"The Frontispiece" — "She is Quite Exhausted," by W. H. C. Groome: initial lithograph for Dickens's "Old Curiosity Shop" (1900)

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The Frontispiece

W. H. C. Groome

1900

12.2 x 8 cm, framed

Lithograph

Dickens's Old Curiosity Shop (pp. 696), facing engraved title-page.

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Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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Passage Anticipated: Nell faints in the High Street at Wolverhamption

It was not an easy matter to come up with him, and beseech his aid, for he walked fast, and was a little distance in advance. At length, he stopped, to look more attentively at some passage in his book. Animated with a ray of hope, the child shot on before her grandfather, and, going close to the stranger without rousing him by the sound of her footsteps, began, in a few faint words, to implore his help.

He turned his head. The child clapped her hands together, uttered a wild shriek, and fell senseless at his feet. [End of Chapter XLV, 427]

It was the poor schoolmaster. No other than the poor schoolmaster. Scarcely less moved and surprised by the sight of the child than she had been on recognising him, he stood, for a moment, silent and confounded by this unexpected apparition, without even the presence of mind to raise her from the ground.

But, quickly recovering his self-possession, he threw down his stick and book, and dropping on one knee beside her, endeavoured, by such simple means as occurred to him, to restore her to herself; while her grandfather, standing idly by, wrung his hands, and implored her with many endearing expressions to speak to him, were it only a word.

"She is quite exhausted," said the schoolmaster, glancing upward into his face. "You have taxed her powers too far, friend."

"She is perishing of want," rejoined the old man. "I never thought how weak and ill she was, till now." [Chapter XLVI, 428].

Related Resources

Bibliography

Dickens, Charles. The Old Curiosity Shop. Illustrated by William H. C. Groome. The Collins' Clear-Type Edition. Glasgow & London: Collins, 1900.

Created 23 November 2020

Last modified 23 November 2020