The Old Curiosity Shop · Chapter
XVIII explained
At the Jolly Sandboys inn, Codlin, Short, Nell, and her grandfather take shelter from the rain.
What happens
At the Jolly Sandboys inn, Codlin, Short, Nell, and her grandfather take shelter from the rain. The landlord prepares a hearty stew, and while Nell and the old man sleep by the fire, Short expresses his suspicion that the old man has fled from his friends and is leading Nell into danger. He resolves to detain them and restore them to their family.
Themes in this chapter
Poverty and Suffering
The travelers are drenched and exhausted, dependent on the inn's charity; the dogs are harshly disciplined and fed only at the master's whim.
Innocence vs. Corruption
Nell's innocence is contrasted with the rough, calculating world of Codlin and Short, who debate whether to detain her for reward.
Characters to notice
- Tommy Codlin
Arrives at the inn first, eagerly anticipates the stew, and grows impatient with Short's theorizing.
- Short
Arrives with Nell and the grandfather, defends them as harmless, and voices his plan to prevent them from leaving.
- Nell Trent
Exhausted from travel, falls asleep by the fire; Short notes her delicate nature and unfitness for the wandering life.
- Mr. Trent
Also falls asleep; Short observes his anxious desire to keep moving and suspects he has fled from friends.
- Jerry
Puppeteer who disciplines his dogs with a whip and organ, feeding them only by name and punishing one for losing a halfpenny.
Key passages
“It's very plain to me, besides, that they're not used to this way of life. Don't tell me that that handsome child has been in the habit of prowling about as she's done these last two or three days. I know better.”
Short asserts that Nell is unaccustomed to a wandering life and has not been traveling long.
Short's observation highlights Nell's vulnerability and the unusual nature of their journey.
“I am not a-going to see this fair young child a falling into bad hands, and getting among people that she's no more fit for, than they are to get among angels as their ordinary chums.”
Short declares he will not allow Nell to fall into dangerous company and intends to return her to her family.
This reveals Short's protective impulse and foreshadows conflict over Nell's fate.