Then there was young
Lukin,' said Mrs Nickleby, beginning with her left thumb and checking
off the names on her fingers--'Mogley--Tipslark--Cabbery--Smifser--'
Having now reached her little finger, Mrs Nickleby was carrying the
account over to the other hand, when a loud 'Hem!' which appeared to
come from the very foundation of the garden-wall, gave both herself and
her daughter a violent start.
'Mama! what was that?' said Kate, in a low tone of voice.
'Upon my word, my dear,' returned Mrs Nickleby, considerably startled,
'unless it was the gentleman belonging to the next house, I don't know
what it could possibly--'
'A--hem!' cried the same voice; and that, not in the tone of an ordinary
clearing of the throat, but in a kind of bellow, which woke up all the
echoes in the neighbourhood, and was prolonged to an extent which must
have made the unseen bellower quite black in the face.
'I understand it now, my dear,' said Mrs Nickleby, laying her hand on
Kate's; 'don't be alarmed, my love, it's not directed to you, and is not
intended to frighten anybody. Let us give everybody their due, Kate; I
am bound to say that.
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