Didn't I say so, brother
Ned?'
'You did, my dear brother; certainly, my dear brother, you said so, and
you were quite right,' replied Ned. 'Quite right. Tim Linkinwater is
excited, but he is justly excited, properly excited. Tim is a fine
fellow. Tim Linkinwater, sir--you're a fine fellow.'
'Here's a pleasant thing to think of!' said Tim, wholly regardless of
this address to himself, and raising his spectacles from the ledger to
the brothers. 'Here's a pleasant thing. Do you suppose I haven't often
thought of what would become of these books when I was gone? Do you
suppose I haven't often thought that things might go on irregular and
untidy here, after I was taken away? But now,' said Tim, extending his
forefinger towards Nicholas, 'now, when I've shown him a little more,
I'm satisfied. The business will go on, when I'm dead, as well as it did
when I was alive--just the same--and I shall have the satisfaction of
knowing that there never were such books--never were such books! No, nor
never will be such books--as the books of Cheeryble Brothers.'
Having thus expressed his sentiments, Mr Linkinwater gave vent to
a short laugh, indicative of defiance to the cities of London and
Westminster, and, turning again to his desk, quietly carried seventy-six
from the last column he had added up, and went on with his work.
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