Part 51 (2/2)

'Upon my word, my dear,' returned Mrs Nickleby, considerably startled, 'unless it was the gentle to the next house, I don't knohat it could possibly-'

'A-hem!' cried the sa of the throat, but in a kind of bellohich woke up all the echoes in the neighbourhood, and was prolonged to an extent which must have made the unseen bellower quite black in the face

'I understand it now,her hand on Kate's; 'don't be alarmed, hten anybody Let us give everybody their due, Kate; I a, Mrs Nickleby nodded her head, and patted the back of her daughter's hand, a greatvastly important if she chose, but had self-denial, thank Heaven; and wouldn't do it

'What do you mean, mama?' demanded Kate, in evident surprise

'Don't be flurried, arden-wall, 'for you see I'm not, and if it would be excusable in anybody to be flurried, it certainly would-under all the circumstances-be excusable in ned to attract our attention, ned to attract our attention,herself up, and patting her daughter's hand more blandly than before, 'to attract the attention of one of us Hem! you needn't be at all uneasy, my dear'

Kate looked very much perplexed, and was apparently about to ask for further explanation, when a shouting and scuffling noise, as of an elderly gentlereat violence, was heard to proceed from the same direction as the fore cucumber was seen to shoot up in the air with the velocity of a sky-rocket, whence it descended, tu over and over, until it fell at Mrs Nickleby's feet

This remarkable appearance was succeeded by another of a precisely sietable e di down; then, several cucuether; and, finally, the air was darkened by a shower of onions, turnip-radishes, and other s, and bu about, in all directions

As Kate rose froht her mother's hand to run with her into the house, she felt herself rather retarded than assisted in her intention; and following the direction of Mrs Nickleby's eyes, was quite terrified by the apparition of an old black velvet cap, which, by slow degrees, as if its wearer were ascending a ladder or pair of steps, rose above the wall dividing their garden froe, (which, like their oas a detached building,) and was gradually followed by a very large head, and an old face, in which were a pair of rey eyes: very wild, very wide open, and rolling in their sockets, with a dull, languishi+ng, leering look, ly to behold

'Mama!' cried Kate, really terrified for the moment, 'why do you stop, why do you lose an instant? Mama, pray come in!'

'Kate,back, 'how can you be so foolish? I'et through life, if you're such a coward as this? What do you want, sir?' said Mrs Nickleby, addressing the intruder with a sort of siarden?'

'Queen of ether, 'this goblet sip!'

'Nonsense, sir,' said Mrs Nickleby 'Kate, ed the stranger, with his head iht hand on his breast 'Oh, do sip the goblet!'

'I shall not consent to do anything of the kind, sir,' said Mrs Nickleby 'Pray, begone'

'Why is it,' said the old gentle his elbows on the wall, with asout of hy is it that beauty is always obdurate, even when admiration is as honourable and respectful as mine?' Here he smiled, kissed his hand, andto the bees, hen the honey season is over, and they are supposed to have been killed with brimstone, in reality fly to Barbary and lull the captive Moors to sleep with their drowsy songs? Or is it,' he added, dropping his voice al Cross having been lately seen, on the Stock Exchange at ate, in a riding-habit?'

'Mama,' murmured Kate, 'do you hear him?'

'Hush, my dear!' replied Mrs Nickleby, in the same tone of voice, 'he is very polite, and I think that was a quotation from the poets Pray, don't worry me so-you'll pinch my arm black and blue Go away, sir!'

'Quite away?' said the gentle look 'Oh! quite away?'

'Yes,' returned Mrs Nickleby, 'certainly You have no business here This is private property, sir; you ought to know that'

'I do know,' said the old gentleer on his nose, with an air of familiarity, most reprehensible, 'that this is a sacred and enchanted spot, where the ain-'waft ardens, and force the fruit and vegetables into premature existence That fact I am acquainted with But will you permit me, fairest creature, to ask you one question, in the absence of the planet Venus, who has gone on business to the Horse Guards, and would otherwise-jealous of your superior charms-interpose between us?'

'Kate,' observed Mrs Nickleby, turning to her daughter, 'it's very aard, positively I really don't knohat to say to this gentleht to be civil, you know'

'Dear mama,' rejoined Kate, 'don't say a word to him, but let us run away as fast as we can, and shut ourselves up till Nicholas corand, not to say conte to the old gentle eagerness, said: 'If you will conduct yourself, sir, like the gentlee and-and-appearance, (quite the counterpart of your grandpapa, Kate, my dear, in his best days,) and will put your question to me in plain words, I will answer it'

If Mrs Nickleby's excellent papa had borne, in his best days, a rese over the wall, he entleht so, for she ventured to glance at his living portrait with some attention, as he took off his black velvet cap, and, exhibiting a perfectly bald head,series of bows, each acco hi performance, he covered his head once more, pulled the cap very carefully over the tips of his ears, and resu his former attitude, said, 'The question is-'

Here he broke off to look round in every direction, and satisfy himself beyond all doubt that there were no listeners near assured that there were not, he tapped his nose several tih congratulating hi out his neck, said in a loud whisper, 'Are you a princess?'

'You area feint of retreating towards the house

'No, but are you?' said the old gentleman

'You know I am not, sir,' replied Mrs Nickleby

'Then are you any relation to the Archbishop of Canterbury?' inquired the old gentlereat anxiety, 'or to the Pope of Roive , but I was told you were niece to the Cohter-in-law to the Lord Mayor and Court of Common Council, which would account for your relationshi+p to all three'

'Whoever has spread such reports, sir,' returned Mrs Nickleby, with soreat liberties with my name, and one which I am sure my son Nicholas, if he are of it, would not allow for an instant The idea!' said Mrs Nickleby, drawing herself up, 'niece to the Co!'

'Pray, mama, come away!' whispered Kate

'”Pray rily, 'but that's just the way If they had said I was niece to a piping bullfinch, ould you care? But I have no sympathy,' whi'

'Tears!' cried the old gentleetic jurated his chin against the wall 'Catch the crystal globules-catch 'e wax on the top-seal 'em with a cupid-label 'em ”Best quality”-and stow 'em away in the fourteen binn, with a bar of iron on the top to keep the thunder off!'

Issuing these coed in their execution, he turned his velvet cap inside out, put it on with great dignity so as to obscure his right eye and three-fourths of his nose, and sticking his arms a-kimbo, looked very fiercely at a sparrow hard by, till the bird flehen he put his cap in his pocket with an air of great satisfaction, and addressed himself with respectful demeanour to Mrs Nickleby

'Beautiful madaard to your family or connections, I humbly beseech you to pardon n Powers or Native Boards, it is because you have athat none but yourself (with the single exception perhaps of the tragic an before the East India Company) can parallel I as like you can never grow old, I venture to presume that we are fitted for each other'

'Really, Kate,another way

'I have estates, ht hand negligently, as if hevery fast; 'jewels, lighthouses, fish-ponds, a whalery of reat profit in the Pacific Ocean If you will have the kindness to step down to the Royal Exchange and to take the cocked-hat off the stoutest beadle's head, you will findof the crorapped up in a piece of blue paper My walking-stick is also to be seen on application to the chaplain of the House of Co it I have enemies about me, ma'am,' he looked towards his house and spoke very loho attack me on all occasions, and wish to secure my property If you bless me with your hand and heart, you can apply to the Lord Chancellor or call out themy toothpick to the commander-in-chief will be sufficient-and so clear the house of them before the ceremony is performed After that, love, bliss and rapture; rapture, love and bliss Be reat rapture and enthusiasain, and looking up into the sky in a hasty ible concerning a balloon he expected, and which was rather after its tientleman

'Kate, my dear,' said Mrs Nickleby, 'I have hardly the power to speak; but it is necessary for the happiness of all parties that this matter should be set at rest for ever'

'Surely there is no necessity for you to say one word, mama?' reasoned Kate

'You will allow e for myself,' said Mrs Nickleby

'Be entleman

'It can scarcely be expected, sir,' said Mrs Nickleby, fixing her eyes er whether I feel flattered and obliged by such proposals, or not They certainly are ular circuoes, and to a certain extent of course' (Mrs Nickleby's custoreeable to one's feelings'