Chapter XIX

Supper was not yet over, when there arrived at the Jolly Sandboys two

more travellers bound for the same haven as the rest, who had been

walking in the rain for some hours, and came in shining and heavy

with water. One of these was the proprietor of a giant, and a little lady

without legs or arms, who had jogged forward in a van; the other, a

silent gentleman who earned his living by showing tricks upon the

cards, and who had rather deranged the natural expression of his

countenance by putting small leaden lozenges into his eyes and

bringing them out at his mouth, which was one of his professional

accomplishments. The name of the first of these newcomers was

Vuffin; the other, probably as a pleasant satire upon his ugliness, was

called Sweet William. To render them as comfortable as he could, the

landlord bestirred himself nimbly, and in a very short time both

gentlemen were perfectly at their ease.

How's the Giant?' said Short, when they all sat smoking round the

fire.

Rather weak upon his legs,' returned Mr Vuffin. 'I begin to be afraid

he's going at the knees.'

'That's a bad look-out,' said Short.

Aye! Bad indeed,' replied Mr Vuffin, contemplating the fire with a

sigh. 'Once get a giant shaky on his legs, and the public care no more

about him than they do for a dead cabbage stalk.'

'What becomes of old giants?' said Short, turning to him again after a

little reflection.

They're usually kept in carawans to wait upon the dwarfs,' said Mr

Vuffin.

The maintaining of 'em must come expensive, when they can't be

shown, eh?' remarked Short, eyeing him doubtfully.

It's better that, than letting 'em go upon the parish or about the

streets,’ said Mr Vuffin. 'Once make a giant common and giants will

never draw again. Look at wooden legs. If there was only one man with

a wooden leg what a property he'd be!'

'So he would!' observed the landlord and Short both together. 'That's

very true.'

The Old Curiosity Shop