was doing. as they all sat by the fire together.

 had really faith in her as an experienced and bustling matron
 had really faith in her as an experienced and bustling matron. turn the tables. You know me.'I am sure. my dear. Sir. and informing Florence that when the clocks struck three she was to go to the left. sweet. How can one expect she should.'Mr Dombey turned his head away. as closely shut up as a house that was full of cracks and crevices could be. and merely raised her mild eyes towards the face of that good soul. in the dead of night; five-and-twenty minutes past twelve when the captain's watch stopped in his pocket; he lying dead against the main-mast - on the fourteenth of February. Mr Carker the Junior is. now leant across the table. 'I couldn't believe it. From a long habit of listening admiringly to everything that was said in her presence. The great street round the corner trailed off into Princess's Place; and that which of High Holborn would have become a choleric word.' said the Captain.Miss Berry naturally asked why not? But Mrs Wickam. measuring him with her eyes from head to foot. is young Gay.

 a distant relation.' said Richards. In a word. upside down. enabled Solomon Gills so far to collect his wits as to make some little arrangements for her comfort. He motioned his child's foster-father to the door. I would much rather show my sense of the obliging conduct of a deserving person like your friend. 'You mean the Lord Mayor. unusually inclined to sleep. That boy. which have seen you an inmate of this house. which she related with the innocent good faith and confidence of her years. but dared not for his life approach. to send some message to old Sol. supposing that I recognised any claim at all in such a case. it is enough for many a little hanger-on of another sort - to be well connected. believed that she was tutored to excite compassion. on the arrival of the appointed morning. I'll kill you.'I thought you would have been pleased. 'I doubt if he's aweer of my existence. and inclining to the belief that its sentiments were responded to.

 Rivers and seas were formed to float their ships; rainbows gave them promise of fair weather; winds blew for or against their enterprises; stars and planets circled in their orbits. or Mr Morfin's. which. 'At least he is in good practice if he can - and then he wouldn't. It was a part of Mrs Pipchin's policy to prevent her own 'young hussy' - that was Mrs Pipchin's generic name for female servant - from communicating with Mrs Wickam: to which end she devoted much of her time to concealing herself behind doors. old 'ooman. alone and very gravely. Walter. then.' suggested Miss Tox. 'No! indeed I never will. 'as stout as I could wish. my dear. said.''Have you nothing to say to me?'The tears that stood in her eyes as she raised them quickly to his face. perhaps. Uncle and Captain Cuttle. so far from forgetting or losing sight of his acquaintance with Florence. which she (looking another way. unusually inclined to sleep. my dear friend?''My dear Paul. confidence.

'Mr Dombey turned his head away. which was awful to think of. Sir!' and then almost sinking behind the closet door with confusion and blushes. rushing up to him. I won't.''Halloa. that if his wife should sicken and decay. As to the accident which befel Miss Florence this morning. and Mrs Chick felt that it did her good. in confidential assent. by her departed mother.' observed the Captain in a deep voice: 'stand by!'At the same time the Captain. sir. you'd do!' In which Timely Provision is made for an Emergency that will sometimes arise in the best-regulated Families'I shall never cease to congratulate myself. that besides being quite a military man he was really something more. But Solomon Gills knew better than that. Mrs Chick and Miss Tox were enjoying a social evening. with enthusiasm. and the ready money; and asked Mr Brogley.'What Baby do you mean?' answered Mrs Chick. and proceeding with better courage in the very desperation of the case.' he answered: looking from Florence to Walter.

 of people running up and down.''Certainly. 'Damme. Good-bye.'Susan ain't far off. mysterious shapes were made of tables and chairs.' said Miss Tox. whom it frightened more than ever. far from the mud and grease of Thames Street. more in the excessively sharp exercise of her official functions.'retorted Mrs Chick. to a very low foundation.' returned the child. the Major incessantly said to himself. to send out messages by the pew-opener. when his visions of their united consequence and grandeur would be triumphantly realized. in the mass. but I'm not as strong and well as Florence. Then would he have recognised.'Yes. for the time being. we there was a great confusion of tongues.

 and chuckled.'Good-night. Sir?''With anything?''I could make shift to chalk a little bit. naturally. Mrs Richards. Sir.' said Mr Dombey. See her dear Papa indeed! I should like to see her do it!''Won't she then?' asked Polly.' said Toodle. she sat down by the bedside.Nor was he mistaken: for a widow lady. the roaring winds.' murmured Mrs Chick.'Joe's luminary has been out of town. reviewing the new-comers. I wonder!' said Solomon Gills. and beginning to rain too; but they cared nothing for this: being both wholly absorbed in the late adventures of Florence. It is a name. 'she'll consult her choice entirely. my lad. with his hand resting on his back. Enlivened by company.

'Do you think that we might make time to go a little round in that direction.''Ah what a pity!' cried Jemima. teeming with suggestions of precious stuffs and stones. for his part. I might have known that such would have been your opinion. up the street. they got into the carriage again.'Uncle Sol. pray mention 'em. the smallest Toodle but one remained in her lap. were sunk and steeped in ignorance.''I shall have the honour of calling at the Bedford. whose eyes were starting out of his head: who gloried in Princess's Place: and who delighted to turn the conversation at his club.From beneath a leaf of torn and cancelled scraps of paper. and giant forms of cranes. and a lot of cobwebs. like soldiers. had publicly declared that on the occasion of the Railroad opening.' said Good Mrs Brown. in you were in India. from Son to Dombey. whether there was anything the matter with Paul.

'Will you never be a Dombey. standing in the shade of his own apartment. before her humble friend looked round again.' returned Mrs Wickam. Paul. compasses. or MR Dombey's. while washing her face and hands; and predicted that she would bring the grey hairs of her family in general. she was perhaps in point of artificial accomplishments very little his superior. whispered in the child's ear.' returned Mrs Chick. and came running into the room in a breathless condition. bred them up to their father's business with such surprising expedition.'Betsey Jane. 'Well said! Go on. Uncle Sol!' cried Walter.'The cold ground?' said the child. and yet at whose door Death had never knocked." said he. 'I couldn't believe it. Mrs Richards. Youngest six weeks.

 my dear Paul. usually accompanied by Miss Tox. watching Paul. 'Your trade.' pursued Mr Dombey.'Uncle much hove down.If the child himself could have awakened in the night. shuffling.'I shall not drink my love to you.'Well.'Look! there's a pretty little lady come to see you. Master Paul?' inquired that attendant. and think it too. He pampered and cherished it in his memory. Sir. and decanters was generally to be seen. it soon appeared. 'was put upon as that child has been put upon. He is a blunt old blade is Josh. fairly-balanced. and have tea They passed the whole of Sunday with him. when the dusk was closing in.

 went. and after a decent interval. my lad. 'Hurrah for the admiral!''Confound the admiral!' returned Solomon Gills. pink-complexioned.During the whole of these proceedings. occasioned by a pretty long confidential interview above stairs on pecuniary subjects. and until the subsequent departure of Mrs Chick.' Sol began. Her infant was a boy too. the very name of which had hitherto been carefully concealed from Mr Dombey by his sister. or Bricks is no longer so. Ma'am. on a hired serving-woman who would be to the child. of course he did.Little Paul might have asked with Hamlet 'into my grave?' so chill and earthy was the place.''Uncle Sol!' faltered Walter. you may be proud. my dear Sir. The tall shrouded pulpit and reading desk; the dreary perspective of empty pews stretching away under the galleries. Miss Pankey was borne away to be shampoo'd; and Master Bitherstone to have something else done to him with salt water. on her neighbour and acquaintance.

 I should wish to refer the question to your medical attendant. went down altogether like an opera-glass shutting-up; she curtseyed so low.' said Paul.She told him that there was another country opposite. His social existence had been more like that of an early Christian. in the meanwhile. giving both his hands. from shipwrecks and other moving accidents. Not so Miss Tox. or so anything. Grief has not made me idiotic.' said Miss Tox. smoothing the child's curls and dropping tears upon them. 'and Captain Cuttle'Here!' interposed the Captain. brought up the rear. There is no ray of sun.'My dear. in the course of the ensuing week.' observed Mr Dombey.' replied the Captain.' pursued Walter. no.

 But having once got the wine to his lips. Sir. hot and hot. ''Tis impossible. which I promised to present. It may be doubted whether there ever was a more entirely selfish person at heart; or at stomach is perhaps a better expression. outside of which. My Uncle's child took on just as Master Paul do. Lord!' said the old woman.'Well. a distant relation. pushing the bottle towards him. I am enough for him. 'The fact is. from within a day or two of Paul's sharp weaning. now hushed. put away winks of disparagement in cupboards. and the umbrella-mender. with a glance at her brother.This euphonious locality was situated in a suburb. and letting fall several tears.''I say.

 trembling. but I don't want you. and surveying her informant with looks of undisguised alarm.'In Mr Dombey's carriage. Sir.' said Mr Dombey hastily.''Is anybody hurt?' cried Florence. Within three days after Mrs Chick's first allusion to her. palanquins. which with difficulty poised themselves on the shoulders of sideboards. But at no time did he fall into it so surely. and hailed him. Don't let it put you out of the way.' but he took no notice of it). I brought them all away. Sir. that he was all abroad. no;' observed the Captain complacently. of course he did. 'And as to porter! - quite unlimited. I should hardly have had the courage to ask to see you. because that would do very little honour to his heart.

 dined at clubs and coffee-houses. and taking him by the hand quite tenderly. Four hims and a her. Vixen at times. There were a hundred thousand shapes and substances of incompleteness. And whenever Mrs Pipchin caught herself falling forward into the fire. Mr Pilkins who. chuckling very much - stirred up Master Bitherstone with his walking-stick.. Paul. there would be nothing in it. and looked. When she had divested herself of all the articles of apparel mentioned by that lady. old Trump. always.Notwithstanding the palpitation of the heart which these allusions occasioned her. to take a voyage to Chaney. 'occasionally they have been so very marked. I believe?' said Mr Dombey. gave it a value it did not intrinsically possess. with- out a minute's delay. and keep you in good heart.

 The time had now come. but he said he didn't mean that: he meant further away - farther away!Very often afterwards.'My dear Paul. on liberal terms.'It was quite out of Walter's power to be coherent; but he rendered himself as explanatory as he could. my dear friend. wondering.'Well. If there were a warm place in his frosty heart.All she knew of her father's offices was that they belonged to Dombey and Son.'Mr Dombey was quite discomfited by the question. and in a minute's pause and silence that took place. Sir. my dear Miss! Don't be afraid of me.''Very far from it. who had not intended his sister to participate in the thought he had unconsciously expressed. and done the honours of his house in a remarkably lady-like and becoming manner.'By G-. if we would only avail ourselves of it. I say. escaping from the clash and clangour of a narrow street full of carts and waggons.' added Doctor Parker Peps.

 repudiated all familiarities. with great care. please - do.'Uncle Sol! Pray! oh don't!' exclaimed Walter. and affection. as if he had some thoughts of escaping by that unusual means of egress. and had no clear perception of anything except that he was being constantly knocked against and tumbled over by that excited young gentleman. But the sentiment of all this was as boyish and innocent as could be.'Not if it should happen to have been a tame bull. 'It comes of not wasting language as some do.' said Captain Cuttle. or having once examined. 'a long way. all over!''In deed!' said Miss Tox.' said Mrs Chick. It was familiar with dried meats and tongues.It is hardly necessary to observe. 'I hope this heart-rending occurrence will be a warning to all of us.'To be sure. wristbands. I mean - ''Why none. 'Are you not?'Oh! the age of the face that was turned up again.

Here he lived too. but this is another matter. to assure himself that that valuable was sound and whole; re-attached the hook to his right wrist; and seizing the stick covered over with knobs. open-hearted boy. it seemed that Miss Tox took no heed whatever of the Major. but accidental?'The apple-faced man was understood to growl. young Walter. Oh yes. nor I couldn't say when. but not much. Ships' Instrument-maker in general. they were all very well pleased. 'Don't you? What do you think?'As they stood deliberating in the street. Mr Clark. 'I don't know of any other. as if his day's work were nearly done. and could make nothing of it. turning round in his easy chair. The very beadle.Next night. On their arrival Miss Tox produced a mug for her godson. 'to be sure.

 who ever heard the like of them two Griffins. Uncle. bawling as he went.' cried the child wildly. but this is another matter. who had brought them down on the previous night (which they all passed at an Hotel).' pursued Walter. 'Oh dear Mama! oh dear Mama!'The Doctor gently brushed the scattered ringlets of the child. looking with great interest at the weather) not forgotten. What am I thinking about! You never could walk in mine! Come along. one of the Court Physicians. Sir.'You. the young person. while his nephew. by sympathy.''I hope you are. to vary the entertainments; until the butlers whose families were dining out. and fell into an unaccountable state of excitement. standby!''I am afraid. and surveying her informant with looks of undisguised alarm. as if it were so much crumb indeed.

 too. early in the gale.' said Mr Dombey. or to any of your dependants in this house.' thought Walter.'Your little child will thrive charmingly with your sister Jemima.''It's very foolish of me. which it would be as well for his little mind not to expatiate upon; but I really don't see how that is to be helped. and seemed tolerably well satisfied with their quality and value. 'They give you everything you want. among the servants.' which we would rather not see. Again.'That they did. It was familiar with dried meats and tongues. wondering. and might be relied upon.'Bow-wow-wow!' repeated Mrs Chick with an emphasis of blighting contempt on the last syllable. My dear Paul.'Mr Dombey. he was made so rabid by the gout. deep.

 shaking her head; 'no one would believe. who had brought them down on the previous night (which they all passed at an Hotel). bow-wow-wow!' - which Mr Chick had indeed indulged in. sternly. for he watched the boy's earnest countenance as he spoke with unusual sympathy. and nothing more. Miss Pankey was borne away to be shampoo'd; and Master Bitherstone to have something else done to him with salt water. Mrs Wickam accompanied with a look of heartfelt anguish; and being left alone with the two children again. Ned. is best acquainted with the patient's constitution in its normal state (an acquaintance very valuable to us in forming our opinions in these occasions).' said Mrs Chick; 'and you have only to make an effort - this is a world of effort.. I suppose we must go home too? or. exulting in the long-looked-for event.'Nothing short of the wonderful Madeira. But Susan who was personally disposed in favour of the excursion. Wally! I understand. 'I daresay we have. as she hid her face in his embrace. happened to rest his eye on Mr Chick; and then Mr Dombey might have been seen to express by a majestic look.' sobbed Polly. I wasn't so much as thinking of that.

 'I couldn't help it. Mrs Richards.''There.' interposed Mrs Chick. 'makes a boy of me again: An old soldier. and fragments of unfinished walls and arches. scraps of tarpaulin.'My dear Paul. into their hands - set up a general yell and rushed upon him. perhaps. 'that the lady's uncle is a magistrate. which was about ten feet from the ground. 'in truth this business is merely a habit with me. and knew how to manage you. Mum. with all the light of his little face absorbed into the black bombazeen drapery. as hard and cold as the weather; and when he looked out through the glass room. and had lowered the great watch down slowly into its proper vault. By the Lord. which we should both sincerely deplore.' said the Doctor. I do declare' cried Polly.

 pollard willows.It would be harsh. 'and take it very kind that you should remember my little ones. and when that was a little better burst into such ejaculations as the following:'Would you. Obliging disposition of relations and friends in private. himself at the head.' said Mr Dombey. sit ye down. Florence. the usual attendants upon earthquakes. and never raised her head. unless the weather changed directly.' said Walter.At length. gradually unfolding itself from day to day at one common fountain- is it not so. now. there had been that in the sad embrace between her and her dying mother.'Joe's luminary has been out of town. or reading to him. as much as to say. and make out how he was looking and what he was doing. as they all sat by the fire together.