 CHAPTER XII 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 sad 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 night tedious and appeared indeed to have lost all count of time and every sense of care or weariness. He would sit for hours together with 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, neighbor, said the dwarf, sitting down opposite him. You're quite strong now. Yes, said the old man feebly. Yes. I don't want to hurry you, you know, neighbor, 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. You see, pursued Quilp after a short pause. The goods being once removed, this house would be uncomfortable, uninhabitable, in fact. You say true, returned the old man. Poor Nell, too. What would she do? Exactly. Bald the dwarf nodding his head. That's very well observed. Then will you consider about it, neighbor? I will certainly, replied the old man. We shall not stop here. So I supposed, said the dwarf, I have solved 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, said the dwarf. So be it. We've the understanding that I can't go beyond that day, neighbor, on any account. Good. Returned the old man. I shall remember it. Mr Quilp seemed rather puzzled by the strange, even spiritless way in which all this was said. But as the old man nodded his head and repeated, on Friday morning, I shall remember it. He had no excuse for dwelling on the subject any further, and so took a friendly leave with many expressions of goodwill, and many compliments to his friend on his looking so remarkably well, and went below stairs to report progress to Mr Brass. All that day, and all the next, the old man remained in this state. He wandered up and down the house, and into and out of the various rooms, as if with some vague intent of bidding them adieu. But he referred neither by direct 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 to be of good cheer, saying that they would not desert each other. But he seemed unable to contemplate their real position more distinctly, and was still the listless, passionless creature that suffering of mind and body had left him. We call this a state of childishness, but it is the same poor hollow mockery of it that death is of sleep. Where in the dull eyes of doting men are the laughing light and life of childhood, the gaiter that has known no check, the frankness that has felt no chill, the hope that has never withered, the joys that fade in blossoming? Where in the sharp lineaments of rigid and unsightly death is the calm beauty of slumber, telling of rest for the waking hours that are past, and gentle hopes and loves for those which are to come? Lay death and sleep down, side by side, and say who shall find the toolkin. Send forth the child and childish man together, and blush for the pride that libel's our own old happy state, and gives its title to an ugly and distorted image. Thursday arrived and there was no alteration in the old man, but a change came upon him that evening, as he and the child set silently together. In a small dull yard below his window, there was a tree green and flourishing enough for such a place, and as the air stirred among its leaves, it threw a rippling shadow on the white wall. The old man sat watching the shadows as they trembled in this patch of light, until the sun went down, and when it was night, and the moon was slowly rising, he still sat in the same spot. To one who had been tossing on a restless bed so long, even these few green leaves and strangle light, although it languished among the chimneys and housetops, were pleasant things. They suggested quiet place afar off, and rest, and peace. The child thought more than once that he was moved, and had foreborn to speak, but now he shed tears, tears that it lightened her breaking heart to see, and making as though he would fall upon his knees, besought her to forgive him. Forgive you what? said Nell, interposing to prevent his purpose. Oh, grandfather, what should I forgive? All that is past, all that has come upon the 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 it is, or weeks, or days. Which is it, Nell? I do not understand you, said the child. It has come back upon me today. It has all come back since we have been sitting here. I bless thee for it, Nell. For what, dear grandfather? For what you said when we were first made beggars, Nell. Let us speak softly, hush, for if they knew our purpose 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 a pair of food through the world rather than linger here. We will, answered the old man. We will travel of food through the fields and woods and by the side of rivers and trust ourselves to God in the places where he dwells. It is far better to lie down at night beneath an open sky like that yonder, see how bright it is. Then 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, rejoined the old man. Let us steal away tomorrow morning, early and softly, that we may not be seen or heard, and leave no trace or track for them to follow by. Poor Nell, thy cheek is pale and thy eyes are heavy with watching and weeping for me. I know for me, but thou wilt be well again and marry, 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 and meadow and summer days shone brightly in her view, and there was no dark tint in all the sparkling picture. The old man had slept for some hours soundly in his bed, and she was yet busily engaged in preparing for their flight. There were a few articles of clothing for herself to carry, and a few for him. Old garments, such as became their fallen fortunes, laid out to wear, and a staff to support his feeble steps put ready for his use. But this was not all her task. For now she must visit the old rooms for the last time. And how different the parting with them was from any she had expected, and most of all from that which she had oftenest pictured to herself. How could she ever have thought of bidding them farewell in triumph, when the recollection of the many hours she had passed among them rose to her swelling heart, and made her feel the wish of cruelty, lonely and sad though many of those hours had been. She sat down at the window where she had spent so many evenings, darker far than this. And every thought of hope or cheerfulness that had occurred to her in that place came vividly upon her mind, and blotted out all its dull and mournful associations in an instant. Her own little room, too, where she had so often knelt down and prayed at night. Prayed for the time which she hoped was dawning now. The little room where she had slept so peacefully and dreamed such pleasant dreams. It was hard not to be able to glance round it once more, and to be forced to leave it without one kind look or grateful tear. There were some trifles there, poor useless things, that she would have liked to take away, but that was impossible. This brought to mind her bird, her poor bird, who hung there yet. She wept bitterly for the loss of this little creature, until the idea occurred to her. She did not know how or why it came into her head, that it might by some means fall into the hands of Kit, who would keep it for her sake, and think perhaps that she had left it behind in the hope that he might have it, and as an assurance that she was grateful to him. She was calmed and comforted by the thought, and went to rest with a lighter heart. From many dreams of rambling through light and sunny places, but with some vague object unattained which ran indistinctly through them all, she awoke to find that it was yet night, and that the stars were shining brightly in the sky. At length, the day began to glimmer, and the stars to grow pale and dim. As soon as she was sure of this, she arose and dressed herself for the journey. The old man was yet asleep, and as she was unwilling to disturb him, she left him to slumber on until the sun rose. He was anxious that they should leave the house without a 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. Quillp and his legal friends sounded more terrible in their ears than the roars of lions. The bolts of the door were rusty, and difficult to unfasten without noise. When they were all drawn back, it was found to be locked, and worst of all, the key was gone. Then the child remembered for the first time, one of the nurses having taught her that Quillp 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 Nells slipped off her shoes, and gliding through the storeroom of old curiosities where Mr. Brass, the agliest 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. Quillp, who was hanging so far out of bed that he almost seemed to be standing on his head, and who, either from the uneasies of this posture, or in one of his agreeable habits, was gasping and groaning with his mouth wide open, and the whites, or rather the dirty yellows of his eyes, distinctly visible. It was no time, however, to ask whether anything ailed him. So, possessing herself of the key after one hasty glance about the room, and repassing the prostrate Mr. Brass, she rejoined the old man in safety. They got the door open without noise, and passing into the street stood still. Which way? said the child. The old man looked, irresolutely and helplessly, first at her, then to the right and left, then at her again, and shook his head. It was plain that she was thenceforth his guide and leader. The child felt it, but had no doubts or misgiving, and putting her hand in his, led him gently away. It was the beginning of a day in June. The deep blue sky and sullied 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 mourning felt like breath from angels on the sleeping town. The old man and the child passed on through the glad silence, elate with hope and pleasure. They were alone together once again. Every object was bright and fresh. Nothing reminded them, otherwise than by contrast of the monotony and constraint they had left behind. Church towers and steeples, frowning and dark at other times, now shone in the sun. Each humble nook and corner rejoiced in light, and the sky dimmed only by excessive distance shed its placid smile on everything beneath. Fourth from the city, while it yet slumbered, went the tool-poor adventurers, wondering they knew not wither. End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of The Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, auto-volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 13 Daniel Quillpef Tower Hill and Samson Breess of Bavis 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 and a Solicitor of the High Court of Chancery, slumbered on, unconscious and unsuspicious enemy's chance, until a knocking on the street door, often repeated and gradually mounting up from a modest single wrap to a perfect battery of knocks, fired in long discharges with a very short interval between, caused, said Daniel Quillpef, to struggle into a horizontal position and to stare at the ceiling with a drowsy indifference, a tokening 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 important, as if in earnest remonstrance against his falling asleep again, now that he had once opened his eyes, Daniel Quillpef 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 Quillpef 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. Seeking that Mr Quillpef invested himself in his everyday garments, he hastened to do the like, putting on his shoes before his stockings and thrusting his legs into his coat sleeves and making such other small mistakes in his toilet, as they are not uncommon to those who dress in a hurry and labor 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 Quillpef with a snare. You're a nice lawyer, aren't you? Ugh, you idiot! Not caring to represent to the dwarf in his present humour that the loss of a key by another person could scarcely be set 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 Quillpef had a strong conviction on the contrary, founded on his recollection of having carefully taken it out, he was faint to admit that this was possible and therefore went grumbling to the door where, sure enough, he found it. Now, just as Mr Quillpef 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 could be in 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 Quillpef 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 this 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 Quillpef was no sooner in the arms of the individual whom he had taken for his wife than he found himself complimented with two staggering blows on the head and two more of the same quality in the chest and closing with his assailant such a shower of buffets rained down upon his person as 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 goodwill and heartiness that it was at least a couple of minutes before he was dislodged. Then, and not until then, Daniel Quillpef found himself all flashed and disheveled in the middle of the street with Mr Richard Swivler performing a kind of dance round him and requiring to know whether he wanted any more. There's plenty more of it at the same shop, said Mr Swivler by turns advancing and retreating in a threatening attitude a large and extensive 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 Quillpef, 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 that knocked, said the dwarf getting up with a short groan, was it? Yes, I am the man, replied Dick. That lady had begun when I came, but she knocked too soft, so I relieved her. As he said this, he pointed towards Mrs Quillpef who stood trembling at a little distance. Muttered the dwarf, darting an angry look at his wife, I thought it was your fault. Don't you know there has been somebody ill here that you knock as if you'd beat the door down? Dummy, answered Dick, that's why I did it. I thought there was somebody dead here. You came for some purpose, I suppose. What is it you want? I want to know how the old gentleman is. Rejoined Mr Swivler and to hear from Nell herself with whom I should like to have a little talk. I am a friend of the family, sir. At least I am the friend of one of the family, and that's the same thing. You'd better walk in then, said the dwarf. Go on, sir, go on. Now, Mrs Quillpef, after you, ma'am. Mrs Quillpef hesitated, but Mr Quillpef 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 Swivler, who was not in a secret, was a little surprised to hear a suppressed scream and looking round to see Mrs Quillpef following him with a sudden jerk, but he did not remark on these appearances and soon forgot them. Now Mrs Quillpef, said the dwarf when they had entered the shop, go 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 was unacquainted with Mr Quillpef'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 Quillpef came hurrying downstairs, declaring that the rooms above were empty. Empty you fool, said the dwarf. I give you my word, Quillpef, answered his trembling wife, that I have been into every room and there is 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. Quillpef looked frowningly at him and frowningly at his wife and frowningly at Richard Swivler, 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 Swivler. Very strange not to communicate with me who am such a close and intimate friend of his. Ah, he'll write to me no doubt, or he'll bid Nelly right. Yes, yes, that's what he'll do. Nelly's very fond of me, pretty Nelly. Mr Swivler looked, as he was, all open-mouthed astonishment. Still glancing furtively at him, Quillpef 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 wandering Dick. Quillpef shook his head and pursed up his lips in a manner which implied that he knew very well but was not at liberty to say. And what, said Dick, looking at the confusion about him, what do you mean by moving the goods? That I have bought them, sir, rejoined Quillpef. Ah, what then? Has the sly old fox made his fortune then and gone to live in a tranquil cot in a pleasant spot with a distant view of the changing sea? said Dick in great bewilderment. Keeping his place of retirement very close that he may not be visited too often by affectionate grandsons and their devoted friends are? added the dwarf, rubbing his hands hard. I say nothing, but is that your meaning? Richard Swivler was utterly aghast 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 and inquiry to Nell prepared with the first instalment of that long train of fascinations which was to fire her heart at last. And here, when he had been thinking of all kinds of graceful and insinuating approaches and meditating on the fearful retaliation which was slowly working against Sophie Wackles here were Nell, the old man, and all the money gone melted away, decamped, he knew not wither as if with a foreknowledge of the scheme and a resolution to defeat it in the very outset before a step was taken. In his secret heart Daniel Quill was both surprised and troubled by the flight which had been made. It had not escaped his keen eye that some indispensable articles of clothing were gone with the fugitives and knowing the old man's weak state of mind he marvelled what that cause 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 Quill that he was tortured by any disinterested anxiety on behalf of either. His uneasiness arose from a misgiving that the old man had some secret store of money which he had not suspected and the idea of it escaping his clutches overwhelmed him with modification and self-approach. In this frame of mind it was some consolation to him to find that Richard Swivola was, for different reasons evidently irritated and disappointed by the same cause. It was plain, thought the dwarf, that he had come there on behalf of his friend to cajole or frighten the old man out of some small fraction of that wealth of which they supposed him to have an abundance. Therefore it was a relief to vex his heart with a picture of the riches the old man hoarded and to expatiate on his cunning in removing himself even beyond the rich of opportunity. Well said Dick with a blank look I suppose it's of no use my staying here. Not the least in the world. Rejoined the dwarf. You'll mention that I called perhaps, said Dick. Mr Quilt nodded and said he certainly would the very first time he saw them. And say, added Mr Swivola, say sir that I was wafted here upon the opinions of Concorde that I came to remove with the rake of friendship the seeds of mutual violence and heart burning and to sow in their place the germs of social harmony. Will you have the goodness to charge yourself with that commission, sir? Certainly. Rejoined Quilt. 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 slave at any time. My particular friend, sir, are accustomed to sneeze when the door is opened to give her to understand that they are my friends and have no interested motives in asking if I am at home. I beg your pardon. Will you allow me to look at that card again? Oh, by all means. Rejoined Quilt. By slight and not unnatural mistake, sir, said Dick, substituting another in its stead, I had handed you the past ticket of a select convivial circle called the Glorious Apollos of which I have the honour to be perpetual grand. That is the proper document, sir. Good morning. Quilt bet him good day. The perpetual grand master of the Glorious Apollos elevating his cat in honour of Mrs. Quilt 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 strongmen in caps were balancing chests of drawers and other trifles of that nature upon their heads and performing muscular feats which heightened their complexions considerably. Not to be behindhand in the bustle, Mr. Quilt went to work with surprising vigor, hustling and driving the people about like an evil spirit, setting Mrs. Quilt upon all kinds of arduous and impracticable tasks, carrying great ways 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-slide bump 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 defused such alacrity among the persons employed that in a few hours the house was emptied of everything but pieces of matting, empty potter 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 parlor with bread and cheese and beer when he observed without appearing to do so that a boy was prying in at the outer door, assured that it was Kit, though he saw little more than his nose, Mr. Quilt hailed him by his name. Whereupon Kit came in and demanded what he wanted. Come here, you sir, said the dwarf. Well, so your old master and your mistress have gone? Where? rejoined Kit looking round. Do you mean to say you don't know where? And said Quilt sharply. Where have they gone, huh? I don't know, said Kit. Come, retorted Quilt, let's have no more of this. Do you mean to say that you don't know where they went away by stealth as soon as it was light this morning? No, said the boy in evident surprise. You don't know that? cried Quilt. Don't I know that you were hanging about the house the other night like a thief, huh? Weren't you told then? No, replied the boy. You were not? said Quilt. What were you told then? What were you talking about? Kit, when you know particular reason why he should keep the matter secret now related the purpose for which he had come on that occasion and the proposal he had made. Oh, said the dwarf after a little consideration. Then I think they'll come to you yet. Do you think they will? cried Kit eagerly. I think they will return the dwarf. Now, when they do, let me know. Do you hear? Let me know, and I'll give you something. I want to do him a kindness, and I can do him a kindness unless I know where they are. Do you hear what I say? Kit might have returned some answer which would not have been agreeable to his irascible questioner if the boy from the dwarf who had been skulking about the room in search of anything that might have been left about the accident had not happened to cry. Here's a bird. What's to be done with this? Ring its neck. Rejoined Quilp. Oh no, don't do that. Said Kit stepping forward. Give it to me. Oh yes, I dare say. Cried the other boy. Come, you let the cage alone and let me ring its neck with you. He said I was to do it. You let the cage alone with you. Fight for it, you dogs, or I'll ring its neck myself. Without further persuasion the two boys fell upon each other, tooth and nail, while Quilp, holding up the cage in one hand and chopping the ground with his knife in an ecstasy, urged them on by his taunts and cries to fight more fiercely. They were a pretty equal match and rolled about together exchanging blows which were by no means child's play until at length Kit, blending a well-directed hit in his adversaries' chest, disengaged himself, sprung dimly up and snatching the cage from Quilp'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. Goodness gracious Kit, what is the matter, what have you been doing? cried Mrs. Nobles. Never you mind, mother. Answered her son, wiping his face on the jack-towel behind the door. I am not hurt, don't you be afraid for me. I've been fighting for a bird and won him, that's all. Hold your noise, little Jacob. I 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 Nellie's bird mother that there was a going to ring the neck off. I stopped that door, ha ha ha. They wouldn't ring his neck and me by no. No, it wouldn't do, mother. It wouldn't do at all, ha ha ha. Kit laughing so heartily with his swan and bruised face looking out of the towel made little Jacob laugh and then his mother laughed and then the baby crowd 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 with both children as a great and precious rarity. It was only a poor linnet and looking about the wall for an old nail made a scaffolding of a chair and table and twisted it out with great exaltation. Let me see, said the boy. I think I'll hang him in the winder because it's more light and cheerful and he can see the sky there if he looks up very much. He's such a one to seeing 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 anymore I'll go out and see if I can find a horse to hold and then I can buy some bird seed and a bit of something nice for you into the bargain. End of chapter 13 Chapter 14 of The Old Curiosity Shop This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 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 it once more as a matter of imperative and disagreeable necessity, quite apart from any desire of his own, to which he could not choose but yield. It is not uncommon for people who are much better fed and taught than Christopher Nobles had ever been to make duties of their inclinations in matters of more doubtful integrity and to make great credit for the self-denial with which they gratify themselves. There was no need for any caution this time and no fear of being detained by having to play out a return match with Daniel Quilb'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 discolored blinds and curtains flapped drearily against the half-opened windows, and the crooked holes cut in the closed chatters 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 playing the knocker and listening with delighted dread to the hollow sounds it spread through the dismantled house. There was no doubt about the keyhole watching half in jest and half in earnest for the ghost, which are now as 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 a no less cheerful laugh that made the small room ring mournfully away. It must be especially observed in justice to poor Kit that he was by no means of a sentimental turn and perhaps had never heard that adjective in all his life. He was only a 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 finally strung people are out of sorts they must have a body 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 horse back 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 taught to a fraction from the crowds that were cantering about what some of money was realized in London in the course of a year by holding their own, and undoubtedly it would have been a very large one if only a twentieth part of the gentleman without 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. Kit 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 with 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 there approached towards him a little clattering, jingling four-wheeled chaise drawn by a little obstinate looking rough-coated pony and driven by little fat, placid faced old gentleman. Besides the little old gentleman sat a little old lady plump and placid like himself and the pony was coming along at his own pace and doing exactly as he pleased with the whole concern. If the old gentleman remonstrated by shaking the reins, the pony replied by shaking his head. It was plain that he at most the pony would consent to do, was to go in his own way up any street that the old gentleman particularly wished to traverse, but that it was an understanding between them that he must do this after his own fashion or not at all. As they passed where he sat, so wistfully at the little turnout that the old gentleman looked at him, kid rising and putting his hand to his hat, the old gentleman intimated to the pony that he wished to stop to which proposal the pony, who seldom objected to that part of his duty, graciously exceeded. I beg your pardon, sir, said kid. 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. Kid thanked him and joyfully obeyed. The pony ran off at a sharp angle to inspect the 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 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 am ashamed of such conduct! The pony appeared to be touched by this appeal to his feelings, for he trotted on directly, though in a salky manner and stopped no more until he came to a door whereupon was a brass plate of the words, with a den notary. Here the old gentleman got out and helped out the old lady and then took from under the seat a nose here resembling in shape and dimensions a full-sized warming pan with the handle cut short of. This, the old lady carried into the house with a staid and statelya. And the old gentleman, who had a clubfoot followed close upon her. They went, as it was easy to tell from the sound of their voices, into the front parlor which seemed to be a kind of office. The day being very warm on the street a quiet one, the windows were wide open, and it was easy to hear through the Venetian blinds all that passed inside. At first there was a great shaking of hands and shuffling of feet succeeded by the presentation of the nose gay. For a voice, supposed by the listener to be that of Mr. Witherden the notary was heard to exclaim a great many times Oh, delicious! Oh, fragrant indeed! And a nose also supposed to be the property of that gentleman was heard to inhale the scent with a snuffle of exceeding pleasure. I brought it in honor of the occasion, sir, said the old lady. Ah, an occasion indeed, ma'am. An occasion which does honor to me, ma'am, honor to me. Rejoined Mr. Witherden 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. Witherden, some of the pleasantest hours I ever spent in my life were spent in this office, were spent, sir, upon this very stool. But there was never one among the number, ma'am, attached as I have been to many of them, of whom I all got such bright things as I do of you, our 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. Witherden, what I think as an honest man, which, as the poet observes, is the noblest work of God. I agree with the poet in every particular, ma'am. The mountainous harps on the one hand, or a hummingbird on the other, in point of workmanship to an honest man, or woman, or woman. Anything that Mr. Witherden can save 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, too, upon his eight and twentieth birthday, and I hope I know how to appreciate it. I trust, Mr. Garland, 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 Able Garland had been to his. Marrying as his mother and I did late in life, after waiting for a great many years until we were well enough, off, coming together when we were no longer young, and then being blessed with one child who has always been dutiful and affectionate. Why, 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 sympathizing 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, the daughter of an outfitting warehouse of the first respectability, but that's a weakness. Chuckster, bring in Mr. Able's articles. You see, Mr. Witherden, said the old lady, that Able has not been brought up like a run of young men. He has always had a pleasure in our society, and always been with us. Able has never been absent from us today. Has he, my dear? Never, my dear. Returned the old gentleman, except when he went to Margate 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, we 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. And had nobody to talk to or enjoy himself with. That was it, you know. Interposed the same small quiet voice that had spoken once before. I was quite a broad mother, quite desolate, and to think that the sea was between us. Oh, I never shall forget what I felt when I first thought that the sea was between us. Very natural under the circumstances. Observe the notary. Mr. Able's feelings did credit to his nature and credit to your nature, ma'am and his father's nature and human nature. I trace the same current now, flowing through all his quiet and unobtrusive proceedings. I am about to sign my name you observe at the foot of the articles which Mr. Chuckster will witness and placing my finger upon this blue wafer. With the van dyke corners I am constrained to remark in a distinct tone of voice. And, ma'am, it is a merely form of law that I deliver this as my act and deed. Mr. Able 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. Able 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 a great talkativeness on the part of everybody. In about a quarter of an hour Mr. Chuckster with a pen behind his ear and his face inflamed with wine appeared at the door and condescending to address it by the jocôse appellation of young snob informed him that the visitors were coming out. Out they came forthwith Mr. Witherden who was short chubby, fresh-colored, brisk and pompous leading the old lady with extreme politeness and the father and son following them, arm in arm. Mr. Able, who had acquainted old-fashioned air about him looked nearly of the same age as his father and bore a wonderful resemblance to him in face and figure though wanting something in his full round cheerfulness and substituting in its place a timid reserve. In all other respects in the neatness of the dress 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. Able got into a little box behind which had evidently been made for his express accommodation and smiled at everybody present by turns beginning with his mother and ending with the pony. There was then a great to-do when he holed up his head that the bearing rain might be fastened. At last, even this was affected and the old gentleman taking his seat and the reins put his hand in his pocket to find a sixpence for kit. He had no sixpence neither had the old lady nor Mr. Able nor the notary nor Mr. Chuckster. The old gentleman thought a shilling too much but there was no shop in the street to get change at, so he gave it to the boy. There he said jokingly I am coming here again next Monday at the same time and mind you hear 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 this saying so especially Mr. Chuckster who roared outright 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 kit had no time to justify himself and went his way also. Having expended his treasure in such purchases as he knew would be most acceptable at home not forgetting some seat 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 is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information auto volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 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 likeness to honest kit. But although she would gladly have given him her hand and thanked him for what he had said at their last meeting it was always a relief to find when they came nearer to each other that the person who approached was not he, but a stranger. For even if she had not dreaded the effect which the sight of him might have wrought upon her 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 than in body? And while we have the fortitude to act farewell have not the nerve to say it? On the eve of long voyages or an absence of many years friends who are tenderly attached will separate with the usual look the usual pressure of the hand planning one final interview for the morrow while each well knows that it is but a poor 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. They're not having distinctly taken leave of one among them whom we left in all kindness in affection will often embitter the whole remainder of a life. The town was glad with morning light places that had shown ugly and distrustful all night long now were 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 crept 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 longed for her stealthy run and warm sleek bask outside the nobler beasts confined in dens stood motionless behind their bars and gazed on fluttering boughs and sunshine peeping through some little window with eyes in which old forests gleamed then trod impatiently the track their prisoned feet had worn and stopped and gazed again men in their dungeons stretched their cramped cold limbs and cursed the stone that no bright sky could warm the flowers that sleep by night opened their gentle eyes and turned them to the day the light creations mind was everywhere and all things owned its power the two pilgrims often pressing each 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 dead uniform repose that made them all alike all were so still at that early hour that the few pale people whom they met seemed as much unsuited to the scene as the sickly lamp which had been here and there left burning was powerless and faint in the full glory of the sun before they had penetrated very far into the labyrinth of 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 by first broke the charm then others came and 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 but their brooms scattered brown clouds of dust into the eyes of shrinking passengers while listened disconsolately to milkmen who spoke of country fares and told of wagons in the mews with awnings and all things complete and gallant swans to boot which another hour would see upon their journey this quarter passed they came upon the haunts of commerce and great traffic where many people were resorting and business was already rife the old man looked about him with a startled and bewildered gaze for these were places that he hoped to shun he pressed his finger on his lip and drew the child along by narrow courts and winding ways nor did he see Matisse 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 passed they came upon a straggling neighborhood where the mean houses parceled off in rooms and windows patched with rags and paper told the populous poverty that sheltered there the shops sold goods that only poverty could buy and sellers and buyers were pinched and griped alike here were poor streets where faded gentility is said 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 he had faintly struggled was hardly less quality 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 around 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 mouldering away lodgings where it would be hard to tell which needed pity most those who let or those who came to take children scantily fed and clothed spread over every street and sprawling in the dust scolding mothers stamping their slip-shot 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 washerwomen, cobblers, tailors chandlers driving their trades in parlours and kitchens and backroom and garrets and sometimes all of them under the same roof brick fields skirting gardens pale the staves of old casks or timber-pillage from houses burnt down and blackened and blissed 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 a little superfluous wealth to show the way to heaven at length, these streets becoming more straggling yet dwindled and dwindled away until there were only small garden patches bordering the road some house innocent of paint and built of old timber or some fragments of a boot green as the tough cabbage stalks that grew about it and grottoed at the seam 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 footsteps 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 spurning its old neighbor with a horse trough where the wagon stopped then fields and then some houses one by one of goodly size with lawns some even with the lodge where a dwelter 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 traveler might stop and looking back at old St. Paul's looming through the smoke its cross peeping above the cloud if the day were clear and glittering in the sun and casting his eyes upon the babel out of which it grew until he traced it down to the furthest outposts of the invading army of bricks and mortar whose station lay for the present nearly at his feet might feel at last that he was clear of London near such a spot as this and in a pleasant field the old man and his little guide if guide she were who knew not whither they were bound sat down to rest she had had the precaution to furnish her basket with some slices of bread and meat and here they made their frugal breakfast the freshness of the day the singing of the birds the beauty of the waving grass the deep green leaves the wild flowers and the thousand exquisite scents and sounds that floated in the air deep joys to most of us but most of all to those whose life is in a crowd or who live 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 heartless 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 pilgrim'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 the 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 waving his hand towards the city thou and I are free of it now now 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 was his reply let us be stirring now we must be farther away a long long way farther we are too near to stop and be addressed there was a pool of clear water in the field in which the child laid 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 now say that thou would not leave me I loved thee all the while indeed I did if I lose thee too my dear I must die he laid his head upon her shoulder and moaned piteously the time had been and a very few days before when the child could not have restrained her tears and must have wept with him but now she soothed him with gentle and tender words smiled at his thinking that they could ever part and rallied him cheerfully upon the jest he was soon calmed and fell asleep singing to himself in a low voice like a little child he awoke refreshed and they continued their journey the road was pleasant lying between beautiful pastures and fields of corn about which poised high in a clear blue sky the lark trilled out her happy song the air came laden with the fragrance it caught upon its way and the bees upper-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 with some a chair or low board put across the open door to keep the scrambling children from the road 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 wheelwright's 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 though in triumph at their freedom there were dull pigs too turning up the ground in search of dainty food and granting their monotonous grumblings as they prowled about or crossed each other in their quest plant pigeons skimming round the roof or strutting on the eaves and ducks and geese far more graceful in their own concede woodling 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 the 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 led to travellers next morning there were a foot again and though jeeded at first and very tired recovered before long and proceeded briskly forward they often stopped to rest but only for a short space at a time and still kept on having had but slight refreshment since the morning it was nearly five 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 draft 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 nosy wife in this the people seemed too poor in that too many at length she stopped at one where the family were seated around 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 cottage 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 sunburnt hand god save you master said the old cottage in a thin piping voice are you traveling 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 he had been in London many a time used to go there often once with wagons it was night two and thirty years since he had been there last and he did hear say there were great changes like enough he had changed himself since then two and thirty years was a long time and eighty four a great change though there was some he had known that had lived to very hard upon a hundred and not so hard as he neither know nothing like it said the 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 and don't make much myself for it comes dear but I find it wakes me up sometimes and you're a better boy to me I should have a son pretty nice 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 came 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 didn't be afraid that he was going to talk about that anymore 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 they made a hearty meal the furniture of the room was very homely of course a few rough chairs and a table a corner cupboard with their little stock of crockery and delf a gaudy 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 80 day clock bright saucepans and a kettle comprised the whole but everything was clean and neat and as the child glanced round she felt a tranquil air of comfort and content to which she had long been unaccustomed how far is it to any town or village she asked of the husband a matter of good five mile my dear was the reply would you not going on tonight yes yes now we are searching her tool by signs further on further on darling further away if you walk till midnight there's a good barn hard by master said the man oh there's travelers lodging I know the plough and hara excuse me but you do seem a little tired and unless you are very anxious to get on yes yes we are return the old man fretfully further away dear now pray further away we must go and indeed said the child yielding to his restless wish we thank you very much but we cannot stop so soon I'm quite ready grandfather but the woman had observed from the young wanderers 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 until 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 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 even the old grandfather was standing in the road watching them as they went and so with many waves of the hand and cheering nods and on one side at least not without tears they parted company they trudged forward most slowly and painfully than they had done yet for another mile of their abouts when they heard the sound of wheels behind them and looking round observed an empty cart approaching pretty briskly the driver when coming up to them stopped his horse and looked earnestly at Nell didn't you stop to rest at the cottage yonder he said yes sir replied the child ah they asked me to look out for you 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 crow 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 she was about to turn up a by-lane the driver kindly got down to help her out and pointing to some trees at a very short distance before them said that the town lay there and that they had better take the path which they would see leading through the churchyard accordingly towards this spot they directed their weary steps end of chapter 15 chapter 16 of the old curiosity shop this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information auto volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the old curiosity shop by Charles Dickens chapter 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 bad them be of good hope for its rising on the morrow the church was old and gray with ivy clinging to the walls and round the porch shining the tombs it crept about the mounds beneath which slept poor, humble men twining for them the first wreaths they had ever won but wreaths less liable to wither and far more lasting in their kind than some which were graven deep in stone and marble and told in poems terms of virtuous meekly hidden for many a year and only revealed at last to executors and mourning legacies the clergyman's horse stumbling with a dull blunt sound among the graves was cropping the grass at once deriving orthodox consolation from the dead parishioners and enforcing last Sunday's text that this was what all flesh came to a lean ass who had sought to expound it without being qualified and ordained was pricking his ears in an empty pound hard buy and looking with hungry eyes upon his priestly neighbor the old man and the child quitted the gravel path and straight among the tombs for there the ground was soft and easy to their tired feet as they passed behind the church they heard voices near at hand and presently came on those who had spoken they were two men who were seated in easy attitudes upon the grass and so busily engaged as to be at first unconscious of intruders it was not a difficult to divine that they were of a class of itinerant show men 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 equable smile notwithstanding that his body was dangling in a most uncomfortable position all loose and limp and shapeless while his long peaked cap unequally balanced against his exceedingly slight legs threatened every instant to bring him toppling down in part scattered upon the ground at the feet of the two men and in part jumbled together in a long flat box were the other persons of the drama the hero's wife and one child the hobby horse the doctor the foreign gentleman who not being familiar with the language is enabled in the representation to express his ideas otherwise than by the utterance of the word three distinct times who will by no means admit that a tin bell is an organ the executioner and the devil were all here their owners had evidently come to that spot to make some needful repairs in the stage arrangements for one of them was engaged in binding together a small gallows with thread while the other was intent upon fixing a new black wig with the aid of a small hammer and some tax upon the head who had been beaten bald they raised their eyes when the old man and his young companion were close upon them and posing in their work returned their looks of curiosity one of them the actual exhibitor no doubt was a little 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 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 that was the first time he had ever seen a punch off the stage punch it may be remarked seemed to be pointing with the tip of his cap to a most flourishing epitaph and to be chuckling over it with all his heart why do you come here to do this said the old man sitting down beside them and looking at the figures with extreme delight why you see rejoined the little man we're putting up for tonight at the public house yonder and it wouldn't do to let him see the present company undergoing repair no cried the old man making science to nail to listen why not her? because it would destroy all the delusion and take away all the interest wouldn't it? replied the little man would you care a happening 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 him tonight? are you? that is the intention governor replied the other and unless I am much mistaken calculating in this minute what we've lost through your coming upon us cheer up tell me it can't be much the little man accompanied these latter words with a wink expressive of the estimate he had formed of the travelers finances to this Mr. Coddeline who had a surly grumbling manner replied as he twitched punch of the tombstone flying him into the box I don't care if we haven't lost a pardon but you are 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 ah 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. Coddeline 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. Coddeline drew one fourth and held it up for the inspection of his friend look here here is all these judy's clothes falling to pieces again you haven't got a needle and thread I suppose the little man shook his head and scratched it ruefully as he contemplated this severe in disposition 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. Coddeline had nothing to urge against the proposal so seasonable Nelly kneeling down beside the box was soon busily engaged in her task and accomplishing it to a miracle while she was thus engaged the merry little man looked at her with an interest which did not appear to be diminished when he glanced at her helpless companion when she had finished her work he thanked her and inquired whether they were travelling no further tonight I think said the child looking towards her grandfather if you are wanting a place to stop at the man remarked I should advise you to take up 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 acquaintances had remained there too as he yielded to the suggestion a radiant rapturous ascent 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 its lung over his arm by a strap attached to it for the purpose Nellie having hold of her grandfather's hand and Mr. Codlin sauntering slowly behind casting up at the church tower and neighbouring trees such looks as he was accustomed in town practice to direct a drawing room and nursery windows when seeking for a profitable spot on which to plant the show the public house was kept by a fat old landlord and blind lady who made no objection to receiving their new guests but praised Nellie'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 that they had come all the way from London and appeared to have no little curiosity touching their father destination the child parried her inquiries as well as she could with no great trouble for finding that they appeared to give her pain the old lady desisted these two gentlemen have ordered supper in an hour's time she said taking her into the bar and your best plan will be to supper with them meanwhile you shall have a little taste of something that'll 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 the 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 faint of being his most intimate private friend of believing in him to the fullest and most unlimited extent of knowing that he enjoyed day a merry and glorious existence in that temple and that he was at all times and under every circumstance the same intelligent and joyful person that the spectators then beheld him all this Mr Codlin did with the air of a man who had made up his mind for the worst and was quite resigned his eyes slowly wondering about during the briskest repartee to observe the effect upon the audience and particularly the impression made upon the landlord and lady 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 with 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 and 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 hastened to him and sat there till he slept there was a little window hardly more than a chink in the wall in her room and when she left him she opened it quite wandering in 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 chapter 17 of the old curiosity shop this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information auto volunteer please visit LibriVox.org the old curiosity shop by Charles Dickens chapter 17 another bright day shining in through the small casement and claiming fellowship with the kindred eyes of the child awoke her at sight of the strange room and it's in accustomed objects she started up in alarm wondering how she had been moved from the familiar chamber in which she seemed to have fallen asleep last night and whether she had been conveyed but another glance around called to her mind all that had lately passed and she sprung from her bed hoping and trustful it was yet early and the old man being still asleep she walked out into the churchyard brushing the dew from the long grass with her feet and often turning her side into places where it grew longer than in others that she might not tread upon the graves she felt a curious kind of pleasure in lingering among those houses of the dead and read the inscriptions on the tombs of the good people a great number of good people were buried there passing on from one to another with increasing interest it was a very quiet place as such a place should be safe for the coring of the rooks who had built their nests among the branches of some tall old trees and were calling to one another high up in the air first one sleek bird hovering near his ragged house as it swung and dangled in the wind uttered his horse cry quite by chance as it would seem and in a sober tone as though he were but talking to himself another answered and he called again but louder than before then another spoke and then another and each time the first aggravated by contradiction insisted on his case more strongly other voices, silent till now striking from bows lower down and higher up and midway and to the right and left and from the treetops and others arriving hastily from the great church turrets and old belfry window joined the clamor which rose and fell and swelled and dropped again and still went on and all this noisy contention amidst the skimming to unfro and lighting on fresh branches and frequent change of place which satirized the old restlessness of those who lay so still beneath the moss and turf below and the strife in which they had worn away their lives frequently raising her eyes to the trees whence these sounds came down and feeling as though they made the place more quiet than perfect silence would have done, the child loitered from grave to grave now stopping to replace with careful hands the bramble which had started from some green mound it helped to keep in shape and now peeping through one of the low-latest windows into the church with its war-meat and books upon the desks and bays of white and green mouldering from the pew sites and leaving the naked wood to view there were the seats where the poor old people sat worn spare and yellow like themselves the rugged font where children had their names the homely altar where they knelt in afterlife the plain black tressles that bore their weight on their last visit to the cool old shady church everything told of long use and quiet slow decay the very bell-rope in the porch was frayed into a fringe and hoary with old age she was looking at a humble stone which told of a young man who had died at 23 years old 55 years ago when she heard a faltering step approaching and looking around saw a feeble woman bent with the weight of years who taught her to the food of that same grave and asked her to read the writing on the stone the old woman thanked her when she had done saying that she had had the words by heart for many a long long year but could not see them now were you his mother said the child I was his wife my dear she the wife of a young man of three 20 ah true it was 55 years ago you wonder to hear me say that remarked the old woman shaking her head you are not the first older folk than you have wondered at the same thing before now yes I was his wife death doesn't changes more than life my dear do you come here often asked the child I sit here very often in the summer time she answered I used to come here once to cry and mourn but that was a weary while ago bless God I pluck the daisies as they grow and take them home said the old woman after a short silence I like no flowers so well as these and haven't for five and fifty years it's a long time and I'm getting very old then growing garrulous upon a theme which was new to one listener though it were but a child she told her how she had wept and moaned and prayed to die herself when this happened and how when she first came to that place a young creature strong in love and grief she had hoped that her heart was breaking as it seemed to be but that time passed by and although she continued to be sad when she came there still she could bear to come and went on until it was pain no longer but a solemn pleasure and a duty she had learnt to like and now that five and fifty years were gone she spoke of the dead man as if he had been her son or grandson with a kind of pity for his youth growing out of her own old age and an exalting of his strength and manly beauty as compared with her own weakness and decay and yet she spoke about him as her husband too and thinking of herself in connection with him as she used to be and not as she was now talked of their meeting in another world as if he were dead but yesterday and she separated from her former self were thinking of the happiness of that comely girl who seemed to have died with him the child left her gathering the flowers that grew upon the grave and thoughtfully retraced her steps the old man was by this time up and dressed Mr. Codlin still doomed to contemplate the harsh realities of existence was packing among his linen the candle lens which had been saved from the previous night's performance while his companion received the compliments of all the loungers in the stable yard who unable to separate him from the mastermind of punch set him down as next in importance to that merry outlaw and loved him scarcely less when he had sufficiently acknowledged his popularity he came into breakfast at which meal they all sat down together and where are you going today said the little man addressing himself to know indeed I hardly know we have not determined yet replied the child we're going on to the races said the little man if that's your way and you like to have us for company let us travel together if you prefer going alone only say the word and you'll find that we shan't travel you we'll go with you said the old man now with them with them the child considered for a moment and reflecting that she must shortly beg and could scarcely hope to do so at a better place than where crowds of rich ladies and gentlemen were assembled together for purposes of enjoyment and festivity determined to accompany these men so far she therefore thanked the little man for his offer and said glancing timidly towards his friend that if there was no objection to their accompanying them as far as there is town objection said the little man now be gracious for once Tommy and say that you'd rather they went with us I know you would be gracious Tommy Trotters said Mr. Coddling who talked very slowly and at very greedily as it's not in common with philosophers and philosophers you are too free why what harm can it do urged the other no harm at all in this particular case perhaps replied Mr. Coddling but the principle's a dangerous one and you are too free I tell you well are they to go with us or not yes they are said Mr. Coddling but you must have made a favour of it mightn't you the real name of the little man was had gradually merged into the less euphonious one of Trotters which with the prefatory adjective short had been conferred upon him by reason of the small size of his legs short Trotters however being a compound name inconvenient of using friendly dialogue the gentleman on whom it had been bestowed was known among his intimates either as short or Trotters and was seldom accosted at full length as short Trotters except in formal conversations and on occasions of ceremony shorter than or Trotters as the reader pleases returned under the remonstrance of his friend Mr. Thomas Coddling a jacuzzi calculated to turn aside his discontent and applying himself with great relish to the cold boiled beef the tea and bread and butter strongly impressed upon his companions that they should do the like Mr. Coddling indeed required no such persuasion as he had already eaten as much as he could possibly carry and was now moistening his clay with strong ale whereof he took deep drafts with a silent relish and invited nobody to partake thus again strongly indicating his misanthropical turn of mind breakfast being at length over Mr. Coddling called the bill and charging the ale to the company generally a practice also savoring of misanthropy divided the sum total into two fair and equal parts assigning one moiety to himself and friend and the other to Nellie and her grandfather these being duly discharged and all things ready for their departure they took farewell of the landlord and landlady and resumed their journey and here Mr. Coddling's false position in society and the effect it wrote upon his wounded spirit were strongly illustrated for whereas he had been last night trusted by Mr. Punch's master and had by inference left the audience to understand that he maintained that individual for his own luxurious entertainment and delight here he was now painfully walking beneath the burden of that same punch's temple and bearing it bodily upon his shoulders on a sultry day and along a dusty road in place of enlivening his patron with a constant fire of wit a careful rattle of his quarter staff on the heads of his relations and acquaintance here was the beaming punch utterly devoid of spine all slack and drooping in a dark box with his legs doubled up around his neck and not one of his social qualities remaining Mr. Coddling trudged heavily on exchanging a word or two at intervals with short and stopping to rest and growl occasionally short led the way in a box the private luggage which was not extensive tied up in a bundle and a brazen trumpet slung from his shoulder blade Nell and her grandfather walked next him on either hand and Thomas Coddling brought up the rear when they came to any town or village or even to a detached house of good appearance short blew a blast upon the brazen trumpet and caroled a fragment of a song in that hilarious tone common to their consorts if people hurried to the windows Mr. Coddling pitched the temple and hastily unfurling the drapery and concealing short therewith flourished hysterically on the pipes and performed an air then the entertainment began as soon as might be Mr. Coddling having the responsibility of deciding on its length and of protracting or expediting the time for the hero's final triumph over the enemy of mankind according as he judged that the aftercrop of harpents would be plentiful or scant when it had been gathered into the last farthing he resumed his load and on they went again sometimes they played out the toll across the bridge of ferry and once exhibited by a particular desire at a turnpike where the collector being drunk in his solitude paid down a shilling to have it to himself there was one small place of rich promise in which their hopes were blighted for a favorite character in the play having gold lace upon his coat and being a meddling wooden-headed fellow was held to be reliable on the beetle for which reason the authorities enforced a quick retreat but they were generally received and seldom left a town without a troop of ragged children shouting on their heels they made a long day's journey despite these interruptions and were yet upon the road when the moon was shining in the sky short beguiled the time with songs and jests and made the best of everything that happened Mr. Codling on the other hand cursed his fate and all the hollow things of earth but punched especially and limped along with the theater on his back a prey to the bitterest chagrin they had stopped to rest beneath a finger post where four roads met and Mr. Codling in his deep misanthropy had let down the drapery and seated himself in the bottom of the show invisible to mortal eyes and is dainful of the company of his fellow creatures when two monstrous shadows were seen stalking towards them from a turning in the road by which they had come the child was at first quite terrified by the sight of these gaunt giants for such they looked as they advanced with lofty strides beneath the shadow of the trees but short, telling her there was nothing to fear, blew a blast upon the trumpet which was answered by a cheerful shout his grinder's lot hinted cried Mr. Short in a loud key yours, replied a couple of shrill voices come on then, said Short let's have a look at you, I thought it was you that's invited grinder's lot approached with redoubled speed and soon came up with the little party Mr. Grinder's company familiarly termed a lot, consisted of a young gentlemen and a young lady on stilts and Mr. Grinder himself who used his natural legs for pedestrian purposes and carried at his back a drum the public costume of the young people was of the highland kind but the night being damp and cold the young gentleman wore over his skilter man's pea jacket reaching to his ankles and a glazed hat the young lady too was muffled in an old clothed police and had a handkerchief tied about her head their scotch bonnets ornamented with plumes of jet black feathers Mr. Grinder carried on his instrument bound for the races I see said Mr. Grinder coming up out of breath, so are we how are you Short with that they shook hands in a very friendly manner the young people being too high up for the ordinary salutations saluted Short after their own fashion the young gentleman twisted up his right stilt and patted him on the shoulder and the young lady rattled her tambourine practice said Short pointing to the stilts no returned Grinder it comes either to walk in in a more caring of him and they like walking in and best it's very pleasant for the prospects which road are you taking we go to the niest why the fact is said Short that we are going the longest way because then we could stop for the night a mile and a half on but three or four mile gain tonight is so many safe tomorrow and if you keep on I think our best ways to do the same where is your partner in quiet Grinder here he is cried Mr. Thomas Codling presenting his head and face in the proscenium of the stage and exhibiting an expression of countenance not often seen there and he'll see his partner boiled alive before he'll go on tonight that's what he says well don't say such things as them in a spear which is devoted to something pleasant urged short respect associations Tommy even if you do cut off rough rough or smooth said Mr. Codling beating his hand on the little flute board where punch when suddenly struck with the symmetry of his legs and their capacity for silk stockings is accustomed to exhibit them to popular admiration rough or smooth I won't go further than the mile and a half tonight I put up the jolly sand boys and nowhere else if you like to come there come there if you like to go on by yourself go on by yourself and do without me if you can so saying Mr. Codling disappeared from the scene and immediately presented himself outside the theater took it on his shoulders at a jerk and made off with most remarkable agility any further controversy being now out of the question short was feigned to part with Mr. Grinder and his pupils and to follow his morose companion after lingering at the finger post for a few minutes to see the stilts frisking away in the moonlight and the bearer of the drum toiling slowly after them he blew a few notes upon the trumpet as a parting salute and hastened with all speed to follow Mr. Codling with this view he gave his unoccupied hand to Nell and bidding her to be of good cheer as they would soon be at the end of their journey at night and stimulating the old man with a similar assurance led them at a pretty swift pace towards their destination which he was the lesson willing to make