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 connexion 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-ends 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

master-mind 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 in to breakfast, at which meal

they all sat down together.

And where are you going to-day?' said the little man, addressing

himself to Nell.

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

trouble you.'

We'll go with you,' said the old man. 'Nell - 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 the race 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.'

The Old Curiosity Shop