Kate appeases Mrs. Nickleby, even though she thinks that what Mrs. Nickleby is saying is ridiculous. That shows the tendency of both Nicholas and Kate to support and remain loyal to their mother, even when she seems to be in a different reality than they are, further highlighting how important family is for both Kate and Nicholas. At this point, it’s unclear exactly what Smike’s illness is, though Nicholas points out that Smike descends into melancholic moods, which suggests that Smike’s illness may be related to depression.