If Ralph had not known and felt his power in wounding those he hated, his glances at Nicholas would have shown it him, in all its force, as he proceeded in the above address. Innocent as the young man was of all wrong, every artful insinuation stung, every well-considered sarcasm cut him to the quick; and when Ralph noted his pale face and quivering lip, he hugged himself to mark how well he had chosen the taunts best calculated to strike deep into a young and ardent spirit.
`I can't help it,' cried Mrs Nickleby. `I know you have been very good to us, and meant to do a good deal for my dear daughter. I am quite sure of that; I know you did, and it was very kind of you, having her at your house and all--and of course it would have been a great thing for her and for me too. But I can't, you know, brother-in-law, I can't renounce my own son, even if he has done all you say he has--it's not possible; I couldn't do it; so we must go to rack and ruin, Kate, my dear. I can bear it, Idare say.' Pouring forth these and a perfectly wonderful train of other disjointed expressions of regret, which no mortal power but Mrs Nickleby's could ever have strung together, that lady wrung her hands, and her tears fell faster.
`Why do you say " if Nicholas has done what they say he has,"mamma?' asked Kate, with honest anger. `You know he has not.'
`I don't know what to think, one way or other, my dear,' said Mrs Nickleby;`Nicholas is so violent, and your uncle has so much composure, that I can only hear what he says, and not what Nicholas does. Never mind, don't let us talk any more about it. We can go to the Workhouse, or the Refuge for the Destitute, or the Magdalen Hospital, I dare say; and the sooner we go the better.' With this extraordinary jumble of charitable institutions, Mrs Nickleby again gave way to her tears.
`Stay,' said Nicholas, as Ralph turned to go. `You need not leave this place, sir, for it will be relieved of my presence in one minute, and it will be long, very long, before I darken these doors again.'
`Nicholas,' cried Kate, throwing herself on her brother's shoulder, `do not say so. My dear brother, you will break my heart. Mamma, speak to him. Do not mind her, Nicholas; she does not mean it, you should know her better. Uncle, somebody, for Heaven's sake speak to him.'
`I never meant, Kate,' said Nicholas, tenderly, `I never meant to stay among you; think better of me than to suppose it possible. I may turn my back on this town a few hours sooner than I intended, but what of that?
We shall not forget each other apart, and better days will come when we shall part no more. Be a woman, Kate,' he whispered, proudly, `and do not make me one, while he looks on.'
`No, no, I will not,' said Kate, eagerly, `but you will not leave us.
Oh! think of all the happy days we have had together, before these terrible misfortunes came upon us; of all the comfort and happiness of home, and the trials we have to bear now; of our having no protector under all the slights and wrongs that poverty so much favours, and you cannot leave us to bear them alone, without one hand to help us.'
`You will be helped when I am away,' replied Nicholas hurriedly. `Iam no help to you, no protector; I should bring you nothing but sorrow, and want, and suffering. My own mother sees it, and her fondness and fears for you, point to the course that I should take. And so all good angels bless you, Kate, till I can carry you to some home of mine, where we may revive the happiness denied to us now, and talk of these trials as of things gone by. Do not keep me here, but let me go at once. There. Dear girl--dear girl.'
The grasp which had detained him relaxed, and Kate swooned in his arms.
Nicholas stooped over her for a few seconds, and placing her gently in a chair, confided her to their honest friend.
`I need not entreat your sympathy,' he said, wringing her hand, `for I know your nature. You will never forget them.'
He stepped up to Ralph, who remained in the same attitude which he had preserved throughout the interview, and moved not a finger.