Nicholas looked over in the corner where the boy usually slept, but it was vacant; so he made no answer.
"Smike!" shouted Squeers.
"Do you want your head broke in a fresh place, Smike?" demanded his amiable lady, in the same key.
Still there was no reply, and still Nicholas stared about him, as did the greater part of the boys, who were by this time roused.
"Confound his impudence!" muttered Squeers, rapping the stair-rail impatiently with his cane. "Nickleby!"
"Well, sir."
"Send that obstinate scoundrel down; don't you hear me calling?"
"He is not here, sir," replied Nicholas.
"Don't tell me a lie," retorted the schoolmaster. "He is."
"He is not," retorted Nicholas, angrily. "Don't tell me one."