rong desire to assault the jury; and being
restrained and conducted out of court, darkened its only window by
standing on his head upon the sill, until he was dexterously tilted
upon his feet again by a cautious beadle.

Being cast upon the world by his master's death, he determined to go
through it upon his head and hands, and accordingly began to tumble for
his bread. Finding, however, his English birth an insurmountable
obstacle to his advancement in this pursuit (notwithstanding that his
art was in high repute and favour), he assumed the name of an Italian
image lad, with whom he had become acquainted; and afterwards tumbled
with extraordinary success, and to overflowing audiences. Little Mrs
Quilp never quite forgave herself the one deceit that lay so heavy on
her conscience, and never spoke or thought of it but with bitter tears.
Her husband had no relations, and she was rich. He had made no will,
or she would probably have been poor. Having married the first time at
her mother's instigation, she consulted in her second choice nobody but
herself. It fell upon a smart young fellow enough; and as he made it a
preliminary condition that Mrs Jiniwin should be thenceforth an
out-pensioner, they lived together after marriage with no more than the
average amount of quarrelling, and led a merry life upon the dead
dwarf's money.

Mr and Mrs Garland, and Mr Abel, went out as usual (except that there
was a change in their household, as will be seen presently), and in due
time the latter went into partnership with his friend the notary, on
which occasion there was a dinner, and a ball, and great extent of
dissipation. Unto this ball there happened to be invited the most
bashful young lady that was ever seen, with whom Mr Abel happened to
fall in love. HOW it happened, or how they found it out, or which of
them first communicated the discovery to the other, nobody knows. But
certain it is that in course of time they were married; and equally
certain it is that they were the happiest of the happy; and no less
certain it is that they deserved to be so. And it is pleasant to write
down that they reared a family; because any propagation of goodness and
benevolence is no small addition to the aristocracy of nature, and no
small subject of rejoicing for mankind at large.

The pony preserved his character for independence and principle down to
the last moment of his life; which was an unusually long one, and
caused him to