Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER XXXV. SMIKE BECOMES KNOWN TO MRS. NICKLEBY AND KATE. NICHOLAS ALSO MEETS WITH NEW ACQUAINTANCES. BRIGHTER DAYS SEEM TO DAWN UPON THE FAMILY. Having established his mother and sister in the apartments of the kind-hearted miniature painter, and ascertained that Sir Mulberry Hawk was in danger of losing his life, Nicholas turned his thoughts to poor Smike, who, after breakfasting with Newman Noggs, had remained, in a disconsolate state, at that worthy creature's lodgings, waiting, with much anxiety, for further intelligence of his protector. As he will be one of our own little household, wherever we live, or whatever fortune is in reserve for us, thought Nicholas. I must present the poor fellow in due form. They will be kind to him for his own sake, and if t (on that account solely) to the full extent I could wish, they will stretch a point, I am sure, for mine.' Nicholas said they, but his misgivings were confined to one person. He was sure of Kate, but he knew his mother's peculiarities, and was t quite so certain that Smike would find favour in the eyes of Mrs. Nickleby. However, thought Nicholas as he departed on his benevolent errand; she cant fail to become attached to him, when she kws what a devoted creature he is, and as she must quickly make the discovery, his probation will be a short one. SMIKE'S FOREBODINGS. 31 I was afraid, said Smike, overjoyed to see his friend again, that you had fallen into some fresh trouble; the time seemed so long, at last, that I almost feared you were lost. Lost! replied Nicholas gaily. You will t be rid of me so easily, I promise you. I shall rise to the surface many thousand times yet, and the harder the thrust that pushes me down, the more quickly I shall rebound, Smike. But ...