The Meditative Ogre
Fred Barnard
1875
13.8 x 10.7 cm (5 ⅜ by 4 ¼ inches), vignetted, p. 264. For Chapter 40.
Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, The Household Edition, p. 21.
[Click on image to enlarge it.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
Passage Illustrated: Newman Noggs watches out for the Mysterious Young Lady's Servant
Tantalised and excited, beyond all bearing, and unable to fathom the mystery without neglecting his duty, he confided the whole secret to Newman Noggs, imploring him to be on the watch next night; to follow the girl home; to set on foot such inquiries relative to the name, condition, and history of her mistress, as he could, without exciting suspicion; and to report the result to him with the least possible delay.
Beyond all measure proud of this commission, Newman Noggs took up his post, in the square, on the following evening, a full hour before the needful time, and planting himself behind the pump and pulling his hat over his eyes, began his watch with an elaborate appearance of mystery, admirably calculated to excite the suspicion of all beholders. Indeed, divers servant girls who came to draw water, and sundry little boys who stopped to drink at the ladle, were almost scared out of their senses, by the apparition of Newman Noggs looking stealthily round the pump, with nothing of him visible but his face, and that wearing the expression of a meditative Ogre.
Punctual to her time, the messenger came again, and, after an interview of rather longer duration than usual, departed. Newman had made two appointments with Nicholas: one for the next evening, conditional on his success: and one the next night following, which was to be kept under all circumstances. The first night he was not at the place of meeting (a certain tavern about half-way between the city and Golden Square), but on the second night he was there before Nicholas, and received him with open arms.
"It’s all right," whispered Newman. "Sit down. Sit down, there’s a dear young man, and let me tell you all about it." [Chapter XL, "In which Nicholas falls in Love. He employs a Mediator, whose Proceedings are crowned with unexpected Success, excepting in one solitary Particular," 527]
Commentary: Nicholas enlists Newman Noggs's Assistance in finding the Beautiful Lady
Nicholas discovers a mysterious young lady in Mr. Charles Cheeryble’s office when he enters to deliver a letter. Mr. Cheeryble tries to get the young lady, who has apparently fainted, to rise. Nicholas recognizes her from the Employment Office as the fashionably dressed young woman who had inquired about a possible governess's position. Nicholas's employers act mysteriously in their attempts to dismiss Nicholas, and Tim Linkinwater's reluctance to say anything about the young lady intensifies the mystery surrounding her unexpected appearance at the elderly bachelors' offices. Nicholas become progressively more and more curious about her. Tim tells Nicholas that the woman's servant visits the offices every night. Therefore, Nicholas enlists Noggs to follow the servant to discover where the young lady is staying. Two nights later, after watching the local pump like a "meditative ogre," Noggs provides Nicholas with information about the lady, Cecilia Bobster. This intelligence is incorrect: she is in fact madeline bray, daughter of a tyrannical invalid whose bankruptcy compels him to live within the Rules of the KIng's Bench Prison. The illustration thus serves to introduce the plot between Arthur Gride and Madeline's father, Walter.
Other Editions' Handling of the material in Chapter 40
Left: C. S. Reinhart's American Household Edition interpretation of the third meeting of Nicholas and the young lady: "I must speak to her — I will! I will not leave this house without." Right: >Harry Furniss's interpretation of the fainting scene: Nicholas comes in upon an awkward scene (1910).
.Other Editions' Versions of the Mystery of Madeline Bray (1839-1910)
Left: Phiz brings in the romantic interest for the Nicholas plot: Nicholas Recognizes the Young Lady Unknown (April 1839). Right: Fred Barnard's British Household Edition interpretation of Noggs's serving as Nicholas's detective: The Meditative Ogre.
Left: Sol Eytinge, Jr.'s Diamond Edition study of the novel's belatedly introduced secondary heroine: Walter Bray and Madeline (1867). Right: Fred Barnard's 1875 woodblock engraving of the Nicholas and Madeline: "I must beseech you to contemplate again the fearful curse to which you have been impelled.", in the British Household Edition, Ch. 53.
Related material, including front matter and sketches, by other illustrators
- Nicholas Nickleby (homepage)
- Phiz's 38 monthly illustrations for the novel, April 1838-October 1839.
- Cover for monthly parts
- Charles Dickens by Daniel Maclise, engraved by Finden
- "Hush!" said Nicholas, laying his hand upon his shoulder. (Vol. 1, 1861)
- The Rehearsal (Vol. 2, 1861)
- "My son, sir, little Wackford. What do you think of him, sir?" (Vol. 3, 1861)
- Newman had caught up by the nozzle an old pair of bellows . . . (Vol. 4, 1861).
- Sol Eytinge, Jr.'s 18 Illustrations for the Diamond Edition (1867)
- C. S. Reinhart's 52 Illustrations for the American Household Edution (1875)
- Harry Furniss's 29 illustrations for Nicholas Nickleby in the Charles Dickens Library Edition (1910)
- Kyd's four Player's Cigarette Cards (1910).
Bibliography
Barnard, J. "Fred" (il.). Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, with fifty-nine illustrations. The Works of Charles Dickens: The Household Edition. 22 vols. London: Chapman and Hall, 1875. XV. Rpt. 1890.
Bentley, Nicolas, Michael Slater, and Nina Burgis. The Dickens Index. Oxford and New York: Oxford U. P., 1988.
Davis, Paul. Charles Dickens A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Life and Work. New York: Facts On File, 1998.
Dickens, Charles. The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. With fifty-two illustrations by C. S. Reinhart. The Household Edition. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1872. I.
__________. Nicholas Nickleby. With 39 illustrations by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"). London: Chapman & Hall, 1839.
__________. Nicholas Nickleby. Illustrated by Harry Furniss. The Charles Dickens Library Edition. 18 vols. London: Educational Book, 1910. Vol. 4.
__________. "Nicholas Nickleby." Scenes and Characters from the Works of Charles Dickens, being eight hundred and sixty-six drawings by Fred Barnard et al.. Household Edition. London: Chapman and Hall, 1908.
Created 30 August 2021