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a correct model of the bill for the imposition of the window
duty. The preparations without doors had: not been neg-
lected either; for a nun of great personal attractions was
telling her beads on the little portico over the door; and a
brigand with the blackest possible head of hair, and the
clearest possible complexion, was at that moment going
round the town in a cart, consulting the miniature of a
lady.

It now only remained that Mr. Slum's compositions
should be judiciously distributed; that the pathetic effusions
should find their way to all private houses and tradespeople;
and that the parody commencing "If I know'd a donkey,"
should be confined to the taverns, and circulated only
among the lawyers' clerks and choice spirits of the place.
When this had been done, and Mrs. Jarley had waited upon
the boarding-schools in person, with a handbill composed
expressly for them, in which it was distinctly proved that
wax-work refined the mind, cultivated the taste, and en-
larged the sphere of the human understanding, that inde-
fatigable lady sat down to dinner, and drank out of the
suspicious bottle to a flourishing campaign.


CHAPTER XXIX

UNQUESTIONABLY Mrs. Jarley had an inventive genius.
In the midst of the various devices for attracting visitors
to the exhibition, little Nell was not forgotten. The light
cart in which the Brigand usually made his perambulations
being gaily dressed with flags and streamers, and the
Brigand placed therein, contemplating the miniature of his
beloved as usual, Nell was accommodated with a seat beside
him, decorated with artificial flowers, and in this state and
ceremony rode slowly through the town every morning,
dispersing handbills from a basket, to the sound of drum
and trumpet. The beauty of the child, coupled with her
gentle and timid bearing, produced quite a sensation in
the little country place. The Brigand, heretofore a source
of exclusive interest in the streets, became a mere secondary
consideration, and to be important only as a part of the
show of which she was the chief attraction. Grown-up
folks began to be interested in the bright-eyed girl, and

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Publication Information: Book Title: The Old Curiosity Shop. Contributors: Charles Dickens - author. Publisher: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd.. Place of Publication: London. Publication Year: 1907. Page Number: 209.
    
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