to point out each figure and
describe it:

"This, ladies and gentlemen," little Nell learned to say, "is Jasper
Packlemerton, who murdered fourteen wives by tickling the soles of their
feet," or, "this is Queen Elizabeth's maid of honor, who died from
pricking her finger while sewing on Sunday."

She was quick to learn and soon became a great favorite with the
visitors. Mrs. Jarley was kind, and but for the fact that her
grandfather's mind failed more and more every day little Nell would have
been quite happy.

One evening the two walked into the country beyond the town and a sudden
thunder-storm arose. They took shelter at an inn on the highroad, and
while they waited there some rough men began a noisy game of cards
behind a screen.

The talk and the chink of the money roused the old man's failing senses.
He imagined himself still gambling to win the old fortune for little
Nell. He made her give him the money she had earned from the waxwork,
joined the gamblers and in a few hours had lost it all. His insanity had
made him forget the presence of the child he so loved, and when the game
was done it was too late to leave the inn that night.

Little Nell had now only one piece of money left, a gold piece sewed in
her dress. This she had to change into silver and to pay a part for
their lodging. When she was abed she could not sleep for fear of the
wicked men she had seen gambling.

When at last she fell asleep she waked suddenly to see a figure in the
room. She was too frightened to scream, and lay very still and trembled.
The robber searched her clothing, took the rest of the money and went
out. She was dreadfully afraid he might return to harm her. If she could
get to her grandfather, she thought, she would be safe.

She opened the door softly, and in the moonlight saw the figure
entering the old man's room. She caught a view of his face and then she
knew that the figure was her own grandfather, and that, crazed by the
gambling scene, he himself had robbed her!

All that night little Nell lay and cried. She knew, to be sure, that her
grandfather was not a thief and that he did not know what he was doing
when he stole her money; but she knew, too, that if people found out he
was crazy they would take him away from her and shut him up where she
could not be with him, and of this she could not bear to think.

The next day, when they had gone back to the waxwork, she was in even
greater terror for fear he should r