Part 10 (2/2)

'I have not been used to it, you know, 'Tilda,' said Miss Squeers, applying her hand to the left side of her sash

'You'll soon get the better of it, dear,' rejoined the friend While they were talking thus, the hungry servant brought in the tea-things, and, soon afterwards, somebody tapped at the room door

'There he is!' cried Miss Squeers 'Oh 'Tilda!'

'Hush!+' said 'Tilda 'Hem! Say, come in'

'Come in,' cried Miss Squeers faintly And in walked Nicholas

'Good-evening,' said that young gentleman, all unconscious of his conquest 'I understood froht,' interposed Miss Squeers 'Father don't tea with us, but you won't mind that, I dare say' (This was said archly) Nicholas opened his eyes at this, but he turned the , particularly, about anything just then-and went through the cererace, that that young lady was lost in adentle off the teapot lid, and looking in, to see how the tea was getting on

It wasfor one gentleence with perfect unconcern; and, being out of spirits, and not seeing any especial reason why he should hed involuntarily

As luck would have it, Miss Squeers's friend was of a playful turn, and hearing Nicholas sigh, she took it into her head to rally the lovers on their lowness of spirits

'But if it's caused bylady, 'don't o on just as you would if you were alone'

”Tilda,' said Miss Squeers, colouring up to the top row of curls, 'I am ashamed of you;' and here the two friends burst into a variety of giggles, and glanced from time to time, over the tops of their pocket-handkerchiefs, at Nicholas, who froradually fell into one of irrepressible laughter-occasioned, partly by the bare notion of his being in love with Miss Squeers, and partly by the preposterous appearance and behaviour of the two girls These two causes ofso keenly ridiculous, that, despite his hly exhausted

'Well,' thought Nicholas, 'as I am here, and seem expected, for so like a goose I may as well accommodate myself to the company'

We blush to tell it; but his youthful spirits and vivacity getting, for the tihts, he no sooner formed this resolution than he saluted Miss Squeers and the friend with great gallantry, and drawing a chair to the tea-table, began to make himself more at home than in all probability an usher has ever done in his employer's house since ushers were first invented

The ladies were in the full delight of this altered behaviour on the part of Mr Nickleby, when the expected swain arrived, with his hair very da, and a clean shi+rt, whereof the collar ether with a white waistcoat of similar dimensions, the chief ornament of his person

'Well, John,' said Miss Matilda Price (which, by-the-bye, was the narin that even the collar could not conceal

'I beg your pardon,' interposed Miss Squeers, hastening to do the honours 'Mr Nickleby-Mr John Browdie'

'Servant, sir,' said John, as soh, with a face and body rather above the due proportion than below it

'Yours to coes on the bread and butter

Mr Broas not a gentlerinned twice nition on every person in co in particular, and helped himself to food

'Old wooman awa', bean't she?' said Mr Browdie, with his mouth full

Miss Squeers nodded assent

Mr Browdie gave a grin of special width, as if he thought that really was soh at, and went to work at the bread and butter with increased vigour It was quite a sight to behold how he and Nicholas eet bread and butther ev'ry neight, I expect,at Nicholas a long time over the empty plate

Nicholas bit his lip, and coloured, but affected not to hear the re boisterously, 'they dean't put too much intiv'e eneaf Ho! ho! ho!'

'You are facetious, sir,' said Nicholas, scornfully

'Na; I dean't know,' replied Mr Browdie, 'but t'oother teacher, 'cod he wur a learn 'un, he wur' The recollection of the last teacher's leanness seeht, for he laughed until he found it necessary to apply his coat-cuffs to his eyes

'I don't knohether your perceptions are quite keen enough, Mr Browdie, to enable you to understand that your re passion, 'but if they are, have the goodness to-'

'If you say another word, John,' shrieked Miss Price, stopping her admirer's mouth as he was about to interrupt, 'only half a word, I'll never forgive you, or speak to you again'

'Weel, my lass, I dean't care aboot 'un,' said the corn-factor, bestowing a hearty kiss on Miss Matilda; 'let 'un gang on, let 'un gang on'

It now became Miss Squeers's turn to intercede with Nicholas, which she did with many symptoms of alarm and horror; the effect of the double intercession was, that he and John Browdie shook hands across the table withnature of the ceremonial, that Miss Squeers was overcome and shed tears

'What's the , 'Tilda,' replied Miss Squeers, sobbing

'There never was any danger,' said Miss Price, 'was there, Mr Nickleby?'

'None at all,' replied Nicholas 'Absurd'

'That's right,' whispered Miss Price, 'say so kind to her, and she'll soon coo into the little kitchen, and come back presently?'

'Not on any account,' rejoined Nicholas, quite alarmed at the proposition 'What on earth should you do that for?'

'Well,' said Miss Price, beckoning hiree of contempt-'you ARE a one to keep company'

'What do you mean?' said Nicholas; 'I am not a one to keep company at all-here at all events I can't make this out'

'No, nor I neither,' rejoined Miss Price; 'but men are always fickle, and alere, and alill be; that I can make out, very easily'

'Fickle!' cried Nicholas; 'what do you suppose? You don'tat all,' retorted Miss Price, pettishly 'Look at her, dressed so beautiful and looking so well-really ALMOST handsoot to do with her dressing beautifully or looking well?' inquired Nicholas

'Co a little though, for she was pretty, and a coquette too in her s, and she supposed him the property of soratified to think she hadit's a these last words aloud, she tripped away and rejoined the big Yorkshi+reible to Nicholas, who had no other distinct impression on his mind at the irl, and her friend Miss Price a pretty one; but he had not ti by this time swept up, and the candle snuffed, they sat down to play speculation

'There are only four of us, 'Tilda,' said Miss Squeers, looking slyly at Nicholas; 'so we had better go partners, two against two'

'What do you say, Mr Nickleby?' inquired Miss Price

'With all the pleasure in life,' replied Nicholas And so saying, quite unconscious of his heinous offence, he aamated into one common heap those portions of a Dotheboys Hall card of terms, which represented his own counters, and those allotted to Miss Price, respectively

'Mr Browdie,' said Miss Squeers hysterically, 'shall we ainst them?'