area railings as if to catch another glimpse of the child, until he was

quite tired out. At last, he travelled back to the Wilderness, which was

within rifle-shot of his bachelor retreat, and ordered tea in the wooden

summer-house that afternoon for three persons; an invitation to Miss

Sally Brass and her brother to partake of that entertainment at that

place, having been the object both of his journey and his note.

It was not precisely the kind of weather in which people usually take

tea in summer-houses, far less in summer-houses in an advanced

state of decay, and overlooking the slimy banks of a great river at low

water. Nevertheless, it was in this choice retreat that Mr Quilp ordered

a cold collation to be prepared, and it was beneath its cracked and

leaky roof that he, in due course of time, received Mr Sampson and

his sister Sally.

You're fond of the beauties of nature,' said Quilp with a grin. 'Is this

charming, Brass? Is it unusual, unsophisticated, primitive?'

It's delightful indeed, sir,' replied the lawyer.

Cool?' said Quilp.

N-not particularly so, I think, sir,' rejoined Brass, with his teeth

chattering in his head.

Perhaps a little damp and ague-ish?' said Quilp.

Just damp enough to be cheerful, sir,' rejoined Brass. 'Nothing more,

sir, nothing more.'

'And Sally?' said the delighted dwarf. 'Does she like it?'

She'll like it better,' returned that strong-minded lady, 'when she has

tea; so let us have it, and don't bother.'

Sweet Sally!' cried Quilp, extending his arms as if about to embrace

her. 'Gentle, charming, overwhelming Sally.'

He's a very remarkable man indeed!' soliloquised Mr Brass. 'He's quite

a Troubadour, you know; quite a Troubadour!'

These complimentary expressions were uttered in a somewhat absent

and distracted manner; for the unfortunate lawyer, besides having a

bad cold in his head, had got wet in coming, and would have willingly

borne some pecuniary sacrifice if he could have shifted his present

raw quarters to a warm room, and dried himself at a fire. Quilp,

however - who, beyond the gratification of his demon whims, owed

Sampson some acknowledgment of the part he had played in the

The Old Curiosity Shop