It was with a heavy heart, and many sad forebodings which no effortcould banish, that Kate Nickleby, on the morning appointed for thecommencement of her engagement with Madame Mantalini, left the city whenits clocks yet wanted a quarter of an hour of eight, and threaded herway alone, amid the noise and bustle of the streets, towards the westend of London.

At this early hour many sickly girls, whose business, like that of thepoor worm, is to produce, with patient toil, the finery that bedecksthe thoughtless and luxurious, traverse our streets, making towards thescene of their daily labour, and catching, as if by stealth, in theirhurried walk, the only gasp of wholesome air and glimpse of sunlightwhich cheer their monotonous existence during the long train of hoursthat make a working day. As she drew nigh to the more fashionablequarter of the town, Kate marked many of this class as they passed by,hurrying like herself to their painful occupation, and saw, in theirunhealthy looks and feeble gait, but too clear an evidence that hermisgivings were not wholly groundless.

She arrived at Madame Mantalini's some minutes before the appointedhour, and after walking a few times up and down, in the hope that someother female might arrive and spare her the embarrassment of stating herbusiness to the servant, knocked timidly at the door: which, after somedelay, was opened by the footman, who had been putting on his stripedjacket as he came upstairs, and was now intent on fastening his apron.

'Is Madame Mantalini in?' faltered Kate.

'Not often out at this time, miss,' replied the man in a tone whichrendered "Miss," something more offensive than "My dear."

'Can I see her?' asked Kate.

'Eh?' replied the man, holding the door in his hand, and honouring theinquirer with a stare and a broad grin, 'Lord, no.'

'I came by her own appointment,' said Kate; 'I am--I am--to be employedhere.'

'Oh! you should have rung the worker's bell,' said the footman, touchingthe handle of one in the door-post. 'Let me see, though, I forgot--MissNickleby, is it?'

'Yes,' replied Kate.

'You're to walk upstairs then, please,' said the man. 'Madame Mantaliniwants to see you--this way--take care of these things on the floor.'

Cautioning her, in these terms, not to trip over a heterogeneous litterof pastry-cook's trays, lamps, waiters full of glasses, and piles ofrout seats which were strewn about the hall, plainly bespeaking a lateparty on the previous night, the man led the way to the second story,and ushered Kate into a back-room, communicating by folding-doorswith the apartment in which she had first seen the mistress of theestablishment.

'If you'll wait here a minute,' said the man, 'I'll tell her presently.'Having made this promise with much affability, he retired and left Katealone.

There was not much to amuse in the room; of which the most attractivefeature was, a half-length portrait in oil, of Mr Mantalini, whom theartist had depicted scratching his head in an easy manner, and thusdisplaying to advantage a diamond ring, the gift of Madame Mantalinibefore her marriage. There was, however, the sound of voices inconversation in the next room; and as the conversation was loud and thepartition thin, Kate could not help discovering that they belonged to Mrand Mrs Mantalini.

'If you will be odiously, demnebly, outr_i_geously jealous, my soul,' saidMr Mantalini, 'you will be very miserable--horrid miserable--demnitionmiserable.' And then, there was a sound as though Mr Mantalini weresipping his coffee.

'I AM miserable,' returned Madame Mantalini, evidently pouting.

'Then you are an ungrateful, unworthy, demd unthankful little fairy,'said Mr Mantalini.

'I am not,' returned Madame, with a sob.

'Do not put itself out of humour,' said Mr Mantalini, breaking an egg.'It is a pretty, bewitching little demd countenance, and it should notbe out of humour, for it spoils its loveliness, and makes it cross andgloomy like a frightful, naughty, demd hobgoblin.'

'I am not to be brought round in that way, always,' rejoined Madame,sulkily.

'It shall be brought round in any way it likes best, and not broughtround at all if it likes that better,' retorted Mr Mantalini, with hisegg-spoon in his mouth.

'It's very easy to talk,' said Mrs Mantalini.

'Not so easy when one is eating a demnition egg,' replied Mr Mantalini;'for the yolk runs down the waistcoat, and yolk of egg does not matchany waistcoat but a yellow waistcoat, demmit.'

'You were flirting with her during the whole night,' said MadameMantalini, apparently desirous to lead the conversation back to thepoint from which it had strayed.

'No, no, my life.'

'You were,' said Madame; 'I had my eye upon you all the time.'

'Bless the little winking twinkling eye; was it on me all the time!'cried Mantalini, in a sort of lazy rapture. 'Oh, demmit!'

'And I say once more,' resumed Madame, 'that you ought not to waltz withanybody but your own wife; and I will not bear it, Mantalini, if I takepoison first.'

'She will not take poison and have horrid pains, will she?' saidMantalini; who, by the altered sound of his voice, seemed to have movedhis chair, and taken up his position nearer to his wife. 'She will nottake poison, because she had a demd fine husband who might have marriedtwo countesses and a dowager--'

'Two countesses,' interposed Madame. 'You told me one before!'

'Two!' cried Mantalini. 'Two demd fine women, real countesses andsplendid fortunes, demmit.'

'And why didn't you?' asked Madame, playfully.

'Why didn't I!' replied her husband. 'Had I not seen, at a morningconcert, the demdest little fascinator in all the world, and while thatlittle fascinator is my wife, may not all the countesses and dowagers inEngland be--'

Mr Mantalini did not finish the sentence, but he gave Madame Mantalinia very loud kiss, which Madame Mantalini returned; after which, thereseemed to be some more kissing mixed up with the progress of thebreakfast.

'And what about the cash, my existence's jewel?' said Mantalini, whenthese endearments ceased. 'How much have we in hand?'

'Very little indeed,' replied Madame.

'We must have some more,' said Mantalini; 'we must have some discountout of old Nickleby to carry on the war with, demmit.'

'You can't want any more just now,' said Madame coaxingly.

'My life and soul,' returned her husband, 'there is a horse for saleat Scrubbs's, which it would be a sin and a crime to lose--going, mysenses' joy, for nothing.'

'For nothing,' cried Madame, 'I am glad of that.'

'For actually nothing,' replied Mantalini. 'A hundred guineas down willbuy him; mane, and crest, and legs, and tail, all of the demdest beauty.I will ride him in the park before the very chariots of the rejectedcountesses. The demd old dowager will faint with grief and rage; theother two will say "He is married, he has made away with himself, itis a demd thing, it is all up!" They will hate each other demnebly, andwish you dead and buried. Ha! ha! Demmit.'

Madame Mantalini's prudence, if she had any, was not proof against thesetriumphal pictures; after a little jingling of keys, she observed thatshe would see what her desk contained, and rising for that purpose,opened the folding-door, and walked into the room where Kate was seated.

'Dear me, child!' exclaimed Madame Mantalini, recoiling in surprise.'How came you here?'

'Child!' cried Mantalini, hurrying in. 'How came--eh!--oh--demmit, howd'ye do?'

'I have been waiting, here some time, ma'am,' said Kate, addressingMadame Mantalini. 'The servant must have forgotten to let you know thatI was here, I think.'

'You really must see to that man,' said Madame, turning to her husband.'He forgets everything.'

'I will twist his demd nose off his countenance for leaving such a verypretty creature all alone by herself,' said her husband.

'Mantalini,' cried Madame, 'you forget yourself.'

'I don't forget you, my soul, and never shall, and never can,' saidMantalini, kissing his wife's hand, and grimacing aside, to MissNickleby, who turned away.

Appeased by this compliment, the lady of the business took some papersfrom her desk which she handed over to Mr Mantalini, who received themwith great delight. She then requested Kate to follow her, and afterseveral feints on the part of Mr Mantalini to attract the young lady'sattention, they went away: leaving that gentleman extended at fulllength on the sofa, with his heels in the air and a newspaper in hishand.

Madame Mantalini led the way down a flight of stairs, and through apassage, to a large room at the back of the premises where were a numberof young women employed in sewing, cutting out, making up, altering, andvarious other processes known only to those who are cunning in the artsof millinery and dressmaking. It was a close room with a skylight, andas dull and quiet as a room need be.

On Madame Mantalini calling aloud for Miss Knag, a short, bustling,over-dressed female, full of importance, presented herself, and all theyoung ladies suspending their operations for the moment, whisperedto each other sundry criticisms upon the make and texture of MissNickleby's dress, her complexion, cast of features, and personalappearance, with as much good breeding as could have been displayed bythe very best society in a crowded ball-room.

'Oh, Miss Knag,' said Madame Mantalini, 'this is the young person Ispoke to you about.'

Miss Knag bestowed a reverential smile upon Madame Mantalini, whichshe dexterously transformed into a gracious one for Kate, and said thatcertainly, although it was a great deal of trouble to have young peoplewho were wholly unused to the business, still, she was sure the youngperson would try to do her best--impressed with which conviction she(Miss Knag) felt an interest in her, already.

'I think that, for the present at all events, it will be better forMiss Nickleby to come into the show-room with you, and try things on forpeople,' said Madame Mantalini. 'She will not be able for the present tobe of much use in any other way; and her appearance will--'

'Suit very well with mine, Madame Mantalini,' interrupted Miss Knag. 'Soit will; and to be sure I might have known that you would not be long infinding that out; for you have so much taste in all those matters, thatreally, as I often say to the young ladies, I do not know how, when, orwhere, you possibly could have acquired all you know--hem--Miss Nicklebyand I are quite a pair, Madame Mantalini, only I am a little darker thanMiss Nickleby, and--hem--I think my foot may be a little smaller. MissNickleby, I am sure, will not be offended at my saying that, when shehears that our family always have been celebrated for small feet eversince--hem--ever since our family had any feet at all, indeed, I think.I had an uncle once, Madame Mantalini, who lived in Cheltenham, andhad a most excellent business as a tobacconist--hem--who had such smallfeet, that they were no bigger than those which are usually joined towooden legs--the most symmetrical feet, Madame Mantalini, that even youcan imagine.'

'They must have had something of the appearance of club feet, MissKnag,' said Madame.

'Well now, that is so like you,' returned Miss Knag, 'Ha! ha! ha! Ofclub feet! Oh very good! As I often remark to the young ladies, "WellI must say, and I do not care who knows it, of all the readyhumour--hem--I ever heard anywhere"--and I have heard a good deal; forwhen my dear brother was alive (I kept house for him, Miss Nickleby), wehad to supper once a week two or three young men, highly celebratedin those days for their humour, Madame Mantalini--"Of all the readyhumour," I say to the young ladies, "I ever heard, Madame Mantalini'sis the most remarkable--hem. It is so gentle, so sarcastic, and yet sogood-natured (as I was observing to Miss Simmonds only this morning),that how, or when, or by what means she acquired it, is to me a mysteryindeed."'

Here Miss Knag paused to take breath, and while she pauses it may beobserved--not that she was marvellously loquacious and marvellouslydeferential to Madame Mantalini, since these are facts which require nocomment; but that every now and then, she was accustomed, in the torrentof her discourse, to introduce a loud, shrill, clear 'hem!' the importand meaning of which, was variously interpreted by her acquaintance;some holding that Miss Knag dealt in exaggeration, and introduced themonosyllable when any fresh invention was in course of coinage in herbrain; others, that when she wanted a word, she threw it in to gaintime, and prevent anybody else from striking into the conversation. Itmay be further remarked, that Miss Knag still aimed at youth, althoughshe had shot beyond it, years ago; and that she was weak and vain, andone of those people who are best described by the axiom, that you maytrust them as far as you can see them, and no farther.

'You'll take care that Miss Nickleby understands her hours, and soforth,' said Madame Mantalini; 'and so I'll leave her with you. You'llnot forget my directions, Miss Knag?'

Miss Knag of course replied, that to forget anything Madame Mantalinihad directed, was a moral impossibility; and that lady, dispensing ageneral good-morning among her assistants, sailed away.

'Charming creature, isn't she, Miss Nickleby?' said Miss Knag, rubbingher hands together.

'I have seen very little of her,' said Kate. 'I hardly know yet.'

'Have you seen Mr Mantalini?' inquired Miss Knag.

'Yes; I have seen him twice.'

'Isn't HE a charming creature?'

'Indeed he does not strike me as being so, by any means,' replied Kate.

'No, my dear!' cried Miss Knag, elevating her hands. 'Why, goodnessgracious mercy, where's your taste? Such a fine tall, full-whiskereddashing gentlemanly man, with such teeth and hair, and--hem--well now,you DO astonish me.'

'I dare say I am very foolish,' replied Kate, laying aside her bonnet;'but as my opinion is of very little importance to him or anyone else,I do not regret having formed it, and shall be slow to change it, Ithink.'

'He is a very fine man, don't you think so?' asked one of the youngladies.

'Indeed he may be, for anything I could say to the contrary,' repliedKate.

'And drives very beautiful horses, doesn't he?' inquired another.

'I dare say he may, but I never saw them,' answered Kate.

'Never saw them!' interposed Miss Knag. 'Oh, well! There it is atonce you know; how can you possibly pronounce an opinion about agentleman--hem--if you don't see him as he turns out altogether?'

There was so much of the world--even of the little world of the countrygirl--in this idea of the old milliner, that Kate, who was anxious, forevery reason, to change the subject, made no further remark, and leftMiss Knag in possession of the field.

After a short silence, during which most of the young people made acloser inspection of Kate's appearance, and compared notes respectingit, one of them offered to help her off with her shawl, and theoffer being accepted, inquired whether she did not find black veryuncomfortable wear.

'I do indeed,' replied Kate, with a bitter sigh.

'So dusty and hot,' observed the same speaker, adjusting her dress forher.

Kate might have said, that mourning is sometimes the coldest wear whichmortals can assume; that it not only chills the breasts of those itclothes, but extending its influence to summer friends, freezes up theirsources of good-will and kindness, and withering all the buds of promisethey once so liberally put forth, leaves nothing but bared and rottenhearts exposed. There are few who have lost a friend or relativeconstituting in life their sole dependence, who have not keenly feltthis chilling influence of their sable garb. She had felt it acutely,and feeling it at the moment, could not quite restrain her tears.

'I am very sorry to have wounded you by my thoughtless speech,' saidher companion. 'I did not think of it. You are in mourning for some nearrelation?'

'For my father,' answered Kate.

'For what relation, Miss Simmonds?' asked Miss Knag, in an audiblevoice.

'Her father,' replied the other softly.

'Her father, eh?' said Miss Knag, without the slightest depression ofher voice. 'Ah! A long illness, Miss Simmonds?'

'Hush,' replied the girl; 'I don't know.'

'Our misfortune was very sudden,' said Kate, turning away, 'or I mightperhaps, at a time like this, be enabled to support it better.'

There had existed not a little desire in the room, according toinvariable custom, when any new 'young person' came, to know who Katewas, and what she was, and all about her; but, although it mighthave been very naturally increased by her appearance and emotion, theknowledge that it pained her to be questioned, was sufficient to represseven this curiosity; and Miss Knag, finding it hopeless to attemptextracting any further particulars just then, reluctantly commandedsilence, and bade the work proceed.

In silence, then, the tasks were plied until half-past one, when a bakedleg of mutton, with potatoes to correspond, were served in the kitchen.The meal over, and the young ladies having enjoyed the additionalrelaxation of washing their hands, the work began again, and was againperformed in silence, until the noise of carriages rattling through thestreets, and of loud double knocks at doors, gave token that the day'swork of the more fortunate members of society was proceeding in itsturn.

One of these double knocks at Madame Mantalini's door, announcedthe equipage of some great lady--or rather rich one, for there isoccasionally a distinction between riches and greatness--who had comewith her daughter to approve of some court-dresses which had been a longtime preparing, and upon whom Kate was deputed to wait, accompanied byMiss Knag, and officered of course by Madame Mantalini.

Kate's part in the pageant was humble enough, her duties being limitedto holding articles of costume until Miss Knag was ready to try them on,and now and then tying a string, or fastening a hook-and-eye. Shemight, not unreasonably, have supposed herself beneath the reach of anyarrogance, or bad humour; but it happened that the lady and daughterwere both out of temper that day, and the poor girl came in forher share of their revilings. She was awkward--her hands werecold--dirty--coarse--she could do nothing right; they wondered howMadame Mantalini could have such people about her; requested they mightsee some other young woman the next time they came; and so forth.

So common an occurrence would be hardly deserving of mention, but forits effect. Kate shed many bitter tears when these people were gone,and felt, for the first time, humbled by her occupation. She had, it istrue, quailed at the prospect of drudgery and hard service; but she hadfelt no degradation in working for her bread, until she found herselfexposed to insolence and pride. Philosophy would have taught her thatthe degradation was on the side of those who had sunk so low as todisplay such passions habitually, and without cause: but she was tooyoung for such consolation, and her honest feeling was hurt. May not thecomplaint, that common people are above their station, often take itsrise in the fact of UNcommon people being below theirs?

In such scenes and occupations the time wore on until nine o'clock, whenKate, jaded and dispirited with the occurrences of the day, hastenedfrom the confinement of the workroom, to join her mother at the streetcorner, and walk home:--the more sadly, from having to disguise her realfeelings, and feign to participate in all the sanguine visions of hercompanion.

'Bless my soul, Kate,' said Mrs Nickleby; 'I've been thinking all daywhat a delightful thing it would be for Madame Mantalini to take youinto partnership--such a likely thing too, you know! Why, your poordear papa's cousin's sister-in-law--a Miss Browndock--was taken intopartnership by a lady that kept a school at Hammersmith, and made herfortune in no time at all. I forget, by-the-bye, whether that MissBrowndock was the same lady that got the ten thousand pounds prize inthe lottery, but I think she was; indeed, now I come to think of it, Iam sure she was. "Mantalini and Nickleby", how well it would sound!--andif Nicholas has any good fortune, you might have Doctor Nickleby, thehead-master of Westminster School, living in the same street.'

'Dear Nicholas!' cried Kate, taking from her reticule her brother'sletter from Dotheboys Hall. 'In all our misfortunes, how happy it makesme, mama, to hear he is doing well, and to find him writing in suchgood spirits! It consoles me for all we may undergo, to think that he iscomfortable and happy.'

Poor Kate! she little thought how weak her consolation was, and how soonshe would be undeceived.