"I should have thought you were old enough to take care of yourself, if ever you will be," said Mrs. Jarley sharply. "But he never will be," said the child, in an earnest whisper. "I fear he never will be again. Pray do not speak harshly to him. We are very thankful to you," she added aloud; "but neither of us could part from the other if all the wealth of the world were halved between us." Mrs. Jarley was a little taken aback at this, and looked somewhat crossly at the old man, who took Nell’s hand and kept it in his own. After a pause, she thrust her head out of the window again, and spoke once more to the driver. Then she said to the old man, "If you work for yourself, there would be plenty for you to do in the way of helping to dust the figures, taking the checks, and so forth. What I want your grandchild for, is to point ’em out to the company. "That would soon be learnt," the lady went on, "and she has a way with her that people would like, though she does come after me; for I’ve always been used to go round with visitors myself, which I should keep on doing now, only that I do need a little ease." Then Mrs. Jarley said that as for salary she could not pledge herself until she had tested Nell’s fitness for the work. But board and lodging, both for her and her grandfather, she _would_ give; and she also passed her word that the food should be always good and plentiful. Nell and her grandfather talked it over; and while they were doing so Mrs. Jarley, with her hands behind her, walked up and down the caravan, as she had walked after tea on the green, with great dignity. "Now, child?" cried Mrs. Jarley, coming to a halt, as Nell turned towards her. "We are very much obliged to you, ma’am," said Nell, "and will do as you wish." "And you’ll never be sorry for it," returned Mrs. Jarley. "I am pretty sure of that. So as that’s all settled, let us have a bit of supper." In the meantime the caravan rolled on, and came at last upon the paved streets of a town, which were very quiet; for it was by this time near midnight, and the people were all abed. As it was too late to go to the exhibition room, they turned aside into a piece of waste ground that lay just within the old town gate, and drew up there for the night, near to another caravan in which part of the famous wax-work show had travelled. This caravan, being now empty, was given to the old man as his sleeping-place; and within its wooden walls Nell made him up the best bed she could. For herself, she was to sleep in Mrs. Jarley’s own van as a special mark of that lady’s favour. *Chapter VIII.* *NELL THE BREAD-WINNER.* Nell slept so long that when she awoke, Mrs. Jarley, wearing her large bonnet, was already preparing breakfast. She heard Nell’s excuses for being late with great good-humour, and said that she should not have roused her if she had slept on until noon.