The Old Curiosity Shop

o the intent that his health might not be endangered by longer abstinence, dispached a messag

ite, Mr Swiveller forwarded the same message to another and more distant eating-house, adding to it by way of rider that the gentleman was induced to send so far, not only by the great fame and popularity its beef had acquired, but in consequence of the extreme toughness of the beef retailed at the obdurant cook’s shop, which rendered it quite unfit not merely for gentlemanly food, but for any human consumption. The good ef

of sending ’em with the peel on; there’s a charm in drawing a poato from its native element (if I may so express it) to which the ri

that he may not want that little long,’ returned his comp

winking his eye significantly. ‘The waiter’s quite helpl

a few remarks about ‘payment on delivery’ and ‘no trust,’ and other unpleasant subjects, but was fain to content himself with inquiring at what hour it was likely that the gentleman would call, in order that being presently responsible for the beef, greens, and sundries, he might take to be in the way at th

e you should forget to call

er today closes Long Acre. I bought a pair of boots in Great Queen Street last week, and made that no throughfare too. There’s only one avenue to the Strand left often now, and I shall have to stop up that to-n

of failing, in th

r tom-morrow morning. I mean to blot it a good deal and shake some water over it out of the pepper-castor to make it look penitent. ‘I’m in such a state of mind that I hardly know what I write’

perfectly grave and serious frame of mind. His friend discovered that it was time for him to fulfil some other engagement, and

ckles appears; she’s a very nice girl. She’s like the red red rose that’s newly sprung in June — there’s no denying that — she’s also like a melody that’s sweetly played in tune. It’s really very sudden. Not that there’s any need, on account of Fred’s little sister, to

ir notable scheme to which he had so readily become a party. For all these reasons, he decided to pick a quarrel with Miss Wackles without delay, and casting about for a pretext determined in favour of groundless jealousy. Having made up his mind on this important point, he cir

nine and ten in the morning, by a straggling and solitrary young lady of tender years standing on the scraper on the tips of her toes and making futile attempts to reach the knocker with spelling-book. The several duties of instruction in this establishment were this discharged. English grammar, composition, geography, and the use of the dumb-bells, by Miss Melissa Wackles; writing, arthmetic, dancing, music, and general fascination, by Miss Sophia Wackles; the art of needle-work, marki

ons; such as the embellishment of the room with the little flower-pots which always stood on the window-sill outside, save in windy weather when they blew into the area; the choice attire of the day-scholars who were allowed to grace the festival; the unwonted curls of Miss Jane

veller’s conduct in respect to Miss Sophy having been of that vague and dilitory kind which is usuaully looked upon as betokening no fixed matrimonial intentions, the young lady herself began in course of time to deem it highly desirable, that it should be brought to an issue one way or other. Hence she had at last consented to play off against Richard Swiveller a stricken market-gardner known to be ready with his offer on the smallest encourage

less pretty than she was, or that she were her own sister, which would have served his turn as well, when the company came, and among them the market-gardener, whose name was Cheggs. But Mr Cheggs came not alone or unsupport

no!’ replied

not here at four o’clock in the afternoon. Alick has been in such a state of impatience to come! You’d hardly believe that he wa

tentions upon him, and left Richard Swiveller to take care of himself. Here was the very thing he wanted, here was good cause reason and foundation for pretending to be angry; but having this

art Mr Swiveller had of the market-gardener, for determining to show the family what quality of man they trifled with, and influenced perhaps by his late libations, he performed such feats of agility and such spins and twirls as filled the company with astonishment, and in particular caused a very long gentlema

ng into Miss Sophy’s ear expressions of condolence and sympathy on her being worried by such a ridiculous creature, declaring that she was frightened to death lest Alick should fall upon, and beat him, in the fulness of his wr

she had herself danced twice with Mr Cheggs and made great show of encourag

‘Quite delighted too, I should say, from t

urpose) interposed her many curls and whispered

impudence!’ said

ane, tossing her head. ‘Take care he don’t

Jane —’ sai

hat, certainly. Mr Cheggs has a good a right to be jealous as anyone else has, and perhap

himself in time, it failed in its effect; for Miss Jane being one of those young ladies who are premeturely shrill and shrewish, gave such undue importance to her

into a corner. ‘Have the kindness to smile, sir, in orde

om that to his knee, and so on very gradually, keeping up his right leg, until he reached his waistcoat, when he raised his eyes from but

ir, I

oulder, ‘have the goodness to smile again, s

didn’t do th

ing to say to me now, sir,

his waistcoat and down his right leg, reached his toes again, and carefully surveyed him; this done, he crossed over, and com

ar it. You know where I’m to be found, I suppose,

quire, sir, when

more we need say,

rowning mutually. Mr Cheggs hastened to tender his hand to Miss Sophy

agement, and sitting very upright and uncomfortable on a couple of hard stools, were two of the day-scholars; and when Miss Wackles smiled, and Mrs Wackles smiled, the two little girls on the stools sought to curry favour by smiling likewise, in gracious acknowledgement of which attention the old lady frowned them down instantly, and said that if they

e more, ‘Alick has been saying such things to Sophy. Upon my w

ying, my dear?’ de

d Miss Cheggs, ‘you can’t thin

tion of extreme carelessness toward the door, passing on the way Miss Jane Wackles, who in all the glory of her curls was holding a flirtation, (as good practice when no better was to be had) with a feeble old gen

, but before I pass this door I will say farewell

k within her at the result of her stratagem, but

d Dick bitterly. ‘Y

early,’ said Miss Sophy; ‘but yo

ertained a thought of you. Miss Wackles, I believed you true, and I was blest in

ok with great interest after Mr Cheggs, w

rt dilated, and my sentiments of a corresponding description. I go away with feelings that may be conceived but cannot b

, Mr Swiviller,’ said Miss Sophy with

onal attractions but great wealth, and who has requested her next of kin to propose for my hand, which, having a regard for some members of her family, I have consented to promise. It’s a gratifying circumstance which you’ll be gla

tinguisher in his hand, ‘which is, that I now go heart and soul, neck and heels, with Fred in all his scheme about little Nelly, and right glad he’ll be

ep, dreaming that he had married Nelly Trent and come into the property, and that his first act of