Читать книгу The Old Curiosity Shop / Лавка древностей - Чарльз Диккенс, Geoffrey Palmer, Miriam Margolyes - Страница 12

At length, the crisis of the old man’s disorder was past, and he began to recover. By very slow and feeble degrees his consciousness came back; but the mind was weakened and its functions were impaired. He sat, for hours, together with Nell’s small hand in his, playing with the fingers.

He was sitting in his easy-chair one day, and Nell upon a stool beside him, when a man outside knocked.

“Yes,” the old man said without emotion, “it is Quilp. Quilp is master there. Come in, of course.”

And so he did.

“I’m glad to see you well again at last, neighbour,” said the dwarf, sitting down opposite to him. “You’re quite strong now?”

“Yes,” said the old man feebly, “yes.”

“I don’t want to hurry you, you know, neighbour,” said the dwarf, raising his voice; “but, as soon as you can find a place to live, the better.”

“Surely,” said the old man. “The better for everybody. I will, certainly, we shall not stay here.”

“You see,” pursued Quilp after a short pause, “I have sold the things. Today’s Tuesday. When will the things be moved? This afternoon?”

“What about Friday morning?” returned the old man.

“Very good,” said the dwarf. “So be it, neighbour.”

“Good,” returned the old man. “I shall remember it.”