Why, certainly,' replied Dick. 'I must say for her that there's not any

very strong family likeness between her and you.'

'Has she a pretty face,' repeated his friend impatiently.

'Yes,' said Dick, 'she has a pretty face, a very pretty face. What of

that?'

I'll tell you,' returned his friend. 'It's very plain that the old man and I

will remain at daggers drawn to the end of our lives, and that I have

nothing to expect from him. You see that, I suppose?'

A bat might see that, with the sun shining,' said Dick.

It's equally plain that the money which the old flint - rot him - first

taught me to expect that I should share with her at his death, will all

be hers, is it not?'

'I should said it was,' replied Dick; 'unless the way in which I put the

case to him, made an impression. It may have done so. It was

powerful, Fred. 'Here is a jolly old grandfather' - that was strong, I

thought - very friendly and natural. Did it strike you in that way?'

It didn't strike him,' returned the other, 'so we needn't discuss it. Now

look here. Nell is nearly fourteen.'

'Fine girl of her age, but small,' observed Richard Swiveller

parenthetically.

If I am to go on, be quiet for one minute,' returned Trent, fretting at

the slight interest the other appeared to take in the conversation. 'Now

I'm coming to the point.'

That's right,' said Dick.

The girl has strong affections, and brought up as she has been, may,

at her age, be easily influenced and persuaded. If I take her in hand, I

will be bound by a very little coaxing and threatening to bend her to

my will. Not to beat about the bush (for the advantages of the scheme

would take a week to tell) what's to prevent your marrying her?'

Richard Swiveller, who had been looking over the rim of the tumbler

while his companion addressed the foregoing remarks to him with

great energy and earnestness of manner, no sooner heard these words

than he evinced the utmost consternation, and with difficulty

ejaculated the monosyllable:

What!'

The Old Curiosity Shop