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Updated: June 25, 2025
Nicholas did not come home nor did Smike reappear; but neither circumstance, to say the truth, had any great effect upon the little party, who were all in the best humour possible. Indeed, there sprung up quite a flirtation between Miss La Creevy and Tim Linkinwater, who said a thousand jocose and facetious things, and became, by degrees, quite gallant, not to say tender.
Then, after a time, she would speak to Smike himself now and then, asking him whether he was a judge of likenesses, and whether he thought that picture in the corner was like herself, and whether he didn't think it would have looked better if she had made herself ten years younger, and whether he didn't think, as a matter of general observation, that young ladies looked better not only in pictures, but out of them too, than old ones; with many more small jokes and facetious remarks, which were delivered with such good-humour and merriment, that Smike thought, within himself, she was the nicest lady he had ever seen; even nicer than Mrs Grudden, of Mr Vincent Crummles's theatre; and she was a nice lady too, and talked, perhaps more, but certainly louder, than Miss La Creevy.
Before Kate had returned any reply, a queer little double knock announced that Miss La Creevy had called to see them; and when Miss La Creevy presented herself, Mrs Nickleby, though strongly disposed to be argumentative on the previous question, forgot all about it in a gush of supposes about the coach she had come by; supposing that the man who drove must have been either the man in the shirt-sleeves or the man with the black eye; that whoever he was, he hadn't found that parasol she left inside last week; that no doubt they had stopped a long while at the Halfway House, coming down; or that perhaps being full, they had come straight on; and, lastly, that they, surely, must have passed Nicholas on the road.
'Why I think it is, my dear, said Miss La Creevy. 'For a young man, Mr Frank is not a very great walker; and I observe that he generally falls tired, and requires a good long rest, when he has come as far as this. But where is my friend? said the little woman, looking about, after having glanced slyly at Kate. 'He has not been run away with again, has he?
'I don't know what it would be to him, said Kate, with energy, 'but it would be that to me I would rather die than take. 'Heyday! cried Miss La Creevy. 'A dependence upon him, said Kate, 'would embitter my whole life. I should feel begging a far less degradation. 'Well! exclaimed Miss La Creevy.
Sometimes they say, "Oh, how very serious you have made me look, Miss La Creevy!" and at others, "La, Miss La Creevy, how very smirking!" when the very essence of a good portrait is, that it must be either serious or smirking, or it's no portrait at all. 'Indeed! said Kate, laughing. 'Certainly, my dear; because the sitters are always either the one or the other, replied Miss La Creevy.
'Let 'em laugh, cried Tim stoutly; 'we have good tempers I know, and we'll laugh too. Why, what hearty laughs we have had since we've known each other! 'So we have, cried' Miss La Creevy giving way a little, as Tim thought. 'It has been the happiest time in all my life; at least, away from the counting-house and Cheeryble Brothers, said Tim. 'Do, my dear! Now say you will.
Relieved by this expression of opinion, albeit it was vented upon empty air, Miss La Creevy trotted on to Madame Mantalini's; and being informed that the governing power was not yet out of bed, requested an interview with the second in command; whereupon Miss Knag appeared.
'Is that my niece's portrait, ma'am? 'Yes it is, Mr Nickleby, said Miss La Creevy, with a very sprightly air, 'and between you and me and the post, sir, it will be a very nice portrait too, though I say it who am the painter. 'Don't trouble yourself to show it to me, ma'am, cried Ralph, moving away, 'I have no eye for likenesses. Is it nearly finished?
Now, Tim and Miss La Creevy had met very often, and had always been very chatty and pleasant together had always been great friends and consequently it was the most natural thing in the world that Tim, finding that she still sobbed, should endeavour to console her.
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