The Old Curiosity Shop Chapter 42

In which the solitary and gentle spirit of little Nell finds a dusk-time solace in the quiet companionship of the night, only to be startled by the discovery of her grandfather in dubious company, engaged in plotting a desperate wager with cunning companions beneath a flickering gipsy fire. Moved by a tumult of fear and love, she resolves in the dark hours to rescue him from his perilous path, and together they steal away beneath the pale light of a rising moon, seeking refuge among ancient ruins and the silent stars.