Nicholas Nickleby

n the last Chapter, affords an Opportunity to a cou

unning to the leaders' heads. 'Is there ony genelmen the

demanded Nicholas,

ll-eyed bay, he's gane mad wi' glory I think, carse t'coorch is over. Here,

ng to his feet, 'I'm ready. I'm

es. Hang on tiv'em sumhoo. Well deane, my lod. That's it.

y trotted back, with much deliberation, to the stable

ked the guard, disengagin

I can,' repl

ken the deead, will'ee,' said the man, 'while I stop sum o' this he

wide with one of the most extraordinary performances on that instrument ever heard by mortal ears. It had its effect, however, not only in

eyes; the box with a bloody nose; the coachman with a contusion on the temple; Mr Squeers with a portmanteau bruise on his back; and the remaining passengers without any injury at all-thanks to the softness of the snow-drift in which they had been overturned. These facts

with a sanded floor, and a chair or two. However, a large faggot and a plentiful supply of coals being heaped upon the fire, the appearance of things was not long in mending; and,

ou did very right to catch hold of them horses. I should have done it myself if I h

f the patronising tone adopted by Squeers, 'that if they had not been firmly check

e promptitude Nicholas had displayed, and he was

e of my charges had been hurt-if I had been prevented from restoring any one of these little boys to his parents whole and s

inquired the lady who had carr

affectionate treatment. Mrs. Squeers and myself are a mother and father to every one of 'em. Mr. Nickleby, hand the lady them cards,

ously, placed his hands upon his knees, and looked at the pupils with as much benignity as he

said the merry-faced gentleman, addressing the fastidious lad

onvenience,' r

inconvenien

s, sir,' replied the lady with strong emotion; '

gentleman, looking merrier still

on the protection of the other gentlemen. Landlord, pray direct a boy to keep watch outsid

t on the box, and a footman, most probably in silk stockings, behind, the attentions of the good woman of the inn were redoubled. Even the box-passenger caught the infection, and growing wonderfully deferential, imme

ntleman when they had been all sitting round the fire, for some time, in silence, 'and as he mus

was not past the middle age, but his hair was grey; it seemed to have been prematurely turned by care or sorrow. He readily

nd, led the conversation to the antiquities of York, with which both he and the grey-haired gentleman appeared to be we

replied gentleman,

-humoured countenance. 'Is there nobody her

ot; that they wished they could; that they couldn't reme

ect, and a merry twinkle in his eye. 'Some little Italian thing out of

me further expression of surprise regarding the absence of the green chariot, one or two voice

cases where people who are strangers to each other are thrown unexpectedly together, they should en

erally acted on, in all cases,'

the other. 'Perhaps, as you can'

should a

I will, wi

not calculated to lighten the time you must pass here; but you have brought this upon yourselves, and shal

SISTERS

s, during which the fastidious lady drank a glass of p

the time, and King Henry the Fourth sat upon the throne of England-there dwe

r younger than the second, and the fourth a year younger than the third. They were tall stately figures, with dark flashing eyes and h

e fruit, or the delicate painting on the flower, are not more exquisite than was the blending of the rose and lily in her gentle face, or the deep

d withered, our hearts could but retain their early youth and freshness, of what avail would be our sorrows and sufferings! But, the faint image of Eden which is st

er gleesome voice and merry laugh were the sweetest music of their home. She was its very light and life. The brightest flowers in the garden were reared by her; the caged bird

old even in those days-with overhanging gables and balconies of rudely-carved oak, which stood within a pleasant orchard, and was surrounded by a rough stone wall, whence a stout archer might have w

eath was green; the river glistened like a path of diamonds in the sun; the birds poured forth their songs from the shady trees; the lark soared high above the waving corn; and the deep buzz of insects filled the air. Ever

e wall of the sisters' orchard, through which he passed, closing it behind him. The noise of soft voices in conversation, and of merry laughter, fell upon his ears ere he had advanced many paces; and ra

air in truth they were. Even a monk might have lov

him to a mossy seat beside them. But the good friar shook his head, and bumped hims

y, daughters,"

ig

," replied the eldest sister, passing her fi

ee all nature beaming in brightness and sunshine, father,"

ve inclination of the head, and the s

"still wasting the precious hours on this vain trifling. Alas, alas! that the few bubbles on the surface

rayed at matins, our daily alms have been distributed at the gate, the sick peasants have bee

vain ornament, to minister to the pride of your frail and giddy sex. Day after day has been employed upon this senseless task, and yet it is not half accomplished. The shade of e

if abashed by the holy man's reproof, but Alic

said the maiden; "He

d the friar i

suits we passed those hours together, they would prove the happiest and most peaceful of our lives, and that if, in later times, we went forth into the world, and mingled with its cares and trials-if, allured by its temptations and dazzled by it

der sister, somewhat proudly. And so sayin

d intricate description, and the pattern and colours of all five were the same. The sisters bent gracefu

ldhood, the prime of life, and old age, wither as rapidly as they crowd upon each other. Think how human dust rolls onward to the tomb, and turning your faces stead

s of life, and we may share them sinlessly together. To die is our heavy portion, but, oh, let us die with life about us; when our cold hearts cease to beat, let warm hearts be beating near; let our last look be upon the bounds wh

s as she closed her impassioned appeal, an

"The veil shall never cast its shadow on thy young brow. How say y

lot was cast together, and that there were dwelli

hip, directed that no constraint should be imposed upon our inclinations, but that we should be free to live according to our choice. Let us hear no more of this, we pray you. Sisters

se, walked some little distance behind, with his eyes bent upon the earth, and his lips moving as

ith bitter disappointment, affliction, death; with dreary change and wasting sorrow. The time will one day come, when a glance at those unmeaning baubles will tear open deep wounds in the hearts of some among you, and strike to your inmost souls. When that hour arrives-and, mark me, come it will-turn from the world to which you clung, to th

the postern; and the sisters hastening

ext, and the next again. And in the morning's glare, and the evening's soft repose, the five siste

moon on caps of steel; and, at others, jaded coursers were spurred up to the gate, and a female form glided hurriedly forth, as if eager to demand tidings of the weary messenger. A goodly train of knights and ladies lodged one night within the abbey walls, and next day rode away, with two of the fair sisters among them. Then, horsemen began to come less frequently, and seemed to bring bad tidings when th

hrow of the abbey. A blight had fallen on the trees and shrubs; and the wind, at length beginning to break the unnatural stillness that had prevailed all day, sighed heavily from time to time, as though foretelling

rom point to point, as if the gloom and desolation of the scene found a quick response in h

figures of the five sisters. All was silent and deserted. The boughs of the trees were bent and

d entered a low, dark room. Four sisters sat there. Their black garments made their pale faces whiter still, a

here was she

sisters had met, and there were furrows in their blanched faces which years could n

ne to look upon them since, and now I blame myself for my weakness. What is there in h

ed long before. Her step was firm, but her hand trembled as she produced the last one; and, when the feelings

m. "It was almost the last thing she to

the elder lady,

rned to the

pastime, lies buried on a plain whereof the turf is red with blood. Rusty fragments of armour, once brightly burnish

aned, and wru

ceful home to scenes of revelry and splendour. The same policy, and the restless ambition of-pr

two sisters were

gewgaws which shall raise up the pale ghosts of hopes of early years. Bury them, heap pena

oughs of the orchard trees drooped and ran wild upon the ground, it was the same orchard still. The grass was coarse and high, but there was yet the spot on which they had so often sa

ok upon her grave, in garbs which would chill the very ashes within it? Could they bow down in praye

richly stained glass, a faithful copy of their old embroidery work. These were fitted into a large window until that time bare of ornament; and when the sun shone brightly, as she ha

stone. Only three were seen in the customary place, after many years; then but two, and, for a long time afterward

has softened down the colours, but the same stream of light still falls upon the forgotten tomb, of which no t

' said the merry-faced gen

of such sorrows,' returned the other, court

f we choose to contemplate them,' said the gentleman with the merry

ly,' said the

s if her life had been one of gloom and sadness? If anything could soothe the first sharp pain of a heavy loss, it would be-with me-the reflection, that those I mourned, by being inno

t,' said the gentleman

ubject of sorrowful regret, and see with how much pleasure it is

interpose

e, and with many actions which we bitterly repent; still in the most chequered life I firmly think there are so many little rays of sunshine to look back upon, that

aid the grey-haired gentleman after a short

hers tell us what they will. If our affections be tried, our affections are our consolation and comfort; and memory, ho

punch, and glancing slyly at the fastidious lady, who seemed desperat

ON OF G

, it rumbled in the chimneys, or even howled among the trees in the neighbouring forest; and that when the moon shone, she found her way through certain small loopholes in the wall, and actually made some parts of the wide halls and galleries quite light, while she left others in gloomy shadow. I believe that one of the baron's ancestors, being short of money, had inserted a dagger in a gentleman who called one night to ask his

ish that he had lived in these latter days, that he might have had more. It is a very hard thing upon the great men of past centuries, that they should have come into the world so soon, because a man who was born three or four hundred years ago, cannot reasonably be ex

oulder like the guard of a long stage. When he blew this bugle, four-and-twenty other gentlemen of inferior rank, in Lincoln green a little coarser, and russet boots with a little thicker soles, turned out directly: and away ga

Rhine wine every night till they fell under the table, and then had the bottles on the floor, and called fo

ss the same subjects, and tell the same stories. The baron grew weary, and wanted excitement. He took to quarrelling with his gentlemen, and tried kicking two or three of them every day

sat moodily at the head of his table, eyeing the smoky roof of the hall with a discontented aspect. He swallowed huge bumpers of wine, but the more he swallowed, the more he f

table with his right hand, and twirling his moust

d pale, with the exception of their four-

ogzwig," repeated the baro

our-and-twenty throats went four-and-twenty imperial pints of such rare

descending to explain. "We will demand her in marriage of her father, ere t

n touched, first the hilt of his sword, and then

enhausen Castle would have been turned out at window, or rather the baron turned out at window, and the castle demolished. The damsel held her peace, however, when an early messenger bore the request of Von Koeldwethout next morning, and modestly retired to her chamber, from the casement of which she watched the comi

ens of Von Swillenhausen, and promised the old baron that they would drink his wine "Till all was blue"-meaning probably until their whole countenances had acquired t

ouses of Koeldwethout and Swillenhausen were united; the spears

but, alas! their high and palmy days had taken

" said the

," said t

oarse, no

?" said the ba

urtyard beneath, where the unconscious Lincoln greens were taking a c

rain, ma'am,"

love," murmure

" cried the bar

, love," repli

devil, ma'am," a

ered a great cry, and swoon

o the yard, kicked the two Lincoln greens who were the most used to it, and cursing the others all round,

uch things), and not according to their own. All I need say, just now, is, that the Baroness Von Koeldwethout somehow or other acquired great control over the Baron Von Koeldwethout, and that, little by little, and bit by bit, and day by day, and year by year, the baron got the worst of some disputed question, or was slyly unhorsed from some old hob

ries, the venerable Baroness Von Swillenhausen was nervously sensitive for the well-being of her child the Baroness Von Koeldwethout; and although it was not found that the good lady ever did anything material towards contributing to her child's recovery, still she made it a point of duty to be as nervous as possible at the castle of Grogzwig, and to divide her time between moral observations on the baron's housekeeping, and bewailing the hard lot of her unhappy daughter. And if the Baro

es yet in store for him, and as they came on, his melancholy and sadness increased. Times changed. He got into debt. The Grogzwig coffers ran low, though the Swillenhausen family had looked upo

e done," said the baron. "

nife from a cupboard hard by, and having sharpened it on

stopping short. "Perhaps

loud screaming among the young barons and baronesses, who had a nursery in an upstair

e it fifty times over, without being interrupted. Hallo! Put a flask o

being apprised thereof, strode to the vaulted room, the walls of which, being of dark shining wood, gleamed in the light of the bla

lamp," sai

my lord?" inqui

ron. The domestic obeyed, a

on the table till he wanted it, and tossing off a goodly measure of wine, the Lord of Grogz

, no one knew whither: with the exception of two who had been unfortunately beheaded, and four who had killed themselves with drinking. His mind was running upon bears an

d locks of coarse black hair. He wore a kind of tunic of a dull bluish colour, which, the baron observed, on regarding it attentively, was clasped or ornamented down the front with coffin handles. His legs, too, we

ron, stamping his foot

ving his eyes towards the baron, bu

d by his hollow voice and lustreless eyes. "I

door," repli

you?" say

replied

lieve it," s

it then," say

rejoined

d Baron of Grogzwig for some

ng over you, I se

ou then?" as

," replied

like one," returned

r and Suicide," said the ap

ry remarkable, was, that he threw his cloak aside, and displaying a stake, which was run through the centre of

lancing at the hunting-kni

the baron; "I must fi

then," said

a hurry," sa

a pretty brisk business in my way, over in England an

baron, touching the bottle

and then very hard," re

deration?" as

gure, with a shudder, "t

mmonly queer customer, and at length inquired whether he took any activ

gure evasively; "but

air, I suppose?

e ferule. "Be as quick as you can, will you, for there's a young gentleman

ed the baron, quite tickled. "Ha! ha! that's a good one." (This

figure, looking very much s

" demanded

," replied the figure. "Sigh as muc

he word; the figure, brightening up again, handed

n, feeling the edge of the weapon; "a man ki

tly, "no better than a man's killing

oroughly made up that it didn't matter what he said, I have no means of knowing. I only know that the baron stopped hi

n Koeldwethout, "nothing i

coffers," cri

be one day filled a

ives," snarl

be made quiet,"

ildren," shou

wrong, surely,"

these opinions all at once; but he tried to laugh it off, and said if he w

was never farther from it

very grim, "because a joke, without any figure of speech,

better, for you have not the appearance of being particularly comfortable. That puts me in mind-what security have I,

ed the figure, g

esh air and the bears again; and if that don't do, I'll talk to the baroness soundly, and cut the Von Swillenhausen

look of intense terror, and when he had ceased, caught up the stake, plu

ehind him a numerous family, who had been carefully educated in bear and boar-hunting under his own personal eye. And my advice to all men is, that if ever they become hipped and melancholy from similar causes (as very many men do), they look at bo

es and gentlemen, if you please

erved to draw the grey-headed gentleman on one side, and to ask a question with great apparent interest; it bore reference to the Five Sisters o

e Baron of Grogzwig and the grey-haired gentleman had got down and were gone. The day dragged on uncomfortably enough. At about six o'clock tha