Chapter XXX

At length the play came to an end, and Mr Isaac List rose the only

winner. Mat and the landlord bore their losses with professional

fortitude. Isaac pocketed his gains with the air of a man who had

quite made up his mind to win, all along, and was neither surprised

nor pleased.

Nell's little purse was exhausted; but although it lay empty by his

side, and the other players had now risen from the table, the old man

sat poring over the cards, dealing them as they had been dealt before,

and turning up the different hands to see what each man would have

held if they had still been playing. He was quite absorbed in this

occupation, when the child drew near and laid her hand upon his

shoulder, telling him it was near midnight.

See the curse of poverty, Nell,' he said, pointing to the packs he had

spread out upon the table. 'If I could have gone on a little longer, only

a little longer, the luck would have turned on my side. Yes, it's as

plain as the marks upon the cards. See here - and there - and here

again.'

Put them away,' urged the child. 'Try to forget them.'

Try to forget them!' he rejoined, raising his haggard face to hers, and

regarding her with an incredulous stare. 'To forget them! How are we

ever to grow rich if I forget them?'

The child could only shake her head.

No, no, Nell,' said the old man, patting her cheek; 'they must not be

forgotten. We must make amends for this as soon as we can. Patience

patience, and we'll right thee yet, I promise thee. Lose to-day, win to-

morrow. And nothing can be won without anxiety and care - nothing.

Come, I am ready.'

Do you know what the time is?' said Mr Groves, who was smoking

with his friends. 'Past twelve o'clock - '

- And a rainy night,' added the stout man.

The Valiant Soldier, by James Groves. Good beds. Cheap

entertainment for man and beast,' said Mr Groves, quoting his sign-

board. 'Half-past twelve o'clock.'

'It's very late,' said the uneasy child. 'I wish we had gone before. What

will they think of us! It will be two o'clock by the time we get back.

What would it cost, sir, if we stopped here?'

The Old Curiosity Shop