第56章

Perfect amicability being thus restored, a dialogue naturally ensued upon the number and nature of the garments which would be indispensable for Miss Price's entrance into the holy state of matrimony, when Miss Squeers clearly showed that a great many more than the miller could, or would, afford, were absolutely necessary, and could not decently be dispensed with. The young lady then, by an easy digression, led the discourse to her own wardrobe, and after recounting its principal beauties at some length, took her friend upstairs to make inspection thereof. The treasures of two drawers and a closet having been displayed, and all the smaller articles tried on, it was time for Miss Price to return home; and as she had been in raptures with all the frocks, and had been stricken quite dumb with admiration of a new pink scarf, Miss Squeers said in high good humour, that she would walk part of the way with her, for the pleasure of her company;and off they went together: Miss Squeers dilating, as they walked along, upon her father's accomplishments: and multiplying his income by ten, to give her friend some faint notion of the vast importance and superiority of her family.

It happened that that particular time, comprising the short daily interval which was suffered to elapse between what was pleasantly called the dinner of Mr Squeers's pupils, and their return to the pursuit of useful knowledge, was precisely the hour when Nicholas was accustomed to issue forth for a melancholy walk, and to brood, as he sauntered listlessly through the village, upon his miserable lot. Miss Squeers knew this perfectly well, but had perhaps forgotten it, for when she caught sight of that young gentleman advancing towards them, she evinced many symptoms of surprise and consternation, and assured her friend that she `felt fit to drop into the earth.'

`Shall we turn back, or run into a cottage?' asked Miss Price. `He don't see us yet.'

`No, 'Tilda,' replied Miss Squeers, `it is my duty to go through with it, and I will!'

As Miss Squeers said this, in the tone of one who has made a high moral resolution, and was, besides, taken with one or two chokes and catchings of breath, indicative of feelings at a high pressure, her friend made no further remark, and they bore straight down upon Nicholas, who, walking with his eyes bent upon the ground, was not aware of their approach until they were close upon him; otherwise, he might, perhaps, have taken shelter himself.

`Good-morning,' said Nicholas, bowing and passing by.

`He is going,' murmured Miss Squeers. `I shall choke, 'Tilda.'

`Come back, Mr Nickleby, do!' cried Miss Price, affecting alarm at her friend's threat, but really actuated by a malicious wish to hear what Nicholas would say; `come back, Mr Nickleby!'

Mr Nickleby came back, and looked as confused as might be, as he inquired whether the ladies had any commands for him.

`Don't stop to talk,' urged Miss Price, hastily; `but support her on the other side. How do you feel now, dear?'

`Better,' sighed Miss Squeers, laying a beaver bonnet of a reddish brown with a green veil attached, on Mr Nickleby's shoulder. `This foolish faintness!'

`Don't call it foolish, dear,' said Miss Price: her bright eye dancing with merriment as she saw the perplexity of Nicholas; `you have no reason to be ashamed of it. It's those who are too proud to come round again, without all this to-do, that ought to be ashamed.'

`You are resolved to fix it upon me, I see,' said Nicholas, smiling, `although I told you, last night, it was not my fault.'

`There; he says it was not his fault, my dear,' remarked the wicked Miss Price. `Perhaps you were too jealous, or too hasty with him? He says it was not his fault. You hear; I think that's apology enough.'

`You will not understand me,' said Nicholas. `Pray dispense with this jesting, for I have no time, and really no inclination, to be the subject or promoter of mirth just now.'

`What do you mean?' asked Miss Price, affecting amazement.

`Don't ask him, 'Tilda,' cried Miss Squeers; `I forgive him.'

`Dear me,' said Nicholas, as the brown bonnet went down on his shoulder again, `this is more serious than I supposed. Allow me! Will you have the goodness to hear me speak?'

Here he raised up the brown bonnet, and regarding with most unfeigned astonishment a look of tender reproach from Miss Squeers, shrunk back a few paces to be out of the reach of the fair burden, and went on to say:

`I am very sorry--truly and sincerely sorry--for having been the cause of any difference among you, last night. I reproach myself, most bitterly, for having been so unfortunate as to cause the dissension that occurred, although I did so, I assure you, most unwittingly and heedlessly.'

`Well; that's not all you have got to say surely,' exclaimed Miss Price as Nicholas paused.

`I fear there is something more,' stammered Nicholas with a half-smile, and looking towards Miss Squeers, `it is a most awkward thing to say--but--the very mention of such a supposition makes one look like a puppy--still--may I ask if that lady supposes that I entertain any--in short, does she think that I am in love with her?'

`Delightful embarrassment,' thought Miss Squeers, `I have brought him to it, at last. Answer for me, dear,' she whispered to her friend.

`Does she think so?' rejoined Miss Price; `of course she does.'

`She does!' exclaimed Nicholas with such energy of utterance as might have been, for the moment, mistaken for rapture.

`Certainly,' replied Miss Price `If Mr Nickleby has doubted that, 'Tilda,' said the blushing Miss Squeers in soft accents, `he may set his mind at rest. His sentiments are recipro--'

`Stop,' cried Nicholas hurriedly; `pray hear me. This is the grossest and wildest delusion, the completest and most signal mistake, that ever human being laboured under, or committed. I have scarcely seen the young lady half-a-dozen times, but if I had seen her sixty times, or am destined to see her sixty thousand, it would be, and will be, precisely the same.