bs, boys of
stunted growth, and others whose long, meager legs would hardly bear their
stooping bodies, all crowded on the view together. There were little faces
which should have been handsome, darkened with the scowl of sullen, dogged
suffering; there was childhood with the light of its eye quenched, its
beauty gone, and its helplessness alone remaining.

5. And yet this scene, painful as it was, had its grotesque features,
which, in a less interested observer than Nicholas, might have provoked a
smile. Mrs. Squeers stood at one of the desks, presiding over an immense
basin of brimstone and treacle, of which delicious compound she
administered a large installment to each boy in succession, using for the
purpose a common wooden spoon, which might have been originally
manufactured for some gigantic top, and which widened every young
gentleman's mouth considerably, they being all obliged, under heavy
corporeal penalties, to take in the whole bowl at a gasp.

6. "Now," said Squeers, giving the desk a great rap with his cane, which
made half the little boys nearly jump out of their boots, "is that
physicking over?"

"Just over," said Mrs. Squeers, choking the last boy in her hurry, and
tapping the crown of his head with the wooden spoon to restore him. "Here,
you Smike: take away now. Look sharp!"

7. Smike shuffled out with the basin, and Mrs. Squeers hurried out after
him into a species of washhouse, where there was a small fire, and a large
kettle, together with a number of little wooden bowls which were arranged
upon a board. Into these bowls Mrs. Squeers, assisted by the hungry
servant, poured a brown composition which looked like diluted pincushions
without the covers, and was called porridge. A minute wedge of brown bread
was inserted in each bowl, and when they had eaten their porridge by means
of the bread, the boys ate the bread itself, and had finished their
breakfast, whereupon Mr. Squeers went away to his own.

8. After some half-hour's delay Mr. Squeers reappeared, and the boys took
their places and their books, of which latter commodity the average might
be about one to eight learners. A few minutes having elapsed, during which
Mr. Squeers looked very profound, as if he had a perfect apprehension of
what was inside all the books, and could say every word of their contents
by heart, if he only chose to take the trouble, that gentleman called up
the first class.

9. Obedient to this summons there ranged