.

'Repining is of no use, ma'am,' said Ralph. 'Of all fruitless errands,
sending a tear to look after a day that is gone is the most fruitless.'

'So it is,' sobbed Mrs Nickleby. 'So it is.'

'As you feel so keenly, in your own purse and person, the consequences
of inattention to business, ma'am,' said Ralph, 'I am sure you will
impress upon your children the necessity of attaching themselves to it
early in life.'

'Of course I must see that,' rejoined Mrs Nickleby. 'Sad experience, you
know, brother-in-law.--Kate, my dear, put that down in the next letter
to Nicholas, or remind me to do it if I write.'

Ralph paused for a few moments, and seeing that he had now made pretty
sure of the mother, in case the daughter objected to his proposition,
went on to say:

'The situation that I have made interest to procure, ma'am, is
with--with a milliner and dressmaker, in short.'

'A milliner!' cried Mrs Nickleby.

'A milliner and dressmaker, ma'am,' replied Ralph. 'Dressmakers in
London, as I need not remind you, ma'am, who are so well acquainted with
all matters in the ordinary routine of life, make large fortunes, keep
equipages, and become persons of great wealth and fortune.'

Now, the first idea called up in Mrs Nickleby's mind by the words
milliner and dressmaker were connected with certain wicker baskets lined
with black oilskin, which she remembered to have seen carried to and
fro in the streets; but, as Ralph proceeded, these disappeared, and
were replaced by visions of large houses at the West end, neat private
carriages, and a banker's book; all of which images succeeded each other
with such rapidity, that he had no sooner finished speaking, than
she nodded her head and said 'Very true,' with great appearance of
satisfaction.

'What your uncle says is very true, Kate, my dear,' said Mrs Nickleby.
'I recollect when your poor papa and I came to town after we were
married, that a young lady brought me home a chip cottage-bonnet, with
white and green trimming, and green persian lining, in her own carriage,
which drove up to the door full gallop;--at least, I am not quite
certain whether it was her own carriage or a hackney chariot, but I
remember very well that the horse dropped down dead as he was turning
round, and that your poor papa said he hadn't had any corn for a
fortnight.'

This anecdote, so strikingly illustrative of the opulence of milliners,
was not received with any great demonstration of feelin