I wish I only knew who his friends were,' muttered Sampson, filling

his pocket with papers; 'if they'd just get up a pretty little Commission

de lunatico at the Gray's Inn Coffee House and give me the job, I'd be

content to have the lodgings empty for one while, at all events.'

With which words, and knocking his hat over his eyes as if for the

purpose of shutting out even a glimpse of the dreadful visitation, Mr

Brass rushed from the house and hurried away.

As Mr Swiveller was decidedly favourable to these performances, upon

the ground that looking at a Punch, or indeed looking at anything out

of window, was better than working; and as he had been, for this

reason, at some pains to awaken in his fellow clerk a sense of their

beauties and manifold deserts; both he and Miss Sally rose as with

one accord and took up their positions at the window: upon the sill

whereof, as in a post of honour, sundry young ladies and gentlemen

who were employed in the dry nurture of babies, and who made a

point of being present, with their young charges, on such occasions,

had already established themselves as comfortably as the

circumstances would allow.

The glass being dim, Mr Swiveller, agreeably to a friendly custom

which he had established between them, hitched off the brown head-

dress from Miss Sally's head, and dusted it carefully therewith. By the

time he had handed it back, and its beautiful wearer had put it on

again (which she did with perfect composure and indifference), the

lodger returned with the show and showmen at his heels, and a strong

addition to the body of spectators. The exhibitor disappeared with all

speed behind the drapery; and his partner, stationing himself by the

side of the Theatre, surveyed the audience with a remarkable

expression of melancholy, which became more remarkable still when

he breathed a hornpipe tune into that sweet musical instrument

which is popularly termed a mouth-organ, without at all changing the

mournful expression of the upper part of his face, though his mouth

and chin were, of necessity, in lively spasms.

The drama proceeded to its close, and held the spectators enchained

in the customary manner. The sensation which kindles in large

assemblies, when they are relieved from a state of breathless suspense

and are again free to speak and move, was yet rife, when the lodger,

as usual, summoned the men up stairs.

'Both of you,' he called from the window; for only the actual exhibitor -

a little fat man - prepared to obey the summons. 'I want to talk to you.

Come both of you!'

Come, Tommy,' said the little man.

The Old Curiosity Shop