Part 11 (1/2)

The Yorkshi+reman assented-apparently quite overwhelmed by the new usher's impudence-and Miss Squeers darted a spiteful look at her friend, and giggled convulsively

The deal fell to Nicholas, and the hand prospered

'We intend to win everything,' said he

”Tilda HAS won so she didn't expect, I think, haven't you, dear?' said Miss Squeers, ht, love,' replied Miss Price, affecting to take the question in a literal sense

'How dull you are tonight!' sneered Miss Squeers

'No, indeed,' replied Miss Price, 'I a YOU see her lips, and tre with very jealousy 'Oh no!'

'That's well,' re out of curl, dear'

'Never mind me,' tittered Miss Squeers; 'you had better attend to your partner'

'Thank you for re her,' said Nicholas 'So she had'

The Yorkshi+reman flattened his nose, once or twice, with his clenched fist, as if to keep his hand in, till he had an opportunity of exercising it upon the features of soentlenation, that the gust of wind raised by the multitudinous curls in motion, nearly blew the candle out

'I never had such luck, really,' exclaimed coquettish Miss Price, after another hand or two 'It's all along of you, Mr Nickleby, I think I should like to have you for a partner always'

'I wish you had'

'You'll have a bad wife, though, if you alin at cards,' said Miss Price

'Not if your wish is gratified,' replied Nicholas 'I aood one in that case'

To see how Miss Squeers tossed her head, and the corn-factor flattened his nose, while this conversation was carrying on! It would have been worth a small annuity to have beheld that; let alone Miss Price's evident joy atthem jealous, and Nicholas Nickleby's happy unconsciousness ofto ourselves, it seeood-humouredly round the table as he took up the cards for a fresh deal

'You do it so well,' tittered Miss Squeers, 'that it would be a pity to interrupt, wouldn't it, Mr Browdie? He! he! he!'

'Nay,' said Nicholas, 'we do it in default of having anybody else to talk to'

'We'll talk to you, you know, if you'll say anything,' said Miss Price

'Thank you, 'Tilda, dear,' retorted Miss Squeers, majestically

'Or you can talk to each other, if you don't choose to talk to us,' said Miss Price, rallying her dear friend 'John, why don't you say so?'

'Say summat?' repeated the Yorkshi+relu the table heavily with his fist, 'what I say's this-Dangwhoa whipster look sharp out for a brokken head, next time he cums under my hond'

'Mercy on us, what's all this?' cried Miss Price, in affected astonishment

'cum whoam, tell 'e, cum whoam,' replied the Yorkshi+reman, sternly And as he delivered the reply, Miss Squeers burst into a shower of tears; arising in part from desperate vexation, and in part from an impotent desire to lacerate soer-nails

This state of things had been brought about by divers ht it about, by aspiring to the high state and condition of being ; Miss Price had brought it about, by indulging in three motives of action: first, a desire to punish her friend for laying claiood title: secondly, the gratification of her own vanity, in receiving the co reat danger he ran, in deferring the celebration of their expected nuptials; while Nicholas had brought it about, by half an hour's gaiety and thoughtlessness, and a very sincere desire to avoid the i at all to Miss Squeers So the means employed, and the end produced, were alike theladies will look forward to being married, and will jostle each other in the race to the altar, and will avail the their own attractions to the best advantage, down to the very end of ti

'Why, and here's fanny in tears now!' exclaimed Miss Price, as if in fresh amazement 'What can be the matter?'

'Oh! you don't know, miss, of course you don't know Pray don't trouble yourself to inquire,' said Miss Squeers, producing that change of countenance which children calla face

'Well, I'm sure!' exclaimed Miss Price

'And who cares whether you are sure or not,another face

'You are monstrous polite, ma'am,' said Miss Price

'I shall not come to you to take lessons in the art, ma'am!' retorted Miss Squeers

'You needn't take the trouble to make yourself plainer than you are, ma'am, however,' rejoined Miss Price, 'because that's quite unnecessary'

Miss Squeers, in reply, turned very red, and thanked God that she hadn't got the bold faces of soratulated herself upon not being possessed of the envious feeling of other people; whereupon Miss Squeerswith low persons; in which Miss Price entirely coincided: observing that it was very true indeed, and she had thought so a long tinity, 'I hate you'

'Ah! There's no love lost between us, I assure you,' said Miss Price, tying her bonnet strings with a jerk 'You'll cry your eyes out, when I'one; you know you will'

'I scorn your words, Minx,' said Miss Squeers

'You pay reat cohter, curtseying very low 'Wish you a very good-night, ma'am, and pleasant drea benediction, Miss Price swept froed with Nicholas, at parting, that peculiarly expressive scohich the cut-and-thrust counts, in ain

They were no sooner gone, than Miss Squeers fulfilled the prediction of her quonda vent to avarious dis on for a few seconds, rather doubtful what to do, but feeling uncertain whether the fit would end in his being e that either infliction would be equally agreeable, he walked off very quietly while Miss Squeers wasin her pocket-handkerchief

'This is one consequence,' thought Nicholas, when he had groped his way to the dark sleeping-room, 'of my cursed readiness to adapt myself to any society in which chance carries ht have done, this would not have happened'

He listened for a few lad,' he ht of this dreadful place, or the presence of its vile master I have set these people by the ears, and made t enemies, where, Heaven knows, I needed none Well, it is a just punishotten, even for an hour, what is aroundof weary-hearted sleepers, and crept into his poor bed

CHAPTER 10

How Mr Ralph Nickleby provided for his Niece and Sister-in-Law

On the secondafter the departure of Nicholas for Yorkshi+re, Kate Nickleby sat in a very faded chair raised upon a very dusty throne in Miss La Creevy's roo for the portrait upon which she was engaged; and towards the full perfection of which, Miss La Creevy had had the street-door case brought upstairs, in order that she ht be the better able to infuse into the counterfeit countenance of Miss Nickleby, a bright salinally hit upon while executing the ht salmon flesh-tint was considered, by Miss La Creevy's chief friends and patrons, to be quite a novelty in art: as indeed it was