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834 the handwriting of the second tallied with it exactly, (making proper allowance for its having been written by a person in extremity,) and there were several other corroboratory scraps of entries and memoranda which it was equally difficult to question. ‘Dear Nicholas,’ whispered Kate, who had been looking anxiously over his shoulder, ‘can this be really the case? Is this statement true?’ ‘I fear it is,’ answered Nicholas. ‘What say you, John?’ ‘John scratched his head and shook it, but said nothing at all. ‘You will observe, ma’am,’ said Ralph, addressing himself to Mrs Nickleby, ‘that this boy being a minor and not of strong mind, we might have come here tonight, armed with the powers of the law, and backed by a troop of its myrmidons. I should have done so, ma’am, unquestionably, but for my regard for the feelings of yourself, and your daughter.’ ‘You have shown your regard for her feelings well,’ said Nicholas, drawing his sister towards him. ‘Thank you,’ replied Ralph. ‘Your praise, sir, is commendation, indeed.’ ‘Well,’ said Squeers, ‘what’s to be done? Them hackney-coach horses will catch cold if we don’t think of moving; there’s one of ’em a sneezing now, so that he blows the street door right open. What’s the order of the day? Is Master Snawley to come along with us?’ ‘No, no, no,’ replied Smike, drawing back, and clinging to Nicholas. ‘No. Pray, no. I will not go from you with him. No, no.’ ‘This is a cruel thing,’ said Snawley, looking to his friends for support. ‘Do parents bring children into the world for this?’ |