 mine in quiet.«
    »In quiet!« repeated brother Charles mildly, and looking at him with more of
pity than reproach. »To pursue his way in quiet!«
    »You will scarcely remain in my house, I presume, sir, against my will,«
said Ralph; »or you can scarcely hope to make an impression upon a man who
closes his ears to all that you can say, and is firmly and resolutely determined
not to hear you.«
    »Mr. Nickleby, sir,« returned brother Charles: no less mildly than before,
but firmly too, »I come here against my will, sorely and grievously against my
will. I have never been in this house before; and, to speak my mind, sir, I
don't feel at home or easy in it, and have no wish ever to be here again. You do
not guess the subject on which I come to speak to you; you do not indeed. I am
sure of that, or your manner would be a very different one.«
    Ralph glanced keenly at him, but the clear eye and open countenance of the
honest old merchant underwent no change of expression, and met his look without
reserve.
    »Shall I go on?« said Mr. Cheeryble.
    »Oh, by all means, if you please,« returned Ralph drily. »Here are walls to
speak to, sir, a desk, and two stools: most attentive auditors, and certain not
to interrupt you. Go on, I beg; make my house yours, and perhaps by the time I
return from my walk, you will have finished what you have to say, and will yield
me up possession again.«
    So saying, he buttoned his coat, and turning into the passage, took down his
hat. The old gentleman followed, and was about to speak, when Ralph waved him
off impatiently, and said:
    »Not a word. I tell you, sir, not a word. Virtuous as you are, you are not
an angel yet, to appear in men's houses whether they will or no, and pour your
speech into unwilling ears. Preach to the walls, I tell you; not to me!«
    »I am no angel, Heaven knows,« returned brother Charles, shaking his head,
»but an erring and imperfect man; nevertheless, there is one quality which all
men have, in common with the angels, blessed opportunities of exercising, if
they will; mercy. It is an errand of mercy that brings me
