erposed to prevent him. 'Hallo, you sir--old
Nickleby!--what do you mean when you talk of "a fellow like this"? Who
made me "a fellow like this"? If I would sell my soul for drink, why
wasn't I a thief, swindler, housebreaker, area sneak, robber of pence
out of the trays of blind men's dogs, rather than your drudge and
packhorse? If my every word was a lie, why wasn't I a pet and favourite
of yours? Lie! When did I ever cringe and fawn to you. Tell me that!
I served you faithfully. I did more work, because I was poor, and took
more hard words from you because I despised you and them, than any
man you could have got from the parish workhouse. I did. I served you
because I was proud; because I was a lonely man with you, and there were
no other drudges to see my degradation; and because nobody knew, better
than you, that I was a ruined man: that I hadn't always been what I
am: and that I might have been better off, if I hadn't been a fool and
fallen into the hands of you and others who were knaves. Do you deny
that?'

'Gently,' reasoned Tim; 'you said you wouldn't.'

'I said I wouldn't!' cried Newman, thrusting him aside, and moving his
hand as Tim moved, so as to keep him at arm's length; 'don't tell me!
Here, you Nickleby! Don't pretend not to mind me; it won't do; I know
better. You were talking of tampering, just now. Who tampered with
Yorkshire schoolmasters, and, while they sent the drudge out, that he
shouldn't overhear, forgot that such great caution might render him
suspicious, and that he might watch his master out at nights, and might
set other eyes to watch the schoolmaster? Who tampered with a selfish
father, urging him to sell his daughter to old Arthur Gride, and
tampered with Gride too, and did so in the little office, WITH A CLOSET
IN THE ROOM?'

Ralph had put a great command upon himself; but he could not have
suppressed a slight start, if he had been certain to be beheaded for it
next moment.

'Aha!' cried Newman, 'you mind me now, do you? What first set this fag
to be jealous of his master's actions, and to feel that, if he hadn't
crossed him when he might, he would have been as bad as he, or worse?
That master's cruel treatment of his own flesh and blood, and vile
designs upon a young girl who interested even his broken-down, drunken,
miserable hack, and made him linger in his service, in the hope of doing
her some good (as, thank God, he had done others once or twice before),
when he would, other