Well, Nelly,' said the young fellow aloud. 'Do they teach you to hate

me, eh?'

No, no. For shame. Oh, no!' cried the child.

To love me, perhaps?' pursued her brother with a sneer.

To do neither,' she returned. 'They never speak to me about you.

Indeed they never do.'

I dare be bound for that,' he said, darting a bitter look at the

grandfather. 'I dare be bound for that Nell. Oh! I believe you there!'

But I love you dearly, Fred,' said the child.

No doubt!'

I do indeed, and always will,' the child repeated with great emotion,

but oh! If you would leave off vexing him and making him unhappy,

then I could love you more.'

'I see!' said the young man, as he stooped carelessly over the child,

and having kissed her, pushed her from him: 'There - get you away

now you have said your lesson. You needn't whimper. We part good

friends enough, if that's the matter.'

He remained silent, following her with his eyes, until she had gained

her little room and closed the door; and then turning to the dwarf,

said abruptly,

Harkee, Mr - '

Meaning me?' returned the dwarf. 'Quilp is my name. You might

remember. It's not a long one - Daniel Quilp.'

Harkee, Mr Quilp, then,' pursued the other, 'You have some influence

with my grandfather there.'

Some,' said Mr Quilp emphatically.

And are in a few of his mysteries and secrets.'

A few,' replied Quilp, with equal dryness.

Then let me tell him once for all, through you, that I will come into

and go out of this place as often as I like, so long as he keeps Nell

here; and that if he wants to be quit of me, he must first be quit of

her. What have I done to be made a bugbear of, and to be shunned

The Old Curiosity Shop