The Old Curiosity Shop

The second day of their trip is uneventful; that night, it snows. They arrive in Nell’s village past midnight. Kit stumbles across the sexton, who directs them to the parsonage houses; they are surprised to see lights inside. Kit brought with him the bird Nell left behind; he carries it with him as they search the area. Kit approaches the window and knocks, but no one answers. He hears an odd sound inside, some kind of “low moaning of one in pain” (496). Kit tries the front door, and as it is unlocked, he steps inside.

Kit finds the grandfather, crying and rocking in his seat at the hearth. Kit begs him to speak to him, but he thinks Kit is a ghost. Mr. Garland, the single gentleman, the bachelor, and the schoolmaster arrive. They comfort the grandfather as best they can. The single gentleman tries to tell Grandfather Trent who he is, hoping to reunite as a family, but the grandfather believes it is all a plot to pull his focus away from Nell. He retreats down the hall to Nell’s room, and they follow him. Once inside, they see Nell in her bed, having passed away in her sleep.