When she had brought all these testimonials of her important position

in society to bear upon her young companion, Mrs Jarley rolled them

up, and having put them carefully away, sat down again, and looked

at the child in triumph.

'Never go into the company of a filthy Punch any more,' said Mrs

Jarley, 'after this.'

I never saw any wax-work, ma'am,' said Nell. 'Is it funnier than

Punch?'

Funnier!' said Mrs Jarley in a shrill voice. 'It is not funny at all.'

Oh!' said Nell, with all possible humility.

It isn't funny at all,' repeated Mrs Jarley. 'It's calm and - what's that

word again - critical? - no - classical, that's it - it's calm and

classical. No low beatings and knockings about, no jokings and

squeakings like your precious Punches, but always the same, with a

constantly unchanging air of coldness and gentility; and so like life,

that if wax-work only spoke and walked about, you'd hardly know the

difference. I won't go so far as to say, that, as it is, I've seen wax-work

quite like life, but I've certainly seen some life that was exactly like

wax-work.'

Is it here, ma'am?' asked Nell, whose curiosity was awakened by this

description.

Is what here, child?'

The wax-work, ma'am.'

Why, bless you, child, what are you thinking of? How could such a

collection be here, where you see everything except the inside of one

little cupboard and a few boxes? It's gone on in the other wans to the

assembly-rooms, and there it'll be exhibited the day after to-morrow.

You are going to the same town, and you'll see it I dare say. It's

natural to expect that you'll see it, and I've no doubt you will. I

suppose you couldn't stop away if you was to try ever so much.'

I shall not be in the town, I think, ma'am,' said the child.

Not there!' cried Mrs Jarley. 'Then where will you be?'

I - I - don't quite know. I am not certain.'

You don't mean to say that you're travelling about the country

without knowing where you're going to?' said the lady of the caravan.

The Old Curiosity Shop