They went to the house of an old nurse, where the elder sister had engaged a bed-room for the child.

'I shall come to you early every morning,' she said, 'and we can be together all the day.-'-'Why not at night-time too?
Dear sister, would they be angry with you for that ?' Why were the eyes of little Nell wet, that night, with tears like those of the two sisters?
Why did she bear a grateful heart because they had met, and feel it pain to think that they would shortly part?
Let us not believe that any selfish reference--unconscious though it might have been--to her own trials awoke this sympathy, but thank God that the innocent joys of others can strongly move us, and that we, even in our fallen nature, have one source of pure emotion which must be prized in Heaven! By morning's cheerful glow, but oftener still by evening's gentle light, the child, with a respect for the short and happy intercourse of these two sisters which forbade her to approach and say a thankful word, although she yearned to do so, followed them at a distance in their walks and rambles, stopping when they stopped, sitting on the grass when they sat down, rising when they went on, and feeling it a companionship and delight to be so near them.

Their evening walk was by a river's side.

Here, every night, the child was too, unseen by them, unthought of, unregarded; but feeling as if they were her friends, as if they had confidences and trusts together, as if her load were lightened and less hard to bear; as if they mingled their sorrows, and found mutual consolation.

It was a weak fancy perhaps, the childish fancy of a young and lonely creature; but night after night, and still the sisters loitered in the same place, and still the child followed with a mild and softened heart.
She was much startled, on returning home one night, to find that Mrs Jarley had commanded an announcement to be prepared, to the effect that the stupendous collection would only remain in its present quarters one day longer; in fulfilment of which threat (for all announcements connected with public amusements are well known to be irrevocable and most exact), the stupendous collection shut up next day.
'Are we going from this place directly, ma'am ?' said Nell.
'Look here, child,' returned Mrs Jarley.