And the old gentleman too,' said Mrs Jarley; 'for I want to have a word

with him. Do you want a good situation for your grand-daughter,

master? If you do, I can put her in the way of getting one. What do you

say?'

I can't leave her,' answered the old man. 'We can't separate. What

would become of me without her?'

'I should have thought you were old enough to take care of yourself, if

you ever will be,' retorted Mrs Jarley sharply.

But he never will be,' said the child in an earnest whisper. 'I fear he

never will be again. Pray do not speak harshly to him. We are very

thankful to you,' she added aloud; 'but neither of us could part from

the other if all the wealth of the world were halved between us.'

Mrs Jarley was a little disconcerted by this reception of her proposal,

and looked at the old man, who tenderly took Nell's hand and

detained it in his own, as if she could have very well dispensed with

his company or even his earthly existence. After an awkward pause,

she thrust her head out of the window again, and had another

conference with the driver upon some point on which they did not

seem to agree quite so readily as on their former topic of discussion;

but they concluded at last, and she addressed the grandfather again.

If you're really disposed to employ yourself,' said Mrs Jarley, 'there

would be plenty for you to do in the way of helping to dust the figures,

and take the checks, and so forth. What I want your grand-daughter

for, is to point 'em out to the company; they would be soon learnt, and

she has a way with her that people wouldn't think unpleasant, though

she does come after me; for I've been always accustomed to go round

with visitors myself, which I should keep on doing now, only that my

spirits make a little ease absolutely necessary. It's not a common offer,

bear in mind,' said the lady, rising into the tone and manner in which

she was accustomed to address her audiences; 'it's Jarley's wax-work,

remember. The duty's very light and genteel, the company particularly

select, the exhibition takes place in assembly-rooms, town-halls, large

rooms at inns, or auction galleries. There is none of your open-air

wagrancy at Jarley's, recollect; there is no tarpaulin and sawdust at

Jarley's, remember. Every expectation held out in the handbills is

realised to the utmost, and the whole forms an effect of imposing

brilliancy hitherto unrivalled in this kingdom. Remember that the

price of admission is only sixpence, and that this is an opportunity

which may never occur again!'

Descending from the sublime when she had reached this point, to the

details of common life, Mrs Jarley remarked that with reference to

salary she could pledge herself to no specific sum until she had

The Old Curiosity Shop