Part 3 (1/2)

'Oh! that doesn't matter at all,' replied Squeers 'We don't consider the boys' appetites at our establishment' This was strictly true; they did not

'Every wholesome luxury, sir, that Yorkshi+re can afford,' continued Squeers; 'every beautiful moral that Mrs Squeers can instil; every-in short, every comfort of a home that a boy could wish for, will be theirs, Mr Snawley'

'I should wish their morals to be particularly attended to,' said Mr Snawley

'I a hiht shop for morals, sir'

'You are a moral man yourself,' said Mr Snawley

'I rather believe I am, sir,' replied Squeers

'I have the satisfaction to know you are, sir,' said Mr Snawley 'I asked one of your references, and he said you were pious'

'Well, sir, I hope I am a little in that line,' replied Squeers

'I hope I am also,' rejoined the other 'Could I say a feords with you in the next box?'

'By all rin 'My dears, will you speak to your new playfellow ahis name is,-a Taunton boy that, sir'

'Is he, indeed?' rejoined Mr Snawley, looking at the poor little urchin as if he were sooes doith e that he is a sitting upon now Each boy is required to bring, sir, two suits of clothes, six shi+rts, six pair of stockings, two nightcaps, two pocket-handkerchiefs, two pair of shoes, two hats, and a razor'

'A razor!' exclaimed Mr Snawley, as they walked into the next box 'What for?'

'To shave with,' replied Squeers, in a slow and measured tone

There was notin the manner in which they were said, to attract attention; for the schoolmaster and his companion looked steadily at each other for a few seconds, and then exchanged a verysar in his countenance an expression ofwithout any obvious reason was the e do you keep boys at your school then?' he asked at length

'Just as long as their friends ent in town, or until such time as they run away,' replied Squeers 'Let us understand each other; I see we may safely do so What are these boys;-natural children?'

'No,' rejoined Snawley, aze of the schoolht be,' said Squeers, coolly 'We have a good many of them; that boy's one'

'Him in the next box?' said Snawley

Squeers nodded in the affirmative; his companion took another peep at the little boy on the trunk, and, turning round again, looked as if he were quite disappointed to see him so ht it

'He is,' cried Squeers 'But about these boys of yours; you wanted to speak to me?'

'Yes,' replied Snawley 'The fact is, I am not their father, Mr Squeers I'm only their father-in-law'

'Oh! Is that it?' said the school what the devil you were going to send them to Yorkshi+re for Ha! ha! Oh, I understand now'

'You see I haveboys at hoht, I aht be led to squander it on them, which would be their ruin, you know'

'I see,' returned Squeers, throwing hi his hand

'And this,' resumed Snawley, 'has ood distance off, where there are no holidays-none of those ill-judged co home twice a year that unsettle children's h it a little-you coular, and no questions asked,' said Squeers, nodding his head

'That's it, exactly,' rejoined the other 'Morals strictly attended to, though'

'Strictly,' said Squeers

'Not tooho

'None, except a circular at Christmas, to say they never were so happy, and hope theycould be better,' said the father-in-law, rubbing his hands

'Then, as we understand each other,' said Squeers, 'will you allow hly virtuous, exemplary, and well-conducted man in private life; and whether, as a person whose business it is to take charge of youth, you place the strongest confidence in ious principles, and ability?'

'Certainly I do,' replied the father-in-law, reciprocating the schoolrin

'Perhaps you won't object to say that, if I make you a reference?'

'Not the least in the world'

'That's your sort!' said Squeers, taking up a pen; 'this is doing business, and that's what I like'

Having entered Mr Snawley's address, the schoolreeable office of entering the receipt of the first quarter's payment in advance, which he had scarcely co for Mr Squeers

'Here he is,' replied the schoolmaster; 'what is it?'

'Only ahimself, closely followed by Nicholas 'There was an advertise?'

'There was, sir This way, if you please,' said Squeers, who had by this tiot back to the box by the fire-place 'Won't you be seated?'

'Why, I think I will,' replied Ralph, suiting the action to the word, and placing his hat on the table before him 'This is my nephew, sir, Mr Nicholas Nickleby'

'How do you do, sir?' said Squeers

Nicholas bowed, said he was very well, and seemed very much astonished at the outward appearance of the proprietor of Dotheboys Hall: as indeed he was

'Perhaps you recollectnarrowly at the schoolmaster

'You paid me a small account at each of my half-yearly visits to town, for some years, I think, sir,' replied Squeers

'I did,' rejoined Ralph

'For the parents of a boy named Dorker, who unfortunately-'