The Squeers family retires to their own fire. The daughter Fanny doesn't know about Nicholas, having just returned from a visit to a neighbor.
Mr. Squeers asks his wife what she thinks of Nicholas, and she says she hates him. She initially doesn't give a reason why, but finally admits that she finds him to be proud and haughty.
Her husband reminds her that Nicholas is cheap, but Mrs. Squeers doesn't understand why they need him-which makes him an expense they don't need. After all, they can lie about having assistants like they lie about having a Hall. However, Mr. Squeers hired Nicholas because he wanted somebody under him. Mrs. Squeers tells him that Nicholas looked like he wanted to put a stop to the Bolder boy's punishment.
Miss Squeers goes to have a look at Nicholas the next day o
