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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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80 beef; but he was at that moment intent on preparing breakfast for the little boys. ‘This is twopenn’orth of milk, is it, waiter?’ said Mr Squeers, looking down into a large blue mug, and slanting it gently, so as to get an accurate view of the quantity of liquid contained in it. ‘That’s twopenn’orth, sir,’ replied the waiter. ‘What a rare article milk is, to be sure, in London!’ said Mr Squeers, with a sigh. ‘Just fill that mug up with lukewarm water, William, will you?’ ‘To the wery top, sir?’ inquired the waiter. ‘Why, the milk will be drownded.’ ‘Never you mind that,’ replied Mr Squeers. ‘Serve it right for being so dear. You ordered that thick bread and butter for three, did you?’ ‘Coming directly, sir.’ ‘You needn’t hurry yourself,’ said Squeers; ‘there’s plenty of time. Conquer your passions, boys, and don’t be eager after vittles.’ As he uttered this moral precept, Mr Squeers took a large bite out of the cold beef, and recognised Nicholas. ‘Sit down, Mr Nickleby,’ said Squeers. ‘Here we are, a breakfasting you see!’ Nicholas did not see that anybody was breakfasting, except Mr Squeers; but he bowed with all becoming reverence, and looked as cheerful as he could. ‘Oh! that’s the milk and water, is it, William?’ said Squeers. ‘Very good; don’t forget the bread and butter presently.’ At this fresh mention of the bread and butter, the five little boys looked very eager, and followed the waiter out, with their eyes; meanwhile Mr Squeers tasted the milk and water. |
