But you haven't it, Nelly,' retorted the dwarf, 'and won't have it, and

can't have it, until I have been home, so you see that to do your

errand, you must go with me. Reach me yonder hat, my dear, and

we'll go directly.' With that, Mr Quilp suffered himself to roll gradually

off the desk until his short legs touched the ground, when he got upon

them and led the way from the counting-house to the wharf outside,

when the first objects that presented themselves were the boy who

had stood on his head and another young gentleman of about his own

stature, rolling in the mud together, locked in a tight embrace, and

cuffing each other with mutual heartiness.

It's Kit!' cried Nelly, clasping her hand, 'poor Kit who came with me!

Oh, pray stop them, Mr Quilp!'

I'll stop 'em,' cried Quilp, diving into the little counting-house and

returning with a thick stick, 'I'll stop 'em. Now, my boys, fight away.

I'll fight you both. I'll take bot of you, both together, both together!'

With which defiances the dwarf flourished his cudgel, and dancing

round the combatants and treading upon them and skipping over

them, in a kind of frenzy, laid about him, now on one and now on the

other, in a most desperate manner, always aiming at their heads and

dealing such blows as none but the veriest little savage would have

inflicted. This being warmer work than they had calculated upon,

speedily cooled the courage of the belligerents, who scrambled to their

feet and called for quarter.

I'll beat you to a pulp, you dogs,' said Quilp, vainly endeavoring to get

near either of them for a parting blow. 'I'll bruise you until you're

copper-coloured, I'll break your faces till you haven't a profile between

you, I will.'

Come, you drop that stick or it'll be worse for you,' said his boy,

dodging round him and watching an opportunity to rush in; 'you drop

that stick.'

Come a little nearer, and I'll drop it on your skull, you dog,' said

Quilp, with gleaming eyes; 'a little nearer - nearer yet.'

But the boy declined the invitation until his master was apparently a

little off his guard, when he darted in and seizing the weapon tried to

wrest it from his grasp. Quilp, who was as strong as a lion, easily kept

his hold until the boy was tugging at it with his utmost power, when

he suddenly let it go and sent him reeling backwards, so that he fell

violently upon his head. the success of this manoeuvre tickled Mr

Quilp beyond description, and he laughed and stamped upon the

ground as at a most irresistible jest.

The Old Curiosity Shop