Good fortune and happiness go with you!' said the poor schoolmaster.

I am quite a solitary man now. If you ever pass this way again, you'll

not forget the little village-school.'

'We shall never forget it, sir,' rejoined Nell; 'nor ever forget to be

grateful to you for your kindness to us.'

'I have heard such words from the lips of children very often,' said the

schoolmaster, shaking his head, and smiling thoughtfully, 'but they

were soon forgotten. I had attached one young friend to me, the better

friend for being young - but that's over - God bless you!'

They bade him farewell very many times, and turned away, walking

slowly and often looking back, until they could see him no more. At

length they had left the village far behind, and even lost sight of the

smoke among the trees. They trudged onward now, at a quicker pace,

resolving to keep the main road, and go wherever it might lead them.

But main roads stretch a long, long way. With the exception of two or

three inconsiderable clusters of cottages which they passed, without

stopping, and one lonely road-side public-house where they had some

bread and cheese, this highway had led them to nothing - late in the

afternoon - and still lengthened out, far in the distance, the same dull,

tedious, winding course, that they had been pursuing all day. As they

had no resource, however, but to go forward, they still kept on, though

at a much slower pace, being very weary and fatigued.

The afternoon had worn away into a beautiful evening, when they

arrived at a point where the road made a sharp turn and struck

across a common. On the border of this common, and close to the

hedge which divided it from the cultivated fields, a caravan was drawn

up to rest; upon which, by reason of its situation, they came so

suddenly that they could not have avoided it if they would.

It was not a shabby, dingy, dusty cart, but a smart little house upon

wheels, with white dimity curtains festooning the windows, and

window-shutters of green picked out with panels of a staring red, in

which happily-contrasted colours the whole concern shone brilliant.

Neither was it a poor caravan drawn by a single donkey or emaciated

horse, for a pair of horses in pretty good condition were released from

the shafts and grazing on the frouzy grass. Neither was it a gipsy

caravan, for at the open door (graced with a bright brass knocker) sat

a Christian lady, stout and comfortable to look upon, who wore a large

bonnet trembling with bows. And that it was not an unprovided or

destitute caravan was clear from this lady's occupation, which was the

very pleasant and refreshing one of taking tea. The tea-things,

including a bottle of rather suspicious character and a cold knuckle of

ham, were set forth upon a drum, covered with a white napkin; and

The Old Curiosity Shop