 as spoken
by natives, at the weekly stipend of five shillings, current coin of the realm;
being at the rate of one shilling per week, per each Miss Kenwigs, and one
shilling over, until such time as the baby might be able to take it out in
grammar.
    »Which, unless I am very much mistaken,« observed Mrs. Kenwigs in making the
proposition, »will not be very long; for such clever children, Mr. Noggs, never
were born into this world, I do believe.«
    »There,« said Newman, »that's all. It's beneath you, I know; but I thought
that perhaps you might -«
    »Might!« cried Nicholas, with great alacrity; »of course I shall. I accept
the offer at once. Tell the worthy mother so, without delay, my dear fellow; and
that I am ready to begin whenever she pleases.«
    Newman hastened, with joyful steps, to inform Mrs. Kenwigs of his friend's
acquiescence, and soon returning, brought back word that they would be happy to
see him in the first floor as soon as convenient; that Mrs. Kenwigs had, upon
the instant, sent out to secure a second-hand French grammar and dialogues,
which had long been fluttering in the sixpenny box at the book-stall round the
corner; and that the family, highly excited at the prospect of this addition to
their gentility, wished the initiatory lesson to come off immediately.
    And here it may be observed, that Nicholas was not, in the ordinary sense of
the word, a young man of high spirit. He would resent an affront to himself, or
interpose to redress a wrong offered to another, as boldly and freely as any
knight that ever set lance in rest; but he lacked that peculiar excess of
coolness and great-minded selfishness, which invariably distinguished gentlemen
of high spirit. In truth, for our own part, we are disposed to look upon such
gentlemen as being rather incumbrances than otherwise in rising families:
happening to be acquainted with several whose spirit prevents their settling
down to any grovelling occupation, and only displays itself in a tendency to
cultivate mustachios, and look fierce; and although mustachios and ferocity are
both very pretty things in their way, and very much to be commended, we confess
to a desire to see them bred at the owner's proper cost, rather than at the
expense of low-spirited people.
    Nicholas, therefore, not being a high-spirited young man according to common
parlance, and deeming
