In which Mr Ralph Nickleby is relieved, by a veryexpeditious Process, from all Commerce with hisRelations.

　　S mike and Newman Noggs, who in his impatience hadreturned home long before the time agreed upon, satbefore the fire, listening anxiously to every footstep on thestairs, and the slightest sound that stirred within the house, for theapproach of Nicholas. Time had worn on, and it was growing late.

　　He had promised to be back in an hour; and his prolongedabsence began to excite considerable alarm in the minds of both,as was abundantly testified by the blank looks they cast upon eachother at every new disappointment.

　　At length a coach was heard to stop, and Newman ran out tolight Nicholas up the stairs. Beholding him in the trim describedat the conclusion of the last chapter, he stood aghast in wonderand consternation.

　　‘Don’t be alarmed,’ said Nicholas, hurrying him back into theroom. ‘There is no harm done, beyond what a basin of water canrepair.’

　　‘No harm!’ cried Newman, passing his hands hastily over theback and arms of Nicholas, as if to assure himself that he hadbroken no bones. ‘What have you been doing?’

　　‘I know all,’ interrupted Nicholas; ‘I have heard a part, andguessed the rest. But before I remove one jot of these stains, Imust hear the whole from you. You see I am collected. My resolution is taken. Now, my good friend, speak out; for the timefor any palliation or concealment is past, and nothing will availRalph Nickleby now.’

　　‘Your dress is torn in several places; you walk lame, and I amsure you are suffering pain,’ said Newman. ‘Let me see to yourhurts first.’

　　‘I have no hurts to see to, beyond a little soreness and stiffnessthat will soon pass off,’ said Nicholas, seating himself with somedifficulty. ‘But if I had fractured every limb, and still preserved mysenses, you should not bandage one till you had told me what Ihave the right to know. Come,’ said Nicholas, giving his hand toNoggs. ‘You had a sister of your own, you told me once, who diedbefore you fell into misfortune. Now think of her, and tell me,Newman.’

　　‘Yes, I will, I will,’ said Noggs. ‘I’ll tell you the whole truth.’

　　Newman did so. Nicholas nodded his head from time to time, asit corroborated the particulars he had already gleaned; but hefixed his eyes upon the fire, and did not look round once.

　　His recital ended, Newman insisted upon his young friend’sstripping off his coat and allowing whatever injuries he hadreceived to be properly tended. Nicholas, after some opposition, atlength consented, and, while some pretty severe bruises on hisarms and shoulders were being rubbed with oil and vinegar, andvarious other efficacious remedies which Newman borrowed fromthe different lodgers, related in what manner they had beenreceived. The recital made a strong impression on the warmimagination of Newman; for when Nicholas came to the violentpart of the quarrel, he rubbed so hard, as to occasion him the mostexquisite pain, which he would not have exhibited, however, for the world, it being perfectly clear that, for the moment, Newmanwas operating on Sir Mulberry Hawk, and had quite lost sight ofhis real patient.

　　This martyrdom over, Nicholas arranged with Newman thatwhile he was otherwise occupied next morning, arrangementsshould be made for his mother’s immediately quitting her presentresidence, and also for dispatching Miss La Creevy to break theintelligence to her. He then wrapped himself in Smike’s greatcoat,and repaired to the inn where they were to pass the night, andwhere (after writing a few lines to Ralph, the delivery of which wasto be intrusted to Newman next day), he endeavoured to obtainthe repose of which he stood so much in need.

　　Drunken men, they say, may roll down precipices, and be quiteunconscious of any serious personal inconvenience when theirreason returns. The remark may possibly apply to injuriesreceived in other kinds of violent excitement: certain it is, thatalthough Nicholas experienced some pain on first awakening nextmorning, he sprung out of bed as the clock struck seven, with verylittle difficulty, and was soon as much on the alert as if nothinghad occurred.

　　Merely looking into Smike’s room, and telling him thatNewman Noggs would call for him very shortly, Nicholasdescended into the street, and calling a hackney coach, bade theman drive to Mrs Wititterly’s, according to the direction whichNewman had given him on the previous night.

　　It wanted a quarter to eight when they reached Cadogan Place.

　　Nicholas began to fear that no one might be stirring at that earlyhour, when he was relieved by the sight of a female servant,employed in cleaning the door-steps. By this functionary he was referred to the doubtful page, who appeared with dishevelled hairand a very warm and glossy face, as of a page who had just got outof bed.

　　By this young gentleman he was informed that Miss Nicklebywas then taking her morning’s walk in the gardens before thehouse. On the question being propounded whether he could goand find her, the page desponded and thought not; but beingstimulated with a shilling, the page grew sanguine and thought hecould.

　　‘Say to Miss Nickleby that her brother is here, and in greathaste to see her,’ said Nicholas.

　　The plated buttons disappeared with an alacrity most unusualto them, and Nicholas paced the room in a state of feverishagitation which made the delay even of a minute insupportable.

　　He soon heard a light footstep which he well knew, and before hecould advance to meet her, Kate had fallen on his neck and burstinto tears.

　　‘My darling girl,’ said Nicholas as he embraced her. ‘How paleyou are!’

　　‘I have been so unhappy here, dear brother,’ sobbed poor Kate;‘so very, very miserable. Do not leave me here, dear Nicholas, or Ishall die of a broken heart.’

　　‘I will leave you nowhere,’ answered Nicholas—‘never again,Kate,’ he cried, moved in spite of himself as he folded her to hisheart. ‘Tell me that I acted for the best. Tell me that we partedbecause I feared to bring misfortune on your head; that it was atrial to me no less than to yourself, and that if I did wrong it was inignorance of the world and unknowingly.’

　　‘Why should I tell you what we know so well?’ returned Kate soothingly. ‘Nicholas—dear Nicholas—how can you give waythus?’

　　‘It is such bitter reproach to me to know what you haveundergone,’ returned her brother; ‘to see you so much altered, andyet so kind and patient—God!’ cried Nicholas, clenching his fistand suddenly changing his tone and manner, ‘it sets my wholeblood on fire again. You must leave here with me directly; youshould not have slept here last night, but that I knew all this toolate. To whom can I speak, before we drive away?’

　　This question was most opportunely put, for at that instant MrWititterly walked in, and to him Kate introduced her brother, whoat once announced his purpose, and the impossibility of deferringit.

　　‘The quarter’s notice,’ said Mr Wititterly, with the gravity of aman on the right side, ‘is not yet half expired. Therefore—’

　　‘Therefore,’ interposed Nicholas, ‘the quarter’s salary must belost, sir. You will excuse this extreme haste, but circumstancesrequire that I should immediately remove my sister, and I havenot a moment’s time to lose. Whatever she brought here I will sendfor, if you will allow me, in the course of the day.’

　　Mr Wititterly bowed, but offered no opposition to Kate’simmediate departure; with which, indeed, he was rather gratifiedthan otherwise, Sir Tumley Snuffim having given it as his opinion,that she rather disagreed with Mrs Wititterly’s constitution.

　　‘With regard to the trifle of salary that is due,’ said MrWititterly, ‘I will’—here he was interrupted by a violent fit ofcoughing—‘I will—owe it to Miss Nickleby.’

　　Mr Wititterly, it should be observed, was accustomed to owesmall accounts, and to leave them owing. All men have some little pleasant way of their own; an............