#theoldcuriosityshop #johnwatkinschapman #VisioDivina #painting #meditation

she did not awake until it was broad day, and they were clattering over the pavement of a town.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and then hustled her off to the chaise again, where—not impossibly from the effects of this agreeable sedative—she soon became insensible to his restlessness, and fell fast asleep.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

I drag this poor woman from the bosom of her family at a minute’s notice, and she goes on getting fainter and fainter before my eyes. I’m a pretty fellow! How many children have you got, ma’am?’
‘Two, sir, besides Kit.’
‘Boys, ma’am?’
‘Yes, sir.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and because Kit’s mother didn’t eat everything at once, and eat it all, he took it into his head that she must be ill.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

‘I knew it!’ cried the single gentleman, letting down one of the front glasses. ‘She wants some brandy and water! Of course she does. How could I forget it? Hallo! Stop at the next inn, and call out for a glass of hot brandy and water.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and Kit’s mother as wide awake again, with no hope of a wink of sleep for that stage.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and letting the sparks fall down among the straw as if there were no such thing as a possibility of himself and Kit’s mother being roasted alive before the boys could stop their horses.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

He never sat in the same position for two minutes together, but was perpetually tossing his arms and legs about, pulling up the sashes and letting them violently down, or thrusting his head out of one window to draw it in again and thrust it out of another.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

2025 challenge: one #book a day.

Day 332: #LaBottegaDell'Antiquario (in English #TheOldCuriosityShop) by #CharlesDickens

#NellTrent is a #girl who lives with her #grandfather, who is scared that she may become #poor one day.

They travel and meet a #plethora of bizarre and memorable #characters.

and the bachelor and his friend, pausing to look upon them as they returned from their evening walk, spoke softly together of the beautiful child, and looked round upon the churchyard with a sigh.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

which injunction, he informed the schoolmaster in the same audible confidence, he did not think he could have obeyed when he was a boy, had his life depended on it.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

the same cutting emphasis on such of their propensities as were dearest to his heart and were unquestionably referrable to his own precept and example.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

I sent the boy two guineas anonymously, sir,’ added the bachelor, in his peculiar whisper, ‘directly I heard of it; but never mention it on any account, for he hasn’t the least idea that it came from me.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

This is the lad, sir; this one with the blue eyes and light hair. This is a swimmer, sir, this fellow—a diver, Lord save us!
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

he’s always falling asleep in sermon-time—and to tell you the truth, Mr Marton, I always did the same at his age, and feel quite certain that it was natural to my constitution and I couldn’t help it.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and between ourselves, when you come to see him at hare and hounds, taking the fence and ditch by the finger-post, and sliding down the face of the little quarry, you’ll never forget it. It’s beautiful!’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

Indeed, his approbation of the boys was by no means so scrupulously disguised as he had led the schoolmaster to suppose, inasmuch as it broke out in sundry loud whispers and confidential remarks which were perfectly audible to them every one.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and making all manner of bows and scrapes, which the little old gentleman contemplated with excessive satisfaction, and expressed his approval of by a great many nods and smiles.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

and engaged him for some time with great briskness and activity. When nothing more was left to be done, he charged the boy to run off and bring his schoolmates to be marshalled before their new master, and solemnly reviewed.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

for the little old gentleman, disappearing for some five or ten minutes, presently returned, laden with old shelves, rugs, blankets, and other household gear, and followed by a boy bearing a similar load.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

‘We may make some others—not better in themselves, but with better means perhaps,’ said the bachelor. ‘Let us see now, let us see.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

‘Yes, yes. I know she has,’ he rejoined. ‘There have been suffering and heartache here.’

‘Indeed there have, sir.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop

‘She has passed me without any salute!’ cried the governess, raising her eyes to the sky. ‘She has actually passed me without the slightest acknowledgment of my presence!’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

and, when she had compassion on little Nell, verbally fell upon and maltreated her as we have already seen.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

who, by some extraordinary reversal of the Laws of Nature, was not only plain in features but dull in intellect, while the poor apprentice had both a ready wit, and a handsome face and figure. It seems incredible.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

no deferential servant to attend and bear her home for the holidays; nothing genteel to talk about, and nothing to display. But why was Miss Monflathers always vexed and irritated with the poor apprentice—how did that come to pass?
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

The servant-maids felt her inferiority, for they were better treated; free to come and go, and regarded in their stations with much more respect.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

and you must either defer to those young ladies or leave the establishment, Miss Edwards.’
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers

both the teachers were astonished—‘I suppose it is an impulse which induces you to take the part of every grovelling and debased person that comes in your way’—both the teachers supposed so too.
#CharlesDickens
#TheOldCuriosityShop
#MissMonflathers