Then it was stolen out of my room, dear,' said the child, whose last

hope was destroyed by the manner of this reply.

But is there no more, Nell?' said the old man; 'no more anywhere?

Was it all taken - every farthing of it - was there nothing left?'

'Nothing,' replied the child.

'We must get more,' said the old man, 'we must earn it, Nell, hoard it

up, scrape it together, come by it somehow. Never mind this loss. Tell

nobody of it, and perhaps we may regain it. Don't ask how; - we may

regain it, and a great deal more; - but tell nobody, or trouble may

come of it. And so they took it out of thy room, when thou wert

asleep!' he added in a compassionate tone, very different from the

secret, cunning way in which he had spoken until now. 'Poor Nell,

poor little Nell!'

The child hung down her head and wept. The sympathising tone in

which he spoke, was quite sincere; she was sure of that. It was not the

lightest part of her sorrow to know that this was done for her.

Not a word about it to any one but me,' said the old man, 'no, not

even to me,' he added hastily, 'for it can do no good. All the losses that

ever were, are not worth tears from thy eyes, darling. Why should they

be, when we will win them back?'

Let them go,' said the child looking up. 'Let them go, once and for

ever, and I would never shed another tear if every penny had been a

thousand pounds.'

Well, well,' returned the old man, checking himself as some

impetuous answer rose to his lips, 'she knows no better. I ought to be

thankful of it.'

'But listen to me,' said the child earnestly, 'will you listen to me?'

Aye, aye, I'll listen,' returned the old man, still without looking at her;

a pretty voice. It has always a sweet sound to me. It always had when

it was her mother's, poor child.'

Let me persuade you, then - oh, do let me persuade you,' said the

child, 'to think no more of gains or losses, and to try no fortune but

the fortune we pursue together.'

We pursue this aim together,' retorted her grandfather, still looking

away and seeming to confer with himself. 'Whose image sanctifies the

game?'

The Old Curiosity Shop