| 97 | 98 | 99 | 100 | 101 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
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beer, when he observed without appearing to do so, that a boy was
prying in at the outer door. Assured that it was Kit, though he saw
little more than his nose, Mr Quilp hailed him by his name;
whereupon Kit came in and demanded what he wanted.
'Come here, you sir,' said the dwarf. 'Well, so your old master and
young mistress have gone?'
'
Where?' rejoined Kit, looking round.
'
'
Do you mean to say you don't know where?' answered Quilp sharply.
Where have they gone, eh?'
'I don't know,' said Kit.
'
Come,' retorted Quilp, 'let's have no more of this! Do you mean to say
that you don't know they went away by stealth, as soon as it was light
this morning?'
'
'
No,' said the boy, in evident surprise.
You don't know that?' cried Quilp. 'Don't I know that you were
hanging about the house the other night, like a thief, eh? Weren't you
told then?'
'
'
No,' replied the boy.
You were not?' said Quilp. 'What were you told then; what were you
talking about?'
Kit, who knew no particular reason why he should keep the matter
secret now, related the purpose for which he had come on that
occasion, and the proposal he had made.
'
Oh!' said the dwarf after a little consideration. 'Then, I think they'll
come to you yet.'
'
'
Do you think they will?' cried Kit eagerly.
Aye, I think they will,' returned the dwarf. 'Now, when they do, let me
know; d'ye hear? Let me know, and I'll give you something. I want to
do 'em a kindness, and I can't do 'em a kindness unless I know where
they are. You hear what I say?'
Kit might have returned some answer which would not have been
agreeable to his irascible questioner, if the boy from the wharf, who
had been skulking about the room in search of anything that might
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