It was opened by a strange servant, on whom the odd figure of the visitor did not appear to make the most favourable impression possible, inasmuch as she no sooner saw him than she very nearly closed it, and placing herself in the narrow gap, inquired what he wanted. But Newman merely uttering the monosyllable `Noggs,' as if it were some cabalistic word, at sound of which bolts would fly back and doors open, pushed briskly past and gained the door of Miss La Creevy's sitting-room, before the astonished servant could offer any opposition.
`Walk in if you please,' said Miss La Creevy in reply to the sound of Newman's knuckles; and in he walked accordingly.
`Bless us!' cried Miss La Creevy, starting as Newman bolted in; `what did you want, sir?'
`You have forgotten me,' said Newman, with an inclination of the head.
`I wonder at that. That nobody should remember me who knew me in other days, is natural enough; but there are few people who, seeing me once, forget me now .' He glanced, as he spoke, at his shabby clothes and paralytic limb, and slightly shook his head.
`I did forget you, I declare,' said Miss La Creevy, rising to receive Newman, who met her half-way, `and I am ashamed of myself for doing so;for you are a kind, good creature, Mr Noggs. Sit down and tell me all about Miss Nickleby. Poor dear thing! I haven't seen her for this many a week.'
`How's that?' asked Newman.
`Why, the truth is, Mr Noggs,' said Miss La Creevy, `that I have been out on a visit -- the first visit I have made for fifteen years.'
`That is a long time,' said Newman, sadly.
`So it is a very long time to look back upon in years, though, somehow or other, thank Heaven, the solitary days roll away peacefully and happily enough,' replied the miniature painter. `I have a brother, Mr Noggs --the only relation I have -- and all that time I never saw him once. Not that we ever quarrelled, but he was apprenticed down in the country, and he got married there; and new ties and affections springing up about him, he forgot a poor little woman like me, as it was very reasonable he should, you know. Don't suppose that I complain about that, because I always said to myself, "It is very natural; poor dear John is making his way in the world, and has a wife to tell his cares and troubles to, and children now to play about him, so God bless him and them, and send we may all meet together one day where we shall part no more." But what do you think, Mr Noggs,' said the miniature painter, brightening up and clapping her hands, `of that very same brother coming up to London at last, and never resting till he found me out; what do you think of his coming here and sitting down in that very chair, and crying like a child because he was so glad to see me -- what do you think of his insisting on taking me down all the way into the country to his own house (quite a sumptuous place, Mr Noggs, with a large garden and I don't know how many fields, and a man in livery waiting at table, and cows and horses and pigs and I don't know what besides), and making me stay a whole month, and pressing me to stop there all my life -- yes, all my life -- and so did his wife, and so did the children -- and there were four of them, and one, the eldest girl of all, they --they had named her after me eight good years before, they had indeed. Inever was so happy; in all my life I never was!' The worthy soul hid her face in her handkerchief, and sobbed aloud; for it was the first opportunity she had had of unburdening her heart, and it would have its way.
`But bless my life,' said Miss La Creevy, wiping her eyes after a short pause, and cramming her handkerchief into her pocket with great bustle and dispatch; `what a foolish creature I must seem to you, Mr Noggs! Ishouldn't have said anything about it, only I wanted to explain to you how it was I hadn't seen Miss Nickleby.'
`Have you seen the old lady?' asked Newman.
`You mean Mrs Nickleby?' said Miss La Creevy. `Then I tell you what, Mr Noggs, if you want to keep in the good books in that quarter, you had better not call her the old lady any more, for I suspect she wouldn't be best pleased to hear you. Yes, I went there the night before last, but she was quite on the high ropes about something, and was so grand and mysterious, that I couldn't make anything of her: so, to tell you the truth, I took it into my head to be grand too, and came away in state. I thought she would have come round again before this, but she hasn't been here.'
`About Miss Nickleby --' said Newman.
`Why, she was here twice while I was away,' returned Miss La Creevy.
`I was afraid she mightn't like to have me calling on her among those great folks in What's-its-name Place, so I thought I'd wait a day or two, and if I didn't see her, write.'
`Ah!' exclaimed Newman, cracking his fingers.
`However, I want to hear all the news about them from you,' said Miss La Creevy. `How is the old rough and tough monster of Golden Square? Well, of course; such people always are. I don't mean how is he in health, but how is he going on: how is he behaving himself?'
`Damn him!' cried Newman, dashing his cherished hat on the floor; `like a false hound.'
`Gracious, Mr Noggs, you quite terrify me!' exclaimed Miss La Creevy, turning pale.
`I should have spoilt his features yesterday afternoon if I could have afforded it,' said Newman, moving restlessly about, and shaking his fist at a portrait of Mr Canning over the mantelpiece. `I was very near it.
