Chapter 63

by Charles Dickens

　　The Brothers Cheeryble make various Declarations for themselves andothers. Tim Linkinwater makes a Declaration for himselfSome weeks had passed, and the first shock of these events hadsubsided. Madeline had been removed; Frank had been absent; andNicholas and Kate had begun to try in good earnest to stifle theirown regrets, and to live for each other and for their mother--who,poor lady, could in nowise be reconciled to this dull and alteredstate of affairs--when there came one evening, per favour of MrLinkinwater, an invitation from the brothers to dinner on the nextday but one: comprehending, not only Mrs Nickleby, Kate, andNicholas, but little Miss La Creevy, who was most particularlymentioned.'Now, my dears,' said Mrs Nickleby, when they had rendered becominghonour to the bidding, and Tim had taken his departure, 'what doesthis mean?''What do you mean, mother?' asked Nicholas, smiling.'I say, my dear,' rejoined that lady, with a face of unfathomablemystery, 'what does this invitation to dinner mean? What is itsintention and object?''I conclude it means, that on such a day we are to eat and drink intheir house, and that its intent and object is to confer pleasureupon us,' said Nicholas.'And that's all you conclude it is, my dear?''I have not yet arrived at anything deeper, mother.''Then I'll just tell you one thing,' said Mrs Nickleby, you'll findyourself a little surprised; that's all. You may depend upon itthat this means something besides dinner.''Tea and supper, perhaps,' suggested Nicholas.'I wouldn't be absurd, my dear, if I were you,' replied MrsNickleby, in a lofty manner, 'because it's not by any meansbecoming, and doesn't suit you at all. What I mean to say is, thatthe Mr Cheerybles don't ask us to dinner with all this ceremony fornothing. Never mind; wait and see. You won't believe anything Isay, of course. It's much better to wait; a great deal better; it'ssatisfactory to all parties, and there can be no disputing. All Isay is, remember what I say now, and when I say I said so, don't sayI didn't.'With this stipulation, Mrs Nickleby, who was troubled, night andday, with a vision of a hot messenger tearing up to the door toannounce that Nicholas had been taken into partnership, quitted thatbranch of the subject, and entered upon a new one.'It's a very extraordinary thing,' she said, 'a most extraordinarything, that they should have invited Miss La Creevy. It quiteastonishes me, upon my word it does. Of course it's very pleasantthat she should be invited, very pleasant, and I have no doubt thatshe'll conduct herself extremely well; she always does. It's verygratifying to think that we should have been the means ofintroducing her into such society, and I'm quite glad of it--quiterejoiced--for she certainly is an exceedingly well-behaved and good-natured little person. I could wish that some friend would mentionto her how very badly she has her cap trimmed, and what verypreposterous bows those are, but of course that's impossible, and ifshe likes to make a fright of herself, no doubt she has a perfectright to do so. We never see ourselves--never do, and never did--and I suppose we never shall.'This moral reflection reminding her of the necessity of beingpeculiarly smart on the occasion, so as to counterbalance Miss LaCreevy, and be herself an effectual set-off and atonement, led MrsNickleby into a consultation with her daughter relative to certainribbons, gloves, and trimmings: which, being a complicated question,and one of paramount importance, soon routed the previous one, andput it to flight.The great day arriving, the good lady put herself under Kate's handsan hour or so after breakfast, and, dressing by easy stages,completed her toilette in sufficient time to allow of her daughter'smaking hers, which was very simple, and not very long, though sosatisfactory that she had never appeared more charming or lookedmore lovely. Miss La Creevy, too, arrived with two bandboxes(whereof the bottoms fell out as they were handed from the coach)and something in a newspaper, which a gentleman had sat upon, comingdown, and which was obliged to be ironed again, before it was fitfor service. At last, everybody was dressed, including Nicholas,who had come home to fetch them, and they went away in a coach sentby the brothers for the purpose: Mrs Nickleby wondering very muchwhat they would have for dinner, and cross-examining Nicholas as tothe extent of his discoveries in the morning; whether he had smeltanything cooking at all like turtle, and if not, what he had smelt;and diversifying the conversation with reminiscences of dinners towhich she had gone some twenty years ago, concerning which sheparticularised not only the dishes but the guests, in whom herhearers did not feel a very absorbing interest, as not one of themhad ever chanced to hear their names before.The old butler received them with profound respect and many smiles,and ushered them into the drawing-room, where they were received bythe brothers with so much cordiality and kindness that Mrs Nicklebywas quite in a flutter, and had scarcely presence of mind enough,even to patronise Miss La Creevy. Kate was still more affected bythe reception: for, knowing that the brothers were acquainted withall that had passed between her and Frank, she felt her position amost delicate and trying one, and was trembling on the arm ofNicholas, when Mr Charles took her in his, and led her to anotherpart of the room.'Have you seen Madeline, my dear,' he said, 'since she left yourhouse?''No, sir!' replied Kate. 'Not once.''And not heard from her, eh? Not heard from her?''I have only had one letter,' rejoined Kate, gently. 'I thought shewould not have forgotten me quite so soon.''Ah,' said the old man, patting her on the head, and speaking asaffectionately as if she had been his favourite child. 'Poor dear!what do you think of this, brother Ned? Madeline has only writtento her once, only once, Ned, and she didn't think she would haveforgotten her quite so soon, Ned.''Oh! sad, sad; very sad!' said Ned.The brothers interchanged a glance, and looking at Kate for a littletime without speaking, shook hands, and nodded as if they werecongratulating each other on something very delightful.'Well, well,' said brother Charles, 'go into that room, my dear--that door yonder--and see if there's not a letter for you from her.I think there's one upon the table. You needn't hurry back, mylove, if there is, for we don't dine just yet, and there's plenty oftime. Plenty of time.'Kate retired as she was directed. Brother Charles, having followedher graceful figure with his eyes, turned to Mrs Nickleby, and said:'We took the liberty of naming one hour before the real dinner-time,ma'am, because we had a little business to speak about, which wouldoccupy the interval. Ned, my dear fellow, will you mention what weagreed upon? Mr Nickleby, sir, have the goodness to follow me.'Without any further explanation, Mrs Nickleby, Miss La Creevy, andbrother Ned, were left alone together, and Nicholas followed brotherCharles into his private room; where, to his great astonishment, heencountered Frank, whom he supposed to be abroad.'Young men,' said Mr Cheeryble, 'shake hands!''I need no bidding to do that,' said Nicholas, extending his.'Nor I,' rejoined Frank, as he clasped it heartily.The old gentleman thought that two handsomer or finer young fellowscould scarcely stand side by side than those on whom he looked withso much pleasure. Suffering his eyes to rest upon them, for a shorttime in silence, he said, while he seated himself at his desk:'I wish to see you friends--close and firm friends--and if I thoughtyou otherwise, I should hesitate in what I am about to say. Frank,look here! Mr Nickleby, will you come on the other side?'The young men stepped up on either hand of brother Charles, whoproduced a paper from his desk, and unfolded it.'This,' he said, 'is a copy of the will of Madeline's maternalgrandfather, bequeathing her the sum of twelve thousand pounds,payable either upon her coming of age or marrying. It would appearthat this gentleman, angry with her (his only relation) because shewould not put herself under his protection, and detach herself fromthe society of her father, in compliance with his repeatedovertures, made a will leaving this property (which was all hepossessed) to a charitable institution. He would seem to haverepented this determination, however, for three weeks afterwards,and in the same month, he executed this. By some fraud, it wasabstracted immediately after his decease, and the other--the onlywill found--was proved and administered. Friendly negotiations,which have only just now terminated, have been proceeding since thisinstrument came into our hands, and, as there is no doubt of itsauthenticity, and the witnesses have been discovered (after sometrouble), the money has been refunded. Madeline has thereforeobtained her right, and is, or will be, when either of thecontingencies which I have mentioned has arisen, mistress of thisfortune. You understand me?'Frank replied in the affirmative. Nicholas, who could not trusthimself to speak lest his voice should be heard to falter, bowed hishead.'Now, Frank,' said the old gentleman, 'you were the immediate meansof recovering this deed. The fortune is but a small one; but welove Madeline; and such as it is, we would rather see you allied toher with that, than to any other girl we know who has three timesthe money. Will you become a suitor to her for her hand?''No, sir. I interested myself in the recovery of that instrument,believing that her hand was already pledged to one who has athousand times the claims upon her gratitude, and, if I mistake not,upon her heart, that I or any other man can ever urge. In this itseems I judged hastily.''As you always, do, sir,' cried brother Charles, utterly forgettinghis assumed dignity, 'as you always do. How dare you think, Frank,that we would have you marry for money, when youth, beauty, andevery amiable virtue and excellence were to be had for love? Howdared you, Frank, go and make love to Mr Nickleby's sister withouttelling us first what you meant to do, and letting us speak foryou?''I hardly dared to hope--''You hardly dared to hope! Then, so much the greater reason forhaving our assistance! Mr Nickleby, sir, Frank, although he judgedhastily, judged, for once, correctly. Madeline's heart is occupied.Give me your hand, sir; it is occupied by you, and worthily andnaturally. This fortune is destined to be yours, but you have agreater fortune in her, sir, than you would have in money were itforty times told. She chooses you, Mr Nickleby. She chooses as we,her dearest friends, would have her choose. Frank chooses as wewould have him choose. He should have your sister's little hand,sir, if she had refused it a score of times; ay, he should, and heshall! You acted nobly, not knowing our sentiments, but now youknow them, sir, you must do as you are bid. What! You are thechildren of a worthy gentleman! The time was, sir, when my dearbrother Ned and I were two poor simple-hearted boys, wandering,almost barefoot, to seek our fortunes: are we changed in anythingbut years and worldly circumstances since that time? No, Godforbid! Oh, Ned, Ned, Ned, what a happy day this is for you and me!If our poor mother had only lived to see us now, Ned, how proud itwould have made her dear heart at last!'Thus apostrophised, brother Ned, who had entered with Mrs Nickleby,and who had been before unobserved by the young men, darted forward,and fairly hugged brother Charles in his arms.'Bring in my little Kate,' said the latter, after a short silence.'Bring her in, Ned. Let me see Kate, let me kiss her. I have aright to do so now; I was very near it when she first came; I haveoften been very near it. Ah! Did you find the letter, my bird?Did you find Madeline herself, waiting for you and expecting you?Did you find that she had not quite forgotten her friend and nurseand sweet companion? Why, this is almost the best of all!''Come, come,' said Ned, 'Frank will be jealous, and we shall havesome cutting of throats before dinner.''Then let him take her away, Ned, let him take her away. Madeline'sin the next room. Let all the lovers get out of the way, and talkamong themselves, if they've anything to say. Turn 'em out, Ned,every one!'Brother Charles began the clearance by leading the blushing girl tothe door, and dismissing her with a kiss. Frank was not very slowto follow, and Nicholas had disappeared first of all. So there onlyremained Mrs Nickleby and Miss La Creevy, who were both sobbingheartily; the two brothers; and Tim Linkinwater, who now came in toshake hands with everybody: his round face all radiant and beamingwith smiles.'Well, Tim Linkinwater, sir,' said brother Charles, who was alwaysspokesman, 'now the young folks are happy, sir.''You didn't keep 'em in suspense as long as you said you would,though,' returned Tim, archly. 'Why, Mr Nickleby and Mr Frank wereto have been in your room for I don't know how long; and I don'tknow what you weren't to have told them before you came out with thetruth.''Now, did you ever know such a villain as this, Ned?' said the oldgentleman; 'did you ever know such a villain as Tim Linkinwater? Heaccusing me of being impatient, and he the very man who has beenwearying us morning, noon, and night, and torturing us for leave togo and tell 'em what was in store, before our plans were halfcomplete, or we had arranged a single thing. A treacherous dog!''So he is, brother Charles,' returned Ned; 'Tim is a treacherousdog. Tim is not to be trusted. Tim is a wild young fellow. Hewants gravity and steadiness; he must sow his wild oats, and thenperhaps he'll become in time a respectable member of society.'This being one of the standing jokes between the old fellows andTim, they all three laughed very heartily, and might have laughedmuch longer, but that the brothers, seeing that Mrs Nickleby waslabouring to express her feelings, and was really overwhelmed by thehappiness of the time, took her between them, and led her from theroom under pretence of having to consult her on some most importantarrangements.Now, Tim and Miss La Creevy had met very often, and had always beenvery chatty and pleasant together--had always been great friends--and consequently it was the most natural thing in the world thatTim, finding that she still sobbed, should endeavour to console her.As Miss La Creevy sat on a large old-fashioned window-seat, wherethere was ample room for two, it was also natural that Tim shouldsit down beside her; and as to Tim's being unusually spruce andparticular in his attire that day, why it was a high festival and agreat occasion, and that was the most natural thing of all.Tim sat down beside Miss La Creevy, and, crossing one leg over theother so that his foot--he had very comely feet and happened to bewearing the neatest shoes and black silk stockings possible--shouldcome easily within the range of her eye, said in a soothing way:'Don't cry!''I must,' rejoined Miss La Creevy.'No, don't,' said Tim. 'Please don't; pray don't.''I am so happy!' sobbed the little woman.'Then laugh,' said Tim. 'Do laugh.'What in the world Tim was doing with his arm, it is impossible toconjecture, but he knocked his elbow against that part of the windowwhich was quite on the other side of Miss La Creevy; and it is clearthat it could have no business there.'Do laugh,' said Tim, 'or I'll cry.''Why should you cry?' asked Miss La Creevy, smiling.'Because I'm happy too,' said Tim. 'We are both happy, and I shouldlike to do as you do.'Surely, there never was a man who fidgeted as Tim must have donethen; for he knocked the window again--almost in the same place--andMiss La Creevy said she was sure he'd break it.'I knew,' said Tim, 'that you would be pleased with this scene.''It was very thoughtful and kind to remember me,' returned Miss LaCreevy. 'Nothing could have delighted me half so much.'Why on earth should Miss La Creevy and Tim Linkinwater have said allthis in a whisper? It was no secret. And why should TimLinkinwater have looked so hard at Miss La Creevy, and why shouldMiss La Creevy have looked so hard at the ground?'It's a pleasant thing,' said Tim, 'to people like us, who havepassed all our lives in the world alone, to see young folks that weare fond of, brought together with so many years of happiness beforethem.''Ah!' cried the little woman with all her heart, 'that it is!''Although,' pursued Tim 'although it makes one feel quite solitaryand cast away. Now don't it?'Miss La Creevy said she didn't know. And why should she say shedidn't know? Because she must have known whether it did or not.'It's almost enough to make us get married after all, isn't it?'said Tim.'Oh, nonsense!' replied Miss La Creevy, laughing. 'We are too old.''Not a bit,' said Tim; 'we are too old to be single. Why shouldn'twe both be married, instead of sitting through the long winterevenings by our solitary firesides? Why shouldn't we make onefireside of it, and marry each other?''Oh, Mr Linkinwater, you're joking!''No, no, I'm not. I'm not indeed,' said Tim. 'I will, if you will.Do, my dear!''It would make people laugh so.''Let 'em laugh,' cried Tim stoutly; 'we have good tempers I know,and we'll laugh too. Why, what hearty laughs we have had sincewe've known each other!''So we have,' cried' Miss La Creevy--giving way a little, as Timthought.'It has been the happiest time in all my life; at least, away fromthe counting-house and Cheeryble Brothers,' said Tim. 'Do, my dear!Now say you will.''No, no, we mustn't think of it,' returned Miss La Creevy. 'Whatwould the brothers say?''Why, God bless your soul!' cried Tim, innocently, 'you don'tsuppose I should think of such a thing without their knowing it!Why they left us here on purpose.''I can never look 'em in the face again!' exclaimed Miss La Creevy,faintly.'Come,' said Tim, 'let's be a comfortable couple. We shall live inthe old house here, where I have been for four-and-forty year; weshall go to the old church, where I've been, every Sunday morning,all through that time; we shall have all my old friends about us--Dick, the archway, the pump, the flower-pots, and Mr Frank'schildren, and Mr Nickleby's children, that we shall seem likegrandfather and grandmother to. Let's be a comfortable couple, andtake care of each other! And if we should get deaf, or lame, orblind, or bed-ridden, how glad we shall be that we have somebody weare fond of, always to talk to and sit with! Let's be a comfortablecouple. Now, do, my dear!'Five minutes after this honest and straightforward speech, littleMiss La Creevy and Tim were talking as pleasantly as if they hadbeen married for a score of years, and had never once quarrelled allthe time; and five minutes after that, when Miss La Creevy hadbustled out to see if her eyes were red and put her hair to rights,Tim moved with a stately step towards the drawing-room, exclaimingas he went, 'There an't such another woman in all London! I knowthere an't!'By this time, the apoplectic butler was nearly in fits, inconsequence of the unheard-of postponement of dinner. Nicholas, whohad been engaged in a manner in which every reader may imagine forhimself or herself, was hurrying downstairs in obedience to hisangry summons, when he encountered a new surprise.On his way down, he overtook, in one of the passages, a strangergenteelly dressed in black, who was also moving towards the dining-room. As he was rather lame, and walked slowly, Nicholas lingeredbehind, and was following him step by step, wondering who he was,when he suddenly turned round and caught him by both hands.'Newman Noggs!' cried Nicholas joyfully'Ah! Newman, your own Newman, your own old faithful Newman! My dearboy, my dear Nick, I give you joy--health, happiness, everyblessing! I can't bear it--it's too much, my dear boy--it makes achild of me!''Where have you been?' said Nicholas. 'What have you been doing?How often have I inquired for you, and been told that I should hearbefore long!''I know, I know!' returned Newman. 'They wanted all the happinessto come together. I've been helping 'em. I--I--look at me, Nick,look at me!''You would never let me do that,' said Nicholas in a tone of gentlereproach.'I didn't mind what I was, then. I shouldn't have had the heart toput on gentleman's clothes. They would have reminded me of oldtimes and made me miserable. I am another man now, Nick. My dearboy, I can't speak. Don't say anything to me. Don't think the worseof me for these tears. You don't know what I feel today; you can't,and never will!'They walked in to dinner arm-in-arm, and sat down side by side.Never was such a dinner as that, since the world began. There wasthe superannuated bank clerk, Tim Linkinwater's friend; and therewas the chubby old lady, Tim Linkinwater's sister; and there was somuch attention from Tim Linkinwater's sister to Miss La Creevy, andthere were so many jokes from the superannuated bank clerk, and TimLinkinwater himself was in such tiptop spirits, and little Miss LaCreevy was in such a comical state, that of themselves they wouldhave composed the pleasantest party conceivable. Then, there wasMrs Nickleby, so grand and complacent; Madeline and Kate, soblushing and beautiful; Nicholas and Frank, so devoted and proud;and all four so silently and tremblingly happy; there was Newman sosubdued yet so overjoyed, and there were the twin brothers sodelighted and interchanging such looks, that the old servant stoodtransfixed behind his master's chair, and felt his eyes grow dim asthey wandered round the table.When the first novelty of the meeting had worn off, and they begantruly to feel how happy they were, the conversation became moregeneral, and the harmony and pleasure if possible increased. Thebrothers were in a perfect ecstasy; and their insisting on salutingthe ladies all round, before they would permit them to retire, gaveoccasion to the superannuated bank clerk to say so many good things,that he quite outshone himself, and was looked upon as a prodigy ofhumour.'Kate, my dear,' said Mrs Nickleby, taking her daughter aside, assoon as they got upstairs, 'you don't really mean to tell me thatthis is actually true about Miss La Creevy and Mr Linkinwater?''Indeed it is, mama.''Why, I never heard such a thing in my life!' exclaimed MrsNickleby.'Mr Linkinwater is a most excellent creature,' reasoned Kate, 'and,for his age, quite young still.''For his age, my dear!' returned Mrs Nickleby, 'yes; nobody saysanything against him, except that I think he is the weakest and mostfoolish man I ever knew. It's her age I speak of. That he shouldhave gone and offered himself to a woman who must be--ah, half asold again as I am--and that she should have dared to accept him! Itdon't signify, Kate; I'm disgusted with her!'Shaking her head very emphatically indeed, Mrs Nickleby swept away;and all the evening, in the midst of the merriment and enjoymentthat ensued, and in which with that exception she freelyparticipated, conducted herself towards Miss La Creevy in a statelyand distant manner, designed to mark her sense of the impropriety ofher conduct, and to signify her extreme and cutting disapprobationof the misdemeanour she had so flagrantly committed.