Charles Dickens

Name: The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48
Author: Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

Summary

“The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48”, published in 1841, is a work by Charles Dickens. It explores elements such as Quilp, dwarf and coach.

Quotes from The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (Charles Dickens)

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ Do they thrive? Do they flourish? Are they growing into worthy citizens, eh?'
Making his voice ascend in the scale with every succeeding question, Mr Quilp finished in a shrill squeak, and subsided into the panting look which was customary with him, and which, whether it were assumed or natural, had equally the effect of banishing all expression from his face, and rendering it, as far as it afforded any index to his mood or meaning, a perfect blank.
'Mr Quilp,' said the single gentleman.
The dwarf put his hand to his great flapped ear, and counterfeited the closest attention. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ I hate 'em every one!'
This was not a mere empty vaunt, but a deliberate avowal of his real sentiments; for Mr Quilp, who loved nobody, had by little and little come to hate everybody nearly or remotely connected with his ruined client: --the old man himself, because he had been able to deceive him and elude his vigilance --the child, because she was the object of Mrs Quilp's commiseration and constant self-reproach --the single gentleman, because of his unconcealed aversion to himself --Kit and his mother, most mortally, for the reasons shown. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ Wise men! journeys are very perilous--especially outside the coach. Wheels come off, horses take fright, coachmen drive too fast, coaches overturn. I always go to chapel before I start on journeys. It's the last thing I do on such occasions, indeed.'
That Quilp lied most heartily in this speech, it needed no very great penetration to discover, although for anything that he suffered to appear in his face, voice, or manner, he might have been clinging to the truth with the quiet constancy of a martyr. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ The man stared on receiving these instructions, for the single gentleman had not only displayed as much astonishment as Kit's mother at sight of the dwarf, but, standing in no fear of him, had been at less pains to conceal his dislike and repugnance. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ It is not uncommon for human clay in this condition to value itself above all things upon its great prudence and sagacity; and Mr Swiveller, especially prizing himself upon these qualities, took occasion to remark that he had made strange discoveries in connection with the single gentleman who lodged above, which he had determined to keep within his own bosom, and which neither tortures nor cajolery should ever induce him to reveal. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ Popular rumour concerning the single gentleman and his errand, travelling from mouth to mouth, and waxing stronger in the marvellous as it was bandied about--for your popular rumour, unlike the rolling stone of the proverb, is one which gathers a deal of moss in its wanderings up and down--occasioned his dismounting at the inn-door to be looked upon as an exciting and attractive spectacle, which could scarcely be enough admired ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ Burning with curiosity to know what proceedings were afoot, he resolved to pounce upon Kit's mother as the person least able to resist his arts, and consequently the most likely to be entrapped into such revelations as he sought; so taking an abrupt leave of Mr Swiveller, he hurried to her house. The good woman being from home, he made inquiries of a neighbour, as Kit himself did soon afterwards, and being directed to the chapel be took himself there, in order to waylay her, at the conclusion of the service. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (1841)

“ After passing and repassing the carriage on the road, and being passed and repassed by it sundry times in the course of the night, according as their stoppages were longer or shorter; or their rate of travelling varied, they reached the town almost together. ”

Charles Dickens

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Quotes from The Old Curiosity Shop — Chapter 48 (Charles Dickens)

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