Part 22 (2/2)

'No there is not, indeed, Miss Knag,' replied the substitute; 'and so I won't tell you no stories about it'

'Then why isn't there?' said Miss Knag

'Because there arn't no coals left out, and if I could make coals I would, but as I can't I won't, and so I make bold to tell you, Meue-fe violently into this dialogue

'By your leave, Mr Knag,' retorted the charwolad not to speak in this house, excepting when and where I' a female, sir, I should wish to knohat you considered yourself?'

'Ahis forehead 'A lad to find that you don't call yourself out of your name, sir,' said Mrs Blockson; 'and as I had tin children the day before yesterday was only seven weeks, and my little Charley fell down a airy and put his elber out, last Monday, I shall take it as a favour if you'll send nine shi+llings, for one week's work, to my house, afore the clock strikes ten toood wo the door wide open; Mr Knag, at the saroaned aloud

'What is the reatly disturbed by the sound

'Is he ill?' inquired Kate, really alar; 'a most melancholy history He was once most devotedly attached to-hem-to Madame Mantalini'

'Bless , 'and received great encouragement too, and confidently hoped to marry her He has a most romantic heart, Mrs Nickleby, as indeed-hem-as indeed all our family have, and the disappointment was a dreadful blow He is a wonderfully accomplished man-most extraordinarily accomplished-reads-hem-reads every novel that comes out; I mean every novel that-hem-that has any fashi+on in it, of course The fact is, that he did find so much in the books he read, applicable to his own misfortunes, and did find himself in every respect so much like the heroes-because of course he is conscious of his own superiority, as we all are, and very naturally-that he took to scorning everything, and becaenius; and I a another book'

'Another book!' repeated Kate, finding that a pause was left for so in great triumph; 'another book, in three volue to him, in all his little fashi+onable descriptions, to have the benefit of my-hem-of my experience, because, of course, few authors rite about such things can have such opportunities of knowing theh life, that the least allusion to business or worldly matters-like that woman just now, for instance-quite distracts hireat thing for him, because if he hadn't been disappointed he couldn't have written about blighted hopes and all that; and the fact is, if it hadn't happened as it has, I don't believe his genius would ever have co ht have become under more favourable circuloo up, her disclosures stopped here To judge fro the water warm, the last servant could not have been much accustomed to any other fire than St Anthony's; but a little brandy and water was aled with cold leg of mutton and bread and cheese, soon afterwards took leave; Kate a herself, all the way holi deeply abstracted in the shop; and Mrs Nickleby by debating within herself whether the dress, and Nickleby', or 'Mantalini, Nickleby, and Knag'

At this high point, Miss Knag's friendshi+p remained for three whole days,ladies who had never beheld such constancy in that quarter, before; but on the fourth, it received a check no less violent than sudden, which thus occurred

It happened that an old lord of great fa lady of no fa lady's sister, to witness the cere on two nuptial bonnets which had been ordered the day before, and Madah the speaking-pipe, which co darted hastily upstairs with a bonnet in each hand, and presented herself in the show-roo state of palpitation, intended to demonstrate her enthusiasm in the cause The bonnets were no sooner fairly on, than Miss Knag and Madame Mantalini fell into convulsions of adant appearance,' said Mada so exquisite in all

Now, the old lord, as a VERY old lord, said nothing, but ht, no less with the nuptial bonnets and their wearers, than with his own address in getting such a fine wo lady, as a very lively young lady, seeing the old lord in this rapturous condition, chased the old lord behind a cheval-glass, and then and there kissed hi lady looked, discreetly, another way

But, pending the salutation, Miss Knag, as tinged with curiosity, stepped accidentally behind the glass, and encountered the lively young lady's eye just at the verylady, in a pouting reat i a look of displeasure at Miss Knag, and s conte lady

'Ma'am,' said Mada creatureyesterday'

'Oh yes, do,' said the sister

'Of all things in the world, Madauidly on a sofa, 'I hate being waited upon by frights or elderly persons Let , whenever I come'

'By allcreature, by alllady, in the sareat admirer of beauty, must positively see her'

'She IS universally ad, send up Miss Nickleby You needn't return'

'I beg your pardon, Mada, tre

'You needn't return,' repeated the superior, sharply Miss Knag vanished without another word, and in all reasonable time was replaced by Kate, who took off the new bonnets and put on the old ones: blushi+ng veryladies were staring her out of countenance all the time

'Why, how you colour, child!' said the lord's chosen bride

'She is not quite so accustomed to her business, as she will be in a week or two,' interposed Madaracious s her some of your wicked looks, my lord,' said the intended

'No, no, no,' replied the old lord, 'no, no, I' to be married, and lead a new life Ha, ha, ha! a new life, a new life! ha, ha, ha!'

It was a satisfactory thing to hear that the old gentle to lead a new life, for it was pretty evident that his old one would not last hi reduced hi; it was soirl was too pretty for a ood looks a disqualification for the business,

'Not by anyago'

'You naughty creature,' said the lively lady, poking the peer with her parasol; 'I won't have you talk so How dare you?'

This playful inquiry was accompanied with another poke, and another, and then the old lord caught the parasol, and wouldn't give it up again, which induced the other lady to come to the rescue, and some very pretty sportiveness ensued

'You will see that those little alterations are made, Madame Mantalini,' said the lady 'Nay, you bad o first; I wouldn't leave you behind with that pretty girl, not for half a second I know you too well Jane, o first, and we shall be quite sure of him'

The old lord, evidently rotesque leer upon Kate as he passed; and, receiving another tap with the parasol for his wickedness, tottered downstairs to the door, where his sprightly body was hoisted into the carriage by two stout footets into a carriage without thinking of a hearse, I can't think There, take the things away,the whole scene with her eyes round, was only too happy to avail herself of the per's doreatly changed, however, during the short period of her absence In place of Miss Knag being stationed in her accustoreatness of Mada on a large box, bathed in tears, while three or four of the young ladies in close attendance upon her, together with the presence of hartshorn, vinegar, and other restoratives, would have borne ae fainted desperately

'Blesshastily forward, 'what is theviolent syry looks at Kate, applied ar and hartshorn, and said it was 'a shame'

'What is a shame?' demanded Kate 'What is the matter? What has happened? tell , all at once, bolt upright, to the great consternation of the assembled maidens; 'matter! Fie upon you, you nasty creature!'

'Gracious!' cried Kate, almost paralysed by the violence hich the adjective had been jerked out fro's closed teeth; 'have I offended you?'

'YOU offended , 'YOU! a chit, a child, an upstart nobody! Oh, indeed! Ha, ha!'

Now, it was evident, as Miss Knag laughed, that soly funny; and as the young ladies took their tone froh without a moment's delay, and nodded their heads a little, and smiled sarcastically to each other, as ood that was!