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Nicholas Nickleby is all very well; we accept him as something which is required to tie the whole affair together. Nicholas is a sort of string or clothes-line on which are hung the limp figure of Smike, the jumping-jack of Mr. Squeers and the twin dolls named Cheeryble. If we do not accept Nicholas Nickleby as the hero of the story, at least we accept him as the title of the story.
"To go with you anywhere everywhere to the world's end to the churchyard grave," replied Smike, clinging to his hand. "Let me, oh, do let me. You are my home my kind friend take me with you, pray." I am a friend who can do "little for you," said Nicholas, kindly. "How came you here?"
'Dang it, thee bean't afeard o' schoolmeasther's takkin cold, I hope? 'N-no, said Smike, his teeth chattering in his head. 'But he brought me back before, and will again. He will, he will indeed. 'He wull, he wull! replied John impatiently. 'He wean't, he wean't. Look'ee!
'Then why do you give way to these fits of melancholy? inquired Nicholas, in his kindest manner; 'or why not tell us the cause? You grow a different creature, Smike. 'I do; I know I do, he replied. 'I will tell you the reason one day, but not now. I hate myself for this; you are all so good and kind. But I cannot help it. My heart is very full; you do not know how full it is.
'The school was Mr Squeers's, continued Ralph; 'the boy was left there in the name of Smike; every description was fully given, dates tally exactly with Mr Squeers's books, Mr Squeers is lodging with you at this time; you have two other boys at his school: you communicated the whole discovery to him, he brought you to me as the person who had recommended to him the kidnapper of his child; and I brought you here.
'Yes, a coach, sir, replied Squeers, feasting his eyes upon the countenance of Smike. 'Damn the expense. Let's have him in a coach. 'What's he been a doing of? asked a labourer with a hod of bricks, against whom and a fellow-labourer Mr Squeers had backed, on the first jerk of the umbrella. 'Everything! replied Mr Squeers, looking fixedly at his old pupil in a sort of rapturous trance.
Smike had made good speed while Nicholas was absent, and with his help everything was soon ready for their departure. They scarcely stopped to take a morsel of breakfast, and in less than half an hour arrived at the coach-office: quite out of breath with the haste they had made to reach it in time.
We worked out a cipher in order to attempt to communicate secretly with either Sir Ralph Fairfield or Lady Eileen Meredith. As I have said, the lack of money was our trouble, and we had to get some somehow. Condit went away, and I persuaded Mr. Grell to go with him and spend the night at a gambling-joint in Smike Street. I remained.
'I am afraid they don't keep many animals of either kind on board ship, Smike, and even when they have horses, that they are not very particular about rubbing them down; still you can learn to do something else, you know. Where there's a will, there's a way. 'And I am very willing, said Smike, brightening up again.
He remembered their first meeting with a smile, and their second with a tear; saw poor Smike once again with the bundle on his shoulder trudging patiently by his side; and heard the honest Yorkshireman's rough words of encouragement as he left them on their road to London.
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