 closely, and let you know.«
    »I wish you would, my dear,« said Mrs. Nickleby, with an earnest look.
    »Very well,« returned Nicholas. »I will.«
    Nicholas returned to the perusal of the book he had been reading, when the
dialogue had gone thus far. Mrs. Nickleby, after stopping a little for
consideration, resumed.
    »He is very much attached to you, Nicholas, my dear.«
    Nicholas laughingly said, as he closed his book, that he was glad to hear
it, and observed that his mother seemed deep in their new friend's confidence
already.
    »Hem!« said Mrs. Nickleby. »I don't know about that, my dear, but I think it
is very necessary that somebody should be in his confidence; highly necessary.«
    Elated by a look of curiosity from her son, and the consciousness of
possessing a great secret, all to herself, Mrs. Nickleby went on with great
animation:
    »I am sure, my dear Nicholas, how you can have failed to notice it, is, to
me, quite extraordinary; though I don't know why I should say that, either,
because, of course, as far as it goes, and to a certain extent, there is a great
deal in this sort of thing, especially in this early stage, which, however clear
it may be to females, can scarcely be expected to be so evident to men. I don't
say that I have any particular penetration in such matters. I may have. Those
about me should know best about that, and perhaps do know. Upon that point, I
shall express no opinion, it wouldn't become me to do so, it's quite out of the
question, quite.«
    Nicholas snuffed the candles, put his hands in his pockets, and, leaning
back in his chair, assumed a look of patient suffering and melancholy
resignation.
    »I think it my duty, Nicholas, my dear,« resumed his mother, »to tell you
what I know: not only because you have a right to know it too, and to know
everything that happens in this family, but because you have it in your power to
promote and assist the thing very much; and there is no doubt that the sooner
one can come to a clear understanding on such subjects, it is always better,
every way. There are a great many things you might do; such as taking a walk in
the garden sometimes, or sitting up
