 11 Quiet and solitude were destined to hold uninterrupted rule no longer, beneath the roof that sheltered the child. Next morning the old man was in a raging fever, accompanied with delirium, and sinking under the influence of this disorder he lay for many weeks in imminent peril of his life. There was watching enough now, but it was the watching of strangers who made a greedy trade of it, and who in the intervals in their attendance upon the sick man huddled together with a ghastly good fellowship, and ate and drank and made merry, for disease and death were their ordinary household gods. Yet in all the hurry and crowding of such a time the child was more alone than she had ever been before. Alone in spirit, alone in her devotion to him who was wasting away upon his burning bed, alone in her unfaigned sorrow and her unpurchased sympathy. Day after day, and night after night, found her still by the pillow of the unconscious sufferer, still anticipating his every want, still listening to those repetitions of her name and those anxieties and cares for her which were ever uppermost among his feverish wanderings. The house was no longer theirs, even the sick chamber seemed to be retained on the uncertain tenure of Mr. Quilp's favour. The old man's illness had not lasted many days when he took formal possession of the premises, and all upon them, in virtue of certain legal powers to that effect which few understood and none presumed to call in question. This important step secured, with the assistance of a man of law whom he brought with him for the purpose, the dwarf proceeded to establish himself and his co-adjuter in the house, as an assertion of his claim against all comos, and then set about making his quarters comfortable after his own fashion. To this end Mr. Quilp encamped in the back parlour, having first put an effectual stop to any further business by shutting up the shop. Having looked out from among the old furniture the handsomest and most commodious chair he could possibly find which he reserved for his own use, and an especially hideous and uncomfortable one which he considerably appropriated to the accommodation of his friend. He caused them to be carried into this room and took up his position in great state. The apartment was very far removed from the old man's chamber, but Mr. Quilp deemed it prudent as a precaution against infection from fever and a means of wholesome fumigation, not only to smoke himself without cessation, but to insist upon it that his legal friend did the like. Moreover he sent an express to the wharf for the tumbling boy, who arriving with all dispatch was enjoined to sit himself down in another chair just inside the door, continually to smoke a great pipe which the dwarf had provided for the purpose, and to take it from his lips under any pretense whatever were it only for one minute at a time if he dared. These arrangements completed Mr. Quilp looked round him with chuckling satisfaction and remarked that he called that comfort. The legal gentleman, whose melodious name was Brass, might have called it comfort also but for two drawbacks. One was that he could by no exertion sit easy in his chair, the seat of which was very hard, angular, slippery and sloping. The other, that tobacco smoke always caused him great internal discomposure and annoyance. But as he was quite a creature of Mr. Quilp's, and had a thousand reasons for conciliating his good opinion, he tried to smile and nod at his acquiescence with the best grace he could assume. This Brass was an attorney of no very good repute from Beavis Marks in the city of London. He was a tall, meager man with a nose like a wen, a protruding forehead, retreating eyes and hair of a deep red. He wore a long black shirt out reaching nearly to his ankles, black trousers, high shoes and cotton stockings of a bluish grey. He had a cringing manner, but a very harsh voice, and his blandest smiles were so extremely forbidding that to have had his company under the least repulsive circumstances one would have wished him to be out of temper that he might only scowl. Quilp looked at his legal adviser and seeing that he was winking very much in the anguish of his pipe, that he sometimes shuddered when he happened to inhale its full flavour, and that he constantly fanned the smoke from him, was quite overjoyed and rubbed his hands with glee. "'Smoke away, you dog,' said Quilp, turning to the boy, "'fill your pipe again and smoke it fast, down to the last whiff, or I'll put the ceiling waxed end of it in the fire and rub it hot upon your tongue.' Luckily the boy was case-hardened, and would have smoked a small lime kiln if anybody had treated him with it. Wherefore, he only muttered a brief defiance of his master, and did as he was ordered. "'Is it good, Brass? Is it nice? Is it fragrant? Do you feel like the Grand Turk?' said Quilp. Mr. Brass thought that if he did the Grand Turk's feelings were by no means to be envied, and he said it was famous, and he had no doubt he felt very like that potentate. "'This is the way to keep off fever,' said Quilp. "'This is the way to keep off every calamity of life. We'll never leave off all the time we stop here. Smoke away, you dog, or you shall swallow the pipe.' "'Shall we stop here long, Mr. Quilp?' inquired his legal friend, when the dwarf had given his boy this gentle admonition. "'We must stop, I suppose, till the old gentleman upstairs is dead,' returned Quilp. "'Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee,' laughed Mr. Brass. "'Oh, very good. Smoke away,' cried Quilp, "'never stop. You can talk as you smoke. We'll lose time.' "'Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee,' cried Brass faintly, as he again applied himself to the odious pipe. "'But if he should get better, Mr. Quilp, then we shall stop till he does, and no longer,' returned the dwarf. "'How kind it is of you, sir, to wait till then,' said Brass. "'Some people, sir, would have sold or removed the goods. "'Oh, dear, the very instant the law allowed them. Some people, sir, would have been all flintiness and granite. Some people, sir, would have, some people, would have spared themselves the jabbering of such a parrot as you,' interposed the dwarf. "'Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee,' cried Brass. "'You have such spirits!' The smoking sentinel at the door, interposed in this place, and without taking his pipe from his lips, growled, "'Is the girl coming down?' "'Then what, you dog?' said Quilp. "'The girl!' returned the boy. "'Oye, a deaf!' said Quilp, drawing in his breath with great relish as if he were taking soup. "'You and I will have such a settling presently, such a scratching and bruising in store for you, my dear young friend. Ah-ha! Nearly! How is he now, my duck of diamonds?' "'He's very bad,' replied the weeping child. "'What a pretty little knell,' cried Quilp. "'Oh, beautiful, sir, beautiful indeed,' said Brass, quite charming. "'Has she come to sit upon Quilp's knee?' said the dwarf in what he meant to be a soothing tone? "'Or is she going to bed in her own little room inside here, which is poor Nellie going to do?' "'What a remarkable pleasant way he has with children,' muttered Brass, as if in confidence between himself and the ceiling. "'For my word, it's quite a treat to hear him.' "'I'm not going to stay at all,' faltered Nell. "'I want a few things out of that room, and then I won't come down here any more.' "'And a very nice little room it is,' said the dwarf, looking into it as the child entered. "'Quite a bower. "'You're sure you're not going to use it? "'You're sure you're not coming back, Nellie?' "'No,' replied the child, hurrying away with a few articles of dress she had come to remove. "'Never again, never again.' "'She's very sensitive,' said Quilp, looking after her. "'Very sensitive. "'That's a pity. "'The bedstead is much about my size, I think I shall make it my little room.'" Mr. Brass, encouraging this idea, as he would have encouraged any other emanating from the same source, the dwarf walked in to try the effect. This he did by throwing himself on his back upon the bed with his pipe in his mouth, and then kicking up his legs and smoking violently. Mr. Brass, applauding this picture very much, and the bed being soft and comfortable, Mr. Quilp determined to use it both as a sleeping-place-by-night and as a kind of divan by day, and in order that it might be converted to the latter purpose at once remained where he was and smoked his pipe out. The legal gentleman, being by this time rather giddy and perplexed in his ideas, for this was one of the operations of the tobacco on his nervous system, took the opportunity of slinking away into the open air, where, in course of time, he recovered sufficiently to return with a countenance of tolerable composure. He was soon led on by the malicious dwarf to smoke himself into a relapse, and in that state stumbled upon a settee where he slept till morning. Such were Mr. Quilp's first proceedings on entering upon his new property. He was, for some days, restrained by business from performing any particular pranks, as his time was pretty well occupied between taking, with the assistance of Mr. Brass, a minute inventory of all the goods in the place, and going abroad upon his other concerns, which happily engaged him for several hours at a time. His avarice and caution, being now thoroughly awakened, however, he was never absent from the house one night, and as eagerness for some termination, good or bad, to the old man's disorder, increasing rapidly as the time passed by, soon began to vent itself at open murmurs and exclamations of impatience. Nell shrank timidly from all the dwarf's advances towards conversation, and fled from the very sound of his voice, nor were the lawyer's smiles less terrible to her than Quilp's grimaces. She lived in such continual dread and apprehension of meeting one or other of them on the stairs or in the passages, if she stirred from her grandfather's chamber, that she seldom left it, for a moment, until late at night, when the silence encouraged her to venture forth and breathe the purer air of some empty room. One night she had stolen to her usual window, and were sitting there very sorrowfully, the old man had been worse that day. When she thought she heard her name pronounced by a voice in the street, looking down, she recognised Kit, whose endeavours to attract her attention had roused her from her sad reflections. Miss Nell! said the boy in a low voice. Yes! replied the child, doubtful whether she ought to hold any communication with a supposed culprit, but inclining to her old favourite still, what do you want? I've wanted to say a word to you for a long time," the boy replied, but the people below have driven me away and wouldn't let me see you. You don't believe, I hope you don't really believe, that I deserve to be cast off as I have been, do you miss? I must believe it," returned the child, or why would grandfather have been so angry with you? I don't know," replied Kit, I'm sure I never deserved it from him, no, nor from you. I can say that with a true and honest heart, anyway, and then to be driven from the door, but I only came to ask how old Master was. They never told me that," said the child. I didn't know it indeed. I wouldn't have had them do it for the world. Thank you, miss," returned Kit, it's comfortable to hear you say that. I said I never would believe that it was your doing. That was right," said the child, eagerly. Miss Nell, cried the boy, coming under the window and speaking in lower tone, there are new masters downstairs. It's a change for you. It is indeed," replied the child, and so it will be for him when he gets better," said the boy, pointing towards the sick-room. If he ever does," added the child, unable to restrain her tears, ah, we'll do that, he'll do that," said Kit. I'm sure he will. He mustn't be cast down, Miss Nell. Now, don't be, pray. These words of encouragement and consolation were few and roughly said, but the effect of the child and made her, for the moment, weep the more. He'll be sure to get better now," said the boy anxiously, if you don't give weight to low spirits and turn ill yourself, which would make him worse, and throw him back, just as he was recovering. When he does, say a good word. Say a kind word for me, Miss Nell. They tell me I must not even mention your name to him for a long, long time. We joined the child. I dare not, and even if I might, what good would a kind word do you, Kit? We shall be very poor. We shall scarcely have bread to eat. It's not that I may be taken back," said the boy, that I asked the fiver of you. It isn't for the sake of food and wages that I've been waiting about so long in hopes to see you. Don't think that I'd come in a time of trouble to talk of such things as them. The child looked gratefully and kindly at him, but waited that he might speak again. No! It's not that," said Kit, hesitating. It's something very different from that. I haven't got much sense, I know, but if he could be brought to believe that I'd been a faithful servant to him, doing the best I could and never meaning harm, perhaps he mightn't. Here Kit faltered so long that the child untreated him to speak out, and quickly, for it was very late and time to shut the window. Perhaps he mightn't think it over-aventures him of me to say, well, then, to say this. cried Kit, with sudden boldness. This home is gone from you and him. Mother and I have got a poor one, but that's better than this with all these people here. And why not come there, till he said time to look about and find her better? The child did not speak. Kit, in the relief of having made his proposition, found his tongue loosened and spoke out in its favour with his utmost eloquence. You think," said the boy, that it's very small and inconvenient. So it is, but it's very clean. Perhaps you think it would be noisy, but there's not quite a court than ours in all the town. Don't be afraid of the children. The baby hardly ever cries, and the other one is very good. Besides, I'd mind him. They wouldn't vex you much, I'm sure. Do try, Miss Nell. The little front-room upstairs is very pleasant. It can see a piece of the church clock through the chimneys and almost tell the time. Mother says it would be just a thing for you and so it would, and you'd have her to wait upon you both and meet the run of errands. We don't mean money, bless you. You're not to think of that. Will you try him, Miss Nell? Only say you'll try him. Do try to make old master come first what I have done. Will you only promise that, Miss Nell? Before the child could reply to this earnest solicitation, the street door opened and Mr. Brass, thrusting out his night-capped head, called in a surly voice, "'Who's there?' Kit immediately glided away and Nell, closing the window softly, drew back into the room. Before Mr. Brass had repeated his inquiry many times, Mr. Quilpe, also embellished with the night-cap, emerged from the same door and looked carefully up and down the street and up at all the windows of the house from the opposite side. Finally that there was nobody in sight he presently returned into the house with his legal friend, protesting, as the child heard from the staircase, that there was a league and plot against him, that he was in danger of being robbed and plundered by a band of conspirators who prowled about the house at all seasons, and that he would delay no longer but take immediate steps for disposing of the property and returning to his own peaceful roof. Having rowled forth these and a great many other threats of the same nature, he called himself once more in the child's little bed and Nell trapped softly up the stairs. It was natural enough that her short and unfinished dialogue with Kit should leave a strong impression on her mind, and influence her dreams that night and her recollections for a long, long time. Surrounded by unfeeling creditors and mercenary attendants upon the sick, and meeting in the height of her anxiety and sorrow with little regard or sympathy, even from the women about her, it is not surprising that the affection at heart of the child should have been touched to the quick by one kind and generous spirit, however uncouth the temple in which it dwelt. Thank heaven that the temples of such spirits are not made with hands, and that they may be even more worthily hung with poor patchwork than with purple and fine linen. End of chapter 11 At length the crisis of the old man's disorder was passed, and he began to mend. By very slow and feeble degrees his consciousness came back, but the mind was weakened and its functions were impaired. He was patient and quiet, often sat brooding but not despondently for a long space, was easily amused even by a sun-beam on the wall or ceiling, made no complaint that the days were long or the nights tedious, but it indeed to have lost all count of time and every sense of care or weariness. He would sit for hours together with Nell's small hand in his, playing with the fingers and stopping sometimes to smooth her hair or kiss her brow, and when he saw that tears were glistening in her eyes would look amazed about him for the cause and forget his wonder even while he looked. The child and he rode out, the old man propped up with pillows and the child beside him. They were hand in hand as usual. The noise and motion in the streets fatigued his brain at first but he was not surprised or curious or pleased or irritated. He was asked if he remembered this or that. Oh, yes! He said, quite well, why not? Sometimes he turned his head and looked with earnest gaze and outstretched neck after some stranger in the crowd until he disappeared from sight. But to the question why he did this he answered not a word. He was sitting in his easy chair one day and Nell upon a stool beside him when a man outside the door inquired if he might enter. Yes! He said without emotion. It was Quilp he knew. Quilp was master there. Of course he might come in and so he did. I'm glad to see you well again at last, neighbour. Said the dwarf, sitting down opposite him. You're quite strong, Nell. Yes, said the old man feebly. Yes. I don't want to hurry, you know, neighbour. Said the dwarf, raising his voice for the old man's senses were duller than they had been. But as soon as you can arrange your future proceedings the better. Surely, said the old man, the better for all parties. Yes, he pursued Quilp after short pause. The goods being once removed this house would be uncomfortable and inhabitable, in fact. You say true. Returned the old man. Poor Nell, too. What would she do? Exactly. Balled the dwarf, nodding his head. That's very well observed. Then will you consider about it, neighbour? I will, certainly, replied the old man. We shall not stop here. So I supposed, closed, said the dwarf. I have sold the things. They have not yielded quite as much as they might have done, but pretty well, pretty well. Today's Tuesday. When shall they be moved? There's no hurry. Shall we say this afternoon? Say, Friday morning, returned the old man. Very good, pretending that I can't go beyond that day, neighbour, on any account. Good! returned the old man. I shall remember it. Mr. Quilp seemed rather puzzled by the strange, even, spiritless way in which all this was said, but as the old man nodded his head and repeated, on Friday morning I shall remember it. He had no excuse for looking on the subject any further, and so took a friendly leave with many expressions of good will and many compliments to his friend on his looking so remarkably well, and went below stairs to report progress to Mr. Brass. All that day and all the next the old man remained in this state. He wandered up and down the house and into and out of the various rooms, as if with some vague intent of bidding them adieu, and neither by direct illusions nor in any other manner to the interview of the morning or the necessity of finding some other shelter. An indistinct idea he had that the child was desolate and in want of help, for he often drew her to his bosom and bade her be of good cheer, saying that they would not desert each other. But he seemed unable to contemplate their real position more distinctly and was still the listless, passionless creature that suffering left him. We call this a state of childishness, but it is the same poor hollow mockery of it that death is of sleep, where in the dull eyes of doting men are the laughing light and life of childhood, the gaiety that has known no check, the frankness that has felt no chill, the hope that has never withered, the joys that fade in blossoming, where in the sharp liniments of rigid and unsightly death is the calm beauty of slumber, telling of rest for the waking hours that are past and gentle hopes of loves for those which are to come. Lay death and sleep down side by side and say who shall find the two akin. Send forth the child and childish man together and blush for the pride that libels our own old happy state and give its title to an ugly and distorted image. Thursday arrived and there was no alteration in the old man, but a change came upon him that evening as he and the child sat silently together. In a small dull yard below his window there was a tree, green and flourishing enough for such a place, and as the air stirred among its leaves it threw a rippling shadow on the white wall. The old man sat watching the shadows until the sun went down. And when it was night and the moon was slowly rising he still sat in the same spot. To one who had been tossing on a restless bed so long even these few green leaves and this tranquil light although it languished among chimneys and housetops were pleasant things they suggested quiet places afar off and rest and peace. There was more than once that he was moved and had foreborn to speak but now he shed tears tears that it lightened her aching heart to see and making as though he would fall upon his knees besorter to forgive him. Forgive you? What! said Nell, interposing to prevent his purpose. Oh, grandfather what should I forgive? All that is past all that has come upon Nell all that was done in that uneasy dream returned the old man Do not talk so said the child Pray do not let us speak of something else Yes yes we will he rejoined and it shall be of what we talked of long ago many months months is it or weeks or days which is it Nell I do not understand you said the child it has come back upon me today it has all come back since we have been sitting here I bless thee for it Nell For what, dear grandfather for what you said when we were first made beggars Nell let us speak softly for if they knew our purpose downstairs they would cry that I was mad and take thee from me we will not stop here another day we will go far away from here Yes let us go said the child earnestly let us be gone from this place and never turn back or think of it again let us wander barefoot through the world rather than linger here we will answered the old man we will travel a foot through the fields and woods and by the side of rivers and trust ourselves to guard in the places where he dwells it is far better to lie down at night beneath an open sky like that yonder see how bright it is than to rest in closed rooms which are always full of care and weary dreams thou and I together Nell may be cheerful and happy yet and learn to forget this time as if it had never been we will be happy cried the child we never can be here no we never can again never again that's truly said we joined the old man let us steal away tomorrow morning early and softly that we may not be seen or heard and leave no trace or track for them to follow by poor Nell thy cheek is pale and thy eyes are heavy with watching and weeping for me I know for me but thou wilt be well again and merry too when we are far away tomorrow morning dear we'll turn our faces from this scene of sorrow and be as free and happy as the birds and then the old man clasped his hands above her head and said in a few broken words that from that time forth they would wander up and down together and never part more until death took one or other of the twain the child's heart beat high with hope and confidence she had no thought of hunger or cold or thirst or suffering she saw in this but a return of the simple pleasures they had once enjoyed a relief from the gloomy solitude in which she had lived an escape from the heartless people by whom she had been surrounded in her late time of trial the restoration of the old man's health and peace and a life of tranquil happiness sun and stream summer days shone brightly in her view and there was no dark tint in all the sparkling picture the old man had slept for some hours soundly in his bed and she was yet busily engaged in preparing for their flight there were a few articles of clothing for herself to carry and a few for him old garments such as became their fallen fortunes laid out to wear and a staff to support his feeble steps put ready for his use but this was not all her task for now she must visit the old rooms for the last time and how different the parting with them was from any she had expected and most of all from that which she had oftenest pictured to herself how could she ever have thought of bidding them farewell in triumph when the recollection of the many hours she had passed among them rose to her swelling heart to feel the wish a cruelty lonely and sad though many of those hours had been she sat down at the window where she had spent so many evenings darker far than this and every thought of hope or cheerfulness that had occurred to her in that place came vividly upon her mind and blotted out all its dull and mournful associations in an instant her own little room too where she had so often knelt down prayed for the time which she hoped was dawning now the little room where she had slept so peacefully and dreamed such pleasant dreams it was hard not to be able to glance round it once more and to be forced to leave it without one kind look or grateful tear there were some trifles there poor useless things that she would have liked to take away but that was impossible this brought to mind her bird her poor bird who hung there yet she wept bitterly for the loss of this little creature until the idea occurred to her she did not know how or why it came into her head that it might, by some means fall into the hands of Kit who would keep it for her sake and think perhaps that she had left it behind in the hope that he might have it and as an assurance that she was grateful to him she was calmed and comforted by the thought and went to rest with a lighter heart from many dreams of rambling through light and sunny places but with some vague object unattained which ran indistinctly through them all she awoke to find that it was yet night and that the stars were shining brightly in the sky at length the day began to glimmer and the stars to grow pale and dim as soon as she was sure of this she arose and dressed herself for the journey the old man was yet asleep and as she was unwilling to disturb him she left him to slumber on until the sun rose he was anxious that they should leave the house without a minute's loss of time and was soon ready the child then took him by the hand and they trod lightly and cautiously down the stairs trembling whenever a board creaked and often stopping to listen the old man had forgotten a kind of wallet which contained the light burden he had to carry and the going back a few steps to fetch it seemed an interminable delay at last they reached the passage on the ground floor where the snoring of Mr. Quilp and his legal friend sounded more terrible in their ears and the roars of lions the bolts of the door were rusty and difficult to unfasten without noise when they were all drawn back it was found to be locked and worst of all the key was gone I remembered, for the first time one of the nurses having told her that Quilp always locked both the house doors at night and kept the keys on the table in his bedroom it was not without great fear and trepidation that little Nell slipped off her shoes and gliding through the storeroom of old curiosities where Mr. Brass the ugliest piece of goods in all the stock lay sleeping on a mattress passed into her own little chamber here she stood for a few moments quite transfixed with terror at the sight of Mr. Quilp who was hanging so far out of the bed that he almost seemed to be standing on his head and who, either from the uneasiness of this posture or in one of his agreeable habits was gasping and growling with his mouth wide open and the whites or rather the dirty yellows of his eyes distinctly visible it was no time, however, to ask whether anything ailed him so, possessing herself of the key after one hasty glance about the room and reparsing the prostrate Mr. Brass she rejoined the old man in safety they got the door open without noise and passing into the street stood still which way said the child the old man looked irresolutely and helplessly first at her then to the right and left then at her again and shook his head it was plain that she was then's fourth his guide and leader the child felt it but had no doubt so misgiving and putting her hand in his led him gently away it was the beginning of a day in June that deep blue sky unsullied by a cloud and teeming with brilliant light the streets were as yet nearly free from passengers the houses and shops were closed and the healthy air of morning fell like breath from angels on the sleeping-town the old man and the child passed on through the glad silence elate with hope and pleasure they were alone together once again every object was bright and fresh nothing reminded them otherwise than by contrast of the monotony and constraint they had left behind the people's frowning and dark at other times now shone in the sun each humble nook and corner rejoiced in light and the sky dimmed only by excessive distance shed its placid smile on everything beneath forth from the city while it yet slumbered went the two poor adventurers wondering they knew not wither end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of the old curiosity-shop this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recorded by Mil Nicholson the old curiosity-shop by Charles Dickens chapter 13 Daniel Quillpe of Tower Hill and Samson Brass of Beavis Marks in the city of London gentlemen one of Her Majesty's attorneys of the courts of the King's Bench and Common Pleas at Westminster slumbered on unconscious and unsuspicious of any misschance until a knocking on the street door often repeated and gradually mounting up from a modest single wrap to a perfect battery of nocks fired in long discharges with a very short interval between caused the said Daniel Quillpe to struggle into a horizontal position and to stare at the ceiling with the drowsy indifference betokening that he heard the noise and rather wondered at the same and couldn't be at the trouble of bestowing any further thought upon the subject. As the knocking, however, instead of accommodating itself to his lazy state increased in vigor and became more importunate as if an earnest remonstrance against his falling asleep again now that he had once opened his eyes Daniel Quillpe began by degrees to comprehend the possibility of there being somebody at the door and thus he gradually came to recollect that it was Friday morning and he had ordered Mrs. Quillpe to be in waiting upon him at an early hour. Mr. Brass, after writhing about in a great many strange attitudes and often twisting his face and eyes into an expression like that which is usually produced by eating gooseberries very early in the season was by this time awake also. Seeing that Mr. Quillpe invested himself in his everyday garments he hastened to do the like putting on his shoes before his stockings trusting his legs into his coat-sleeves and making such other small mistakes in his toilet as are not uncommon to those who dress in a hurry and labour under the agitation of having been suddenly roused. While the attorney was thus engaged the dwarf was groping under the table muttering desperate implications on himself and mankind in general and all inanimate objects to boot which suggested to Mr. Brass the question, what's the matter? The key said the dwarf looking viciously about him the door key that's the matter do you know anything of it? how should I know anything of it sir? returned Mr. Brass how should you? repeated Quillpe with a sneer you're a nice lawyer, aren't you? you idiot not caring to represent to the dwarf in his present humour because of a key by another person could scarcely be said to affect his Brass's legal knowledge in any material degree Mr. Brass humbly suggested that it must have been forgotten overnight and was doubtless at that moment in its native keyhole notwithstanding that Mr. Quillpe had a strong conviction to the contrary founded on his recollection of having carefully taken it out he was feigned to admit that this was possible and therefore went grumbling to the door and found it now just as Mr. Quillpe laid his hand upon the lock and saw with great astonishment that the fastenings were undone the knocking came again with the most irritating violence and the daylight which had been shining through the keyhole was intercepted on the outside by a human eye the dwarf was very much exasperated and wanting somebody to wreak his ill humour upon determined to dart out suddenly and favour Mrs. Quillpe with a gentle acknowledgement of her attention in making that hideous uproar with this view he drew back the lock very silently and softly and opening the door all at once pounced out upon the person on the other side who had at that moment raised the knocker for another application and at whom the dwarf ran head first throwing out his hands and feet together and biting the air in the fullness of his malice so far however from rushing upon somebody who offered no resistance and implored his mercy Mr. Quillpe was no sooner in the arms of the individual whom he had taken for his wife than he found himself complemented with two staggering blows on the head and two more of the same quality in the chest and closing with his assailant such a shower of buffets rained down upon his person a suffice to convince him that he was in skillful and experienced hands nothing daunted by this reception he clung tight to his opponent and bit and hammered away with such good will and heartiness that it was at least a couple of minutes before he was dislodged then and not until then Daniel Quillpe found himself all flushed and dishevelled in the middle of the street with Mr. Richard Swiveller performing a kind of dance around him and requiring to know whether he wanted any more there is plenty more of it at the same shop said Mr. Swiveller by turns advancing and retreating in a threatening attitude defensive assortment always on hand country orders executed with promptitude and dispatch will you have a little more sir? don't say no if you'd rather not I thought it was somebody else said Quillpe rubbing his shoulders why didn't you say who you were? why didn't you say who you were? returned Dick instead of flying out of the house like a bedlamite it was you that said the dwarf getting up with a short groan was it? yes, I am the man replied Dick that lady had begun when I came but she not too soft so I relieved her as he said this he pointed towards Mrs. Quillpe who stood trembling at a little distance hmm buttered the dwarf darting an angry look at his wife I thought it was your fault and you sir don't you know there has been somebody ill here that you knock as if you'd beat the door down? damn answer Dick that's why I did it I thought there was somebody dead here you came for some purpose I suppose said Quillpe what is it you want? I want to know how the old gentleman is rejoined Mr. Swifler from nail herself with whom I should like to have a little talk I'm a friend of the family sir at least I'm a friend of one of the family and that's the same thing you better walk in then said the dwarf go on sir go on now Mrs. Quillpe after you mom Mrs. Quillpe hesitated but Mr. Quillpe insisted and it was not a contest of politeness or by any means a matter of form for she knew very well that her husband wished to enter the house in this order that he might have a favourable opportunity of inflicting a few pinches on her arms which were seldom free from impressions of his fingers in black and blue colours Mr. Swifler who is not in the secret was a little surprised to hear a suppressed scream and looking round to see Mrs. Quillpe following him with a sudden jerk but he did not remark on these appearances and soon forgot them now Mrs. Quillpe said the dwarf when he had entered the shop going you upstairs if you please to Nelly's room and tell her that she's wanted you seem to make yourself at home here said Dick who is unacquainted with Mr. Quillpe's authority I am at home young gentleman returned the dwarf Dick was pondering what these words might mean and still more what the presence of Mr. Brass might mean when Mrs. Quillpe came hurrying downstairs declaring that the rooms above were empty empty? you fool said the dwarf I'll give you my word Quillpe answered his trembling wife that I have been into every room and there's not a soul in any of them and that said Mr. Brass clapping his hands once with an emphasis explains the mystery of the key Quillpe looked frowningly at him and frowningly at his wife and frowningly at Richard Swiveller but receiving no enlightenment from any of them hurried upstairs whence he soon hurried down again confirming the report which had already been made it's a strange way of going he said glancing at Swiveller very strange not to communicate with me who am such a close and intimate friend of his ah, you'll write to me no doubt or you'll bid Nelly write yes, yes, yes, that's what you'll do Nelly is very fond of me pretty Nell Mr. Swiveller looked as he was all open-mouthed astonishment still glancing furtively at him Quillpe turned to Mr. Brass and observed with assumed carelessness that this need not interfere with the removal of the goods for indeed he added we knew that they'd go away today but not that they'd go so early or so quietly but they have their reasons they have their reasons where in the devil's name are they gone? said the wondering dick Quillpe shook his head and pursed up his lips which implied that he knew very well but was not at liberty to say and what said dick, looking at the confusion about him, what do you mean by moving the goods? that I have bought and sir rejoined Quillpe, eh? what then? as the sly old fox made his fortune then got relived in a tranquil cot in a pleasant spot with a distant view of the changing sea keeping his place of retirement very close that he may not be visited too often by affectionate grandsons and their devoted friends, eh? added the dwarf rubbing his hands hard I say nothing but is that your meaning? Richard Swivler was utterly aghast at this unexpected alteration of circumstances which threatened the complete overthrow of the project in which he bore so conspicuous a part and seemed to nip his prospects in the bud having only received from Frederick Trent late on the previous night information of the old man's illness he had come upon a visit of condolence an inquiry to Nell prepared with the first installment of that long train of fascinations which was to fire her heart at last and here when he had been thinking of all kinds of graceful and insinuating approaches and meditating on the fearful retaliation slowly working against Sophie Wackles here were Nell the old man and all the money gone melted away decamped he knew not wither as if with the full knowledge of the scheme and a resolution to defeat it in the very outset before a step was taken in his secret heart Daniel Quillp was both surprised and troubled by the flight which had been made it had not escaped his keen eye that some indispensable articles of clothing were gone with the fugitives knowing the old man's weak state of mind he marvelled what that course of proceeding might be in which he had so readily procured the concurrence of the child it must not be supposed or it would be a gross injustice to Mr. Quillp that he was tortured by any disinterested anxiety on behalf of either his uneasiness arose from a misgiving that the old man had some secret store of money which he had not suspected but for his escaping his clutches overwhelmed him with mortification and self-reproach in this frame of mind it was some consolation to him to find that Richard Swiveller was for different reasons evidently irritated and disappointed by the same cause it was plain thought the dwarf that he had come there on behalf of his friend to cajole or frighten the old man out of some small fraction of that wealth of which they supposed him to have an abundance therefore it was a relief to vex his heart with a picture of the rich as the old man hoarded and to expatiate on his cunning in removing himself even beyond the reach of opportunity well said Dick with a blank look oh, suppose it's now you small, I stay in here not the least in the world rejoined the dwarf you mention that I called perhaps said Dick Mr. Quillp nodded said he certainly would the very first time he saw them and say say sir that I was wafted here upon the pinions of concord that I came to remove with the rake of friendship the seeds of mutual violence and art burning at the so in their place the germs of social harmony will you have the goodness to charge yourself with that commission sir certainly rejoined Quillp will you be kind enough to add to it sir said Dick producing a very small limp card that that is my address and that I am to be found at home every morning two distinct knocks sir will produce the slavy at any time my particular friend sir are accustomed to sneeze when the door is opened to give it to understand that they are my friends and have no interested motives in asking if I am at home I beg your pardon will you allow me to look at that card again oh by all means rejoined Quillp by a slight and not a natural mistake sir said Dick substituting another in its stead I had ended you the past ticket of a select convivial circle called the Glorious Apollo's of which I have the honour to be Perpetual Grand that is the proper document sir good morning Quillp bait him good day the Perpetual Grand Master of the Glorious Apollo's by his hat in honour of Mrs. Quillp dropped it carelessly on the side of his head again and disappeared with a flourish by this time certain vans had arrived for the conveyance of the goods and diverse strong men in caps were balancing chests of drawers and other trifles of that nature upon their heads and performing muscular feats which heightened their complexions considerably not to be behind hand in a buttle Mr. Quillp went to work with surprising vigor driving the people about like an evil spirit setting Mrs. Quillp upon all kinds of arduous and impracticable tasks carrying great weights up and down with no apparent effort kicking the boy from the wharf whenever he could get near him and inflicting with his loads a great many sly bumps and blows on the shoulders of Mr. Brass as he stood upon the doorsteps to answer all the inquiries of curious neighbours which was his department his presence and example his presence employed that in a few hours the house was emptied of everything but pieces of matting empty porter-pots and scattered fragments of straw seated like an African chief on one of these pieces of matting the dwarf was regaling himself in the parlour with bread and cheese and beer when he observed without appearing to do so that a boy was prying in at the outer door assure that it was kit though he saw little more than his nose he held him by his name whereupon kit came in and demanded what he wanted come here, you sir said the dwarf well say your old master and young mistress have gone where? rejoined kit looking round do you mean to say you don't know where? answered Culp sharply where have they gone, eh? I don't know you mean to say that you don't know they went away by stealth as soon as it was light this morning no said the boy in evidence surprise you don't know that cried Culp don't I know that you were hanging about the house the other night like a thief, eh? weren't you told then no replied the boy you were not said Culp what were you told then what were you talking about kit who knew no particular reason why he should keep the matter secret now related the purpose of which he had come on that occasion and the proposal he had made oh said the dwarf after a little consideration then I think they'll counter you yet do you think they will cried Kit eagerly I I think they will returned the dwarf now when they do let me know let me know and I'll give you something I want to do them a kindness and I can't do them a kindness unless I know where they are you hear what I say Kit might have returned some answer which would not have been agreeable to his erasable questioner if the boy from the wharf who had been skulking about the room in search of anything that might have been left about by accident had not happened to cry he is a bird what's to be done with this wring its neck rejoined Culp oh no, don't do that said Kit stepping forward give it to me ah yes you let the cage alone and let me ring its neck will you he said I was to do it you let the cage alone will you give it here give it to me you dogs wrought Culp fight for it you dogs all are ring it neck me self without further persuasion the two boys fell upon each other tooth and nail while Culp holding up the cage in one hand and chopping the ground with his knife in an ecstasy urged them on by his taunts and cries to fight more fiercely they were pretty equal match and rolled about together exchanging blows which were by no means child's play until at length Kit planting a well-directed hit in his adversary's chest disengaged himself sprung nimbly up and snatching the cage from Culp's hands made off with his prize he did not stop once until he reached home where his bleeding face occasioned great consternation and caused the elder child to howl dreadfully good gracious Kit what is the matter what have you been doing cried Mrs. Knubbles never you man mother answered her son wiping his face on the jack towel behind the door I'm not hurt don't you be afraid for me I've been a fighting for a bird and won him that's all hold your noise little Jacob never see such a naughty boy in all my days you have been fighting for a bird exclaimed his mother ah fighting for a bird replied Kit and here he is Miss Nelly's bird mother that they was a going to ring the neck of I'll stop that though they wouldn't ring his neck and me boy no no it wouldn't do mother it wouldn't do it all Kit laughing so heartily with his swollen and bruised face looking out of the towel made little Jacob laugh and then his mother laughed and then the baby crowed and kicked with great glee and then they all laughed in concert partly because of Kit's triumph and partly because they were very fond of each other when this fit was over Kit exhibited the bird to both children as a great and precious rarity only a poor linnet and looking about the wall for an old nail made a scaffolding of a chair and table and twisted it out with great exaltation let me see said the boy I'll think I'll hang him in the window because it's more light and cheerful and he can see the sky there if he looks out very much he's such a want to sing I can tell you so the scaffolding was made again and Kit climbing up with the poker for a hammer knocked in the nail and hung up the cage to the immeasurable delight of the whole family when it had been adjusted and straightened a great many times and he had walked backwards into the fireplace in his admiration of it the arrangement was pronounced to be perfect and now mother said the boy before I rest any more I'll go out and see if I can find a horse to hold and now I can buy some bird seed and a bit of something nice for you at the bargain End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of the Old Curiosity Shop this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recorded by Mill Nicholson the Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 14 as it was very easy for Kit to persuade himself that the old house was in his way his way being anywhere he tried to look upon his passing at once more as a matter of imperative and disagreeable necessity quite a part of many desire of his own to which he could not choose but yield it is not uncommon for people who are much better fed and taught than Christopher Nobles had ever been to make duties of their inclinations in matters of more doubtful propriety and to take great credit for the self-denial with which they gratify themselves there was no need of any caution this time there was no need of any caution this time there was no need of any caution this time and no fear of being detained by having to play out a return match with Daniel Quilp's boy the place was entirely deserted and looked as dusty and dingy as if it had been so for months a rusty padlock was fastened on the door ends of discoloured blinds and curtains flat drearily against the half-opened upper windows and the crooked holes cut in the closed shutters below were black with the darkness of the inside some of the glass in the window he had so often watched had been broken in the rough hurry of the morning and that room looked more deserted and dull than any a group of idle urchins had taken possession of the doorsteps some were plying the knocker and listening with delighted dread to the hollow sounds it spread through the dismantled house others were clustered about the keyhole watching half in jest and half in earnest for the ghost the power's gloom added to the mystery that hung about the late inhabitants had already raised standing all alone in the midst of the business and bustle of the street the house looked a picture of cold desolation and Kit who remembered the cheerful fire that used to burn there on a winter's night and the no less cheerful laugh had made the small room ring turned quite mournfully away it must be especially observed in justice to poor Kit he was by no means of a sentimental turn and perhaps had never heard that adjective in all his life he was only a soft hearted grateful fellow and had nothing genteel or polite about him consequently instead of going home again in his grief to kick the children and abuse his mother for when your finely strung people are out of sorts they must have everybody else unhappy likewise he turned his thoughts to the vulgar expedient of making them more comfortable if he could bless us what a number of gentlemen and horseback there were riding up and down and how few of them wanted their horses held a good city speculator or a parliamentary commissioner could have told to a fraction and the crowds that were cantering about what some of money was realised in London in the course of a year by holding horses alone and undoubtedly it would have been a very large one if only a twentieth part of the gentleman grooms had had occasion to a light but they had not and it is often an ill-natured circumstance like this which spoils the most ingenious estimate in the world Kitt walked about now with quick steps and now with slow now lingering as some rider slackened his horse's pace and looked about him and now darting at full speed up a by-street as he caught a glimpse of some distant horseman going lazily up the shady side of the road and promising to stop at every door but on they all went one after another and there was not a penny stirring I wonder, thought the boy if one of these gentlemen knew there was nothing in the cupboard at home whether he'd stop on purpose and make believe that he wanted to call somewhere that I might earn a trifle he was quite tired out with pacing the streets to say nothing of repeated disappointments and were sitting down upon a step to rest when they approached towards him a little clattering jingling four-wheeled chaise drawn by a little obstinate-looking rough-coated pony and driven by a little fat placid-faced old gentleman beside the little old gentleman set a little old lady plump and placid like himself and the pony was coming along at his own pace and doing exactly as he pleased with the whole concern if the old gentleman remonstrated by shaking the reins the pony replied by shaking his head it was plain at the utmost the pony would consent to do was to go in his own way up any street that the old gentleman particularly wished to traverse but that it was an understanding between them that he must do this after his own fashion or not at all as they passed where he said Kit looked so wistfully at the little turnout that the old gentleman looked at him Kit rising and putting his hand to his head the old gentleman intimated to the pony that he wished to stop to which proposal the pony who seldom objected to that part of his duty graciously acceded I beg your pardon sir said Kit I'm sorry you stopped sir I only meant did you want your horse minded I'm going to get down in the next street returned the old gentleman if you like to come on after us you may have the job Kit thanked him the pony ran off at a sharp angle to inspect a lamppost on the opposite side of the way and then went off at a tangent to another lamppost on the other side having satisfied himself that they were of the same pattern and materials he came to a stop apparently absorbed in meditation will you go on sir said the old gentleman gravely or are we to wait here for you till it's too late for our appointment the pony remained immovable oh you naughty whisker said the old lady fire upon you I'm ashamed of such conduct the pony appeared to be touched by this appeal to his feelings or he trotted on directly though in a sulky manner and stopped no more until he came to a door whereon was a brass plate with the words witheredon notary here the old gentleman got out and helped out the old lady and then took him out the old lady and then took from under the seat a nose-gay resembling in shape and dimensions a full-sized warming pan with the handle cut short off this the old lady carried into the house with a staid and stately air and the old gentleman who had a club foot followed close upon her they went as it was easy to tell from the sound of their voices into the front parlour which seemed to be a kind of office the day being very warm the quiet one the windows were wide open and it was easy to hear through the Venetian blinds all that passed inside at first there was a great shaking of hands and shuffling of feet succeeded by the presentation of the nose-gay for a voice supposed by the listener to be that of Mr Witheredon the notary was heard to exclaim a great many times oh, delicious oh, fragrant indeed and a nose also supposed to be the property the gentleman was heard to inhale the scent for the snuffle of exceeding pleasure I brought it in honour of the occasion, sir said the old lady ah an occasion indeed, ma'am an occasion which it does honour to me, ma'am honour to me rejoin Mr Witheredon the notary I have had many a gentleman article to me, ma'am many one some of them are now rolling in riches unmindful of their old companion and friend, ma'am others are in the habit of calling upon me to this day and saying Mr Witheredon some of the pleasantest hours I ever spent in my life were spent in this office were spent, sir upon this very stool but there was never one among the number, ma'am attached as I have been to many of them of whom I augured such bright things as I do of your only son oh, dear said the old lady how happy you do make us when you tell us that to be sure I tell you, ma'am said Mr Witheredon what I think is an honest man which as the poet observes of the noblest work of God I agree with the poet and every particular ma'am the mountainous alps on the one hand or a hummingbird on the other is nothing in point of workmanship to an honest man or woman anything that Mr Witheredon can say of me observed a small quiet voice I can say with interest of him I am sure it's a happy circumstance a truly happy circumstance said the notary to happen to upon his eight and twentieth birthday and I hope I know how to appreciate it I trust Mr Garland, my dear sir that we may mutually congratulate each other upon this auspicious occasion to this the old gentleman replied that he felt assured they might there appeared to be another shaking of hands in consequence and when it was over the old gentleman said that though he said it, who should not he believed no son had ever been a greater comfort to his parents than Abel Garland had been to his marrying as his mother and I did late in life, sir after waiting for a great many years until we were well enough off coming together when we were no longer young and then being blessed with one child who has always been beautiful and affectionate why it's a source of great happiness to us both, sir of course it is I have no doubt of it returned the notary in a sympathising voice it's the contemplation of this sort of thing that makes me deplore my fate in being a bachelor there was a young lady once, sir daughter of an outfitting warehouse of the first respectability but that's a weakness truckster bring in Mr Abel's articles you see Mr Whitherdon said the old lady had been brought up like the run of young men he has always had a pleasure in our society and always been with us Abel has never been absent from us for a day has he my dear never my dear returned the old gentleman except when he went to Marguerite on Saturday with Mr Tomkinly that had been a teacher at that school he went to and came back upon the Monday but he was very ill after that you remember my dear it was quite a dissipation he was not used to it you know said the old lady and he couldn't bear it that's the truth besides he had no comfort in being there without us and had nobody to talk to or enjoy himself with that was it you know interpose the same small quiet voice that had spoken once before I was quite a broad mother quite a desolate and to think that the sea was between us oh I never shall forget what I felt when I first thought that the sea was between us very natural under the circumstances observe the notary Mr Abel's feelings did credit to his nature and credit to your nature mom and his father's nature and human nature the same current now flowing through all his quiet and unobtrusive proceedings I am about to sign my name you observe at the foot of the articles which Mr Chuckster will witness and placing my finger upon this blue wafer with the van Dyke corners I am constrained to remark in a distinct tone of voice don't be alarmed mom it is merely a form of law that I deliver this as my act and deed Mr Abel will place his name against the other wafer repeating the same cabalistic words and the business is over you see how easily these things are done there was a short silence apparently while Mr Abel went through the prescribed form and then the shaking of hands and shuffling of feet were renewed and shortly afterwards there was a clinking of wine glasses and talkativeness on the part of everybody in about a quarter of an hour Mr Chuckster with the pen behind his ear and his face inflamed with wine appeared at the door and condescending to address kit by the jacos appellation of young snob informed him that the visitors were coming out Out they came forth with Mr Witherdon who was short, chubby fresh-coloured, brisk and pompous leading the old lady with extreme politeness and the father and son following them arm in arm Mr Abel who had a craint old-fashioned air about him at nearly of the same age as his father and bore wonderful resemblance to him in face and figure though wanting something of his full round cheerfulness and substituting in its place a timid reserve in all other respects and the neatness of the dress and even in the club foot he and the old gentleman were precisely alike having seen the old lady safely in her seat and assisted in the arrangement of her cloak and a small basket which formed an indispensable portion of her equipage Mr Abel got into a little box behind which had evidently been made for his express accommodation and smiled at everybody present by terms beginning with his mother and ending with the pony there was then a great to-do to make the pony hold up his head that the bearing rain might be fastened at last even this was affected the old gentleman taking his seat and the reins put his hand in his pocket to find a sixpence for Kit he had no sixpence neither had the old lady nor Mr Abel nor the notary nor Mr Chuckster the old gentleman thought shelling too much but there was no shop in the street to get change at so he gave it to the boy there he said jokingly I'm coming here again next Monday at the same time don't mind you're here my lad to work it out thank you sir said Kit I'll be sure to be here he was quite serious but they all laughed heartily at his saying so especially Mr Chuckster who roared out right and appeared to relish the joke amazingly as the pony with the presentiment that he was going home or a determination that he would not go anywhere else which was the same thing trotted away pretty nimbly and had no time to justify himself and went his way also having expended his treasure in such purchases as he knew would be most acceptable at home not forgetting some seed for the wonderful bird he hastened back as fast as he could so elated with his success and great good fortune that he more than half expected Nell and the old man would have arrived before him End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of the Old Curiosity Shop This Libravox recording is in the public domain Recorded by Mill Nicholson The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 15 Often while they were yet pacing the silent streets of the town on the morning of their departure the child trembled with a mingled sensation of hope and fear as in some far-off figure imperfectly seen in the clear distance her fancy traced alightness to honest Kit but although she would gladly have given him her hand and thanked him for what he had said at their last meeting it was always a relief to find when they came nearer to each other that the person who approached was not he but a stranger for even if she had not dreaded the effect which the sight of him might have wrought upon her fellow-traveller she felt that to bid farewell to anybody now and most of all to him who had been so faithful and so true was more than she could bear it was enough to leave dumb things behind and objects that were insensible both to her love and sorrow to have parted from her only other friend upon the threshold of that wild journey would have wrung her heart indeed Why is it that we can better bear to part in spirit and in body and while we have the fortitude to act farewell have not the nerve to say it in the eve of long voyages or an absence of many years friends who are tenderly attached will separate with the usual look the usual pressure of the hand planning one final interview for the morrow while each well knows that it is but a poor faint to save the pain of uttering that one word and that the meeting will never be should possibilities be worse to bear than certainties we do not shun our dying friends the not having distinctly taken leave of one among them whom we left in all kindness and affection will often embitter the whole remainder of a life the town was glad with morning light places that had shown ugly and distrustful of all night long now wore a smile and sparkling sunbeams dancing on chamber windows and twinkling through blind and curtain before sleepers eyes shed light even into dreams and chased away the shadows of the night birds in hot rooms covered up close and dark felt it was morning and chafed and grew restless in their little cells bright-eyed mice kept back to their tiny homes and nestled timidly together the sleek house cat forgetful of her prey sat winking at the rays of sun starting through keyhole and cranny in the door and long for her stealthy run and warm sleek bask outside the nobler beasts confined in dens stood motionless behind their bars and gazed on fluttering boughs and sunshine peeping through some little window with eyes in which old forests gleamed then trod impatiently the track their prison feet had worn and stopped and gazed again men in their dungeons stretched their cramped cold limbs and cursed the stone that no bright sky could warm the flowers that sleep by night opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day the light creation's mind was everywhere and all things owned its power the two pilgrims often pressing each other's hands or exchanging a smile or cheerful look pursued their way in silence bright and happy as it was there was something solemn in the long deserted streets from which like bodies without souls all habitual character and expression had departed leaving but one repose that made them all alike all were so still at that early hour at the few pale people whom they met seemed as much unsuited to the scene as the sickly lamp which had been here and there left burning was powerless and faint in the full glory of the sun before they had penetrated very far into the labyrinth of men's abodes which yet lay between them and the outskirts this aspect began to melt away and noise and bustle to usurp its place some straggling carts and coaches rumbling by first broke the charm then others came then others yet more active then a crowd the wonder was at first to see a tradesman's window open but it was a rare thing soon to see one closed then smoke rose slowly from the chimneys and sashes were thrown up to let in air and doors were opened and servant girls looking lazily in all directions rooms scattered brown clouds of dust into the eyes of shrinking passengers or listened it disconsolately to milkmen who spoke of country fares and told of wagons in the muse with awnings and all things complete and gallant swings to boot which another hour would see upon their journey this quarter past they came upon the haunts of commerce and great traffic where many people were resorting and business was already rife the old man looked about him with a startled and bewildered gaze for these were places that he hoped to shun he pressed his finger on his lip and drew the child along by narrow courts and winding ways nor did he seem at ease until they had left it far behind often casting a backward look towards it murmuring that ruin and self-murder were crouching in every street and would follow if they centered them and that they could not fly too fast again this quarter past they came upon a straggling neighbourhood where the mean houses parceled off in rooms and windows patched with rags and paper told of the populous poverty that sheltered there the shop sold goods that only poverty could buy and sellers and buyers were pinched and griped alike here were poor streets where faded gentility assayed with scanty space and shipwrecked means to make its last feeble stand but tax-gatherer and creditor came there as elsewhere and the poverty that yet faintly struggled was hardly less squalid and manifest than that which had long ago submitted and given up the game this was a wide, wide track for the humble followers of the camp of wealth pitched their tents round about it for many a mile but its character was still the same damp, rotten houses many to let many yet building many half-built and moulding away lodgings where it would be hard to tell which needed pity most those who let or those who came to take children, scantily fed and clothed spread over every street and sprawling in the dust scolding mothers stamping their slip-shod feet with noisy threats upon the pavement shabby fathers hurrying with dispirited looks to the occupation which brought them daily bread and little more mangling women, washer women maulers, tailors, chandlers driving their trades and parlours and kitchens and back-room and garrets and sometimes all of them under the same roof brick-fields, skirting gardens paled with staves of old casks or timber pillaged from houses burnt down and blackened and blistered by the flames mounds of dockweed nettles, coarse grass and oyster shells heaped in rank confusion small dissenting chapels to teach with no lack of illustration the miseries of earth and plenty of new churches erected with as little superfluous wealth to show the way to heaven at length these streets becoming more straggling yet dwindled and dwindled away until there were only small garden patches bordering the road with many a summer house innocent of paint and built of old timber or some fragments of a boat green as the tough cabbage stalks to help out it and grottoed at the seams with toadstools and tight-sticking snails to these succeeded pert cottages two and two with plots of ground in front laid out in angular beds with stiff box borders and narrow paths between where footstep never strayed to make the gravel rough then came the public house freshly painted in green and white with tea gardens and a bowling green in the old neighbour with the horse trough where the wagon stopped then fields and then some houses one by one of goodly size with lawns some even with a lodge where dwelt a porter and his wife then came a turnpike then fields again with trees and haystacks then a hill and on the top of that the traveller might stop and looking back at old St. Paul's looming through the smoke out loud, if the day were clear and glittering in the sun and casting his eyes upon the babel out of which it grew until he traced it down to the furthest outposts of the invading army of bricks and mortar who stationed lay for the present nearly at his feet might feel at last that he was clear of London near such a spot as this and in a pleasant field the old man in his little guide if guide she were who knew not whether they were bound down to rest she had had the precaution to furnish a basket with some slices of bread and meat and here they made their frugal breakfast the freshness of the day the singing of the birds the beauty of the waving grass the deep green leaves the wild flowers and the thousand exquisite scents and sounds that floated in the air deep joys to most of us but most of all to those whose life is in a crowd or who live solitary in great cities as in the bucket of a human well sunk into their breasts and made them very glad the child had repeated her artless prayers once that morning more earnestly perhaps than she had ever done in all her life but as she felt all this they rose to her lips again the old man took off his hat he had no memory for the words but he said amen and that they were very good there had been an old copy of the poem's progress with strange plates upon a shelf at home over which he had often poured whole evenings wondering whether it was true in every word and where those distant countries with the curious names might be as she looked back upon the place they had left one part of it came strongly on her mind dear grandfather she said only that this place is prettier and a great deal better than the real one if that in the book is like it I feel as if we were both Christian and laid down on this grass all the cares and troubles we brought with us never to take them up again no never to return never to return replied the old man waving his hand towards the city thou and I are free of it now Nell they shall never lure us back are you tired said the child are you sure you don't feel ill from this long walk I shall never feel ill again now that we are once away what is his reply let us be stirring Nell we must be further away a long, long way further we are too near to stop and be addressed come there was a pool of clear water in the field the child laughed her hands and face and cooled her feet before setting forth to walk again she would have the old man refresh himself in this way too and making him sit down upon the grass cast the water on him with her hands and dried it with her simple dress I can do nothing for myself, my darling said the grandfather I don't know how it is I could once but the time's gone don't leave me Nell say the doubt not leave me I love thee all the while indeed I did if I lose thee too, my dear I must die he laid his head upon her shoulder and moaned piteously the time had been and a very few days before when the child could not have restrained her tears and must have wept with him but now she soothed him with gentle and tender words smiled at his thinking they could ever part and rallied him cheerfully upon the jest he was soon calmed and fell asleep singing to himself in a low voice like a little child he awoke refreshed and they continued their journey the road was pleasant lying between beautiful pastures and fields of corn about which poised high folk trilled out her happy song the air came laden with the fragrance had caught upon its way and bees up-born upon its scented breath hummed forth their drowsy satisfaction as they floated by they were now in the open country the houses were very few and scattered at long intervals often miles apart occasionally they came upon a cluster of poor cottages some with a chair or low board put across the open door to keep the scrambling children from the road others shut up close while all the family were working in the fields these were often the commencement of a little village and after an interval came a wheel-right shed or perhaps a blacksmith's forge then a thriving farm with sleepy cows lying about the yard and horses peering over the low wall and scampering away when harnessed horses passed upon the road as they went triumph at their freedom there were dull pigs too turning up the ground in search of dainty food and grunting their monotonous grumblings as they prowled about or crossed each other in their quest plump pigeons skimming round the roof or strutting on the eaves and ducks and geese far more graceful in their own conceit waddling awkwardly about the edges of the pond or sailing glibly on its surface the farmyard passed then came the little inn the humbler beer-shop and the village tradesmen's then the lawyers and the parson's at whose dread-names the beer-shop trembled the church then peeped out modestly from a clump of trees then there were a few more cottages then the cage and pound and not infrequently on a bank by the wayside a deep old dusty well then came the trim-hedged fields on either hand and the open road again they walked all day and slept that night at a small cottage where beds were let to travellers next morning they were afoot again and though jaded at first and very tired, recovered before long and proceeded bristly forward they often stopped to rest but only for a short space at a time and still kept on having had but slight refreshment since the morning it was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon when drawing near another cluster of labourers huts the child looked wistfully in each doubtful at which to ask for permission to rest a while and buy a draught of milk it was not easy to determine for she was timid and fearful of being repulsed here was a crying child and there a noisy wife in this the people seemed too poor in that too many at length she stopped at one where the family were seated round the table chiefly because there was an old man sitting in a cushioned chair beside the hearth and she thought he was a grandfather and would feel for hers there were besides the cottager and his wife and three young sturdy children brown as berries the request was no sooner preferred than granted the eldest boy ran out to fetch some milk the second dragged two stools towards the door and the youngest crept to his mother's gown and looked at the strangers from beneath his sun-burnt hand save you, master said the old cottager and a thin piping voice are you travelling far? yes sir a long way replied the child for her grandfather appealed to her from London inquired the old man the child said yes ah he had been in London many a time used to go there often once with wagons it was nigh two and thirty year since he had been there last and he did here say there were great changes like enough he had changed himself since then two and thirty year was a long time and eighty-four a great age though there were some he had known that had lived to very hard upon a hundred and not so hearty as he neither no, nothing like it sit thee down, master in the elbow chair said the old man knocking his stick upon the brick floor and trying to do so sharply take a pinch out of that box I don't take much myself for it comes dear but I find it wakes me up sometimes and here but a boy to me I should have a son pretty nigh as old as you if he'd lived but they listed him for a soldier he come back home though for all he had but one poor leg he always said he'd be buried near the sundial he used to climb upon when he was a baby did my poor boy and his words come true you can see the place with your own eyes we've kept the turf up ever since he shook his head and looking at his daughter with watery eyes said she needn't be afraid that he was going to talk about that any more he didn't wish to trouble nobody and if he had troubled anybody by what he said he asked pardon that was all the milk arrived and the child producing her little basket and selecting its best fragments for her grandfather a hearty meal the furniture of the room was very homely of course a few rough chairs and a table a corner cupboard with a little stock of crockery and delf a gaudy tea tray representing a lady in bright red walking out with a very blue parasol a few common coloured scripture subjects and frames upon the wall and chimney an old dwarf clothes press and an eight day clock with a few bright saucepans in the hall but everything was clean and neat and as the child glanced round she felt a tranquil air of comfort and content to which she had long been unaccustomed how far is it to any town or village she asked of the husband a matter of good-farve, my dear was the reply but you're not going on tonight yes, yes, Nell said the old man hastily urging her to buy signs further on further on, darling further away if we walk till midnight there's a good barnard by-master said the man all this traveller's lodging I know, at the plough and error excuse me but you do seem a little tired unless you're very anxious to get on yes, yes, we are returned the old man fetfully further away, dear Nell pray further away we must go on, indeed said the child yielding to his restless wish we thank you very much but we can't stop so soon I'm quite ready, grandfather but the woman had observed from the young wanderer's gate that one of her little feet was blistered and sore and being a woman and a mother too she would not suffer her to go she had washed the place and applied some simple remedy which she did so carefully and with such a gentle hand rough-grained and hard though it was with work that the child's heart was too full to admit of her saying more than a fervent, God bless you nor could she look back nor trust herself to speak until they had left the cottage some distance behind when she turned her head she saw that the whole family was on the road watching them as they went and so with many waves of the hand and cheering nods and on one side at least not without tears they parted company they touched forward more slowly and painfully than they had done yet for another mile or thereabouts when they heard the sound of wheels behind them and looking round observed an empty cart approaching pretty briskly the driver and coming up to them stopped his horse and looked earnestly at Nell didn't you stop to rest at a cottage yonder? he said yes sir replied the child ah they asked me to look out for you said the man, I'm going your way give me your hand jump up master this was a great relief for they were very much fatigued and could scarcely crawl along to them the jolting cart was a luxurious carriage and the ride the most delicious in the world Nell had scarcely settled herself on a little heap of straw in one corner when she fell asleep for the first time that day she was awakened by the stopping of the cart which was about to turn up a by-lane the driver kindly got down to help her out and pointed to some trees a very short distance before them said that the town lay there and that they had better take the path which they would see leading through the churchyard accordingly towards this spot they directed their weary steps end of chapter 15 chapter 16 of the old curiosity shop this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recorded by Mill Nicholson the old curiosity shop by Charles Dickens chapter 16 the sun was setting when they reached the wicked gate at which the path began and as the rain falls upon the just and unjust alike it shed its warm tint even upon the resting places of the dead and bade them be of good hope for its rising on the morrow the church was old and grey with ivy clean to the walls and round the porch shunning the tombs it crept about the mounds beneath which slept poor humble men twining for them the first wreaths they had ever won but wreaths less liable to wither and far more lasting in their kind than some which were graven deep and stone and marble and told in pompous terms of virtues meekly hidden for many a year and only revealed at last to executors and mourning legatees the clergyman's horse stumbling with the dull blunt sound among the graves was cropping the grass at once deriving orthodox consolation from the dead parishioners and enforcing last Sunday's text what all flesh came to a lean ass who had sought to expound it also without being qualified and ordained was pricking his ears in an empty pound hard by and looking with hungry eyes upon his priestly neighbour the old man and the child quitted the gravel path and strayed among the tombs for there the ground was soft and easy to their tired feet as they passed behind the church they heard voices near at hand and partly came on those who had spoken they were two men who were seated in easy attitudes upon the grass and so busily engaged as to be at first unconscious of intruders it was not difficult to divine that they were of a class of itinerant showmen exhibitors of the freaks of punch for perched cross-legged upon a tombstone behind them was a figure of that hero himself his nose and chin as hooked and his face as beaming as usual perhaps his imperturbable character was never more strikingly developed for he preserved his usual equitable smile notwithstanding that his body was dangling in a most uncomfortable position all loose and limp and shapeless while his long peaked cap unequally balanced against his exceedingly slight legs threatened every instant to bring him toppling down in part scattered upon the ground at the feet of the two men and in part jumbled together in a long flat box where the other persons of the drama the hero's wife and one child, the hobby-horse the doctor, the foreign gentleman who not being familiar with the language is unable in the representation to express his ideas otherwise and by utterance of the word shallabala, three distinct times the radical neighbor who will by no means admit that a tin bell is an organ the executioner and the devil were all here their owners had evidently come to that spot to make some needful repairs on the stage arrangements for one of them was engaged in binding together a small gallows with thread while the other was intent upon fixing a new black wig with the aid of a small hammer and some tacks upon the head of the radical neighbor who had been beaten bald they raised their eyes when the old man and his young companion were close upon them and pausing in their work returned their looks of curiosity one of them the actual exhibitor no doubt was a little a merry-faced man with a twinkling eye and a red nose who seemed to have unconsciously imbibed something of his hero's character the other, that was he who took the money had rather a careful and cautious look which was perhaps inseparable from his occupation also the merry man was the first to greet the strangers with a nod and following the old man's eyes he observed that perhaps the first time he had ever seen a punch off the stage punch it may be remarked seemed to be pointing by the tip of his cap to a most flourishing epitaph and to be chuckling over it with all his heart Why do you come here to do this? said the old man sitting down beside them and looking at the figures with extreme delight Why, you see rejoined the little man we put in upward anoid at the public out yonder and it wouldn't do to let them see the present company and their going repair No cried the old man making signs to Nell to listen Why not, eh? Why not? Because it would destroy all the delusion and take away all the interest, wouldn't it? replied the little man Would you care openly for the Lord Chancellor if you knowed him in private and without his wig? Certainly not Good said the old man venturing to touch one of the puppets and drawing away his hand with a shrill laugh Are you going to show them tonight? Are you? That is the intention, Governor replied the other and, unless our match was taken Tommy Coddlin is a calylic dean at this minute what we've lost through your coming upon us Cheer up, Tommy it can't be match The little man accompanied these latter words of the wink expressive of the estimate he had formed of the traveller's finances To this Mr. Coddlin who had a surly grumbling manner replied as he twitched punch off the tombstone and flung him into the box I don't care if we haven't lost a fard in but you're too free if you stood in front of the curtain and see the public's faces as I do you'd know human nature better Oh it's been the spoiling of you Tommy, you're taking to that branch rejoined his companion when you played the ghost in the regular drama in the fairs you believed in everything except ghosts but now you're a universal mistruster I never see a man so changed Never mind said Mr. Coddlin with the air of a discontented philosopher I know better now and perhaps I'm sorry for it Turning over the figures in the box like one who knew and despised them Mr. Coddlin drew one forth and held it up for the inspection of his friend Look here is all this Judy's clothes fall into pieces again you haven't got a needle in thread I suppose The little man shook his head and scratched it ruefully with the severe intersposition of a principal performer seeing that they were at a loss the child said timidly I have a needle sir in my basket and thread too will you let me try to mend it for you I think I could do it neater than you could Even Mr. Coddlin had nothing to urge against a proposal so seasonable Nelly kneeling down beside the box was soon busily engaged in her task and accomplishing it to a miracle While she was thus engaged the merry little man looked at her with an interest which had not appeared to be diminished when he glanced at her helpless companion when she had finished her work he thanked her and inquired whether they were travelling no further tonight I think said the child looking towards her grandfather if you're wanting a place to stop at the man remarked oh I should advise you to take up at the same house with us that's it the long low white house there it's very cheap the old man notwithstanding his fatigue would have remained in the churchyard all night if his new quaintances had remained there too as he yielded to this suggestion a ready and rapturous assent they all rose and walked away together he keeping close to the box of puppets in which he was quite absorbed the merry little man carrying it slung over his arm by a strap attached to it for the purpose Nelly having hold of her grandfather's hand and Mr. Codland sauntering slowly behind casting up at the church tower and neighbouring trees such looks as he was accustomed in town practice to direct to drawing room and nursery windows and seeking for a profitable spot on which to plant the show the public house was kept by a fat old landlord and landlady who made no objection to receiving their new guests but praised Nelly's beauty and were at once pre-possessed in her behalf there was no other company in the kitchen but the two showmen and the child felt very thankful that they had fallen upon such good quarters the landlady was very much astonished to learn they had come all the way from London and appeared to have no little curiosity touching their father's destination the child parried her inquiries she could and was no great trouble for finding that they appeared to give her pain the old lady desisted these two gentlemen have ordered supper in an hour's time she said taking her into the bar and your best plan will beat us up with them meanwhile you should have a little taste of something that will do you good for I'm sure you must want it after all you've gone through today now don't look after the old gentleman because when you've drank that he shall have some too as nothing could induce the child to leave him alone however or to touch anything in which he was not the first and greatest sharer the old lady was obliged to help him first when they had been thus refreshed the whole house hurried away into an empty stable where the show stood and where by the light of a few flaring candles stuck round a hoop which hung by a line from the ceiling it was to be forthwith exhibited and now Mr. Thomas Codlin the misanthrope after blowing away at the pan's pipes until he was intensely wretched took his station on one side of the checked drapery which concealed the mover of the figures and putting his hands in his pockets prepared to reply to all questions and remarks of punch and to make a dismal feint of being his most intimate private friend of believing in him to the fullest and most unlimited extent of knowing that he enjoyed day and night and merry and glorious existence in that temple and that he was at all times under every circumstance the same intelligent and joyful person that the spectators then beheld him all this Mr. Codlin did with the air of a man who had made up his mind for the worst and was quite resigned his eyes slowly wandering about during the briskest repartee to observe the effect upon the audience and particularly the impression made upon the landlord and landlady which might be productive of very important results in connection with the supper upon this head however he had no cause for any anxiety for the whole performance was applauded to the echo and voluntary contributions were showered in for the liberality which testified yet more strongly to the general delight among the laughter none was more loud and frequent than the old man's Nels was unheard for she poor child with her head drooping on his shoulder had fallen asleep and slept too soundly to be roused by any of his efforts to awaken her to a participation in his glee the supper was very good but she was too tired to eat and yet would not leave the old man until she had kissed him in his bed he happily insensible to every care and anxiety sat listening with a vacant smile and admiring face to all that his new friend said and it was not until they retired yawning to their room that he followed the child upstairs it was but a loft partitioned into two compartments where they were to rest but they were well pleased with their lodging and had hoped for none so good the old man was uneasy when he had lain down and begged that Nels would come and sit at his bedside as she had done for so many nights she listened to him and sat there till he slept there was a little window hardly more than a chink in the wall in her room and when she left him she opened it quite wondering at the silence the sight of the old church and the graves about it in the moonlight and the dark trees whispering among themselves made her more thoughtful than before she closed the window again and sitting down upon the bed thought of the life that was before them she had a little money but it was very little and when that was gone they must begin to beg there was one piece of gold among it and an emergency might come when it's worth to them would be increased a hundred fold it would be best to hide this coin and never produce it unless their case was absolutely desperate and no other resource was left them her resolution taken she sewed the piece of gold into her dress and going to bed with a lighter heart sunk into a deep slumber End of Chapter 16