The Old Curiosity Shop | Page 4

the City, and was walking slowly on in my
usual way, musing upon a great many things, when I was arrested by an
inquiry, the purport of which did not reach me, but which seemed to be
addressed to myself, and was preferred in a soft sweet voice that struck
me very pleasantly. I turned hastily round and found at my elbow a
pretty little girl, who begged to be directed to a certain street at a
considerable distance, and indeed in quite another quarter of the town.
It is a very long way from here,' said I, 'my child.'
'I know that, sir,' she replied timidly. 'I am afraid it is a very long way,
for I came from there to-night.'
'Alone?' said I, in some surprise.
'Oh, yes, I don't mind that, but I am a little frightened now, for I had
lost my road.'
'And what made you ask it of me? Suppose I should tell you wrong?'
'I am sure you will not do that,' said the little creature,' you are such a
very old gentleman, and walk so slow yourself.'
I cannot describe how much I was impressed by this appeal and the

energy with which it was made, which brought a tear into the child's
clear eye, and made her slight figure tremble as she looked up into my
face.
'Come,' said I, 'I'll take you there.'
She put her hand in mind as confidingly as if she had known me from
her cradle, and we trudged away together; the little creature
accommodating her pace to mine, and rather seeming to lead and take
care of me than I to be protecting her. I observed that every now and
then she stole a curious look at my face, as if to make quite sure that I
was not deceiving her, and that these glances (very sharp and keen they
were too) seemed to increase her confidence at every repetition.
For my part, my curiosity and interest were at least equal to the child's,
for child she certainly was, although I thought it probably from what I
could make out, that her very small and delicate frame imparted a
peculiar youthfulness to her appearance. Though more scantily attired
than she might have been she was dressed with perfect neatness, and
betrayed no marks of poverty or neglect.
'Who has sent you so far by yourself?' said I.
'Someone who is very kind to me, sir.'
'And what have you been doing?'
'That, I must not tell,' said the child firmly.
There was something in the manner of this reply which caused me to
look at the little creature with an involuntary expression of surprise; for
I wondered what kind of errand it might be that occasioned her to be
prepared for questioning. Her quick eye seemed to read my thoughts,
for as it met mine she added that there was no harm in what she had
been doing, but it was a great secret--a secret which she did not even
know herself.
This was said with no appearance of cunning or deceit, but with an

unsuspicious frankness that bore the impress of truth. She walked on as
before, growing more familiar with me as we proceeded and talking
cheerfully by the way, but she said no more about her home, beyond
remarking that we were going quite a new road and asking if it were a
short one.
While we were thus engaged, I revolved in my mind a hundred
different explanations of the riddle and rejected them every one. I really
felt ashamed to take advantage of the ingenuousness or grateful feeling
of the child for the purpose of gratifying my curiosity. I love these little
people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from
God, love us. As I had felt pleased at first by her confidence I
determined to deserve it, and to do credit to the nature which had
prompted her to repose it in me.
There was no reason, however, why I should refrain from seeing the
person who had inconsiderately sent her to so great a distance by night
and alone, and as it was not improbable that if she found herself near
home she might take farewell of me and deprive me of the opportunity,
I avoided the most frequented ways and took the most intricate, and
thus it was not until we arrived in the street itself that she knew where
we were. Clapping her hands with pleasure and running on before me
for a short distance, my little acquaintance stopped at a door and
remaining on the step till I came up knocked at it when I joined her.
A part of this door was of glass unprotected by any shutter, which