Nicholas Nickleby

Sir Mulberry Hawk is determined to possess Kate because he is a “calculating man of dissipation, whose joys, regrets, pains, and pleasures, are all of self” (555). Mrs. Nickleby writes a letter to Kate, encouraging her to accept Sir Mulberry’s courtship. Mrs. Wititterly is impressed that Kate is connected to Sir Mulberry Hawk and Lord Verisopht. They call on Mrs. Wititterly and Kate, along with Mr. Pluck and Mr. Pyke. Mrs. Wititterly grows jealous of the attention the men pay to Kate. When they leave, Mrs. Wititterly lectures Kate for supposedly acting indecently. Kate adamantly defends herself, which sends Mrs. Wititterly into “hysterics.” While Mrs. Wititterly is being seen by a doctor, Kate goes to Ralph for help. She confronts him about his friends, and he insists they’re only business partners. She begs him to use his influence to make them leave her alone, but Ralph says there’s nothing he can do. He advises her to be patient because eventually men like Sir Mulberry find someone else to pursue. Kate leaves indignant, and Ralph is confused by his feelings of resentment toward Sir Mulberry and compassion for his niece.