Let me relieve you of that bundle! Come!' 'No, no,' rejoined Smike, falling back a few steps.

'Don't ask me to give it up to you.' 'Why not ?' asked Nicholas.
'Let me do something for you, at least,' said Smike.

'You will never let me serve you as I ought.

You will never know how I think, day and night, of ways to please you.' 'You are a foolish fellow to say it, for I know it well, and see it, or I should be a blind and senseless beast,' rejoined Nicholas.

'Let me ask you a question while I think of it, and there is no one by,' he added, looking him steadily in the face.