 Chapter 24 of the Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information on the volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 24 It was not until they were quite exhausted and could no longer maintain the pace at which they had fled from the race ground 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 cause 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 resting place was solitary and still. Some time elapsed before she could reassure her trembling companion or restore him to a state of moderate tranquility. 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 could 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 strut heart and earnest I am, I am sure you know I am. Then now, 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 we are talking? Because I am 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 bleeding 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 there is 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 back, now pointing Stelvilly 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 watched the sun as it trembled through the leaves, and stealing in among the ivied trunks of stout older 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 finger post 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, and certain were 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 wide board. He was a pale, simple-looking man of a spare and meager 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 meager. 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 wicked gate caught his attention. He looked at them kindly, but seemed disappointed too, and slightly shook his head. Nell dropped a curtsy and told him there 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. You're 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 sty and comfort of my life. Come in, said the schoolmaster. Without further preface, he conducted them into his little school room, which was parlor 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 around the room as she took her seat. There were a couple of forms, notched and cut and dinged all over. A small deal desk perched on four legs, at which no doubt the master sat. A few dogs eared books upon a high shelf, and beside them a motley collection of pegged tops, bowls, kites, fishing lines, marbles, half-eaten apples, and other confiscated property of idle urgins. 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 dance's 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 well worked 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 their attention was caught by these latter specimens. That's 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 triumph so dear to his heart. I couldn't write like that nowadays. No, they're 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 relentlessly. Not much, my dear, returned the schoolmaster. I hoped to have seen him on the green tonight. He was always foremost among them, but he'll be there tomorrow. Has he been ill? asked the child, with the child's quick sympathy. Not very. They say he was wandering in his head yesterday, dear boy, and so they said the day before, but that's a part of that kind of disorder. It's 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 anybody's 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 favorable turn, and it's too late for him to come out, for it's very damp and there is a heavy dew. It's much better he shouldn't come tonight. The schoolmaster lighted a candle, fastened the window shutter 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 half an hour 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. End of chapter 24 Chapter 25 of The Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 25 After a sound night's 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 in the cottage of his own, the child rose early in the morning and descended to the room where she had slept last night. As the schoolmaster had already left his bed and gone out, she bestowed 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 he had 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 it's not so. I don't think he can be worse. The child asked his leave to prepare breakfast and her grandfather coming downstairs. 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 don't press you for one day, you are 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 we are to do, dear? It required no great persuasion to induce the child to answer but 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 wood pine entwined their tender stems and, stealing into the room, filled it with their delicious breath. The mother 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 made any scholar, 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 they'll never do like that." A small, white-headed boy with a sunburned 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 white-headed boy then put an open book, astonishingly dog-seared 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 total abstracting his mind from the spelling on which his eyes were fixed. Soon afterwards another white-headed little boy came struggling in and after him a red-headed lad and after him two more with white heads and then one with a flaxen pole and so on until the forms were occupied by a dozen boys or thereabouts with heads of every color but gray and ranging in their ages from four years 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 good-tempered foolish fellow, about half a head taller than the schoolmaster. At the top of the first form, the poster-owner in the school was the vacant place of the little six-color and at the head of the row of pegs on which those who came in hats or caps were warned 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 neighbor behind his hand. Then began the harm of conning over lessons and getting them by heart, the whispered jest and stealthy game and all the noise and droll 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 idlis boys who, growing bolder with impunity, waxed louder and more daring, playing odd or even under the master's eye, eating apples openly and without rebuke, pinching each other in spot 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 master's elbow and boldly cast his eye upon the page. The wag of the little troops 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 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 bathing place beneath willow trees with branches dipping in the water kept tempting and urging that sturdy boy who, with his shirt collar unbuttoned and flung back as far as it could go, sat fanning his flushed face with a spelling book wishing himself a whale or a titlebat or a fly or anything but a boy at school on that hot broiling day. He'd 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 one's eyes and go to sleep. And was this a time to be pouring over musty books in a dark room slighted by the very sun itself? Monstress. Nell sat by the window occupied with her work but attentive still to all that past though sometimes rather timid of the boisterous boys. The lessons over, writing time began, and there being but one disk 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 writer's shoulder and tell him mildly to observe how such a letter was turned in such a copy on the wall braised 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 school master's 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 two minutes afterwards. I think boys said the school master when the clock struck twelve that I shall give an extra half holiday 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 longest winded among them were quite out of breath. You must promise me first, said the school master, that you'll not be noisy or at least if you are that you'll go away and be so away out of the village I mean. I'm sure you wouldn't disturb your old playmate and companion. There was a general mama 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 don't forget there's my dear scholars, said the school master what I have asked you and do it as a favor to me be as happy as you can and don't be unmindful that you are blessed with health. Goodbye all. Thank you sir. And goodbye sir, were said a good 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 and the sun only shines and the birds only sing on holidays and half holidays. There were the trees waving to all three boys to climb and nestle among their leafy branches. The hay in treating them to calm 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 wither. 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. It's natural thank heaven said the poor school master looking after them. I am very glad they didn't 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 school master's proceeding. A few can find themselves to hints such as politely inquiring what red letter day or saints the almanac 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 half holiday 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 school master by talking to him bounced out of his house and talked at him for half an hour outside his own window to another old lady saying that of course he would deduct this half holiday from his weekly charge and of course he would naturally expect to have an opposition started against him. There was no one to vital chaps in that neighborhood. Here the old lady raised her voice and some chaps who were too idle even to be school masters 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 school master 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 school master 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 school master hurried away leaving the messenger to follow as she might. They stopped at a cottage door and the school master 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 school master drawing near her chair. Is it so bad as this? It's going fast! cried the old woman. My grandson's dying. It's all along of you. You shouldn't 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 school master. I am not hurt Dame. No, no, you are in great distress of mind and don't mean what you say. I am sure you don't. I do! returned the old woman. I mean it all. If he hadn't been pouring over his books out of fear of you he would have been well and merry now. I know he would. The school master looked around upon the other women as if to entreat someone 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, half dressed, 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 school master 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 around 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 school master. 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 school master, anxious to rouse him for a dullness 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, won't you? The boy smiled faintly, so very, very faintly and put his hand upon his friend's 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 born upon the evening air came floating through the open window. What's that? said the sick child, opening his eyes. The boys had 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 school master. Please, wave it at the window, was the faint reply. Tie it to the lattice. Some of them may see it there. Perhaps they'll 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 boy's property upon a table in the room. And then he laid him softly down once more and asked if the little girl was 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 school master 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. End of chapter 25 Chapter 26 of The Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 26 Almost broken hearted, Nell withdrew with the school master 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 younger are born 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 yesterday was going on again a little sobered and softened down perhaps but only 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 bad her put it up and stooping to kiss her cheek turned back into his house they had not gone half a dozen 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 you will not forget the little village school 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 that's over God bless you they bat him farewell very many times they 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 public house 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 dimmy to curtains festooning the windows and window shutters of green picked out with panels of a staring red in which happily contrasted 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 frowsy grass neither was it a gypsy 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 boughs and that it was not an unprovided or destitute caravan was clear from this lady's occupation which was the very pleasant and refreshing one of taking tea the tea things including a bottle of rather suspicious character and a cold knuckle of ham were set forth upon a drum covered with a wide napkin and there as if at the most convenient round table 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 full flavour of the tea not unmingled possibly with just the slightest dash or gleam of something out of the suspicious bottle but this mere speculation and not a 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 getting 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 helter skelter plight child one what ma'am asked Nell the helter skelter plighted the racist child the plight that was run for on the second day on the second day ma'am second day yes second day repeated the lady with an air of impatience can't you say who won the helter skelter plight when you're asked the question civilly I don't know ma'am don't 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 indimitably acquainted with the firm of short and coddling but what followed tended to reassure her and very sorry I was said the lady of the caravan to see you in the company with a punch a low practical vulgar wretch that people should scorn to look at I was not there by choice returned the child we didn't know our way and the two men were very kind to us travel with them do you know them ma'am no I'm child cried the lady of the caravan in a sort of shriek know them but you're young and experienced and that's your excuse for asking such a question do I look as if I know them does the caravan look as if he did know them no ma'am no said the child fearing she had committed some grievous fault modern 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 connection 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 tear equipage to gather preparatory to clearing the table but noting the child's anxious manner she hesitated and stopped the child curtsied, 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 nearer, nearer still said she beckoning to her to ascend the steps are you hungry child not very but we are tired and it's, it tears 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 head and thanked her the lady of the caravan then let him come up the steps likewise but the drum proving an inconvenient table for two then descended again and sat upon the grass where she handed down to them the tea tray the bread and butter the knuckle of ham and ensured everything of which she had partaken herself except the bottle which she had already embraced an opportunity of slipping into her pocket set a mark nearer the hind whale's child that's the best place for their friend, superintending the arrangements from above now I hand up the teapot for little more hot water and a pinch of fresh tea and then both of you eat and drink as much as you can and don't spare anything that's all I ask of you they might perhaps have carried out the lady's 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 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 arriving 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 where upon a man in a cart as 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 baking dish and a half gallon stone bottle and bearing in his right hand a knife to fork Yes, Mrs. said George how did you find the cold pie George it weren't a miss mom 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 it's more flatter than it might be George returned but it ain't so bad for all that to set the mind of his mistress at rest he took a sip a mounting 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 very nice mom and indeed after scraping the dish all around 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 haven't hurried you George said his mistress who appeared to have a great sympathy with his late pursuit if you are returned the follower wisely reserving himself for any favourable contingency that might occur we must make up for it next time that's all you are not a heavy load George that's always what the ladies say replied the man looking a long way around as if he were appealing to nature in general against such monstrous propositions if you say a woman are driving you'll always perceive that she never will keep her whip still the horse can't go fast enough for her if cattle have got their proper load you never can persuade a woman that they will not bear something more what is the cause of this here would these two travelers 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 are painfully preparing to resume their journey on foot they'd make a difference in cause said George doggedly would they make much difference repeated his mistress they can't be very heavy the white of the paramount 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 tea things and other matters that were lying about and the horses being by that time harnessed mounted into the vehicle 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 and of chapter 26 chapter 27 of the old curiosity shop this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information auto volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the old curiosity shop by Charles Dickens chapter 27 when they had travelled slowly forward for some short distance Nell ventured to steal a look around 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 farther end as to accommodate a sleeping place constructed after the fashion of a birth 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 cooking utensils 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 gear and lighter decorations as a triangle and a couple of well-thumbed 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 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 ascended in the case of people who had their spirits for herself she said she was troubled with aloneness in that respect which required a constant stimulant though whether their force had stimulant was derived from the suspicious bottle of which mention has been already made or from other sources she did not say that's the happiness of you young people she continued you don't 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 lady's 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 ascended 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 food until it nearly reached from one end of the caravan to the other their child she said read that Nett walked down it and read aloud in enormous black letters the inscription Jali's wax work read it again said the lady complacently Jali's wax work repeated now that's May said the lady giving the child an encouraging look intended to reassure her and let her know that although she stood in the presence of the original Jali she must not allow herself to be utterly overwhelmed and born down the lady of the caravan unfolded another scroll where on was the inscription 100 figures the full size of life and then another scroll on which was written the only stupendous collection of real wax work in the world and then several smaller scrolls with such inscriptions as now exhibiting within the genuine and only Jali Jali's unrivaled collection Jali is the delight of the nobility and gentry the royal family are the patrons of Jali when she had exhibited these vivitons 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 and popular melodies as believe me if all Jali's wax work so rare I saw thy show in youthful prime over the water to Jali well to consult all tastes others were composed with a view to the lighter and more facetious spirits as a parody on the favourite air of if I had a donkey beginning if I know the donkey what wouldn't go to see Mrs. Jali's wax work show do you think I'd acknowledge him oh no no then run to Jali's besides several compositions in prose purporting to be dialogues between the Emperor of China and an oyster Archbishop of Canterbury and a dissenter on the subject of church rates but all having the same moral namely that the reader must make haste to Jali's and that children and servants were admitted at half price when she had brought all these testimonials of her important position in society to bear upon her young companion Mrs. Jali 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 anymore said Mrs. Jali after this I never saw any wax work ma'am said Nell is it funnier than punch funnier said Mrs. Jali in a shrill voice it is not funny at all oh said Nell with all possible humility it doesn't funny at all repeated Mrs. Jali and what's that word again critical no classical that's it it's calm and classical no low beatings and knockings about no jokings and squeakings like your precious punches but always the same with a constantly and changing air of coldness and gentility and so like life that if wax work only spoke and walked about you'd hardly know the difference I won't go so far as to say that as it is I've seen wax work quite like life but I've certainly seen some life that was exactly like wax work is it here ma'am asked Nell whose curiosity was awakened by this description is what here child the wax work ma'am why bless you child what are you thinking of how could such a collection be here where you see everything except the inside a few boxes it's gone on in the other ones to the assembly rooms and there it will be exhibited the day after tomorrow you are going to the same town and you'll see it I dare say it's natural to expect that you'll see it and I have no doubt you will I suppose you couldn't stop away if you was to try ever so much I shall not be in the town I think ma'am said the child not there cried Mrs. Jali then where will you be I don't quite know I am not certain you don't mean to say that you are travelling about the country without knowing where you are going to said the lady of the caravan what curious people you are what line are you in you looked to me at the racist child as if you were quite out of your element and had got there by accident we were there quite by accident returned Nell refused by this abrupt questioning we are poor people ma'am and are only wondering about we have nothing to do I wish we had you amazed me more and more said Mrs. Jali after remaining for some time as mutus one of her own figures why what do you call yourselves not beggars indeed ma'am I don't know what else we are returned the child Lord bless me said the lady of the caravan I never heard of such a thing could 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 should wonder yes ma'am said the child fearful of giving new offence by the confession well and what a thing that is returned Mrs. Jali I can't Nell said indeed in a tone which might imply either that she was reasonably surprised to find not only Jali 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 greater lady could scarcely stand in need of such ordinary accomplishments in whatever way Mrs. Jali 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 lone 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 Nelta approach and the old gentleman too said Mrs. Jali 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 can't leave her answered the old man we can't 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. Jali 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. Jali was a little disconcerted by this reception of her proposal and looked at the old man who tenderly took Nel's 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 you are really disposed to employ yourself said Mrs. Jali 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 them out to the company they would be soon learned and she has a way with her that people wouldn't think unpleasant though she does come after me I've been always accustomed to go around with visitors myself which I should keep on doing now only that my spirits make a little least absolutely necessary it's 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 it's Jali's wax work remember the duties very light and gentle the company particularly select the exhibition takes place in assembly rooms town halls large rooms at inns or auction galleries there is none of your open air where you can see a Jali's recollect there is not appalling or so does the Jali's remember every expectation held out in the hand bills is realized to the utmost and the whole forms an effect of imposing brilliancy hitherto unrivaled in this kingdom remember that the price of admission is only six pence 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. Jali remarked that with reverence to salary she could pledge herself to no specific sum until she had sufficiently tested Nell's abilities and narrowly watched her in the performance of her duties but bored and lodging both for her and her grandfather she bound herself to provide and she furthermore passed her word which would always be in good quality and in quantity plentiful Nell and her grandfather consulted together and while they were so engaged mrs. Jali 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 self-esteem nor will this appear so slight a circumstance as to be unworthy of mention when it is remembered that the caravan was in an easy motion all the time and that none but a person of great natural stateliness and acquired grace could have foreborn to stagger now child cried mrs. Jali coming to a halt as Nell turned towards her we have very much obliged to you ma'am said Nell and thankfully accept your offer and you'll never be sorry for it returned mrs. Jali I'm pretty sure of that it's 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 where 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 just within the old town gate and drew up there for the night near to another caravan which notwithstanding that it bore on the lawful panel the great name of Jali and was employed besides in conveying from place to place the waxwork which was its country's pride was designated by a groveling stamp office as a common stage wagon and numbered to 7000 or 200 as though its precious freight were mere flower or coals this ill-used machine being empty where 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 sleeping place 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. Jali's own traveling carriage as a signal mark of that lady's favor and confidence she had taken leave of her grandfather and was returning to the other wagon when she was tempted by the 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 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 recognized him who could have failed to recognize in that instant the ugly misshapen quilp 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 leaned 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 hiding place and fly before he could drew nearer there he shoot slowly forth from the arch another figure that of a boy who carried on his back a trunk faster sira 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 it's a dreadful heavy load sir the boy pleaded I've come on very fast you have come fast considering retorted quilp you creep you dog you crawl you measure distance like a worm there are the chimes now half past twelve he stopped to listen and then turning upon the boy with the 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 light 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 nel 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 which he had been too much terrified to be easily composed and felt as if she were hemmed by a legion of quilps and the very air itself were filled with them the delight of the nobility and gentry and the patronized of royalty had by some process of self-abrichment 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 child's 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. Jolly and waxwork too or was himself Mrs. Jolly, 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 empowering and irresistible enjoyment End of Chapter 27 Chapter 28 of The Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 28 Sleep hung upon the eyelids of the child so long that when she awoke Mrs. Jolly was already decorated with her large bonnet and actively engaged in preparing breakfast She received an old 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 you are tired to sleep as long as ever you can and get the fatigue quite off and that's another blessing of your time of life you can sleep so very sound Have you had a bad night, ma'am? Ask Mil I seldom have anything else, child replied Mrs. Jolly 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 wax work passed the night she 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 her down with her grandfather and Mrs. Jolly 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. Jolly arrayed herself in an exceedingly bright shawl for the purpose of making a progress through the streets of the town The one will come on to bring the boxes said Mrs. Jolly and you had better come in it, child I am obliged to walk very much against my will but the people expected of me and public characters can't be their own masters and mistresses in such matters as these How do I look, child? Nell returned a satisfactory reply and Mrs. Jolly 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 jorting 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 town hall with a clock tower and the weather cock 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 low arched 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 market place and the trademen's doors and some old people were dozing in chairs outside an arms house 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 cracky voices that they surely must have been too slow The very dogs were all sleep and the flies drunk with moist sugar in the grossest shop forgot their wings and briskness and baked to death in dusty corners of the window rambling along with most unwanted 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 in dispatch and taken in to be unlocked by Mrs. Jarley who attended by George and another man in velvety in 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 clothes lest the envious dust should injure their complexions Nell bestowed 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 tall collectors 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 suit 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 an Asian 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 like being then towards him The military gentleman shook his forefinger as a sign that her mermidance were not to apprise her of his presence and stealing up clothes behind her tapped her on the neck and cried playfully Boh! What Mr. Slum! cried the lady of the waxwork Lot! Who'd have thought of seeing you here? Pawn my soul and donor said Mr. Slum that's a good remark Pawn my soul and donor that's a wise remark Who would have thought it? George, my faithful fellow 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. Jolly Pawn my soul and donor I wanted a little inspiration a little freshening up a little change of ideas Pawn my soul and donor said the military gentleman checking himself and looking round the room What a devilish classical thing this is by God it's quite Minervian It'll look well enough when it comes to be finished Observed Mrs. Jolly Well enough said Mr. Slum Would you believe me when I say when I think I've 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. Jolly and I really don't think it does much good Hush no no returned Mr. Slum elevating his hand No fibs I'll not hear it don't say it don't do good don't say it I know better I think it does said Mrs. Jolly cried Mr. Slum you're giving way you're coming down ask the perfumers ask the blacking makers ask the hatters ask the old lottery office keepers ask any man among him what my poetry has done for him and mark my words he blesses the name of slum if he's an honest man he raises his eyes to heaven and blesses the name of slum Mr. Jolly yes surely then upon my soul and honor ma'am you'll find in a certain angle of that dreary pile called poet's 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 I've 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 it's an acrostic the name at this moment is Warren and the idea is a convertible one and a positive inspiration for Jolly have the acrostic I suppose it's very dear said Mrs. Jolly five shillings returned Mr. Slum using his pencil as a toothpick cheaper than any prose I couldn't give more than three said Mrs. Jolly and six retorted slum three and six Mrs. Jolly was not proof against the poet's insinuating manner and Mr. Slum entered the order in a small notable cause three and six many 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 tasty as they might be the stupendous collection was uncovered and their word 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 diverse sprightly effigies of celebrated characters singly and in groups clad in glittering dresses of various climbs and times and standing more or less and steadily 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 countenance is expressing great surprise all the gentlemen were very pigeon-breasted and very blew 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. Jolly ordered the room to be cleared of all but herself and the child and sitting herself down in an armchair in the center formally invested Nell with a willow and long used by herself for pointing out the characters and was at great pains to instruct her in her duty that, said Mrs. Jolly in her exhibition tone as Nell touched a figure at the beginning of the platform is an unfortunate maid of honor in the time of Queen Elizabeth who died from pricking her finger in consequence of working upon a Sunday observed the blood which is trickling from her finger also the gold-eyed 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. Jolly is Jasper Pachelmorton of atrocious memory who courted and married 14 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 him off so easy and hoped all Christian husbands would pardon him the offense 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. Pachelmorton and could say it without faltering Mrs. Jolly 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 132 the wild boy of the woods the woman who poisoned 14 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. Jolly 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 base hung with the inscription she had already seen Mr. Slump's productions and a highly ornamented table placed at the upper end for Mrs. Jolly herself at which she was to preside and take the money in company with his majesty king George III Mr. Grimaldia's 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 the brigand with the blackest possible head of hair and the clearest possible complexion was at that moment going round the town in a cart insulting the miniature of a lady it now only remained that Mr. Slump's compositions should be judiciously distributed that the pathetic effusions should find their way to all private houses and tradespeople and that the parody commencing you find nude 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. Jolly had waited upon the boarding schools in person with a hand bill composed expressly for them in which it was distinctly proved that Wack's work 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 End of Chapter 28 Chapter 29 of the Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 29 Unquestionably Mrs. Jolly 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 hand bills 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, here to for 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 Grown-up folks began to be interested in the bright-eyed girl and some score of little boys fell desperately in love and constantly left enclosures of nuts and apples directed in small text at the waxwork door This desirable impression was not lost on Mrs. Jolly 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 half hour to the great satisfaction of admiring audiences And these audiences were of a very superior description including a great many young ladies boarding schools whose favor Mrs. Jolly 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 murderous of great renown into Mrs. Hannah Moore both of which likenesses were admitted by Miss Montflothers 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 night cup and bed gown and without his boots represented the poet Cowper with perfect exactness and Mary Queen of Scots in a dark wig white shirt collar and male attire was such a complete image of Lord Byron that the young ladies quite screamed when they saw it Miss Montflothers however rebuked this enthusiasm and took occasion to reprove Mrs. Jolly for not keeping her collection more select observing that his lordship had held certain opinions quite incompatible with wax work owners and adding something about a dean and chapter which Mrs. Jolly 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 connection with the wax work beyond that which sprang from her recollection of Quillp and her fears that he might return and one day suddenly encounter them Quillp 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 wax work 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 someone or other of their death like 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 kid 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 wondering 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 around 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 he had 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 when 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 enabled 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 they were 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 lastily 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 jacked lightning came again what were you going past for air? he added as he closed the door and led the way along a passage to a room behind we didn't see the house sir till we heard you calling Nell replied no wonder said the man with the sliding in one's eyes by the by you had better stand by the fire here and dry yourselves a bit you can't call for what you like if you want anything if you don't want anything you are not obliged to give an order don't be afraid of that this is a public house that's 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 and if you don't know the valiant soldier as well as the church catechism this is the valiant soldier by James Groves Jim Groves, honest Jim Groves as is a man of an blemished moral character and has a good dry skittle ground if any man has got to anything to say again Jim Groves let him say to Jim Groves and Jim Groves can accommodate him with a customer in any terms for £4 a site of 40 with these words the speaker tapped himself on the waistcoat to intimate that he was the Jim Groves so highly eulogized Sparred scientifically at a counterfeit Jim Groves was sparring at society in general from a black frame over the chimney piece and applying a half emptied glass of spirits and water to his lips drank Jim Groves' 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 on Mr Groves' 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 aren't many men said Mr Groves no answer being returned who would venture to cross Jim Groves under his own roof there's only one man I know that has nerve enough for that and that man's not a hundred mile from here neither but he's 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 graff horse voice bad Mr Groves hold his noise and light a candle and the same voice remarked that the same gentleman Newton wist his breath in brag for most people knew pretty well what sort of stuff he was made of now there they're playing cards whispered the old man suddenly interested don't you hear them look sharp with that candle said the voice it's 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 worst for tonight's thunder I expect game seven sixpence to me old Isaac and over do you hear now do you hear them whispered the old man again with increased earnestness as the money chinked upon the table I haven't seen such a storm as this said a sharp crack it voice of most disagreeable quality when a tremendous peel of thunder had died away since the night when old look with us won 13 times running on the red we all said he had the devil's luck on 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 return the grab voice for an old looks winning through thick and thin of light years I remember the time when he was the unluckiest and unfortunateest of men never took a dice box 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 now 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 now come I saw you with 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 return the old man fiercely hush hush don't cry Nell if I spoke sharply dear I didn't mean it it is for thy good I have wronged thee Nell but I will write thee at 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 return the old man I must have it there there that's my dear Nell I'll write thee one day child I'll write thee never fear she took from her pocket a little purse he seized it with the same rapid impatience he characterized 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 the 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, road cheeks, a coarse white mouth and bull neck which was pretty freely displayed as his shirt collar was only confined by a loose red neck achieve he wore his hat which was of a brownish white 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 ill-favoured 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 offense, I hope return the old man but by Jesus there is offense 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 can't 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 can't you let him speak, Isaac, list? can't 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, Jimmy Groves well, then do it, will you said the landlord Mr. List's 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 that's what the gentleman meant I beg the gentleman's pardon is this the gentleman's little purse a very pretty little purse rather a light purse I did Isaac throwing it into the air and catching it dexterously but enough to amuse a gentleman for half an hour or so we'll make a four-handed game of it and take in Groves, said the stout man calm, 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 the little winnings to great there's little to be won here but great will come in time I shall but win back my own and it's 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 you are not coming yourself, give us the cards, will you? I am coming said the old man sit thee down, Nell, sit thee down and look on be of good heart it's all for thee oh, every penny I don't tell them no, no, or else they wouldn't 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 isn't coming, said Isaac making as though he would rise from the table I'm sorry the gentleman's 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 poetry stakes that she could have almost better born 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 naves and game-sters by their trade while intent upon their game were yet as cool and quiet as if every virtue had been centred 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 peel 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 gradually died away into a deep hoarse distance and still the game went on and still the anxious child was quite forgotten End of chapter 29