 Now,
upon my word,« said Mrs. Nickleby, »when I come to think of it, that's very
extraordinary!«
    As the hearers did not echo this sentiment, but remained profoundly silent,
either as not knowing what to say, or as being unwilling to interrupt, Mrs.
Nickleby pursued the thread of her discourse after her own fashion.
    »I hope,« said that lady, »that this unaccountable conduct may not be the
beginning of his taking to his bed and living there all his life, like the
Thirsty Woman of Tutbury, or the Cock-lane Ghost, or some of those extraordinary
creatures. One of them had some connexion with our family. I forget, without
looking back to some old letters I have up stairs, whether it was my
great-grandfather who went to school with the Cock-lane Ghost, or the Thirsty
Woman of Tutbury who went to school with my grandmother. Miss La Creevy, you
know, of course. Which was it that didn't mind what the clergyman said? The
Cock-lane Ghost, or the Thirsty Woman of Tutbury?«
    »The Cock-lane Ghost, I believe.«
    »Then I have no doubt,« said Mrs. Nickleby, »that it was with him my
great-grandfather went to school; for I know the master of his school was a
dissenter, and that would, in a great measure, account for the Cock-lane Ghost's
behaving in such an improper manner to the clergyman when he grew up. Ah! Train
up a Ghost - child, I mean -«
    Any further reflections on this fruitful theme, were abruptly cut short by
the arrival of Tim Linkinwater and Mr. Frank Cheeryble; in the hurry of
receiving whom, Mrs. Nickleby speedily lost sight of everything else.
    »I am so sorry Nicholas is not at home,« said Mrs. Nickleby. »Kate, my dear,
you must be both Nicholas and yourself.«
    »Miss Nickleby need be but herself,« said Frank.
    »Then at all events she shall press you to stay,« returned Mrs. Nickleby.
»Mr. Linkinwater says ten minutes, but I cannot let you go so soon; Nicholas
would be very much vexed, I am sure. Kate, my dear!«
    In obedience to a great number of nods, and winks, and frowns of extra
significance, Kate added her entreaties that the visitors would remain; but it
was observable that she addressed them exclusively to Tim Linkinwater; and there
was, besides, a certain embarrassment
