[Illustration: SHE TOOK THE LIBERTY OF OPENING AN INNER DOOR, AND THEN BEHELD THE EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE OF MR. FLEDGEBY IN A SHIRT, A PAIR OF TURKISH TROUSERS, AND A TURKISH CAP, ROLLING OVER AND OVER ON HIS OWN CARPET, AND SPLUTTERING WONDERFULLY--Book 4, chap. viii.] [Illustration: MISS JENNY GAVE UP ALTOGETHER ON THIS PARTING TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE FRIENDS, AND SITTING WITH HER BACK TOWARDS THE BED IN THE BOWER MADE BY BRIGHT HAIR WEPT HEARTILY THOUGH NOISELESSLY--Book 4, chap. vii.] [Illustration: BELLA'S HUSBAND STEPPED SOFTLY TO THE HALF-DOOR OF THE BAR AND STOOD THERE--Book 4, chap. xii.] [Illustration: "IT LOOKS AS IF THE OLD MAN'S SPIRIT HAD FOUND REST AT LAST; DON'T IT!" SAID MRS. BOFFIN--Book 4, chap. xiii.] [Illustration: BRADLEY HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, BUT PLACED HIS USUAL SIGNATURE, ENLARGED, UPON THE BOARD--Book 4, chap. xv.] [Illustration: "THERE, THERE, THERE!" SAID MISS WREN, "FOR GOODNESS' SAKE STOP, GIANT, OR I SHALL BE SWALLOWED UP ALIVE BEFORE I KNOW IT"--Book 4, chap. xvi.] [Illustration: RIDERHOOD WENT OVER INTO THE SMOOTH PIT BACKWARDS, AND BRADLEY HEADSTONE UPON HIM--Book 4, chap. xv.] CHRISTMAS STORIES FROM "HOUSEHOLD WORDS" AND "ALL THE YEAR ROUND" [Illustration] TWENTY-THREE ILLUSTRATIONS BY E. G. DALZIEL [Illustration: "I'M ONLY A COMMON SOLDIER, SIR," SAID HE. "IT SIGNIFIES VERY LITTLE WHAT SUCH A POOR BRUTE COMES TO"--_Seven Poor Travellers_, chap. ii.] [Illustration: AND WHEN THE VISITOR (OPPRESSED WITH PIE) HAD FALLEN ASLEEP, THIS WICKED LANDLORD WOULD LOOK SOFTLY IN WITH A LAMP IN ONE HAND AND A KNIFE IN THE OTHER, WOULD CUT HIS THROAT, &C.--_Holly Tree Inn_, First Branch.] [Illustration: "MY DEAR CAPTAIN KAVENDER," SAYS HE. "OF ALL THE MEN ON EARTH, I WANTED TO SEE YOU MOST. I WAS ON MY WAY TO YOU"--_The Wreck of the Golden Mary_--The Wreck] [Illustration: "O CHRISTIAN GEORGE KING SAR BERRY SORRY!" SAYS THE SAMBO VAGABOND--_The Perils of Certain English Prisoners_, chap. i.] [Illustration: A GRIZZLED PERSONAGE IN VELVETEEN, WITH A FACE SO CUT UP BY VARIETIES OF WEATHER THAT HE LOOKED AS IF HE HAD BEEN TATTOOED, WAS FOUND SMOKING A PIPE AT THE DOOR OF A WOODEN HOUSE ON WHEELS--_Going into Society_] [Illustration: AN IMPERTURBABLE AND SPEECHLESS MAN, HE HAD SAT AT HIS SUPPER, WITH STREAKER PRESENT IN A SWOON--_The Haunted House_, The Mortals in the House] [Illustration: "MIGHT YOU BE MARRIED NOW?" ASKED THE CAPTAIN WHEN HE HAD SOME TASK WITH THIS NEW ACQUAINTANCE.... "NOT YET." ... "GOING TO BE?" SAID THE CAPTAIN.... "I HOPE SO"--_A Message from the Sea_, chap. i.] [Illustration: "WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR, AND WHERE DO YOU COME FROM!" ASKED MR. MOPES THE HERMIT--_Tom Tiddler's Ground_, chap. i.] [Illustration: "BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE THAT YOU ARE A PIG!" RETORTED MADAME BOUCLET--_Somebody's Luggage_, chap. ii.] [Illustration: "I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU EMPLOYED," SAID MR. TRAVELLER.... "I AM GLAD TO BE EMPLOYED," RETURNED THE TINKER-_Tom Tiddler's Ground_, chap. vii.]