‘No!’ exclaimed Squeers. ‘Damn that boy, he’s always at something of that sort.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

The lady, who was of a large raw-boned figure, was about half a head taller than Mr Squeers, and was dressed in a dimity night-jacket; with her hair in papers; she had also a dirty nightcap on, relieved by a yellow cotton handkerchief which tied it under the chin.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

while, on the other, a tutor’s assistant, a Murray’s grammar, half-a-dozen cards of terms, and a worn letter directed to Wackford Squeers, Esquire, were arranged in picturesque confusion.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

With which inquiry, Tim turned his back, and pretending to be absorbed in his accounts, took an opportunity of hastily wiping his eyes when he supposed Nicholas was looking another way.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

Or do you suppose that the withering of a hundred kinds of the choicest flowers that blow, called by the hardest Latin names that were ever invented, would give me one fraction of the pain that I shall feel when these old jugs and bottles are swept away as lumber?
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

and sometimes I get up in the night to look at the dull melancholy light in his little room, and wonder whether he is awake or sleeping.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

“Nothing.” His voice is growing weak of late, but I can see that he makes the old reply.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

It must be dull to watch the dark housetops and the flying clouds, for so many months; but he is very patient.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘to see a little deformed child sitting apart from other children, who are active and merry, watching the games he is denied the power to share in. He made my heart ache very often.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘At what?’
‘At their blossoming in old blacking-bottles,’ said Tim.
‘Not I, indeed,’ returned Nicholas.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

I can buy new-laid eggs in Leadenhall Market, any morning before breakfast; and as to flowers, it’s worth a run upstairs to smell my mignonette, or to see the double wallflower in the back-attic window, at No. 6, in the court.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘Clearer!’ echoed Tim Linkinwater. ‘You should see it from my bedroom window.’

‘You should see it from mine,’ replied Nicholas, with a smile.

#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

#NicholasNickleby

‘Ask Mr. Nickleby whether the sum I have mentioned is not a proper one,’ reasoned Madame Mantalini.
‘I don’t want any sum,’ replied her disconsolate husband; ‘I shall require no demd allowance. I will be a body.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘You know it almost breaks my heart, even to hear you talk of such a thing,’ replied Madame Mantalini.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

but I will not be angry with her, even then, for I will put a note in the twopenny-post as I go along, to tell her where the body is. She will be a lovely widow. I shall be a body. Some handsome women will cry; she will laugh demnebly.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘You have brought it upon yourself, Alfred,’ returned Madame Mantalini—still reproachfully, but in a softened tone.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

Comforting himself with this assurance, Mr. Mantalini closed his eyes and waited patiently till such time as he should wake up.
‘A very judicious arrangement,’ observed Ralph with a sneer, ‘if your husband will keep within it, ma’am—as no doubt he will.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘Demnition!’ cried Mr. Mantalini, suddenly skipping out of his chair, and as suddenly skipping into it again, to the great discomposure of his lady’s nerves. ‘But no. It is a demd horrid dream. It is not reality. No!’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

and I say that if he has a hundred and twenty pounds a year for his clothes and pocket-money, he may consider himself a very fortunate man.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘I have made up my mind,’ said Madame Mantalini, as tokens of impatience manifested themselves in Ralph’s countenance, ‘to allowance him.’

‘To do that, my joy?’ inquired Mr. Mantalini, who did not seem to have caught the words.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

Having achieved this performance with great dexterity, he whipped the coin into his pocket, and groaned again with increased penitence.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

and are very much connected with us in this kind of matters, I wish you to know the determination at which his conduct has compelled me to arrive.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

He took some papers of value out of my desk this morning without asking my permission.’

Mr. Mantalini groaned slightly, and buttoned his trousers pocket.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘I should scarcely have supposed it,’ answered Ralph, sarcastically.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

And notwithstanding various blandishments on the part of Mr. Mantalini, Madame Mantalini still said no, and said it too with such determined and resolute ill-temper, that Mr. Mantalini was clearly taken aback.
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘Will she call me “Sir”?’ cried Mantalini. ‘Me who dote upon her with the demdest ardour! She, who coils her fascinations round me like a pure angelic rattlesnake! It will be all up with my feelings; she will throw me into a demd state.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘Pray don’t call me to witness anything, ma’am,’ said Ralph. ‘Settle it between yourselves, settle it between yourselves.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

and, turning to Ralph, begged him to excuse her intrusion.
‘Which is entirely attributable,’ said Madame, ‘to the gross misconduct and most improper behaviour of Mr. Mantalini.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby

‘I am ashamed of you,’ said Madame Mantalini, with much indignation.
‘Ashamed—of me, my joy? It knows it is talking demd charming sweetness, but naughty fibs,’ returned Mr. Mantalini. ‘It knows it is not ashamed of its own popolorum tibby.’
#CharlesDickens
#NicholasNickleby