 Nicholas Nicolby chapter 37 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Nicholas Nicolby by Charles Dickens chapter 37 Nicholas finds further favor in the eyes of the brothers cheerable and Mr. Timothy water the brothers give a banquet on a great annual occasion Nicholas on returning home from it receives a mysterious and important disclosure from the lips of Mrs. Nicolby the square in which the counting house of the brothers cheerable was situated although it might not wholly realize the very sanguine expectations which a stranger would be disposed to form on hearing fervent and comiums bestowed upon it by Tim minking water was nevertheless a sufficiently desirable nook in the heart of a busy town like London and one which occupied a high place in the affectionate remembrances of several grave person domiciled in the neighborhood whose recollections however dated from a much more recent period and whose attachment to the spot was far less absorbing than with the recollections and attachments of the enthusiastic Tim and let not those whose eyes have been accustomed to the aristocratic gravity of Groven Square and Hanover Square the Dowager barrenness and fragility of Fitzroy Square or the gravel walks and garden seats of the squares of Russell and Houston suppose that the affections of Tim minking water or the inferior lovers of this particular locality had been awakened and kept alive by any refreshing association with leaves however dingy or grass however bare and thin the city square has no enclosure saved the lamppost in the middle and no grass but the weeds which spring up around its base it is a quiet little frequented retired spot favorable to melancholy and contemplation and appointments of long waiting and up and down its every side the appointed saunters idly by the hour together waking the echoes with the monotonous sound of his footsteps on the smooth worn stones and counting first the windows and then the very bricks of the tall silent houses that hem him round about in wintertime the snow will linger there long after it has melted from the busy streets and highways the summer sun holds it in some respect and while he darts his cheerful rays sparingly into the square keeps his fiery heat and glare for noisier and less imposing precincts it is so quiet that you could almost hear the ticking of your own watch when you stopped to cool in its refreshing atmosphere there is a distant home of coaches not of insects but no other sound disturbs the stillness of the square the ticket porter leans idly against the post at the corner comfortably warm but not hot although the day is broiling his white apron flaps languidly in the air his head gradually droops upon his breast he takes very long winks with both eyes at once even he is unable to withstand the supprific influence of the place and he's gradually falling asleep but now he starts into full bakefulness recoils a step or two and gazes out before him with eager wildness in his eye is it a job or a boy at marbles does he see a ghost or hear an organ no sight mortal wanted still there is a butterfly in the square a real live butterfly a stray from flowers and sweets and fluttering among the iron heads of the dusty area railings but if there were not many matters immediately without the doors of cheerable brothers to engage the attention or distract thoughts of the unclark there were not a few within to interest in the news him there were scarcely an object in the place animate or inanimate which did not partake in some degree of the scrupulous method of punctuality of mr. Timothy Lincoln water punctual as the counting house dial which he maintained to be the best timekeeper in London next after the clock of some old hidden unknown church hard buy for Tim held the fabled goodness of that at the horse guards to be a pleasant fiction invented by jealous West Enders the old Clark performed the minutest actions of the day and arranged the minutest articles in the little room in a precise and regular order which could not have been exceeded if it had actually been a real glass case fitted with the choices curiosities paper pens ink ruler ceiling wax wafers pounds box string box firebox Tim's hat Tim's scrupulously folded gloves Tim's other coat looking precisely like a back view of himself as it hung against the wall all had their accustomed inches of space except the clock there was not such an accurate and unimpeachable instrument in existence as a little thermometer which hung behind the door there was not a bird of such methodical and business like habits in all the world as the blind black bird who dressed and dozed away his days in a large snug cage and had lost his voice from old age years before Tim first bought him there was not such an inventful story in the whole range of anecdote as Tim could tell concerning the acquisition of that very bird how compassionating his star and suffering condition he had purchased him with a view of you mainly terminating his wretched life how he determined to wait three days and see whether the bird revived how before half the time was out the bird did revive and how he went on reviving and picking up his appetite and good looks until he gradually became what what you see him now sir Tim would say glansling proudly at the cage and with that Tim would utter a melodious chirrup and cry Vic and Dick who for any sign of life he had previously given might have been a wooden or stuffed representation of a black bird indifferently executed would come to the side of the cage in three small jumps and thrusting his bill between the bars turn his sightless head towards his old master and at that moment it would be very difficult to determine which of the two was the happier the bird or Timothy Lincoln water nor was this all everything gave back besides some reflection of the kindly spirit of the brothers the warehouse men and porters with such sturdy jolly fellows that it was a treat to see them among the shipping announcements and steam packet lists which decorated the counting house wall with designs for arms houses statement of charities and plans for new hospitals a blunderbuss and two swords hung above the chimney piece for the terror of the evil doers but the blunderbuss was rusty and shattered and the swords were broken and edgeless elsewhere their open display in such a condition would have realized a smile but there it seemed as though even violent and offensive weapons partook of the reigning influence and became emblems of mercy and forbearance such thoughts as these occurred to Nicholas very strongly on the morning when he first took possession of the vacant stool and looked about him more freely and at ease than he had before enjoyed an opportunity of doing perhaps they encouraged and stimulated into exertion for during the next two weeks all his spare hours late at night and early in the morning were incessantly devoted to acquiring the mysteries of bookkeeping and some other forms of mercantile accounts to these he applied himself with such steadiness and perseverance that although he brought no greater amount of previous knowledge the subject than certain dim recollections of two or three very long sums entered into a ciphering book at school and relieved to parental inspection by the effigy of a fat swan tastefully flourished by the writing master's own hand he found himself at the end of a fortnight in a condition to report his proficiency to Mr. Lincoln water and to claim his promise that he Nicholas Nicolby should now be allowed to assist him in his grave of labours it was a sight to behold Tim Lincoln water slowly bring out a massive ledger and they book and after turning them over and over and affectionately dusting their backs and sides open the leaves here and there and cast his eyes half mournfully half proudly upon the fair and blotted entries four and forty year next May said Tim many new ledger since then four and forty year Tim closed the book again come come said Nicholas I am all in patience to begin Tim Lincoln water shook his head with an air of mild reproof Mr. Nicolby was not sufficiently impressed with the deep and awful nature of his undertaking suppose there should be any mistake and he scratching out young men are adventurous it is extraordinary what they will rush upon sometimes without even taking the precaution of sitting himself down upon his stool but standing leisurely at the desk and with a smile upon his face actually a smile there was no mistake about it Mr. Lincoln water often mentioned it afterwards Nicholas dipped his pen into the stand before him and plunged into the books of cheerable brothers Tim Lincoln water turned pale and tilting up his stool on the two legs nearest Nicholas looked over his shoulder in breathless anxiety brother Charles and brother Ned entered the counting house together but Tim Lincoln water without looking round impatiently waved his hand as a caution that profound silence must be observed and followed the nib of the inexperienced pen with trained and eager eyes the brothers looked on with smiling faces but Tim Lincoln water smiled not no move for some minutes at length he drew a long slow breath and still maintaining his position on the tilted stool glanced at brother Charles secretly pointed with the feather of his pen towards Nicholas and nodded his head in a grave and resolute manner plainly signifying he'll do brother Charles nodded again and exchanged a laughing look with brother Ned but just then Nicholas stopped to refer to some other page and Tim Lincoln water unable to contain his satisfaction any longer descended from his stool and caught him rapturously by the hand he has done it said Tim looking around at his employers and shaking his head triumphantly his capital B's and D's are exactly like mine he dots all his small eyes and crosses every tears he writes it there aren't such a young man as this in all London said Tim clapping Nicholas on the back not one don't tell me the city can't produce his equal I challenge the city to do it with this casting down of his gauntlet Tim Lincoln water struck the desk such a blow with his clenched fist that the old blackbird tumbled off his perch with the start it gave him and actually uttered a feeble croak in the extremity of his astonishment well said Tim well said Tim Lincoln water cried brother Charles scarcely less pleased than Tim himself and clapping his hands gently as he spoke I knew our young friend would take great pains and I was quite certain he would succeed in no time didn't I say so young brother Ned you did dear brother certainly my dear brother you said so and you were quite right replied Ned quite right Tim Lincoln water is excited but he is justly excited properly excited Tim is a fine fellow Tim Lincoln water sir you're a fine fellow here's a pleasant thing to think of said Tim holy regardless of this address to himself and raising his spectacles for the ledger to the brothers here's a pleasant thing do you suppose I haven't often thought of what would become of these books when I was gone do you suppose I haven't often thought that things might go on irregular and untidy here after I was taken away but now said Tim extending his forefinger towards Nicholas now when I've shown him a little more I'm satisfied the business will go on when I'm dead as well as it did when I was alive just the same and I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that there never were such books never were such books no nor never will be such books as the books of cheerable brothers having loss expressed his sentiments Mr Lincoln water gave Ventura short laugh indicative of defiance to the cities of London and Westminster and turning again to his desk quietly carried 76 from the last column he had added up and went on with his work Tim Lincoln water sir said brother Charles give me your hand sir this is your birthday how dare you talk about anything else till you have been wished many happy returns of the day Tim Lincoln water God bless you Tim God bless you my dear brother said the other seizing Tim's disengaged fist Tim Lincoln water looks 10 years younger than he did on his last birthday brother Ned my dear boy return the other old fellow I believe that Tim Lincoln water was born 150 years old and he's gradually coming down to 5 and 20 for he's younger every birthday than he was the year before so he is brother Charles so he is replied brother Ned there's not a doubt about it remember Tim said brother Charles that we dine at half past five today instead of two o'clock we always depart from our usual custom on this anniversary as you very well know Tim Lincoln water Mr Nickelby my dear sir you will make one Tim Lincoln water give me your snuff box as a remembrance to brother Charles and myself of an attached and faithful rascal and take that in exchange as a feeble mark of our respect and esteem and don't open it until you go to bed and never say another word upon the subject or I'll kill the black bird a dog he should have a golden cage half a dozen years ago as if it would have made him or his master a bit the happier now brother Ned my dear fellow I'm ready at half past five remember Mr Nickelby Tim Lincoln water sir take care of Mr Nickelby at half past five now brother Ned chattering away thus according to custom to prevent the possibility of any thanks or acknowledgement being expressed on the other side the twins trotted off arm in arm having endowed Tim Lincoln water with a costly gold snuff box and closing a banknote worth more than its value 10 times told at a quarter past five o'clock punctual to the minute arrived according to annual usage Tim Lincoln water sister and a great to-do there was between Tim Lincoln water sister and the old housekeeper respecting Tim Lincoln water sister's cap which had been dispatched per boy from the house of the family where Tim Lincoln water sister boarded and had not yet come to hand notwithstanding that it had been packed up in a band box and the band box in a handkerchief and the handkerchief tied onto the boy's arm and notwithstanding to that the place of its consignment had been duly set forth at full length on the back of an old letter and the boy enjoined under the pain of diverse horrible penalties the full extent of which the eye of man could not foresee to deliver the same with all possible speed and not to loiter by the way Tim Lincoln water sister lamented the housekeeper condoled and both kept thrusting their heads out of the second floor window to see if the boy was coming which would have been highly satisfactory and upon the whole tantamount to his being come as the distance to the corner was not quite five yards when all of a sudden and when he was least expected the messenger carrying the band box with elaborate caution appeared in an exactly opposite direction puffing and panting for breath and flushed with recent exercise as well he might be for he had taken the air in the first instance behind a hackney coach that went to Campbellwell and had followed two punches afterwards and had seen the stilts home to their own door the cat was all safe however that was one comfort and it was no use scolding him that was another so the boy went upon his way rejoicing and Tim Lincoln water sister presented herself to the company below stairs just before five minutes after the half hour had struck by Tim Lincoln water's own infallible clock the company consisted of the brother's cheerable Tim Lincoln water a ruddy faced white-headed friend of Tim's who was a superannuated blank and Nicholas who was presented to Tim Lincoln water sister with much gravity and solemnity the party being now completed brother Ned rang for dinner and dinner being shortly afterwards announced that Tim Lincoln water sister into the next room where it was set forth with great preparation then brother Ned took the head of the table and brother Charles the foot and Tim Lincoln water sister sat on the left hand of brother Ned and Tim Lincoln water himself on his right and the nation butler of apoplectic appearance and with very short legs took up his position at the back of brother Ned's armchair and waving his right arm preparatory to taking off the covers with a flourish stood bolt upright and motionless for these and all other blessings brother Charles said Ned Lord make us truly thankful brother Ned said Charles whereupon the apoplectic butler whisked off the top of the soup terrine and shot all at once into a state of violent activity there was abundance of conversation a little fear of its ever flagging for the good humor of the glorious old twins drew everybody out and Tim Lincoln water sister went off into a long and circumstantial account of Tim Lincoln water's infancy immediately after the very first glass of champagne taking care to premise that she was very much Tim's junior and had only become acquainted with the facts from their being preserved and handed down in the family this history concluded brother Ned related how that exactly 35 years ago Tim Lincoln water was suspected to have received the love letter and how that vague information had been brought to the counting house of his having been seen walking down Cheepside with an uncommonly handsome spinster at which there was a roar of laughter and Tim Lincoln water being charged with blushing and called upon to explain denied that this accusation was true and further that there would been any harm in it if it had been which last position occasioned the superannuated bank clerk to laugh tremendously and to declare that it was the very best thing he had ever heard in his life and that Tim Lincoln water might say a great many things before he said anything which could beat that there was one little ceremony peculiar to the day both the matter and manner of which made a very strong impression upon Nicholas the cloth having been removed and the decenters sent round for the first time a profound silence succeeded and in the cheerful faces of the brothers there appeared an expression not an absolute melancholy but a quiet thoughtfulness very unusual at a festive table as Nicholas struck by this sudden altercation was wondering what it could portend the brothers rose together and the one at the top of the table leaning forward towards the other and speaking in a low voice as if you were addressing individually said brother Charles my dear fellow there is another association connected with this day which must never be forgotten and never can be forgotten by you and me this day which brought into the world a most faithful and excellent and exemplary fellow took from it the kindest and very best of parents the very best appearance towards both I wish that she could have seen us in our prosperity and shared it and had the happiness of knowing how dearly we loved her in it as we did when we were two poor boys but that was not to be my dear brother the memory of our mother good lord thought Nicholas and there are scores of people of their own station knowing all this and 20 000 times more who wouldn't ask these men to dinner because they eat with their knives and never went to school but there was no time to moralize for the joviality again became very brisk and the decanter of port being nearly out brother Ned pulled the belt which was instantly answered by the apoplectic butler David said brother Ned sir replied the butler a magnum of the double diamond David to drink the health of mr linking water instantly by a feat of dexterity which was the admiration of all the company that had been annually for some years past the apoplectic butler bringing his left hand from behind the small of his back produced the bottle with the corkscrew already inserted uncorked it as a jerk and placed the magnum and the cork before his master with the dignity of conscious cleverness ha said brother Ned first examining the cork and afterwards filling his glass while the old butler looked complacently and amiably off as if it were all his own property but the company were quite welcome to make free with it this looks well David it ought to sir replied David you'd be trouble to find such a glass of wine as is our double diamond and that mr linking water knows very well that was laid down when mr linking water first come that wine was gentlemen nay David nay I wrote the entry in the seller book myself sir if you please as said David in the tone of a man quite confident in the strength of his facts mr linking water had only been here 20 years sir when that pipe of double diamond was laid down David is quite right quite right brother Charles said Ned are the people here David outside the door sir replied the butler show him in David show him in at this bidding the older butler placed before his master a small tray of clean glasses and opening the door admitted the jolly porters and warehousemen whom Nicholas had seen below they were foreign all and as they came in bowing and grinning and blushing the housekeeper and cook and housemaid brought up the rear seven said brother Ned filling a corresponding number of glasses with the double diamond and David eight there now you're all of you to drink the health of your best friend mr Timothy linking water and wish him health a long life and many happy returns of this day both for his own sake and that of your old masters who consider him an inestimable treasure Tim linking water sir your health there will take you Tim linking water sir god bless you with this singular contradiction of terms brother Ned gave Tim linking water a slap on the back which made him look for the moment almost as apoplectic as a butler and tossed off the contents of his glass in a twinkling the toast was scarcely drunk with all honor to Tim linking water when the sturdiest and jolliest subordinate elbowed himself a little in advance of his fellows and exhibiting a very hot and flushed countenance pulled a single lock of gray hair in the middle of his forehead as a respectful salute to the company and delivered himself as follows rubbing the palms of his hands very hard on a blue cotton handkerchief as he did so we're allowed to take a liberty once a year gentlemen and if you please we'll take it now there being no time like the present and no two birds in the hand worth one in the bush as is well known least ways in a contrary sense which the meaning is the same a pause the butler unconvinced what we mean to say is that there never was looking at the butler such looking at the cook noble excellent looking everywhere and seeing nobody free generous spirited masters as them as has treated us so handsome this day and he is thanking of them for all their goodness as is so constancy diffusing of itself over everywhere and wishing they may live long and die happy when the foregoing speech was over and it might have been much more elegant and much less to the purpose the whole body of subordinates under commanded the apoplectic butler gave three soft cheers which to that gentleman's great indignation were not very regular in as much as the women persisted in giving an immense number of little shrill hurrahs among themselves in uttered disregard of the time this done they withdrew shortly afterwards tim linking water sister withdrew in reasonable time after that the sitting was broken up for tea and coffee and a round game of cards at half past ten late hours for the square there appeared a little tray of sandwiches and a bowl of bishop which bishop coming on the top of the double diamond and other excitement had such an effect upon tim linking water that he drew Nicholas aside and gave him to understand confidentially that it was quite true about the uncommonly handsome spinster and that she was to the full as good-looking as she had been described more so indeed but that she was in too much of a hurry to change her condition and consequently while tim was courting her and thinking of changing his got married to somebody else after all i dare say it was my fault said to i'll show you a print i've got upstairs one of these days it cost me five and 20 shillings i bought it as soon as we were cool to each other don't mention it but it's the most extraordinary accidental lightness you ever saw her very poor trait sir by this time it was past 11 o'clock and tim linking water sister declaring that she ought to have been home a full hour ago the coach was procured into which she was handed with great ceremony by brother ned while brother chiles imparted the fullest directions to the coachman and besides paying the man a shilling over and above his fare in order that he might take the utmost care of the lady all but choked him with a glass of spirits of uncommon strength and then nearly knocked all the breath out of his body in his energetic endeavours to knock it in again at length the coach rumbled off and tim linking water sister being now fairly on her way home nicolas and tim linking water's friend took their leaves together and left old tim and worthy brothers to their repose as nicolas had some distance to walk it was considerably past midnight by the time he reached home where he found his mother and smike sitting up to receive him it was long after their usual hour of retiring and they had expected him at a very latest two hours ago but the time had not hung heavily on their hands for mrs nicolby had entertained smike with a genealogical account of her family by the mother's side comprising biographical sketches of the principal members and smike had sat wondering what it was all about and whether it was learnt from a book or said out to mrs nicolby's own head so that they got on together very pleasantly nicolas could not go to bed without expatiating on the excellences and munificence of the brothers cheerable and relating the great success which had attended his efforts that day but before he had said a dozen words mrs nicolby with many sly winks and nods observed that she was sure mr smike must be quite tired out and that she positively must insist on his not sitting up a minute longer the most biddable creature he is to be sure said mrs nicolby when smike had wished him good night and left the room i know you'll excuse me nicolas my dear but i don't like to do this before a third person indeed before a young man it would not be quite proper though really after all i don't know what harm there is in it expect that to be sure it's not a very becoming thing though some people say it is very much so and really i don't know why it should not be if it's well got up and the board is a small plaited of course a good deal depends upon that with which preface mrs nicolby took her nightcap from between the leaves with a very large prayer book where it had been folded up small and proceeded to tie it on talking away in her usual discursive manner all the time people may say what they like observed mrs nicolby but there's a great deal of comfort in a nightcap as i'm sure you would confess nicolas my dear if you would only have strings to yours and wear it like a christian instead of sticking it upon the very top of your head like a blue coat boy you needn't think of it as unmanly or quizzical thing to be particular about your nightcap for i have often heard your poor dear papa and the reverend mr what's his name who used to read prayers in that old church with the curious little steeple that the weather cop was blown off the night week before you were born i have often heard them say that the young men at college are uncommonly particular about their nightcaps and that the oxford nightcaps are quite celebrated for their strength and goodness so much so indeed that the young men never dream of going to bed without them and i believe it's admitted on all hands that they know what's good and don't coddle themselves nicolas laughed and entering no further into the subject of this lengthened harang reverted to the pleasant tone of the little birthday party and as mrs nicolby instantly became very curious respecting it and made a great number of inquiries touching what they had had for dinner and how it was put on table and whether it was overdone or underdone and who was there and what that mr cheerables said and what mr what nicolas said and what the mr cheerables said when he said that nicolas described the festivities at full length and also the occurrences of the morning late as it is said nicolas i am almost selfish enough to wish that kate had been up to hear all this i was all impatient as i came along to tell her why kate said mrs nicolby putting his feet upon the fender and drawing a chair close to it as if settling herself for a long talk kate has been in bed oh a couple of hours and i'm very glad nicolas my dear that i prevailed upon her not to sit up for i wished very much to have an opportunity of saying a few words to you i am naturally anxious about it and of course it's a very delightful and consoling thing to have a grown-up son that one can put confidence in and advise with indeed i don't know any use there would be in having sons at all unless people could put confidence in them nicolas stopped in the middle of a sleepy yore as his mother began to speak and looked at her with fixed attention there was a lady in our neighborhood said mrs nicolby speaking of sons puts me in mind of it a lady in our neighborhood when we lived near dawlish i think her name was rogers indeed i'm sure it was if it wasn't murphy which is the only doubt i have is it about her mother that you wish to speak to me said nicolas quietly about her cried mrs nicolby good gracious nicolas my dear how can you be so ridiculous but that was always the way with your poor dear papa just his way always wondering never able to fix his thoughts on anyone's subject for two minutes together i think i see him now said mrs nicolby wiping her eyes looking at me while i was talking to him about his affairs just as if his ideas were in a state of perfect conglomeration anybody who had come in upon a suddenly would have supposed i was confusing and distracting him instead of making things plainer upon my word they would i am very sorry mother that i should inherit this unfortunate slowness of apprehension said nicolas kindly but i'll do my best to understand you if you'll only go straight on indeed i will your poor pa said mrs nicolby pondry he never knew till it was too late what i would have had him do this was undoubtedly the case in as much as the deceased mr nicolby had not arrived at the knowledge then he died neither had mrs nicolby herself which is in some sort an explanation of the circumstance however said mrs nicolby drying her tears this has nothing to do certainly nothing whatever to do with a gentleman in the next house i should suppose that the gentleman in the next house has as little to do with us return nicolas there can be no doubt said mrs nicolby that he is a gentleman and has the manners of a gentleman and the appearance of a gentleman although he does wear smalls and gray-wasted stockings that may be eccentricity or he may be proud of his legs i don't see why he shouldn't be the prince regent was proud of his legs and so was daniel lambart who was also a fat man he was proud of his legs so as miss biffin she was no added mrs nicolby correcting herself i think she had only toes but the principle is the same nicolas looked on quite amazed at the introduction of this new theme which seemed just as mrs nicolby had expected him to be you may well be surprised nicolas my dear she said i am sure i was it came upon me like a flash of fire and almost froze my blood the bottom of his garden joins the bottom of ours and of course i had several times seen him sitting among the scarlet beans in his little arbor or working at his little hotbeds i used to think he stared rather but i didn't take any particular notice of that as we were newcomers and he might be curious to see what we were like but when he began to throw his cucumbers over our wall to throw his cucumbers over our wall repeated nicolas in great astonishment yes nicolas my dear replied mrs nicolby in a very serious tone his cucumbers over our wall and vegetable marrows likewise confound his impudence said nicolas firing immediately what does he mean by that i don't think he means it impertently at all replied mrs nicolby what said nicolas cucumbers and vegetable marrows flying at the heads of the family as they walk in their own garden and not meant impertently why mother nicolas stopped short for there was an indescribable expression of placid triumph mingled with a modest confusion lingering between the borders of mrs nicolby's nightcap which arrested his attention suddenly he must be a very weak and foolish and inconsiderate man said mrs nicolby blamable indeed at least i suppose other people would consider him so of course i can't be expected to express any opinion on that point especially after always defending your poor dear papa when other people blamed him for making proposals to me and to be sure there can be no doubt that he has taken a very singular way of showing it still at the same time his attentions are that is as far as it goes and to a certain extent of course a flattering sort of thing and although i should never dream of marrying again with a dear girl like cate still unsettled in life surely mother such an idea never entered your brain for an instant said nicolas bless my heart nicolas my dear returned his mother in a peevish tone isn't that precisely what i am saying if you would only let me speak of course i never gave it a second thought and i'm surprised and astonished that you should suppose me capable of such a thing all i say is what step is the best to take so as to reject these advances civilly and delicately and without hurting his feelings too much and driving him to despair or anything of that kind my goodness me exclaimed mrs nicolby with a half-simper suppose he was to go doing anything rash to himself could i ever be happy again nicolas despite his vexation and concern nicolas could scarcely help smiling as he rejoined now do you think mother that such a result would be likely to ensue from the most cruel repulse upon my word my dear i don't know return mrs nicolby really i don't know i am sure there was a case in the day before yesterday's paper extracted from one of the french newspapers about a journeyman shoemaker who was jealous of a young girl in an adjoining village because she wouldn't shut herself up in an airtight three pair of stairs and charcoal herself to death with him and who went and hid himself in the wood with a sharp pointed knife and rushed out as she was passing by with a few friends and killed himself first then all the friends and then her no killed all the friends first and then herself and then himself which is quite frightful to think of somehow or other added mrs nicolby after a moment to report they always are journeyman shoemakers who do these things in france according to the papers i don't know how it is something in leather i suppose but this man who is not a shoemaker what has he done mother what has he said inquired nicolas fretted almost beyond endurance but looking nearly as resigned and patient as mrs nicolby herself you know there is no language of vegetables which converts a cucumber into a formal declaration of attachments my dear replied mrs nicolby tossing her head and looking at the ashes in the grate he has done and said all sorts of things is there no mistake on your part as nicolas mistake cried mrs nicolby lord nicolas my dear do you suppose i don't know when a man's in earnest well well uttered nicolas every time i go to the window said mrs nicolby he kisses one hand and lays the other upon his heart of course it's very foolish of him to do so and i dare say you'll say it's very wrong but he does it very respectfully very respectfully indeed and very tenderly extremely tenderly so far he deserves the greatest credit there can be no doubt about that then there are the presents which come pouring over the wall every day and very fine they certainly are very fine we had one of the cucumbers at dinner yesterday and think of pickling the rest for the next winter and last evening added mrs nicolby with increased confusion he called gently over the wall as i was walking the garden and proposed marriage and an elopement his voice is as clear as a bell or a musical glass very like a musical glass indeed but of course i didn't listen to it then the question is nicolas my dear what am i to do does cake know of this that's nicolas i have not said a word about it yet answered his mother then for heaven's sake rejoin nicolas rising do not for it would make a very unhappy and with regard to what you should do my dear mother do what your good sense and feeling and respect for my father's memory would prompt there are a thousand ways in which you can show your dislike of these preposterous and doting attentions if you act as decidedly as you ought and they are still continued and to your annoyance i can speedily put a stop to them but i should not interfere in a matter so ridiculous and attach importance to it until you have indicated yourself most women can do that but especially one of your age and condition in circumstances like these which are unworthy of a serious thought i would not shame you by seeing to take them to heart or to treat them earnestly for an instant absurd old idiot so saying nicolas kissed his mother and bad her good night and they retired to their respective chambers to do mrs nicolby justice her attachment to her children would have prevented her seriously contemplating a second marriage even if she could have so far conquered her recollection to her late husband as to have any struggling inclinations that way but although there was no evil a little real selfishness in mrs nicolby's heart she had a weak head and a vain one and there was something so flattering in being sought and vainly sought in marriage at this time of day that she could not dismiss the passion of the unknown gentleman quite so summarily or lightly as nicolas appeared to deem becoming as to its being preposterous and doting and ridiculous thought mrs nicolby communing with herself in her own room i don't see that at all it's hopeless on his part certainly but why should he be an absurd old i confess i don't see he is not to be supposed to know it's hopeless poor fellow he is to be pitted i think having made these reflections mrs nicolby looked in her little dressing glass and walking backward a few steps from it tried to remember who it was who used to say that when nicolas was 120 he would have more the appearance of her brother than her son not being able to call the authority to mind she extinguished her candle and drew up the window blind to admit the light of mourning which had by this time begun to dawn it's a bad light to distinguish objects in moment mrs nicolby peering into the garden and my eyes are not very good i was short sighted from a child but upon my word i think there's another large vegetable marrow sticking at this moment on the broken glass bottles at the top of the wall end of chapter 37 read by you and bales chapter 38 of nicolas nicolby by charles dickens this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by simon evers nicolas nicolby by charles dickens chapter 38 comprises certain particulars are rising out of a visit of a condolence which may prove important hereafter smike unexpectedly encounters a very old friend who invites him to his house and will take no denial quite unconscious of the demonstrations of their amorous neighbor or that affects upon the susceptible bosom of her mama cate nicolby had by this time begun to enjoy a settled feeling of tranquility and happiness to which even in occasional and transitory glimpses she had long been a stranger living under the same roof with the beloved brother from whom she had been so suddenly and hardly separated with a mind at ease and free from any persecutions which could call a blush up into her cheek or a pang into her heart she seemed to have passed into a new state of being her former cheerfulness was restored her step regained its elasticity and lightness the color which had forsaken her cheek visited it once again and cate nicolby looked more beautiful than ever such was the result to which miss la crevy's ruminations and observations led her when the cottage had been as she emphatically said thoroughly got to rights from the chimney pots to the street door scraper and the busy little woman had at length a moment's time to think about its inmates which i declare i haven't had since i first came down here said miss la crevy for i had thought of nothing but hammers nails screwdrivers and gimnits morning noon and night you never bestowed one thought upon yourself i believe returned cate smiling upon my word my dear when there are so many pleasanter things to think of i should be a goose if i did said miss la crevy by the by i have thought of somebody too do you know that i observe a great change in one of this family a very extraordinary change in whom asked cate anxiously not in not in your brother my dear returned miss la crevy anticipating the close of the sentence for he is always the same affectionate good-natured clever creature with the spice of the i won't say who in him when there's any occasion that he was when i first knew you no smike as he will be called poor fellow for he won't hear of a mister before his name is greatly altered even in this short time how asked cate not in health no perhaps not in health exactly said mr crevy pausing to consider though he is a worn and feeble creature and has that in his face which he would ring my heart to see in yours no not in health how then i scarcely know said the miniature painter but i have watched him and he has brought the tears into my eyes many times it is not a very difficult matter to do that certainly for i am easily melted still i think these came with good cause and reason i'm sure that since he's been here he has grown from some strong cause more conscious of his weak intellect he feels it more it gives him greater pain to know that he wanders sometimes and cannot understand very simple things i've watched him when you've not been nearby my dear sit brooding by himself with such a look of pain as i could scarcely bear to see and then get up and leave the room so sorrowfully and in such a dejection then i cannot tell you how it has hurt me not three weeks ago he was a light hearted busy creature overjoyed to be in a bustle and as happy as the day was long now he's another being the same willing harmless faithful loving creature but the same in nothing else surely this will all pass off said Kate poor fellow i hope returned a little friend with a gravity very unusual in her it may i hope for the sake of that poor lad it may however said mr crevy relapsing into the cheerful chattering tone which was habitual to her i have said my say and a very long say it is and a very wrong say too i shouldn't wonder at all i should cheer him up tonight at all events for he is to be my squire all the weight of the strand i shall talk on and on and on and never leave off till i have roused him into a laugh at something so the sooner he goes the better for him and the sooner i go the better for me i'm sure or else i shall have my maid gallivanting with somebody who may rob the house though what there is to take away besides tables and chairs i don't know except the miniatures and he is a clever thief who can dispose of them to any great advantage for i can't i know and that's the honest truth so say little mr crevy hid her face in a little flat bonnet and herself in a very big shawl and fixing herself tightly into the latter by means of a large pin declared that the omnibus might come as soon as he pleased for she was quite ready but there was still mrs. nickel bit to take leave of and long before that good lady had concluded some reminiscences bearing upon an appropriate to the occasion the omnibus arrived this put mr crevy in a great bustle inconsequential of as she secretly rewarded the servant girl with 18 pence behind the street door she pulled out of her reticule ten penny worth of half pence which rolled into all possible corners of the passage and occupied some considerable time in the picking up this ceremony had of course to be succeeded by a second kissing of Kate and mrs. nickel bit and a gathering together of the little basket and the brown paper parcel during which proceedings the omnibus as mr crevy protested swore so dreadfully that it was quite awful to hear it at length and at last it made a faint of going away and then mr crevy darted out and darted in apologizing with great volubility to all the passengers and declaring that she wouldn't purposefully have kept them waiting on any account whatever while she was looking about for a convenient seat the conductor pushed smike in and cried that it was all right though it wasn't and away went the huge vehicle with the noise of half a dozen brewer's trays at least leave it to pursue its journey at the pleasure of the conductor aforementioned who lounged gracefully on his little shelf behind smoking a no-diferous cigar and leaving it to stop or go on or gallop or crawl as that gentleman deemed expedient and advisable this narrative may embrace the opportunity of ascertaining the condition of some mulberry hawk and to what extent he had by this time recovered from the injuries consequent on being flung violently from his cabriolet under the circumstances already detailed with a shattered limb a body severely bruised a face disfigured by half-filled scars and pallid from the exhaustion of recent pain and fever so mulberry hawk lay stretched upon his back on the couch to which he was doomed to be a prisoner for some weeks yet to come mr pike and mr pluck sat drinking hard in the next room now and then varying the monotonous murmurs of their conversation with a half smothered laugh while the young lord the only member of the party who was not thoroughly irredeemable and who rarely had a kind heart sat beside his mentor with a cigar in his mouth and read to him by the light of a lamp such scraps of intelligence from a paper of the day as were most likely to yield him interest or amusement curse those hounds said the envelide turning his head impatiently towards the joining room will nothing stop their infernal throats mr pike and pluck heard the exclamation and stopped immediately winking to each other as they did so and fitting their glasses to the brim as some recompense for the deprivation of speech damn mutt of the stick-sick man between his teeth and writhing impatiently in his bed isn't this mattress hard enough and the room dull enough and pain bad enough but they must torture me what's the time half past eight replied his friend here draw the table nearer and let us have the cards again said some mulberry more pk come it was curious to see how eagerly the sick man debar from any change of position save the mere turning of his head from side to side watched every motion of his friend in the progress of the game and with what eagerness and interest he played and yet how wearily and coolly his address and a skill were more than twenty times a match for his adversary who could make little head against them even when fortune favored him with good cards which was not often the case some albrew won every game and when his companion threw down the cards and refused to play any longer thrust forth his wasted arm and caught up the stakes with a boastful oath and the same horse laugh they're considerably lower in tone that are resounded in Ralph Nicolby's dining room months before while he was us occupied his man appeared to announce that Mr Ralph Nicolby was below and which to know how he was tonight better said some albrew impatiently Mr Nicolby wishes to know sir i tell you better replied some albrew striking his hand upon the table the man hesitated for a moment or two and then said that Mr Nicolby had requested permission to see some albrew hawk if he was not inconvenient it is inconvenient i can't see am i i can't see anybody said his master more violently than before you know that you blockhead i'm very sorry sir returned the man but uh mr. Nicolby pressed so much sir the fact was that Ralph Nicolby had bribed the man who being anxious to earn his money with a view to future favours held that the door in his hand and ventured to linger still did he say whether he had any business to speak about inquired some albrew after a little impatient consideration no sir he said he wished to see you sir particularly Mr Nicolby said sir i'll tell him to come up yeah cried some albrew calling the man back as he passed his hand over his disfigured face move that lamp and put it on the stand behind me wheel that table away and place a chair here no further off leave it so the man obeyed these directions as if he quite comprehended the motive with which they were dictated and left to the room Lord Frederick very soft remarking that he would look in presently strolled into the adjoining apartment and closed the folding door behind him then was heard a subdued footstep on the stairs and Ralph Nicolby hat in hand crept softly into the room with his body bent forward as if in profound respect and his eyes fixed upon the face of his worthy client well Nicolby said sir mulberry motioning me him to the chair by the couchside and waving his hand in assumed carelessness i've had a bad accident you see i see rejoined Ralph with the same steady gaze bad indeed i should not have known you sir mulberry dear dear this is bad Ralph's manner was one of profound humility and respect and the low tone of voice was that which the gentlest consideration for a sick man would have taught a visitor to assume but the expression of his face sir mulberry's been averted was in extraordinary contrast and as he stood in his usual attitude calmly looking on the prostrate form before him all that part of his features which was not cast into shadow by his protruding and contracted brows bore the impress of a sarcastic smile sit down said sir mulberry turning towards him as though by a violent effort am i a sight that you stand gazing there as he turned his face Ralph recoiled a step or two a making as though he were irresistibly impelled to express astonishment but was determined not to do so sat down with well-acted confusion i have inquired of the doors of mulberry every day said Ralph twice a day indeed at first and tonight presumably one old acquaintance and past prime drank sections by which we have mutually benefited in some degree i could not resist soliciting admission to your chamber have you have you suffered much said Ralph bending forward and allowing the same harsh smile to gather upon his face as the other closed his eyes more than enough to please me and less than enough to please some broken down hacks that you and i know of and who lay their ruin between us i dare say returns a mulberry tossing his arm restlessly upon the covalent Ralph shrugged his shoulders in deprecation of the intense irritation with which this had been said for there was an aggravating cold distinctness in his speech and manner which so grated on the sick man that he could scarcely endure it and what is it these past transactions that brought you here tonight asked some mulberry nothing replied Ralph there are some bills of my lords which need renewal but let them be to you are well i i i came said Ralph speaking more slowly and with harsher emphasis i came to say how grieved i am that any relative of mine although disowned by me should have inflicted such punishment on you as punishment interposed some mulberry i know it has been a severe one said Ralph willfully mistaking the meaning of the interruption and that has made me the more anxious to tell you that i disowned this vagabond that i acknowledge him as no kin of mine and that i leave him to take his desserts from you and every man besides you may bring his neck of you please i shall not interfere this story that they tell me has got abroad then has it asked some mulberry clenching his hand and teeth noise in all directions replied Ralph every club and gaming room has rung with it there's been a good song made about it as i'm told said Ralph looking eagerly at his questioner i have not heard it myself not being in the way of such things but i have been told it's even printed for private circulation but that's all over town of course it's a lie said some mulberry i i tell you it's a lie it's all a lie that the mayor took fright they say he frightened her observed Ralph in the same unmoved and quiet manner some say he frightened you but that's a lie i know i have said that boldly oh a score of times i'm a peaceful man but i can't hear folks tell that of you no no when some mulberry found coherent words to utter Ralph bent forward with his hand to his ear and a face as calm as if it's every line of sturdiness had been cast in arne when i am off this cursed bed said the infallid actually striking at his broken leg in the ecstasy of his passion i'll have such revenge as never man had yet by god i will accident favor him he's marked me for a week or two but i'll put a mark on him that she will carry to his grave i'll slit his nose and ears flog him maybe for life i'll do more than that i'll drag that pattern of chastity that that that pink of prudery the delicate sister through it might have been that even Ralph's cold blood tingled in his cheeks at that moment it might have been that some mulberry remembered that nave and user as he was he must in some early time of infancy have twined his arm about her father's neck he stopped a menacing with his hand confirmed the unuttered threat with a tremendous oath it is a galling thing said Ralph after a short term of silence during which he had eyed the sufferer keenly to think that the man about town the rake the roux the rook of twenty seasons should be brought to this pass by a mere boy so marbury darted a wrathful look at him but Ralph's eyes were bent upon the ground and his face wore no other expression than one of thoughtfulness a raw slight stripling continued Ralph against a man whose very weight might crush him to say nothing if he's killing i might i think said Ralph rakes his eyes you were a patron of the ring once were you not the sick man made an impatient gesture which Ralph chose to consider as one of acquiescence ah he said i thought so that was before i knew you but i was pretty sure i couldn't be mistaken he is light and active i suppose but those were slight advantages compared with yours luck luck these hangdog outcasts have it he'll need the most he has when i am well again said some albrey hawk let him fly where he will oh returned Ralph quickly he doesn't dream of that he is here good sir waiting your pleasure here in london walking the streets at noonday carrying it off jointly looking for you i swear said Ralph his face darkening and his own hatred getting the upper hand of him for the first time as this gay picture of nicholas presented himself if he were only citizens of a country where it could be safely done i give good money to have him stamped to the heart and rolled into the kennel for the dogs to tear as Ralph somewhat to the surprise of his old client vented this little piece of sound family feeling and took up his hat preparatory to departing lord frederick very spot looked in well what are the devi's name hawk have you and nickel being talking about said the young man i never heard such an insufferable rat great great great bow wow wow what's it all been about some albrey has been angry my lord said Ralph looking towards the couch not about money i hope nothing has gone wrong in business has it nickel be uh no my lord no returned Ralph on that point we always agree some albrey has been calling to mind the cause of there was neither necessity nor opportunity for Ralph to proceed for some albrey took up the theme and vented his threats and oaths against nicholas almost as ferociously as before Ralph who is no common observer was surprised to see that as his tirade proceeded the manner of lord frederick very soft who at the commencement have been twirling his whiskers with the most dandified and listless air underwent a complete alteration he was still more surprised when some albrey's ceasing to speak the young lord angrily and almost unaffectedly requested never to have the subject renewed in his presence mind that hawk he added with unusual energy i never will be a party to or permit if i can help it a cowardly attack upon this young fellow hardly interrupted his friend yes said the other turning full upon him if you told me who you were if you had given him your card and found out afterwards that his station or character prevented you from fighting him it would have been bad enough then upon my soul it would have been a bad enough then as it is you did wrong i did wrong too not to interfere and i'm sorry for it what happened to you afterwards was as much the consequence of accident as design and more your fault than his and it shall not with my knowledge be cruelly visited upon him it shall not indeed with this emphatic repetition of his concluding words the young lord turned upon his heel but before he had reached the adjoining room he turned back again and said with even greater vehemence than he had displayed before i do believe now upon my honor i do believe that the sister is as virtuous and modest a young lady as she is a handsome one and of the brother i say this that he acted as her brother should and in a manly and spirited manner and i only wish with all my heart and soul that any one of us came out of this manner half as well as he does so saying lord federic very soft walked out of the room leaving some Ralph Nicolby and some albury in most unpleasant astonishment is this your pupil asked Ralph softly or has he come fresh from some country parson green fools take these fits sometimes replied some albury hawk biking his lip and pointed to the door leave him to me Ralph exchanged a familiar look with his old acquaintance for they had suddenly grown confidential again in this alarming surprise and he took his way home thoughtfully and slowly while these things were being said and done and long before they were concluded the omnibus had disgorged mr. Creavy and her escort and they had arrived at her own door now the good nature of the little miniature painter would by no means allow of smikes walking back again until he had been previously refreshed with just a sip of something comfortable and a mixed biscuit or so and smike entertaining no objection either to the sip of something comfortable or the mixed biscuit but considering on the contrary that they will be a very pleasant preparation for a walk to bow it fell out that he delayed much longer than he originally intended and that it was some half hour after dusk when he set forth on his journey home there was no likelihood of his losing his way for it lay quite straight before him and he walked into time with Nicholas and back alone almost every day so mr. Creavy and he shook hands with mutual confidence and being charged with more kind remembrances to mrs. and miss nickleby smike started off at the foot of Ludgate hill he turned a little out of the road to satisfy his curiosity by having a look at Newgate after staring up at the somber walls from the opposite side of the way with great care and dread for some minutes he turned back again into the old track and walked briskly through the city stopping now then to gaze in at the window of some particularly attractive shop then running for a little way then stopping again and so on as any other country lad might do he'd been gazing for a long time through a jeweler's window wishing he could take some of the beautiful trinkets home as a present and imagining what delight they would afford if he could when the clocks struck three quarters past eight roused by the sound he hurried on at a very quick pace and was crossing the corner of a by-street when he felt himself violently brought to with a jerk so sudden that he was obliged to cling to a lamp post to save himself from falling at the same moment a small boy clung tight around his leg and a shrill cry of here he is father hooray vibrated in his ears smike knew that voice too well he cast his despairing eyes downward towards the form from which it had proceeded and shuddering from head to foot looked around mr. squares had hooked him in the coat collar with the handle of his umbrella and was hanging on at the other end with all his might and main the cry of triumph proceeded from master wakford who regardless of all his kicks and struggles clung to him with the tenacity of a bulldog one glance showed him this and in that one glance the terrified creature became utterly powerless and unable to utter a sound ears I go cried mr. squares gradually coming hand over hand down the umbrella and only unhooking it when he got tight hold of the victim's collar is a delicious go wakford my boy call up one of them coaches a couch father cried a little bit wakford yes a couch sir replied squares feasting his eyes upon the countenance of smike damn the expense let's have him in a couch what's he been a doing of asked a laborer with a hot of bricks against whom and fellow laborer mr. squares had backed on the first jerk of the umbrella everything replied mr. squares looking fixedly at his old pupil in a sort of rapturous trance everything running away sir joining him bloodthirsty attacks upon his master there's nothing that's bad that he hasn't done oh what a delicious go is in this here good lord the man looked from squares to smike but such mental faculties as the poor fellow possessed had utterly deserted him the coach came up master wakford entered squares pushed in his prize and following closer to his heels pulled up the glasses the coachman mounted his box and drove slowly off leaving the two bricklayers and an old apple woman and a time made little boy returning from an evening school who'd been the only witnesses of the scene to meditate upon it at their leisure mr. squares sat himself down on the opposite seat to the unfortunate smike and planting his hands firmly on his knees looked at him for some five minutes when seeming to recover from his chance he uttered a loud laugh and slapped his old people's face several times taking the right and left sides alternately it isn't a dream said squares that's real flesh and blood i know the feel of it and being quite assured of his good fortune by these experiments mr. squares administered a few boxes on the ear lest the entertainment should seem to partake of sameness and laughed louder and longer at every one your mother will be fit to jump out of her skin my boy when she hears of this said squares to his son how won't she though father replied master wakford to think said squares that you and me should be turning out of the street and come upon him at the very nick and that i should have him tight at only one cast of the umbrella as if i'd hooked him with a grappling on didn't i catch on his leg neither father said little wakford you did like a good and me boy said mr. squares patting his son's head and you shall have the best button over jacket and whisk it that the next new boy brings down as a reward of merit mind that you always keep on in the same pass and do them things that you see your father do and when you die you'll go right slap to heaven and no questions asked improving the occasion in these words mr. squares pat it his son's head again and then pat it smikes but harder and inquired in a bantering tone how he find himself by this time i must go home replied smike looking wildly around oh to be sure you must you're about right there reply mr. squares you'll go home very soon you will you'll find yourself with a peaceful village of do the boys in yorkshire in something under a week's time my young friend and the next time you get away from there i give you leave to keep away where's the clothes you run off in you ungrateful robber so mr. squares in a severe voice smike glanced the neat attire which the care of nicolas have provided for him and wrung his hands do you know that i could hang you up outside of the old bayley for making away with them articles of property said squares do you know that it's a hanging matter and i ain't quite certain from where it ain't a matnatomy one besides to walk off with upwards of a valley of five bound from a dwelling house hey do you know that what do you suppose with the worth of them clothes you add do you know that that wellington boot new war cost eight and twenty shillings when it was a pair and the shoes seven and six but you came to the right shop for mercy when you came to me and thank your stars as it is me as has got to serve you with the article anybody not in mr. squares his confidence would suppose that he was quite out of article in question instead of having a large stock on hand ready for all comers nor would the opinion of skeptical persons have undergone much alteration when he followed up the remark by poking smike in the chest with the federal of his umbrella and dealing a smart char of blows with the ribs of the same instrument upon his head and shoulders i never thrashed a boy in an acne coach before said mr. squares when he stopped to rest there's inconvenience in it but the novelty gives us a sort of relish to poor smike he warded off the blows as well as he could and now shrunk into a corner of the coach with his head resting upon his hands and his elbows on his knees he was stunned and stupefied and had no more idea than a act of his would enable him to escape from the all-powerful squares now that he had no friends to speak to or to advise with then he had had in all the weary years of his Yorkshire life which preceded the arrival of Nicholas the journey seemed endless street after street was entered and left behind and still they went jolting on at last mr. squares began to thrust his head out of the window every half a minute and a ball of a variety of directions to the coachman and after passing with some difficulty through several mean streets which the appearance of the houses and the bad state of the road denoted to have been recently built mr. square suddenly tugged at the check string with all his might and cried stop what are you pulling a man's arm or four said the coachman looking angrily down that's the house replied squares the second of them forward it allows his one-story eye with green shutters there's blast plate on the door with the name of snorly couldn't you say that without wrenching a man's limb off his body required the coachman no bold squares say another word and I'll summons you for having a broken window stop obedient to this direction the coach stopped at mr. snorly's door mr. snorly baby remembered as the sleek and sanctified gentleman who confided two sons in law to the parental care of mr. squares as narrated in the fourth chapter of this history mr. snorly's house was on the extreme borders of some new settlements adjoining summer's town and mr. squares had taken lodgings there in for a short time as his stay was longer than usual and the Saracen having experience of master whackford's appetite had declined to receive him on any other terms than as a full-grown customer here we are said squares hurrying smike into the little parlor where mr. snorly and his wife were taking a lobster supper here's the faker the fellow the rebel the monster of unthinkfulness what the boy that ran away cried snorly resting his knife and fork upright on the table and opening his eyes to their full width the very boy said squares putting his fist close to smike's nose and drawing it away again and repeating the process several times with a vicious aspect if there wasn't a lady present i've fed him such a never mind i'll owe it him and here mr. squares related how and in what manner and when and where he had picked up the runaway it's clear that there's been a bit of providence in it sir said mr. snorly casting on his eyes with an air of humility and elevating his fork with a bit of lobster on the top of it towards the ceiling providence is against him no doubt replied mr. squares scratching his nose of course that was to be expected anybody might have known that heart-heartedness and evil doing will never prosper sir said mr. snorly never was such a thing known rejoin squares taking a little roll of notes from his pocketbook to see that they were all safe i've been mr. snorly so mr. squares when he had sat his side himself upon this point i've been that chap's benefactor feeder teacher and clothe i've been that chap's classical commercial mathematical philosophical and trigonometrical friend my son my only son wackford has been his brother mrs. squares has been his mother grandmother aunt oh i may say uncle too all in one she never cotton to anybody except them two engaging and delightful boys of yours as she cotton to this chap what's my return what's come up in milk of human kindness it turns into curdsome way when i look at him will it may sir said mrs. snorly oh well it may sir where has he been all this time in class norly as he'd been living with ah sir into post squares confronting him again have you been a living with that there devilish nickel piece sir but no threats or cuffs could elicit from smike one word of reply to this question for he had internally resolved that he would rather perish in the wretched prison to which he was again about to be consigned than utter one syllable which could involve his first and true friend he had already called to mind the strict injunctions of secrecy as to his past life which nicolas had laid upon him when they traveled from yorkshire and a confused and perplexed idea that his benefactor might have committed some terrible crime in bringing him away which would render him liable to heavy punishment if detected had contributed in some degree to reduce him to his present state of apathy and terror such were the thoughts if divisions so imperfect and undefined as those which wandered through his enfeebled reign the term can be applied which were present to the mind of smike and rendered him deaf for like to intimidation and persuasion finding every effort useless mr. squares conducted him to a little back room upstairs where he was to pass the night and taking the precaution of removing his shoes and coat and waistcoat and also of locking the door on the outside lest he should muster up sufficient energy to make an attempt at escape that worthy gentleman left him to his meditations what those meditations were and how the poor creature's heart sunk within him when he thought what did he for a moment cease to think of his late home and the dear friends and familiar faces with which he was associated cannot be told to prepare the mind for such a heavy sleep its growth must be stopped by rigor and cruelty and childhood there must be years of misery and suffering lightened by no ray of hope the chords of the heart which beat a quick response to the voice of gentleness and affection must have rusted and broken in their secret places and bear the lingering echo of no old word of love or kindness gloomy indeed it must have been the short day and dull the long long twilight preceding such a night of intellect as his there were voices which would have roused him even then but their welcome tones could not penetrate there and he crept to bed the same listless hopeless blighted creature that nicholas had first found him at the Yorkshire school end of chapter 38 recording by Simon Evers chapter 39 of Nicholas Nicolby by Charles Dickens this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Simon Evers Nicholas Nicolby by Charles Dickens chapter 39 in which another old friend encounters Mike very opportunely entered to some purpose the night fraught with so much bitterness to one poor soul had given place to a bright and cloudless summer morning when a north country mail coach traversed with cheerful noise the yet silent streets of Islington and giving brisk note of its approach with the lively winding of the guard's horn clattered onward to its halting place hard by the post office the only outside passenger was a burly honest looking countryman on the box who with his eyes fixed upon the dome of st. Paul's cathedral appeared so wrapped in admiring wonder as to be quite insensible to all the bustle of getting out the bags and parcels until one of the coach windows being let sharply down he looked round and encountered a pretty female face which was just then thrust out see their lass pulled the countryman pointing towards the object of his admiration there be Paul's church he got to be a sizable one eb goodness john i shouldn't have thought it could have been half the size what a monster monster you about Roy there i reckon mrs brownie said the countryman good humorately as he came slowly down in his huge topcoat and what does they take your place to be not all over there you never come near it give you thrive for 12 months it's now but a post office ha ha they need to charge for double eye there's a post office what's i'll think of that he got it that's only a post office i'd like to see where the Lord Merrill London lives so saying john brownie for it was he opened the coach door and tapping mrs brownie late misprice on the cheek as he looked in burst into a boisterous fit of laughter we said john down my bootings if she ain't been asleep again she's been asleep all night and was all yesterday except for a minute or two now and then replied john brownie's choice and i was very sorry when she woke for she's been so cross the subject of these remarks was a slumbering figure so muffled in shawl and cloak that it would have been a matter of impossibility to guess at its sex but for a brown beaver bonnet and green veil which ornamented the head and which having been crushed and flattened for 250 miles in that particular angle of the vehicle from which the ladies snores now proceeded presented an appearance so sufficiently ludicrous to have moved less risible muscles than those of john brownie's ruddy face. although cried john twitching one end of the dragged veil come wake up willy after several burrowings into the old corner and many exclamations of impatience and fatigue the figure struggled into a sitting posture and there under a mass of crumpled beaver and surrounded by a semi-circle of blue curlpapers were the delicate features of miss fanny squares oh tilde! cried miss squares how you've been kicking of me through this blessed night huh well i do like that replied her friend laughing when you've had nearly the whole coach to yourself don't deny it tilde! said miss squares impressively because you have and it's no use to go attempting to say you haven't you might have noted in your sleep tilde but i haven't closed my eyes for a single wink and so i think i am to be believed with which reply miss squares adjusted to the bonnet and veil which nothing but supernatural interference and an utter suspension of nature's laws could have reduced to any shape or form and evidently flattering herself that it looked uncommonly neat brushed off the sandwich crumbs and bits of biscuit which had accumulated in her lap and availing herself of John Rowdy's proffered arm descended from the coach oh! said John when a hackney coach had been called and the ladies and the luggage hurried in gank to the Sarah's Ed, ma'am to the weir cried the coachman Lord Mr. Brody! Interrupted miss squares the idea Sarah's and Ed Charlie said John i know it was something about Sarah's son's Ed does it all that oh i i know that replied the coachman gruffly as he banged at the door do they really remonstrated miss squares we should be taken for i don't know what let them take us as they finders said John Brody we don't come to London to do not but joy ourselves hope not Mr. Brody replied miss squares looking singularly dismal while then said John it's no matter i've only been a married man four days a kind of poor old father dine and putting it off here be a wedding party broide and broidsmaid and the groom if i'm on don't dare enjoy himself now when oughty eh drag it all that's what i want at all but he might begin to enjoy himself at once and lose no time mr. Brody gave his wife a hearty kiss and succinct resting another from his squares after immediately resistance of scratching and struggling on the part of that young lady which was not quite over when they reached the Sarah's head here the party straightway retired to rest the refreshment of sleep being necessary after so long a journey and here they met again about noon to a substantial breakfast spread by direction of mr. John Brody in a small private room upstairs commanding an uninterrupted view of the stables to have seen miss squares now divested of the brown beaver the green veil and the blue curlpapers and a raid in all the virgin splendor of a white frock and spencer with a white muslin bonnet and an imitative damask rose in full bloom on the side here thereof her luxuriant crop of hair arranged in curls so tight that it was impossible that they could come out by any accident and her bonnet cap trimmed with little damask roses which might be supposed to be so many promising seans of the sprig rose to have seen all this and to have seen the broad damask belt matching both the family rose and the little roses which encircled her slender waist and by happy ingenuity took off from the shortness of the spencer behind to beheld all this and to have taken further into account the coral bracelets rather short of beads and with a very visible black string which clasped her wrists and the coral necklace which rested on her neck supporting outside her frock a lonely cornelian heart typical of her own disengaged affections to have contemplated all these mute but expressive appeals to the purest feelings of our nature might have thawed the frost of age and added new and indistinguishable fuel to the fire of youth the waiter was touched waiter as he was he had human passions and feelings and he looked very hard at Ms. Squires as he handed the muffins is asked Ms. Squires with dignity biggie pardon miss my pa repeated Ms. Squires is he in in where miss in here in the house replied Ms. Squires my pa Mr. Wackford Squires he's stopping here is he at home I didn't know there was any jittle bit of that name in the house miss replied the waiter there may be in the coffee room maybe very pretty in this indeed here was Ms. Squires who had been depending all the way to London upon showing her friends how much at home she would be and how much respectful notice her name and connections would excite told that her father might be there as if he was a fella observed Ms. Squires with emphatic indignation you better inquire one said John Brydie and oh no another pigeon pie with dang that chap what a John looking to the empty dish as the waiter retired so I think oh there's a pie three young pigeons and a trophally manner of steak and a cross so light that you don't know where it's been in your mouth and when it's gone what how many pies goes to a breakfast after a short interval which John the ham and a cold round of beef the waiter returned with another pie and the information that Mr. Squires was not stopping in the house but he that he came every day and that directly he arrived he should be shown upstairs with this he retired and he had not retired too much when he returned with Mr. Squires and his hopeful son why you'd have thought of this said Mr. Squires when he had saluted the party and received some private family intelligence from his daughter who indeed Pa replied the young lady spitefully but you see Tilda is married at last an oyster and threat for a sort of London school moisture said John vigorously attacking the pie one of them things that young men do when they get married returns squares and has run through with their money like nothing at all how much better wouldn't it be now to save it up for the education of any little boys for instance they come on you said Mr. Squires in a moralizing way before you're aware of it minded upon me well he pick up it said John I want myself return squares but if you just let little whack foot tuck into something fat I'll be obliged to you give it in his fingers else a waiter charges it on and there's lots of profit on this sort of vitals without that if you're the waiter coming sir shove it in your pocket and look out the window do you hear I'm away father replied the dutiful whackford well said Squires turning to his daughter it's your turn to be married next you must make haste oh I'm in no hurry said Miss. Squires very sharply no Fanny cried her old friend with some archeness no Tilda replied Miss. Squires shaking her head vehemently I can wait soak on the young man it seems Fanny observed Mrs. Friar Bridey they drawed into it by me Tilda reported Miss. Squires no return to a friend that's exceedingly true the sarcastic turn of this reply might have provoked a rather acrimonious retort from Miss. Squires who besides being of a constitutionally vicious temper aggravated just now by travel and recent jolting was somewhat irritated by old recollections and the failure of her own designs upon Mr. Bridey and the acrimonious retort might have led to a great many other retorts which might have led to heaven knows what if the subject of conversation had not been at that precise moment accidentally changed by Mr. Squires himself what do you think said that gentleman who do you suppose we've laid hands on whackford and me pa not Mr. Miss. Squires was unable to finish the sentence but Mrs. Bridey did it for her and added Nickleby no said Squires but next door to him though you can't mean smike cried Miss. Squires clapping her hands yes I can though rejoined her father I've got him hard and fast what exclaimed John Browdy pushing his way's place got that poor don scoundrel where why the top back room at my lodging replied Squires with him on one side and the key on the other have I lodging these got system that they're lodging ha ha ha the schoolmeister again all England give us the on man I'm damned but I must shake thee by the on for that cut him in at thy lodging yes replied Squires staggering in his chair under the congratulatory blow on the chest which the stout Yorkshireman dealt him thank ye don't do it again you mean it kindly I know it but it hurts rather yes there he is that's not so bad is it bad replied John Browdy to leave to scare him under here tell on I thought it would surprise you a bit said Squires rubbing his hands it was pretty neatly done and pretty quick too I'll worry it required John sitting down close to him tell us all about it one come quick although he could not keep pace with John Browdy's impatience Mr. Squires related the lucky chance by which Smyke had fallen into his hands as quickly as he could and except when he was interrupted by the admiring remarks of his auditors paused not in the recital until he brought it to an end for fear he should give me the slip by any chance observed to Squires when he had finished looking very cunning I've taken three outsides for tomorrow morning for Wackford and him and me I have arranged to leave the accounts of the new boys to the agent did you see so it's very lucky you come today you're you'd have missed us and as it is unless you could come and tea with me tonight we shan't see anything more of you before we go away don't say another word return the Yorkshman shaking by the hand we come if it was 20 mile now would you though return to Mr. Squires who had not expected quite such a ready acceptance of his invitation or he would have considered twice before he gave it John Browdy's under reply was another squeeze of the hand and an assurance that they would not begin to see London till tomorrow so that it might be at Mr. Snorley's at six o'clock without fail and after some further conversation Mr. Squires and his son departed during the remainder of the day Mr. Browdy was in a very odd and excitable state bursting occasionally into an explosion of laughter and then taking up his hat and running into the coachyard to have it out by himself he was very restless too constantly walking in and out and snapping his fingers and dancing scraps of uncouth country dances and in short conducting himself in such a very extraordinary manner that Miss Squires opined he was going mad and begging her dear children not to distress herself communicated her suspicions in so many words Mrs. Browdy however without discovering any great alarm observed that she'd seen him so once before and that although he was almost sure to be ill after it it would not be anything very serious and therefore he was better left alone the result proved her to be perfectly for correct for while they were all sitting in Mr. Snorley's parlour that night and just as it was beginning to get dusk John Browdy was taken so ill and seized with such an alarming dizziness in the head that the whole company were thrown into the utmost consternation his good lady indeed was the only person present who retained a presence of mind enough to observe that if you were allowed to lie down on Mr. Squires' bed for an hour or so and left entirely to himself he would be sure to recover again almost as quickly as he'd been taken ill nobody could refuse to try the effect of so reasonable a proposal before sending for a surgeon accordingly John was supported upstairs with great difficulty being a monstrous weight and regularly tumbling down two steps every time they hoisted an hour up three and being laid on the bed was left in charge of his wife who after a short interval reappeared in the parter with the gratifying intelligence that he'd fallen fast asleep now the fact was that at that particular moment John Browdy was sitting on the bed with the reddest face ever seen cramming the corner of the pillow into his mouth to prevent his roaring out loud with laughter he had no sooner succeeded in suppressing this emotion than he stepped off his shoes and creeping to the adjoining room where the prisoner was confined turned to the key which was on the outside and darting in covered Smyke's mouth with his huge hand before he could utter a sound. Art's bobs, does they not know me, man? whispered the auctioneer to the bewildered lad. Browdy, Chappers met thee after the schoolmaster was banged. Yes, yes, cried Smyke, oh, help me! Help thee! replied John, stopping his mouth again the instant he had said this much they didn't need help if thee weren't as silly youngsters ever draw breath what did he come here for, then? He brought me, oh, he brought me, cried Smyke. Brought thee, replied John, why didn't he punch his head or lay thyself down a kick and squeal out for the place? I've had looked a dozen such as him when I was young as thee. But thee bowiest of poor, broken dawn, Chapp, said John sadly, and God forgive me for bragging all one of his greakest creatures. Smyke opened his mouth to speak, but John Browdy stopped him. Stand still, said the auctioneer, and don't speak of morsel or talk till I tell ye. With his caution John Browdy shook his head significantly, and, drawing a screwdriver from his pocket, took off the box of the lock in a very deliberate and workman-like manner, and laid it together with the implement on the floor. See there, said John, thou be thy doing. Now, go away! Smyke looked vacantly at him as if unable to comprehend his meaning. I say, go away! repeated John hastily. Does thee know where thou livest? Thou dost? Will. Are yon thy claws or schoolmasters? Mine! replied Smyke, as the auctioneer hurried him to the adjoining room and pointed out a pair of shoes and a coat which were lying on a chair. Arm with him, said John, forcing the wrong arm to the wrong sleeve, and winding the tails of the coat round the fugitive's neck. Now follow me, and when thee getest outside door, turn to the right, and they won't see thee pass. But he'll hear me shut the door, replied Smyke, trembling from head to foot. Thou don't shut it at all, retorted John Browdy. Dang it, thee be it a fairer of the schoolmaster taking cold, I hope. No, no, said Smyke, his teeth chattering in his head, but he brought me back before him will again. He will indeed. He will, he will, replied John impatiently. He won't, he won't. Look he, I want to do this neighborly like, and let them think thee gotten away the self. But if he comes out all that parlor a while as they're clearing off, he might have mercy on his old bones, for I won't. If he phones it out soon after, I'll put thee on a wrong scent, I warrant he. But if he keeps the good out, thee be it all before thou's noise thee's gotten off. Come! Smyke, who comprehended just enough of this to know it was intended as encouragement, prepared to follow with tottering steps, when John whispered in his ear, they'll just tell young master that I was sploiced to Tilly Price, had to be heard on at the Saracen by Lather, and that I'd been jealous of him. Dang it, I'd like to boost when I think of that night. God, I think he's seen ye now, a-boudring away at the thin bread and butter. It was rather a tick-less recollection for John just then, for he was within an ace of breaking out into a loud gaffore. Resturning himself, however, just in time by great effort, he delighted downstairs, hauling Smyke behind him, and placing himself close to the parlor door to confront the first person that might come out, signed to him to make off. Having got so far, Smyke needed to know second bidding, opening the house door gently, and casting a look of mingled gratitude and terror at his deliverer, he took the direction which had been indicated to him, and sped away like the wind. The Yorkshaman remained on his post for a few minutes, but, finding that there was no pause in the confrontation inside, crept back again unheard, and stood, listening over the stair rail, for a full hour. Everything remaining perfectly quiet, he got into Mrs. Squire's bed, once more, and, drawing the clothes over his head, laughed till he was nearly smothered. If there could only have been somebody by to see how the bed clothes shook, and to see the Yorkshaman's great red face and round head appear above the sheets every now and then, like some jovial monster coming to the surface to breathe, and once more dived down convulsed with the laughter which came bursting forth afresh, that somebody would have been scarcely less amused than John Browdy himself.