 the Yorkshireman, striking the table heavily with his
fist, »what I say's this - Dang my boans and boddy, if I stan' this ony longer.
Do ye gang whoam wi' me, and do yon loight an' toight young whipster look sharp
out for a brokken head next time he cums under my hond.«
    »Mercy on us, what's all this?« cried Miss Price, in affected astonishment.
    »Cum whoam, tell 'e, cum whoam,« replied the Yorkshireman, sternly. And as
he delivered the reply, Miss Squeers burst into a shower of tears; arising in
part from desperate vexation, and in part from an impotent desire to lacerate
somebody's countenance with her fair finger-nails.
    This state of things had been brought about by divers means and workings.
Miss Squeers had brought it about, by aspiring to the high state and condition
of being matrimonially engaged, without good grounds for so doing; Miss Price
had brought it about by indulging in three motives of action: first, a desire to
punish her friend for laying claim to a rivalship in dignity, having no good
title: secondly, the gratification of her own vanity, in receiving the
compliments of a smart young man: and thirdly, a wish to convince the
corn-factor of the great danger he ran in deferring the celebration of their
expected nuptials; while Nicholas had brought it about, by half an hour's gaiety
and thoughtlessness, and a very sincere desire to avoid the imputation of
inclining at all to Miss Squeers. So the means employed, and the end produced,
were alike the most natural in the world; for young ladies will look forward to
being married, and will jostle each other in the race to the altar, and will
avail themselves of all opportunities of displaying their own attractions to the
best advantage, down to the very end of time, as they have done from its
beginning.
    »Why, and here's Fanny in tears now!« exclaimed Miss Price, as if in fresh
amazement. »What can be the matter?«
    »Oh! you don't know, Miss, of course you don't know. Pray don't trouble
yourself to inquire,« said Miss Squeers, producing that change of countenance
which children call, making a face.
    »Well, I'm sure!« exclaimed Miss Price.
    »And who cares whether you are sure or not, ma'am?« retorted Miss Squeers,
making another face.
    »You are monstrous polite, ma'am
