he brothers,
Tim Linkinwater was called in, and brother Ned whispered a few words in
his ear.

"Tim," said brother Charles, "you understand that we have an intention
of taking this young gentleman into the counting-house."

Brother Ned remarked that Tim quite approved of it, and Tim, having
nodded, said, with resolution, "But I'm not coming an hour later in the
morning, you know. I'm not going to the country either. It's forty-four
years since I first kept the books of Cheeryble Brothers. I've opened
the safe all that time every morning at nine, and I've never slept out
of the back attic one single night. This ain't the first time you've
talked about superannuating me, Mr. Edwin and Mr. Charles; but, if you
please, we'll make it the last, and drop the subject for evermore."

With which words Tim Linkinwater stalked out, with the air of a man who
was thoroughly resolved not to be put down.

The brothers coughed.

"He must be done something with, brother Ned. We must, disregard his
scruples; he must be made a partner."

"Quite right, quite right, brother Charles. If he won't listen to
reason, we must do it against his will. But, in the meantime, we are
keeping our young friend, and the poor lady and her daughter will be
anxious for his return. So let us say good-bye for the present." And at
that the brothers hurried Nicholas out of the office, shaking hands with
him all the way.

That was the beginning of brighter days for Nicholas and for Mrs.
Nickleby and Kate. The brothers Cheeryble not only took Nicholas into
their office, but a small cottage at Bow, then quite out in the country,
was found for the widow and her children.

There never was such a week of discoveries and surprises as the first
week at that cottage. Every night when Nicholas came home, something new
had been found. One day it was a grape-vine, and another day it was a
boiler, and another day it was the key of the front parlour cupboard at
the bottom of the water-butt, and so on through a hundred items.

As for Nicholas's work in the counting-house, Tim Linkinwater was
satisfied with the young man the very first day.

Tim turned pale and stood watching with breathless anxiety when Nicholas
made his first entry in the books of Cheeryble Brothers, while the two
brothers looked on with smiling faces.

Presently the old clerk nodded his head, signifying "He'll do." But when
Nicholas stopped to refer to some other page, Tim Linkinwater, unable to