“ ‘Well, I am glad to hear that,’ said the genius, looking very grim, ‘because a joke, without any figure of speech, is the death of me. Come! Quit this dreary world at once.’
“ ‘I don’t know,’ said the baron, playing with the knife; ‘it’s a dreary one certainly, but I don’t think yours is much better, for you have not the appearance of being particularly comfortable. That puts me in mind—what security have I, that I shall be any the better for going out of the world after all!’ he cried, starting up; ‘I never thought of that.’
“ ‘Dispatch,’ cried the figure, gnashing his teeth.
“ ‘Keep off!’ said the baron. “I’ll brood over miseries no longer, but put a good face on the matter, and try the fresh air and the bears again; and if that don’t do, I’ll talk to the baroness soundly, and cut the Von Swillenhausens dead.” With this the baron fell into his chair, and laughed so loud and boisterously, that the room rang with it.
“The figure fell back a pace or two, regarding the baron meanwhile with a look of intense terror, and when he had ceased, caught up the stake, plunged it violently into its body, uttered a frightful howl, and disappeared.
“Von Koeldwethout never saw it again. Having once made up his mind to action, he soon brought the baroness and the Von Swillenhausens to reason, and died many years afterwards: not a rich man that I am aware of, but certainly a happy one: leaving behind 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 both sides of the question, applying a magnifying-glass to the best one; and if they still feel tempted to retire without leave, that they smoke a large pipe and drink a full bottle first, and profit by the laudable example of the Baron of Grogzwig.”
“The fresh coach is ready, ladies and gentlemen, if you please,” said a new driver, looking in.
This intelligence caused the punch to be finished in a great hurry, and prevented any discussion relative to the last story. Mr. Squeers was observed 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 of York, and was, in fact, an inquiry whether he could inform him how much per annum the Yorkshire convents got in those days with their boarders.
The journey was then resumed. Nicholas fell asleep towards morning, and, when he awoke, found, with great regret, that, during his nap, both the 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 that night, he and Mr. Squeers, and the little boys, and their united luggage, were all put down together at the George and New Inn, Greta Bridge.
VII
Mr. and Mrs. Squeers at home.
Mr. Squeers, being safely landed, left Nicholas and the boys standing with the luggage in the road, to amuse themselves by looking at the coach as it changed horses, while he ran into the tavern and went through the leg-stretching process at the bar. After some minutes, he returned, with his legs thoroughly stretched, if the hue of his nose and a short hiccup afforded any criterion; and at the same time there came out of the yard a rusty pony-chaise, and a cart, driven by two labouring men.
“Put the boys and the boxes into the cart,” said Squeers, rubbing his hands; “and this young man and me will go on in the chaise. Get in, Nickleby.”
Nicholas obeyed. Mr. Squeers with some difficulty inducing the pony to obey also, they started off, leaving the cartload of infant misery to follow at leisure.
“Are you cold, Nickleby?” inquired Squeers, after they had travelled some distance in silence.
“Rather, sir, I must say.”
“Well, I don’t find fault with that,” said Squeers; “it’s a long journey this weather.”
“Is it much farther to Dotheboys Hall, sir?” asked Nicholas.
“About three mile from here,” replied Squeers. “But you needn’t call it a Hall down here.”
Nicholas coughed, as if he would like to know why.
“The fact is, it ain’t a Hall,” observed Squeers drily.
“Oh, indeed!” said Nicholas, whom this piece of intelligence much astonished.
“No,” replied Squeers. “We call it a Hall up in London, because it sounds better, but they don’t know it by that name in these parts. A man may call his house an island if he likes; there’s no act of Parliament against that, I believe?”
“I believe not, sir,” rejoined Nicholas.
Squeers eyed his companion slyly, at the conclusion of this little dialogue, and finding that he had grown thoughtful and appeared in nowise disposed to volunteer any observations, contented himself with lashing the pony until they reached their journey’s end.
“Jump out,” said Squeers. “Hallo there! Come and put this horse up. Be quick, will you!”
While the schoolmaster was uttering these and other impatient cries, Nicholas had time to observe that the school was a long, cold-looking house, one storey high, with a few straggling outbuildings behind, and a barn and stable adjoining. After the lapse of a minute or two, the noise of somebody unlocking the yard-gate was heard, and presently a tall lean boy, with a lantern in his hand, issued forth.
“Is that you, Smike?” cried Squeers.
“Yes, sir,” replied the boy.
“Then why the devil didn’t you come before?”
“Please, sir, I fell asleep over the fire,” answered Smike, with humility.
“Fire! what fire? Where’s there a fire?” demanded the schoolmaster, sharply.
“Only in the kitchen, sir,” replied the boy. “Missus said as I was sitting up, I might go in there for a warm.”
“Your missus is a fool,” retorted Squeers. “You’d have been a deuced deal more wakeful in the cold, I’ll engage.”
By this time Mr. Squeers had dismounted; and after ordering the boy
