28

The child withdrew from the door, and groped her way back to her own chamber. The grey-headed old man gliding like a ghost into her room and stealing her money was dreadful. She sat and listened. She had no fear of the dear old grandfather; but the man she had seen that night, lurking in her room, and counting the money by the glimmering light, seemed like another creature in his shape, a monster. The child sat watching and thinking of these things.

“God bless him!” said the child. “He has only me to help him. God bless us both!”

At last she fell asleep. She was quickly roused by the girl who had shown her up to bed; and, as soon as she was dressed, prepared to go down to her grandfather. But first she searched her pocket, and found that her money was all gone, not a sixpence remained.

The old man was ready, and in a few seconds they were on their road.

“Grandfather,” she said in a tremulous voice, after they had walked about a mile in silence, “do you think they are honest people at the house yonder?”

“Why?” returned the old man trembling. “Do I think them honest yes, they played honestly.”

“I’ll tell you why I ask,” rejoined Nell. “I lost some money last night out of my bedroom, I am sure. Maybe it was taken by somebody in jest, only in jest, dear grandfather.”

“Who would take money in jest?” returned the old man in a hurried manner. “Those who take money, take it for ever. Don’t talk of jest.”

“Then it was stolen out of my room, dear,” said the child, whose last hope was destroyed by the manner of this reply.

“But is there no more, Nell?” said the old man; “No more anywhere? Was it all taken every farthing of it, was there nothing left?”

“Nothing,” replied the child.

“We must get more,” said the old man, “we must earn it, Nell. Never mind this loss. Tell nobody of it, and perhaps we may regain it. Don’t ask how; we may regain it, and a great deal more; but tell nobody, or trouble may come of it. And so the thieves took money out of your room, when you were asleep!” he added in a compassionate tone. “Poor Nell, poor little Nell!”

The child hung down her head and wept.

“Not a word about it to anyone but me,” said the old man, “no, not even to me,” he added hastily, “for it can do no good. All the losses that ever were, are not worth tears from your eyes, darling. Why cry, when we will win the money back?”

“Listen to me,” said the child earnestly, “will you listen to me?”

“Aye, aye, I’ll listen,” returned the old man, still without looking at her; “a pretty voice. It has always a sweet sound to me. It always had when it was her mother’s, poor child.”

“Let me persuade you, then oh, do let me persuade you,” said the child, “to think no more of cards.”

“She speaks the truth,” murmured the old man. “It is the truth; no doubt it is.”

29

Now we should become acquainted with Mr. Sampson Brass, the solicitor. His clerk, assistant, housekeeper, secretary, confidential plotter, adviser, and intriguer was Miss Brass, of whom it may be desirable to offer a brief description.

Miss Sally Brass was a lady of thirty-five or thereabouts, of a gaunt and bony figure, and a resolute bearing. In face she bore a striking resemblance to her brother, Sampson. In complexion Miss Brass was sallow, rather a dirty sallow, her voice was exceedingly impressive deep and rich in quality, and, once heard, not easily forgotten. Her usual dress was a green gown, in colour not unlike the curtain of the office-window.

Such was Miss Brass in person. In mind, she was of a strong and vigorous turn, from her earliest youth she devoted herself to the study of the law. Therefore a great many people had come to the ground, with her help.

One morning Mr. Sampson Brass sat upon his stool copying some legal process, and Miss Sally Brass sat upon her stool making a new pen preparatory to drawing out a little bill, which was her favourite occupation; and so they sat in silence for a long time, until Miss Brass broke silence.

“Have you nearly done, Sammy?” said Miss Brass; for in her mild and feminine lips, Sampson became Sammy.

“No,” returned her brother. “Can you help me?”

“Oh yes, indeed,” cried Miss Sally; “you want my help, don’t you? you, too, that are going to keep a clerk!”

“Am I going to keep a clerk for my own pleasure, or because of my own wish, you provoking rascal?” said Mr. Brass, putting his pen in his mouth, and grinning spitefully at his sister.

“All I know is,” said Miss Sally, smiling, for she delighted in nothing so much as irritating her brother, “that if every one of your clients is to force us to keep a clerk, whether we want to or not, you had better leave off business.”

“Have we got any other client like him?” said Brass. “Have we got another client like him now, will you answer me that?”

Sampson Brass took take up the bill-book, and fluttered its leaves rapidly.

“Look here: Daniel Quilp, Esquire Daniel Quilp, Esquire Daniel Quilp, Esquire all through. Whether should I take a clerk that he recommends, and says, ‘this is the man for you,’ or lose all this, eh?”

Sampson Brass was afraid of his sister, and sulkily bent over his writing again.

“If I were to decide, of course, that clerk wouldn’t be allowed to come. You know that well enough, so don’t talk nonsense,” she said.

30

The window was suddenly darkened, as by some person standing close against it. The top sash was nimbly lowered from without, and Quilp thrust in his head.

“Hallo!” he said, standing on tip-toe on the window-sill, and looking down into the room. “Is there anybody at home? Is there any of the Devil’s companions here?”

“Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the lawyer in an affected ecstasy. “Oh, very good, sir! Oh, very good indeed! Quite eccentric! Dear me, what humour he has!”

“Is that my Sally?” croaked the dwarf, ogling Miss Brass. “Is it Justice without the sword and scales? Is it the Strong Arm of the Law?”

“What an amazing flow of spirits!” cried Brass. “Upon my word, it’s quite extraordinary!”

“Open the door,” said Quilp, “I’ve got him here. Such a clerk for you, Brass, such a prize, such a treasure. Be quick and open the door, or if there’s another lawyer near and he will take him before your eyes, he will.”

Mr. Brass rose from his seat, and rushed to the door, returned, introducing his client, who led by the hand no less a person than Mr. Richard Swiveller.

“There she is,” said Quilp, stopping short at the door, and wrinkling up his eye-brows as he looked towards Miss Sally; “ there is our beautiful Sally. Oh Sally, Sally!”

Miss Brass briefly responded “Bother!“

“Hard-hearted as the metal from which she takes her name,” said Quilp. “Why don’t she take another name?”

“Hold your nonsense, Mr. Quilp, do,” returned Miss Sally, with a grim smile. “I wonder you’re not ashamed of yourself before a strange young man.”

“The strange young man,” said Quilp, handing Dick Swiveller forward, “understands me well. This is Mr. Swiveller, my intimate friend, a gentleman of good family and great expectations, and who ready to work as a clerk. What a delicious atmosphere!”

Mr. Swiveller looked incredulously at the grinning dwarf.

“Mr. Swiveller,” said Quilp, “understands that half a loaf is better than no bread. Therefore he accepts your brother’s offer. Brass, Mr. Swiveller is yours.”

“I am very glad, sir,” said Mr. Brass, “very glad indeed. Mr. Swiveller, sir, is fortunate enough to have your friendship. You may be very proud, sir, to have the friendship of Mr. Quilp.”

“I suppose,” said the dwarf, turning briskly to his legal friend, “that Mr. Swiveller enters upon his duties at once? It’s Monday morning.”

“At once, if you please, sir, by all means,” returned Brass.

“Miss Sally will teach him law, the delightful study of the law,” said Quilp; “she’ll be his guide, his friend, his companion, his Young Lawyer’s Best Companion.”

“He is exceedingly eloquent,” said Brass, with his hands in his pockets; “he has an extraordinary flow of language. Beautiful, really.”

“With Miss Sally,” Quilp went on, “and the beautiful fictions of the law, his days will pass like minutes. This will open a new world for the enlargement of his mind and the improvement of his heart.”

“Oh, beautiful, beautiful! Beau-ti-ful indeed!” cried Brass. “I adore him!”

“Where will Mr. Swiveller sit?” said Quilp, looking round.

“Why, we’ll buy another stool, sir,” returned Brass. “We hadn’t any thoughts of having a gentleman with us, sir, until you were kind enough to suggest it, and our accommodation’s not extensive. We’ll look about for a second-hand stool, sir. In the meantime, Mr. Swiveller may take my seat.”

“Walk with me,” said Quilp. “I have a word or two to say to you on points of business. Can you spare the time?”

“Can I spare the time to walk with you, sir? You’re joking, sir, you’re joking with me,” replied the lawyer, putting on his hat. “I’m ready, sir, quite ready. My time must be fully occupied indeed, sir, not to leave me time to walk with you, Mr. Quilp.”

The dwarf glanced sarcastically at his brazen friend, and, with a short dry cough, turned upon his heel, nodded to Dick Swiveller, and withdrew with the attorney.