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Chapter 20 Wherein Nicholas at length encounters his Uncle, to whom he expresses his Sentiments with much Candour. His Resolution.

Chapter 21 Madam Mantalini finds herself in a Situation of some Difficulty, and Miss Nickleby finds herself in no Situation at all

Chapter 22 Nicholas, accompanied by Smike, sallies forth to seek his Fortune. He encounters Mr Vincent Crummles; and who he was, is herein made manifest

Chapter 23 Treats of the Company of Mr Vincent Crummles, and of his Affairs, Domestic and Theatrical

Chapter 24 Of the Great Bespeak for Miss Snevellicci, and the first Appearance of Nicholas upon any Stage

Chapter 25 Concerning a young Lady from London, who joins the Company, and an elderly Admirer who follows in her Train; with an affecting Ceremony consequent on their Arrival

Chapter 26 Is fraught with some Danger to Miss Nickleby's Peace of Mind

Chapter 27 Mrs Nickleby becomes acquainted with Messrs Pyke and Pluck, whose Affection and Interest are beyond all Bounds

Chapter 28 Miss Nickleby, rendered desperate by the Persecution of Sir Mulberry Hawk, and the Complicated Difficulties and Distresses which surround her, appeals, as a last resource, to her Uncle for Protection

Chapter 29 Of the Proceedings of Nicholas, and certain Internal Divisions in the Company of Mr Vincent Crummles

Chapter 30 Festivities are held in honour of Nicholas, who suddenly withdraws himself from the Society of Mr Vincent Crummles and his Theatrical Companions

Chapter 31 Of Ralph Nickleby and Newman Noggs, and some wise Precautions, the success or failure of which will appear in the Sequel

Chapter 32 Relating chiefly to some remarkable Conversation, and some remarkable Proceedings to which it gives rise

Chapter 33 In which Mr Ralph Nickleby is relieved, by a very expeditious Process, from all Commerce with his Relations

Chapter 34 Wherein Mr Ralph Nickleby is visited by Persons with whom the Reader has been already made acquainted

Chapter 35 Smike becomes known to Mrs Nickleby and Kate. Nicholas also meets with new Acquaintances. Brighter Days seem to dawn upon the Family

Chapter 36 Private and confidential; relating to Family Matters. Showing how Mr Kenwigs underwent violent Agitation, and how Mrs Kenwigs was as well as could be expected

Chapter 37 Nicholas finds further Favour in the Eyes of the brothers Cheeryble and Mr Timothy Linkinwater. The brothers give a Banquet on a great Annual Occasion. Nicholas, on returning Home from it, receives a mysterious and important Disclosure from the Lips

Chapter 38 Comprises certain Particulars arising out of a Visit of Condolence, which may prove important hereafter. Smike unexpectedly encounters a very old Friend, who invites him to his House, and will take no Denial

Chapter 39 In which another old Friend encounters Smike, very opportunely and to some Purpose

Chapter 40 In which Nicholas falls in Love. He employs a Mediator, whose Proceedings are crowned with unexpected Success, excepting in one solitary Particular

Chapter 41 Containing some Romantic Passages between Mrs Nickleby and the Gentleman in the Small-clothes next Door

Chapter 42 Illustrative of the convivial Sentiment, that the best of Friends must sometimes part

Chapter 43 Officiates as a kind of Gentleman Usher, in bringing various People together

Chapter 44 Mr Ralph Nickleby cuts an old Acquaintance. It would also appear from the Contents hereof, that a Joke, even between Husband and Wife, may be sometimes carried too far

Chapter 45 Containing Matter of a surprising Kind

Chapter 46 Throws some Light upon Nicholas's Love; but whether for Good or Evil the Reader must determine

Chapter 47 Mr Ralph Nickleby has some confidential Intercourse with another old Friend. They concert between them a Project, which promises well for both

Chapter 48 Being for the Benefit of Mr Vincent Crummles, and positively his last Appearance on this Stage

Chapter 49 Chronicles the further Proceedings of the Nickleby Family, and the Sequel of the Adventure of the Gentleman in the Small-clothes

Chapter 50 Involves a serious Catastrophe

Chapter 51 The Project of Mr Ralph Nickleby and his Friend approaching a successful Issue, becomes unexpectedly known to another Party, not admitted into their Confidence

Chapter 52 Nicholas despairs of rescuing Madeline Bray, but plucks up his Spirits again, and determines to attempt it. Domestic Intelligence of the Kenwigses and Lillyvicks

Chapter 53 Containing the further Progress of the Plot contrived by Mr Ralph Nickleby and Mr Arthur Gride

Chapter 54 The Crisis of the Project and its Result

Chapter 55 Of Family Matters, Cares, Hopes, Disappointments, and Sorrows

Chapter 56 Ralph Nickleby, baffled by his Nephew in his late Design, hatches a Scheme of Retaliation which Accident suggests to him, and takes into his Counsels a tried Auxiliary

Chapter 57 How Ralph Nickleby's Auxiliary went about his Work, and how he prospered with it

Chapter 58 In which one Scene of this History is closed

Chapter 59 The Plots begin to fail, and Doubts and Dangers to disturb the Plotter

Chapter 60 The Dangers thicken, and the Worst is told

Chapter 61 Wherein Nicholas and his Sister forfeit the good Opinion of all worldly and prudent People

Chapter 62 Ralph makes one last Appointment--and keeps it

Chapter 63 The Brothers Cheeryble make various Declarations for themselves and others. Tim Linkinwater makes a Declaration for himself

Chapter 64 An old Acquaintance is recognised under melancholy Circumstances, and Dotheboys Hall breaks up for ever

Chapter 65 Conclusion

Published:1839 Categorie(s):Fiction

There once lived, in a sequestered part of the county of Devonshire, one Mr Godfrey Nickleby: a worthy gentleman, who, taking it into his head rather late in life that he must get married, and not being young enough or rich enough to aspire to the hand of a lady of fortune, had wedded an old flame out of mere attachment, who in her turn had taken him for the same reason. Thus two people who cannot afford to play cards for money, sometimes sit down to a quiet game for love.

Some ill-conditioned persons who sneer at the life-matrimonial, may perhaps suggest, in this place, that the good couple would be better likened to two principals in a sparring match, who, when fortune is low and backers scarce, will chivalrously set to, for the mere pleasure of the buffeting; and in one respect indeed this comparison would hold good; for, as the adventurous pair of the Fives' Court will afterwards send round a hat, and trust to the bounty of the lookers-on for the means of regaling themselves, so Mr Godfrey Nickleby and HIS partner, the honeymoon being over, looked out wistfully into the world, relying in no inconsiderable degree upon chance for the improvement of their means. Mr Nickleby's income, at the period of his marriage, fluctuated between sixty and eighty pounds PER ANNUM.

There are people enough in the world, Heaven knows! and even in London (where Mr Nickleby dwelt in those days) but few complaints prevail, of the population being scanty. It is extraordinary how long a man may look among the crowd without discovering the face of a friend, but it is no less true. Mr Nickleby looked, and looked, till his eyes became sore as his heart, but no friend appeared; and when, growing tired of the search, he turned his eyes homeward, he saw very little there to relieve his weary vision. A painter who has gazed too long upon some glaring colour, refreshes his dazzled sight by looking upon a darker and more sombre tint; but everything that met Mr Nickleby's gaze wore so black and gloomy a hue, that he would have been beyond description refreshed by the very reverse of the contrast.