broken the intelligence to his mother, with great kindness and

delicacy, late on the previous night, but had himself expressed no

opinion of his innocence or guilt. Kit was on the point of mustering

courage to ask Barbara's mother about Barbara, when the turnkey

who had conducted him, reappeared, a second turnkey appeared

behind his visitors, and the third turnkey with the newspaper cried

Time's up!' - adding in the same breath 'Now for the next party!' and

then plunging deep into his newspaper again. Kit was taken off in an

instant, with a blessing from his mother, and a scream from little

Jacob, ringing in his ears. As he was crossing the next yard with the

basket in his hand, under the guidance of his former conductor,

another officer called to them to stop, and came up with a pint pot of

porter in his hand.

This is Christopher Nubbles, isn't it, that come in last night for

felony?' said the man.

His comrade replied that this was the chicken in question.

'Then here's your beer,' said the other man to Christopher. 'What are

you looking at? There an't a discharge in it.'

'I beg your pardon,' said Kit. 'Who sent it me?'

'Why, your friend,' replied the man. 'You're to have it every day, he

says. And so you will, if he pays for it.'

My friend!' repeated Kit.

You're all abroad, seemingly,' returned the other man. 'There's his

letter. Take hold!'

Kit took it, and when he was locked up again, read as follows.

Drink of this cup, you'll find there's a spell in its every drop 'gainst

the ills of mortality. Talk of the cordial that sparkled for Helen! HER

cup was a fiction, but this is reality (Barclay and Co.'s). - If they ever

send it in a flat state, complain to the Governor. Yours, R. S.'

R. S.!' said Kit, after some consideration. 'It must be Mr Richard

Swiveller. Well, its very kind of him, and I thank him heartily.'

The Old Curiosity Shop