Where's your partner?' inquired Grinder.

Here he is,' cried Mr Thomas Codlin, 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 to-night. That's what he says.'

Well, don't say such things as them, in a spear which is dewoted to

something pleasanter,' urged Short. 'Respect associations, Tommy,

even if you do cut up rough.'

Rough or smooth,' said Mr Codlin, beating his hand on the little

footboard 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 to-night. I put up at the Jolly Sandboys 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 Codlin disappeared from the scene and immediately

presented himself outside the theatre, 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 fain

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 Codlin. With

this view he gave his unoccupied hand to Nell, and bidding her be of

good cheer as they would soon be at the end of their journey for that

night, and stimulating the old man with a similar assurance, led them

at a pretty swift pace towards their destination, which he was the less

unwilling to make for, as the moon was now overcast and the clouds

were threatening rain.

The Old Curiosity Shop