19.
(mc)
the old curiosity shop

charles dickens

chapter 1, excerpt

one night i had roamed into the city, and was walking slowly on in my usual way, musing upon a great many things, when i was stopped by a soft sweet voice that struck me very pleasantly. i turned hastily round and found at my elbow a pretty little girl, who begged to be directed to a certain street at a considerable distance, and in quite another quarter of the town.

it is a very long way from here,' i said, 'my child.'

'i know that, sir,' she replied timidly. 'i am afraid it is a very long way, for i came from there tonight.'

'alone? ' said i, in some surprise.

'oh, yes, i don't mind that, but i am a little frightened now, for i had lost my road.'

'and what made you ask it of me? suppose i should tell you wrong? '

'i am sure you will not do that,' said the little creature,' you are such a very old gentleman, and walk so slow yourself.'

i cannot describe how much i was impressed by this appeal and the energy with which it was made, which brought a tear into the child's clear eye, and made her slight figure tremble as she looked up into my face.

'come,' said i, 'i'll take you there.'

she put her hand in mine as confidingly as if she had known me from her cradle, and we trudged away together; the little creature accommodating her pace to mine, and rather seeming to lead and take care of me. i observed that every now and then she stole a curious look at my face, as if to make quite sure that i was not deceiving her, and that these glances (very sharp and keen they were too) seemed to increase her confidence at every repetition.

for my part, my curiosity and interest were at least equal to the child's, for child she certainly was, although i thought that her very small and delicate frame imparted a peculiar youthfulness to her appearance. though more scantily attired than she might have been she was dressed with perfect neatness, and betrayed no marks of poverty or neglect.

'who has sent you so far by yourself? ' said i.

'someone who is very kind to me, sir.'

'and what have you been doing? '

'that, i must not tell,' said the child firmly.

there was something in the manner of this reply which caused me to look at the little creature with an involuntary expression of surprise; for i wondered what kind of errand it might be that had her prepared for questioning. her quick eye seemed to read my thoughts, for as it met mine she added that there was no harm in what she had been doing, but it was a great secret—a secret which she did not even know herself.

how does the story benefit from having the girl complete a journey that is "a considerable distance" with the gentleman? (4 points)

it allows details of the setting to emerge in an understated way.

it allows readers time to learn about both characters as they learn about each other.

it creates a metaphor for the young girl's life up until this turning point.

it outlines the plot of the entire tale as it will unfold throughout the novel.