The mother's weak--poor thing--weak.

The dear young man will be here tonight.' 'Heart alive!' cried Miss La Creevy.

'He will do something desperate, Mr Noggs, if you tell him all at once.' Newman left off rubbing his hands, and assumed a thoughtful look.
'Depend upon it,' said Miss La Creevy, earnestly, 'if you are not very careful in breaking out the truth to him, he will do some violence upon his uncle or one of these men that will bring some terrible calamity upon his own head, and grief and sorrow to us all.' 'I never thought of that,' rejoined Newman, his countenance falling more and more.

'I came to ask you to receive his sister in case he brought her here, but--' 'But this is a matter of much greater importance,' interrupted Miss La Creevy; 'that you might have been sure of before you came, but the end of this, nobody can foresee, unless you are very guarded and careful.' 'What CAN I do ?' cried Newman, scratching his head with an air of great vexation and perplexity.

'If he was to talk of pistoling 'em all, I should be obliged to say, "Certainly--serve 'em right."' Miss La Creevy could not suppress a small shriek on hearing this, and instantly set about extorting a solemn pledge from Newman that he would use his utmost endeavours to pacify the wrath of Nicholas; which, after some demur, was conceded.