'It's a long way from her home to the wharf, and then she was alarmed to see a couple of young scoundrels fighting, and was timorous on the water besides.

All this together has been too much for her.

Poor Nell!' Mr Quilp unintentionally adopted the very best means he could have devised for the recovery of his young visitor, by patting her on the head.

Such an application from any other hand might not have produced a remarkable effect, but the child shrank so quickly from his touch and felt such an instinctive desire to get out of his reach, that she rose directly and declared herself ready to return.
'But you'd better wait, and dine with Mrs Quilp and me.' said the dwarf.
'I have been away too long, sir, already,' returned Nell, drying her eyes.
'Well,' said Mr Quilp, 'if you will go, you will, Nelly.

Here's the note.