Oh, he's the artfullest creetur!' cried Mrs Nubbles. 'But come away.

Don't speak to him for the world.'

Yes I will, mother. What nonsense. I say, sir - '

Mr Quilp affected to start, and looked smilingly round.

You let my mother alone, will you?' said Kit. 'How dare you tease a

poor lone woman like her, making her miserable and melancholy as if

she hadn't got enough to make her so, without you. An't you ashamed

of yourself, you little monster?'

Monster!' said Quilp inwardly, with a smile. 'Ugliest dwarf that could

be seen anywhere for a penny - monster - ah!'

You show her any of your impudence again,' resumed Kit,

shouldering the bandbox, 'and I tell you what, Mr Quilp, I won't bear

with you any more. You have no right to do it; I'm sure we never

interfered with you. This isn't the first time; and if ever you worry or

frighten her again, you'll oblige me (though I should be very sorry to

do it, on account of your size) to beat you.'

Quilp said not a word in reply, but walking so close to Kit as to bring

his eyes within two or three inches of his face, looked fixedly at him,

retreated a little distance without averting his gaze, approached again,

again withdrew, and so on for half-a-dozen times, like a head in a

phantasmagoria. Kit stood his ground as if in expectation of an

immediate assault, but finding that nothing came of these gestures,

snapped his fingers and walked away; his mother dragging him off as

fast as she could, and, even in the midst of his news of little Jacob

and the baby, looking anxiously over her shoulder to see if Quilp were

following.

The Old Curiosity Shop