The storm had long given place to a calm the most profound, and the evening was pretty far advanced—indeed supper was over, and the process of digestion2 proceeding3 as favourably5 as, under the influence of complete tranquillity6, cheerful conversation, and a moderate allowance of brandy-and-water, most wise men conversant8 with the anatomy9 and functions of the human frame will consider that it ought to have proceeded, when the three friends, or as one might say, both in a civil and religious sense, and with proper deference10 and regard to the holy state of matrimony, the two friends, (Mr. and Mrs. Browdie counting as no more than one,) were startled by the noise of loud and angry threatenings below stairs, which presently attained11 so high a pitch, and were conveyed besides in language so towering, sanguinary, and ferocious12, that it could hardly have been surpassed, if there had actually been a Saracen’s head then present in the establishment, supported on the shoulders and surmounting13 the trunk of a real, live, furious, and most unappeasable Saracen.
This turmoil14, instead of quickly subsiding15 after the first outburst, (as turmoils16 not unfrequently do, whether in taverns17, legislative18 assemblies, or elsewhere,) into a mere19 grumbling20 and growling21 squabble, increased every moment; and although the whole din4 appeared to be raised by but one pair of lungs, yet that one pair was of so powerful a quality, and repeated such words as ‘scoundrel,’ ‘rascal,’ ‘insolent puppy,’ and a variety of expletives no less flattering to the party addressed, with such great relish23 and strength of tone, that a dozen voices raised in concert under any ordinary circumstances would have made far less uproar24 and created much smaller consternation25.
‘Why, what’s the matter?’ said Nicholas, moving hastily towards the door.
John Browdie was striding in the same direction when Mrs. Browdie turned pale, and, leaning back in her chair, requested him with a faint voice to take notice, that if he ran into any danger it was her intention to fall into hysterics immediately, and that the consequences might be more serious than he thought for. John looked rather disconcerted by this intelligence, though there was a lurking26 grin on his face at the same time; but, being quite unable to keep out of the fray27, he compromised the matter by tucking his wife’s arm under his own, and, thus accompanied, following Nicholas downstairs with all speed.
The passage outside the coffee-room door was the scene of disturbance28, and here were congregated29 the coffee-room customers and waiters, together with two or three coachmen and helpers from the yard. These had hastily assembled round a young man who from his appearance might have been a year or two older than Nicholas, and who, besides having given utterance30 to the defiances just now described, seemed to have proceeded to even greater lengths in his indignation, inasmuch as his feet had no other covering than a pair of stockings, while a couple of slippers31 lay at no great distance from the head of a prostrate32 figure in an opposite corner, who bore the appearance of having been shot into his present retreat by means of a kick, and complimented by having the slippers flung about his ears afterwards.
The coffee-room customers, and the waiters, and the coachmen, and the helpers—not to mention a barmaid who was looking on from behind an open sash window—seemed at that moment, if a spectator might judge from their winks33, nods, and muttered exclamations34, strongly disposed to take part against the young gentleman in the stockings. Observing this, and that the young gentleman was nearly of his own age and had in nothing the appearance of an habitual35 brawler36, Nicholas, impelled37 by such feelings as will influence young men sometimes, felt a very strong disposition38 to side with the weaker party, and so thrust himself at once into the centre of the group, and in a more emphatic39 tone, perhaps, than circumstances might seem to warrant, demanded what all that noise was about.
‘Hallo!’ said one of the men from the yard, ‘this is somebody in disguise, this is.’
Disregarding these sallies, which were uncommonly41 well received, as sallies at the expense of the best-dressed persons in a crowd usually are, Nicholas glanced carelessly round, and addressing the young gentleman, who had by this time picked up his slippers and thrust his feet into them, repeated his inquiries42 with a courteous43 air.
‘A mere nothing!’ he replied.
At this a murmur44 was raised by the lookers-on, and some of the boldest cried, ‘Oh, indeed!—Wasn’t it though?—Nothing, eh?—He called that nothing, did he? Lucky for him if he found it nothing.’ These and many other expressions of ironical45 disapprobation having been exhausted46, two or three of the out-of-door fellows began to hustle47 Nicholas and the young gentleman who had made the noise: stumbling against them by accident, and treading on their toes, and so forth48. But this being a round game, and one not necessarily limited to three or four players, was open to John Browdie too, who, bursting into the little crowd—to the great terror of his wife—and falling about in all directions, now to the right, now to the left, now forwards, now backwards49, and accidentally driving his elbow through the hat of the tallest helper, who had been particularly active, speedily caused the odds50 to wear a very different appearance; while more than one stout51 fellow limped away to a respectful distance, anathematising with tears in his eyes the heavy tread and ponderous52 feet of the burly Yorkshireman.
‘Let me see him do it again,’ said he who had been kicked into the corner, rising as he spoke53, apparently54 more from the fear of John Browdie’s inadvertently treading upon him, than from any desire to place himself on equal terms with his late adversary55. ‘Let me see him do it again. That’s all.’
‘Let me hear you make those remarks again,’ said the young man, ‘and I’ll knock that head of yours in among the wine-glasses behind you there.’
Here a waiter who had been rubbing his hands in excessive enjoyment56 of the scene, so long as only the breaking of heads was in question, adjured57 the spectators with great earnestness to fetch the police, declaring that otherwise murder would be surely done, and that he was responsible for all the glass and china on the premises58.
‘No one need trouble himself to stir,’ said the young gentleman, ‘I am going to remain in the house all night, and shall be found here in the morning if there is any assault to answer for.’
‘What did you strike him for?’ asked one of the bystanders.
‘Ah! what did you strike him for?’ demanded the others.
The unpopular gentleman looked coolly round, and addressing himself to Nicholas, said:
‘You inquired just now what was the matter here. The matter is simply this. Yonder person, who was drinking with a friend in the coffee-room when I took my seat there for half an hour before going to bed, (for I have just come off a journey, and preferred stopping here tonight, to going home at this hour, where I was not expected until tomorrow,) chose to express himself in very disrespectful, and insolently59 familiar terms, of a young lady, whom I recognised from his description and other circumstances, and whom I have the honour to know. As he spoke loud enough to be overheard by the other guests who were present, I informed him most civilly that he was mistaken in his conjectures60, which were of an offensive nature, and requested him to forbear. He did so for a little time, but as he chose to renew his conversation when leaving the room, in a more offensive strain than before, I could not refrain from making after him, and facilitating his departure by a kick, which reduced him to the posture61 in which you saw him just now. I am the best judge of my own affairs, I take it,’ said the young man, who had certainly not quite recovered from his recent heat; ‘if anybody here thinks proper to make this quarrel his own, I have not the smallest earthly objection, I do assure him.’
Of all possible courses of proceeding under the circumstances detailed62, there was certainly not one which, in his then state of mind, could have appeared more laudable to Nicholas than this. There were not many subjects of dispute which at that moment could have come home to his own breast more powerfully, for having the unknown uppermost in his thoughts, it naturally occurred to him that he would have done just the same if any audacious gossiper durst have presumed in his hearing to speak lightly of her. Influenced by these considerations, he espoused63 the young gentleman’s quarrel with great warmth, protesting that he had done quite right, and that he respected him for it; which John Browdie (albeit not quite clear as to the merits) immediately protested too, with not inferior vehemence64.
‘Let him take care, that’s all,’ said the defeated party, who was being rubbed down by a waiter, after his recent fall on the dusty boards. ‘He don’t knock me about for nothing, I can tell him that. A pretty state of things, if a man isn’t to admire a handsome girl without being beat to pieces for it!’
This reflection appeared to have great weight with the young lady in the bar, who (adjusting her cap as she spoke, and glancing at a mirror) declared that it would be a very pretty state of things indeed; and that if people were to be punished for actions so innocent and natural as that, there would be more people to be knocked down than there would be people to knock them down, and that she wondered what the gentleman meant by it, that she did.
‘My dear girl,’ said the young gentleman in a low voice, advancing towards the sash window.
‘Nonsense, sir!’ replied the young lady sharply, smiling though as she turned aside, and biting her lip, (whereat Mrs. Browdie, who was still standing65 on the stairs, glanced at her with disdain66, and called to her husband to come away).
‘No, but listen to me,’ said the young man. ‘If admiration67 of a pretty face were criminal, I should be the most hopeless person alive, for I cannot resist one. It has the most extraordinary effect upon me, checks and controls me in the most furious and obstinate68 mood. You see what an effect yours has had upon me already.’
‘Oh, that’s very pretty,’ replied the young lady, tossing her head, ‘but—’
‘Yes, I know it’s very pretty,’ said the young man, looking with an air of admiration in the barmaid’s face; ‘I said so, you know, just this moment. But beauty should be spoken of respectfully—respectfully, and in proper terms, and with a becoming sense of its worth and excellence69, whereas this fellow has no more notion—’
The young lady interrupted the conversation at this point, by thrusting her head out of the bar-window, and inquiring of the waiter in a shrill70 voice whether that young man who had been knocked down was going to stand in the passage all night, or whether the entrance was to be left clear for other people. The waiters taking the hint, and communicating it to the hostlers, were not slow to change their tone too, and the result was, that the unfortunate victim was bundled out in a twinkling.
‘I am sure I have seen that fellow before,’ said Nicholas.
‘Indeed!’ replied his new acquaintance.
‘I am certain of it,’ said Nicholas, pausing to reflect. ‘Where can I have—stop!—yes, to be sure—he belongs to a register-office up at the west end of the town. I knew I recollected71 the face.’
It was, indeed, Tom, the ugly clerk.
‘That’s odd enough!’ said Nicholas, ruminating72 upon the strange manner in which the register-office seemed to start up and stare him in the face every now and then, and when he least expected it.
‘I am much obliged to you for your kind advocacy of my cause when it most needed an advocate,’ said the young man, laughing, and drawing a card from his pocket. ‘Perhaps you’ll do me the favour to let me know where I can thank you.’
Nicholas took the card, and glancing at it involuntarily as he returned the compliment, evinced very great surprise.
‘Mr. Frank Cheeryble!’ said Nicholas. ‘Surely not the nephew of Cheeryble Brothers, who is expected tomorrow!’
‘I don’t usually call myself the nephew of the firm,’ returned Mr. Frank, good-humouredly; ‘but of the two excellent individuals who compose it, I am proud to say I am the nephew. And you, I see, are Mr. Nickleby, of whom I have heard so much! This is a most unexpected meeting, but not the less welcome, I assure you.’
Nicholas responded to these compliments with others of the same kind, and they shook hands warmly. Then he introduced John Browdie, who had remained in a state of great admiration ever since the young lady in the bar had been so skilfully73 won over to the right side. Then Mrs. John Browdie was introduced, and finally they all went upstairs together and spent the next half-hour with great satisfaction and mutual74 entertainment; Mrs. John Browdie beginning the conversation by declaring that of all the made-up things she ever saw, that young woman below-stairs was the vainest and the plainest.
This Mr. Frank Cheeryble, although, to judge from what had recently taken place, a hot-headed young man (which is not an absolute miracle and phenomenon in nature), was a sprightly75, good-humoured, pleasant fellow, with much both in his countenance76 and disposition that reminded Nicholas very strongly of the kind-hearted brothers. His manner was as unaffected as theirs, and his demeanour full of that heartiness78 which, to most people who have anything generous in their composition, is peculiarly prepossessing. Add to this, that he was good-looking and intelligent, had a plentiful79 share of vivacity80, was extremely cheerful, and accommodated himself in five minutes’ time to all John Browdie’s oddities with as much ease as if he had known him from a boy; and it will be a source of no great wonder that, when they parted for the night, he had produced a most favourable81 impression, not only upon the worthy82 Yorkshireman and his wife, but upon Nicholas also, who, revolving83 all these things in his mind as he made the best of his way home, arrived at the conclusion that he had laid the foundation of a most agreeable and desirable acquaintance.
‘But it’s a most extraordinary thing about that register-office fellow!’ thought Nicholas. ‘Is it likely that this nephew can know anything about that beautiful girl? When Tim Linkinwater gave me to understand the other day that he was coming to take a share in the business here, he said he had been superintending it in Germany for four years, and that during the last six months he had been engaged in establishing an agency in the north of England. That’s four years and a half—four years and a half. She can’t be more than seventeen—say eighteen at the outside. She was quite a child when he went away, then. I should say he knew nothing about her and had never seen her, so he can give me no information. At all events,’ thought Nicholas, coming to the real point in his mind, ‘there can be no danger of any prior occupation of her affections in that quarter; that’s quite clear.’
Is selfishness a necessary ingredient in the composition of that passion called love, or does it deserve all the fine things which poets, in the exercise of their undoubted vocation84, have said of it? There are, no doubt, authenticated85 instances of gentlemen having given up ladies and ladies having given up gentlemen to meritorious86 rivals, under circumstances of great high-mindedness; but is it quite established that the majority of such ladies and gentlemen have not made a virtue87 of necessity, and nobly resigned what was beyond their reach; as a private soldier might register a vow88 never to accept the order of the Garter, or a poor curate of great piety89 and learning, but of no family—save a very large family of children—might renounce90 a bishopric?
Here was Nicholas Nickleby, who would have scorned the thought of counting how the chances stood of his rising in favour or fortune with the brothers Cheeryble, now that their nephew had returned, already deep in calculations whether that same nephew was likely to rival him in the affections of the fair unknown—discussing the matter with himself too, as gravely as if, with that one exception, it were all settled; and recurring91 to the subject again and again, and feeling quite indignant and ill-used at the notion of anybody else making love to one with whom he had never exchanged a word in all his life. To be sure, he exaggerated rather than depreciated92 the merits of his new acquaintance; but still he took it as a kind of personal offence that he should have any merits at all—in the eyes of this particular young lady, that is; for elsewhere he was quite welcome to have as many as he pleased. There was undoubted selfishness in all this, and yet Nicholas was of a most free and generous nature, with as few mean or sordid93 thoughts, perhaps, as ever fell to the lot of any man; and there is no reason to suppose that, being in love, he felt and thought differently from other people in the like sublime94 condition.
He did not stop to set on foot an inquiry95 into his train of thought or state of feeling, however; but went thinking on all the way home, and continued to dream on in the same strain all night. For, having satisfied himself that Frank Cheeryble could have no knowledge of, or acquaintance with, the mysterious young lady, it began to occur to him that even he himself might never see her again; upon which hypothesis he built up a very ingenious succession of tormenting96 ideas which answered his purpose even better than the vision of Mr. Frank Cheeryble, and tantalised and worried him, waking and sleeping.
Notwithstanding all that has been said and sung to the contrary, there is no well-established case of morning having either deferred97 or hastened its approach by the term of an hour or so for the mere gratification of a splenetic feeling against some unoffending lover: the sun having, in the discharge of his public duty, as the books of precedent98 report, invariably risen according to the almanacs, and without suffering himself to be swayed by any private considerations. So, morning came as usual, and with it business-hours, and with them Mr. Frank Cheeryble, and with him a long train of smiles and welcomes from the worthy brothers, and a more grave and clerk-like, but scarcely less hearty99 reception from Mr. Timothy Linkinwater.
‘That Mr. Frank and Mr. Nickleby should have met last night,’ said Tim Linkinwater, getting slowly off his stool, and looking round the counting-house with his back planted against the desk, as was his custom when he had anything very particular to say: ‘that those two young men should have met last night in that manner is, I say, a coincidence, a remarkable100 coincidence. Why, I don’t believe now,’ added Tim, taking off his spectacles, and smiling as with gentle pride, ‘that there’s such a place in all the world for coincidences as London is!’
‘I don’t know about that,’ said Mr. Frank; ‘but—’
‘Don’t know about it, Mr. Francis!’ interrupted Tim, with an obstinate air. ‘Well, but let us know. If there is any better place for such things, where is it? Is it in Europe? No, that it isn’t. Is it in Asia? Why, of course it’s not. Is it in Africa? Not a bit of it. Is it in America? you know better than that, at all events. Well, then,’ said Tim, folding his arms resolutely101, ‘where is it?’
‘I was not about to dispute the point, Tim,’ said young Cheeryble, laughing. ‘I am not such a heretic as that. All I was going to say was, that I hold myself under an obligation to the coincidence, that’s all.’
‘Oh! if you don’t dispute it,’ said Tim, quite satisfied, ‘that’s another thing. I’ll tell you what though. I wish you had. I wish you or anybody would. I would so put that man down,’ said Tim, tapping the forefinger102 of his left hand emphatically with his spectacles, ‘so put that man down by argument—’
It was quite impossible to find language to express the degree of mental prostration103 to which such an adventurous104 wight would be reduced in the keen encounter with Tim Linkinwater, so Tim gave up the rest of his declaration in pure lack of words, and mounted his stool again.
‘We may consider ourselves, brother Ned,’ said Charles, after he had patted Tim Linkinwater approvingly on the back, ‘very fortunate in having two such young men about us as our nephew Frank and Mr. Nickleby. It should be a source of great satisfaction and pleasure to us.’
‘Certainly, Charles, certainly,’ returned the other.
‘Of Tim,’ added brother Ned, ‘I say nothing whatever, because Tim is a mere child—an infant—a nobody that we never think of or take into account at all. Tim, you villain105, what do you say to that, sir?’
‘I am jealous of both of ‘em,’ said Tim, ‘and mean to look out for another situation; so provide yourselves, gentlemen, if you please.’
Tim thought this such an exquisite106, unparalleled, and most extraordinary joke, that he laid his pen upon the inkstand, and rather tumbling off his stool than getting down with his usual deliberation, laughed till he was quite faint, shaking his head all the time so that little particles of powder flew palpably about the office. Nor were the brothers at all behind-hand, for they laughed almost as heartily107 at the ludicrous idea of any voluntary separation between themselves and old Tim. Nicholas and Mr Frank laughed quite boisterously108, perhaps to conceal109 some other emotion awakened110 by this little incident, (and so, indeed, did the three old fellows after the first burst,) so perhaps there was as much keen enjoyment and relish in that laugh, altogether, as the politest assembly ever derived111 from the most poignant112 witticism113 uttered at any one person’s expense.
‘Mr. Nickleby,’ said brother Charles, calling him aside, and taking him kindly114 by the hand, ‘I—I—am anxious, my dear sir, to see that you are properly and comfortably settled in the cottage. We cannot allow those who serve us well to labour under any privation or discomfort115 that it is in our power to remove. I wish, too, to see your mother and sister: to know them, Mr. Nickleby, and have an opportunity of relieving their minds by assuring them that any trifling116 service we have been able to do them is a great deal more than repaid by the zeal117 and ardour you display.—Not a word, my dear sir, I beg. Tomorrow is Sunday. I shall make bold to come out at teatime, and take the chance of finding you at home; if you are not, you know, or the ladies should feel a delicacy118 in being intruded119 on, and would rather not be known to me just now, why I can come again another time, any other time would do for me. Let it remain upon that understanding. Brother Ned, my dear fellow, let me have a word with you this way.’
The twins went out of the office arm-in-arm, and Nicholas, who saw in this act of kindness, and many others of which he had been the subject that morning, only so many delicate renewals120 on the arrival of their nephew of the kind assurance which the brothers had given him in his absence, could scarcely feel sufficient admiration and gratitude121 for such extraordinary consideration.
The intelligence that they were to have a visitor—and such a visitor—next day, awakened in the breast of Mrs. Nickleby mingled122 feelings of exultation123 and regret; for whereas on the one hand she hailed it as an omen22 of her speedy restoration to good society and the almost-forgotten pleasures of morning calls and evening tea-drinkings, she could not, on the other, but reflect with bitterness of spirit on the absence of a silver teapot with an ivory knob on the lid, and a milk-jug to match, which had been the pride of her heart in days of yore, and had been kept from year’s end to year’s end wrapped up in wash-leather on a certain top shelf which now presented itself in lively colours to her sorrowing imagination.
‘I wonder who’s got that spice-box,’ said Mrs. Nickleby, shaking her head. ‘It used to stand in the left-hand corner, next but two to the pickled onions. You remember that spice-box, Kate?’
‘Perfectly well, mama.’
‘I shouldn’t think you did, Kate,’ returned Mrs. Nickleby, in a severe manner, ‘talking about it in that cold and unfeeling way! If there is any one thing that vexes124 me in these losses more than the losses themselves, I do protest and declare,’ said Mrs. Nickleby, rubbing her nose with an impassioned air, ‘that it is to have people about me who take things with such provoking calmness.’
‘My dear mama,’ said Kate, stealing her arm round her mother’s neck, ‘why do you say what I know you cannot seriously mean or think, or why be angry with me for being happy and content? You and Nicholas are left to me, we are together once again, and what regard can I have for a few trifling things of which we never feel the want? When I have seen all the misery125 and desolation that death can bring, and known the lonesome feeling of being solitary126 and alone in crowds, and all the agony of separation in grief and poverty when we most needed comfort and support from each other, can you wonder that I look upon this as a place of such delicious quiet and rest, that with you beside me I have nothing to wish for or regret? There was a time, and not long since, when all the comforts of our old home did come back upon me, I own, very often—oftener than you would think perhaps—but I affected77 to care nothing for them, in the hope that you would so be brought to regret them the less. I was not insensible, indeed. I might have felt happier if I had been. Dear mama,’ said Kate, in great agitation127, ‘I know no difference between this home and that in which we were all so happy for so many years, except that the kindest and gentlest heart that ever ached on earth has passed in peace to heaven.’
‘Kate my dear, Kate,’ cried Mrs. Nickleby, folding her in her arms.
‘I have so often thought,’ sobbed128 Kate, ‘of all his kind words—of the last time he looked into my little room, as he passed upstairs to bed, and said “God bless you, darling.” There was a paleness in his face, mama—the broken heart—I know it was—I little thought so—then—’
A gush129 of tears came to her relief, and Kate laid her head upon her mother’s breast, and wept like a little child.
It is an exquisite and beautiful thing in our nature, that when the heart is touched and softened130 by some tranquil7 happiness or affectionate feeling, the memory of the dead comes over it most powerfully and irresistibly131. It would almost seem as though our better thoughts and sympathies were charms, in virtue of which the soul is enabled to hold some vague and mysterious intercourse132 with the spirits of those whom we dearly loved in life. Alas133! how often and how long may those patient angels hover134 above us, watching for the spell which is so seldom uttered, and so soon forgotten!
Poor Mrs. Nickleby, accustomed to give ready utterance to whatever came uppermost in her mind, had never conceived the possibility of her daughter’s dwelling135 upon these thoughts in secret, the more especially as no hard trial or querulous reproach had ever drawn136 them from her. But now, when the happiness of all that Nicholas had just told them, and of their new and peaceful life, brought these recollections so strongly upon Kate that she could not suppress them, Mrs. Nickleby began to have a glimmering137 that she had been rather thoughtless now and then, and was conscious of something like self-reproach as she embraced her daughter, and yielded to the emotions which such a conversation naturally awakened.
There was a mighty138 bustle139 that night, and a vast quantity of preparation for the expected visitor, and a very large nosegay was brought from a gardener’s hard by, and cut up into a number of very small ones, with which Mrs. Nickleby would have garnished140 the little sitting-room141, in a style that certainly could not have failed to attract anybody’s attention, if Kate had not offered to spare her the trouble, and arranged them in the prettiest and neatest manner possible. If the cottage ever looked pretty, it must have been on such a bright and sunshiny day as the next day was. But Smike’s pride in the garden, or Mrs. Nickleby’s in the condition of the furniture, or Kate’s in everything, was nothing to the pride with which Nicholas looked at Kate herself; and surely the costliest142 mansion143 in all England might have found in her beautiful face and graceful144 form its most exquisite and peerless ornament145.
About six o’clock in the afternoon Mrs. Nickleby was thrown into a great flutter of spirits by the long-expected knock at the door, nor was this flutter at all composed by the audible tread of two pair of boots in the passage, which Mrs. Nickleby augured146, in a breathless state, must be ‘the two Mr. Cheerybles;’ as it certainly was, though not the two Mrs. Nickleby expected, because it was Mr. Charles Cheeryble, and his nephew, Mr. Frank, who made a thousand apologies for his intrusion, which Mrs. Nickleby (having tea-spoons enough and to spare for all) most graciously received. Nor did the appearance of this unexpected visitor occasion the least embarrassment147, (save in Kate, and that only to the extent of a blush or two at first,) for the old gentleman was so kind and cordial, and the young gentleman imitated him in this respect so well, that the usual stiffness and formality of a first meeting showed no signs of appearing, and Kate really more than once detected herself in the very act of wondering when it was going to begin.
At the tea-table there was plenty of conversation on a great variety of subjects, nor were there wanting jocose148 matters of discussion, such as they were; for young Mr. Cheeryble’s recent stay in Germany happening to be alluded149 to, old Mr. Cheeryble informed the company that the aforesaid young Mr. Cheeryble was suspected to have fallen deeply in love with the daughter of a certain German burgomaster. This accusation150 young Mr. Cheeryble most indignantly repelled151, upon which Mrs. Nickleby slyly remarked, that she suspected, from the very warmth of the denial, there must be something in it. Young Mr. Cheeryble then earnestly entreated152 old Mr. Cheeryble to confess that it was all a jest, which old Mr. Cheeryble at last did, young Mr. Cheeryble being so much in earnest about it, that—as Mrs. Nickleby said many thousand times afterwards in recalling the scene—he ‘quite coloured,’ which she rightly considered a memorable153 circumstance, and one worthy of remark, young men not being as a class remarkable for modesty154 or self-denial, especially when there is a lady in the case, when, if they colour at all, it is rather their practice to colour the story, and not themselves.
After tea there was a walk in the garden, and the evening being very fine they strolled out at the garden-gate into some lanes and bye-roads, and sauntered up and down until it grew quite dark. The time seemed to pass very quickly with all the party. Kate went first, leaning upon her brother’s arm, and talking with him and Mr. Frank Cheeryble; and Mrs Nickleby and the elder gentleman followed at a short distance, the kindness of the good merchant, his interest in the welfare of Nicholas, and his admiration of Kate, so operating upon the good lady’s feelings, that the usual current of her speech was confined within very narrow and circumscribed155 limits. Smike (who, if he had ever been an object of interest in his life, had been one that day) accompanied them, joining sometimes one group and sometimes the other, as brother Charles, laying his hand upon his shoulder, bade him walk with him, or Nicholas, looking smilingly round, beckoned156 him to come and talk with the old friend who understood him best, and who could win a smile into his careworn157 face when none else could.
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal158 virtues—faith and hope. This was the pride which swelled159 Mrs. Nickleby’s heart that night, and this it was which left upon her face, glistening160 in the light when they returned home, traces of the most grateful tears she had ever shed.
There was a quiet mirth about the little supper, which harmonised exactly with this tone of feeling, and at length the two gentlemen took their leave. There was one circumstance in the leave-taking which occasioned a vast deal of smiling and pleasantry, and that was, that Mr. Frank Cheeryble offered his hand to Kate twice over, quite forgetting that he had bade her adieu already. This was held by the elder Mr. Cheeryble to be a convincing proof that he was thinking of his German flame, and the jest occasioned immense laughter. So easy is it to move light hearts.
In short, it was a day of serene161 and tranquil happiness; and as we all have some bright day—many of us, let us hope, among a crowd of others—to which we revert162 with particular delight, so this one was often looked back to afterwards, as holding a conspicuous163 place in the calendar of those who shared it.
Was there one exception, and that one he who needed to have been most happy?
Who was that who, in the silence of his own chamber164, sunk upon his knees to pray as his first friend had taught him, and folding his hands and stretching them wildly in the air, fell upon his face in a passion of bitter grief?
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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digestion
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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din
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favourably
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tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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7
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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8
conversant
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| adj.亲近的，有交情的，熟悉的 | |
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9
anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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10
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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11
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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13
surmounting
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| 战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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14
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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15
subsiding
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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16
turmoils
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| n.混乱( turmoil的名词复数 )；焦虑 | |
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17
taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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18
legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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19
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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20
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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21
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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22
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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23
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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24
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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25
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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26
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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27
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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28
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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29
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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31
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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32
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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33
winks
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| v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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34
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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35
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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36
brawler
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| 争吵者，打架者 | |
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37
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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39
emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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40
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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41
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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42
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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43
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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44
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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45
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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46
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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47
hustle
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| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
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48
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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49
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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50
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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52
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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53
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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54
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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55
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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56
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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57
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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58
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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59
insolently
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| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
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60
conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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61
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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62
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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63
espoused
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| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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65
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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66
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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67
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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68
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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69
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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70
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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71
recollected
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|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
ruminating
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| v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 )；反复考虑；反刍；倒嚼 | |
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73
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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74
mutual
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|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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75
sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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76
countenance
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|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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77
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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78
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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79
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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80
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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81
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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82
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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83
revolving
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|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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84
vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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85
authenticated
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| v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效 | |
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86
meritorious
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|
| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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87
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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88
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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89
piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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90
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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91
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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92
depreciated
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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93
sordid
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|
| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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94
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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95
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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96
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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97
deferred
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|
| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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98
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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99
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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100
remarkable
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|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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101
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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102
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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103
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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104
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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105
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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106
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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107
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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108
boisterously
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| adv.喧闹地，吵闹地 | |
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109
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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110
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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111
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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112
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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113
witticism
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| n.谐语，妙语 | |
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114
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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115
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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116
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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117
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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118
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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119
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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120
renewals
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| 重建( renewal的名词复数 )； 更新； 重生； 合同的续订 | |
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121
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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122
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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123
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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124
vexes
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| v.使烦恼( vex的第三人称单数 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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125
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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126
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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127
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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128
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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129
gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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130
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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131
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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132
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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133
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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134
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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135
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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136
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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137
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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138
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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139
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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140
garnished
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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141
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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142
costliest
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| adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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143
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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144
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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145
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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146
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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147
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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148
jocose
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| adj.开玩笑的，滑稽的 | |
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149
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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150
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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151
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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152
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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153
memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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154
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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155
circumscribed
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| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
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156
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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157
careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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158
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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159
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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160
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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161
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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162
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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163
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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164
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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