Nicholas falls in love with a poor artist,
Madeline, who is supported by the Cheerybles. Nicholas
agrees to pay for some of her paintings without her father
knowing that the money comes from the Cheerybles.
What Nicholas doesn’t know is that she is to marry one
of her father’s creditors, Arthur Gride. Ralph and Squeers
pretend that their friend Mr Snawley is Smike’s father and
they almost get away with taking the boy with them. The
Nicklebys are increasingly more worried about the boy’s
character and health. When Nicholas learns that Madeline
is about to marry Gride, he tries to persuade her not to do
so. He finally saves her from the marriage.