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sufficiently tested Nell's abilities, and narrowly watched her in the
performance of her duties. But board and lodging, both for her and
her grandfather, she bound herself to provide, and she furthermore
passed her word that the board should always be good in quality, and
in quantity plentiful.
Nell and her grandfather consulted together, and while they were so
engaged, Mrs Jarley with her hands behind her walked up and down
the caravan, as she had walked after tea on the dull earth, with
uncommon dignity and self-esteem. Nor will this appear so slight a
circumstance as to be unworthy of mention, when it is remembered
that the caravan was in uneasy motion all the time, and that none but
a person of great natural stateliness and acquired grace could have
forborne to stagger.
'Now, child?' cried Mrs Jarley, coming to a halt as Nell turned towards
her.
'We are very much obliged to you, ma'am,' said Nell, 'and thankfully
accept your offer.'
'
And you'll never be sorry for it,' returned Mrs Jarley. 'I'm pretty sure
of that. So as that's all settled, let us have a bit of supper.'
In the meanwhile, the caravan blundered on as if it too had been
drinking strong beer and was drowsy, and came at last upon the
paved streets of a town which were clear of passengers, and quiet, for
it was by this time near midnight, and the townspeople were all abed.
As it was too late an hour to repair to the exhibition room, they turned
aside into a piece of waste ground that lay just within the old town-
gate, and drew up there for the night, near to another caravan, which,
notwithstanding that it bore on the lawful panel the great name of
Jarley, and was employed besides in conveying from place to place the
wax-work which was its country's pride, was designated by a
grovelling stamp-office as a 'Common Stage Waggon,' and numbered
too - seven thousand odd hundred - as though its precious freight
were mere flour or coals!
This ill-used machine being empty (for it had deposited its burden at
the place of exhibition, and lingered here until its services were again
required) was assigned to the old man as his sleeping-place for the
night; and within its wooden walls, Nell made him up the best bed she
could, from the materials at hand. For herself, she was to sleep in Mrs
Jarley's own travelling- carriage, as a signal mark of that lady's favour
and confidence.
She had taken leave of her grandfather and was returning to the other
waggon, when she was tempted by the coolness of the night to linger
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