You look very pretty to-day, Nelly, charmingly pretty. Are you tired, Nelly?
No, sir. Im in a hurry to get back, for he will be anxious while I am away.
Theres no hurry, little Nell, no hurry at all, said Quilp. How should you like to be my number two, Nelly?
To be what, sir?
My number two, Nelly, my second, my Mrs Quilp, said the dwarf.
The child looked frightened, but seemed not to understand him, which Mr Quilp observing, hastened to make his meaning more distinctly.
To be Mrs Quilp the second, when Mrs Quilp the first is dead, sweet Nell, said Quilp, wrinkling up his eyes and luring her towards him with his bent forefinger, to be my wife, my little cherry-cheeked, red-lipped wife. Say that Mrs Quilp lives five year, or only four, youll be just the proper age for me. Ha ha! Be a good girl, Nelly, a very good girl, and see if one of these days you dont come to be Mrs Quilp of Tower Hill.
So far from being sustained and stimulated by this delightful prospect, the child shrank from him in great agitation, and trembled violently. Mr Quilp, either because frightening anybody afforded him a constitutional delight, or because it was pleasant to contemplate the death of Mrs Quilp number one, and the elevation of Mrs Quilp number two to her post and title, or because he was determined from purposes of his own to be agreeable and good-humoured at that particular time, only laughed and feigned to take no heed of her alarm.
You shall come with me to Tower Hill and see Mrs Quilp that is, directly, said the dwarf. Shes very fond of you, Nell, though not so fond as I am. You shall come home with me.
I must go back indeed, said the child. He told me to return directly I had the answer.
But you havent it, Nelly, retorted the dwarf, and wont have it, and cant have it, until I have been home, so you see that to do your errand, you must go with me. Reach me yonder hat, my dear, and well go directly. With that, Mr Quilp suffered himself to roll gradually off the desk until his short legs touched the ground, when he got upon them and led the way from the counting-house to the wharf outside, when the first objects that presented themselves were the boy who had stood on his head and another young gentleman of about his own stature, rolling in the mud together, locked in a tight embrace, and cuffing each other with mutual heartiness.
Its Kit! cried Nelly, clasping her hand, poor Kit who came with me! Oh, pray stop them, Mr Quilp!
Ill stop em, cried Quilp, diving into the little counting-house and returning with a thick stick, Ill stop em. Now, my boys, fight away. Ill fight you both. Ill take both of you, both together, both together!
With which defiances the dwarf flourished his cudgel, and dancing round the combatants and treading upon them and skipping over them, in a kind of frenzy, laid about him, now on one and now on the other, in a most desperate manner, always aiming at their heads and dealing such blows as none but the veriest little savage would have inflicted. This being warmer work than they had calculated upon, speedily cooled the courage of the belligerents, who scrambled to their feet and called for quarter.
Ill beat you to a pulp, you dogs, said Quilp, vainly endeavoring to get near either of them for a parting blow. Ill bruise you until youre copper-coloured, Ill break your faces till you havent a profile between you, I will.
Come, you drop that stick or itll be worse for you, said his boy, dodging round him and watching an opportunity to rush in; you drop that stick.
Come a little nearer, and Ill drop it on your skull, you dog, said Quilp, with gleaming eyes; a little nearer nearer yet.
But the boy declined the invitation until his master was apparently a little off his guard, when he darted in and seizing the weapon tried to wrest it from his grasp. Quilp, who was as strong as a lion, easily kept his hold until the boy was tugging at it with his utmost power, when he suddenly let it go and sent him reeling backwards, so that he fell violently upon his head. The success of this manoeuvre tickled Mr Quilp beyond description, and he laughed and stamped upon the ground as at a most irresistible jest.
Never mind, said the boy, nodding his head and rubbing it at the same time; you see if ever I offer to strike anybody again because they say youre an uglier dwarf than can be seen anywheres for a penny, thats all.
Do you mean to say, Im not, you dog? returned Quilp.
No! retorted the boy.
Then what do you fight on my wharf for, you villain? said Quilp.
Because he said so, replied the boy, pointing to Kit, not because you ant.
Then why did he say, bawled Kit, that Miss Nelly was ugly, and that she and my master was obliged to do whatever his master liked? Why did he say that?
He said what he did because hes a fool, and you said what you did because youre very wise and clever almost too clever to live, unless youre very careful of yourself, Kit. said Quilp, with great suavity in his manner, but still more of quiet malice about his eyes and mouth. Heres sixpence for you, Kit. Always speak the truth. At all times, Kit, speak the truth. Lock the counting-house, you dog, and bring me the key.
The other boy, to whom this order was addressed, did as he was told, and was rewarded for his partizanship in behalf of his master, by a dexterous rap on the nose with the key, which brought the water into his eyes. Then Mr Quilp departed with the child and Kit in a boat, and the boy revenged himself by dancing on his head at intervals on the extreme verge of the wharf, during the whole time they crossed the river.
There was only Mrs Quilp at home, and she, little expecting the return of her lord, was just composing herself for a refreshing slumber when the sound of his footsteps roused her. She had barely time to seem to be occupied in some needle-work, when he entered, accompanied by the child; having left Kit downstairs.
Heres Nelly Trent, dear Mrs Quilp, said her husband. A glass of wine, my dear, and a biscuit, for she has had a long walk. Shell sit with you, my soul, while I write a letter.
Mrs Quilp looked tremblingly in her spouses face to know what this unusual courtesy might portend, and obedient to the summons she saw in his gesture, followed him into the next room.
Mind what I say to you, whispered Quilp. See if you can get out of her anything about her grandfather, or what they do, or how they live, or what he tells her. Ive my reasons for knowing, if I can. You women talk more freely to one another than you do to us, and you have a soft, mild way with you thatll win upon her. Do you hear?
Yes, Quilp.
Go then. Whats the matter now?
Dear Quilp, faltered his wife. I love the child if you could do without making me deceive her
The dwarf muttering a terrible oath looked round as if for some weapon with which to inflict condign punishment upon his disobedient wife. The submissive little woman hurriedly entreated him not to be angry, and promised to do as he bade her.
Do you hear me, whispered Quilp, nipping and pinching her arm; worm yourself into her secrets; I know you can. Im listening, recollect. If youre not sharp enough, Ill creak the door, and woe betide you if I have to creak it much. Go!
Mrs Quilp departed according to order, and her amiable husband, ensconcing himself behind the partly opened door, and applying his ear close to it, began to listen with a face of great craftiness and attention.
Poor Mrs Quilp was thinking, however, in what manner to begin or what kind of inquiries she could make; and it was not until the door, creaking in a very urgent manner, warned her to proceed without further consideration, that the sound of her voice was heard.
How very often you have come backwards and forwards lately to Mr Quilp, my dear.
I have said so to grandfather, a hundred times, returned Nell innocently.
And what has he said to that?
Only sighed, and dropped his head, and seemed so sad and wretched that if you could have seen him I am sure you must have cried; you could not have helped it more than I, I know. How that door creaks!
It often does. returned Mrs Quilp, with an uneasy glance towards it. But your grandfather he used not to be so wretched?
Oh, no! said the child eagerly, so different! We were once so happy and he so cheerful and contented! You cannot think what a sad change has fallen on us since.
I am very, very sorry, to hear you speak like this, my dear! said Mrs Quilp. And she spoke the truth.
Thank you, returned the child, kissing her cheek, you are always kind to me, and it is a pleasure to talk to you. I can speak to no one else about him, but poor Kit. I am very happy still, I ought to feel happier perhaps than I do, but you cannot think how it grieves me sometimes to see him alter so.
Hell alter again, Nelly, said Mrs Quilp, and be what he was before.
Oh, if God would only let that come about! said the child with streaming eyes; but it is a long time now, since he first began to I thought I saw that door moving!
Its the wind, said Mrs Quilp, faintly. Began to
To be so thoughtful and dejected, and to forget our old way of spending the time in the long evenings, said the child. I used to read to him by the fireside, and he sat listening, and when I stopped and we began to talk, he told me about my mother, and how she once looked and spoke just like me when she was a little child. Then he used to take me on his knee, and try to make me understand that she was not lying in her grave, but had flown to a beautiful country beyond the sky where nothing died or ever grew old we were very happy once!
Nelly, Nelly! said the poor woman, I cant bear to see one as young as you so sorrowful. Pray dont cry.
I do so very seldom, said Nell, but I have kept this to myself a long time, and I am not quite well, I think, for the tears come into my eyes and I cannot keep them back. I dont mind telling you my grief, for I know you will not tell it to any one again.
Mrs Quilp turned away her head and made no answer.
Then, said the child, we often walked in the fields and among the green trees, and when we came home at night, we liked it better for being tired, and said what a happy place it was. And if it was dark and rather dull, we used to say, what did it matter to us, for it only made us remember our last walk with greater pleasure, and look forward to our next one. But now we never have these walks, and though it is the same house it is darker and much more gloomy than it used to be, indeed!
She paused here, but though the door creaked more than once, Mrs Quilp said nothing.
Mind you dont suppose, said the child earnestly, that grandfather is less kind to me than he was. I think he loves me better every day, and is kinder and more affectionate than he was the day before. You do not know how fond he is of me!
I am sure he loves you dearly, said Mrs Quilp.
Indeed, indeed he does! cried Nell, as dearly as I love him. But I have not told you the greatest change of all, and this you must never breathe again to any one. He has no sleep or rest, but that which he takes by day in his easy chair; for every night and nearly all night long he is away from home.
Nelly!
Hush! said the child, laying her finger on her lip and looking round. When he comes home in the morning, which is generally just before day, I let him in. Last night he was very late, and it was quite light. I saw that his face was deadly pale, that his eyes were bloodshot, and that his legs trembled as he walked. When I had gone to bed again, I heard him groan. I got up and ran back to him, and heard him say, before he knew that I was there, that he could not bear his life much longer, and if it was not for the child, would wish to die. What shall I do! Oh! What shall I do!
The fountains of her heart were opened; the child, overpowered by the weight of her sorrows and anxieties, by the first confidence she had ever shown, and the sympathy with which her little tale had been received, hid her face in the arms of her helpless friend, and burst into a passion of tears.
In a few minutes Mr Quilp returned, and expressed the utmost surprise to find her in this condition, which he did very naturally and with admirable effect, for that kind of acting had been rendered familiar to him by long practice, and he was quite at home in it.
Shes tired you see, Mrs Quilp, said the dwarf, squinting in a hideous manner to imply that his wife was to follow his lead. Its a long way from her home to the wharf, and then she was alarmed to see a couple of young scoundrels fighting, and was timorous on the water besides. All this together has been too much for her. Poor Nell!
Mr Quilp unintentionally adopted the very best means he could have devised for the recovery of his young visitor, by patting her on the head. Such an application from any other hand might not have produced a remarkable effect, but the child shrank so quickly from his touch and felt such an instinctive desire to get out of his reach, that she rose directly and declared herself ready to return.
But youd better wait, and dine with Mrs Quilp and me. said the dwarf.
I have been away too long, sir, already, returned Nell, drying her eyes.
Well, said Mr Quilp, if you will go, you will, Nelly. Heres the note. Its only to say that I shall see him to-morrow or maybe next day, and that I couldnt do that little business for him this morning. Good-bye, Nelly. Here, you sir; take care of her, dye hear?
Kit, who appeared at the summons, deigned to make no reply to so needless an injunction, and after staring at Quilp in a threatening manner, as if he doubted whether he might not have been the cause of Nelly shedding tears, and felt more than half disposed to revenge the fact upon him on the mere suspicion, turned about and followed his young mistress, who had by this time taken her leave of Mrs Quilp and departed.
Youre a keen questioner, ant you, Mrs Quilp? said the dwarf, turning upon her as soon as they were left alone.
What more could I do? returned his wife mildly.
What more could you do! sneered Quilp, couldnt you have done something less? Couldnt you have done what you had to do, without appearing in your favourite part of the crocodile, you minx?
I am very sorry for the child, Quilp, said his wife. Surely Ive done enough. Ive led her on to tell her secret she supposed we were alone; and you were by, God forgive me.
You led her on! You did a great deal truly! said Quilp. What did I tell you about making me creak the door? Its lucky for you that from what she let fall, Ive got the clue I want, for if I hadnt, Id have visited the failure upon you, I can tell you.
Mrs Quilp being fully persuaded of this, made no reply. Her husband added with some exultation,
But you may thank your fortunate stars the same stars that made you Mrs Quilp you may thank them that Im upon the old gentlemans track, and have got a new light. So let me hear no more about this matter now or at any other time, and dont get anything too nice for dinner, for I shant be home to it.