Home › The Old Curiosity Shop › The Old Curiosity Shop: Quilp

The Old Curiosity Shop: Quilp

He cried out that his winning would have been made from evil men and would have been spent on a sinless child. Quilp was unmoved by his appeals for further aid. He had a legal hold on the old man's curiosities and other property and brought his lawyer to take possession of the premises. Kit, the servant-boy of Nell's grandfather, had angered Quilp by calling him names, and the dwarf took revenge by telling the old man that Kit had informed of the gambling.

Early one morning, before Quilp and his lawyer awoke, Nell and her grandfather crept softly out and left their home forever. They had visions of fair fields and country scenes through which they would journey. The child had learned that she must be the leader, and he followed willingly. She had a little money, but they must depend upon charity when that was gone. The first day they made a long journey and were given a ride by a kind countryman. They stayed that night at an inn with two Punch and Judy showmen for whom Nell had done a bit of mending. With them they went to the races the next day, but Nell became suspicious of the men and escaped with her grandfather into the open country.

Nearly exhausted by another long walk, they arrived at a school playground. The schoolmaster kindly took them home, and they stayed there a few days, obtaining needed rest.

Continuing their journey, they next met with a traveling wax-figure show, and Nell so favorably impressed Mrs. Jarley, the manager, that she received employment. Her bitterest experience came at this time. Her grandfather fell in with some gamblers and lost nearly all their money. She had a gold coin of which he knew nothing. She changed this in payment for their night's lodging, but awoke to find her grandfather robbing her purse of every coin in order to gamble again. A short time later Nell heard the gamblers persuade him to steal from Mrs. Jarley, holding out the hope that he would win much more than enough to repay her secretly. Poor Nell was now in absolute terror. She woke him that night and told him of a terrible dream wherein she saw men like him robbing those asleep. She made him flee with her at once.

On and on they walked, farther and farther from London. Finally they came to a smoky town. A poor workman took the tired child in his arms and led the way near the furnace-room of a huge factory, where they could sleep warmly. The poor girl was nearly exhausted, but in the morning they pressed on their journey. At last they saw a familiar form. The child screamed and fell senseless at the feet of the schoolmaster. He carried her gently into a near-by inn, and there she gradually recovered by means of stimulants, food, and rest.

The schoolmaster had received what was to him a princely appointment. He had been given a position paying thirty-five pounds annually in a distant town, and he was walking there. He had loved Nell since he first saw her and begged them to go and live near him. Entirely friendless except for him, they went gladly. Their new home was in a beautiful, peaceful village. Nell obtained a position as caretaker of the church, and they lived next door to the schoolmaster.