eleven o’clock at night
said Miss Squeers , as she walked away . In fact , Miss Squeers was in love with Nicholas Nickleby . To account for the rapidity with which this young lady had conceived a passion for Nicholas , it may be necessary to state , that the friend from whom she had so recently returned , was a miller 's daughter of only eighteen , who had contracted herself unto the son of a small corn-factor , resident in the nearest market town . Miss Squeers and the miller 's daughter , being fast friends , had covenanted together some two years before , according to a custom prevalent among young ladies , that whoever was first engaged to be married , should straightway confide the mighty secret to the bosom of the other , before communicating it to any living soul , and bespeak her as bridesmaid without loss of time ; in fulfilment of which pledge the miller 's daughter , when her engagement was formed , came out express , at eleven o'clock at night as the corn-factor 's son made an offer of his hand and heart at twenty-five minutes past ten by the Dutch clock in the kitchen , and rushed into Miss Squeers 's bedroom with the gratifying intelligence . Now , Miss Squeers being five years older , and out of her teens -LRB- which is also a great matter -RRB- , had , since , been more than commonly anxious to return the compliment , and possess her friend with a similar secret ; but , either in consequence of finding it hard to please herself , or harder still to please anybody else , had never had an opportunity so to do , inasmuch as she had no such secret to disclose . The little interview with Nicholas had no sooner passed , as above described , however , than Miss Squeers , putting on her bonnet , made her way , with great precipitation , to her friend 's house , and , upon a solemn renewal of divers old vows of secrecy , revealed how that she was -- not exactly engaged , but going to be -- to a gentleman 's son -- -LRB- none of your corn-factors , but a gentleman 's son of high descent -RRB- -- who had come down as teacher to Dotheboys Hall , under most mysterious and remarkable circumstances -- indeed , as Miss Squeers more than once hinted she had good reason to believe , induced , by the fame of her many charms , to seek her out , and woo and win her . ` Is n't it an extraordinary thing ? '