Nicholas Nickleby

Mrs. Sque

while he ran into the tavern and went through the leg-stretching process at the bar. After some minutes, he returned, with his legs thoroughly stretched, if the hue

Squeers, rubbing his hands; 'and this young man a

ucing the pony to obey also, they started off, leavin

red Squeers, after they had tra

sir, I

h that,' said Squeers; 'it's

to Dotheboys Hall, s

replied Squeers. 'But you need

, as if he would

in't a Hall,' obse

as, whom this piece of in

er, but they don't know it by that name in these parts. A man may call his hou

t, sir,' rejo

ng that he had grown thoughtful and appeared in nowise disposed to volunteer any obser

llo there! Come and put this

ing house, one storey high, with a few straggling out-buildings behind, and a barn and stable adjoining. After the lapse of a minute or

, Smike?' cr

,' replie

devil didn't y

eep over the fire,' answ

there a fire?' demanded

he boy. 'Missus said as I was sitting

eers. 'You'd have been a deuced deal

the pony, and to take care that he hadn't any more corn that night, he told

istance from home and the impossibility of reaching it, except on foot, should he feel ever so anxious to return, presented itself to him in most alarming colours; and as he lo

ing his head out at the front-

,' replied

he wind blows in, at this door,

hairs, a yellow map hung against the wall, and a couple of tables; one of which bore some preparations for supper; while, on the other, a tutor's assi

: one close after the other, like a postman's knock. The lady, who was of a large raw-boned figure, was about half a head taller than Mr Squeers, and was dres

his lady in a playful manne

e,' replied Squeers

y one of'em,' an

pigs?' sa

ey were when y

rs, pulling off his great-coat. 'The

eplied Mrs. Squeers, snappishly.

Damn that boy, he's always

always catching too. I say it's obstinacy, and nothing shall ever convince me

rejoined Squeers. 'We'l

of the room: not very well knowing whether he was expected to retire into the passag

ung man, my dear,'

ing her head at Nicholas, and ey

, 'and go among the boys tomorrow morning. You ca

ied the lady. 'You don't much min

ied Nicholas, 'I

as considered to lie chiefly in retort, Mr. Squeers laughed h

and the people who had paid, and the people who had made default in payment, a young servant girl brought in

n in them. The boy glanced, with an anxious and timid expression, at the papers, as if with a sickly hope that one among them mig

e arms and legs, was quite wide enough for his attenuated frame. In order that the lower part of his legs might be in perfect keeping with this singular dress, he had a very large pair of boots, originally made for tops, which might have been once worn by some stout farmer, but were now too patched and tattered for a beggar. Heaven knows how long he had been t

re, Smike?' cried Mrs. Squeers; '

, looking up. 'Oh!

ds together, as though to control, by force, th

said S

ody-has nothing be

' replied Squ

nd, putting his hand to his

t here, all these years, and no money paid after the first six-nor no notice taken, nor no clue to be got who you belong to? It

ort to recollect something, and then, looking vacantly at hi

ed his wife as the door closed, 'I th

his meat and drink, anyway. I should think he'd have wit enough for us though, if he

who speedily proceeded to do it ample justice. Nicholas dre

eak, Squeers?

b,' replied Sque

replied his wife. 'What'll

ent,' rejoined Squeers, in a m

r. Knuckleboy?' inq

you please,' replied Nicholas. 'A

're not hungry, isn't it?' said Mrs Squ

lied Nicholas abstractedly

o Squeers, as much as to say that she was glad to find the young man knew

im to understand that the question propounded, was, whether Nicho

, re-telegraphing in the

ed with his own reflections, drank it, in ha

s, as he laid down his knife and fork, a

lady. 'I bought a good large pie

imed Squeers hast

purpose for you against you came home. Lor! you did

know what you were going to say,'

remarked his wife, laughing heartily. 'To

amiably opposed to cruelty to animals, not unfrequently purchased for boy consumption the bodies of horned cattle who had died a n

and who were half-way up the troublesome flight of steps which leads to death's door, in consequence of exposure to the cold. They were then regaled with a light supper of porridge, and stowed a

small glassful of the same compound. This done, Mr. and Mrs. Squeers drew close up to the fire, and sitting with their feet on the fender, talked confidentially in whispers; while Nicholas, taking up the tutor's

to bed; upon which signal, Mrs. Squeers and the girl dragged in a small straw

omorrow, Nickelby,' said Squeers. 'Let me

dering. 'There's Jennings, little Bol

oined Squeers. 'Ye

Nicholas. 'I sho

s moment call to mind where it is. However, we'll have that all settle

sir,' replied Nic

,' said Squeers. 'You'll always find a little bit o

s mouth; and Squeers was again going

if you'll make shift with something tomorrow morning, Mrs. Squeers

care, young man, and get first wash. The teacher ought alwa

tle, lest Nicholas should help himself in the night; and the lady

, he would endeavour, for a time, to bear whatever wretchedness might be in store for him, and that remembering the helplessness of his mother and sister, he would give his uncle no plea for deserting them in their need. Good reso

coat pocket. In the hurry of leaving London, it had escaped his attention, and had not occurred to him

cholas; 'what an e

n such cramped and crippled writing as to be almost illegible. After

r youn

ave done me a kindness when there was no hope of return.

live, at the sign of the Crown, in Silver Street, Golden Square. It is at the corner of Silver Street and James

a whole coat now. I have forgotten all my o

AN N

g's Head. Say you know me, and I am sure they will not charge you for i

folded this letter and placed it in his pocket-book, Nicholas Nickleby'