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The child uttered a suppressed shriek on beholding this agreeable
figure; in their first surprise both she and the old man, not knowing
what to say, and half doubting its reality, looked shrinkingly at it. Not
at all disconcerted by this reception, Daniel Quilp preserved the same
attitude, merely nodding twice or thrice with great condescension. At
length, the old man pronounced his name, and inquired how he came
there.
'
Through the door,' said Quilp pointing over his shoulder with his
thumb. 'I'm not quite small enough to get through key-holes. I wish I
was. I want to have some talk with you, particularly, and in private.
With nobody present, neighbour. Good-bye, little Nelly.'
Nell looked at the old man, who nodded to her to retire, and kissed
her cheek.
'Ah!' said the dwarf, smacking his lips, 'what a nice kiss that was -
just upon the rosy part. What a capital kiss!'
Nell was none the slower in going away, for this remark. Quilp looked
after her with an admiring leer, and when she had closed the door, fell
to complimenting the old man upon her charms.
'
Such a fresh, blooming, modest little bud, neighbour,' said Quilp,
nursing his short leg, and making his eyes twinkle very much; 'such a
chubby, rosy, cosy, little Nell!'
The old man answered by a forced smile, and was plainly struggling
with a feeling of the keenest and most exquisite impatience. It was not
lost upon Quilp, who delighted in torturing him, or indeed anybody
else, when he could.
'She's so,' said Quilp, speaking very slowly, and feigning to be quite
absorbed in the subject, 'so small, so compact, so beautifully
modelled, so fair, with such blue veins and such a transparent skin,
and such little feet, and such winning ways - but bless me, you're
nervous! Why neighbour, what's the matter? I swear to you,'
continued the dwarf dismounting from the chair and sitting down in
it, with a careful slowness of gesture very different from the rapidity
with which he had sprung up unheard, 'I swear to you that I had no
idea old blood ran so fast or kept so warm. I thought it was sluggish in
its course, and cool, quite cool. I am pretty sure it ought to be. Yours
must be out of order, neighbour.'
'I believe it is,' groaned the old man, clasping his head with both
hands. 'There's burning fever here, and something now and then to
which I fear to give a name.'
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