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'This is Christopher Nubbles, isn't it, that come in last night for felony? said the man. His comrade replied that this was the chicken in question. 'Then here's your beer, said the other man to Christopher. 'What are you looking at? There an't a discharge in it. 'I beg your pardon, said Kit. 'Who sent it me? 'Why, your friend, replied the man. 'You're to have it every day, he says.
The identity of the child, and of the boy, David Copperfield is now forever merged in the personality of Trotwood Copperfield, Esquire, householder and Man. Christopher, or Kit Nubbles, as he was commonly called, was not handsome in the estimation of anyone except his mother, and mothers are apt to be partial.
This lies WSW, from Cape St, Mary 19 miles and WNW, from Cape Fourchu, distant 13 miles, it is an irregularly shaped piece of bottom, a rocky ground, about 5 miles long, north and south, by 3 miles wide, There are a number of "nubbles" arising to 5, 7, and 9 fathom depths with a spot reported as having only 12 feet of water over it rising from the average depths over the rest of the shoal of from 13 to 15 fathoms.
'Why, how did he come here, mother? whispered Kit. 'I don't know how he came or why, my dear, rejoined Mrs Nubbles, dismounting with her son's assistance, 'but he has been a terrifying of me out of my seven senses all this blessed day. 'He has? cried Kit. 'You wouldn't believe it, that you wouldn't, replied his mother, 'but don't say a word to him, for I really don't believe he's human. Hush!
'I don't think there's hardly a chance of his really losing it, but carriers are under great temptation to pretend they lose things, no doubt, said Mrs Nubbles apprehensively, in reference to the first point. 'No doubt about it, returned Kit, with a serious look; 'upon my word, mother, I don't think it was right to trust it to itself. Somebody ought to have gone with it, I'm afraid.
It was some gratification to Mr Quilp to find, as he took his place upon the roof, that Kit's mother was alone inside; from which circumstance he derived in the course of the journey much cheerfulness of spirit, inasmuch as her solitary condition enabled him to terrify her with many extraordinary annoyances; such as hanging over the side of the coach at the risk of his life, and staring in with his great goggle eyes, which seemed in hers the more horrible from his face being upside down; dodging her in this way from one window to another; getting nimbly down whenever they changed horses and thrusting his head in at the window with a dismal squint: which ingenious tortures had such an effect upon Mrs Nubbles, that she was quite unable for the time to resist the belief that Mr Quilp did in his own person represent and embody that Evil Power, who was so vigorously attacked at Little Bethel, and who, by reason of her backslidings in respect of Astley's and oysters, was now frolicsome and rampant.
'And we are both widows too! said Barbara's mother. 'We must have been made to know each other. 'I haven't a doubt about it, returned Mrs Nubbles. 'And what a pity it is we didn't know each other sooner. 'But then, you know, it's such a pleasure, said Barbara's mother, 'to have it brought about by one's son and daughter, that it's fully made up for. Now, an't it?
What was all this though even all this to the extraordinary dissipation that ensued, when Kit, walking into an oyster-shop as bold as if he lived there, and not so much as looking at the counter or the man behind it, led his party into a box a private box, fitted up with red curtains, white table-cloth, and cruet-stand complete and ordered a fierce gentleman with whiskers, who acted as waiter and called him, him Christopher Nubbles, 'sir, to bring three dozen of his largest-sized oysters, and to look sharp about it!
Kit Nubbles is a humbler hero, but he is a hero; when he is good he is very good. Even David Copperfield, who confesses to boyish tremors and boyish evasions in his account of his boyhood, acts the strict stiff part of the chivalrous gentleman in all the active and determining scenes of the tale. But Great Expectations may be called, like Vanity Fair, a novel without a hero.
Poor Kit could not help joining them, and not one of them could speak a word. 'Now, ladies, ladies, he said, looking round with surprise, 'I'd advise you not to waste time like this. It's allowanced here, you know. You mustn't let that child make that noise either. It's against all rules. 'I'm his poor mother, sir, sobbed Mrs Nubbles, curtseying humbly, 'and this is his brother, sir.
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