Part 8 (1/2)

'Whatever he likes that's present,' rejoined Squeers, in a enerosity

'What do you say, Mr Knuckleboy?' inquired Mrs Squeers

'I'll take a little of the pie, if you please,' replied Nicholas 'A very little, for I'ry'

Well, it's a pity to cut the pie if you're not hungry, isn't it?' said Mrs Squeers 'Will you try a bit of the beef?'

'Whatever you please,' replied Nicholas abstractedly; 'it's all the saracious on receiving this reply; and nodding to Squeers, asman knew his station, assisted Nicholas to a slice of meat with her own fair hands

'Ale, Squeery?' inquired the lady, winking and frowning to give him to understand that the question propounded, hether Nicholas should have ale, and not whether he (Squeers) would take any

'Certainly,' said Squeers, re-telegraphing in the salassful, and being occupied with his own reflections, drank it, in happy innocence of all the foregone proceedings

'Uncommon juicy steak that,' said Squeers, as he laid down his knife and fork, after plying it, in silence, for soht a good large piece of it myself on purpose for-'

'For what!' exclaimed Squeers hastily 'Not for the-'

'No, no; not for theainst you came home Lor! you didn't think I could have made such a mistake as that'

'Uponto say,' said Squeers, who had turned pale

'You needn'theartily 'To think that I should be such a noddy! Well!'

This part of the conversation was rather unintelligible; but popular ru amiably opposed to cruelty to animals, not unfrequently purchased for boy consumption the bodies of horned cattle who had died a natural death; possibly he was apprehensive of having unintentionally devoured soentleirl with a hungry eye, Mrs Squeers retired to lock it up, and also to take into safe custody the clothes of the five boys who had just arrived, and ere half-way up the troublesoht of steps which leads to death's door, in consequence of exposure to the cold They were then regaled with a light supper of porridge, and stoay, side by side, in a small bedstead, to war hot after it, if their fancies set that hich it is not at all improbable they did

Mr Squeers treated himself to a stiff tumbler of brandy and water,for the dissolution of the sugar; and his alassful of the same compound This done, Mr and Mrs Squeers drew close up to the fire, and sitting with their feet on the fender, talked confidentially in whispers; while Nicholas, taking up the tutor's assistant, read the interesting legends in the ain, with as , as if he had been in a th, Mr Squeers yawned fearfully, and opined that it was high tiirl dragged in a sed them into a couch for Nicholas

'We'll put you into your regular bedroom tomorrow, Nickelby,' said Squeers 'Let me see! Who sleeps in Brooks's bed,'There's Jennings, little Bolder, Graymarsh, and what's his name'

'So there is,' rejoined Squeers 'Yes! Brooks is full'

'Full!' thought Nicholas 'I should think he was'

'There's a place somewhere, I know,' said Squeers; 'but I can't at this moment call to mind where it is However, we'll have that all settled to, mind'

'I shall be ready, sir,' replied Nicholas 'Good-night'

'I'll come in myself and show you where the well is,' said Squeers 'You'll always find a little bit of soap in the kitchen ; that belongs to you'

Nicholas opened his eyes, but not hisahen he once more turned back

'I don't know, I am sure,' he said, 'whose towel to put you on; but if you'll , Mrs Squeers will arrange that, in the course of the day My dear, don't forget'

'I'll take care,' replied Mrs Squeers; 'and et first wash The teacher ought always to have it; but they get the better of hied Mrs Squeers to bring away the brandy bottle, lest Nicholas should help hireat precipitation, they retired together

Nicholas, being left alone, took half-a-dozen turns up and down the roorowing gradually calmer, sat himself down in a chair, and ht, he would endeavour, for a tiht be in store for hi the helplessness of his ive his uncle no plea for deserting the sorew less desponding, and-so sanguine and buoyant is youth-even hoped that affairs at Dotheboys Hall ht yet prove better than they pro like renewed cheerfulness, when a sealed letter fell fro London, it had escaped his attention, and had not occurred to hiht back to his

'Dear me!' said Nicholas; 'what an extraordinary hand!'

It was directed to himself, ritten upon very dirty paper, and in such crareat difficulty andMan

I know the world Your father did not, or he would not have done me a kindness when there was no hope of return You do not, or you would not be bound on such a journey

If ever you want a shelter in London (don't be angry at this, I once thought I never should), they knohere I live, at the sign of the Crown, in Silver Street, Golden Square It is at the corner of Silver Street and Jaht Once, nobody was ashamed-never et hoear a whole coat now I have forgotten all one with theo near Barnard Castle, there is good ale at the King's Head Say you know e you for it You entlenified circumstances to record, but after he had folded this letter and placed it in his pocket-book, Nicholas Nickleby's eyes were diht have been taken for tears

CHAPTER 8

Of the Internal Economy of Dotheboys Hall

A ride of two hundred and odd miles in severe weather, is one of the best softeners of a hard bed that ingenuity can devise Perhaps it is even a sweetener of dreah couch of Nicholas, and whispered their airy nothings in his ear, were of an agreeable and happy kind He was li candle shone before his eyes, and a voice he had no difficulty in recognising as part and parcel of Mr Squeers, admonished him that it was time to rise

'Past seven, Nickleby,' said Mr Squeers

'Hasup in bed

'Ah! that has it,' replied Squeers, 'and ready iced too Now, Nickleby, come; tumble up, will you?'

Nicholas needed no further admonition, but 'tuht of the taper, which Mr Squeers carried in his hand

'Here's a pretty go,' said that gentleman; 'the pump's froze'

'Indeed!' said Nicholas, not ence

'Yes,' replied Squeers 'You can't wash yourself this '

'Not wash myself!' exclaimed Nicholas