Chapters 12–14: 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.