tly down stairs, thinking as
she went that if one of those hideous faces below, which often mingled
with her dreams, were to meet her by the way, rendering itself visible
by some strange light of its own, how terrified she would be. But
these fears vanished before a well-trimmed lamp and the familiar aspect
of her own room. After praying fervently, and with many bursting
tears, for the old man, and the restoration of his peace of mind and
the happiness they had once enjoyed, she would lay her head upon the
pillow and sob herself to sleep: often starting up again, before the
day-light came, to listen for the bell and respond to the imaginary
summons which had roused her from her slumber.

One night, the third after Nelly's interview with Mrs Quilp, the old
man, who had been weak and ill all day, said he should not leave home.
The child's eyes sparkled at the intelligence, but her joy subsided
when they reverted to his worn and sickly face.

'Two days,' he said, 'two whole, clear, days have passed, and there is
no reply. What did he tell thee, Nell?'

'Exactly what I told you, dear grandfather, indeed.'

'True,' said the old man, faintly. 'Yes. But tell me again, Nell. My
head fails me. What was it that he told thee? Nothing more than that
he would see me to-morrow or next day? That was in the note.'

'Nothing more,' said the child. 'Shall I go to him again to-morrow,
dear grandfather? Very early? I will be there and back, before
breakfast.'

The old man shook his head, and sighing mournfully, drew her towards
him.

''Twould be of no use, my dear, no earthly use. But if he deserts me,
Nell, at this moment--if he deserts me now, when I should, with his
assistance, be recompensed for all the time and money I have lost, and
all the agony of mind I have undergone, which makes me what you see, I
am ruined, and--worse, far worse than that--have ruined thee, for whom
I ventured all. If we are beggars--!'

'What if we are?' said the child boldly. 'Let us be beggars, and be
happy.'

'Beggars--and happy!' said the old man. 'Poor child!'

'Dear grandfather,' cried the girl with an energy which shone in her
flushed face, trembling voice, and impassioned gesture, 'I am not a
child in that I think, but even if I am, oh hear me pray that we may
beg, or work in open roads or fields, to earn a scanty living, rather
than live as we do now.'

'Nelly!' said the old man.

'Yes, yes, rather than live as we do no