 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?«
    »Everybody 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; 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.
    Nicholas, overjoyed at his success, shook his uncle's hand warmly, and could
almost have worshipped Squeers upon the spot.
    »He is an odd-looking man,« thought Nicholas. »What of that? Porson was an
odd-looking man, and so was Doctor Johnson; all these bookworms are.«
    »At eight o'clock to-morrow morning, Mr. Nickleby,« said Squeers, »the coach
starts. You must be here at a quarter before, as we take these boys with us.«
    »Certainly, sir,« said Nicholas.
    »And your fare down, I have paid,« growled Ralph. »So, you'll have nothing
to do but keep yourself warm.«
    Here was another instance of his uncle's generosity! Nicholas felt his
unexpected kindness so much that he could scarcely find words to thank him;
indeed, he had not found half enough,
