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 tacks, upon

the head of the radical neighbour, who had been beaten bald.

They raised their eyes when the old man and his young companion

were close upon them, and pausing in their work, returned their looks

of curiosity. One of them, the actual exhibitor no doubt, was a little

merry-faced man with a twinkling eye and a red nose, who seemed to

have unconsciously imbibed something of his hero's character. The

other - that was he who took the money - had rather a careful and

cautious look, which was perhaps inseparable from his occupation

also.

The merry man was the first to greet the strangers with a nod; and

following the old man's eyes, he observed that perhaps 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 to-night at

the public-house yonder, and it wouldn't do to let 'em see the present

company undergoing repair.'

'No!' cried the old man, making signs to Nell to listen, 'why not, eh?

why not?'

'Because it would destroy all the delusion, and take away all the

interest, wouldn't it?' replied the little man. 'Would you care a

ha'penny for the Lord Chancellor if you know'd 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 'em

to-night? are you?'

'That is the intention, governor,' replied the other, 'and unless I'm

much mistaken, Tommy Codlin is a calculating at this minute what

we've lost through your coming upon us. Cheer up, Tommy, it can't be

much.'

The little man accompanied these latter words with a wink, expressive

of the estimate he had formed of the travellers' finances.

The Old Curiosity Shop