The child advanced timidly towards her brother and put her hand in his, the dwarf (if we may call him so) glanced keenly at all present, and the curiosity-dealer, who plainly had not expected his uncouth visitor, seemed disconcerted and embarrassed.
'Ah!' said the dwarf, who with his hand stretched out above his eyes had been surveying the young man attentively, 'that should be your grandson, neighbour!' 'Say rather that he should not be,' replied the old man.

'But he is.' 'And that ?' said the dwarf, pointing to Dick Swiveller.
'Some friend of his, as welcome here as he,' said the old man.
'And that ?' inquired the dwarf, wheeling round and pointing straight at me.
'A gentleman who was so good as to bring Nell home the other night when she lost her way, coming from your house.' The little man turned to the child as if to chide her or express his wonder, but as she was talking to the young man, held his peace, and bent his head to listen.
'Well, Nelly,' said the young fellow aloud.

'Do they teach you to hate me, eh ?' 'No, no.

For shame.

Oh, no!' cried the child.
'To love me, perhaps ?' pursued her brother with a sneer.
'To do neither,' she returned.