This reflection set him scratching his head and biting his nails once

more. While he was thus employed his features gradually relaxed into

what was with him a cheerful smile, but which in any other man

would have been a ghastly grin of pain, and when the child looked up

again she found that he was regarding her with extraordinary favour

and complacency.

You look very pretty to-day, Nelly, charmingly pretty. Are you tired,

Nelly?'

No, sir. I'm in a hurry to get back, for he will be anxious while I am

away.'

There's no hurry, little Nell, no hurry at all,' said Quilp. 'How should

you like to be my number two, Nelly?'

To be what, sir?'

My number two, Nelly, my second, my Mrs Quilp,' said the dwarf.

The child looked frightened, but seemed not to understand him, which

Mr Quilp observing, hastened to make his meaning more distinctly.

To be Mrs Quilp the second, when Mrs Quilp the first is dead, sweet

Nell,' said Quilp, wrinkling up his eyes and luring her towards him

with his bent forefinger, 'to be my wife, my little cherry-cheeked, red-

lipped wife. Say that Mrs Quilp lives five year, or only four, you'll be

just the proper age for me. Ha ha! Be a good girl, Nelly, a very good

girl, and see if one of these days you don't come to be Mrs Quilp of

Tower Hill.'

So far from being sustained and stimulated by this delightful

prospect, the child shrank from him in great agitation, and trembled

violently. Mr Quilp, either because frightening anybody afforded him a

constitutional delight, or because it was pleasant to contemplate the

death of Mrs Quilp number one, and the elevation of Mrs Quilp

number two to her post and title, or because he was determined from

purposes of his own to be agreeable and good-humoured at that

particular time, only laughed and feigned to take no heed of her

alarm.

You shall home with me to Tower Hill and see Mrs Quilp that is,

directly,' said the dwarf. 'She's very fond of you, Nell, though not so

fond as I am. You shall come home with me.'

I must go back indeed,' said the child. 'He told me to return directly I

had the answer.'

The Old Curiosity Shop