`Heaven forbid,' replied Nicholas, pursuing the train of his own thoughts; `its hardest, coarsest toil, were happiness to this.'
`Should I ever meet you there?' demanded the boy, speaking with unusual wildness and volubility.
`Yes,' replied Nicholas, willing to soothe him.
`No, no!' said the other, clasping him by the hand. `Should I--should I--tell me that again. Say I should be sure to find you.'
`You would,' replied Nicholas, with the same humane intention, `and I would help and aid you, and not bring fresh sorrow on you as I have done here.'
The boy caught both the young man's hands passionately in his, and, hugging them to his breast, uttered a few broken sounds which were unintelligible. Squeers entered at the moment, and he shrunk back into his old corner.