t in which the comfortable proprietress was then
seated--was carpeted, and so divided the farther end as to form a
sleeping-place, made after the fashion of a berth on board ship, which
was shaded, like the little windows, with fair white curtains, and
looked comfortable enough, though by what kind of gymnastic exercise the
lady of the caravan ever contrived to get into it was a mystery. The
other half served for a kitchen, and was fitted up with a stove whose
small chimney passed through the roof.

The mistress sat looking at the child for a long time in silence, and
then, getting up, brought out from a corner a large roll of canvas about
a yard in width, which she laid upon the floor and spread open with her
foot until it nearly reached from one end of the caravan to the other.

"There, child," she said, "read that."

Nell walked down it, and read aloud, in enormous black letters, the
inscription, "JARLEY'S WAX-WORK."

"Read it again," said the lady, complacently.

"Jarley's Wax-work," repeated Nell.

"That's me," said the lady. "I am Mrs. Jarley."

Giving the child an encouraging look, the lady of the caravan unfolded
another scroll, whereon was the inscription, "One hundred figures the
full size of life;" and then another scroll, on which was written, "The
only stupendous collection of real wax-work in the world;" and then
several smaller scrolls, with such inscriptions as "Now exhibiting
within"--"The genuine and only Jarley"--"Jarley's unrivaled
collection"--"Jarley is the delight of the Nobility and Gentry"--"The
Royal Family are the patrons of Jarley." When she had exhibited these
large painted signs to the astonished child, she brought forth specimens
of the lesser notices in the shape of hand-bills, some of which were
printed in the form of verses on popular times, as "Believe me if all
Jarley's wax-work so rare"--"I saw thy show in youthful prime"--"Over
the water to Jarley;" while, to satisfy all tastes, others were composed
with a view to the lighter and merrier spirits, as a verse on the
favorite air of "If I had a donkey," beginning

If I know'd a donkey wot wouldn't go
To see Mrs. Jarley's wax-work show,
Do you think I'd own him?
Oh no, no!
Then run to Jarley's------

besides several compositions in prose, pretending to be dialogues
between the Emperor of China and an oyster.

"I never saw any wax-work, ma'am," said Nell. "Is it funni