and his
precious friend believed them rich in reality as poor as frozen rats«
»I quite understood that sir« rejoined Brass »Thoroughly«
»Well sir« retorted Quilp »and do you understand now that theyre not
poor that they cant be if they have such men as your lodger searching for
them and scouring the country far and wide«
»Of course I do sir« said Sampson
»Of course you do« retorted the dwarf viciously snapping at his words »Of
course do you understand then that its no matter what comes of this fellow of
course do you understand that for any other purpose hes no man for me nor for
you«
»I have frequently said to Sarah sir« returned Brass »that he was of no
use at all in the business You cant put any confidence in him sir If youll
believe me Ive found that fellow in the commonest little matters of the office
that have been trusted to him blurting out the truth though expressly
cautioned The aggravation of that chap sir has exceeded anything you can
imagine it has indeed Nothing but the respect and obligation I owe to you sir
«
As it was plain that Sampson was bent on a complimentary harangue unless he
received a timely interruption Mr Quilp politely tapped him on the crown of
his head with the little saucepan and requested that he would be so obliging as
to hold his peace
»Practical sir practical« said Brass rubbing the place and smiling »but
still extremely pleasant immensely so«
»Hearken to me will you« returned Quilp »or Ill be a little more
pleasant presently Theres no chance of his comrade and friend returning The
scamp has been obliged to fly as I learn for some knavery and has found his
way abroad Let him rot there«
»Certainly sir Quite proper Forcible« cried Brass glancing at the
admiral again as if he made a third in company »Extremely forcible«
»I hate him« said Quilp between his teeth »and have always hated him for
family reasons Besides he was an intractable ruffian otherwise he would have
been of use This fellow is pigeonhearted and lightheaded I dont want him
any longer Let him hang or drown starve go to the devil«
»By all means sir« returned Brass »When would you wish him sir to ha
ha to make that little excursion«
»When this trials over« said Quilp »As soon as thats ended send him
about his business«
»It shall be done sir« returned Brass »by all means It will be rather a
blow to Sarah sir but she has all her feelings under control Ah Mr Quilp I
often think sir if it had only pleased Providence to bring you and Sarah
together in earlier life what blessed results would have flowed from such a
union You never saw our dear father sir A charming gentleman Sarah was his
pride and joy sir He would have closed his eyes in bliss would Foxey Mr
Quilp if he could have found her such a partner You esteem her sir«
»I love her« croaked the dwarf
»Youre very good sir« returned Brass »I am sure Is there any other
order sir that I can take a note of besides this little matter of Mr
Richard«
»None« replied the dwarf seizing the saucepan »Let us drink the lovely
Sarah«
»If we could do it in something sir that wasnt quite boiling« suggested
Brass humbly »perhaps it would be better I think it will be more agreeable to
Sarahs feelings when she comes to hear from me of the honour you have done
her if she learns it was in liquor rather cooler than the last sir«
But to these remonstrances Mr Quilp turned a deaf ear Sampson Brass who
was by this time anything but sober being compelled to take further draughts
of the same strong bowl found that instead of at all contributing to his
recovery they had the novel effect of making the countinghouse spin round and
round with extreme velocity and causing the floor and ceiling to heave in a
very distressing manner After a brief stupor he awoke to a consciousness of
being partly under the table and partly under the grate This position not being
the most comfortable one he could have chosen for himself he managed to stagger
to his feet and holding on by the admiral looked round for his host
Mr Brasss first impression was that his host was gone and had left him
there alone perhaps locked him in for the night A strong smell of tobacco
however suggested a new train of ideas he looked upward and saw that the
dwarf was smoking in his hammock
»Goodbye sir« cried Brass faintly »Goodbye sir«
»Wont you stop all night« said the dwarf peeping out »Do stop all
night«
»I couldnt indeed sir« replied Brass who was almost dead from nausea and
the closeness of the room »If youd have the goodness to show me a light so
that I may see my way across the yard sir «
Quilp was out in an instant not with his legs first or his head first or
his arms first but bodily altogether
»To be sure« he said taking up a lantern which was now the only light in
the place »Be careful how you go my dear friend Be sure to pick your way
among the timber for all the rusty nails are upwards Theres a dog in the
lane He bit a man last night and a woman the night before and last Tuesday he
killed a child but that was in play Dont go too near him«
»Which side of the road is he sir« asked Brass in great dismay
»He lives on the right hand« said Quilp »but sometimes he hides on the
left ready for a spring Hes uncertain in that respect Mind you take care of
yourself Ill never forgive you if you dont Theres the light out never
mind you know the way straight on«
Quilp had slightly shaded the light by holding it against his breast and
now stood chuckling and shaking from head to foot in a rapture of delight as he
heard the lawyer stumbling up the yard and now and then falling heavily down
At length however he got quit of the place and was out of hearing
The dwarf shut himself up again and sprang once more into his hammock
Chapter LXIII
The professional gentleman who had given Kit that consolatory piece of
information relative to the settlement of his trifle of business at the Old
Bailey and the probability of its being very soon disposed of turned out to be
quite correct in his prognostications In eight days time the sessions
commenced In one day afterwards the Grand Jury found a True Bill against
Christopher Nubbles for felony and in two days from that finding the aforesaid
Christopher Nubbles was called upon to plead Guilty or Not Guilty to an
Indictment for that he the said Christopher did feloniously abstract and steal
from the dwelling place and office of one Sampson Brass gentleman one Bank
Note for Five Pounds issued by the Governor and Company of the Bank of England
in contravention of the Statutes in that case made and provided and against the
peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his crown and dignity
To this indictment Christopher Nubbles in a low and trembling voice
pleaded Not Guilty and here let those who are in the habit of forming hasty
judgments from appearances and who would have had Christopher if innocent
speak out very strong and loud observe that confinement and anxiety will
subdue the stoutest hearts and that to one who has been close shut up though
it be only for ten or eleven days seeing but stone walls and a very few stony
faces the sudden entrance into a great hall filled with life is a rather
disconcerting and startling circumstance To this it must be added that life
in a wig is to a large class of people much more terrifying and impressive
than life with its own head of hair and if in addition to these
considerations there be taken into account Kits natural emotion on seeing the
two Mr Garlands and the little Notary looking on with pale and anxious faces
it will perhaps seem matter of no very great wonder that he should have been
rather out of sorts and unable to make himself quite at home
Although he had never seen either of the Mr Garlands or Mr Witherden
since the time of his arrest he had been given to understand that they had
employed counsel for him Therefore when one of the gentlemen in wigs got up
and said »I am for the prisoner my Lord« Kit made him a bow and when another
gentleman in a wig got up and said »And Im against him my Lord« Kit trembled
very much and bowed to him too And didnt he hope in his own heart that his
gentleman was a match for the other gentleman and would make him ashamed of
himself in no time
The gentleman who was against him had to speak first and being in
dreadfully good spirits for he had in the last trial very nearly procured the
acquittal of a young gentleman who had had the misfortune to murder his father
he spoke up you may be sure telling the Jury that if they acquitted this
prisoner they must expect to suffer no less pangs and agonies than he had told
the other Jury they would certainly undergo if they convicted that prisoner And
when he had told them all about the case and that he had never known a worse
case he stopped a little while like a man who had something terrible to tell
them and then said that he understood an attempt would be made by his learned
friend and here he looked sideways at Kits gentleman to impeach the testimony
of those immaculate witnesses whom he should call before them but he did hope
and trust that his learned friend would have a greater respect and veneration
for the character of the prosecutor than whom as he well knew there did not
exist and never had existed a more honourable member of that most honourable
profession to which he was attached And then he said did the Jury know Bevis
Marks And if they did know Bevis Marks as he trusted for their own character
they did did they know the historical and elevating associations connected with
that most remarkable spot Did they believe that a man like Brass could reside
in a place like Bevis Marks and not be a virtuous and most upright character
And when he had said a great deal to them on this point he remembered that it
was an insult to their understandings to make any remarks on what they must have
felt so strongly without him and therefore called Sampson Brass into the
witness box straightway
Then up comes Mr Brass very brisk and fresh and having bowed to the
judge like a man who has had the pleasure of seeing him before and who hopes
he has been pretty well since their last meeting folds his arms and looks at
his gentleman as much as to say »Here I am full of evidence Tap me« And the
gentleman does tap him presently and with great discretion too drawing off the
evidence by little and little and making it run quite clear and bright in the
eyes of all present Then Kits gentleman takes him in hand but can make
nothing of him and after a great many very long questions and very short
answers Mr Sampson Brass goes down in glory
To him succeeds Sarah who in like manner is easy to be managed by Mr
Brasss gentleman but very obdurate to Kits In short Kits gentleman can get
nothing out of her but a repetition of what she has said before only a little
stronger this time as against his client and therefore lets her go in some
confusion Then Mr Brasss gentleman calls Richard Swiveller and Richard
Swiveller appears accordingly
Now Mr Brasss gentleman has it whispered in his ear that this witness is
disposed to be friendly to the prisoner which to say the truth he is rather
glad to hear as his strength is considered to lie in what is familiarly termed
badgering Wherefore he begins by requesting the officer to be quite sure that
this witness kisses the book and then goes to work at him tooth and nail
»Mr Swiveller« says this gentleman to Dick when he had told his tale with
evident reluctance and a desire to make the best of it »Pray sir where did
you dine yesterday« »Where did I dine yesterday« »Aye sir where did you
dine yesterday was it near here sir« »Oh to be sure yes just over the
way« »To be sure Yes Just over the way« repeats Mr Brasss gentleman with
a glance at the court »Alone sir« »I beg your pardon« says Mr Swiveller
who has not caught the question »Alone sir« repeats Mr Brasss gentleman in
a voice of thunder »did you dine alone Did you treat anybody sir Come«
»Oh yes to be sure yes I did« says Mr Swiveller with a smile »Have the
goodness to banish a levity sir which is very illsuited to the place in which
you stand though perhaps you have reason to be thankful that its only that
place« says Mr Brasss gentleman with a nod of the head insinuating that
the dock is Mr Swivellers legitimate sphere of action »and attend to me You
were waiting about here yesterday in expectation that this trial was coming
on You dined over the way You treated somebody Now was that somebody brother
to the prisoner at the bar« Mr Swiveller is proceeding to explain »Yes or
No sir« cries Mr Brasss gentleman »But will you allow me « »Yes or No
sir« »Yes it was but « »Yes it was« cries the gentleman taking him up
short »And a very pretty witness you are«
Down sits Mr Brasss gentleman Kits gentleman not knowing how the matter
really stands is afraid to pursue the subject Richard Swiveller retires
abashed Judge jury and spectators have visions of his lounging about with an
illlooking largewhiskered dissolute young fellow of six feet high The
reality is little Jacob with the calves of his legs exposed to the open air
and himself tied up in a shawl Nobody knows the truth everybody believes a
falsehood and all because of the ingenuity of Mr Brasss gentleman
Then come the witnesses to character and here Mr Brasss gentleman shines
again It turns out that Mr Garland has had no character with Kit no
recommendation of him but from his own mother and that he was suddenly
dismissed by his former master for unknown reasons »Really Mr Garland« says
Mr Brasss gentleman »for a person who has arrived at your time of life you
are to say the least of it singularly indiscreet I think« The Jury think so
too and find Kit guilty He is taken off humbly protesting his innocence The
spectators settle themselves in their places with renewed attention for there
are several female witnesses to be examined in the next case and it has been
rumoured that Mr Brasss gentleman will make great fun in crossexamining them
for the prisoner
Kits mother poor woman is waiting at the grate below stairs accompanied
by Barbaras mother who honest soul never does anything but cry and hold the
baby and a sad interview ensues The newspaperreading turnkey has told them
all He dont think it will be transportation for life because theres time to
prove the good character yet and that is sure to serve him He wonders what he
did it for »He never did it« cries Kits mother »Well« says the turnkey »I
wont contradict you Its all one now whether he did it or not«
Kits mother can reach his hand through the bars and she clasps it God
and those to whom he has given such tenderness only know in how much agony Kit
bids her keep a good heart and under pretence of having the children lifted up
to kiss him prays Barbaras mother in a whisper to take her home
»Some friend will rise up for us mother« cried Kit »I am sure If not
now before long My innocence will come out mother and I shall be brought
back again I feel confidence in that You must teach little Jacob and the baby
how all this was for if they thought I had ever been dishonest when they grew
old enough to understand it would break my heart to know it if I was thousands
of miles away Oh is there no good gentleman here who will take care of
her«
The hand slips out of his for the poor creature sinks down upon the earth
insensible Richard Swiveller comes hastily up elbows the bystanders out of the
way takes her after some trouble in one arm after the manner of theatrical
ravishers and nodding to Kit and commanding Barbaras mother to follow for
he has a coach waiting bears her swiftly off
Well Richard took her home And what astonishing absurdities in the way of
quotation from song and poem he perpetrated on the road no man knows He took
her home and stayed till she was recovered and having no money to pay the
coach went back in state to Bevis Marks bidding the driver for it was
Saturday night wait at the door while he went in for change
»Mr Richard sir« said Brass cheerfully »good evening«
Monstrous as Kits tale had appeared at first Mr Richard did that night
half suspect his affable employer of some deep villany Perhaps it was but the
misery he had just witnessed which gave his careless nature this impulse but
be that as it may it was very strong upon him and he said in as few words as
possible what he wanted
»Money« cried Brass taking out his purse »Ha ha To be sure Mr Richard
to be sure sir All men must live You havent change for a fivepound note
have you sir«
»No« returned Dick shortly
»Oh« said Brass »heres the very sum That saves trouble Youre very
welcome Im sure Mr Richard sir «
Dick who had by this time reached the door turned round
»You neednt« said Brass »trouble yourself to come back any more sir«
»Eh«
»You see Mr Richard« said Brass thrusting his hands in his pockets and
rocking himself to and fro on his stool »the fact is that a man of your
abilities is lost sir quite lost in our dry and mouldy line Its terrible
drudgery shocking I should say now that the stage or the or the army
Mr Richard or something very superior in the licensed victualling way was
the kind of thing that would call out the genius of such a man as you I hope
youll look in to see us now and then Sally sir will be delighted Im sure
Shes extremely sorry to lose you Mr Richard but a sense of her duty to
society reconciles her An amazing creature that sir Youll find the money
quite correct I think Theres a cracked window sir but Ive not made any
deduction on that account Whenever we part with friends Mr Richard let us
part liberally A delightful sentiment sir«
To all these rambling observations Mr Swiveller answered not one word
but returning for the aquatic jacket rolled it into a tight round ball
looking steadily at Brass meanwhile as if he had some intention of bowling him
down with it He only took it under his arm however and marched out of the
office in profound silence When he had closed the door he reopened it stared
in again for a few moments with the same portentous gravity and nodding his
head once in a slow and ghostlike manner vanished
He paid the coachman and turned his back on Bevis Marks big with great
designs for the comforting of Kits mother and the aid of Kit himself
But the lives of gentlemen devoted to such pleasures as Richard Swiveller
are extremely precarious The spiritual excitement of the last fortnight
working upon a system affected in no slight degree by the spirituous excitement
of some years proved a little too much for him That very night Mr Richard
was seized with an alarming illness and in twentyfour hours was stricken with
a raging fever
Chapter LXIV
Tossing to and fro upon his hot uneasy bed tormented by a fierce thirst which
nothing could appease unable to find in any change of posture a moments
peace or ease and rambling ever through deserts of thought where there was no
restingplace no sight or sound suggestive of refreshment or repose nothing
but a dull eternal weariness with no change but the restless shiftings of his
miserable body and the weary wandering of his mind constant still to one
everpresent anxiety to a sense of something left undone of some fearful
obstacle to be surmounted of some carking care that would not be driven away
and which haunted the distempered brain now in this form now in that always
shadowy and dim but recognisable for the same phantom in every shape it took
darkening every vision like an evil conscience and making slumber horrible in
these slow tortures of his dread disease the unfortunate Richard lay wasting
and consuming inch by inch until at last when he seemed to fight and struggle
to rise up and to be held down by devils he sank into a deep sleep and
dreamed no more
He awoke With a sensation of most blissful rest better than sleep itself
he began gradually to remember something of these sufferings and to think what
a long night it had been and whether he had not been delirious twice or thrice
Happening in the midst of these cogitations to raise his hand he was
astonished to find how heavy it seemed and yet how thin and light it really
was Still he felt indifferent and happy and having no curiosity to pursue the
subject remained in the same waking slumber until his attention was attracted
by a cough This made him doubt whether he had locked his door last night and
feel a little surprised at having a companion in the room Still he lacked
energy to follow up this train of thought and unconsciously fell in a luxury
of repose to staring at some green stripes on the bedfurniture and
associating them strangely with patches of fresh turf while the yellow ground
between made gravelwalks and so helped out a long perspective of trim gardens
He was rambling in imagination on these terraces and had quite lost himself
among them indeed when he heard the cough once more The walks shrunk into
stripes again at the sound and raising himself a little in the bed and holding
the curtain open with one hand he looked out
The same room certainly and still by candlelight but with what unbounded
astonishment did he see all those bottles and basins and articles of linen
airing by the fire and suchlike furniture of a sick chamber all very clean
and neat but all quite different from anything he had left there when he went
to bed The atmosphere too filled with a cool smell of herbs and vinegar the
floor newly sprinkled the the what The Marchioness
Yes playing cribbage with herself at the table There she sat intent upon
her game coughing now and then in a subdued manner as if she feared to disturb
him shuffling the cards cutting dealing playing counting pegging going
through all the mysteries of cribbage as if she had been in full practice from
her cradle
Mr Swiveller contemplated these things for a short time and suffering the
curtain to fall into its former position laid his head on the pillow again
»Im dreaming« thought Richard »thats clear When I went to bed my hands
were not made of eggshells and now I can almost see through em If this is
not a dream I have woke up by mistake in an Arabian Night instead of a
London one But I have no doubt Im asleep Not the least«
Here the small servant had another cough
»Very remarkable« thought Mr Swiveller »I never dreamt such a real cough
as that before I dont know indeed that I ever dreamt either a cough or a
sneeze Perhaps its part of the philosophy of dreams that one never does
Theres another and another I say Im dreaming rather fast«
For the purpose of testing his real condition Mr Swiveller after some
reflection pinched himself in the arm
»Queerer still« he thought »I came to bed rather plump than otherwise and
now theres nothing to lay hold of Ill take another survey«
The result of this additional inspection was to convince Mr Swiveller that
the objects by which he was surrounded were real and that he saw them beyond
all question with his waking eyes
»Its an Arabian Night thats what it is« said Richard »Im in Damascus
or Grand Cairo The Marchioness is a Genie and having had a wager with another
Genie about who is the handsomest young man alive and the worthiest to be the
husband of the Princess of China has brought me away room and all to compare
us together Perhaps« said Mr Swiveller turning languidly round on his
pillow and looking on that side of his bed which was next the wall »the
Princess may be still No shes gone«
Not feeling quite satisfied with this explanation as even taking it to be
the correct one it still involved a little mystery and doubt Mr Swiveller
raised the curtain again determined to take the first favourable opportunity of
addressing his companion An occasion soon presented itself The Marchioness
dealt turned up a knave and omitted to take the usual advantage upon which
Mr Swiveller called out as loud as he could »Two for his heels«
The Marchioness jumped up quickly and clapped her hands »Arabian Night
certainly« thought Mr Swiveller »they always clap their hands instead of
ringing the bell Now for the two thousand black slaves with jars of jewels on
their heads«
It appeared however that she had only clapped her hands for joy as
directly afterwards she began to laugh and then to cry declaring not in
choice Arabic but in familiar English that she was »so glad she didnt know
what to do«
»Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller thoughtfully »be pleased to draw nearer
First of all will you have the goodness to inform me where I shall find my
voice and secondly what has become of my flesh«
The Marchioness only shook her head mournfully and cried again whereupon
Mr Swiveller being very weak felt his own eyes affected likewise
»I begin to infer from your manner and these appearances Marchioness«
said Richard after a pause and smiling with a trembling lip »that I have been
ill«
»You just have« replied the small servant wiping her eyes »And havent
you been a talking nonsense«
»Oh« said Dick »Very ill Marchioness have I been«
»Dead all but« replied the small servant »I never thought youd get
better Thank Heaven you have«
Mr Swiveller was silent for a long while By and bye he began to talk
again inquiring how long he had been there
»Three weeks tomorrow« replied the small servant
»Three what« said Dick
»Weeks« returned the Marchioness emphatically »three long slow weeks«
The bare thought of having been in such extremity caused Richard to fall
into another silence and to lie flat down again at his full length The
Marchioness having arranged the bedclothes more comfortably and felt that his
hands and forehead were quite cool a discovery that filled her with delight
cried a little more and then applied herself to getting tea ready and making
some thin dry toast
While she was thus engaged Mr Swiveller looked on with a grateful heart
very much astonished to see how thoroughly at home she made herself and
attributing this attention in its origin to Sally Brass whom in his own
mind he could not thank enough When the Marchioness had finished her toasting
she spread a clean cloth on a trav and brought him some crisp slices and a
great basin of weak tea with which she said the doctor had left word he might
refresh himself when he awoke She propped him up with pillows if not as
skilfully as if she had been a professional nurse all her life at least as
tenderly and looked on with unutterable satisfaction while the patient
stopping every now and then to shake her by the hand took his poor meal with
an appetite and relish which the greatest dainties of the earth under any
other circumstances would have failed to provoke Having cleared away and
disposed everything comfortably about him again she sat down at the table to
take her own tea
»Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller »hows Sally«
The small servant screwed her face into an expression of the very uttermost
entanglement of slyness and shook her head
»What havent you seen her lately« said Dick
»Seen her« cried the small servant »Bless you Ive run away«
Mr Swiveller immediately laid himself down again quite flat and so
remained for about five minutes By slow degrees he resumed his sitting posture
after that lapse of time and inquired
»And where do you live Marchioness«
»Live« cried the small servant »Here«
»Oh« said Mr Swiveller
And with that he fell down flat again as suddenly as if he had been shot
Thus he remained motionless and bereft of speech until she had finished her
meal put everything in its place and swept the hearth when he motioned her to
bring a chair to the bedside and being propped up again opened a farther
conversation
»And so« said Dick »you have run away«
»Yes« said the Marchioness »and theyve been a tizing of me«
»Been I beg your pardon« said Dick »what have they been doing«
»Been a tizing of me tizing you know in the newspapers« rejoined the
Marchioness
»Aye aye« said Dick »advertising«
The small servant nodded and winked Her eyes were so red with waking and
crying that the Tragic Muse might have winked with greater consistency And so
Dick felt
»Tell me« said he »how it was that you thought of coming here«
»Why you see« returned the Marchioness »when you was gone I hadnt any
friend at all because the lodger he never come back and I didnt know where
either him or you was to be found you know But one morning when I was «
»Was near a keyhole« suggested Mr Swiveller observing that she faltered
»Well then« said the small servant nodding »when I was near the office
keyhole as you see me through you know I heard somebody saying that she
lived here and was the lady whose house you lodged at and that you was took
very bad and wouldnt nobody come and take care of you Mr Brass he says
Its no business of mine he says and Miss Sally she says Hes a funny chap
but its no business of mine and the lady went away and slammed the door to
when she went out I can tell you So I run away that night and come here and
told em you was my brother and they believed me and Ive been here ever
since«
»This poor little Marchioness has been wearing herself to death« cried
Dick
»No I havent« she returned »not a bit of it Dont you mind about me I
like sitting up and Ive often had a sleep bless you in one of them chairs
But if you could have seen how you tried to jump out o winder and if you could
have heard how you used to keep on singing and making speeches you wouldnt
have believed it Im so glad youre better Mr Liverer«
»Liverer indeed« said Dick thoughtfully »Its well I am a liverer I
strongly suspect I should have died Marchioness but for you«
At this point Mr Swiveller took the small servants hand in his again
and being as we have seen but poorly might in struggling to express his
thanks have made his eyes as red as hers but that she quickly changed the theme
by making him lie down and urging him to keep very quiet
»The doctor« she told him »said you was to be kept quite still and there
was to be no noise nor nothing Now take a rest and then well talk again
Ill sit by you you know If you shut your eyes perhaps youll go to sleep
Youll be all the better for it if you do«
The Marchioness in saying these words brought a little table to the
bedside took her seat at it and began to work away at the concoction of some
cooling drink with the address of a score of chemists Richard Swiveller being
indeed fatigued fell into a slumber and waking in about half an hour inquired
what time it was
»Just gone half after six« replied his small friend helping him to sit up
again
»Marchioness« said Richard passing his hand over his forehead and turning
suddenly round as though the subject but that moment flashed upon him »what
has become of Kit«
He had been sentenced to transportation for a great many years she said
»Has he gone« asked Dick »his mother how is she what has become of
her«
His nurse shook her head and answered that she knew nothing about them
»But if I thought« said she very slowly »that youd keep quiet and not put
yourself into another fever I could tell you but I wont now«
»Yes do« said Dick »It will amuse me«
»Oh would it though« rejoined the small servant with a horrified look »I
know better than that Wait till youre better and then Ill tell you«
Dick looked very earnestly at his little friend and his eyes being large
and hollow from illness assisted the expression so much that she was quite
frightened and besought him not to think any more about it What had already
fallen from her however had not only piqued his curiosity but seriously
alarmed him wherefore he urged her to tell him the worst at once
»Oh theres no worst in it« said the small servant »It hasnt anything to
do with you«
»Has it anything to do with is it anything you heard through chinks or
keyholes and that you were not intended to hear« asked Dick in a breathless
state
»Yes« replied the small servant
»In in Bevis Marks« pursued Dick hastily »Conversations between Brass
and Sally«
»Yes« cried the small servant again
Richard Swiveller thrust his lank arm out of bed and griping her by the
wrist and drawing her close to him bade her out with it and freely too or he
would not answer for the consequences being wholly unable to endure that state
of excitement and expectation She seeing that he was greatly agitated and
that the effects of postponing her revelation might be much more injurious than
any that were likely to ensue from its being made at once promised compliance
on condition that the patient kept himself perfectly quiet and abstained from
starting up or tossing about
»But if you begin to do that« said the small servant »Ill leave off And
so I tell you«
»You cant leave off till you have gone on« said Dick »And do go on
theres a darling Speak sister speak Pretty Polly say Oh tell me when and
tell me where pray Marchioness I beseech you«
Unable to resist these fervent adjurations which Richard Swiveller poured
out as passionately as if they had been of the most solemn and tremendous
nature his companion spoke thus
»Well Before I run away I used to sleep in the kitchen where we played
cards you know Miss Sally used to keep the key of the kitchen door in her
pocket and she always come down at night to take away the candle and rake out
the fire When she had done that she left me to go to bed in the dark locked
the door on the outside put the key in her pocket again and kept me locked up
till she come down in the morning very early I can tell you and let me out
I was terrible afraid of being kept like this because if there was a fire I
thought they might forget me and only take care of themselves you know So
whenever I see an old rusty key anywhere I picked it up and tried if it would
fit the door and at last I found in the dustcellar a key that did fit it«
Here Mr Swiveller made a violent demonstration with his legs But the
small servant immediately pausing in her talk he subsided again and pleading a
momentary forgetfulness of their compact entreated her to proceed
»They kept me very short« said the small servant »Oh you cant think how
short they kept me So I used to come out at night after theyd gone to bed and
feel about in the dark for bits of biscuit or sangwitches that youd left in
the office or even pieces of orangepeel to put into cold water and make
believe it was wine Did you ever taste orangepeel and water«
Mr Swiveller replied that he had never tasted that ardent liquor and once
more urged his friend to resume the thread of her narrative
»If you make believe very much its quite nice« said the small servant
»but if you dont you know it seems as if it would bear a little more
seasoning certainly Well sometimes I used to come out after theyd gone to
bed and sometimes before you know and one or two nights before there was all
that precious noise in the office when the young man was took I mean I come
up stairs while Mr Brass and Miss Sally was asittin at the office fire and
Ill tell you the truth that I come to listen again about the key of the
safe«
Mr Swiveller gathered up his knees so as to make a great cone of the
bedclothes and conveyed into his countenance an expression of the utmost
concern But the small servant pausing and holding up her finger the cone
gently disappeared though the look of concern did not
»There was him and her« said the small servant »asittin by the fire and
talking softly together Mr Brass says to Miss Sally Upon my word he says
its a dangerous thing and it might get us into a world of trouble and I dont
half like it She says you know her way she says Youre the
chickenesthearted feeblest faintest man I ever see and I think she says
that I ought to have been the brother and you the sister Isnt Quilp she
says our principal support He certainly is says Mr Brass And ant we she
says constantly ruining somebody or other in the way of business We certainly
are says Mr Brass Then does it signify she says about ruining this Kit when
Quilp desires it It certainly does not signify says Mr Brass Then they
whispered and laughed for a long time about there being no danger if it was well
done and then Mr Brass pulls out his pocketbook and says Well he says
here it is Quilps own fivepound note Well agree that way then he says
Kits coming tomorrow morning I know While hes up stairs youll get out of
the way and Ill clear off Mr Richard Having Kit alone Ill hold him in
conversation and put this property in his hat Ill manage so besides he
says that Mr Richard shall find it there and be the evidence And if that
dont get Christopher out of Mr Quilps way and satisfy Mr Quilps grudges
he says the Devils in it Miss Sally laughed and said that was the plan and
as they seemed to be moving away and I was afraid to stop any longer I went
down stairs again There«
The small servant had gradually worked herself into as much agitation as Mr
Swiveller and therefore made no effort to restrain him when he sat up in bed
and hastily demanded whether this story had been told to anybody
»How could it be« replied his nurse »I was almost afraid to think about
it and hoped the young man would be let off When I heard em say they had
found him guilty of what he didnt do you was gone and so was the lodger
though I think I should have been frightened to tell him even if hed been
there Ever since I come here youve been out of your senses and what would
have been the good of telling you then«
»Marchioness« said Mr Swiveller plucking off his nightcap and flinging it
to the other end of the room »if youll do me the favour to retire for a few
minutes and see what sort of a night it is Ill get up«
»You mustnt think of such a thing« cried his nurse
»I must indeed« said the patient looking round the room »Whereabouts are
my clothes«
»Oh Im so glad you havent got any« replied the Marchioness
»Maam« said Mr Swiveller in great astonishment
»Ive been obliged to sell them every one to get the things that was
ordered for you But dont take on about that« urged the Marchioness as Dick
fell back upon his pillow »Youre too weak to stand indeed«
»I am afraid« said Richard dolefully »that youre right What ought I to
do what is to be done«
It naturally occurred to him on very little reflection that the first step
to take would be to communicate with one of the Mr Garlands instantly It was
very possible that Mr Abel had not yet left the office In as little time as it
takes to tell it the small servant had the address in pencil on a piece of
paper a verbal description of father and son which would enable her to
recognise either without difficulty and a special caution to be shy of Mr
Chuckster in consequence of that gentlemans known antipathy to Kit Armed with
these slender powers she hurried away commissioned to bring either old Mr
Garland or Mr Abel bodily to that apartment
»I suppose« said Dick as she closed the door slowly and peeped into the
room again to make sure that he was comfortable »I suppose theres nothing
left not so much as a waistcoat even«
»No nothing«
»Its embarrassing« said Mr Swiveller »in case of fire even an umbrella
would be something but you did quite right dear Marchioness I should have
died without you«
Chapter LXV
It was well for the small servant that she was of a sharp quick nature or the
consequence of sending her out alone from the very neighbourhood in which it
was most dangerous for her to appear would probably have been the restoration
of Miss Sally Brass to the supreme authority over her person Not unmindful of
the risk she ran however the Marchioness no sooner left the house than she
dived into the first dark byway that presented itself and without any present
reference to the point to which her journey tended made it her first business
to put two good miles of brick and mortar between herself and Bevis Marks
When she had accomplished this object she began to shape her course for the
notarys office to which shrewdly inquiring of applewomen and oystersellers
at streetcorners rather than in lighted shops or of welldressed people at
the hazard of attracting notice she easily procured a direction As
carrierpigeons on being first let loose in a strange place beat the air at
random for a short time before darting off towards the spot for which they are
designed so did the Marchioness flutter round and round until she believed
herself in safety and then bear swiftly down upon the port for which she was
bound
She had no bonnet nothing on her head but a great cap which in some old
time had been worn by Sally Brass whose taste in headdresses was as we have
seen peculiar and her speed was rather retarded than assisted by her shoes
which being extremely large and slipshod flew off every now and then and were
difficult to find again among the crowd of passengers Indeed the poor little
creature experienced so much trouble and delay from having to grope for these
articles of dress in mud and kennel and suffered in these researches so much
jostling pushing squeezing and bandying from hand to hand that by the time
she reached the street in which the notary lived she was fairly worn out and
exhausted and could not refrain from tears
But to have got there at last was a great comfort especially as there were
lights still burning in the office window and therefore some hope that she was
not too late So the Marchioness dried her eyes with the backs of her hands
and stealing softly up the steps peeped in through the glass door
Mr Chuckster was standing behind the lid of his desk making such
preparations towards finishing off for the night as pulling down his wristbands
and pulling up his shirtcollar settling his neck more gracefully in his stock
and secretly arranging his whiskers by the aid of a little triangular bit of
lookingglass Before the ashes of the fire stood two gentlemen one of whom
she rightly judged to be the notary and the other who was buttoning his
greatcoat and was evidently about to depart immediately Mr Abel Garland
Having made these observations the small spy took counsel with herself and
resolved to wait in the street until Mr Abel came out as there would be then
no fear of having to speak before Mr Chuckster and less difficulty in
delivering her message With this purpose she slipped out again and crossing
the road sat down upon a doorstep just opposite
She had hardly taken this position when there came dancing up the street
with his legs all wrong and his head everywhere by turns a pony This pony had
a little phaeton behind him and a man in it but neither man nor phaeton seemed
to embarrass him in the least as he reared up on his hind legs or stopped or
went on or stood still again or backed or went sideways without the smallest
reference to them just as the fancy seized him and as if he were the freest
animal in creation When they came to the notarys door the man called out in a
very respectful manner »Woa then« intimating that if he might venture to
express a wish it would be that they stopped there The pony made a moments
pause but as if it occurred to him that to stop when he was required might be
to establish an inconvenient and dangerous precedent he immediately started off
again rattled at a fast trot to the street corner wheeled round came back
and then stopped of his own accord
»Oh youre a precious creatur« said the man who didnt venture by the
bye to come out in his true colours until he was safe on the pavement »I wish I
had the rewarding of you I do«
»What has he been doing« said Mr Abel tying a shawl round his neck as he
came down the steps
»Hes enough to fret a mans heart out« replied the hostler »He is the
most wicious rascal Woa then will you«
»Hell never stand still if you call him names« said Mr Abel getting in
and taking the reins »Hes a very good fellow if you know how to manage him
This is the first time he has been out this long while for he has lost his old
driver and wouldnt stir for anybody else till this morning The lamps are
right are they Thats well Be here to take him tomorrow if you please Good
night«
And after one or two strange plunges quite of his own invention the pony
yielded to Mr Abels mildness and trotted gently off
All this time Mr Chuckster had been standing at the door and the small
servant had been afraid to approach She had nothing for it now therefore but
to run after the chaise and to call to Mr Abel to stop Being out of breath
when she came up with it she was unable to make him hear The case was
desperate for the pony was quickening his pace The Marchioness hung on behind
for a few moments and feeling that she could go no farther and must soon
yield clambered by a vigorous effort into the hinder seat and in so doing lost
one of the shoes for ever
Mr Abel being in a thoughtful frame of mind and having quite enough to do
to keep the pony going went jogging on without looking round little dreaming
of the strange figure that was close behind him until the Marchioness having
in some degree recovered her breath and the loss of her shoe and the novelty
of her position uttered close into his ear the words
»I say sir «
He turned his head quickly enough then and stopping the pony cried with
some trepidation »God bless me what is this«
»Dont be frightened sir« replied the still panting messenger »Oh Ive
run such a way after you«
»What do you want with me« said Mr Abel »How did you come here«
»I got in behind« replied the Marchioness »Oh please drive on sir dont
stop and go towards the City will you And oh do please make haste because
its of consequence Theres somebody wants to see you there He sent me to say
would you come directly and that he knowed all about Kit and could save him
yet and prove his innocence«
»What do you tell me child«
»The truth upon my word and honour I do But please to drive on quick
please Ive been such a time gone hell think Im lost«
Mr Abel involuntarily urged the pony forward The pony impelled by some
secret sympathy or some new caprice burst into a great pace and neither
slackened it nor indulged in any eccentric performances until they arrived at
the door of Mr Swivellers lodging where marvellous to relate he consented
to stop when Mr Abel checked him
»See Its that room up there« said the Marchioness pointing to one where
there was a faint light »Come«
Mr Abel who was one of the simplest and most retiring creatures in
existence and naturally timid withal hesitated for he had heard of people
being decoyed into strange places to be robbed and murdered under circumstances
very like the present and for anything he knew to the contrary by guides very
like the Marchioness His regard for Kit however overcame every other
consideration So entrusting Whisker to the charge of a man who was lingering
hard by in expectation of the job he suffered his companion to take his hand
and to lead him up the dark and narrow stairs
He was not a little surprised to find himself conducted into a dimlylighted
sick chamber where a man was sleeping tranquilly in bed
»Ant it nice to see him lying there so quiet« said his guide in an
earnest whisper »Oh youd say it was if you had only seen him two or three
days ago«
Mr Abel made no answer and to say the truth kept a long way from the bed
and very near the door His guide who appeared to understand his reluctance
trimmed the candle and taking it in her hand approached the bed As she did
so the sleeper started up and he recognised in the wasted face the features of
Richard Swiveller
»Why how is this« said Mr Abel kindly as he hurried towards him »You
have been ill«
»Very« replied Dick »Nearly dead You might have chanced to hear of your
Richard on his bier but for the friend I sent to fetch you Another shake of
the hand Marchioness if you please Sit down sir«
Mr Abel seemed rather astonished to hear of the quality of his guide and
took a chair by the bedside
»I have sent for you sir« said Dick »but she told you on what account«
»She did I am quite bewildered by all this I really dont know what to say
or think« replied Mr Abel
»Youll say that presently« retorted Dick »Marchioness take a seat on the
bed will you Now tell this gentleman all that you told me and be particular
Dont you speak another word sir«
The story was repeated it was in effect exactly the same as before
without any deviation or omission Richard Swiveller kept his eyes fixed on his
visitor during its narration and directly it was concluded took the word
again
»You have heard it all and youll not forget it Im too giddy and too
queer to suggest anything but you and your friends will know what to do After
this long delay every minute is an age If ever you went home fast in your
life go home fast tonight Dont stop to say one word to me but go She will
be found here whenever shes wanted and as to me youre pretty sure to find
me at home for a week or two There are more reasons than one for that
Marchioness a light If you lose another minute in looking at me sir Ill
never forgive you«
Mr Abel needed no more remonstrance or persuasion He was gone in an
instant and the Marchioness returning from lighting him down stairs reported
that the pony without any preliminary objection whatever had dashed away at
full gallop
»Thats right« said Dick »and hearty of him and I honour him from this
time But get some supper and a mug of beer for I am sure you must be tired Do
have a mug of beer It will do me as much good to see you take it as if I might
drink it myself«
Nothing but this assurance could have prevailed upon the small nurse to
indulge in such a luxury Having eaten and drunk to Mr Swivellers extreme
contentment given him his drink and put everything in neat order she wrapped
herself in an old coverlet and lay down upon the rug before the fire
Mr Swiveller was by that time murmuring in his sleep »Strew then oh
strew a bed of rushes Here will we stay till morning blushes Good night
Marchioness«
Chapter LXVI
On awaking in the morning Richard Swiveller became conscious by slow degrees
of whispering voices in his room Looking out between the curtains he espied
Mr Garland Mr Abel the notary and the single gentleman gathered round the
Marchioness and talking to her with great earnestness but in very subdued tones
fearing no doubt to disturb him He lost no time in letting them know that
this precaution was unnecessary and all four gentlemen directly approached his
bedside Old Mr Garland was the first to stretch out his hand and inquire how
he felt
Dick was about to answer that he felt much better though still as weak as
need be when his little nurse pushing the visitors aside and pressing up to
his pillow as if in jealousy of their interference set his breakfast before
him and insisted on his taking it before he underwent the fatigue of speaking
or of being spoken to Mr Swiveller who was perfectly ravenous and had had
all night amazingly distinct and consistent dreams of mutton chops double
stout and similar delicacies felt even the weak tea and dry toast such
irresistible temptations that he consented to eat and drink on one condition
»And that is« said Dick returning the pressure of Mr Garlands hand
»that you answer me this question truly before I take a bit or drop Is it too
late«
»For completing the work you began so well last night« returned the old
gentleman »No Set your mind at rest on that point It is not I assure you«
Comforted by this intelligence the patient applied himself to his food with
a keen appetite though evidently not with a greater zest in the eating than his
nurse appeared to have in seeing him eat The manner of his meal was this Mr
Swiveller holding the slice of toast or cup of tea in his left hand and taking
a bite or drink as the case might be constantly kept in his right one palm
of the Marchioness tight locked and to shake or even to kiss this imprisoned
hand he would stop every now and then in the very act of swallowing with
perfect seriousness of intention and the utmost gravity As often as he put
anything into his mouth whether for eating or drinking the face of the
Marchioness lighted up beyond all description but whenever he gave her one or
other of these tokens of recognition her countenance became overshadowed and
she began to sob Now whether she was in her laughing joy or in her crying
one the Marchioness could not help turning to the visitors with an appealing
look which seemed to say »You see this fellow can I help this« and they
being thus made as it were parties to the scene as regularly answered by
another look »No Certainly not« This dumbshow taking place during the whole
time of the invalids breakfast and the invalid himself pale and emaciated
performing no small part in the same it may be fairly questioned whether at any
meal where no word good or bad was spoken from beginning to end so much was
expressed by gestures in themselves so slight and unimportant
At length and to say the truth before very long Mr Swiveller had
despatched as much toast and tea as in that stage of his recovery it was
discreet to let him have But the cares of the Marchioness did not stop here
for disappearing for an instant and presently returning with a basin of fair
water she laved his face and hands brushed his hair and in short made him as
spruce and smart as anybody under such circumstances could be made and all
this in as brisk and businesslike a manner as if he were a very little boy
and she his grownup nurse To these various attentions Mr Swiveller submitted
in a kind of grateful astonishment beyond the reach of language When they were
at last brought to an end and the Marchioness had withdrawn into a distant
corner to take her own poor breakfast cold enough by that time he turned his
face away for some few moments and shook hands heartily with the air
»Gentlemen« said Dick rousing himself from this pause and turning round
again »youll excuse me Men who have been brought so low as I have been are
easily fatigued I am fresh again now and fit for talking Were short of
chairs here among other trifles but if youll do me the favour to sit upon the
bed «
»What can we do for you« said Mr Garland kindly
»If you could make the Marchioness yonder a Marchioness in real sober
earnest« returned Dick »Id thank you to get it done offhand But as you
cant and as the question is not what you will do for me but what you will do
for somebody else who has a better claim upon you pray sir let me know what
you intend doing«
»Its chiefly on that account that we have come just now« said the single
gentleman »for you will have another visitor presently We feared you would be
anxious unless you knew from ourselves what steps we intended to take and
therefore came to you before we stirred in the matter«
»Gentlemen« returned Dick »I thank you Anybody in the helpless state that
you see me in is naturally anxious Dont let me interrupt you sir«
»Then you see my good fellow« said the single gentleman »that while we
have no doubt whatever of the truth of this disclosure which has so
providentially come to light «
»Meaning hers« said Dick pointing towards the Marchioness
» Meaning hers of course While we have no doubt of that or that a proper
use of it would procure the poor lads immediate pardon and liberation we have
a great doubt whether it would by itself enable us to reach Quilp the chief
agent in this villany I should tell you that this doubt has been confirmed into
something very nearly approaching certainty by the best opinions we have been
enabled in this short space of time to take upon the subject Youll agree
with us that to give him even the most distant chance of escape if we could
help it would be monstrous You say with us no doubt if somebody must escape
let it be any one but he«
»Yes« returned Dick »certainly That is if somebody must but upon my
word Im unwilling that anybody should Since laws were made for every degree
to curb vice in others as well as in me and so forth you know doesnt it
strike you in that light«
The single gentleman smiled as if the light in which Mr Swiveller had put
the question were not the clearest in the world and proceeded to explain that
they contemplated proceeding by stratagem in the first instance; and that their
design was to endeavour to extort a confession from the gentle Sarah
»When she finds how much we know and how we know it« he said »and that
she is clearly compromised already we are not without strong hopes that we may
be enabled through her means to punish the other two effectually If we could do
that she might go scotfree for aught I cared«
Dick received this project in anything but a gracious manner representing
with as much warmth as he was then capable of showing that they would find the
old buck meaning Sarah more difficult to manage than Quilp himself that for
any tampering terrifying or cajolery she was a very unpromising and
unyielding subject that she was of a kind of brass not easily melted or
moulded into shape in short that they were no match for her and would be
signally defeated But it was in vain to urge them to adopt some other course
The single gentleman has been described as explaining their joint intentions
but it should have been written that they all spoke together that if any one of
them by chance held his peace for a moment he stood gasping and panting for an
opportunity to strike in again in a word that they had reached that pitch of
impatience and anxiety where men can neither be persuaded nor reasoned with and
that it would have been as easy to turn the most impetuous wind that ever blew
as to prevail on them to reconsider their determination So after telling Mr
Swiveller how they had not lost sight of Kits mother and the children how they
had never once even lost sight of Kit himself but had been unremitting in their
endeavours to procure a mitigation of his sentence how they had been perfectly
distracted between the strong proofs of his guilt and their own fading hopes of
his innocence and how he Richard Swiveller might keep his mind at rest for
everything should be happily adjusted between that time and night after
telling him all this and adding a great many kind and cordial expressions
personal to himself which it is unnecessary to recite Mr Garland the notary
and the single gentleman took their leaves at a very critical time or Richard
Swiveller must assuredly have been driven into another fever whereof the
results might have been fatal
Mr Abel remained behind very often looking at his watch and at the room
door until Mr Swiveller was roused from a short nap by the settingdown on
the landingplace outside as from the shoulders of a porter of some giant
load which seemed to shake the house and made the little physicbottles on the
mantelshelf ring again Directly this sound reached his ears Mr Abel started
up and hobbled to the door and opened it and behold there stood a strong
man with a mighty hamper which being hauled into the room and presently
unpacked disgorged such treasures of tea and coffee and wine and rusks and
oranges and grapes and fowls ready trussed for boiling and calvesfoot
jelly and arrowroot and sago and other delicate restoratives that the small
servant who had never thought it possible that such things could be except in
shops stood rooted to the spot in her one shoe with her mouth and eyes
watering in unison and her power of speech quite gone But not so Mr Abel or
the strong man who emptied the hamper big as it was in a twinkling and not so
the nice old lady who appeared so suddenly that she might have come out of the
hamper too it was quite large enough and who bustling about on tiptoe and
without noise now here now there now everywhere at once began to fill out
the jelly in teacups and to make chicken broth in small saucepans and to peel
oranges for the sick man and to cut them up in little pieces and to ply the
small servant with glasses of wine and choice bits of everything until more
substantial meat could be prepared for her refreshment The whole of which
appearances were so unexpected and bewildering that Mr Swiveller when he had
taken two oranges and a little jelly and had seen the strong man walk off with
the empty basket plainly leaving all that abundance for his use and benefit
was fain to lie down and fall asleep again from sheer inability to entertain
such wonders in his mind
Meanwhile the single gentleman the notary and Mr Garland repaired to a
certain coffeehouse and from that place indited and sent a letter to Miss
Sally Brass requesting her in terms mysterious and brief to favour an unknown
friend who wished to consult her with her company there as speedily as
possible The communication performed its errand so well that within ten
minutes of the messengers return and report of its delivery Miss Brass herself
was announced
»Pray maam« said the single gentleman whom she found alone in the room
»take a chair«
Miss Brass sat herself down in a very stiff and frigid state and seemed
as indeed she was not a little astonished to find that the lodger and her
mysterious correspondent were one and the same person
»You did not expect to see me« said the single gentleman »I didnt think
much about it« returned the beauty »I supposed it was business of some kind or
other If its about the apartments of course youll give my brother regular
notice you know or money Thats very easily settled Youre a responsible
party and in such a case lawful money and lawful notice are pretty much the
same«
»I am obliged to you for your good opinion« retorted the single gentleman
»and quite concur in these sentiments But that is not the subject on which I
wish to speak with you«
»Oh« said Sally »Then just state the particulars will you I suppose its
professional business«
»Why it is connected with the law certainly«
»Very well« returned Miss Brass »My brother and I are just the same I can
take any instructions or give you any advice«
»As there are other parties interested beside myself« said the single
gentleman rising and opening the door of an inner room »we had better confer
together Miss Brass is here gentlemen«
Mr Garland and the notary walked in looking very grave and drawing up
two chairs one on each side of the single gentleman formed a kind of fence
round the gentle Sarah and penned her into a corner Her brother Sampson under
such circumstances would certainly have evinced some confusion or anxiety but
she all composure pulled out the tin box and calmly took a pinch of snuff
»Miss Brass« said the notary taking the word at this crisis »we
professional people understand each other and when we choose can say what we
have to say in very few words You advertised a runaway servant the other
day«
»Well« returned Miss Sally with a sudden flush overspreading her features
»what of that«
»She is found maam« said the notary pulling out his pockethandkerchief
with a flourish »She is found«
»Who found her« demanded Sarah hastily
»We did maam we three Only last night or you would have heard from us
before«
»And now I have heard from you« said Miss Brass folding her arms as though
she were about to deny something to the death »what have you got to say
Something you have got into your heads about her of course Prove it will you
thats all Prove it You have found her you say I can tell you if you
dont know it that you have found the most artful lying pilfering devilish
little minx that was ever born Have you got her here« she added looking
sharply round
»No she is not here at present« returned the notary »But she is quite
safe«
»Ha« cried Sally twitching a pinch of snuff out of her box as spitefully
as if she were in the very act of wrenching off the small servants nose »she
shall be safe enough from this time I warrant you«
»I hope so« replied the notary »Did it occur to you for the first time
when you found she had run away that there were two keys to your kitchen door«
Miss Sally took another pinch and putting her head on one side looked at
her questioner with a curious kind of spasm about her mouth but with a cunning
aspect of immense expression
»Two keys« repeated the notary »one of which gave her the opportunities of
roaming through the house at nights when you supposed her fast locked up and of
overhearing confidential consultations among others that particular
conference to be described today before a justice which you will have an
opportunity of hearing her relate that conference which you and Mr Brass held
together on the night before that most unfortunate and innocent young man was
accused of robbery by a horrible device of which I will only say that it may be
characterised by the epithets which you have applied to this wretched little
witness and by a few stronger ones besides«
Sally took another pinch Although her face was wonderfully composed it was
apparent that she was wholly taken by surprise and that what she had expected
to be taxed with in connection with her small servant was something very
different from this
»Come come Miss Brass« said the notary »you have great command of
feature but you feel I see that by a chance which never entered your
imagination this base design is revealed and two of its plotters must be
brought to justice Now you know the pains and penalties you are liable to and
so I need not dilate upon them but I have a proposal to make to you You have
the honour of being sister to one of the greatest scoundrels unhung and if I
may venture to say so to a lady you are in every respect quite worthy of him
But connected with you two is a third party a villain of the name of Quilp
the prime mover of the whole diabolical device who I believe to be worse than
either For his sake Miss Brass do us the favour to reveal the whole history
of this affair Let me remind you that your doing so at our instance will
place you in a safe and comfortable position your present one is not desirable
and cannot injure your brother for against him and you we have quite
sufficient evidence as you hear already I will not say to you that we suggest
this course in mercy for to tell you the truth we do not entertain any regard
for you but it is a necessity to which we are reduced and I recommend it to
you as a matter of the very best policy Time« said Mr Witherden pulling out
his watch »in a business like this is exceedingly precious Favour us with
your decision as speedily as possible maam«
With a smile upon her face and looking at each of the three by turns Miss
Brass took two or three more pinches of snuff and having by this time very
little left travelled round and round the box with her forefinger and thumb
scraping up another Having disposed of this likewise and put the box carefully
in her pocket she said
»I am to accept or reject at once am I«
»Yes« said Mr Witherden
The charming creature was opening her lips to speak in reply when the door
was hastily opened too and the head of Sampson Brass was thrust into the room
»Excuse me« said that gentleman hastily »Wait a bit«
So saying and quite indifferent to the astonishment his presence
occasioned he crept in shut the door kissed his greasy glove as servilely as
if it were the dust and made a most abject bow
»Sarah« said Brass »hold your tongue if you please and let me speak
Gentlemen if I could express the pleasure it gives me to see three such men in
a happy unity of feeling and concord of sentiment I think you would hardly
believe me But though I am unfortunate nay gentlemen criminal if we are to
use harsh expressions in a company like this still I have my feelings like
other men I have heard of a poet who remarked that feelings were the common
lot of all If he could have been a pig gentlemen and have uttered that
sentiment he would still have been immortal«
»If youre not an idiot« said Miss Brass harshly »hold your peace«
»Sarah my dear« returned her brother »thank you But I know what I am
about my love and will take the liberty of expressing myself accordingly Mr
Witherden sir your handkerchief is hanging out of your pocket would you
allow me to «
As Mr Brass advanced to remedy this accident the notary shrunk from him
with an air of disgust Brass who over and above his usual prepossessing
qualities had a scratched face a green shade over one eye and a hat
grievously crushed stopped short and looked round with a pitiful smile
»He shuns me« said Sampson »even when I would as I may say heap coals of
fire upon his head Well Ah But I am a falling house and the rats if I may
be allowed the expression in reference to a gentleman I respect and love beyond
everything fly from me Gentlemen regarding your conversation just now I
happened to see my sister on her way here and wondering where she could be
going to and being may I venture to say naturally of a suspicious turn
followed her Since then I have been listening«
»If youre not mad« interposed Miss Sally »stop there and say no more«
»Sarah my dear« rejoined Brass with undiminished politeness »I thank you
kindly but will still proceed Mr Witherden sir as we have the honour to be
members of the same profession to say nothing of that other gentleman having
been my lodger and having partaken as one may say of the hospitality of my
roof I think you might have given me the refusal of this offer in the first
instance. I do indeed Now my dear sir« cried Brass seeing that the notary
was about to interrupt him »suffer me to speak I beg«
Mr Witherden was silent and Brass went on
»If you will do me the favour« he said holding up the green shade and
revealing an eye most horribly discoloured »to look at this you will naturally
inquire in your own minds how did I get it If you look from that to my face
you will wonder what could have been the cause of all these scratches And if
from them to my hat how it came into the state in which you see it Gentlemen«
said Brass striking the hat fiercely with his clenched hand »to all these
questions I answer Quilp«
The three gentlemen looked at each other but said nothing »I say« pursued
Brass glancing aside at his sister as though he were talking for her
information and speaking with a snarling malignity in violent contrast to his
usual smoothness »that I answer to all these questions Quilp Quilp who
deludes me into his infernal den and takes a delight in looking on and
chuckling while I scorch and burn and bruise and maim myself Quilp who
never once no never once in all our communications together has treated me
otherwise than as a dog Quilp whom I have always hated with my whole heart
but never so much as lately He gives me the cold shoulder on this very matter
as if he had had nothing to do with it instead of being the first to propose
it I cant trust him In one of his howling raving blazing humours I believe
hed let it out if it was murder and never think of himself so long as he
could terrify me Now« said Brass picking up his hat again and replacing the
shade over his eye and actually crouching down in the excess of his servility
»what does all this lead to what should you say it led me to gentlemen
could you guess at all near the mark«
Nobody spoke Brass stood smirking for a little while as if he had
propounded some choice conundrum and then said
»To be short with you then it leads me to this If the truth has come out
as it plainly has in a manner that theres no standing up against and a very
sublime and grand thing is Truth gentlemen in its way though like other
sublime and grand things such as thunderstorms and that were not always over
and above glad to see it I had better turn upon this man than let this man
turn upon me Its clear to me that I am done for Therefore if anybody is to
split I had better be the person and have the advantage of it Sarah my dear
comparatively speaking youre safe I relate these circumstances for my own
profit«
With that Mr Brass in a great hurry revealed the whole story bearing as
heavily as possible on his amiable employer and making himself out to be rather
a saintlike and holy character though subject he acknowledged to human
weaknesses He concluded thus
»Now gentlemen I am not a man who does things by halves Being in for a
penny I am ready as the saying is to be in for a pound You must do with me
what you please and take me where you please If you wish to have this in
writing well reduce it into manuscript immediately You will be tender with
me I am sure I am quite confident you will be tender with me You are men of
honour and have feeling hearts I yielded from necessity to Quilp for though
necessity has no law she has her lawyers I yield to you from necessity too
from policy besides and because of feelings that have been a pretty long time
working within me Punish Quilp gentlemen Weigh heavily upon him Grind him
down Tread him under foot He has done as much by me for many and many a day«
Having now arrived at the conclusion of his discourse Sampson checked the
current of his wrath kissed his glove again and smiled as only parasites and
cowards can
»And this« said Miss Brass raising her head with which she had hitherto
sat resting on her hands and surveying him from head to foot with a bitter
sneer »this is my brother is it This is my brother that I have worked and
toiled for and believed to have had something of the man in him«
»Sarah my dear« returned Sampson rubbing his hands feebly »you disturb
our friends Besides you youre disappointed Sarah and not knowing what you
say expose yourself«
»Yes you pitiful dastard« retorted the lovely damsel »I understand you
You feared that I should be beforehand with you But do you think that I would
have been enticed to say a word Id have scorned it if they had tried and
tempted me for twenty years«
»He he« simpered Brass who in his deep debasement really seemed to have
changed sexes with his sister and to have made over to her any spark of
manliness he might have possessed »You think so Sarah you think so perhaps
but you would have acted quite different my good fellow You will not have
forgotten that it was a maxim with Foxey our revered father gentlemen
Always suspect everybody Thats the maxim to go through life with If you were
not actually about to purchase your own safety when I showed myself I suspect
youd have done it by this time And therefore Ive done it myself and spared
you the trouble as well as the shame The shame gentlemen« added Brass
allowing himself to be slightly overcome »if there is any is mine Its better
that a female should be spared it«
With deference to the better opinion of Mr Brass and more particularly to
the authority of his Great Ancestor it may be doubted with humility whether
the elevating principle laid down by the latter gentleman and acted upon by his
descendant is always a prudent one or attended in practice with the desired
results This is beyond question a bold and presumptuous doubt inasmuch as
many distinguished characters called men of the world longheaded customers
knowing dogs shrewd fellows capital hands at business and the like have
made and do daily make this axiom their polar star and compass Still the
doubt may be gently insinuated And in illustration it may be observed that if
Mr Brass not being oversuspicious had without prying and listening left
his sister to manage the conference on their joint behalf or prying and
listening had not been in such a mighty hurry to anticipate her which he would
not have been but for his distrust and jealousy he would probably have found
himself much better off in the end Thus it will always happen that these men
of the world who go through it in armour defend themselves from quite as much
good as evil to say nothing of the inconvenience and absurdity of mounting
guard with a microscope at all times and of wearing a coat of mail on the most
innocent occasions
The three gentlemen spoke together apart for a few moments At the end of
their consultation which was very brief the notary pointed to the writing
materials on the table and informed Mr Brass that if he wished to make any
statement in writing he had the opportunity of doing so At the same time he
felt bound to tell him that they would require his attendance presently before
a justice of the peace and that in what he did or said he was guided entirely
by his own discretion
»Gentlemen« said Brass drawing off his gloves and crawling in spirit upon
the ground before them »I will justify the tenderness with which I know I shall
be treated and as without tenderness I should now that this discovery has
been made stand in the worst position of the three you may depend upon it I
will make a clean breast Mr Witherden sir a kind of faintness is upon my
spirits if you would do me the favour to ring the bell and order up a glass of
something warm and spicy I shall notwithstanding what has passed have a
melancholy pleasure in drinking your good health I had hoped« said Brass
looking round with a mournful smile »to have seen you three gentlemen one day
or another with your legs under the mahogany in my humble parlour in the Marks
But hopes are fleeting Dear me«
Mr Brass found himself so exceedingly affected at this point that he
could say or do nothing more until some refreshment arrived Having partaken of
it pretty freely for one in his agitated state he sat down to write
The lovely Sarah now with her arms folded and now with her hands clasped
behind her paced the room with manly strides while her brother was thus
employed and sometimes stopped to pull out her snuffbox and bite the lid She
continued to pace up and down until she was quite tired and then fell asleep on
a chair near the door
It has been since supposed with some reason that this slumber was a sham
or feint as she contrived to slip away unobserved in the dusk of the afternoon
Whether this was an intentional and waking departure or a somnambulistic
leavetaking and walking in her sleep may remain a subject of contention but
on one point and indeed the main one all parties are agreed In whatever state
she walked away she certainly did not walk back again
Mention having been made of the dusk of the afternoon it will be inferred
that Mr Brasss task occupied some time in the completion It was not finished
until evening but being done at last that worthy person and the three friends
adjourned in a hackneycoach to the private office of a Justice who giving Mr
Brass a warm reception and detaining him in a secure place that he might insure
to himself the pleasure of seeing him on the morrow dismissed the others with
the cheering assurance that a warrant could not fail to be granted next day for
the apprehension of Mr Quilp and that a proper application and statement of
all the circumstances to the secretary of state who was fortunately in town
would no doubt procure Kits free pardon and liberation without delay
And now indeed it seemed that Quilps malignant career was drawing to a
close and that retribution which often travels slowly especially when
heaviest had tracked his footsteps with a sure and certain scent and was
gaining on him fast Unmindful of her stealthy tread her victim holds his
course in fancied triumph Still at his heels she comes and once afoot is
never turned aside
Their business ended the three gentlemen hastened back to the lodgings of
Mr Swiveller whom they found progressing so favourably in his recovery as to
have been able to sit up for half an hour and to have conversed with
cheerfulness Mrs Garland had gone home some time since but Mr Abel was still
sitting with him After telling him all they had done the two Mr Garlands and
the single gentleman as if by some previous understanding took their leaves
for the night leaving the invalid alone with the notary and the small servant
»As you are so much better« said Mr Witherden sitting down at the
bedside »I may venture to commmunicate to you a piece of news which has come to
me professionally«
The idea of any professional intelligence from a gentleman connected with
legal matters appeared to afford Richard anything but a pleasing anticipation
Perhaps he connected it in his own mind with one or two outstanding accounts in
reference to which he had already received divers threatening letters His
countenance fell as he replied
»Certainly sir I hope its not anything of a very disagreeable nature
though«
»If I thought it so I should choose some better time for communicating it«
replied the notary »Let me tell you first that my friends who have been here
today know nothing of it and that their kindness to you has been quite
spontaneous and with no hope of return It may do a thoughtless careless man
good to know that«
Dick thanked him and said he hoped it would
»I have been making some inquiries about you« said Mr Witherden »little
thinking that I should find you under such circumstances as those which have
brought us together You are the nephew of Rebecca Swiveller spinster
deceased of Cheselbourne in Dorsetshire«
»Deceased« cried Dick
»Deceased If you had been another sort of nephew you would have come into
possession so says the will and I see no reason to doubt it of
fiveandtwenty thousand pounds As it is you have fallen into an annuity of
one hundred and fifty pounds a year but I think I may congratulate you even
upon that«
»Sir« said Dick sobbing and laughing together »you may For please God
well make a scholar of the poor Marchioness yet And she shall walk in silk
attire and siller have to spare or may I never rise from this bed again«
Chapter LXVII
Unconscious of the proceedings faithfully narrated in the last chapter and
little dreaming of the mine which had been sprung beneath him for to the end
that he should have no warning of the business afoot the profoundest secrecy
was observed in the whole transaction Mr Quilp remained shut up in his
hermitage undisturbed by any suspicion and extremely well satisfied with the
result of his machinations Being engaged in the adjustment of some accounts
an occupation to which the silence and solitude of his retreat were very
favourable he had not strayed from his den for two whole days The third day
of his devotion to this pursuit found him still hard at work and little
disposed to stir abroad
It was the day next after Mr Brasss confession and consequently that
which threatened the restriction of Mr Quilps liberty and the abrupt
communication to him of some very unpleasant and unwelcome facts Having no
intuitive perception of the cloud which lowered upon his house the dwarf was in
his ordinary state of cheerfulness and when he found he was becoming too much
engrossed by business with a due regard to his health and spirits he varied its
monotonous routine with a little screeching or howling or some other innocent
relaxation of that nature
He was attended as usual by Tom Scott who sat crouching over the fire
after the manner of a toad and from time to time when his masters back was
turned imitating his grimaces with a fearful exactness The figurehead had not
yet disappeared but remained in its old place The face horribly seared by the
frequent application of the redhot poker and further ornamented by the
insertion in the tip of the nose of a tenpenny nail yet smiled blandly in its
less lacerated parts and seemed like a sturdy martyr to provoke its tormentor
to the commission of new outrages and insults
The day in the highest and brightest quarters of the town was damp dark
cold and gloomy In that low and marshy spot the fog filled every nook and
corner with a thick dense cloud Every object was obscure at one or two yards
distance The warning lights and fires upon the river were powerless beneath
this pall and but for a raw and piercing chillness in the air and now and
then the cry of some bewildered boatman as he rested on his oars and tried to
make out where he was the river itself might have been miles away
The mist though sluggish and slow to move was of a keenly searching kind
No muffling up in furs and broadcloth kept it out It seemed to penetrate into
the very bones of the shrinking wayfarers and to rack them with cold and pains
Everything was wet and clammy to the touch The warm blaze alone defied it and
leaped and sparkled merrily It was a day to be at home crowding about the
fire telling stories of travellers who had lost their way in such weather on
heaths and moors and to love a warm hearth more than ever
The dwarfs humour as we know was to have a fireside to himself and when
he was disposed to be convivial to enjoy himself alone By no means insensible
to the comfort of being within doors he ordered Tom Scott to pile the little
stove with coals and dismissing his work for that day determined to be
jovial
To this end he lighted up fresh candles and heaped more fuel on the fire
and having dined off a beefsteak which he cooked himself in somewhat of a
savage and canniballike manner brewed a great bowl of hot punch lighted his
pipe and sat down to spend the evening
At this moment a low knocking at the cabindoor arrested his attention
When it had been twice or thrice repeated he softly opened the little window
and thrusting his head out demanded who was there
»Only me Quilp« replied a womans voice
»Only you« cried the dwarf stretching his neck to obtain a better view of
his visitor »And what brings you here you jade How dare you approach the
ogres castle eh«
»I have come with some news« rejoined his spouse »Dont be angry with me«
»Is it good news pleasant news news to make a man skip and snap his
fingers« said the dwarf »Is the dear old lady dead«
»I dont know what news it is or whether its good or bad« rejoined his
wife
»Then shes alive« said Quilp »and theres nothing the matter with her Go
home again you bird of evil note go home«
»I have brought a letter« cried the meek little woman
»Toss it in at the window here and go your ways« said Quilp interrupting
her »or Ill come out and scratch you«
»No but please Quilp do hear me speak« urged his submissive wife in
tears »Please do«
»Speak then« growled the dwarf with a malicious grin »Be quick and short
about it Speak will you«
»It was left at our house this afternoon« said Mrs Quilp trembling »by a
boy who said he didnt know from whom it came but that it was given to him to
leave and that he was told to say it must be brought on to you directly for it
was of the very greatest consequence But please« she added as her husband
stretched out his hand for it »please let me in You dont know how wet and
cold I am or how many times I have lost my way in coming here through this
thick fog Let me dry myself at the fire for five minutes Ill go away directly
you tell me to Quilp Upon my word I will«
Her amiable husband hesitated for a few moments but bethinking himself
that the letter might require some answer of which she could be the bearer
closed the window opened the door and bade her enter Mrs Quilp obeyed right
willingly and kneeling down before the fire to warm her hands delivered into
his a little packet
»Im glad youre wet« said Quilp snatching it and squinting at her »Im
glad youre cold Im glad you lost your way Im glad your eyes are red with
crying It does my heart good to see your little nose so pinched and frosty«
»Oh Quilp« sobbed his wife »How cruel it is of you«
»Did she think I was dead« said Quilp wrinkling his face into a most
extraordinary series of grimaces »Did she think she was going to have all the
money and to marry somebody she liked Ha ha ha Did she«
These taunts elicited no reply from the poor little woman who remained on
her knees warming her hands and sobbing to Mr Quilps great delight But
just as he was contemplating her and chuckling excessively he happened to
observe that Tom Scott was delighted too wherefore that he might have no
presumptuous partner in his glee the dwarf instantly collared him dragged him
to the door and after a short scuffle kicked him into the yard In return for
this mark of attention Tom immediately walked upon his hands to the window and
if the expression be allowable looked in with his shoes besides rattling
his feet upon the glass like a Banshee upside down As a matter of course Mr
Quilp lost no time in resorting to the infallible poker with which after some
dodging and lying in ambush he paid his young friend one or two such
unequivocal compliments that he vanished precipitately and left him in quiet
possession of the field
»So That little job being disposed of« said the dwarf coolly »Ill read
my letter Humph« he muttered looking at the direction »I ought to know this
writing Beautiful Sally«
Opening it he read in a fair round legal hand as follows
»Sammy has been practised upon and has broken confidence It has all come
out You had better not be in the way for strangers are going to call upon you
They have been very quiet as yet because they mean to surprise you Dont lose
time I didnt I am not to be found anywhere If I was you I wouldnt be
either S B late of B M«
To describe the changes that passed over Quilps face as he read this
letter halfadozen times would require some new language such for power of
expression as was never written read or spoken For a long time he did not
utter one word but after a considerable interval during which Mrs Quilp was
almost paralysed with the alarm his looks engendered he contrived to gasp out
»If I had him here If I only had him here «
»Oh Quilp« said his wife »whats the matter Who are you angry with«
» I should drown him« said the dwarf not heeding her »Too easy a death
too short too quick but the river runs close at hand Oh if I had him here
Just to take him to the brink coaxingly and pleasantly holding him by the
buttonhole joking with him and with a sudden push to send him splashing
down Drowning men come to the surface three times they say Ah To see him
those three times and mock him as his face came bobbing up oh what a rich
treat that would be«
»Quilp« stammered his wife venturing at the same time to touch him on the
shoulder »what has gone wrong«
She was so terrified by the relish with which he pictured this pleasure to
himself that she could scarcely make herself intelligible
»Such a bloodless cur« said Quilp rubbing his hands very slowly and
pressing them tight together »I thought his cowardice and servility were the
best guarantee for his keeping silence Oh Brass Brass my dear good
affectionate faithful complimentary charming friend if I only had you
here«
His wife who had retreated lest she should seem to listen to these
mutterings ventured to approach him again and was about to speak when he
hurried to the door and called Tom Scott who remembering his late gentle
admonition deemed it prudent to appear immediately
»There« said the dwarf pulling him in »Take her home Dont come here
tomorrow for this place will be shut up Come back no more till you hear from
me or see me Do you mind«
Tom nodded sulkily and beckoned Mrs Quilp to lead the way
»As for you« said the dwarf addressing himself to her »ask no questions
about me make no search for me say nothing concerning me I shall not be dead
mistress and thatll comfort you Hell take care of you«
»But Quilp What is the matter Where are you going Do say something
more«
»Ill say that« said the dwarf seizing her by the arm »and do that too
which undone and unsaid would be best for you unless you go directly«
»Has anything happened« cried his wife »Oh Do tell me that«
»Yes« snarled the dwarf »No What matter which I have told you what to
do Woe betide you if you fail to do it or disobey me by a hairs breadth Will
you go«
»I am going Ill go directly but« faltered his wife »answer me one
question first Has this letter any connexion with dear little Nell I must ask
you that I must indeed Quilp You cannot think what days and nights of sorrow
I have had through having once deceived that child I dont know what harm I may
have brought about but great or little I did it for you Quilp My conscience
misgave me when I did it Do answer me this question if you please«
The exasperated dwarf returned no answer but turned round and caught up his
usual weapon with such vehemence that Tom Scott dragged his charge away by main
force and as swiftly as he could It was well he did so for Quilp who was
nearly mad with rage pursued them to the neighbouring lane and might have
prolonged the chase but for the dense mist which obscured them from his view
and appeared to thicken every moment
»It will be a good night for travelling anonymously« he said as he
returned slowly being pretty well breathed with his run »Stay We may look
better here This is too hospitable and free«
By a great exertion of strength he closed the two old gates which were
deeply sunken in the mud and barred them with a heavy beam That done he shook
his matted hair from about his eyes and tried them Strong and fast
»The fence between this wharf and the next is easily climbed« said the
dwarf when he had taken these precautions »Theres a back lane too from
there That shall be my way out A man need know his road well to find it in
this lovely place tonight I need fear no unwelcome visitors while this lasts
I think«
Almost reduced to the necessity of groping his way with his hands it had
grown so dark and the fog had so much increased he returned to his lair and
after musing for some time over the fire busied himself in preparations for a
speedy departure
While he was collecting a few necessaries and cramming them into his
pockets he never once ceased communing with himself in a low voice or
unclenched his teeth which he had ground together on finishing Miss Brasss
note
»Oh Sampson« he muttered »good worthy creature if I could but hug you
If I could only fold you in my arms and squeeze your ribs as I could squeeze
them if I once had you tight what a meeting there would be between us If we
ever do cross each other again Sampson well have a greeting not easily to be
forgotten trust me This time Sampson this moment when all had gone on so
well was so nicely chosen It was so thoughtful of you so penitent so good
Oh if we were face to face in this room again my whitelivered man of law how
well contented one of us would be«
There he stopped and raising the bowl of punch to his lips drank a long
deep draught as if it were fair water and cooling to his parched mouth Setting
it down abruptly and resuming his preparations he went on with his soliloquy
»Theres Sally« he said with flashing eyes »the woman has spirit
determination purpose was she asleep or petrified She could have stabbed
him poisoned him safely She might have seen this coming on Why does she give
me notice when its too late When he sat there yonder there over there
with his white face and red head and sickly smile why didnt I know what was
passing in his heart It should have stopped beating that night if I had been
in his secret or there are no drugs to lull a man to sleep or no fire to burn
him«
Another draught from the bowl and cowering over the fire with a ferocious
aspect he muttered to himself again
»And this like every other trouble and anxiety I have had of late times
springs from that old dotard and his darling child two wretched feeble
wanderers Ill be their evil genius yet And you sweet Kit honest Kit
virtuous innocent Kit look to yourself Where I hate I bite I hate you my
darling fellow with good cause and proud as you are tonight Ill have my
turn Whats that«
A knocking at the gate he had closed A loud and violent knocking Then a
pause as if those who knocked had stopped to listen Then the noise again
more clamorous and importunate than before
»So soon« said the dwarf »And so eager I am afraid I shall disappoint
you Its well Im quite prepared Sally I thank you«
As he spoke he extinguished the candle In his impetuous attempts to subdue
the brightness of the fire he overset the stove which came tumbling forward
and fell with a crash upon the burning embers it had shot forth in its descent
leaving the room in pitchy darkness The noise at the gate still continuing he
felt his way to the door and stepped into the open air
At that moment the knocking ceased It was about eight oclock but the dead
of the darkest night would have been as noonday in comparison with the thick
cloud which then rested upon the earth and shrouded everything from view He
darted forward for a few paces as if into the mouth of some dim yawning
cavern then thinking he had gone wrong changed the direction of his steps
then stood still not knowing where to turn
»If they would knock again« said Quilp trying to peer into the gloom by
which he was surrounded »the sound might guide me Come Batter the gate once
more«
He stood listening intently but the noise was not renewed Nothing was to
be heard in that deserted place but at intervals the distant barkings of
dogs The sound was far away now in one quarter now answered in another nor
was it any guide for it often came from shipboard as he knew
»If I could find a wall or fence« said the dwarf stretching out his arms
and walking slowly on »I should know which way to turn A good black devils
night this to have my dear friend here If I had but that wish it might for
anything I cared never be day again«
As the word passed his lips he staggered and fell and next moment was
fighting with the cold dark water
For all its bubbling up and rushing in his ears he could hear the knocking
at the gate again could hear a shout that followed it could recognise the
voice For all his struggling and plashing he could understand that they had
lost their way and had wandered back to the point from which they started that
they were all but looking on while he was drowned that they were close at
hand but could not make an effort to save him that he himself had shut and
barred them out He answered the shout with a yell which seemed to make the
hundred fires that danced before his eyes tremble and flicker as if a gust of
wind had stirred them It was of no avail The strong tide filled his throat
and bore him on upon its rapid current
Another mortal struggle and he was up again beating the water with his
hands and looking out with wild and glaring eyes that showed him some black
object he was drifting close upon The hull of a ship He could touch its smooth
and slippery surface with his hand One loud cry now but the resistless water
bore him down before he could give it utterance and driving him under it
carried away a corpse
It toyed and sported with its ghastly freight now bruising it against the
slimy piles now hiding it in mud or long rank grass now dragging it heavily
over rough stones and gravel now feigning to yield it to its own element and
in the same action luring it away until tired of the ugly plaything it flung
it on a swamp a dismal place where pirates had swung in chains through many a
wintry night and left it there to bleach
And there it lay alone The sky was red with flame and the water that bore
it there had been tinged with the sullen light as it flowed along The place the
deserted carcase had left so recently a living man was now a blazing ruin
There was something of the glare upon its face The hair stirred by the damp
breeze played in a kind of mockery of death such a mockery as the dead man
himself would have delighted in when alive about its head and its dress
fluttered idly in the night wind
Chapter LXVIII
Lighted rooms bright fires cheerful faces the music of glad voices words of
love and welcome warm hearts and tears of happiness what a change is this
But it is to such delights that Kit is hastening They are awaiting him he
knows He fears he will die of joy before he gets among them
They have prepared him for this all day He is not to be carried off
tomorrow with the rest they tell him first By degrees they let him know that
doubts have arisen that inquiries are to be made and perhaps he may be
pardoned after all At last the evening being come they bring him to a room
where some gentlemen are assembled Foremost among them is his good old master
who comes and takes him by the hand He hears that his innocence is established
and that he is pardoned He cannot see the speaker but he turns towards the
voice and in trying to answer falls down insensible
They recover him again and tell him he must be composed and bear this like
a man Somebody says he must think of his poor mother It is because he does
think of her so much that the happy news has overpowered him They crowd about
him and tell him that the truth has gone abroad and that all the town and
country ring with sympathy for his misfortunes He has no ears for this His
thoughts as yet have no wider range than home Does she know it what did she
say who told her He can speak of nothing else
They make him drink a little wine and talk kindly to him for a while until
he is more collected and can listen and thank them He is free to go Mr
Garland thinks if he feels better it is time they went away The gentlemen
cluster round him and shake hands with him He feels very grateful to them for
the interest they have in him and for the kind promises they make but the
power of speech is gone again and he has much ado to keep his feet even though
leaning on his masters arm
As they come through the dismal passages some officers of the jail who are
in waiting there congratulate him in their rough way on his release The
newsmonger is of the number but his manner is not quite hearty there is
something of surliness in his compliments He looks upon Kit as an intruder as
one who has obtained admission to that place on false pretences who has enjoyed
a privilege without being duly qualified He may be a very good sort of young
man he thinks but he has no business there and the sooner he is gone the
better
The last door shuts behind them They have passed the outer wall and stand
in the open air in the street he has so often pictured to himself when hemmed
in by the gloomy stones and which has been in all his dreams It seems wider
and more busy than it used to be The night is bad and yet how cheerful and gay
in his eyes One of the gentlemen in taking leave of him pressed some money
into his hand He has not counted it but when they have gone a few paces beyond
the box for poor Prisoners he hastily returns and drops it in
Mr Garland has a coach waiting in a neighbouring street and taking Kit
inside with him bids the man drive home At first they can only travel at a
footpace and then with torches going on before because of the heavy fog But
as they get farther from the river and leave the closer portions of the town
behind they are able to dispense with this precaution and to proceed at a
brisker rate On the road hard galloping would be too slow for Kit but when
they are drawing near their journeys end he begs they may go more slowly and
when the house appears in sight that they may stop only for a minute or two
to give him time to breathe
But there is no stopping then for the old gentleman speaks stoutly to him
the horses mend their pace and they are already at the gardengate Next
minute they are at the door There is a noise of tongues and tread of feet
inside It opens Kit rushes in and finds his mother clinging round his neck
And there too is the ever faithful Barbaras mother still holding the
baby as if she had never put it down since that sad day when they little hoped
to have such joy as this there she is Heaven bless her crying her eyes out
and sobbing as never woman sobbed before and there is little Barbara poor
little Barbara so much thinner and so much paler and yet so very pretty
trembling like a leaf and supporting herself against the wall and there is Mrs
Garland neater and nicer than ever fainting away stone dead with nobody to
help her and there is Mr Abel violently blowing his nose and wanting to
embrace everybody and there is the single gentleman hovering round them all
and constant to nothing for an instant and there is that good dear thoughtful
little Jacob sitting all alone by himself on the bottom stair with his hands
on his knees like an old man roaring fearfully without giving any trouble to
anybody and each and all of them are for the time clean out of their wits and
do jointly and severally commit all manner of follies
And even when the rest have in some measure come to themselves again and
can find words and smiles Barbara that softhearted gentle foolish little
Barbara is suddenly missed and found to be in a swoon by herself in the back
parlour from which swoon she falls into hysterics and from which hysterics
into a swoon again and is indeed so bad that despite a mortal quantity of
vinegar and cold water she is hardly a bit better at last than she was at first
Then Kits mother comes in and says will he come and speak to her and Kit
says »Yes« and goes and he says in a kind voice »Barbara« and Barbaras
mother tells her that »its only Kit« and Barbara says with her eyes closed
all the time »Oh but is it him indeed« and Barbaras mother says »To be sure
it is my dear theres nothing the matter now« And in further assurance that
hes safe and sound Kit speaks to her again and then Barbara goes off into
another fit of laughter and then into another fit of crying and then Barbaras
mother and Kits mother nod to each other and pretend to scold her but only to
bring her to herself the faster bless you and being experienced matrons and
acute at perceiving the first dawning symptoms of recovery they comfort Kit
with the assurance that »shell do now« and so dismiss him to the place from
whence he came
Well In that place which is the next room there are decanters of wine
and all that sort of thing set out as grand as if Kit and his friends were
firstrate company and there is little Jacob walking as the popular phrase
is into a homemade plumcake at a most surprising pace and keeping his eye
on the figs and oranges which are to follow and making the best use of his
time you may believe Kit no sooner comes in than that single gentleman never
was such a busy gentleman charges all the glasses bumpers and drinks his
health and tells him he shall never want a friend while he lives and so does
Mr Garland and so does Mrs Garland and so does Mr Abel But even this
honour and distinction is not all for the single gentleman forthwith pulls out
of his pocket a massive silver watch going hard and right to half a second
and upon the back of this watch is engraved Kits name with flourishes all
over and in short it is Kits watch bought expressly for him and presented to
him on the spot You may rest assured that Mr and Mrs Garland cant help
hinting about their present in store and that Mr Abel tells outright that he
has his and that Kit is the happiest of the happy
There is one friend he has not seen yet and as he cannot be conveniently
introduced into the family circle by reason of his being an ironshod
quadruped Kit takes the first opportunity of slipping away and hurrying to the
stable The moment he lays his hand upon the latch the pony neighs the loudest
ponys greeting before he has crossed the threshold the pony is capering about
his loose box for he brooks not the indignity of a halter mad to give him
welcome and when Kit goes up to caress and pat him the pony rubs his nose
against his coat and fondles him more lovingly than ever pony fondled man It
is the crowning circumstance of his earnest heartfelt reception and Kit fairly
puts his arm round Whiskers neck and hugs him
But how comes Barbara to trip in there and how smart she is again she has
been at her glass since she recovered How comes Barbara in the stable of all
places in the world Why since Kit has been away the pony would take his food
from nobody but her and Barbara you see not dreaming that Christopher was
there and just looking in to see that everything was right has come upon him
unawares Blushing little Barbara
It may be that Kit has caressed the pony enough it may be that there are
even better things to caress than ponies He leaves him for Barbara at any rate
and hopes she is better Yes Barbara is a great deal better She is afraid
and here Barbara looks down and blushes more that he must have thought her
very foolish »Not at all« says Kit Barbara is glad of that and coughs Hem
just the slightest cough possible not more than that
What a discreet pony when he chooses He is as quiet now as if he were of
marble He has a very knowing look but that he always has »We have hardly had
time to shake hands Barbara« says Kit Barbara gives him hers Why she is
trembling now Foolish fluttering Barbara
Arms length The length of an arm is not much Barbaras was not a long
arm by any means and besides she didnt hold it out straight but bent a
little Kit was so near her when they shook hands that he could see a small
tiny tear yet trembling on an eyelash It was natural that he should look at
it unknown to Barbara It was natural that Barbara should raise her eyes
unconsciously and find him out Was it natural that at that instant without
any previous impulse or design Kit should kiss Barbara He did it whether or
no Barbara said »for shame« but let him do it too twice He might have done
it thrice but the pony kicked up his heels and shook his head as if he were
suddenly taken with convulsions of delight and Barbara being frightened ran
away not straight to where her mother and Kits mother were though lest they
should see how red her cheeks were and should ask her why Sly little Barbara
When the first transports of the whole party had subsided and Kit and his
mother and Barbara and her mother with little Jacob and the baby to boot had
had their suppers together which there was no hurrying over for they were
going to stop there all night Mr Garland called Kit to him and taking him
into a room where they could be alone told him that he had something yet to
say which would surprise him greatly Kit looked so anxious and turned so pale
on hearing this that the old gentleman hastened to add he would be agreeably
surprised and asked him if he would be ready next morning for a journey
»For a journey sir« cried Kit
»In company with me and my friend in the next room Can you guess its
purpose«
Kit turned paler yet and shook his head
»Oh yes I think you do already« said his master »Try«
Kit murmured something rather rambling and unintelligible but he plainly
pronounced the words »Miss Nell« three or four times shaking his head while
he did so as if he would add that there was no hope of that
But Mr Garland instead of saying »Try again« as Kit had made sure he
would told him very seriously that he had guessed right
»The place of their retreat is indeed discovered« he said »at last And
that is our journeys end«
Kit faltered out such questions as where was it and how had it been found
and how long since and was she well and happy
»Happy she is beyond all doubt« said Mr Garland »And well I I trust
she will be soon She has been weak and ailing as I learn but she was better
when I heard this morning and they were full of hope Sit you down and you
shall hear the rest«
Scarcely venturing to draw his breath Kit did as he was told Mr Garland
then related to him how he had a brother of whom he would remember to have
heard him speak and whose picture taken when he was a young man hung in the
best room and how this brother lived a long way off in a countryplace with
an old clergyman who had been his early friend How although they loved each
other as brothers should they had not met for many years but had communicated
by letter from time to time always looking forward to some period when they
would take each other by the hand once more and still letting the Present time
steal on as it was the habit for men to do and suffering the Future to melt
into the Past How this brother whose temper was very mild and quiet and
retiring such as Mr Abels was greatly beloved by the simple people among
whom he dwelt who quite revered the Bachelor for so they called him and had
every one experienced his charity and benevolence How even those slight
circumstances had come to his knowledge very slowly and in course of years for
the Bachelor was one of those whose goodness shuns the light and who have more
pleasure in discovering and extolling the good deeds of others than in
trumpeting their own be they never so commendable How for that reason he
seldom told them of his village friends but how for all that his mind had
become so full of two among them a child and an old man to whom he had been
very kind that in a letter received a few days before he had dwelt upon them
from first to last and had told such a tale of their wandering and mutual
love that few could read it without being moved to tears How he the recipient
of that letter was directly led to the belief that these must be the very
wanderers for whom so much search had been made and whom Heaven had directed to
his brothers care How he had written for such further information as would put
the fact beyond all doubt how it had that morning arrived had confirmed his
first impression into a certainty and was the immediate cause of that journey
being planned which they were to take tomorrow
»In the meantime« said the old gentleman rising and laying his hand on
Kits shoulder »you have a great need of rest for such a day as this would
wear out the strongest man Good night and Heaven send our journey may have a
prosperous ending«
Chapter LXIX
Kit was no sluggard next morning but springing from his bed some time before
day began to prepare for his welcome expedition The hurry of spirits
consequent upon the events of yesterday and the unexpected intelligence he had
heard at night had troubled his sleep through the long dark hours and summoned
such uneasy dreams about his pillow that it was rest to rise
But had it been the beginning of some great labour with the same end in
view had it been the commencement of a long journey to be performed on foot
in that inclement season of the year to be pursued under every privation and
difficulty and to be achieved only with great distress fatigue and suffering
had it been the dawn of some painful enterprise certain to task his utmost
powers of resolution and endurance and to need his utmost fortitude but only
likely to end if happily achieved in good fortune and delight to Nell Kits
cheerful zeal would have been as highly roused Kits ardour and impatience
would have been at least the same
Nor was he alone excited and eager Before he had been up a quarter of an
hour the whole house was astir and busy Everybody hurried to do something
towards facilitating the preparations The single gentleman it is true could
do nothing himself but he overlooked everybody else and was more locomotive
than anybody The work of packing and making ready went briskly on and by
daybreak every preparation for the journey was completed Then Kit began to
wish they had not been quite so nimble for the travellingcarriage which had
been hired for the occasion was not to arrive until nine oclock and there was
nothing but breakfast to fill up the intervening blank of one hour and a half
Yes there was though There was Barbara Barbara was busy to be sure but
so much the better Kit could help her and that would pass away the time
better than any means that could be devised Barbara had no objection to this
arrangement and Kit tracking out the idea which had come upon him so suddenly
overnight began to think that surely Barbara was fond of him and surely he was
fond of Barbara
Now Barbara if the truth must be told as it must and ought to be
Barbara seemed of all the little household to take least pleasure in the
bustle of the occasion and when Kit in the openness of his heart told her how
glad and overjoyed it made him Barbara became more downcast still and seemed
to have even less pleasure in it than before
»You have not been home so long Christopher« said Barbara and it is
impossible to tell how carelessly she said it »You have not been home so long
that you need be glad to go away again I should think«
»But for such a purpose« returned Kit »To bring back Miss Nell To see her
again Only think of that I am so pleased too to think that you will see her
Barbara at last«
Barbara did not absolutely say that she felt no gratification on this point
but she expressed the sentiment so plainly by one little toss of her head that
Kit was quite disconcerted and wondered in his simplicity why she was so cool
about it
»Youll say she has the sweetest and beautifullest face you ever saw I
know« said Kit rubbing his hands »Im sure youll say that«
Barbara tossed her head again
»Whats the matter Barbara« said Kit
»Nothing« cried Barbara And Barbara pouted not sulkily or in an ugly
manner but just enough to make her look more cherrylipped than ever
There is no school in which a pupil gets on so fast as that in which Kit
became a scholar when he gave Barbara the kiss He saw what Barbara meant now
he had his lesson by heart all at once she was the book there it was before
him as plain as print
»Barbara« said Kit »youre not cross with me«
Oh dear no Why should Barbara be cross And what right had she to be cross
And what did it matter whether she was cross or not Who minded her
»Why I do« said Kit »Of course I do«
Barbara didnt see why it was of course at all
Kit was sure she must Would she think again
Certainly Barbara would think again No she didnt see why it was of
course She didnt understand what Christopher meant And besides she was sure
they wanted her up stairs by this time and she must go indeed
»No but Barbara« said Kit detaining her gently »let us part friends I
was always thinking of you in my troubles I should have been a great deal more
miserable than I was if it hadnt been for you«
Goodness gracious how pretty Barbara was when she coloured and when she
trembled like a little shrinking bird
»I am telling you the truth Barbara upon my word but not half so strong
as I could wish« said Kit »When I want you to be pleased to see Miss Nell
its only because I like you to be pleased with what pleases me thats all As
to her Barbara I think I could almost die to do her service but you would
think so too if you knew her as I do I am sure you would«
Barbara was touched and sorry to have appeared indifferent »I have been
used you see« said Kit »to talk and think of her almost as if she was an
angel When I look forward to meeting her again I think of her smiling as she
used to do and being glad to see me and putting out her hand and saying Its
my own old Kit or some such words as those like what she used to say I think
of seeing her happy and with friends about her and brought up as she deserves
and as she ought to be When I think of myself its as her old servant and one
that loved her dearly as his kind good gentle mistress and who would have
gone yes and still would go through any harm to serve her Once I couldnt
help being afraid that if she came back with friends about her she might forget
or be ashamed of having known a humble lad like me and so might speak coldly
which would have cut me Barbara deeper than I can tell But when I came to
think again I felt sure that I was doing her wrong in this and so I went on
as I did at first hoping to see her once more just as she used to be Hoping
this and remembering what she was has made me feel as if I would always try to
please her and always be what I should like to seem to her if I was still her
servant If Im the better for that and I dont think Im the worse I am
grateful to her for it and love and honour her the more Thats the plain
honest truth dear Barbara upon my word it is«
Little Barbara was not of a wayward or capricious nature and being full of
remorse melted into tears To what more conversation this might have led we
need not stop to inquire for the wheels of the carriage were heard at that
moment and being followed by a smart ring at the garden gate caused the
bustle in the house which had laid dormant for a short time to burst again
into tenfold life and vigour
Simultaneously with the travelling equipage arrived Mr Chuckster in a
hackney cab with certain papers and supplies of money for the single gentleman
into whose hands he delivered them This duty discharged he subsided into the
bosom of the family and entertaining himself with a strolling or peripatetic
breakfast watched with genteel indifference the process of loading the
carriage
»Snobbys in this I see sir« he said to Mr Abel Garland »I thought he
wasnt in the last trip because it was expected that his presence wouldnt be
acceptable to the ancient buffalo«
»To whom sir« demanded Mr Abel
»To the old gentleman« returned Mr Chuckster slightly abashed
»Our client prefers to take him now« said Mr Abel drily »There is no
longer any need for that precaution as my fathers relationship to a gentleman
in whom the objects of his search have full confidence will be a sufficient
guarantee for the friendly nature of their errand«
»Ah« thought Mr Chuckster looking out of window »anybody but me Snobby
before me of course He didnt happen to take that particular fivepound note
but I have not the smallest doubt that hes always up to something of that sort
I always said it long before this came out Devilish pretty girl that Pon my
soul an amazing little creature«
Barbara was the subject of Mr Chucksters commendations and as she was
lingering near the carriage all being now ready for its departure that
gentleman was suddenly seized with a strong interest in the proceedings which
impelled him to swagger down the garden and take up his position at a
convenient ogling distance Having had great experience of the sex and being
perfectly acquainted with all those little artifices which find the readiest
road to their hearts Mr Chuckster on taking his ground planted one hand on
his hip and with the other adjusted his flowing hair This is a favourite
attitude in the polite circles and accompanied with a graceful whistling has
been known to do immense execution
Such however is the difference between town and country that nobody took
the smallest notice of this insinuating figure the wretches being wholly
engaged in bidding the travellers farewell in kissing hands to each other
waving handkerchiefs and the like tame and vulgar practices For now the
single gentleman and Mr Garland were in the carriage and the postboy was in
the saddle and Kit well wrapped and muffled up was in the rumble behind and
Mrs Garland was there and Mr Abel was there and Kits mother was there and
little Jacob was there and Barbaras mother was visible in remote perspective
nursing the everwakeful baby and all were nodding beckoning curtseying or
crying out »Goodbye« with all the energy they could express In another
minute the carriage was out of sight and Mr Chuckster remained alone on the
spot where it had lately been with a vision of Kit standing up in the rumble
waving his hand to Barbara and of Barbara in the full light and lustre of his
eyes his eyes Chucksters Chuckster the successful on whom ladies of
quality had looked with favour from phaetons in the parks on Sundays waving
hers to Kit
How Mr Chuckster entranced by this monstrous fact stood for some time
rooted to the earth protesting within himself that Kit was the Prince of
felonious characters and very Emperor or Great Mogul of Snobs and how he
clearly traced this revolting circumstance back to that old villany of the
shilling are matters foreign to our purpose which is to track the rolling
wheels and bear the travellers company on their cold bleak journey
It was a bitter day A keen wind was blowing and rushed against them
fiercely bleaching the hard ground shaking the white frost from the trees and
hedges and whirling it away like dust But little cared Kit for weather There
was a freedom and freshness in the wind as it came howling by which let it
cut never so sharp was welcome As it swept on with its cloud of frost bearing
down the dry twigs and boughs and withered leaves and carrying them away
pellmell it seemed as though some general sympathy had got abroad and
everything was in a hurry like themselves The harder the gusts the better
progress they appeared to make It was a good thing to go struggling and
fighting forward vanquishing them one by one to watch them driving up
gathering strength and fury as they came along to bend for a moment as they
whistled past and then to look back and see them speed away their hoarse
noise dying in the distance and the stout trees cowering down before them
All day long it blew without cessation The night was clear and starlight
but the wind had not fallen and the cold was piercing Sometimes towards the
end of a long stage Kit could not help wishing it were a little warmer but
when they stopped to change horses and he had had a good run and what with
that and the bustle of paying the old postilion and rousing the new one and
running to and fro again until the horses were put to he was so warm that the
blood tingled and smarted in his fingers ends then he felt as if to have it
one degree less cold would be to lose half the delight and glory of the journey
and up he jumped again right cheerily singing to the merry music of the wheels
as they rolled away and leaving the townspeople in their warm beds pursued
their course along the lonely road
Meantime the two gentlemen inside who were little disposed to sleep
beguiled the time with conversation As both were anxious and expectant it
naturally turned upon the subject of their expedition on the manner in which it
had been brought about and on the hopes and fears they entertained respecting
it Of the former they had many of the latter few none perhaps beyond that
indefinable uneasiness which is inseparable from suddenly awakened hope and
protracted expectation
In one of the pauses of their discourse and when half the night had worn
away the single gentleman who had gradually become more and more silent and
thoughtful turned to his companion and said abruptly
»Are you a good listener«
»Like most other men I suppose« returned Mr Garland smiling »I can be
if I am interested and if not interested I should still try to appear so Why
do you ask«
»I have a short narrative on my lips« rejoined his friend »and will try
you with it It is very brief«
Pausing for no reply he laid his hand on the old gentlemans sleeve and
proceeded thus
»There were once two brothers who loved each other dearly There was a
disparity in their ages some twelve years I am not sure but they may
insensibly have loved each other the better for that reason Wide as the
interval between them was however they became rivals too soon The deepest and
strongest affection of both their hearts settled upon one object
The youngest there were reasons for his being sensitive and watchful was
the first to find this out I will not tell you what misery he underwent what
agony of soul he knew how great his mental struggle was He had been a sickly
child His brother patient and considerate in the midst of his own high health
and strength had many and many a day denied himself the sports he loved to sit
beside his couch telling him old stories till his pale face lighted up with an
unwonted glow to carry him in his arms to some green spot where he could tend
the poor pensive boy as he looked upon the bright summer day and saw all nature
healthy but himself to be in any way his fond and faithful nurse I may not
dwell on all he did to make the poor weak creature love him or my tale would
have no end But when the time of trial came the younger brothers heart was
full of those old days Heaven strengthened it to repay the sacrifices of
inconsiderate youth by one of thoughtful manhood He left his brother to be
happy The truth never passed his lips and he quitted the country hoping to
die abroad
The elder brother married her She was in Heaven before long and left him
with an infant daughter
If you have seen the picturegallery of any one old family you will
remember how the same face and figure often the fairest and slightest of them
all come upon you in different generations and how you trace the same sweet
girl through a long line of portraits never growing old or changing the Good
Angel of the race abiding by them in all reverses redeeming all their sins
In this daughter the mother lived again You may judge with what devotion he
who lost that mother almost in the winning clung to this girl her breathing
image She grew to womanhood and gave her heart to one who could not know its
worth Well Her fond father could not see her pine and droop He might be more
deserving than he thought him He surely might become so with a wife like her
He joined their hands and they were married
Through all the misery that followed this union through all the cold
neglect and undeserved reproach through all the poverty he brought upon her
through all the struggles of their daily life too mean and pitiful to tell but
dreadful to endure she toiled on in the deep devotion of her spirit and in
her better nature as only women can Her means and substance wasted her father
nearly beggared by her husbands hand and the hourly witness for they lived
now under one roof of her illusage and unhappiness she never but for him
bewailed her fate Patient and upheld by strong affection to the last she died
a widow of some three weeks date leaving to her fathers care two orphans one
a son of ten or twelve years old the other a girl such another infant child
the same in helplessness in age in form in feature as she had been herself
when her young mother died
The elder brother grandfather to these two children was now a broken man
crushed and borne down less by the weight of years than by the heavy hand of
sorrow With the wreck of his possessions he began to trade in pictures
first and then in curious ancient things He had entertained a fondness for
such matters from a boy and the tastes he had cultivated were now to yield him
an anxious and precarious subsistence
The boy grew like his father in mind and person the girl so like her
mother that when the old man had her on his knee and looked into her mild blue
eyes he felt as if awakening from a wretched dream and his daughter were a
little child again The wayward boy soon spurned the shelter of his roof and
sought associates more congenial to his taste The old man and the child dwelt
alone together
It was then when the love of two dead people who had been nearest and
dearest to his heart was all transferred to this slight creature when her
face constantly before him reminded him from hour to hour of the too early
change he had seen in such another of all the sufferings he had watched and
known and all his child had undergone when the young mans profligate and
hardened course drained him of money as his fathers had and even sometimes
occasioned them temporary privation and distress it was then that there began
to beset him and to be ever in his mind a gloomy dread of poverty and want He
had no thought for himself in this His fear was for the child It was a spectre
in his house and haunted him night and day
The younger brother had been a traveller in many countries and had made his
pilgrimage through life alone His voluntary banishment had been misconstrued
and he had borne not without pain reproach and slight for doing that which had
wrung his heart and cast a mournful shadow on his path Apart from this
communication between him and the elder was difficult and uncertain and often
failed still it was not so wholly broken off but that he learnt with long
blanks and gaps between each interval of information all that I have told you
now
Then dreams of their young happy life happy to him though laden with
pain and early care visited his pillow yet oftener than before and every
night a boy again he was at his brothers side With the utmost speed he could
exert he settled his affairs converted into money all the goods he had and
with honourable wealth enough for both with open heart and hand with limbs
that trembled as they bore him on with emotion such as men can hardly bear and
live arrived one evening at his brothers door«
The narrator whose voice had faltered lately stopped »The rest« said Mr
Garland pressing his hand after a pause »I know«
»Yes« rejoined his friend »we may spare ourselves the sequel You know the
poor result of all my search Even when by dint of such inquiries as the utmost
vigilance and sagacity could set on foot we found they had been seen with two
poor travelling showmen and in time discovered the men themselves and in
time the actual place of their retreat even then we were too late Pray God
we are not too late again«
»We cannot be« said Mr Garland »This time we must succeed«
»I have believed and hoped so« returned the other »I try to believe and
hope so still But a heavy weight has fallen on my spirits my good friend and
the sadness that gathers over me will yield to neither hope nor reason«
»That does not surprise me« said Mr Garland »it is a natural consequence
of the events you have recalled of this dreary time and place and above all
of this wild and dismal night A dismal night indeed Hark how the wind is
howling«
Chapter LXX
Day broke and found them still upon their way Since leaving home they had
halted here and there for necessary refreshment and had frequently been
delayed especially in the nighttime by waiting for fresh horses They had
made no other stoppages but the weather continued rough and the roads were
often steep and heavy It would be night again before they reached their place
of destination
Kit all bluff and hardened with the cold went on manfully and having
enough to do to keep his blood circulating to picture to himself the happy end
of this adventurous journey and to look about him and be amazed at everything
had little spare time for thinking of discomforts Though his impatience and
that of his fellowtravellers rapidly increased as the day waned the hours did
not stand still The short daylight of winter soon faded away and it was dark
again when they had yet many miles to travel
As it grew dusk the wind fell its distant moanings were more low and
mournful and as it came creeping up the road and rattling covertly among the
dry brambles on either hand it seemed like some great phantom for whom the way
was narrow whose garments rustled as it stalked along By degrees it lulled and
died away and then it came on to snow
The flakes fell fast and thick soon covering the ground some inches deep
and spreading abroad a solemn stillness The rolling wheels were noiseless and
the sharp ring and clatter of the horses hoofs became a dull muffled tramp
The life of their progress seemed to be slowly hushed and something deathlike
to usurp its place
Shading his eyes from the falling snow which froze upon their lashes and
obscured his sight Kit often tried to catch the earliest glimpse of twinkling
lights denoting their approach to some not distant town He could descry objects
enough at such times but none correctly Now a tall church spire appeared in
view which presently became a tree a barn a shadow on the ground thrown on
it by their own bright lamps Now there were horsemen footpassengers
carriages going on before or meeting them in narrow ways which when they
were close upon them turned to shadows too A wall a ruin a sturdy gable end
would rise up in the road and when they were plunging headlong at it would be
the road itself Strange turnings too bridges and sheets of water appeared to
start up here and there making the way doubtful and uncertain and yet they
were on the same bare road and these things like the others as they were
passed turned into dim illusions
He descended slowly from his seat for his limbs were numbed when they
arrived at a lone postinghouse and inquired how far they had to go to reach
their journeys end It was a late hour in such byplaces and the people were
abed but a voice answered from an upper window Ten miles The ten minutes that
ensued appeared an hour but at the end of that time a shivering figure led out
the horses they required and after another brief delay they were again in
motion
It was a crosscountry road full after the first three or four miles of
holes and cartruts which being covered by the snow were so many pitfalls to
the trembling horses and obliged them to keep a footpace As it was next to
impossible for men so much agitated as they were by this time to sit still and
move so slowly all three got out and plodded on behind the carriage The
distance seemed interminable and the walk was most laborious As each was
thinking within himself that the driver must have lost his way a church bell
close at hand struck the hour of midnight and the carriage stopped It had
moved softly enough but when it ceased to crunch the snow the silence was as
startling as if some great noise had been replaced by perfect stillness
»This is the place gentlemen« said the driver dismounting from his horse
and knocking at the door of a little inn »Halloa Past twelve oclock is the
dead of night here«
The knocking was loud and long but it failed to rouse the drowsy inmates
All continued dark and silent as before They fell back a little and looked up
at the windows which were mere black patches in the whitened house front No
light appeared The house might have been deserted or the sleepers dead for
any air of life it had about it
They spoke together with a strange inconsistency in whispers unwilling to
disturb again the dreary echoes they had just now raised
»Let us go on« said the younger brother »and leave this good fellow to
wake them if he can I cannot rest until I know that we are not too late Let
us go on in the name of Heaven«
They did so leaving the postilion to order such accommodation as the house
afforded and to renew his knocking Kit accompanied them with a little bundle
which he had hung in the carriage when they left home and had not forgotten
since the bird in his old cage just as she had left him She would be glad
to see her bird he knew
The road wound gently downward As they proceeded they lost sight of the
church whose clock they had heard and of the small village clustering round it
The knocking which was now renewed and which in that stillness they could
plainly hear troubled them They wished the man would forbear or that they had
told him not to break the silence until they returned
The old church tower clad in a ghostly garb of pure cold white again rose
up before them and a few moments brought them close beside it A venerable
building grey even in the midst of the hoary landscape An ancient sundial
on the belfry wall was nearly hidden by the snowdrift and scarcely to be known
for what it was Time itself seemed to have grown dull and old as if no day
were ever to displace the melancholy night
A wicket gate was close at hand but there was more than one path across the
churchyard to which it led and uncertain which to take they came to a stand
again
The village street if street that could be called which was an irregular
cluster of poor cottages of many heights and ages some with their fronts some
with their backs and some with gable ends towards the road with here and there
a signpost or a shed encroaching on the path was close at hand There was a
faint light in a chamber window not far off and Kit ran towards that house to
ask their way
His first shout was answered by an old man within who presently appeared at
the casement wrapping some garment round his throat as a protection from the
cold and demanded who was abroad at that unseasonable hour wanting him
»Tis hard weather this« he grumbled »and not a night to call me up in My
trade is not of that kind that I need be roused from bed The business on which
folks want me will keep cold especially at this season What do you want«
»I would not have roused you if I had known you were old and ill« said
Kit
»Old« repeated the other peevishly »How do you know I am old Not so old
as you think friend perhaps As to being ill you will find many young people
in worse case than I am Mores the pity that it should be so not that I
should be strong and hearty for my years I mean but that they should be weak
and tender I ask your pardon though« said the old man »if I spoke rather
rough at first My eyes are not good at night thats neither age nor illness
they never were and I didnt see you were a stranger«
»I am sorry to call you from your bed« said Kit »but those gentlemen you
may see by the churchyard gate are strangers too who have just arrived from a
long journey and seek the parsonagehouse You can direct us«
»I should be able to« answered the old man in a trembling voice »for
come next summer I have been sexton here good fifty years The righthand
path friend is the road There is no ill news for our good gentleman I
hope«
Kit thanked him and made him a hasty answer in the negative he was turning
back when his attention was caught by the voice of a child Looking up he saw
a very little creature at a neighbouring window
»What is that« cried the child earnestly »Has my dream come true Pray
speak to me whoever that is awake and up«
»Poor boy« said the sexton before Kit could answer »how goes it
darling«
»Has my dream come true« exclaimed the child again in a voice so fervent
that it might have thrilled to the heart of any listener »But no that can
never be How could it be Oh how could it«
»I guess his meaning« said the sexton »To bed again poor boy«
»Ay« cried the child in a burst of despair »I knew it could never be I
felt too sure of that before I asked But all tonight and last night too it
was the same I never fall asleep but that cruel dream comes back«
»Try to sleep again« said the old man soothingly »It will go in time«
»No no I would rather that it staid cruel as it is I would rather that
it staid« rejoined the child »I am not afraid to have it in my sleep but I am
so sad so very very sad«
The old man blessed him the child in tears replied Good night and Kit was
again alone
He hurried back moved by what he had heard though more by the childs
manner than by anything he had said as his meaning was hidden from him They
took the path indicated by the sexton and soon arrived before the parsonage
wall Turning round to look about them when they had got thus far they saw
among some ruined buildings at a distance one single solitary light
It shone from what appeared to be an old oriel window and being surrounded
by the deep shadows of overhanging walls sparkled like a star Bright and
glimmering as the stars above their heads lonely and motionless as they it
seemed to claim some kindred with the eternal lamps of Heaven and to burn in
fellowship with them
»What light is that« said the younger brother
»It is surely« said Mr Garland »in the ruin where they live I see no
other ruin hereabouts«
»They cannot« returned the brother hastily »be waking at this late hour «
Kit interposed directly and begged that while they rang and waited at the
gate they would let him make his way to where this light was shining and try
to ascertain if any people were about Obtaining the permission he desired he
darted off with breathless eagerness and still carrying the birdcage in his
hand made straight towards the spot
It was not easy to hold that pace among the graves and at another time he
might have gone more slowly or round by the path Unmindful of all obstacles
however he pressed forward without slackening his speed and soon arrived
within a few yards of the window
He approached as softly as he could and advancing so near the wall as to
brush the whitened ivy with his dress listened There was no sound inside The
church itself was not more quiet Touching the glass with his cheek he listened
again No And yet there was such a silence all around that he felt sure he
could have heard even the breathing of a sleeper if there had been one there
A strange circumstance a light in such a place at that time of night with
no one near it
A curtain was drawn across the lower portion of the window and he could not
see into the room But there was no shadow thrown upon it from within To have
gained a footing on the wall and tried to look in from above would have been
attended with some danger certainly with some noise and the chance of
terrifying the child if that really were her habitation Again and again he
listened again and again the same wearisome blank
Leaving the spot with slow and cautious steps and skirting the ruin for a
few paces he came at length to a door He knocked No answer But there was a
curious noise inside It was difficult to determine what it was It bore a
resemblance to the low moaning of one in pain but it was not that being far
too regular and constant Now it seemed a kind of song now a wail seemed
that is to his changing fancy for the sound itself was never changed or
checked It was unlike anything he had ever heard and in its tone there was
something fearful chilling and unearthly
The listeners blood ran colder now than ever it had done in frost and
snow but he knocked again There was no answer and the sound went on without
any interruption He laid his hand softly upon the latch and put his knee
against the door It was secured on the inside but yielded to the pressure and
turned upon its hinges He saw the glimmering of a fire upon the old walls and
entered
Chapter LXXI
The dull red glow of a wood fire for no lamp or candle burnt within the room
showed him a figure seated on the hearth with its back towards him bending
over the fitful light The attitude was that of one who sought the heat It was
and yet was not The stooping posture and the cowering form were there but no
hands were stretched out to meet the grateful warmth no shrug or shiver
compared its luxury with the piercing cold outside With limbs huddled together
head bowed down arms crossed upon the breast and fingers tightly clenched it
rocked to and fro upon its seat without a moments pause accompanying the
action with the mournful sound he had heard
The heavy door had closed behind him on his entrance with a crash that made
him start The figure neither spoke nor turned to look nor gave in any other
way the faintest sign of having heard the noise The form was that of an old
man his white head akin in colour to the mouldering embers upon which he gazed
He and the failing light and dying fire the timeworn room the solitude the
wasted life and gloom were all in fellowship Ashes and dust and ruin
Kit tried to speak and did pronounce some words though what they were he
scarcely knew Still the same terrible low cry went on still the same rocking
in the chair the same stricken figure was there unchanged and heedless of his
presence
He had his hand upon the latch when something in the form distinctly seen
as one log broke and fell and as it fell blazed up arrested it He returned
to where he had stood before advanced a pace another another still
Another and he saw the face Yes Changed as it was he knew it well
»Master« he cried stooping on one knee and catching at his hand »Dear
master Speak to me«
The old man turned slowly towards him and muttered in a hollow voice
»This is another How many of these spirits there have been tonight«
»No spirit master No one but your old servant You know me now I am sure
Miss Nell where is she where is she«
»They all say that« cried the old man »They all ask the same question A
spirit«
»Where is she« demanded Kit »Oh tell me but that but that dear
master«
»She is asleep yonder in there«
»Thank God«
»Aye Thank God« returned the old man »I have prayed to Him many and
many and many a livelong night when she has been asleep He knows Hark Did
she call«
»I heard no voice«
»You did You hear her now Do you tell me that you dont hear that«
He started up and listened again
»Nor that« he cried with a triumphant smile »Can anybody know that voice
so well as I Hush hush«
Motioning to him to be silent he stole away into another chamber After a
short absence during which he could be heard to speak in a softened soothing
tone he returned bearing in his hand a lamp
»She is still asleep« he whispered »You were right She did not call
unless she did so in her slumber She has called to me in her sleep before now
sir as I have sat by watching I have seen her lips move and have known
though no sound came from them that she spoke of me I feared the light might
dazzle her eyes and wake her so I brought it here«
He spoke rather to himself than to the visitor but when he had put the lamp
upon the table he took it up as if impelled by some momentary recollection or
curiosity and held it near his face Then as if forgetting his motive in the
very action he turned away and put it down again
»She is sleeping soundly« he said »but no wonder Angel hands have strewn
the ground deep with snow that the lightest footstep may be lighter yet and
the very birds are dead that they may not wake her She used to feed them sir
Though never so cold and hungry the timid things would fly from us They never
flew from her«
Again he stopped to listen and scarcely drawing breath listened for a
long long time That fancy past he opened an old chest took out some clothes
as fondly as if they had been living things and began to smooth and brush them
with his hand
»Why dost thou lie so idle there dear Nell« he murmured »when there are
bright red berries out of doors waiting for thee to pluck them Why dost thou
lie so idle there when thy little friends come creeping to the door crying
where is Nell sweet Nell and sob and weep because they do not see thee
She was always gentle with children The wildest would do her bidding she had
a tender way with them indeed she had«
Kit had no power to speak His eyes were filled with tears
»Her little homely dress her favourite« cried the old man pressing it
to his breast and patting it with his shrivelled hand »She will miss it when
she wakes They have hid it here in sport but she shall have it she shall
have it I would not vex my darling for the wild worlds riches See here
these shoes how worn they are she kept them to remind her of our last long
journey You see where the little feet went bare upon the ground They told me
afterwards that the stones had cut and bruised them She never told me that
No no God bless her and I have remembered since she walked behind me sir
that I might not see how lame she was but yet she had my hand in hers and
seemed to lead me still«
He pressed them to his lips and having carefully put them back again went
on communing with himself looking wistfully from time to time towards the
chamber he had lately visited
»She was not wont to be a lieabed but she was well then We must have
patience When she is well again she will rise early as she used to do and
ramble abroad in the healthy morning time I often tried to track the way she
had gone but her small footstep left no print upon the dewy ground to guide
me Who is that Shut the door Quick Have we not enough to do to drive away
that marble cold and keep her warm«
The door was indeed opened for the entrance of Mr Garland and his friend
accompanied by two other persons These were the schoolmaster and the bachelor
The former held a light in his hand He had it seemed but gone to his own
cottage to replenish the exhausted lamp at the moment when Kit came up and
found the old man alone
He softened again at sight of these two friends and laying aside the angry
manner if to anything so feeble and so sad the term can be applied in which
he had spoken when the door opened resumed his former seat and subsided by
little and little into the old action and the old dull wandering sound
Of the strangers he took no heed whatever He had seen them but appeared
quite incapable of interest or curiosity The younger brother stood apart The
bachelor drew a chair towards the old man and sat down close beside him After
a long silence he ventured to speak
»Another night and not in bed« he said softly »I hoped you would be more
mindful of your promise to me Why do you not take some rest«
»Sleep has left me« returned the old man »It is all with her«
»It would pain her very much to know that you were watching thus« said the
bachelor »You would not give her pain«
»I am not so sure of that if it would only rouse her She has slept so very
long And yet I am rash to say so It is a good and happy sleep eh«
»Indeed it is« returned the bachelor »Indeed indeed it is«
»Thats well and the waking« faltered the old man
»Happy too Happier than tongue can tell or heart of man conceive«
They watched him as he rose and stole on tiptoe to the other chamber where
the lamp had been replaced They listened as he spoke again within its silent
walls They looked into the faces of each other and no mans cheek was free
from tears He came back whispering that she was still asleep but that he
thought she had moved It was her hand he said a little a very very little
but he was pretty sure she had moved it perhaps in seeking his He had known
her do that before now though in the deepest sleep the while And when he had
said this he dropped into his chair again and clasping his hands above his
head uttered a cry never to be forgotten
The poor schoolmaster motioned to the bachelor that he would come on the
other side and speak to him They gently unlocked his fingers which he had
twisted in his grey hair and pressed them in their own
»He will hear me« said the schoolmaster »I am sure He will hear either me
or you if we beseech him She would at all times«
»I will hear any voice she liked to hear« cried the old man »I love all
she loved«
»I know you do« returned the schoolmaster »I am certain of it Think of
her think of all the sorrows and afflictions you have shared together of all
the trials and all the peaceful pleasures you have jointly known«
»I do I do I think of nothing else«
»I would have you think of nothing else tonight of nothing but those
things which will soften your heart dear friend and open it to old affections
and old times It is so that she would speak to you herself and in her name it
is that I speak now«
»You do well to speak softly« said the old man »We will not wake her I
should be glad to see her eyes again and to see her smile There is a smile
upon her young face now but it is fixed and changeless I would have it come
and go That shall be in Heavens good time We will not wake her«
»Let us not talk of her in her sleep but as she used to be when you were
journeying together far away as she was at home in the old house from which
you fled together as she was in the old cheerful time« said the
schoolmaster
»She was always cheerful very cheerful« cried the old man looking
steadfastly at him »There was ever something mild and quiet about her I
remember from the first but she was of a happy nature«
»We have heard you say« pursued the schoolmaster »that in this and in all
goodness she was like her mother You can think of and remember her«
He maintained his steadfast look but gave no answer
»Or even one before her« said the bachelor »It is many years ago and
affliction makes the time longer but you have not forgotten her whose death
contributed to make this child so dear to you even before you knew her worth or
could read her heart Say that you could carry back your thoughts to very
distant days to the time of your early life when unlike this fair flower
you did not pass your youth alone Say that you could remember long ago
another child who loved you dearly you being but a child yourself Say that
you had a brother long forgotten long unseen long separated from you who
now at last in your utmost need came back to comfort and console you «
»To be to you what you were once to him« cried the younger falling on his
knee before him »to repay your old affection brother dear by constant care
solicitude and love to be at your right hand what he has never ceased to be
when oceans rolled between us to call to witness his unchanging truth and
mindfulness of bygone days whole years of desolation Give me but one word of
recognition brother and never no never in the brightest moment of our
youngest days when poor silly boys we thought to pass our lives together
have we been half as dear and precious to each other as we shall be from this
time hence«
The old man looked from face to face and his lips moved but no sound came
from them in reply
»If we were knit together then« pursued the younger brother »what will be
the bond between us now Our love and fellowship began in childhood when life
was all before us and will be resumed when we have proved it and are but
children at the last As many restless spirits who have hunted fortune fame
or pleasure through the world retire in their decline to where they first drew
breath vainly seeking to be children once again before they die so we less
fortunate than they in early life but happier in its closing scenes will set
up our rest again among our boyish haunts and going home with no hope realised
that had its growth in manhood carrying back nothing that we brought away but
our old yearnings to each other saving no fragment from the wreck of life but
that which first endeared it may be indeed but children as at first And
even« he added in an altered voice »even if what I dread to name has come to
pass even if that be so or is to be which Heaven forbid and spare us
still dear brother we are not apart and have that comfort in our great
affliction«
By little and little the old man had drawn back towards the inner chamber
while these words were spoken He pointed there as he replied with trembling
lips
»You plot among you to wean my heart from her You never will do that
never while I have life I have no relative or friend but her I never had I
never will have She is all in all to me It is too late to part us now«
Waving them off with his hand and calling softly to her as he went he
stole into the room They who were left behind drew close together and after a
few whispered words not unbroken by emotion or easily uttered followed him
They moved so gently that their footsteps made no noise but there were sobs
from among the group and sounds of grief and mourning
For she was dead There upon her little bed she lay at rest The solemn
stillness was no marvel now
She was dead No sleep so beautiful and calm so free from trace of pain so
fair to look upon She seemed a creature fresh from the hand of God and waiting
for the breath of life not one who had lived and suffered death
Her couch was dressed with here and there some winter berries and green
leaves gathered in a spot she had been used to favour »When I die put near me
something that has loved the light and had the sky above it always« Those were
her words
She was dead Dear gentle patient noble Nell was dead Her little bird
a poor slight thing the pressure of a finger would have crushed was stirring
nimbly in its cage and the strong heart of its child mistress was mute and
motionless for ever
Where were the traces of her early cares her sufferings and fatigues All
gone Sorrow was dead indeed in her but peace and perfect happiness were born
imaged in her tranquil beauty and profound repose
And still her former self lay there unaltered in this change Yes The old
fireside had smiled upon that same sweet face it had passed like a dream
through haunts of misery and care at the door of the poor schoolmaster on the
summer evening before the furnace fire upon the cold wet night at the still
bedside of the dying boy there had been the same mild lovely look So shall we
know the angels in their majesty after death
The old man held one languid arm in his and had the small hand tight folded
to his breast for warmth It was the hand she had stretched out to him with her
last smile the hand that had led him on through all their wanderings Ever
and anon he pressed it to his lips then hugged it to his breast again
murmuring that it was warmer now and as he said it he looked in agony to
those who stood around as if imploring them to help her
She was dead and past all help or need of it The ancient rooms she had
seemed to fill with life even while her own was waning fast the garden she
had tended the eyes she had gladdened the noiseless haunts of many a
thoughtful hour the paths she had trodden as it were but yesterday could
know her never more
»It is not« said the schoolmaster as he bent down to kiss her on the
cheek and gave his tears free vent »it is not on earth that Heavens justice
ends Think what earth is compared with the World to which her young spirit has
winged its early flight and say if one deliberate wish expressed in solemn
terms above this bed could call her back to life which of us would utter it«
Chapter LXXII
When morning came and they could speak more calmly on the subject of their
grief they heard how her life had closed
She had been dead two days They were all about her at the time knowing
that the end was drawing on She died soon after daybreak They had read and
talked to her in the earlier portion of the night but as the hours crept on
she sunk to sleep They could tell by what she faintly uttered in her dreams
that they were of her journeyings with the old man they were of no painful
scenes but of people who had helped and used them kindly for she often said
»God bless you« with great fervour Waking she never wandered in her mind but
once and that was of beautiful music which she said was in the air God knows
It may have been
Opening her eyes at last from a very quiet sleep she begged that they
would kiss her once again That done she turned to the old man with a lovely
smile upon her face such they said as they had never seen and never could
forget and clung with both her arms about his neck They did not know that she
was dead at first
She had spoken very often of the two sisters who she said were like dear
friends to her She wished they could be told how much she thought about them
and how she had watched them as they walked together by the riverside at
night She would like to see poor Kit she had often said of late She wished
there was somebody to take her love to Kit And even then she never thought or
spoke about him but with something of her old clear merry laugh
For the rest she had never murmured or complained but with a quiet mind
and manner quite unaltered save that she every day became more earnest and
more grateful to them faded like the light upon a summers evening
The child who had been her little friend came there almost as soon as it
was day with an offering of dried flowers which he begged them to lay upon her
breast It was he who had come to the window overnight and spoken to the sexton
and they saw in the snow traces of small feet where he had been lingering near
the room in which she lay before he went to bed He had a fancy it seemed
that they had left her there alone and could not bear the thought
He told them of his dream again and that it was of her being restored to
them just as she used to be He begged hard to see her saying that he would be
very quiet and that they need not fear his being alarmed for he had sat alone
by his young brother all day long when he was dead and had felt glad to be so
near him They let him have his wish and indeed he kept his word and was in
his childish way a lesson to them all
Up to that time the old man had not spoken once except to her or
stirred from the bedside But when he saw her little favourite he was moved as
they had not seen him yet and made as though he would have him come nearer
Then pointing to the bed he burst into tears for the first time and they who
stood by knowing that the sight of this child had done him good left them
alone together
Soothing him with his artless talk of her the child persuaded him to take
some rest to walk abroad to do almost as he desired him And when the day came
on which must remove her in her earthly shape from earthly eyes for ever he
led him away that he might not know when she was taken from him
They were to gather fresh leaves and berries for her bed It was Sunday a
bright clear wintry afternoon and as they traversed the village street
those who were walking in their path drew back to make way for them and gave
them a softened greeting Some shook the old man kindly by the hand some stood
uncovered while he tottered by and many cried »God help him« as he passed
along
»Neighbour« said the old man stopping at the cottage where his young
guides mother dwelt »how is it that the folks are nearly all in black today
I have seen a mourning ribbon or a piece of crape on almost every one«
She could not tell the woman said
»Why you yourself you wear the colour too« he said »Windows are closed
that never used to be by day What does this mean«
Again the woman said she could not tell
»We must go back« said the old man hurriedly »We must see what this is«
»No no« cried the child detaining him »Remember what you promised Our
way is to the old green lane where she and I so often were and where you found
us more than once making those garlands for her garden Do not turn back«
»Where is she now« said the old man »Tell me that«
»Do you not know« returned the child »Did we not leave her but just now«
»True True It was her we left was it«
He pressed his hand upon his brow looked vacantly round and as if impelled
by a sudden thought crossed the road and entered the sextons house He and
his deaf assistant were sitting before the fire Both rose up on seeing who it
was
The child made a hasty sign to them with his hand It was the action of an
instant but that and the old mans look were quite enough
»Do you do you bury any one today« he said eagerly
»No no Who should we bury sir« returned the sexton
»Aye who indeed I say with you who indeed«
»It is a holiday with us good sir« returned the sexton mildly »We have no
work to do today«
»Why then Ill go where you will« said the old man turning to the child
»Youre sure of what you tell me You would not deceive me I am changed even
in the little time since you last saw me«
»Go thy ways with him sir« cried the sexton »and Heaven be with ye both«
»I am quite ready« said the old man meekly »Come boy come « and so
submitted to be led away
And now the bell the bell she had so often heard by night and day and
listened to with solemn pleasure almost as a living voice rung its remorseless
toll for her so young so beautiful so good Decrepit age and vigorous life
and blooming youth and helpless infancy poured forth on crutches in the
pride of strength and health in the full blush of promise in the mere dawn of
life to gather round her tomb Old men were there whose eyes were dim and
senses failing grandmothers who might have died ten years ago and still been
old the deaf the blind the lame the palsied the living dead in many shapes
and forms to see the closing of that early grave What was the death it would
shut in to that which still could crawl and creep above it
Along the crowded path they bore her now pure as the newlyfallen snow that
covered it whose day on earth had been as fleeting Under the porch where she
had sat when Heaven in its mercy brought her to that peaceful spot she passed
again and the old church received her in its quiet shade
They carried her to one old nook where she had many and many a time sat
musing and laid their burden softly on the pavement The light streamed on it
through the coloured window a window where the boughs of trees were ever
rustling in the summer and where the birds sang sweetly all day long With
every breath of air that stirred among those branches in the sunshine some
trembling changing light would fall upon her grave
Earth to earth ashes to ashes dust to dust Many a young hand dropped in
its little wreath many a stifled sob was heard Some and they were not a few
knelt down All were sincere and truthful in their sorrow
The service done the mourners stood apart and the villagers closed round
to look into the grave before the pavementstone should be replaced One called
to mind how he had seen her sitting on that very spot and how her book had
fallen on her lap and she was gazing with a pensive face upon the sky Another
told how he had wondered much that one so delicate as she should be so bold
how she had never feared to enter the church alone at night but had loved to
linger there when all was quiet and even to climb the tower stair with no more
light than that of the moon rays stealing through the loopholes in the thick old
wall A whisper went about among the oldest that she had seen and talked with
angels and when they called to mind how she had looked and spoken and her
early death some thought it might be so indeed Thus coming to the grave in
little knots and glancing down and giving place to others and falling off in
whispering groups of three or four the church was cleared in time of all but
the sexton and the mourning friends
They saw the vault covered and the stone fixed down Then when the dusk of
evening had come on and not a sound disturbed the sacred stillness of the place
when the bright moon poured in her light on tomb and monument on pillar
wall and arch and most of all it seemed to them upon her quiet grave in
that calm time when outward things and inward thoughts teem with assurances of
immortality and worldly hopes and fears are humbled in the dust before them
then with tranquil and submissive hearts they turned away and left the child
with God
Oh it is hard to take to heart the lesson that such deaths will teach but
let no man reject it for it is one that all must learn and is a mighty
universal Truth When Death strikes down the innocent and young for every
fragile form from which he lets the panting spirit free a hundred virtues rise
in shapes of mercy charity and love to walk the world and bless it Of every
tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such green graves some good is born some
gentler nature comes In the Destroyers steps there spring up bright creations
that defy his power and his dark path becomes a way of light to Heaven
It was late when the old man came home The boy had led him to his own dwelling
under some pretence on their way back and rendered drowsy by his long ramble
and late want of rest he had sunk into a deep sleep by the fireside He was
perfectly exhausted and they were careful not to rouse him The slumber held
him a long time and when he at length awoke the moon was shining
The younger brother uneasy at his protracted absence was watching at the
door for his coming when he appeared in the pathway with his little guide He
advanced to meet them and tenderly obliging the old man to lean upon his arm
conducted him with slow and trembling steps towards the house
He repaired to her chamber straight Not finding what he had left there he
returned with distracted looks to the room in which they were assembled From
that he rushed into the schoolmasters cottage calling her name They followed
close upon him and when he had vainly searched it brought him home
With such persuasive words as pity and affection could suggest they
prevailed upon him to sit among them and hear what they should tell him Then
endeavouring by every little artifice to prepare his mind for what must come
and dwelling with many fervent words upon the happy lot to which she had been
removed they told him at last the truth The moment it had passed their lips
he fell down among them like a murdered man
For many hours they had little hope of his surviving but grief is strong
and he recovered
If there be any who have never known the blank that follows death the
weary void the sense of desolation that will come upon the strongest minds
when something familiar and beloved is missed at every turn the connection
between inanimate and senseless things and the object of recollection when
every household god becomes a monument and every room a grave if there be any
who have not known this and proved it by their own experience they can never
faintly guess how for many days the old man pined and moped away the time and
wandered here and there as seeking something and had no comfort
Whatever power of thought or memory he retained was all bound up in her He
never understood or seemed to care to understand about his brother To every
endearment and attention he continued listless If they spoke to him on this or
any other theme save one he would hear them patiently for awhile then turn
away and go on seeking as before
On that one theme which was in his and all their minds it was impossible
to touch Dead He could not hear or bear the word The slightest hint of it
would throw him into a paroxysm like that he had had when it was first spoken
In what hope he lived no man could tell but that he had some hope of finding
her again some faint and shadowy hope deferred from day to day and making
him from day to day more sick and sore at heart was plain to all
They bethought them of a removal from the scene of this last sorrow of
trying whether change of place would rouse or cheer him His brother sought the
advice of those who were accounted skilful in such matters and they came and
saw him Some of the number staid upon the spot conversed with him when he
would converse and watched him as he wandered up and down alone and silent
Move him where they might they said he would ever seek to get back there His
mind would run upon that spot If they confined him closely and kept a strict
guard upon him they might hold him prisoner but if he could by any means
escape he would surely wander back to that place or die upon the road
The boy to whom he had submitted at first had no longer any influence with
him At times he would suffer the child to walk by his side or would even take
such notice of his presence as giving him his hand or would stop to kiss his
cheek or pat him on the head At other times he would entreat him not
unkindly to be gone and would not brook him near But whether alone or with
this pliant friend or with those who would have given him at any cost or
sacrifice some consolation or some peace of mind if happily the means could
have been devised he was at all times the same with no love or care for
anything in life a brokenhearted man
At length they found one day that he had risen early and with his
knapsack on his back his staff in hand her own straw hat and little basket
full of such things as she had been used to carry was gone As they were making
ready to pursue him far and wide a frightened schoolboy came who had seen him
but a moment before sitting in the church upon her grave he said
They hastened there and going softly to the door espied him in the
attitude of one who waited patiently They did not disturb him then but kept a
watch upon him all that day When it grew quite dark he rose and returned home
and went to bed murmuring to himself »She will come tomorrow«
Upon the morrow he was there again from sunrise until night and still at
night he laid him down to rest and murmured »She will come tomorrow«
And thenceforth every day and all day long he waited at her grave for
her How many pictures of new journeys over pleasant country of restingplaces
under the free broad sky of rambles in the fields and woods and paths not
often trodden how many tones of that one wellremembered voice how many
glimpses of the form the fluttering dress the hair that waved so gaily in the
wind how many visions of what had been and what he hoped was yet to be rose
up before him in the old dull silent church He never told them what he
thought or where he went He would sit with them at night pondering with a
secret satisfaction they could see upon the flight that he and she would take
before night came again and still they would hear him whisper in his prayers
»Lord Let her come tomorrow«
The last time was on a genial day in spring He did not return at the usual
hour and they went to seek him He was lying dead upon the stone
They laid him by the side of her whom he had loved so well and in the
church where they had often prayed and mused and lingered hand in hand the
child and the old man slept together
Chapter the Last
The magic reel which rolling on before has led the chronicler thus far now
slackens in its pace and stops It lies before the goal the pursuit is at an
end
It remains but to dismiss the leaders of the little crowd who have borne us
company upon the road and so to close the journey
Foremost among them smooth Sampson Brass and Sally arm in arm claim our
polite attention
Mr Sampson then being detained as already has been shown by the justice
upon whom he called and being so strongly pressed to protract his stay that he
could by no means refuse remained under his protection for a considerable time
during which the great attention of his entertainer kept him so extremely close
that he was quite lost to society and never even went abroad for exercise
saving into a small paved yard So well indeed was his modest and retiring
temper understood by those with whom he had to deal and so jealous were they of
his absence that they required a kind of friendly bond to be entered into by
two substantial housekeepers in the sum of fifteen hundred pounds apiece
before they would suffer him to quit their hospitable roof doubting it
appeared that he would return if once let loose on any other terms Mr
Brass struck with the humour of this jest and carrying out its spirit to the
utmost sought from his wide connection a pair of friends whose joint
possessions fell some halfpence short of fifteen pence and proffered them as
bail for that was the merry word agreed upon on both sides These gentlemen
being rejected after twentyfour hours pleasantry Mr Brass consented to
remain and did remain until a club of choice spirits called a Grand Jury who
were in the joke summoned him to trial before twelve other wags for perjury and
fraud who in their turn found him guilty with a most facetious joy nay the
very populace entered into the whim and when Mr Brass was moving in a
hackneycoach towards the building where these wags assembled saluted him with
rotten eggs and carcases of kittens and feigned to wish to tear him into
shreds which greatly increased the comicality of the thing and made him relish
it the more no doubt
To work this sportive vein still further Mr Brass by his counsel moved
in arrest of judgment that he had been led to criminate himself by assurances
of safety and promises of pardon and claimed the leniency which the law extends
to such confiding natures as are thus deluded After solemn argument this point
with others of a technical nature whose humorous extravagance it would be
difficult to exaggerate was referred to the judges for their decision Sampson
being meantime removed to his former quarters Finally some of the points were
given in Sampsons favour and some against him and the upshot was that
instead of being desired to travel for a time in foreign parts he was permitted
to grace the mother country under certain insignificant restrictions
These were that he should for a term of years reside in a spacious
mansion where several other gentlemen were lodged and boarded at the public
charge who went clad in a sober uniform of grey turned up with yellow had
their hair cut extremely short and chiefly lived on gruel and light soup It
was also required of him that he should partake of their exercise of constantly
ascending an endless flight of stairs and lest his legs unused to such
exertion should be weakened by it that he should wear upon one ankle an amulet
or charm of iron These conditions being arranged he was removed one evening to
his new abode and enjoyed in common with nine other gentlemen and two ladies
the privilege of being taken to his place of retirement in one of Royaltys own
carriages
Over and above these trifling penalties his name was erased and blotted out
from the roll of attorneys which erasure has been always held in these latter
times to be a great degradation and reproach and to imply the commission of
some amazing villany as indeed it would seem to be the case when so many
worthless names remain among its better records unmolested
Of Sally Brass conflicting rumours went abroad Some said with confidence
that she had gone down to the docks in male attire and had become a female
sailor others darkly whispered that she had enlisted as a private in the second
regiment of Foot Guards and had been seen in uniform and on duty to wit
leaning on her musket and looking out of a sentrybox in St Jamess Park one
evening There were many such whispers as these in circulation but the truth
appears to be that after the lapse of some five years during which there is no
direct evidence of her having been seen at all two wretched people were more
than once observed to crawl at dusk from the inmost recesses of St Giless and
to take their way along the streets with shuffling steps and cowering shivering
forms looking into the roads and kennels as they went in search of refuse food
or disregarded offal These forms were never beheld but in those nights of cold
and gloom when the terrible spectres who lie at all other times in the obscene
hidingplaces of London in archways dark vaults and cellars venture to creep
into the streets the embodied spirits of Disease and Vice and Famine It was
whispered by those who should have known that these were Sampson and his sister
Sally and to this day it is said they sometimes pass on bad nights in the
same loathsome guise close at the elbow of the shrinking passenger
The body of Quilp being found though not until some days had elapsed an
inquest was held on it near the spot where it had been washed ashore The
general supposition was that he had committed suicide and this appearing to be
favoured by all the circumstances of his death the verdict was to that effect
He was left to be buried with a stake through his heart in the centre of four
lonely roads
It was rumoured afterwards that this horrible and barbarous ceremony had
been dispensed with and that the remains had been secretly given up to Tom
Scott But even here opinion was divided for some said Tom dug them up at
midnight and carried them to a place indicated to him by the widow It is
probable that both these stories may have had their origin in the simple fact of
Toms shedding tears upon the inquest which he certainly did extraordinary as
it may appear He manifested besides a strong desire to assault the jury and
being restrained and conducted out of court darkened its only window by
standing on his head upon the sill until he was dexterously tilted upon his
feet again by a cautious beadle
Being cast upon the world by his masters death he determined to go through
it upon his head and hands and accordingly began to tumble for his bread
Finding however his English birth an insurmountable obstacle to his
advancement in this pursuit notwithstanding that his art was in high repute and
favour he assumed the name of an Italian image lad with whom he had become
acquainted and afterwards tumbled with extraordinary success and to
overflowing audiences
Little Mrs Quilp never quite forgave herself the one deceit that lay so
heavy on her conscience and never spoke or thought of it but with bitter tears
Her husband had no relations and she was rich He had made no will or she
would probably have been poor Having married the first time at her mothers
instigation she consulted in her second choice nobody but herself It fell upon
a smart young fellow enough and as he made it a preliminary condition that Mrs
Jiniwin should be thenceforth an outpensioner they lived together after
marriage with no more than the average amount of quarrelling and led a merry
life upon the dead dwarfs money
Mr and Mrs Garland and Mr Abel went out as usual except that there was
a change in their household as will be seen presently and in due time the
latter went into partnership with his friend the notary on which occasion there
was a dinner and a ball and great extent of dissipation Unto this ball there
happened to be invited the most bashful young lady that was ever seen with whom
Mr Abel happened to fall in love How it happened or how they found it out or
which of them first communicated the discovery to the other nobody knows But
certain it is that in course of time they were married and equally certain it
is that they were the happiest of the happy and no less certain it is that they
deserved to be so And it is pleasant to write down that they reared a family
because any propagation of goodness and benevolence is no small addition to the
aristocracy of nature and no small subject of rejoicing for mankind at large
The pony preserved his character for independence and principle down to the
last moment of his life which was an unusually long one and caused him to be
looked upon indeed as the very Old Parr of ponies He often went to and fro
with the little phaeton between Mr Garlands and his sons and as the old
people and the young were frequently together had a stable of his own at the
new establishment into which he would walk of himself with surprising dignity
He condescended to play with the children as they grew old enough to cultivate
his friendship and would run up and down the little paddock with them like a
dog but though he relaxed so far and allowed them such small freedoms as
caresses or even to look at his shoes or hang on by his tail he never
permitted any one among them to mount his back or drive him thus showing that
even their familiarity must have its limits and that there were points between
them far too serious for trifling
He was not unsusceptible of warm attachments in his later life for when the
good bachelor came to live with Mr Garland upon the clergymans decease he
conceived a great friendship for him and amiably submitted to be driven by his
hands without the least resistance He did no work for two or three years before
he died but lived in clover and his last act like a choleric old gentleman
was to kick his doctor
Mr Swiveller recovering very slowly from his illness and entering into
the receipt of his annuity bought for the Marchioness a handsome stock of
clothes and put her to school forthwith in redemption of the vow he had made
upon his fevered bed After casting about for some time for a name which should
be worthy of her he decided in favour of Sophronia Sphynx as being euphonious
and genteel and furthermore indicative of mystery Under this title the
Marchioness repaired in tears to the school of his selection from which as
she soon distanced all competitors she was removed before the lapse of many
quarters to one of a higher grade It is but bare justice to Mr Swiveller to
say that although the expenses of her education kept him in straitened
circumstances for half a dozen years he never slackened in his zeal and always
held himself sufficiently repaid by the accounts he heard with great gravity
of her advancement on his monthly visits to the governess who looked upon him
as a literary gentleman of eccentric habits and of a most prodigious talent in
quotation
In a word Mr Swiveller kept the Marchioness at this establishment until
she was at a moderate guess full nineteen years of age goodlooking
clever and goodhumoured when he began to consider seriously what was to be
done next On one of his periodical visits while he was revolving this question
in his mind the Marchioness came down to him alone looking more smiling and
more fresh than ever Then it occurred to him but not for the first time that
if she would marry him how comfortable they might be So Richard asked her
whatever she said it wasnt No and they were married in good earnest that day
week Which gave Mr Swiveller frequent occasion to remark at divers subsequent
periods that there had been a young lady saving up for him after all
A little cottage at Hampstead being to let which had in its garden a
smokingbox the envy of the civilised world they agreed to become its tenants
and when the honeymoon was over entered upon its occupation To this retreat
Mr Chuckster repaired regularly every Sunday to spend the day usually
beginning with breakfast and here he was the great purveyor of general news
and fashionable intelligence For some years he continued a deadly foe to Kit
protesting that he had a better opinion of him when he was supposed to have
stolen the fivepound note than when he was shown to be perfectly free of the
crime inasmuch as his guilt would have had in it something daring and bold
whereas his innocence was but another proof of a sneaking and crafty
disposition By slow degrees however he was reconciled to him in the end and
even went so far as to honour him with his patronage as one who had in some
measure reformed and was therefore to be forgiven But he never forgot or
pardoned that circumstance of the shilling holding that if he had come back to
get another he would have done well enough but that his returning to work out
the former gift was a stain upon his moral character which no penitence or
contrition could ever wash away
Mr Swiveller having always been in some measure of a philosophic and
reflective turn grew immensely contemplative at times in the smoking and was
accustomed at such periods to debate in his own mind the mysterious question of
Sophronias parentage Sophronia herself supposed she was an orphan but Mr
Swiveller putting various slight circumstances together often thought Miss
Brass must know better than that and having heard from his wife of her strange
interview with Quilp entertained sundry misgivings whether that person in his
lifetime might not also have been able to solve the riddle had he chosen
These speculations however gave him no uneasiness for Sophronia was ever a
most cheerful affectionate and provident wife to him and Dick excepting for
an occasional outbreak with Mr Chuckster which she had the good sense rather
to encourage than oppose was to her an attached and domesticated husband And
they played many hundred thousand games of cribbage together And let it be
added to Dicks honour that though we have called her Sophronia he called
her the Marchioness from first to last and that upon every anniversary of the
day on which he found her in his sickroom Mr Chuckster came to dinner and
there was great glorification
The gamblers Isaac List and Jowl with their trusty confederate Mr James
Groves of unimpeachable memory pursued their course with varying success until
the failure of a spirited enterprise in the way of their profession dispersed
them in various directions and caused their career to receive a sudden check
from the long and strong arm of the law This defeat had its origin in the
untoward detection of a new associate young Frederick Trent who thus became
the unconscious instrument of their punishment and his own
For the young man himself he rioted abroad for a brief term living by his
wits which means by the abuse of every faculty that worthily employed raises
man above the beasts and so degraded sinks him far below them It was not long
before his body was recognised by a stranger who chanced to visit that hospital
in Paris where the drowned are laid out to be owned despite the bruises and
disfigurements which were said to have been occasioned by some previous scuffle
But the stranger kept his own counsel until he returned home and it was never
claimed or cared for
The young brother or the single gentleman for that designation is more
familiar would have drawn the poor schoolmaster from his lone retreat and made
him his companion and friend But the humble village teacher was timid of
venturing into the noisy world and had become fond of his dwelling in the old
churchyard Calmly happy in his school and in the spot and in the attachment
of Her little mourner he pursued his quiet course in peace and was through
the righteous gratitude of his friend let this brief mention suffice for that
a poor schoolmaster no more
That friend single gentleman or younger brother which you will had at
his heart a heavy sorrow but it bred in him no misanthropy or monastic gloom
He went forth into the world a lover of his kind For a long long time it was
his chief delight to travel in the steps of the old man and the child so far as
he could trace them from her last narrative to halt where they had halted
sympathise where they had suffered and rejoice where they had been made glad
Those who had been kind to them did not escape his search The sisters at the
school they who were her friends because themselves so friendless Mrs
Jarley of the waxwork Codlin Short he found them all and trust me the man
who fed the furnace fire was not forgotten
Kits story having got abroad raised him up a host of friends and many
offers of provision for his future life He had no idea at first of ever
quitting Mr Garlands service but after serious remonstrance and advice from
that gentleman began to contemplate the possibility of such a change being
brought about in time A good post was procured for him with a rapidity which
took away his breath by some of the gentlemen who had believed him guilty of
the offence laid to his charge and who had acted upon that belief Through the
same kind agency his mother was secured from want and made quite happy Thus
as Kit often said his great misfortune turned out to be the source of all his
subsequent prosperity
Did Kit live a single man all his days or did he marry Of course he
married and who should be his wife but Barbara And the best of it was he
married so soon that little Jacob was an uncle before the calves of his legs
already mentioned in this history had ever been encased in broadcloth
pantaloons though that was not quite the best either for of necessity the
baby was an uncle too The delight of Kits mother and of Barbaras mother upon
the great occasion is past all telling finding they agreed so well on that and
on all other subjects they took up their abode together and were a most
harmonious pair of friends from that time forth And hadnt Astleys cause to
bless itself for their all going together once a quarter to the pit and
didnt Kits mother always say when they painted the outside that Kits last
treat had helped to that and wonder what the manager would feel if he but knew
it as they passed his house
When Kit had children six and seven years old there was a Barbara among
them and a pretty Barbara she was Nor was there wanting an exact facsimile
and copy of little Jacob as he appeared in those remote times when they taught
him what oysters meant Of course there was an Abel own godson to the Mr
Garland of that name and there was a Dick whom Mr Swiveller did especially
favour The little group would often gather round him of a night and beg him to
tell again that story of good Miss Nell who died This Kit would do and when
they cried to hear it wishing it longer too he would teach them how she had
gone to Heaven as all good people did and how if they were good like her
they might hope to be there too one day and to see and know her as he had done
when he was quite a boy Then he would relate to them how needy he used to be
and how she had taught him what he was otherwise too poor to learn and how the
old man had been used to say »she always laughs at Kit« at which they would
brush away their tears and laugh themselves to think that she had done so and
be again quite merry
He sometimes took them to the street where she had lived but new
improvements had altered it so much it was not like the same The old house had
been long ago pulled down and a fine broad road was in its place At first he
would draw with his stick a square upon the ground to show them where it used to
stand But he soon became uncertain of the spot and could only say it was
thereabouts he thought and these alterations were confusing
Such are the changes which a few years bring about and so do things pass
away like a tale that is told