 in her manner, which, although it was as
far from impairing its graceful character as the tinge it communicated to her
cheek was from diminishing her beauty, was obvious at a glance even to Mrs.
Nickleby. Not being of a very speculative character, however, save under
circumstances when her speculations could be put into words and uttered aloud,
that discreet matron attributed the emotion to the circumstance of her
daughter's not happening to have her best frock on: »though I never saw her look
better, certainly,« she reflected at the same time. Having settled the question
in this way, and being most complacently satisfied that in this, as in all other
instances, her conjecture could not fail to be the right one, Mrs. Nickleby
dismissed it from her thoughts, and inwardly congratulated herself on being so
shrewd and knowing.
    Nicholas did not come home nor did Smike re-appear; but neither
circumstance, to say the truth, had any great effect upon the little party, who
were all in the best humour possible. Indeed, there sprung up quite a flirtation
between Miss La Creevy and Tim Linkinwater, who said a thousand jocose and
facetious things, and became, by degrees, quite gallant, not to say tender.
Little Miss La Creevy, on her part, was in high spirits, and rallied Tim on
having remained a bachelor all his life with so much success, that Tim was
actually induced to declare, that if he could get anybody to have him, he didn't
know but what he might change his condition even yet. Miss La Creevy earnestly
recommended a lady she knew, who would exactly suit Mr. Linkinwater, and had a
very comfortable property of her own; but this latter qualification had very
little effect upon Tim, who manfully protested that fortune would be no object
with him, but that true worth and cheerfulness of disposition were what a man
should look for in a wife, and that if he had these, he could find money enough
for the moderate wants of both. This avowal was considered so honorable to Tim,
that neither Mrs. Nickleby nor Miss La Creevy could sufficiently extol it; and
stimulated by their praises, Tim launched out into several other declarations
also manifesting the disinterestedness of his heart, and a great devotion to the
fair sex: which were received with no less approbation. This was done and said
with a comical mixture of jest and earnest, and, leading to a great amount of
laughter, made them very merry indeed.
    Kate was commonly the life and soul of the conversation at home; but she was
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