forehead to imply that there was some slight quantity of brain behind

it. 'I've got a little trifle here, now,' said Mr Slum, taking off his hat

which was full of scraps of paper, 'a little trifle here, thrown off in the

heat of the moment, which I should say was exactly the thing you

wanted to set this place on fire with. It's an acrostic - the name at this

moment is Warren, and the idea's a convertible one, and a positive

inspiration for Jarley. Have the acrostic.'

I suppose it's very dear,' said Mrs Jarley.

Five shillings,' returned Mr Slum, using his pencil as a toothpick.

Cheaper than any prose.'

I couldn't give more than three,' said Mrs Jarley.

- And six,' retorted Slum. 'Come. Three-and-six.'

Mrs Jarley was not proof against the poet's insinuating manner, and

Mr Slum entered the order in a small note-book as a three-and-

sixpenny one. Mr Slum then withdrew to alter the acrostic, after

taking a most affectionate leave of his patroness, and promising to

return, as soon as he possibly could, with a fair copy for the printer.

As his presence had not interfered with or interrupted the

preparations, they were now far advanced, and were completed shortly

after his departure. When the festoons were all put up as tastily as

they might be, the stupendous collection was uncovered, and there

were displayed, on a raised platform some two feet from the floor,

running round the room and parted from the rude public by a

crimson rope breast high, divers sprightly effigies of celebrated

characters, singly and in groups, clad in glittering dresses of various

climes and times, and standing more or less unsteadily upon their

legs, with their eyes very wide open, and their nostrils very much

inflated, and the muscles of their legs and arms very strongly

developed, and all their countenances expressing great surprise. All

the gentlemen were very pigeon-breasted and very blue about the

beards; and all the ladies were miraculous figures; and all the ladies

and all the gentlemen were looking intensely nowhere, and staring

with extraordinary earnestness at nothing.

When Nell had exhausted her first raptures at this glorious sight, Mrs

Jarley ordered the room to be cleared of all but herself and the child,

and, sitting herself down in an arm-chair in the centre, formally

invested Nell with a willow wand, long used by herself for pointing out

the characters, and was at great pains to instruct her in her duty.

'That,' said Mrs Jarley in her exhibition tone, as Nell touched a figure

at the beginning of the platform, 'is an unfortunate Maid of Honour in

The Old Curiosity Shop