Nicholas Nickleby

r. Squeers; and of various Matters and Persons conne

ment in the rear of the premises, where his lady wife, his amiable son, and accomplished daughter, were in the full enjoyment of each other's society; Mrs. Squeers being engaged in the matronly pursuit of stocking-darning; and the young

ular period of life, Miss Squeers may be presumed to have been possessed of it, as there is no reason to suppose that she was a solitary exception to an universal rule. She was not tall like

returned to the parental roof. To this circumstance may be referred, her having heard

drawing up his chair, 'what do

eers; who (as she often remarked)

he new teacher-who

said Mrs. Squeers imp

him for, my dear

ed Mrs. Squeers. 'If I hate

much I dare say, if he knew it,' replied Squeers in

Squeers, 'I'll tell you. Because he's a proud,

me of which were of a figurative kind, as the word peacock, and furthermore the allusion to Nicholas's nose, which was not i

t on whom they were bestowed, as will be seen in the present case: a peacock wit

ecation of this outbreak. 'He is cheap,

it,' retorte

a year,' s

if you don't want him, is

ant him,' ur

the cards and in the advertisements, "Education by Mr. Wackford Squeers and able assistants," without havi

f you please. A slave driver in the West Indies is allowed a man under him, to see that his blacks don't run away, or get up a rebellio

?' said Wackford junior, suspending, in the excess of his del

plied Mr. Squeers, in

ed the interesting child, grasping his father's c

ng of his future eminence. He pressed a penny into his hand, and gave vent to his feelings (as did his exemplary wife also), in a shout of app

at's what I consider him,' said M

ll stuck up in our schoolroom as anywhere els

ing in that. I hope it'll bring his pride down

a novelty; but a proud one, a being of whose existence the wildest imagination could never have dreamed-that Miss Squeers, who s

me eccentric system which prevailed in his own mind; 'your

when you were laying on to little Bolder this afternoon. He looked as black as thunder, all the while, and, one time

Squeers, as the head of the family

is head that he's the son of a poor gentlema

of a ge

it. If he's a gentleman's son at all

stake, it would be all the same a hundred years hence; with which axiom of philosophy, indeed, she w

rs before he was born, and she is alive now. If he was, it would be no business of ours, for we make a very good frien

worse than poison,' sai

anybody who can show dislike better than you, and of course t

o, I assure you,'

him, as I think he has, I don't believe there's woman in all England

he hoped she had tamed a high spirit or two in her day. It is but due to her character t

enthusiastic replies, coupled with so many laudatory remarks touching his beautiful dark eyes, and his sweet smile, and his straight legs-upon which last-named articles she laid particular stress; the general run of legs at Dotheboys Hall being crooked-that Miss Squeers was not

d her father absent, and went accidentally into the schoolroom to get a pen mended: where, seeing n

queers; 'I thought my father was-or

s, by no means overcome by the app

ng, sir?' asked Miss Squee

ly of course, but without any indication of bein

I hadn't thought my father was here, I wouldn't upon any account have-it is very provoking-must look so very strange,' mu

nd smiling, in spite of himself, at the affected embarrassment o

then round the schoolroom, as though in some measure reassured by the presence of forty boys; and finally sidle

inquired Nicholas, smiling to prev

ful smile,' thou

ou say?' ask

'Oh! as soft as possible, if you please.' With which words, Miss Squeers sighed. It might be,

and when he stooped to pick it up, Miss Squeers stooped also, and they knocked their heads together; wher

Nicholas, opening the door

queers; 'it was my fault. It was

for you, I hope will be made less clumsily.

rassing that I scarcely know what I-ve

e world,' replied Nicholas,

hole course of my life!' said M

rs was in love with

in fulfilment of which pledge the miller's daughter, when her engagement was formed, came out express, at eleven o'clock at night as the corn-factor's son made an offer of his hand and heart at twenty-five minutes past ten by the Dutch clock in the kitchen, and rushed into Miss Squeers's bedroom with the gratifying intelligence. Now, Miss Squeers being five years older, and out of her teens (which is also a great matter), had, since, been more than commonly anxious to return the compliment, and possess her friend with a similar secret; but, either in consequence of finding it hard to please herself, or harder still to please anybody else, had never had an opportunity so to do, inasmuc

ing?' said Miss Squeers, emph

plied the friend. 'But w

iss Squeers. 'If you had only seen his looks and

r's daughter, counterfeiting, as nearly as sh

y more genteel,' re

, 'then he means some

corn-factor, grew so exceedingly confidential, that she intrusted her friend with a vast number of things Nicholas had not said, which were all so very complimentary as to be quite conclusive. Then, she dilated on the fearful hardship of having a father and mother strenuousl

e to see him!' ex

grateful creatures alive, if I denied you. I think mother's going away for two days to fet

and having fully discuss

hat very afternoon, for the next day but one; and on the next day but one, Mrs. Squeers got up outside the coach, as it stopped to change at Greta Bridge, taking with her a

ll ten or eleven o'clock at a tavern he much affected. As the party was not in his way, therefore, but rather afforded a means of compromise with Miss Squeers, he

ked apron or the long gloves, or the green gauze scarf worn over one shoulder and under the other; or any of the numerous devices which were to be as so many arrows to the heart of Nicholas. She had scarcely completed these arrangements to her entire satisfaction, when the friend arrived with a whity-brown parcel-flat and three-cornered-containing sundry small adornments which were to

'Tilda?' said

' replied the friend. 'He will be

tate,' observe

at it is,' rep

'Tilda,' said Miss Squeers, applying

hile they were talking thus, the hungry servant brought in the t

cried Miss Sque

'Tilda. 'Hem!

s Squeers faintly. A

eman, all unconscious of his conquest

ers. 'Father don't tea with us, but you won't

particularly, about anything just then-and went through the ceremony of introduction to

aid Miss Squeers, taking off the teapot lid, an

e received the intelligence with perfect unconcern; and, being out of spirits, and not seeing any esp

ayful turn, and hearing Nicholas sigh, she took it into

ng lady, 'don't mind me a bit, for I'm quite as bad

hiefs, at Nicholas, who from a state of unmixed astonishment, gradually fell into one of irrepressible laughter-occasioned, partly by the bare notion of his being in love with Miss Squeers, and partly by the preposter

r some reason or other, to be amiable, it's of no use looking

ed this resolution than he saluted Miss Squeers and the friend with great gallantry, and drawing a chair to the tea-table, began to

rrived, with his hair very damp from recent washing, and a clean shirt, whereof the collar might have belonged to so

Price (which, by-the-bye, was th

a grin that even the co

s Squeers, hastening to do the hono

over six feet high, with a face and body ra

ed Nicholas, making fearful ra

wice more, and having now bestowed his customary mark of recognition on every p

t she?' said Mr. Browdi

ers nodde

ing to laugh at, and went to work at the bread and butter with increased vigour.

xpect, mun,' said Mr Browdie, after he had sat sta

d coloured, but affected

y dean't put too much intiv'em. Ye'll be nowt but ske

s, sir,' said Nic

ur.' The recollection of the last teacher's leanness seemed to afford Mr. Browdie the most exq

ie, to enable you to understand that your remarks are offensive,' said

ing her admirer's mouth as he was about to interrupt, 'only

the corn-factor, bestowing a hearty kiss on M

rror; the effect of the double intercession was, that he and John Browdie shook hands across the table with mu

tter, Fanny?'

,' replied Miss

ger,' said Miss Price, '

replied Nicho

d to her, and she'll soon come round. Here! Shall John a

s, quite alarmed at the proposition. '

side, and speaking with some degree of c

m not a one to keep company at all-here

men are always fickle, and always were, and alw

hat do you suppose? You don'

ettishly. 'Look at her, dressed so beautiful and lookin

do with her dressing beautifully o

ng, and she supposed him the property of somebody else, which were all reasons why she should be gratified to think she had made an impression on him,-'or Fanny

iss Squeers was an ordinary-looking girl, and her friend Miss Price a pretty one; but he had not time to enlighten hims

iss Squeers, looking slyly at Nicholas; 'so

Mr. Nickleby?' i

einous offence, he amalgamated into one common heap those portions of a Dotheboys Hall card

ueers hysterically, 'shall

by the new usher's impudence-and Miss Squeers darted

Nicholas, and t

win everythi

t expect, I think, haven't you, dea

plied Miss Price, affecting to tak

e tonight!' snee

'I am in excellent spirits. I was

ting her lips, and trembling

iss Price. 'Your hair's c

Miss Squeers; 'you had bet

nding her,' said Ni

d an opportunity of exercising it upon the features of some other gentleman; and Miss Squeers tossed her head wit

ce, after another hand or two. 'It's all along of you, Mr. Nic

sh yo

hough, if you always win a

replied Nicholas. 'I am sure I sh

s carrying on! It would have been worth a small annuity to have beheld that; let alone Miss Price's evident

' said Nicholas, looking good-humouredly round t

rs, 'that it would be a pity to interrup

do it in default of having

know, if you'll say an

ear,' retorted Miss S

se to talk to us,' said Miss Price, rallying her

repeated the

it there so si

s-Dang my boans and boddy, if I stan' this ony longer. Do ye gang whoam wi' me, and do yon loigh

this?' cried Miss Price,

eply, Miss Squeers burst into a shower of tears; arising in part from desperate vexation, and

d title: secondly, the gratification of her own vanity, in receiving the compliments of a smart young man: and thirdly, a wish to convince the corn-factor of the great danger he ran, in deferring the celebration of their expected nuptials; while Nicholas had brought it about, by half an hour's gaiety and thoughtlessness, and a very sincere desire to avoid the imputation of inclining at

exclaimed Miss Price, as if in fresh

't trouble yourself to inquire,' said Miss Squeers, producing

re!' exclaime

sure or not, ma'am?' retorted M

s polite, ma'am,'

take lessons in the art, m

plainer than you are, ma'am, however,' rejoined

ed herself upon not being possessed of the envious feeling of other people; whereupon Miss Squeers made some general remark touching the danger o

Miss Squeers with di

d Miss Price, tying her bonnet strings with a jerk. 'You

ords, Minx,' sa

he miller's daughter, curtseying very low. 'Wish you a very

man, who exchanged with Nicholas, at parting, that peculiarly expressive scowl with which the

entations and incoherent words. Nicholas stood looking on for a few seconds, rather doubtful what to do, but feeling uncertain whether the fit would end in his being embra

ing-room, 'of my cursed readiness to adapt myself to any society in which chance carries

a few minutes, b

of its vile master. I have set these people by the ears, and made two new enemies, where, Heaven knows, I

the throng of weary-hearted sleep