Marchioness from first to last; and that upon every anniversary of the

day on which he found her in his sick room, Mr Chuckster came to

dinner, and there was great glorification.

The gamblers, Isaac List and Jowl, with their trusty confederate Mr

James Groves of unimpeachable memory, pursued their course with

varying success, until the failure of a spirited enterprise in the way of

their profession, dispersed them in various directions, and caused

their career to receive a sudden check from the long and strong arm of

the law. This defeat had its origin in the untoward detection of a new

associate - young Frederick Trent - who thus became the unconscious

instrument of their punishment and his own.

For the young man himself, he rioted abroad for a brief term, living by

his wits - which means by the abuse of every faculty that worthily

employed raises man above the beasts, and so degraded, sinks him far

below them. It was not long before his body was recognised by a

stranger, who chanced to visit that hospital in Paris where the

drowned are laid out to be owned; despite the bruises and

disfigurements which were said to have been occasioned by some

previous scuffle. But the stranger kept his own counsel until he

returned home, and it was never claimed or cared for.

The younger brother, or the single gentleman, for that designation is

more familiar, would have drawn the poor schoolmaster from his lone

retreat, and made him his companion and friend. But the humble

village teacher was timid of venturing into the noisy world, and had

become fond of his dwelling in the old churchyard. Calmly happy in

his school, and in the spot, and in the attachment of Her little

mourner, he pursued his quiet course in peace; and was, through the

righteous gratitude of his friend - let this brief mention suffice for that

a POOR school-master no more.

That friend - single gentleman, or younger brother, which you will -

had at his heart a heavy sorrow; but it bred in him no misanthropy or

monastic gloom. He went forth into the world, a lover of his kind. For

a long, long time, it was his chief delight to travel in the steps of the

old man and the child (so far as he could trace them from her last

narrative), to halt where they had halted, sympathise where they had

suffered, and rejoice where they had been made glad. Those who had

been kind to them, did not escape his search. The sisters at the school

they who were her friends, because themselves so friendless - Mrs

Jarley of the wax-work, Codlin, Short - he found them all; and trust

me, the man who fed the furnace fire was not forgotten.

Kit's story having got abroad, raised him up a host of friends, and

many offers of provision for his future life. He had no idea at first of

ever quitting Mr Garland's service; but, after serious remonstrance

The Old Curiosity Shop