back in his chair, and looked like a man who has been most profligately liberal, but is determined not to repent of it notwithstanding.
"Fifteen shillings a week is not much," said Nicholas, mildly.
"Not much! Fifteen shillings a week not much, young man?" cried Mr. Gregsbury. "Fifteen shillings a——"
"Pray do not suppose that I quarrel with the sum," replied Nicholas; "for I am not ashamed to confess, that whatever it may be in itself, to me it is a great deal. But the duties and responsibilities make the recompense small, and they are so very heavy that I fear to undertake them."
"Do you decline to undertake them, Sir?" inquired Mr. Gregsbury, with his hand on the bell-rope.
"I fear they are too great for my powers, however good my will may be," replied Nicholas.
"That is as much as to say that you had rather not accept the place, and that you consider fifteen shillings a week too little," said Mr. Gregsbury, ringing. "Do you decline it, Sir?"
"I have no alternative but to do so," replied Nicholas.
"Door, Matthews," said Mr. Gregsbury, as the boy appeared.
"I am sorry I have troubled you unnecessarily, Sir," said Nicholas.
"I am sorry you have," rejoined Mr. Gregsbury, turning his back upon him. "Door, Matthews."
"Good morning," said Nicholas.
"Door, Matthews," cried Mr. Gregsbury.
The boy beckoned Nicholas, and tumbling lazily down stairs before him, opened the door and ushered him into the street. With a sad and pensive air he retraced his steps homewards.
Smike had scraped a meal together from the remnant of last night's supper, and was anxiously awaiting his return. The occurrences of the morning had not improved Nicholas's appetite, and by him the dinner remained untasted. He was sitting in a thoughtful attitude, with the plate which the poor fellow had assiduously filled with the choicest morsels untouched, by his side, when Newman Noggs looked into the room.
"Come back?" asked Newman.
"Yes," replied Nicholas, "tired to death; and what is worse, might have remained at home for all the good I have done."
"Couldn't expect to do much in one morning," said Newman.
"May be so, but I am sanguine, and did expect," said Nicholas, "and am proportionately disappointed." Saying which, he gave Newman an account of his proceedings.
"If I could do anything," said Nicholas, "anything however slight, until Ralph Nickleby returns, and I have eased my mind by confronting him, I should feel happier. I should think it no disgrace to work, Heaven knows. Lying indolently here like a half-tamed sullen beast distracts me."
"I don't know," said Newman; "small things offer—they would pay the rent, and more—but you wouldn't like them; no, you could hardly be expected to undergo it—no, no."
"What could I hardly be expected to undergo?" asked Nicholas, raising his eyes. "Show me, in this wide waste of London, any honest means by which I could even defray the weekly hire of this poor room,
