Nicholas Nickleby: Chapter 39 Summary & Analysis

John and Matilda travel to London on their honeymoon. They’ve come with Fanny. They admire St. Paul’s Cathedral before going to an inn to eat. At the inn, Fanny asks the waiter if her “pa” is there. The waiter has no idea who she’s talking about. She says his name is Squeers, and the waiter still doesn’t know who she means. Fanny had intended to show John and Matilda how at home in London her family is, though the attempt backfires. Eventually, the confusion gets cleared up. The waiter says Squeers isn’t staying there but comes in most days. A couple of minutes later, Squeers arrives. He’s pleased to see the trio and informs them he’s recently come across an old acquaintance. The three guess that it’s Nicholas, and Squeers says that’s not it, but they’re close. Fanny guesses Smike, and Squeers says she’s right.

Squeers tells John, Matilda, and Fanny that he has Smike locked in a room at his lodging. Squeers invites the party to his lodging, and he’s a bit surprised when John readily accepts. If Squeers had known how quickly they would take him up on the invitation, he would have thought twice before offering it. John, Matilda, and Fanny go to Mr. Snawley’s house at 6 p.m. At one point, John becomes sick. Matilda says that if John could just lay down for an hour on Squeers’s bed, perhaps he would feel better.

On Squeers’s bed, John stuffs sheets in his mouth to keep himself from laughing. When the coast is clear, he makes his way to the room where Smike is held captive. He tells Smike he’s there to break him out. Smike is initially hesitant to leave because he’s convinced that if he does, Squeers will find him again. John assures him that if anything comes up, he’ll throw Squeers off the scent. He helps Smike escape before returning to Squeers’s bed, where he has to stop himself from breaking down in laughter.