Chapter XX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Poverty and Suffering

  Kit's struggle to find employment and his family's poverty are central to the chapter, highlighting the hardships of the lower classes.

• Family and Community

  Kit's devotion to his mother and his hope for Nell's return underscore the importance of family bonds and community support.

Characters to notice

• Christopher Nubbles

  Kit continues to hope for Nell's return, goes to meet the old gentleman at the notary's, and is questioned about his family.

• Mrs. Nubbles

  Kit's mother shares the neighborhood rumor that Nell and her grandfather have gone abroad.

• Abel Garland

  The little old gentleman who, with his wife, visits the notary and takes an interest in Kit.

• Mr. Chuckster

  The notary's clerk who watches the pony and is comically dragged along when Whisker runs away.

• The Notary

  Mr. Witherden, who questions Kit about his family and vouches for his honesty.

Key passages

• “Day after day as he bent his steps homeward, returning from some new effort to procure employment, Kit raised his eyes to the window of the little room he had so much commended to the child, and hoped to see some indication of her presence.”

  Each day, after another unsuccessful attempt to find work, Kit looked up at the window of the small room he had once offered to Nell, hoping for a sign that she had returned.

  Illustrates Kit's persistent hope and his concern for Nell's welfare.

• “I think they must certainly come tomorrow, eh mother? ... They have been gone a week. They surely couldn't stop away more than a week, could they now?”

  Kit asks his mother if she thinks Nell and her grandfather will return tomorrow, noting they have been gone a week and he cannot believe they would stay away longer.

  Shows Kit's optimism and his mother's more realistic perspective.

• “It's the talk of all the neighbours, and there are some even that know of their having been seen on board ship, and can tell you the name of the place they've gone to, which is more than I can, my dear, for it's a very hard one.”

  Mrs. Nubbles reports that the neighbors are saying Nell and her grandfather were seen boarding a ship for a foreign place with a difficult name.

  Introduces the rumor that Nell and her grandfather have left England.

• “Now, sir, will you have the goodness to go on; this is not the place, said the old gentleman. The pony looked with great attention into a fireplug which was near him, and appeared to be quite absorbed in contemplating it.”

  The old gentleman tells the pony to move on, but the pony stares intently at a fireplug, pretending not to hear.

  A humorous moment showcasing the pony's stubbornness.

• “Well boy, said Mr. Witherden, you came to work out that shilling;—not to get another, hey? No indeed sir, replied Kit, taking courage to look up. I never thought of such a thing.”

  The notary asks Kit if he came only to earn the shilling he was given, and Kit insists he never expected another payment.

  Demonstrates Kit's honesty and integrity.