| Description: | comprehending, not only Mrs Nickleby, Kate, and Nicholas, butlittle Miss La Creevy, who was most particularly mentioned.
‘Now, my dears,’ said Mrs Nickleby, when they had renderedbecoming honour to the bidding, and Tim had taken hisdeparture, ‘what does this mean?’
‘What do you mean, mother?’ asked Nicholas, smiling.
‘I say, my dear,’ rejoined that lady, with a face of unfathomablemystery, ‘what does this invitation to dinner mean? What is itsintention and object?’
‘I conclude it means, that on such a day we are to eat and drinkin their house, and that its intent and object is to confer pleasureupon us,’ said Nicholas.
‘And that’s all you conclude it is, my dear?’
‘I have not yet arrived at anything deeper, mother.’
1132‘Then I’ll just tell you one thing,’ said Mrs Nickleby, you’ll findyourself a little surprised; that’s all. You may depend upon it thatthis means something besides dinner.’
‘Tea and supper, perhaps,’ suggested Nicholas.
‘I wouldn’t be abs |