"Nelly was soon engaged in her task." — Fourth illustration by W. H. C. Groome for Dickens's "Old Curiosity Shop" (1900)

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Nelly was soon engaged in her task.

W. H. C. Groome

1900

12.3 x 8 cm, framed

Lithograph

Dickens's Old Curiosity Shop (pp. 696), facing 161.

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Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Context of the Illustration: Churchyard encounter with the Punch-and-Judy Puppeteers

"Look here; here’s all this Judy’s clothes falling to pieces again. You haven’t got a needle and thread I suppose?"

The little man shook his head, and scratched it ruefully as he contemplated this severe indisposition of a principal performer. Seeing that they were at a loss, the child said timidly:

"I have a needle, Sir, in my basket, and thread too. Will you let me try to mend it for you? I think I could do it neater than you could."

Even Mr. Codlin had nothing to urge against a proposal so seasonable. Nelly, kneeling down beside the box, was soon busily engaged in her task, and accomplishing it to a miracle.

While she was thus engaged, the merry little man looked at her with an interest which did not appear to be diminished when he glanced at her helpless companion. When she had finished her work he thanked her, and inquired whither they were travelling. [Chapter XVI, 161]

Related Resources

Bibliography

Dickens, Charles. The Old Curiosity Shop. Illustrated by William H. C. Groome. The Collins' Clear-Type Edition. Glasgow & London: Collins, 1900.

Created 10 August 2020

Last modified 23 November 2020