moved thousands to tears.  While the story was appearing, Tom
     Hood, then unknown to Dickens, wrote an essay “tenderly
     appreciative” of Little Nell, “and of all her shadowy kith and
     kin.”  The immense and deserved popularity of the book is shown
     by the universal acquaintance with Mrs. Jarley, and the common
     use of the phrase “Codlin’s the friend—­not Short.”

I.—­Little Nell and Her Grandfather

The shop was one of those receptacles for old and curious things which seem to crouch in odd corners of London.  There were suits of mail standing like ghosts in armour, rusty weapons of various kinds, tapestry, and strange furniture that might have been designed in dreams.

The haggard aspect of a little old man, with long grey hair, who stood within, was wonderfully suited to the place.  Nothing in the whole collection looked older or more worn than he.

Confronting the old man was a young man of dissipated appearance, and high words were taking place.

“I tell you again I want to see my sister,” said the younger man.  “You can’t change the relationship, you know.  If you could, you’d have done it long ago.  But as I may have to wait some time I’ll call in a friend of mine, with your leave.”

At this he brought in a companion of even more dissolute appearance than himself.

“There, it’s Dick Swiveller,” said the young fellow, pushing him in.

“But is the old min agreeable?” said Mr. Swiveller in an undertone.  “What is the odds so long as the fire of soul is kindled at the taper of conviviality, and the wing of friendship never moults a feather!  But, only one little whisper, Fred—­is the old min friendly?”

Mr. Swiveller then leaned back in his chair and relapsed into silence; only to break it by observing, “Gentlemen, how does the case stand?  Here is a jolly old grandfather, and here is a wild young grandson.  The jolly old grandfather says to the wild young grandson, ’I have brought you up and educated you, Fred; you have bolted a little out of the course, and you shall never have another chance.’  The wild young grandson makes answer, ’You’re as rich as can be, why can’t you stand a trifle for your grown up relation?’ Then the plain question is, ain’t it a pity this state of things should continue, and how much better it would be for the old gentleman to hand over a reasonable amount of tin, and make it all right and comfortable?”

“Why do you persecute me?” said the old man, turning to his grandson.  “Why do you bring your profligate companions here?  I am poor.  You have chosen your own path, follow it.  Leave Nell and me to toil and work.”

“Nell will be a woman soon,” returned the other; “She’ll forget her brother unless he shows himself sometimes.”

The door opened, and the child herself appeared, followed by an elderly man so low in stature as to be quite a dwarf, though his head and face were large enough for the body of a giant.