"I am afraid," said Squeers, perplexed with such an application from a youth of Nicholas's figure, "I am afraid the young man won't suit me."
"Yes, he will," said Ralph; "I know better. Don't be cast down, Sir; you will be teaching all the young noblemen in Dotheboys Hall in less than a week's time, unless this gentleman is more obstinate than I take him to be."
"I fear, Sir," said Nicholas, addressing Mr. Squeers, "that you object to my youth, and my not being a Master of Arts?"
"The absence of a college degree is an objection," replied Squeers, looking as grave as he could, and considerably puzzled, no less by the contrast between the simplicity of the nephew and the worldly manner of the uncle, than by the incomprehensible allusion to the young noble-men under his tuition.
"Look here, Sir," said Ralph; "I'll put this matter in its true light in two seconds."
"If you'll have the goodness," rejoined Squeers.
"This is a boy, or a youth, or a lad, or a young man, or a hobbledehoy, or whatever you like to call him, of eighteen or nineteen, or thereabouts," said Ralph.
"That I see," observed the schoolmaster.
"So do I," said Mr. Snawley, thinking it as well to back his new friend occasionally.
"His father is dead, he is wholly ignorant of the world, has no resources whatever, and wants something to do," said Ralph. "I recommend him to this splendid establishment of yours, as an opening which will lead him to fortune, if he turns it to proper account. Do you see that?"
"Every body must see that," replied Squeers, half imitating the sneer with which the old gentleman was regarding his unconscious relative.
"I do, of course," said Nicholas eagerly.
"He does, of course, you observe," said Ralph, in the same dry, hard manner. "If any caprice of temper should induce him to cast aside this golden opportunity before he has brought it to perfection, I consider myself absolved from extending any assistance to his mother and sister. Look at him, and think of the use he may be to you in half a dozen ways. Now the question is, whether, for some time to come at all events, he won't serve your purpose better than twenty of the kind of people you would get under ordinary circumstances. Isn't that a question for consideration?"
"Yes, it is," said Squeers, answering a nod of Ralph's head with a nod of his own.
"Good," rejoined Ralph. "Let me have two words with you."
The two words were had apart, and in a couple of minutes Mr. Wackford Squeers announced that Mr. Nicholas Nickleby was from that moment thoroughly nominated to, and installed in, the office of first assistant-master at Dotheboys Hall.
"Your uncle's recommendation has done it, Mr. Nickleby," said Wackford Squeers.
