er than
Punch?"

"Funnier!" said Mrs. Jarley in a shrill voice. "It is not funny at all."

"Oh!" said Nell, with all possible humility.

"It isn't funny at all," repeated Mrs. Jarley. "It's calm and--what's
that word again--critical?--no--classical, that's it--it's calm and
classical. No low beatings and knockings about, no jokings and
squeakings like your precious Punches, but always the same, with a
constantly unchanging air of coldness and dignity; and so like life
that, if wax-work only spoke and walked about you'd hardly know the
difference. I won't go so far as to say that, as it is, I've seen
wax-work quite like life, but I've certainly seen some life that was
exactly like wax-work."

This conference at length concluded, she beckoned Nell to sit down.

"And the old gentleman, too," said Mrs. Jarley; "for I want to have a
word with him. Do you want a good place for your granddaughter, master?
If you do, I can put her in the way of getting one. What do you say?"

"I can't leave her," answered the old man. "We can't separate. What
would become of me without her?"

"If you're really ready to employ yourself," said Mrs. Jarley, "there
would be plenty for you to do in the way of helping to dust the figures,
and take the checks, and so forth. What I want your granddaughter for is
to point 'em out to the company; they would be soon learned and she has
a way with her that people wouldn't think unpleasant, though she _does_
come after me; for I've been always accustomed to go round with visitors
myself, which I should keep on doing now, only that my spirits make a
little rest absolutely necessary. It's not a common offer, bear in
mind," said the lady, rising into the tone and manner in which she was
accustomed to address her audiences; "it's Jarley's wax-work, remember.
The duty's very light and genteel, the company particularly select, the
exhibition takes place in assembly-rooms, town-halls, large rooms at
inns, or auction galleries. There is none of your open-air wondering at
Jarley's, recollect; there is no tarpaulin and sawdust at Jarley's,
remember. Every promise made in the hand-bills is kept to the utmost,
and the whole forms an effect of splendor hitherto unknown in this
kingdom. Remember that the price of admission is only sixpence, and that
this is an opportunity which may never occur again!"

"We are very much obliged to you, ma'am," said Nell, "and thankfully
accept your offer."

"And you'll never b