The Old Curiosity Shop

es wide open all night long, certain it is that he kept his cigar alight, and kindled every fresh o

o to rest, but rather to increase his wakefulness, which he showed, at every such indication of the progress of the night, by a su

minding him by an occasion cough that she was still unpardoned and that her penance had been of long duration. But her dwarfish spouse still smoked his cigar and drank his rum without heeding her; and it was not until the sun had some time risen, and the activity and noise

nd with a malicious grin, ‘it’s da

hdrew the bolt, and h

eve her feelings by pronouncing a strong opinion upon his general conduct and character. Seeing that he was up and dressed, and that

standing what passed in the old lady’s mind, turned uglier still in the ful

an, ‘you haven’t been — you do

uilp, supplying the conclusion

?’ cried M

, with a smile of which a frown was part. ‘Who says ma

te!’ exclaime

ried now, you know. And though she did beguile the time and keep me from my bed, you must not be so tende

certain restlessness in her hands a vehement desire to shake her m

’ cried the dwa

’ said the t

uilp. I am going to the wharf this mornin

o nothing. But a few whispered words from her daughter, and a kind inquiry from her son-in-law whether she felt faint, with a hint that there was abunda

ome appearance, which made his complexion rather more cloudy than it was before. But, while he was thus engaged, his caution and inquisitiveness did not forsake him, for with

not the towel over my ears, I thought it wasn’t. I’m a li

ile in full force. When he had quite done with it, he shook

rant son-in-law. It was the gesture of an instant, but as she did so and accompanied the action with a menacing look, she met his eye in the glass, catching her in the very act. The same glance at the mirror conveyed

now, my dear

he ate hard eggs, shell and all, devoured gigantic prawns with the heads and tails on, chewed tobacco and water-cresses at the same time and with extraordinary greediness, drank boiling tea without winking, bit his fork and spoon till they bent again, and in short performed so many horrifying and uncommon acts that the women were nearly frightened

ring fish in pain. In some of the vessels at anchor all hands were busily engaged in coiling ropes, spreading out sails to dry, taking in or discharging their cargoes; in others no life was visible but two or three tarry boys, and perhaps a barking dog running to and fro upon the deck or scrambling up to look over the side and bark the louder for the view. Coming slowly on through the forests of masts was a great steamship, beating the water in short impatient strokes with her heavy paddles as though she wanted room to breathe, and adv

osition, and a very liberal supply of both. Arrived at his destination, the first object that presented itself to his view was a pair of very imperfectly shod feet elevated in the air with the soles upwards, which remarkable appearance was referable to the boy, who being of an eccentric spirit and having a natural taste for

s hand with both his elbows alternatively. ‘You’ll get

iron rod, I’ll scratch you with a rusty nail, I

elbows and catching the boy’s head as it dodged from side to side, gave it three or

ding his head and drawing back, with the

won’t do it again, because I’ve done it

your size?’ said the boy

the key, or I’ll brain you with it’— indeed he gave him a smart

warf that existed a strange kind of mutual liking. How born or bred, and or nourished upon blows and threats on one side, and retorts and defiances on the other, is not to the purpose. Quilp would c

ting-house, ‘you mind the wharf. Stand upon you

ormance. There were indeed four sides to the counting-house, but he avoided that one where the window was, deeming it probable that Quilp would be looking out of it. This was prudent, for in point of fact, the dwarf,

ay clock which hadn’t gone for eighteen years at least, and of which the minute-hand had been twisted off for a tooth-pick. Daniel Quilp pulled his hat over his brows, climbed on to the desk (which had a f

er of an hour when the boy opened the door and thrust in his head, which was like

ody for you,’

ho

n’t k

rowing it at him with such dexterity that it was well the boy disappe

, the boy discreetly sent in his stead the first cause o

lly!’ cri

just roused, with his dishevelled hair hanging all about him and a yellow han

k. ‘Come in. Stay. Just look out into the yard, an

lied Nell. ‘He

‘Well. Now, come in and shut the

n further than to turn over a little more on his side and rest his ch

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