The Old Curiosity Shop

ody of Begone dull care; fan the sinking flame of hilari

desponding friend; and it may not be uninteresting or improper to remark that even these brief observations partook in a double sense of the figurative and poetical character of Mr Swiveller's mind, as the rosy wine was in fact represented by one glass of cold gin-and-water, which was replenished as occasion required from a bottle and jug upon the table, and was passed from one to another, in a scarcity of tumblers which, as Mr Swiveller's was a bachelor's establishment, may be a

secret convenience to be a bookcase and nothing more; that he closed his eyes to the bed, resolutely denied the existence of the blankets, and spurned the bolster from his thoughts. No word of its real use, no hint of its nightly service, no allusion to its peculiar properties, had ever passed between h

at his former adjuration had been pro

glass towards him, and fell again in the moody at

irring the mixture, 'a little sentiment ap

ry me to death with your chattering. Yo

't be wise, and some who can be wise (or think they can) and can't be merry. I'm one of the first sort. If the proverb's a good 'un, I sup

red his frie

at. Make yourself at home,' adding to this retort an observation to the effect that his friend appeared to be rather 'cranky' in point of temper, Richard Swiveller fi

and good luck to Mr Richard in particular-Mr Richard, gentlemen,' said Dick with great em

he room twice or thrice, 'will you talk seriously for two minutes,

ed Dick; 'and nothing has come of

a very long time is over,' said his companion, draw

t her?' re

retty face,

say for her that there's not any very st

ace,' repeated his

s a pretty face, a very p

man and I will remain at daggers drawn to the end of our lives, an

hat, with the sun

t-rot him-first taught me to expect that I should sha

e an impression. It may have done so. It was powerful, Fred. 'Here is a jolly old grandfa

other, 'so we needn't discuss it. Now

small,' observed Richard

nt, fretting at the slight interest the other appeared to

right,'

d. If I take her in hand, I will be bound by a very little coaxing and threatening to bend her to my will. Not to b

d the foregoing remarks to him with great energy and earnestness of manner, no sooner heard thes

ha

of manner, of the effect of which upon his companion he was well

rly fourteen"

her angrily; 'say in two year's time, in three, i

n Dorsetshire that was going to die when I was eight years old, and hasn't kept her word yet. They're so aggravating, so unprincipled, so

said Trent as steadily as before, and keeping

said Dick. 'Th

ed, or if the word sounds more feasible, forced Nell to a sec

othing, to keep 'em on,' said Richa

that his whole energies and thoughts are bound up in her, that he would no more disinherit her for an act of disobedience than he would take me into his favour agai

ble certainly,' s

you and me-let there be a pretense of such a thing, I mean, of course-and he'll do fast enough. As to Nell, constant dropping will wear away a stone; you know you may trust to me as far as she is concerned. So,

o doubt about his be

the other day when we were there? Do

him to look upon the proposal with favour, and that where all other inducements were wanting, the habitual carelessness of his disposition stepped in and still weighed down the scale on the same side. To these impulses must be added the complete ascendancy which his fr

ation. The negotiation was concluded very pleasantly, and Mr Swiveller was in the act of stating in flowery terms that he had no insurmountable objection to marrying anybody plentifull

rm proceeded from the body of a servant-girl, who being then and there engaged in cleaning the stairs had just drawn it out of a warm pail to take in a lett

came to look at the inside, observing that it was one of the inconveniences of being a lady's

?' demand

ckles,' s

's s

Mr Swiveller, taking a long pull at 'the rosy' and looking gra

his companion carel

warm and tender sentiments have been engendered, sentiments of the most honourable and inspiring kind. The Goddess Diana

you say?' demanded his friend; 'you don't mean

ere can be no action for breach, that's one comfo

in the let

gentleman to have the proper complement. I must go, if it's only to begin breaking off the affair-I'll do it, don't you be afrai

r was at home and being requested to walk upstairs, she was extremely shocked and professed that she would rather die. Mr Swiveller heard this account with a degree of admiration not altogether consistent with the project in which he had just concurred, but his friend attac