It was a very small place. The men and boys were playing at cricket on

the green; and as the other folks were looking on, they wandered up

and down, uncertain where to seek a humble lodging. There was but

one old man in the little garden before his cottage, and him they were

timid of approaching, for he was the schoolmaster, and had 'School'

written up over his window in black letters on a white board. He was a

pale, simple-looking man, of a spare and meagre habit, and sat among

his flowers and beehives, smoking his pipe, in the little porch before

his door.

Speak to him, dear,' the old man whispered.

I am almost afraid to disturb him,' said the child timidly. 'He does not

seem to see us. Perhaps if we wait a little, he may look this way.'

They waited, but the schoolmaster cast no look towards them, and

still sat, thoughtful and silent, in the little porch. He had a kind face.

In his plain old suit of black, he looked pale and meagre. They fancied,

too, a lonely air about him and his house, but perhaps that was

because the other people formed a merry company upon the green,

and he seemed the only solitary man in all the place.

They were very tired, and the child would have been bold enough to

address even a schoolmaster, but for something in his manner which

seemed to denote that he was uneasy or distressed. As they stood

hesitating at a little distance, they saw that he sat for a few minutes at

a time like one in a brown study, then laid aside his pipe and took a

few turns in his garden, then approached the gate and looked towards

the green, then took up his pipe again with a sigh, and sat down

thoughtfully as before.

As nobody else appeared and it would soon be dark, Nell at length

took courage, and when he had resumed his pipe and seat, ventured

to draw near, leading her grandfather by the hand. The slight noise

they made in raising the latch of the wicket-gate, caught his attention.

He looked at them kindly but seemed disappointed too, and slightly

shook his head.

Nell dropped a curtsey, and told him they were poor travellers who

sought a shelter for the night which they would gladly pay for, so far

as their means allowed. The schoolmaster looked earnestly at her as

she spoke, laid aside his pipe, and rose up directly.

'If you could direct us anywhere,sir,' said the child, 'we should take it

very kindly.'

'You have been walking a long way,' said the schoolmaster.

The Old Curiosity Shop