| 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
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'
You think,' said the boy, 'that it's very small and inconvenient. So it
is, but it's very clean. Perhaps you think it would be noisy, but there's
not a quieter court than ours in all the town. Don't be afraid of the
children; the baby hardly ever cries, and the other one is very good -
besides, I'd mind 'em. They wouldn't vex you much, I'm sure. Do try,
Miss Nell, do try. The little front room up stairs is very pleasant. You
can see a piece of the church-clock, through the chimneys, and
almost tell the time; mother says it would be just the thing for you,
and so it would, and you'd have her to wait upon you both, and me to
run of errands. We don't mean money, bless you; you're not to think
of that! Will you try him, Miss Nell? Only say you'll try him. Do try to
make old master come, and ask him first what I have done. Will you
only promise that, Miss Nell?'
Before the child could reply to this earnest solicitation, the street-door
opened, and Mr Brass thrusting out his night-capped head called in a
surly voice, 'Who's there!' Kit immediately glided away, and Nell,
closing the window softly, drew back into the room.
Before Mr Brass had repeated his inquiry many times, Mr Quilp, also
embellished with a night-cap, emerged from the same door and looked
carefully up and down the street, and up at all the windows of the
house, from the opposite side. Finding that there was nobody in sight,
he presently returned into the house with his legal friend, protesting
(
as the child heard from the staircase), that there was a league and
plot against him; that he was in danger of being robbed and plundered
by a band of conspirators who prowled about the house at all seasons;
and that he would delay no longer but take immediate steps for
disposing of the property and returning to his own peaceful roof.
Having growled forth these, and a great many other threats of the
same nature, he coiled himself once more in the child's little bed, and
Nell crept softly up the stairs.
It was natural enough that her short and unfinished dialogue with Kit
should leave a strong impression on her mind, and influence her
dreams that night and her recollections for a long, long time.
Surrounded by unfeeling creditors, and mercenary attendants upon
the sick, and meeting in the height of her anxiety and sorrow with
little regard or sympathy even from the women about her, it is not
surprising that the affectionate heart of the child should have been
touched to the quick by one kind and generous spirit, however
uncouth the temple in which it dwelt. Thank Heaven that the temples
of such spirits are not made with hands, and that they may be even
more worthily hung with poor patch-work than with purple and fine
linen!
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