After her father’s death, Madeline
moves in with the Cheerybles. Smike’s health worsens
and Nicholas takes him to a small farmhouse in Devon
to rest. However, Smike soon dies. Squeers is imprisoned,
and when the boys at Dotheboys Hall learn this, they all
run away and go back home to their families. Ralph finds
out that Smike was his son. The following day Ralph,
regretting what he had done to his nephew and his own
son – and family – hangs himself. Nicholas and Madeline
get marry, and so do Kate and Frank Cheeryble. The
Nicklebys finally find happiness.