In which the occurrence of the accident mentioned in the last chapter, affords an opportunity to a couple of gentlemen to tell stories against each other `W O HO !' cried the guard, on his legs in a minute, and running to the leaders' heads. `Is there only genelmen there as can len' a hond here? Keep quiet, dang ye! Wo ho!'
`What's the matter?' demanded Nicholas, looking sleepily up.
`Matther mun, matter eneaf for one neight,' replied the guard; `dang the wall-eyed bay, he's gane mad wi' glory I think, carse t'coorch is over.
Here, can't ye len' a hond? Dom it, I'd ha' dean it if all my boans were brokken.'
`Here!' cried Nicholas, staggering to his feet, `I'm ready. I'm only a little abroad, that's all.'
`Hoold 'em toight,' cried the guard, `while ar coot treaces. Hang on tiv'em sumhoo. Weel deane, my lod. That's it. Let'em goa noo. Dang 'em, they'll gang whoam fast eneaf!'
In truth, the animals were no sooner released than they trotted back, with much deliberation, to the stable they had just left, which was distant not a mile behind.
`Can you blo' a harn?' asked the guard, disengaging one of the coach-lamps.
`I dare say I can,' replied Nicholas.
`Then just blo' away into that 'un as lies on the grund, fit to wakken the deead, will'ee,' said the man, `while I stop sum o' this here squealing inside. Cumin', cumin'. Dean't make that noise, wooman.'
As the man spoke, he proceeded to wrench open the uppermost door of the coach, while Nicholas, seizing the horn, awoke the echoes far and wide with one of the most extraordinary performances on that instrument ever heard by mortal ears. It had its effect, however, not only in rousing such of their fall, but in summoning assistance to their relief; for lights gleamed in the distance, and people were already astir.
In fact, a man on horseback galloped down, before the passengers were well collected together; and a careful investigation being instituted, it appeared that the lady inside had borken her lamp, and the gentleman his head; that the two front outsides had escaped with black eyes; the box with a bloody nose; the coachman with a contusion on the temple; Mr Squeers with a portmanteau bruise on his back; and the remaining passengers without any injury at all -- thanks to the softness of the snow-drift in which they had been overturned. These facts were no sooner thoroughly ascertained, than the lady gave several indications of fainting, but being forewarned that if she did, she must be carried on some gentleman's shoulders to the nearest public-house, she prudently thought better of it, and walked back with the rest.
They found on reaching it, that it was a lonely place with no very great accommodation in the way of apartments -- that portion of its resources being all comprised in one public room with a sanded floor, and a chair or two. However, a large faggot and a plentiful supply of coals being heaped upon the fire, the appearance of things was not long in mending; and, by the time they had washed off all effaceable marks of the late accident, the room was warm and light, which was a most agreeable exchange for the cold and darkness out of doors.
`Well, Mr Nickleby,' said Squeers, insinuating himself into the warmest corner, `you did very right to catch hold of them horses. I should have done it myself if I had come to in time, but I am very glad you did it.
You did it very well; very well.'
`So well,' said the merry-faced gentleman, who did not seem to approve very much of the patronising tone adopted by Squeers, `that if they had not been firmly checked when they were, you would most probably have had no brains left to teach with.'
This remark called up a discourse relative to the promptitude Nicholas had displayed, and he was overwhelmed with compliments and commendations.
`I am very glad to have escaped, of course,' observed Squeers: `every man is glad when he escapes from danger; but if any one of my charges had been hurt -- if I had been prevented from restoring any one of these little boys to his parents whole and sound as I received him -- what would have been my feelings? Why the wheel a-top of my head would have been far preferable to it.'
`Are they all brothers, sir?' inquired the lady who had carried the `Davy' or safety-lamp.
`In one sense they are, ma'am,' replied Squeers, diving into his greatcoat pocket for cards. `They are all under the same parental and affectionate treatment. Mrs Squeers and myself are a mother and father to every one of'em. Mr Nickleby, hand the lady them cards, and offer these to the gentleman.
Perhaps they might know of some parents that would be glad to avail themselves of the establishment.'
Expressing himself to this effect, Mr Squeers, who lost no opportunity of advertising gratuitously, placed his hands upon his knees, and looked at the pupils with as much benignity as he could possibly affect, while Nicholas, blushing with shame, handed round the cards as directed.
`I hope you suffer no inconvenience from the overturn, ma'am?' said the merry-faced gentleman, addressing the fastidious lady, as though he were charitably desirous to change the subject.
`No bodily inconvenience,' replied the lady.
`No mental inconvenience, I hope?'
`The subject is a very painful one to my feelings, sir,' replied the lady with strong emotion; `and I beg you as a gentleman, not to refer to it.'
`Dear me,' said the merry-faced gentleman, looking merrier still, `Imerely intended to inquire--'
`I hope no inquiries will be made,' said the lady, `or I shall be compelled to throw myself on the protection of the other gentlemen. Landlord, pray direct a boy to keep watch outside the door--and if a green chariot passes in the direction of Grantham, to stop it instantly.'