Chapter 15

by Charles Dickens

　　Acquaints the Reader with the Cause and Origin of the Interruptiondescribed in the last Chapter, and with some other Matters necessaryto be knownNewman Noggs scrambled in violent haste upstairs with the steamingbeverage, which he had so unceremoniously snatched from the table ofMr Kenwigs, and indeed from the very grasp of the water-ratecollector, who was eyeing the contents of the tumbler, at the momentof its unexpected abstraction, with lively marks of pleasure visiblein his countenance. He bore his prize straight to his own back-garret, where, footsore and nearly shoeless, wet, dirty, jaded, anddisfigured with every mark of fatiguing travel, sat Nicholas andSmike, at once the cause and partner of his toil; both perfectlyworn out by their unwonted and protracted exertion.Newman's first act was to compel Nicholas, with gentle force, toswallow half of the punch at a breath, nearly boiling as it was; andhis next, to pour the remainder down the throat of Smike, who, neverhaving tasted anything stronger than aperient medicine in his wholelife, exhibited various odd manifestations of surprise and delight,during the passage of the liquor down his throat, and turned up hiseyes most emphatically when it was all gone.'You are wet through,' said Newman, passing his hand hastily overthe coat which Nicholas had thrown off; 'and I--I--haven't even achange,' he added, with a wistful glance at the shabby clothes hewore himself.'I have dry clothes, or at least such as will serve my turn well, inmy bundle,' replied Nicholas. 'If you look so distressed to see me,you will add to the pain I feel already, at being compelled, for onenight, to cast myself upon your slender means for aid and shelter.'Newman did not look the less distressed to hear Nicholas talking inthis strain; but, upon his young friend grasping him heartily by thehand, and assuring him that nothing but implicit confidence in thesincerity of his professions, and kindness of feeling towardshimself, would have induced him, on any consideration, even to havemade him acquainted with his arrival in London, Mr Noggs brightenedup again, and went about making such arrangements as were in hispower for the comfort of his visitors, with extreme alacrity.These were simple enough; poor Newman's means halting at a veryconsiderable distance short of his inclinations; but, slight as theywere, they were not made without much bustling and running about.As Nicholas had husbanded his scanty stock of money, so well that itwas not yet quite expended, a supper of bread and cheese, with somecold beef from the cook's shop, was soon placed upon the table; andthese viands being flanked by a bottle of spirits and a pot ofporter, there was no ground for apprehension on the score of hungeror thirst, at all events. Such preparations as Newman had it in hispower to make, for the accommodation of his guests during the night,occupied no very great time in completing; and as he had insisted,as an express preliminary, that Nicholas should change his clothes,and that Smike should invest himself in his solitary coat (which noentreaties would dissuade him from stripping off for the purpose),the travellers partook of their frugal fare, with more satisfactionthan one of them at least had derived from many a better meal.They then drew near the fire, which Newman Noggs had made up as wellas he could, after the inroads of Crowl upon the fuel; and Nicholas,who had hitherto been restrained by the extreme anxiety of hisfriend that he should refresh himself after his journey, now pressedhim with earnest questions concerning his mother and sister.'Well,' replied Newman, with his accustomed taciturnity; 'bothwell.''They are living in the city still?' inquired Nicholas.'They are,' said Newman.'And my sister,'--added Nicholas. 'Is she still engaged in thebusiness which she wrote to tell me she thought she should like somuch?'Newman opened his eyes rather wider than usual, but merely repliedby a gasp, which, according to the action of the head thataccompanied it, was interpreted by his friends as meaning yes or no.In the present instance, the pantomime consisted of a nod, and not ashake; so Nicholas took the answer as a favourable one.'Now listen to me,' said Nicholas, laying his hand on Newman'sshoulder. 'Before I would make an effort to see them, I deemed itexpedient to come to you, lest, by gratifying my own selfish desire,I should inflict an injury upon them which I can never repair. Whathas my uncle heard from Yorkshire?'Newman opened and shut his mouth, several times, as though he weretrying his utmost to speak, but could make nothing of it, andfinally fixed his eyes on Nicholas with a grim and ghastly stare.'What has he heard?' urged Nicholas, colouring. 'You see that I amprepared to hear the very worst that malice can have suggested. Whyshould you conceal it from me? I must know it sooner or later; andwhat purpose can be gained by trifling with the matter for a fewminutes, when half the time would put me in possession of all thathas occurred? Tell me at once, pray.''Tomorrow morning,' said Newman; 'hear it tomorrow.''What purpose would that answer?' urged Nicholas.'You would sleep the better,' replied Newman.'I should sleep the worse,' answered Nicholas, impatiently. 'Sleep!Exhausted as I am, and standing in no common need of rest, I cannothope to close my eyes all night, unless you tell me everything.''And if I should tell you everything,' said Newman, hesitating.'Why, then you may rouse my indignation or wound my pride,' rejoinedNicholas; 'but you will not break my rest; for if the scene wereacted over again, I could take no other part than I have taken; andwhatever consequences may accrue to myself from it, I shall neverregret doing as I have done--never, if I starve or beg inconsequence. What is a little poverty or suffering, to the disgraceof the basest and most inhuman cowardice! I tell you, if I hadstood by, tamely and passively, I should have hated myself, andmerited the contempt of every man in existence. The black-heartedscoundrel!'With this gentle allusion to the absent Mr Squeers, Nicholasrepressed his rising wrath, and relating to Newman exactly what hadpassed at Dotheboys Hall, entreated him to speak out without morepressing. Thus adjured, Mr Noggs took, from an old trunk, a sheetof paper, which appeared to have been scrawled over in great haste;and after sundry extraordinary demonstrations of reluctance,delivered himself in the following terms.'My dear young man, you mustn't give way to--this sort of thing willnever do, you know--as to getting on in the world, if you takeeverybody's part that's ill-treated--Damn it, I am proud to hear ofit; and would have done it myself!'Newman accompanied this very unusual outbreak with a violent blowupon the table, as if, in the heat of the moment, he had mistaken itfor the chest or ribs of Mr Wackford Squeers. Having, by this opendeclaration of his feelings, quite precluded himself from offeringNicholas any cautious worldly advice (which had been his firstintention), Mr Noggs went straight to the point.'The day before yesterday,' said Newman, 'your uncle received thisletter. I took a hasty copy of it, while he was out. Shall I readit?''If you please,' replied Nicholas. Newman Noggs accordingly read asfollows:'Dotheboys Hall,'Thursday Morning.'Sir,'My pa requests me to write to you, the doctors considering itdoubtful whether he will ever recuvver the use of his legs whichprevents his holding a pen.'We are in a state of mind beyond everything, and my pa is one maskof brooses both blue and green likewise two forms are steepled inhis Goar. We were kimpelled to have him carried down into thekitchen where he now lays. You will judge from this that he hasbeen brought very low.'When your nevew that you recommended for a teacher had done this tomy pa and jumped upon his body with his feet and also langwedgewhich I will not pollewt my pen with describing, he assaulted my mawith dreadful violence, dashed her to the earth, and drove her backcomb several inches into her head. A very little more and it musthave entered her skull. We have a medical certifiket that if ithad, the tortershell would have affected the brain.'Me and my brother were then the victims of his feury since which wehave suffered very much which leads us to the arrowing belief thatwe have received some injury in our insides, especially as no marksof violence are visible externally. I am screaming out loud all thetime I write and so is my brother which takes off my attentionrather and I hope will excuse mistakes.'The monster having sasiated his thirst for blood ran away, takingwith him a boy of desperate caracter that he had excited torebellyon, and a garnet ring belonging to my ma, and not having beenapprehended by the constables is supposed to have been took up bysome stage-coach. My pa begs that if he comes to you the ring maybe returned, and that you will let the thief and assassin go, as ifwe prosecuted him he would only be transported, and if he is let gohe is sure to be hung before long which will save us trouble and bemuch more satisfactory. Hoping to hear from you when convenient'I remain'Yours and cetrer'Fanny Squeers.'P.S. I pity his ignorance and despise him.'A profound silence succeeded to the reading of this choice epistle,during which Newman Noggs, as he folded it up, gazed with a kind ofgrotesque pity at the boy of desperate character therein referredto; who, having no more distinct perception of the matter in hand,than that he had been the unfortunate cause of heaping trouble andfalsehood upon Nicholas, sat mute and dispirited, with a mostwoe-begone and heart-stricken look.'Mr Noggs,' said Nicholas, after a few moments' reflection, 'I mustgo out at once.''Go out!' cried Newman.'Yes,' said Nicholas, 'to Golden Square. Nobody who knows me wouldbelieve this story of the ring; but it may suit the purpose, orgratify the hatred of Mr Ralph Nickleby to feign to attach credenceto it. It is due--not to him, but to myself--that I should statethe truth; and moreover, I have a word or two to exchange with him,which will not keep cool.''They must,' said Newman.'They must not, indeed,' rejoined Nicholas firmly, as he prepared toleave the house.'Hear me speak,' said Newman, planting himself before his impetuousyoung friend. 'He is not there. He is away from town. He will notbe back for three days; and I know that letter will not be answeredbefore he returns.''Are you sure of this?' asked Nicholas, chafing violently, andpacing the narrow room with rapid strides.'Quite,' rejoined Newman. 'He had hardly read it when he was calledaway. Its contents are known to nobody but himself and us.''Are you certain?' demanded Nicholas, precipitately; 'not even to mymother or sister? If I thought that they--I will go there--I mustsee them. Which is the way? Where is it?''Now, be advised by me,' said Newman, speaking for the moment, inhis earnestness, like any other man--'make no effort to see eventhem, till he comes home. I know the man. Do not seem to have beentampering with anybody. When he returns, go straight to him, andspeak as boldly as you like. Guessing at the real truth, he knowsit as well as you or I. Trust him for that.''You mean well to me, and should know him better than I can,'replied Nicholas, after some consideration. 'Well; let it be so.'Newman, who had stood during the foregoing conversation with hisback planted against the door, ready to oppose any egress from theapartment by force, if necessary, resumed his seat with muchsatisfaction; and as the water in the kettle was by this timeboiling, made a glassful of spirits and water for Nicholas, and acracked mug-full for the joint accommodation of himself and Smike,of which the two partook in great harmony, while Nicholas, leaninghis head upon his hand, remained buried in melancholy meditation.Meanwhile, the company below stairs, after listening attentively andnot hearing any noise which would justify them in interfering forthe gratification of their curiosity, returned to the chamber of theKenwigses, and employed themselves in hazarding a great variety ofconjectures relative to the cause of Mr Noggs' sudden disappearanceand detention.'Lor, I'll tell you what,' said Mrs Kenwigs. 'Suppose it should bean express sent up to say that his property has all come backagain!''Dear me,' said Mr Kenwigs; 'it's not impossible. Perhaps, in thatcase, we'd better send up and ask if he won't take a little morepunch.''Kenwigs!' said Mr Lillyvick, in a loud voice, 'I'm surprised atyou.''What's the matter, sir?' asked Mr Kenwigs, with becoming submissionto the collector of water-rates.'Making such a remark as that, sir,' replied Mr Lillyvick, angrily.'He has had punch already, has he not, sir? I consider the way inwhich that punch was cut off, if I may use the expression, highlydisrespectful to this company; scandalous, perfectly scandalous. Itmay be the custom to allow such things in this house, but it's notthe kind of behaviour that I've been used to see displayed, and so Idon't mind telling you, Kenwigs. A gentleman has a glass of punchbefore him to which he is just about to set his lips, when anothergentleman comes and collars that glass of punch, without a "withyour leave", or "by your leave", and carries that glass of punchaway. This may be good manners--I dare say it is--but I don'tunderstand it, that's all; and what's more, I don't care if I neverdo. It's my way to speak my mind, Kenwigs, and that is my mind; andif you don't like it, it's past my regular time for going to bed,and I can find my way home without making it later.'Here was an untoward event! The collector had sat swelling andfuming in offended dignity for some minutes, and had now fairlyburst out. The great man--the rich relation--the unmarried uncle--who had it in his power to make Morleena an heiress, and the verybaby a legatee--was offended. Gracious Powers, where was this toend!'I am very sorry, sir,' said Mr Kenwigs, humbly.'Don't tell me you're sorry,' retorted Mr Lillyvick, with muchsharpness. 'You should have prevented it, then.'The company were quite paralysed by this domestic crash. The back-parlour sat with her mouth wide open, staring vacantly at thecollector, in a stupor of dismay; the other guests were scarcelyless overpowered by the great man's irritation. Mr Kenwigs, notbeing skilful in such matters, only fanned the flame in attemptingto extinguish it.'I didn't think of it, I am sure, sir,' said that gentleman. 'Ididn't suppose that such a little thing as a glass of punch wouldhave put you out of temper.''Out of temper! What the devil do you mean by that piece ofimpertinence, Mr Kenwigs?' said the collector. 'Morleena, child--give me my hat.''Oh, you're not going, Mr Lillyvick, sir,' interposed Miss Petowker,with her most bewitching smile.But still Mr Lillyvick, regardless of the siren, cried obdurately,'Morleena, my hat!' upon the fourth repetition of which demand, MrsKenwigs sunk back in her chair, with a cry that might have softeneda water-butt, not to say a water-collector; while the four littlegirls (privately instructed to that effect) clasped their uncle'sdrab shorts in their arms, and prayed him, in imperfect English, toremain.'Why should I stop here, my dears?' said Mr Lillyvick; 'I'm notwanted here.''Oh, do not speak so cruelly, uncle,' sobbed Mrs Kenwigs, 'unlessyou wish to kill me.''I shouldn't wonder if some people were to say I did,' replied MrLillyvick, glancing angrily at Kenwigs. 'Out of temper!''Oh! I cannot bear to see him look so, at my husband,' cried MrsKenwigs. 'It's so dreadful in families. Oh!''Mr Lillyvick,' said Kenwigs, 'I hope, for the sake of your niece,that you won't object to be reconciled.'The collector's features relaxed, as the company added theirentreaties to those of his nephew-in-law. He gave up his hat, andheld out his hand.'There, Kenwigs,' said Mr Lillyvick; 'and let me tell you, at thesame time, to show you how much out of temper I was, that if I hadgone away without another word, it would have made no differencerespecting that pound or two which I shall leave among your childrenwhen I die.''Morleena Kenwigs,' cried her mother, in a torrent of affection.'Go down upon your knees to your dear uncle, and beg him to love youall his life through, for he's more a angel than a man, and I'vealways said so.'Miss Morleena approaching to do homage, in compliance with thisinjunction, was summarily caught up and kissed by Mr Lillyvick; andthereupon Mrs Kenwigs darted forward and kissed the collector, andan irrepressible murmur of applause broke from the company who hadwitnessed his magnanimity.The worthy gentleman then became once more the life and soul of thesociety; being again reinstated in his old post of lion, from whichhigh station the temporary distraction of their thoughts had for amoment dispossessed him. Quadruped lions are said to be savage,only when they are hungry; biped lions are rarely sulky longer thanwhen their appetite for distinction remains unappeased. MrLillyvick stood higher than ever; for he had shown his power; hintedat his property and testamentary intentions; gained great credit fordisinterestedness and virtue; and, in addition to all, was finallyaccommodated with a much larger tumbler of punch than that whichNewman Noggs had so feloniously made off with.'I say! I beg everybody's pardon for intruding again,' said Crowl,looking in at this happy juncture; 'but what a queer business thisis, isn't it? Noggs has lived in this house, now going on for fiveyears, and nobody has ever been to see him before, within the memoryof the oldest inhabitant.''It's a strange time of night to be called away, sir, certainly,'said the collector; 'and the behaviour of Mr Noggs himself, is, tosay the least of it, mysterious.''Well, so it is,' rejoined Growl; 'and I'll tell you what's more--Ithink these two geniuses, whoever they are, have run away fromsomewhere.''What makes you think that, sir?' demanded the collector, whoseemed, by a tacit understanding, to have been chosen and electedmouthpiece to the company. 'You have no reason to suppose that theyhave run away from anywhere without paying the rates and taxes due,I hope?'Mr Crowl, with a look of some contempt, was about to enter a generalprotest against the payment of rates or taxes, under anycircumstances, when he was checked by a timely whisper from Kenwigs,and several frowns and winks from Mrs K., which providentiallystopped him.'Why the fact is,' said Crowl, who had been listening at Newman'sdoor with all his might and main; 'the fact is, that they have beentalking so loud, that they quite disturbed me in my room, and so Icouldn't help catching a word here, and a word there; and all Iheard, certainly seemed to refer to their having bolted from someplace or other. I don't wish to alarm Mrs Kenwigs; but I hope theyhaven't come from any jail or hospital, and brought away a fever orsome unpleasantness of that sort, which might be catching for thechildren.'Mrs Kenwigs was so overpowered by this supposition, that it neededall the tender attentions of Miss Petowker, of the Theatre Royal,Drury Lane, to restore her to anything like a state of calmness; notto mention the assiduity of Mr Kenwigs, who held a fat smelling-bottle to his lady's nose, until it became matter of some doubtwhether the tears which coursed down her face were the result offeelings or sal volatile.The ladies, having expressed their sympathy, singly and separately,fell, according to custom, into a little chorus of soothingexpressions, among which, such condolences as 'Poor dear!'--'Ishould feel just the same, if I was her'--'To be sure, it's a verytrying thing'--and 'Nobody but a mother knows what a mother'sfeelings is,' were among the most prominent, and most frequentlyrepeated. In short, the opinion of the company was so clearlymanifested, that Mr Kenwigs was on the point of repairing to MrNoggs's room, to demand an explanation, and had indeed swallowed apreparatory glass of punch, with great inflexibility and steadinessof purpose, when the attention of all present was diverted by a newand terrible surprise.This was nothing less than the sudden pouring forth of a rapidsuccession of the shrillest and most piercing screams, from an upperstory; and to all appearance from the very two-pair back, in whichthe infant Kenwigs was at that moment enshrined. They were nosooner audible, than Mrs Kenwigs, opining that a strange cat hadcome in, and sucked the baby's breath while the girl was asleep,made for the door, wringing her hands, and shrieking dismally; tothe great consternation and confusion of the company.'Mr Kenwigs, see what it is; make haste!' cried the sister, layingviolent hands upon Mrs Kenwigs, and holding her back by force. 'Ohdon't twist about so, dear, or I can never hold you.''My baby, my blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed baby!' screamed MrsKenwigs, making every blessed louder than the last. 'My owndarling, sweet, innocent Lillyvick--Oh let me go to him. Let me go-o-o-o!'Pending the utterance of these frantic cries, and the wails andlamentations of the four little girls, Mr Kenwigs rushed upstairs tothe room whence the sounds proceeded; at the door of which, heencountered Nicholas, with the child in his arms, who darted outwith such violence, that the anxious father was thrown down sixstairs, and alighted on the nearest landing-place, before he hadfound time to open his mouth to ask what was the matter.'Don't be alarmed,' cried Nicholas, running down; 'here it is; it'sall out, it's all over; pray compose yourselves; there's no harmdone;' and with these, and a thousand other assurances, he deliveredthe baby (whom, in his hurry, he had carried upside down), to MrsKenwigs, and ran back to assist Mr Kenwigs, who was rubbing his headvery hard, and looking much bewildered by his tumble.Reassured by this cheering intelligence, the company in some degreerecovered from their fears, which had been productive of some mostsingular instances of a total want of presence of mind; thus, thebachelor friend had, for a long time, supported in his arms MrsKenwigs's sister, instead of Mrs Kenwigs; and the worthy MrLillyvick had been actually seen, in the perturbation of hisspirits, to kiss Miss Petowker several times, behind the room-door,as calmly as if nothing distressing were going forward.'It is a mere nothing,' said Nicholas, returning to Mrs Kenwigs;'the little girl, who was watching the child, being tired I suppose,fell asleep, and set her hair on fire.''Oh you malicious little wretch!' cried Mrs Kenwigs, impressivelyshaking her forefinger at the small unfortunate, who might bethirteen years old, and was looking on with a singed head and afrightened face.'I heard her cries,' continued Nicholas, 'and ran down, in time toprevent her setting fire to anything else. You may depend upon itthat the child is not hurt; for I took it off the bed myself, andbrought it here to convince you.'This brief explanation over, the infant, who, as he was christenedafter the collector! rejoiced in the names of Lillyvick Kenwigs, waspartially suffocated under the caresses of the audience, andsqueezed to his mother's bosom, until he roared again. Theattention of the company was then directed, by a natural transition,to the little girl who had had the audacity to burn her hair off,and who, after receiving sundry small slaps and pushes from the moreenergetic of the ladies, was mercifully sent home: the ninepence,with which she was to have been rewarded, being escheated to theKenwigs family.'And whatever we are to say to you, sir,' exclaimed Mrs Kenwigs,addressing young Lillyvick's deliverer, 'I am sure I don't know.''You need say nothing at all,' replied Nicholas. 'I have donenothing to found any very strong claim upon your eloquence, I amsure.''He might have been burnt to death, if it hadn't been for you, sir,'simpered Miss Petowker.'Not very likely, I think,' replied Nicholas; 'for there wasabundance of assistance here, which must have reached him before hehad been in any danger.''You will let us drink your health, anyvays, sir!' said Mr Kenwigsmotioning towards the table.'--In my absence, by all means,' rejoined Nicholas, with a smile.'I have had a very fatiguing journey, and should be most indifferentcompany--a far greater check upon your merriment, than a promoter ofit, even if I kept awake, which I think very doubtful. If you willallow me, I'll return to my friend, Mr Noggs, who went upstairsagain, when he found nothing serious had occurred. Good-night.'Excusing himself, in these terms, from joining in the festivities,Nicholas took a most winning farewell of Mrs Kenwigs and the otherladies, and retired, after making a very extraordinary impressionupon the company.'What a delightful young man!' cried Mrs Kenwigs.'Uncommon gentlemanly, really,' said Mr Kenwigs. 'Don't you thinkso, Mr Lillyvick?''Yes,' said the collector, with a dubious shrug of his shoulders,'He is gentlemanly, very gentlemanly--in appearance.''I hope you don't see anything against him, uncle?' inquired MrsKenwigs.'No, my dear,' replied the collector, 'no. I trust he may not turnout--well--no matter--my love to you, my dear, and long life to thebaby!''Your namesake,' said Mrs Kenwigs, with a sweet smile.'And I hope a worthy namesake,' observed Mr Kenwigs, willing topropitiate the collector. 'I hope a baby as will never disgrace hisgodfather, and as may be considered, in arter years, of a piece withthe Lillyvicks whose name he bears. I do say--and Mrs Kenwigs is ofthe same sentiment, and feels it as strong as I do--that I considerhis being called Lillyvick one of the greatest blessings and Honoursof my existence.''The greatest blessing, Kenwigs,' murmured his lady.'The greatest blessing,' said Mr Kenwigs, correcting himself. 'Ablessing that I hope, one of these days, I may be able to deserve.'This was a politic stroke of the Kenwigses, because it made MrLillyvick the great head and fountain of the baby's importance. Thegood gentleman felt the delicacy and dexterity of the touch, and atonce proposed the health of the gentleman, name unknown, who hadsignalised himself, that night, by his coolness and alacrity.'Who, I don't mind saying,' observed Mr Lillyvick, as a greatconcession, 'is a good-looking young man enough, with manners that Ihope his character may be equal to.''He has a very nice face and style, really,' said Mrs Kenwigs.'He certainly has,' added Miss Petowker. 'There's something in hisappearance quite--dear, dear, what's that word again?''What word?' inquired Mr Lillyvick.'Why--dear me, how stupid I am,' replied Miss Petowker, hesitating.'What do you call it, when Lords break off door-knockers and beatpolicemen, and play at coaches with other people's money, and allthat sort of thing?''Aristocratic?' suggested the collector.'Ah! aristocratic,' replied Miss Petowker; 'something veryaristocratic about him, isn't there?'The gentleman held their peace, and smiled at each other, as whoshould say, 'Well! there's no accounting for tastes;' but the ladiesresolved unanimously that Nicholas had an aristocratic air; andnobody caring to dispute the position, it was establishedtriumphantly.The punch being, by this time, drunk out, and the little Kenwigses(who had for some time previously held their little eyes open withtheir little forefingers) becoming fractious, and requesting ratherurgently to be put to bed, the collector made a move by pulling outhis watch, and acquainting the company that it was nigh two o'clock;whereat some of the guests were surprised and others shocked, andhats and bonnets being groped for under the tables, and in course oftime found, their owners went away, after a vast deal of shaking ofhands, and many remarks how they had never spent such a delightfulevening, and how they marvelled to find it so late, expecting tohave heard that it was half-past ten at the very latest, and howthey wished that Mr and Mrs Kenwigs had a wedding-day once a week,and how they wondered by what hidden agency Mrs Kenwigs couldpossibly have managed so well; and a great deal more of the samekind. To all of which flattering expressions, Mr and Mrs Kenwigsreplied, by thanking every lady and gentleman, seriatim, for thefavour of their company, and hoping they might have enjoyedthemselves only half as well as they said they had.As to Nicholas, quite unconscious of the impression he had produced,he had long since fallen asleep, leaving Mr Newman Noggs and Smiketo empty the spirit bottle between them; and this office theyperformed with such extreme good-will, that Newman was equally at aloss to determine whether he himself was quite sober, and whether hehad ever seen any gentleman so heavily, drowsily, and completelyintoxicated as his new acquaintance.