Part 13 (2/2)

The door of this deserted mansion Newman opened with a key which he took out of his hat-in which, by-the-bye, in consequence of the dilapidated state of his pockets, he deposited everything, and would most likely have carried his ed, he led the way into the interior of the loomy, and black, in truth it was, and sullen and dark were the roo with life and enterprise There was a wharf behind, opening on the Thaments of iron hoops, and staves of old casks, lay strewn about, but no life was stirring there It was a picture of cold, silent decay

'This house depresses and chills one,' said Kate, 'and seeht had fallen on it If I were superstitious, I should be almost inclined to believe that some dreadful crime had been perpetrated within these old walls, and that the place had never prospered since Honing and how dark it looks!'

'Lord, my dear,' replied Mrs Nickleby, 'don't talk in that way, or you'll frighten me to death'

'It is onlya smile

'Well, then, my love, I wish you would keep your foolish fancy to yourself, and not wake up MY foolish fancy to keep it company,' retorted Mrs Nickleby 'Why didn't you think of all this before-you are so careless-we ht have asked Miss La Creevy to keep us cos-but it alas the way, and was just the sa-' This was Mrs Nickleby's usual coh a dozen or so of complicated sentences addressed to nobody in particular, and into which she now launched until her breath was exhausted

Newman appeared not to hear these remarks, but preceded them to a couple of rooms on the first floor, which some kind of attempt had been made to render habitable In one, were a few chairs, a table, an old hearth-rug, and sorate In the other stood an old tent bedstead, and a few scanty articles of chamber furniture

'Well,to be pleased, 'now isn't this thoughtful and considerate of your uncle? Why, we should not have had anything but the bed we bought yesterday, to lie down upon, if it hadn't been for his thoughtfulness!'

'Very kind, indeed,' replied Kate, looking round

News did not say that he had hunted up the old furniture they saw, from attic and cellar; or that he had taken in the halfpennyworth of milk for tea that stood upon a shelf, or filled the rusty kettle on the hob, or collected the woodchips froed the coals But the notion of Ralph Nickleby having directed it to be done, tickled his fancy so ers in succession: at which perfor it to be in soout, did not reer, I think,' said Kate

'Is there nothing I can do?' asked New, thank you,' rejoined Miss Nickleby

'Perhaps, s would like to drink our healths,' said Mrs Nickleby, fu in her reticule for so, and res if you offered it'

Newentleman than the miserable wretch he see for a les to speak but is uncertain what to say, quitted the roo echoes of the heavy house-door, closing on its latch, reverberated dis, Kate felt half te him to remain a little while; but she was ashas was on his road homewards

CHAPTER 12

Whereby the Reader will be enabled to trace the further course of Miss fanny Squeer's Love, and to ascertain whether it ran smooth or otherwise

It was a fortunate circumstance for Miss fanny Squeers, that when her worthy papa returned hoht of the sone' to observe the numerous tokens of extreme vexation of spirit which were plainly visible in her countenance Being, however, of a rather violent and quarrelsoht have fallen out with her, either on this or soht and prudence highly commendable, kept a boy up, on purpose, to bear the first brunt of the good gentle vented itself in a variety of kicks and cuffs, subsided sufficiently to ado to bed Which he did with his boots on, and an ury servant attended Miss Squeers in her own roo to custom, to curl her hair, perform the other little offices of her toilet, and adet up, for the purpose; for Miss Squeers was quite lazy enough (and sufficiently vain and frivolous withal) to have been a fine lady; and it was only the arbitrary distinctions of rank and station which prevented her froht, miss!' said the handmaiden 'I declare if it isn't a pity and a shaue!' replied Miss Squeers wrathfully

So at all surprised at any outbreak of ill-te a half-perception of what had occurred in the course of the evening, she changed her reeable, and proceeded on the indirect tack

'Well, I couldn't help saying, miss, if you was to kill me for it,' said the attendant, 'that I never see nobody look so vulgar as Miss Price this night'

Miss Squeers sighed, and co in hted to see the i a friend of your'n, and all; but she do dress herself out so, and go on in such a et noticed, that-oh-well, if people only saw themselves!'

'What do you lass, where, like most of us, she saw-not herself, but the reflection of soe in her own brain 'How you talk!'

'Talk, rammar, only to see how she tosses her head,' replied the handmaid

'She DOES toss her head,' observed Miss Squeers, with an air of abstraction

'So vain, and so very-very plain,' said the girl

'Poor 'Tilda!' sighed Miss Squeers, coet to be admired,' pursued the servant 'Oh, dear! It's positive indelicate'

'I can't allow you to talk in that way, Phib,' said Miss Squeers ”Tilda's friends are low people, and if she don't know any better, it's their fault, and not hers'

'Well, but you know, miss,' said Phoebe, for which na abbreviation, 'if she was only to take copy by a friend-oh! if she only knerong she was, and would but set herself right by you, what a nice young woht be in time!'

'Phib,' rejoined Miss Squeers, with a stately air, 'it's not proper for me to hear these comparisons drawn; they make 'Tilda look a coarse improper sort of person, and it seems unfriendly in me to listen to them I would rather you dropped the subject, Phib; at the same time, I must say, that if 'Tilda Price would take pattern by somebody-not me particularly-'

'Oh yes; you, miss,' interposed Phib

'Well, me, Phib, if you will have it so,' said Miss Squeers 'I must say, that if she would, she would be all the better for it'

'So soirl mysteriously

'What do you mean?' deirl; 'I knohat I know; that's all'

'Phib,' said Miss Squeers dra yourself What is this dark mystery? Speak'

'Why, if you will have it, irl 'Mr John Browdie thinks as you think; and if he wasn't too far gone to do it creditable, he'd be very glad to be off with Miss Price, and on with Miss Squeers'

'Gracious heavens!' exclainity 'What is this?'

'Truth,but truth,' replied the artful Phib

'What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; 'on the brink of unconsciously destroying the peace and happiness of my own 'Tilda What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and desert their chosen intendeds for my sake?'