rapidly, as the time passed by, soon began to vent itself in open

murmurs and exclamations of impatience.

Nell shrank timidly from all the dwarf's advances towards

conversation, and fled from the very sound of his voice; nor were the

lawyer's smiles less terrible to her than Quilp's grimaces. She lived in

such continual dread and apprehension of meeting one or other of

them on the stairs or in the passages if she stirred from her

grandfather's chamber, that she seldom left it, for a moment, until late

at night, when the silence encouraged her to venture forth and

breathe the purer air of some empty room.

One night, she had stolen to her usual window, and was sitting there

very sorrowfully - for the old man had been worse that day - when

she thought she heard her name pronounced by a voice in the street.

Looking down, she recognised Kit, whose endeavours to attract her

attention had roused her from her sad reflections.

'Miss Nell!' said the boy in a low voice.

Yes,' replied the child, doubtful whether she ought to hold any

communication with the supposed culprit, but inclining to her old

favourite still; 'what do you want?'

I have wanted to say a word to you, for a long time,' the boy replied,

but the people below have driven me away and wouldn't let me see

you. You don't believe - I hope you don't really believe - that I deserve

to be cast off as I have been; do you, miss?'

I must believe it,' returned the child. 'Or why would grandfather have

been so angry with you?'

I don't know,' replied Kit. 'I'm sure I never deserved it from him, no,

nor from you. I can say that, with a true and honest heart, any way.

And then to be driven from the door, when I only came to ask how old

master was - !'

They never told me that,' said the child. 'I didn't know it indeed. I

wouldn't have had them do it for the world.'

Thank'ee, miss,' returned Kit, 'it's comfortable to hear you say that. I

said I never would believe that it was your doing.' 'That was right!'

said the child eagerly.

Miss Nell,' cried the boy coming under the window, and speaking in a

lower tone, 'there are new masters down stairs. It's a change for you.'

It is indeed,' replied the child.

The Old Curiosity Shop