The Old Curiosity Shop

by Dickens, Charles

wagged his tail, and looked imploringly at his master.

  'You must be more careful, Sir,' said Jerry, walking coolly to the

  chair where he had placed the organ, and setting the stop. 'Come

  here. Now, Sir, you play away at that, while we have supper, and

  leave off if you dare.'

  The dog immediately began to grind most mournful music. His master

  having shown him the whip resumed his seat and called up the

  others, who, at his directions, formed in a row, standing upright

  as a file of soldiers.

  'Now, gentlemen,' said Jerry, looking at them attentively. 'The dog

  whose name's called, eats. The dogs whose names an't called, keep

  quiet. Carlo!'

  The lucky individual whose name was called, snapped up the morsel

  thrown towards him, but none of the others moved a muscle. In this

  manner they were fed at the discretion of their master. Meanwhile

  the dog in disgrace ground hard at the organ, sometimes in quick

  time, sometimes in slow, but never leaving off for an instant. When

  the knives and forks rattled very much, or any of his fellows got

  an unusually large piece of fat, he accompanied the music with a

  short howl, but he immediately checked it on his master looking

  round, and applied himself with increased diligence to the Old

  Hundredth.

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  CHAPTER 19

  Supper was not yet over, when there arrived at the Jolly Sandboys

  two more travellers bound for the same haven as the rest, who had

  been walking in the rain for some hours, and came in shining and

  heavy with water. One of these was the proprietor of a giant, and

  a little lady without legs or arms, who had jogged forward in a

  van; the other, a silent gentleman who earned his living by showing

  tricks upon the cards, and who had rather deranged the natural

  expression of his countenance by putting small leaden lozenges into

  his eyes and bringing them out at his mouth, which was one of his

  professional accomplishments. The name of the first of these

  newcomers was Vuffin; the other, probably as a pleasant satire upon

  his ugliness, was called Sweet William. To render them as

  comfortable as he could, the landlord bestirred himself nimbly, and

  in a very short time both gentlemen were perfectly at their ease.

  'How's the Giant?' said Short, when they all sat smoking round the

  fire.

  'Rather weak upon his legs,' returned Mr Vuffin. 'I begin to be

  afraid he's going at the knees.'

  'That's a bad look-out,' said Short.

  'Aye! Bad indeed,' replied Mr Vuffin, contemplating the fire with

  a sigh. 'Once get a giant shaky on his legs, and the public care no

  more about him than they do for a dead cabbage stalk.'

  'What becomes of old giants?' said Short, turning to him again

  after a little reflection.

  'They're usually kept in carawans to wait upon the dwarfs,' said Mr

  Vuffin.

  'The maintaining of 'em must come expensive, when they can't be

  shown, eh?' remarked Short, eyeing him doubtfully.

  'It's better that, than letting 'em go upon the parish or about the

  streets," said Mr Vuffin. 'Once make a giant common and giants will

  never draw again. Look at wooden legs. If there was only one man

  with a wooden leg what a property he'd be!'

  'So he would!' observed the landlord and Short both together.

  'That's very true.'

  'Instead of which,' pursued Mr Vuffin, 'if you was to advertise

  Shakspeare played entirely by wooden legs,' it's my belief you

  wouldn't draw a sixpence.'

  'I don't suppose you would,' said Short. And the landlord said so

  too.

  'This shows, you see,' said Mr Vuffin, waving his pipe with an

  argumentative air, 'this shows the policy of keeping the used-up

  giants still in the carawans, where they get food and lodging for

  nothing, all their lives, and in general very glad they are to stop

  there. There was one giant--a black 'un--as left his carawan some

  year ago and took to carrying coach-bills about London, making

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  himself as cheap as crossing-sweepers. He died. I make no

  insinuation against anybody in particular,' said Mr Vuffin, looking

  solemnly round, 'but he was ruining the trade;--and he died.'

  The landlord drew his breath hard, and looked at the owner of the

  dogs, who nodded and said gruffly that he remembered.

  'I know you do, Jerry,' said Mr Vuffin with profound meaning. 'I

  know you remember it, Jerry, and the universal opinion was, that it

  served him right. Why, I remember the time when old Maunders as had

  three-and-twenty wans--I remember the time when old Maunders had

  in his cottage in Spa Fields in the winter time, when the season

  was over, eight male and female dwarfs setting down to dinner every

  day, who was waited on by eight old giants in green coats, red

  smalls, blue cotton stockings, and high-lows: and there was one

  dwarf as had grown elderly and wicious who whenever his giant

  wasn't quick enough to please him, used to stick pins in his legs,

  not being able to reach up any higher. I know that's a fact, for

  Maunders told it me himself.'

  'What about the dwarfs when they get old?' inquired the landlord.

  'The older a dwarf is, the better worth he is,' returned Mr Vuffin;

  'a grey-headed dwarf, well wrinkled, is beyond all suspicion. But

  a giant weak in the legs and not standing upright!--keep him in

  the carawan, but never show him, never show him, for any persuasion

  that can be offered.'

  While Mr Vuffin and his two friends smoked their pipes and beguiled

  the time with such conversation as this, the silent gentleman sat

  in a warm corner, swallowing, or seeming to swallow, sixpennyworth

  of halfpence for practice, balancing a feather upon his nose, and

  rehearsing other feats of dexterity of that kind, without paying

  any regard whatever to the company, who in their turn left him

  utterly unnoticed. At length the weary child prevailed upon her

  grandfather to retire, and they withdrew, leaving the company yet

  seated round the fire, and the dogs fast asleep at a humble

  distance.

  After bidding the old man good night, Nell retired to her poor

  garret, but had scarcely closed the door, when it was gently tapped

  at. She opened it directly, and was a little startled by the sight

  of Mr Thomas Codlin, whom she had left, to all appearance, fast

  asleep down stairs.

  'What is the matter?' said the child.

  'Nothing's the matter, my dear,' returned her visitor. 'I'm your

  friend. Perhaps you haven't thought so, but it's me that's your

  friend--not him.'

  'Not who?' the child inquired.

  'Short, my dear. I tell you what,' said Codlin, 'for all his having

  a kind of way with him that you'd be very apt to like, I'm the

  real, open-hearted man. I mayn't look it, but I am indeed.'

  The child began to be alarmed, considering that the ale had taken

  effect upon Mr Codlin, and that this commendation of himself was

  the
consequence.

  'Short's very well, and seems kind,' resumed the misanthrope, 'but

  he overdoes it. Now I don't.'

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  Certainly if there were any fault in Mr Codlin's usual deportment,

  it was that he rather underdid his kindness to those about him,

  than overdid it. But the child was puzzled, and could not tell what

  to say.

  'Take my advice,' said Codlin: 'don't ask me why, but take it.

  As long as you travel with us, keep as near me as you can. Don't

  offer to leave us--not on any account--but always stick to me and

  say that I'm your friend. Will you bear that in mind, my dear, and

  always say that it was me that was your friend?'

  'Say so where--and when?' inquired the child innocently.

  'O, nowhere in particular,' replied Codlin, a little put out as it

  seemed by the question; 'I'm only anxious that you should think me

  so, and do me justice. You can't think what an interest I have in

  you. Why didn't you tell me your little history--that about you

  and the poor old gentleman? I'm the best adviser that ever was, and

  so interested in you--so much more interested than Short. I think

  they're breaking up down stairs; you needn't tell Short, you know,

  that we've had this little talk together. God bless you. Recollect

  the friend. Codlin's the friend, not Short. Short's very well as

  far as he goes, but the real friend is Codlin--not Short.'

  Eking out these professions with a number of benevolent and

  protecting looks and great fervour of manner, Thomas Codlin stole

  away on tiptoe, leaving the child in a state of extreme surprise.

  She was still ruminating upon his curious behaviour, when the floor

  of the crazy stairs and landing cracked beneath the tread of the

  other travellers who were passing to their beds. When they had all

  passed, and the sound of their footsteps had died away, one of them

  returned, and after a little hesitation and rustling in the

  passage, as if he were doubtful what door to knock at, knocked at

  hers.

  'Yes,' said the child from within.

  'It's me--Short'--a voice called through the keyhole. 'I only

  wanted to say that we must be off early to-morrow morning, my dear,

  because unless we get the start of the dogs and the conjuror, the

  villages won't be worth a penny. You'll be sure to be stirring

  early and go with us? I'll call you.'

  The child answered in the affirmative, and returning his 'good

  night' heard him creep away. She felt some uneasiness at the

  anxiety of these men, increased by the recollection of their

  whispering together down stairs and their slight confusion when she

  awoke, nor was she quite free from a misgiving that they were not

  the fittest companions she could have stumbled on. Her uneasiness,

  however, was nothing, weighed against her fatigue; and she soon

  forgot it in sleep. Very early next morning, Short fulfilled his

  promise, and knocking softly at her door, entreated that she would

  get up directly, as the proprietor of the dogs was still snoring,

  and if they lost no time they might get a good deal in advance both

  of him and the conjuror, who was talking in his sleep, and from

  what he could be heard to say, appeared to be balancing a donkey in

  his dreams. She started from her bed without delay, and roused the

  old man with so much expedition that they were both ready as soon

  as Short himself, to that gentleman's unspeakable gratification and

  relief.

  After a very unceremonious and scrambling breakfast, of which the

  staple commodities were bacon and bread, and beer, they took leave

  of the landlord and issued from the door of the jolly Sandboys. The

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  morning was fine and warm, the ground cool to the feet after the

  late rain, the hedges gayer and more green, the air clear, and

  everything fresh and healthful. Surrounded by these influences,

  they walked on pleasantly enough.

  They had not gone very far, when the child was again struck by the

  altered behaviour of Mr Thomas Codlin, who instead of plodding on

  sulkily by himself as he had heretofore done, kept close to her,

  and when he had an opportunity of looking at her unseen by his

  companion, warned her by certain wry faces and jerks of the head

  not to put any trust in Short, but to reserve all confidences for

  Codlin. Neither did he confine himself to looks and gestures, for

  when she and her grandfather were walking on beside the aforesaid

  Short, and that little man was talking with his accustomed

  cheerfulness on a variety of indifferent subjects, Thomas Codlin

  testified his jealousy and distrust by following close at her

  heels, and occasionally admonishing her ankles with the legs of the

  theatre in a very abrupt and painful manner.

  All these proceedings naturally made the child more watchful and

  suspicious, and she soon observed that whenever they halted to

  perform outside a village alehouse or other place, Mr Codlin while

  he went through his share of the entertainments kept his eye

  steadily upon her and the old man, or with a show of great

  friendship and consideration invited the latter to lean upon his

  arm, and so held him tight until the representation was over and

  they again went forward. Even Short seemed to change in this

  respect, and to mingle with his good-nature something of a desire

  to keep them in safe custody. This increased the child's

  misgivings, and made her yet more anxious and uneasy.

  Meanwhile, they were drawing near the town where the races were to

  begin next day; for, from passing numerous groups of gipsies and

  trampers on the road, wending their way towards it, and straggling

  out from every by-way and cross-country lane, they gradually fell

  into a stream of people, some walking by the side of covered carts,

  others with horses, others with donkeys, others toiling on with

  heavy loads upon their backs, but all tending to the same point.

  The public-houses by the wayside, from being empty and noiseless as

  those in the remoter parts had been, now sent out boisterous shouts

  and clouds of smoke; and, from the misty windows, clusters of broad

  red faces looked down upon the road. On every piece of waste or

  common ground, some small gambler drove his noisy trade, and

  bellowed to the idle passersby to stop and try their chance; the

  crowd grew thicker and more noisy; gilt gingerbread in

  blanket-stalls exposed its glories to the dust; and often a

  four-horse carriage, dashing by, obscured all objects in the gritty

  cloud it raised, and left them, stunned and blinded, far behind.

  It was dark before they reached the town itself, and long indeed

  the few last miles had been. Here all was tumult and confusion; the

  streets were filled with throngs of people--many strangers were

  there, it seemed, by the looks they cast about--the church-bells

  rang out their noisy peals, and flags streamed from windows and

  house-tops. In the large inn-yards waiters flitted to and fro andr />
  ran against each other, horses clattered on the uneven stones,

  carriage steps fell rattling down, and sickening smells from many

  dinners came in a heavy lukewarm breath upon the sense. In the

  smaller public-houses, fiddles with all their might and main were

  squeaking out the tune to staggering feet; drunken men, oblivious

  of the burden of their song, joined in a senseless howl, which

  drowned the tinkling of the feeble bell and made them savage for

  their drink; vagabond groups assembled round the doors to see the

  stroller woman dance, and add their uproar to the shrill flageolet

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  and deafening drum.

  Through this delirious scene, the child, frightened and repelled by

  all she saw, led on her bewildered charge, clinging close to her

  conductor, and trembling lest in the press she should be separated

  from him and left to find her way alone. Quickening their steps to

  get clear of all the roar and riot, they at length passed through

  the town and made for the race-course, which was upon an open

  heath, situated on an eminence, a full mile distant from its

  furthest bounds.

  Although there were many people here, none of the best favoured or

  best clad, busily erecting tents and driving stakes in the ground,

  and hurrying to and fro with dusty feet and many a grumbled oath--

  although there were tired children cradled on heaps of straw

  between the wheels of carts, crying themselves to sleep--and poor

  lean horses and donkeys just turned loose, grazing among the men

  and women, and pots and kettles, and half-lighted fires, and ends

  of candles flaring and wasting in the air--for all this, the child

  felt it an escape from the town and drew her breath more freely.

  After a scanty supper, the purchase of which reduced her little

  stock so low, that she had only a few halfpence with which to buy

  a breakfast on the morrow, she and the old man lay down to rest in

  a corner of a tent, and slept, despite the busy preparations that

  were going on around them all night long.

  And now they had come to the time when they must beg their bread.

  Soon after sunrise in the morning she stole out from the tent, and

  rambling into some fields at a short distance, plucked a few wild

  roses and such humble flowers, purposing to make them into little

  nosegays and offer them to the ladies in the carriages when the