 know how long; and I don't know what you weren't to have told
them before you came out with the truth.«
    »Now, did you ever know such a villain as this, Ned?« said the old
gentleman, »did you ever know such a villain as Tim Linkinwater? He accusing me
of being impatient, and he the very man who has been wearying us morning, noon,
and night, and torturing us for leave to go and tell 'em what was in store,
before our plans were half complete, or we had arranged a single thing. A
treacherous dog!«
    »So he is, brother Charles,« returned Ned, »Tim is a treacherous dog. Tim is
not to be trusted. Tim is a wild young fellow. He wants gravity and steadiness;
he must sow his wild oats, and then perhaps he'll become in time a respectable
member of society.«
    This being one of the standing jokes between the old fellows and Tim, they
all three laughed very heartily, and might have laughed much longer, but that
the Brothers seeing that Mrs. Nickleby was labouring to express her feelings,
and was really overwhelmed by the happiness of the time, took her between them,
and led her from the room under pretence of having to consult her on some most
important arrangements.
    Now, Tim and Miss La Creevy had met very often, and had always been very
chatty and pleasant together - had always been great friends - and consequently
it was the most natural thing in the world that Tim, finding that she still
sobbed, should endeavour to console her. As Miss La Creevy sat on a large
old-fashioned window-seat where there was ample room for two, it was also
natural that Tim should sit down beside her; and as to Tim's being unusually
spruce and particular in his attire, that day, why it was a high festival and a
great occasion, and that was the most natural thing of all.
    Tim sat down beside Miss La Creevy, and, crossing one leg over the other so
that his foot - he had very comely feet, and happened to be wearing the neatest
shoes and black silk stockings possible - should come easily within the range of
her eye, said in a soothing way:
    »Don't cry!«
    »I must,« rejoined Miss La Creevy.
    »No don't,« said Tim. »Please don't; pray don't.«
    »I am so happy!« sobbed the little woman.
    »Then laugh
