The Old Curiosity Shop

by Dickens, Charles

  Besides,' added the old gentleman with stronger emphasis, 'besides

  having the pleasure of being again brought into communication with

  those to whom you seem to be very strongly and disinterestedly

  attached. You must think of all this, Christopher, and not be rash

  or hasty in your choice.'

  Kit did suffer one twinge, one momentary pang, in keeping the

  resolution he had already formed, when this last argument passed

  swiftly into his thoughts, and conjured up the realization of all

  his hopes and fancies. But it was gone in a minute, and he

  sturdily rejoined that the gentleman must look out for somebody

  else, as he did think he might have done at first.

  'He has no right to think that I'd be led away to go to him, sir,'

  said Kit, turning round again after half a minute's hammering.

  'Does he think I'm a fool?'

  'He may, perhaps, Christopher, if you refuse his offer,' said Mr

  Garland gravely.

  Page 210

  Dickens, Charles - The Old Curiosity Shop

  'Then let him, sir,' retorted Kit; 'what do I care, sir, what he

  thinks? why should I care for his thinking, sir, when I know that

  I should be a fool, and worse than a fool, sir, to leave the

  kindest master and mistress that ever was or can be, who took me

  out of the streets a very poor and hungry lad indeed--poorer and

  hungrier perhaps than even you think for, sir--to go to him or

  anybody? If Miss Nell was to come back, ma'am,' added Kit, turning

  suddenly to his mistress, 'why that would be another thing, and

  perhaps if she wanted me, I might ask you now and then to let me

  work for her when all was done at home. But when she comes back,

  I see now that she'll be rich as old master always said she would,

  and being a rich young lady, what could she want of me? No, no,'

  added Kit, shaking his head sorrowfully, 'she'll never want me any

  more, and bless her, I hope she never may, though I should like to

  see her too!'

  Here Kit drove a nail into the wall, very hard--much harder than

  was necessary--and having done so, faced about again.

  'There's the pony, sir,' said Kit--'Whisker, ma'am (and he knows

  so well I'm talking about him that he begins to neigh directly,

  Sir)--would he let anybody come near him but me, ma'am? Here's

  the garden, sir, and Mr Abel, ma'am. Would Mr Abel part with me,

  Sir, or is there anybody that could be fonder of the garden, ma'am?

  It would break mother's heart, Sir, and even little Jacob would

  have sense enough to cry his eyes out, ma'am, if he thought that Mr

  Abel could wish to part with me so soon, after having told me, only

  the other day, that he hoped we might be together for years to

  come--'

  There is no telling how long Kit might have stood upon the ladder,

  addressing his master and mistress by turns, and generally turning

  towards the wrong person, if Barbara had not at that moment come

  running up to say that a messenger from the office had brought a

  note, which, with an expression of some surprise at Kit's

  oratorical appearance, she put into her master's hand.

  'Oh!' said the old gentleman after reading it, 'ask the messenger

  to walk this way.' Barbara tripping off to do as she was bid, he

  turned to Kit and said that they would not pursue the subject any

  further, and that Kit could not be more unwilling to part with

  them, than they would be to part with Kit; a sentiment which the

  old lady very generously echoed.

  'At the same time, Christopher,' added Mr Garland, glancing at the

  note in his hand, 'if the gentleman should want to borrow you now

  and then for an hour or so, or even a day or so, at a time, we must

  consent to lend you, and you must consent to be lent. --Oh! here

  is the young gentleman. How do you do, Sir?'

  This salutation was addressed to Mr Chuckster, who, with his hat

  extremely on one side, and his hair a long way beyond it, came

  swaggering up the walk.

  'Hope I see you well sir,' returned that gentleman. 'Hope I see

  YOU well, ma'am. Charming box' this, sir. Delicious country to be

  sure.'

  'You want to take Kit back with you, I find?' observed Mr Garland.

  'I have got a chariot-cab waiting on purpose,' replied the clerk.

  'A very spanking grey in that cab, sir, if you're a judge of

  horse-flesh.'

  Page 211

  Dickens, Charles - The Old Curiosity Shop

  Declining to inspect the spanking grey, on the plea that he was but

  poorly acquainted with such matters, and would but imperfectly

  appreciate his beauties, Mr Garland invited Mr Chuckster to partake

  of a slight repast in the way of lunch. That gentleman readily

  consenting, certain cold viands, flanked with ale and wine, were

  speedily prepared for his refreshment.

  At this repast, Mr Chuckster exerted his utmost abilities to

  enchant his entertainers, and impress them with a conviction of the

  mental superiority of those who dwelt in town; with which view he

  led the discourse to the small scandal of the day, in which he was

  justly considered by his friends to shine prodigiously. Thus, he

  was in a condition to relate the exact circumstances of the

  difference between the Marquis of Mizzler and Lord Bobby, which it

  appeared originated in a disputed bottle of champagne, and not in

  a pigeon-pie, as erroneously reported in the newspapers; neither

  had Lord Bobby said to the Marquis of Mizzler, 'Mizzler, one of us

  two tells a lie, and I'm not the man,' as incorrectly stated by the

  same authorities; but 'Mizzler, you know where I'm to be found, and

  damme, sir, find me if you want me'--which, of course, entirely

  changed the aspect of this interesting question, and placed it in

  a very different light. He also acquainted them with the precise

  amount of the income guaranteed by the Duke of Thigsberry to

  Violetta Stetta of the Italian Opera, which it appeared was payable

  quarterly, and not half-yearly, as the public had been given to

  understand, and which was EXclusive, and not INclusive (as had been

  monstrously stated,) of jewellery, perfumery, hair-powder for five

  footmen, and two daily changes of kid-gloves for a page. Having

  entreated the old lady and gentleman to set their minds at rest on

  these absorbing points, for they might rely on his statement being

  the correct one, Mr Chuckster entertained them with theatrical

  chit-chat and the court circular; and so wound up a brilliant and

  fascinating conversation which he had maintained alone, and without

  any assistance whatever, for upwards of three-quarters of an hour.

  'And now that the nag has got his wind again,' said Mr Chuckster

  rising in a graceful manner, 'I'm afraid I must cut my stick.'

  Neither Mr nor Mrs Garland offered any opposition to his tearing

  himself away (feeling, no doubt, that such a man could ill be

  spared from his proper sphere of action), and therefore Mr

  Chuckster and Kit were shortly afterwards upon their way to town;

  Kit being perched upon the box of the cabriolet beside the driver,

  and Mr Chuckster seated in solitary state ins
ide, with one of his

  boots sticking out at each of the front windows.

  When they reached the Notary's house, Kit followed into the office,

  and was desired by Mr Abel to sit down and wait, for the gentleman

  who wanted him had gone out, and perhaps might not return for some

  time. This anticipation was strictly verified, for Kit had had his

  dinner, and his tea, and had read all the lighter matter in the

  Law-List, and the Post-Office Directory, and had fallen asleep a

  great many times, before the gentleman whom he had seen before,

  came in; which he did at last in a very great hurry.

  He was closeted with Mr Witherden for some little time, and Mr Abel

  had been called in to assist at the conference, before Kit,

  wondering very much what he was wanted for, was summoned to attend

  them.

  'Christopher,' said the gentleman, turning to him directly he

  entered the room, 'I have found your old master and young

  mistress.'

  Page 212

  Dickens, Charles - The Old Curiosity Shop

  'No, Sir! Have you, though?' returned Kit, his eyes sparkling with

  delight. 'Where are they, Sir? How are they, Sir? Are they--are

  they near here?'

  'A long way from here,' returned the gentleman, shaking his head.

  'But I am going away to-night to bring them back, and I want you to

  go with me.'

  'Me, Sir?' cried Kit, full of joy and surprise.

  'The place,' said the strange gentleman, turning thoughtfully to

  the Notary, 'indicated by this man of the dogs, is--how far from

  here--sixty miles?'

  'From sixty to seventy.'

  'Humph! If we travel post all night, we shall reach there in good

  time to-morrow morning. Now, the only question is, as they will

  not know me, and the child, God bless her, would think that any

  stranger pursuing them had a design upon her grandfather's liberty--

  can I do better than take this lad, whom they both know and will

  readily remember, as an assurance to them of my friendly

  intentions?'

  'Certainly not,' replied the Notary. 'Take Christopher by all

  means.'

  'I beg your pardon, Sir,' said Kit, who had listened to this

  discourse with a lengthening countenance, 'but if that's the

  reason, I'm afraid I should do more harm than good--Miss Nell,

  Sir, she knows me, and would trust in me, I am sure; but old master--

  I don't know why, gentlemen; nobody does--would not bear me in

  his sight after he had been ill, and Miss Nell herself told me that

  I must not go near him or let him see me any more. I should spoil

  all that you were doing if I went, I'm afraid. I'd give the world

  to go, but you had better not take me, Sir.'

  'Another difficulty!' cried the impetuous gentleman. 'Was ever man

  so beset as I? Is there nobody else that knew them, nobody else in

  whom they had any confidence? Solitary as their lives were, is

  there no one person who would serve my purpose?'

  'IS there, Christopher?' said the Notary.

  'Not one, Sir,' replied Kit.--'Yes, though--there's my mother.'

  'Did they know her?' said the single gentleman.

  'Know her, Sir! why, she was always coming backwards and forwards.

  They were as kind to her as they were to me. Bless you, Sir, she

  expected they'd come back to her house.'

  'Then where the devil is the woman?' said the impatient gentleman,

  catching up his hat. 'Why isn't she here? Why is that woman

  always out of the way when she is most wanted?'

  In a word, the single gentleman was bursting out of the office,

  bent upon laying violent hands on Kit's mother, forcing her into a

  post-chaise, and carrying her off, when this novel kind of

  abduction was with some difficulty prevented by the joint efforts

  of Mr Abel and the Notary, who restrained him by dint of their

  remonstrances, and persuaded him to sound Kit upon the probability

  of her being able and willing to undertake such a journey on so

  short a notice.

  Page 213

  Dickens, Charles - The Old Curiosity Shop

  This occasioned some doubts on the part of Kit, and some violent

  demonstrations on that of the single gentleman, and a great many

  soothing speeches on that of the Notary and Mr Abel. The upshot of

  the business was, that Kit, after weighing the matter in his mind

  and considering it carefully, promised, on behalf of his mother,

  that she should be ready within two hours from that time to

  undertake the expedition, and engaged to produce her in that place,

  in all respects equipped and prepared for the journey, before the

  specified period had expired.

  Having given this pledge, which was rather a bold one, and not

  particularly easy of redemption, Kit lost no time in sallying

  forth, and taking measures for its immediate fulfilment.

  CHAPTER 41

  Kit made his way through the crowded streets, dividing the stream

  of people, dashing across the busy road-ways, diving into lanes and

  alleys, and stopping or turning aside for nothing, until he came in

  front of the Old Curiosity Shop, when he came to a stand; partly

  from habit and partly from being out of breath.

  It was a gloomy autumn evening, and he thought the old place had

  never looked so dismal as in its dreary twilight. The windows

  broken, the rusty sashes rattling in their frames, the deserted

  house a dull barrier dividing the glaring lights and bustle of the

  street into two long lines, and standing in the midst, cold, dark,

  and empty--presented a cheerless spectacle which mingled harshly

  with the bright prospects the boy had been building up for its late

  inmates, and came like a disappointment or misfortune. Kit would

  have had a good fire roaring up the empty chimneys, lights

  sparkling and shining through the windows, people moving briskly to

  and fro, voices in cheerful conversation, something in unison with

  the new hopes that were astir. He had not expected that the house

  would wear any different aspect--had known indeed that it could

  not--but coming upon it in the midst of eager thoughts and

  expectations, it checked the current in its flow, and darkened it

  with a mournful shadow.

  Kit, however, fortunately for himself, was not learned enough or

  contemplative enough to be troubled with presages of evil afar off,

  and, having no mental spectacles to assist his vision in this

  respect, saw nothing but the dull house, which jarred uncomfortably

  upon his previous thoughts. So, almost wishing that he had not

  passed it, though hardly knowing why, he hurried on again, making

  up by his increased speed for the few moments he had lost.

  'Now, if she should be out,' thought Kit, as he approached the poor

  dwelling of his mother, 'and I not able to find her, this impatient

  gentleman would be in a pretty taking. And sure enough there's no

  light, and the door's fast. Now, God forgive me for saying so, but

  if this is Little Bethel's doing, I wish Little Bethel was--was

  farther off,' said Kit checking himself, and knocking at the door.

  A second knock brought no reply from within the house; but caused
/>
  a woman over the way to look out and inquire who that was, awanting

  Mrs Nubbles.

  'Me,' said Kit. 'She's at--at Little Bethel, I suppose?'--getting

  Page 214

  Dickens, Charles - The Old Curiosity Shop

  out the name of the obnoxious conventicle with some reluctance, and

  laying a spiteful emphasis upon the words.

  The neighbour nodded assent.

  'Then pray tell me where it is,' said Kit, 'for I have come on a

  pressing matter, and must fetch her out, even if she was in the

  pulpit.'

  It was not very easy to procure a direction to the fold in

  question, as none of the neighbours were of the flock that resorted

  thither, and few knew anything more of it than the name. At last,

  a gossip of Mrs Nubbles's, who had accompanied her to chapel on one

  or two occasions when a comfortable cup of tea had preceded her

  devotions, furnished the needful information, which Kit had no

  sooner obtained than he started off again.

  Little Bethel might have been nearer, and might have been in a

  straighter road, though in that case the reverend gentleman who

  presided over its congregation would have lost his favourite

  allusion to the crooked ways by which it was approached, and which

  enabled him to liken it to Paradise itself, in contradistinction to

  the parish church and the broad thoroughfare leading thereunto.

  Kit found it, at last, after some trouble, and pausing at the door

  to take breath that he might enter with becoming decency, passed

  into the chapel.

  It was not badly named in one respect, being in truth a

  particularly little Bethel--a Bethel of the smallest dimensions--

  with a small number of small pews, and a small pulpit, in which a

  small gentleman (by trade a Shoemaker, and by calling a Divine) was

  delivering in a by no means small voice, a by no means small

  sermon, judging of its dimensions by the condition of his audience,

  which, if their gross amount were but small, comprised a still

  smaller number of hearers, as the majority were slumbering.

  Among these was Kit's mother, who, finding it matter of extreme

  difficulty to keep her eyes open after the fatigues of last night,

  and feeling their inclination to close strongly backed and seconded

  by the arguments of the preacher, had yielded to the drowsiness

  that overpowered her, and fallen asleep; though not so soundly but

  that she could, from time to time, utter a slight and almost