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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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756 performance, he covered his head once more, pulled the cap very carefully over the tips of his ears, and resuming his former attitude, said, ‘The question is--’ Here he broke off to look round in every direction, and satisfy himself beyond all doubt that there were no listeners near. Assured that there were not, he tapped his nose several times, accompanying the action with a cunning look, as though congratulating himself on his caution; and stretching out his neck, said in a loud whisper, ‘Are you a princess?’ ‘You are mocking me, sir,’ replied Mrs Nickleby, making a feint of retreating towards the house. ‘No, but are you?’ said the old gentleman. ‘You know I am not, sir,’ replied Mrs Nickleby. ‘Then are you any relation to the Archbishop of Canterbury?’ inquired the old gentleman with great anxiety, ‘or to the Pope of Rome? Or the Speaker of the House of Commons? Forgive me, if I am wrong, but I was told you were niece to the Commissioners of Paving, and daughter-in-law to the Lord Mayor and Court of Common Council, which would account for your relationship to all three.’ ‘Whoever has spread such reports, sir,’ returned Mrs Nickleby, with some warmth, ‘has taken great liberties with my name, and one which I am sure my son Nicholas, if he was aware of it, would not allow for an instant. The idea!’ said Mrs Nickleby, drawing herself up, ‘niece to the Commissioners of Paving!’ ‘Pray, mama, come away!’ whispered Kate. ‘“Pray mama!” Nonsense, Kate,’ said Mrs Nickleby, angrily, |
