'
'My dear,' said Squeers frowning. 'Hem!'
'Oh! nonsense,' rejoined Mrs Squeers. 'If the young man comes to be
a teacher here, let him understand, at once, that we don't want any
foolery about the boys. They have the brimstone and treacle, partly
because if they hadn't something or other in the way of medicine they'd
be always ailing and giving a world of trouble, and partly because it
spoils their appetites and comes cheaper than breakfast and dinner. So,
it does them good and us good at the same time, and that's fair enough
I'm sure.'
Having given this explanation, Mrs Squeers put her head into the closet
and instituted a stricter search after the spoon, in which Mr Squeers
assisted. A few words passed between them while they were thus engaged,
but as their voices were partially stifled by the cupboard, all that
Nicholas could distinguish was, that Mr Squeers said what Mrs Squeers
had said, was injudicious, and that Mrs Squeers said what Mr Squeers
said, was 'stuff.'
A vast deal of searching and rummaging ensued, and it proving fruitless,
Smike was called in, and pushed by Mrs Squeers, and boxed by Mr Squeers;
which course of treatment brightening his intellects, enabled him to
suggest that possibly Mrs Squeers might have the spoon in her pocket,
as indeed turned out to be the case.
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