 Sir Mulberry -
should sound strangely in the ears of some, let it be remembered that most men
live in a world of their own, and that in that limited circle alone are they
ambitious for distinction and applause. Sir Mulberry's world was peopled with
profligates, and he acted accordingly.
    Thus, cases of injustice, and oppression, and tyranny, and the most
extravagant bigotry, are in constant occurrence among us every day. It is the
custom to trumpet forth much wonder and astonishment at the chief actors therein
setting at defiance so completely the opinion of the world; but there is no
greater fallacy; it is precisely because they do consult the opinion of their
own little world that such things take place at all, and strike the great world
dumb with amazement.
    The reflections of Mrs. Nickleby were of the proudest and most complacent
kind; under the influence of her very agreeable delusion she straightway sat
down and indited a long letter to Kate, in which she expressed her entire
approval of the admirable choice she had made, and extolled Sir Mulberry to the
skies; asserting, for the more complete satisfaction of her daughter's feelings,
that he was precisely the individual whom she (Mrs. Nickleby) would have chosen
for her son-in-law, if she had had the picking and choosing from all mankind.
The good lady then, with the preliminary observation that she might be fairly
supposed not to have lived in the world so long without knowing its ways,
communicated a great many subtle precepts applicable to the state of courtship,
and confirmed in their wisdom by her own personal experience. Above all things
she commended a strict maidenly reserve, as being not only a very laudable thing
in itself, but as tending materially to strengthen and increase a lover's
ardour. »And I never,« added Mrs. Nickleby, »was more delighted in my life than
to observe last night, my dear, that your good sense had already told you this.«
With which sentiment, and various hints of the pleasure she derived from the
knowledge that her daughter inherited so large an instalment of her own
excellent sense and discretion (to nearly the full measure of which she might
hope, with care, to succeed in time), Mrs. Nickleby concluded a very long and
rather illegible letter.
    Poor Kate was well nigh distracted on the receipt of four closely-written
and closely-crossed sides of congratulation on the very subject which had
prevented her closing her eyes all night, and kept her weeping and watching in
her chamber; still worse and more trying was the necessity of
