bread and meat, and took a quick drink of the porter; by which

artificial aids he choked himself and effected a diversion of the

subject.

'Speaking seriously though, Kit,' said his mother, taking up the theme

afresh, after a time, 'for of course I was only in joke just now, it's very

good and thoughtful, and like you, to do this, and never let anybody

know it, though some day I hope she may come to know it, for I'm

sure she would be very grateful to you and feel it very much. It's a

cruel thing to keep the dear child shut up there. I don't wonder that

the old gentleman wants to keep it from you.'

He don't think it's cruel, bless you,' said Kit, 'and don't mean it to be

so, or he wouldn't do it - I do consider, mother, that he wouldn't do it

for all the gold and silver in the world. No, no, that he wouldn't. I

know him better than that.'

Then what does he do it for, and why does he keep it so close from

you?' said Mrs Nubbles.

'That I don't know,' returned her son. 'If he hadn't tried to keep it so

close though, I should never have found it out, for it was his getting

me away at night and sending me off so much earlier than he used to,

that first made me curious to know what was going on. Hark! what's

that?'

It's only somebody outside.'

It's somebody crossing over here,' said Kit, standing up to listen, 'and

coming very fast too. He can't have gone out after I left, and the house

caught fire, mother!'

The boy stood, for a moment, really bereft, by the apprehension he

had conjured up, of the power to move. The footsteps drew nearer, the

door was opened with a hasty hand, and the child herself, pale and

breathless, and hastily wrapped in a few disordered garments, hurried

into the room.

Miss Nelly! What is the matter!' cried mother and son together.

I must not stay a moment,' she returned, 'grandfather has been taken

very ill. I found him in a fit upon the floor - '

I'll run for a doctor' - said Kit, seizing his brimless hat. 'I'll be there

directly, I'll - '

No, no,' cried Nell, 'there is one there, you're not wanted, you - you -

must never come near us any more!'

The Old Curiosity Shop