desirous of revenging himself upon him by seeking to entrap the sole

object of his love and anxiety into a connexion of which he knew he

had a dread and hatred. As Frederick Trent himself, utterly regardless

of his sister, had this object at heart, only second to the hope of gain,

it seemed to him the more likely to be Quilp's main principle of action.

Once investing the dwarf with a design of his own in abetting them,

which the attainment of their purpose would serve, it was easy to

believe him sincere and hearty in the cause; and as there could be no

doubt of his proving a powerful and useful auxiliary, Trent determined

to accept his invitation and go to his house that night, and if what he

said and did confirmed him in the impression he had formed, to let

him share the labour of their plan, but not the profit.

Having revolved these things in his mind and arrived at this

conclusion, he communicated to Mr Swiveller as much of his

meditations as he thought proper (Dick would have been perfectly

satisfied with less), and giving him the day to recover himself from his

late salamandering, accompanied him at evening to Mr Quilp's house.

Mighty glad Mr Quilp was to see them, or mightily glad he seemed to

be; and fearfully polite Mr Quilp was to Mrs Quilp and Mrs jiniwin;

and very sharp was the look he cast on his wife to observe how she

was affected by the recognition of young Trent. Mrs Quilp was as

innocent as her own mother of any emotion, painful or pleasant,

which the sight of him awakened, but as her husband's glance made

her timid and confused, and uncertain what to do or what was

required of her, Mr Quilp did not fail to assign her embarrassment to

the cause he had in his mind, and while he chuckled at his

penetration was secretly exasperated by his jealousy.

Nothing of this appeared, however. On the contrary, Mr Quilp was all

blandness and suavity, and presided over the case-bottle of rum with

extraordinary open-heartedness.

Why, let me see,' said Quilp. 'It must be a matter of nearly two years

since we were first acquainted.'

Nearer three, I think,' said Trent.

Nearer three!' cried Quilp. 'How fast time flies. Does it seem as long as

that to you, Mrs Quilp?'

Yes, I think it seems full three years, Quilp,' was the unfortunate

reply.

'Oh indeed, ma'am,' thought Quilp, 'you have been pining, have you?

Very good, ma'am.'

The Old Curiosity Shop