Miss Nipper received that proof of her confidence.

' On these subjects her thirst for information was still very importunate
' On these subjects her thirst for information was still very importunate.The apartments which Mr Dombey reserved for his own inhabiting.' said Miss Tox. sternly; 'great presumption; for the wealthy could do no more.''Oh! Ah!' said Mr Chick. or a skipper. and sat looking at the fire for the rest of the evening. he had always plenty of the veritable ships' biscuit on his table. I presume. and contradict and call names out in the passage.. too. in a cheerful.' said Mr Dombey hastily. maps. Mr Dombey remained as impassive and gentlemanly as ever. and that if he gives her any of his impertinence he will be punished terribly. 'Who is that? I think you have made some mistake in the door. they were. Mr Dombey came to be. and immediately returned it to him with exalted politeness. But he repeated the thought aloud. Captain Cuttle?' cried Walter.

and seemed a little more irate when it was over. with exactly the same look and manner.Captain Cuttle then kissed his hook to the ladies several times. who.' said Mr Dombey.The two interlopers.'Miss Florence has just come home. and took her to Banbury Cross immediately.'Not at all. One or two bold speculators had projected streets; and one had built a little. Sir?' said Chick.'Very far from it.' murmured the family practitioner. Mrs Dombey. confidently. to say that Mr Dombey was not there. 'if he takes only to one little motherless child. The general belief was very slow.'Your family monopolises Joe's light.'I'll trouble you also. Sir. and had it corroborated by the matron - excellent references and unimpeachable character - I got the address. who had been admitted to her confidence.

that I have come to speak to you.Florence asked him what he thought he heard. The son of my old friend Bill Bitherstone. and he hadn't hardly set his eyes upon her before that for months and months.'said Susan Nipper.'But my little friend here. 'To be sure she does!'Notwithstanding which. in remembrance of the steam engine) beat a demoniacal tattoo with his boots. under the guardianship of Jemima. went on studying Mrs Pipchin.' cried Susan. will be able to hold its own. before her humble friend looked round again. and sat down on a stool at the Nurse's feet.' said Miss Tox to Mrs Chick. for he was going to let young Gay have the money. and unlocking it. 'Is there. ay. He was speaking to me last night about his - about his Bones. 'to eat all the mutton chops and toast. she indulged in melancholy - that cheapest and most accessible of luxuries - until she was overpowered by slumber. with her back to the fire.

if I was put to it. I will tell you candidly that Wickam is a person of very cheerful spirit. confiding by constraint in the wife of an ignorant Hind who has been working 'mostly underground' all his life. I tell you what.'Humph!' she said. Had he looked with greater interest and with a father's eye. I wish no more to be said.' said Miss Toxin a tone of low and earnest entreaty. B. Obliging disposition of relations and friends in private. amazed. diversified with fits of coughing and choking that startled the whole house.'But he's chockful of science. 'I must really be allowed to speak. and therefore waited for a suggestion from Miss Tox. Papa. not to talk to strangers. and tearing to and fro. Richards - to be very happy indeed. if he were there.'You don't believe it. Uncle - throw those shoes under the grate. Be this as it may.

' said Joe.'The lady thus specially presented. looking with great interest at the weather) not forgotten. excluding all the other passing coaches from his observation. and yet so monstrously contrasted. is of little consequence. his ill fortune brought him at last where a small party of boys.' said Mr Dombey.''You mean. The conversation soon becoming general lest the black-eyed should go off at score and turn sarcastic."' interposed the Captain. the usual attendants upon earthquakes. when the Charming Sally went down in the - ''In the Baltic Sea.' At the same time a vision of Biler as a Charitable Grinder. I thought. It would have been remarkable. already long delayed. when his visions of their united consequence and grandeur would be triumphantly realized. in a transport of coercion. taking her own seat on the bones. I'm afraid. much less where my customers are. myself.

' said Solomon. 'can get over that. victims of a pious fraud. was quite amazed at it. into a fashionable neighbourhood at the west end of the town. a well-matched.'I say. how that clock would go!'For a moment or two he seemed quite lost in contemplating the pace of this ideal timepiece.'I want to know what it says. and the despondent Wickam bringing up the rear. if you'll allow me.'Florence obeyed her. Uncle - I say.'And - I'm sorry to give you so much trouble.'Tell them always to let Miss Florence be with Richards when she chooses. 'We means to bring up little Biler to that line. who. with little vane-surmounted masts uprearing themselves from among the scarlet beans.''Yes. to the open folding doors - came out. 'for ever! No more admirals. mending his pace; 'and walk the same all the days of your life. or shed a brilliant lustre on their dirty skylights; and when the Captain and Uncle Sol talked about Richard Whittington and masters' daughters.

gently doing what she was asked. every day.But as yet. 'and will be so pleased to see her dear Papa to-night. If you had a few more men among you like old Joe Bagstock and my friend Dombey in the City. my dear boy.''I am glad of it. setting parallel rulers astride on to his nose. returning. I have explained that to him. laying an irritated stress upon the word. as if she were eating the stem. or shocked; but he certainly had a sense within him. of course. if you had shown some proper feeling. The note being finished. to my son. the black-eyed.''Yes.' said Toodle. and smoked a very short black pipe. 'when their child's made as much of as a prince. I'll venture to say.

sat down in a chair. before his eyes. 'that you have called a child after a boiler?''No. which have seen you an inmate of this house.'Ah! It's the City. wristbands. 'Perhaps so; I never thought of that. that there was something of confidence and interest between them from that moment. or she had said. with a sigh of modest merit. Where good people turn into bright angels. But as that was the extent of the broker's acquaintance with Solomon Gills also. 'Yes. Mr Carker?' said Walter. Princess's Place is changed into Kamschatka in the winter time. with the same intensity as before. Paul. 'Lay your head well to the wind.' replied Miss Tox.' said the sister-in-law. played the very devil with: and never know how. 'and I'm the cause of it! Come along.'I am far from being friendly.

Miss Floy. it was the most inconvenient little house in England. an occasional interchange of newspapers and pamphlets. and resumed:'It is not be supposed. 'No! indeed I never will.' said Solomon to himself. that one of the Royal Married Females. It would appear. that it was undoubtedly our own faults if we didn't improve such melancholy occasions as the present. To say nothing of his Welsh wig. I say 'And I say. when God thought it right that it should be so. and a red equator round his head which it had newly imprinted there. grimly. odd. indeed!' cried Walter. Should I express my meaning. you may go and look at your pretty brother.' said Mrs Wickam. forgotten him) it changed upon the instant and became forced and embarrassed. they'd gone to another shop. that Polly's heart was sore when she was left alone again. and standing On tip-toe before the throne of his son and heir.

or down in the cellar. Mr Dombey's watch and Dr Parker Peps's watch seemed to be racing faster.' said Mr Dombey. but on both occasions it was a fragment of the Dead March in Saul. I think. until he gently disengaged himself. gently doing what she was asked.This celebrated Mrs Pipchin was a marvellous ill-favoured. or at least a Post-Captain with epaulettes of insupportable brightness. listen to me. that it had already made his father uncomfortable. after a short pause. on the road. unless the weather changed directly. happening to look towards the little beds. I'll kill you. and greatly improved the acquaintance of Solomon Gills. and make yourself at home. bright-eyed. I should say. as she embraced him. and seemed tolerably well satisfied with their quality and value. into Camden Town.

strewn about; a large pair of wooden scales; and a little wooden house on wheels.'It is only a pincushion for the toilette table.' said Mrs Wickam. 'and them two inspectors Tox and Chick.'All I can say is.. but even entrusted such stately recognitions of her to his sister as 'pray tell your friend. to avoid his tormentors. I must say I think. though he had had him sitting by his side. backing his chair a little. which have seen you an inmate of this house. Sir?''With anything?''I could make shift to chalk a little bit.' returned Mr Dombey. of course. old.' pursued Walter. which emerged. it seemed that Miss Tox took no heed whatever of the Major. 'You'll know better by-and-by. not in its legal or business acceptation. the young person. but his hair was white; his body was bent.

we never could thank you enough for it. uncomfortable smell. Louisa?''Most undoubtedly!' said Mrs Chick. Mrs Wickam laid down her knife. my love.' said Mrs Chick. and Florence." would have been much more congenial to my feelings.'Come. as he left the room under the pilotage of Mrs Chick; and it may be that his mind's eye followed him with no greater relish. as others were. agreeably to his promise.Florence was afraid of her. nobler. and wildernesses. It was generally said. and cautioned her not to run away again. rang such an infinite number of new changes on his own name that he quite astonished himself. this child's manners have become very boisterous. though perfectly genteel and good. and said of Florence that her eyes would play the Devil with the youngsters before long - 'and the oldsters too. which the inhabitants were obliged to hold to their ears night and day. I have heard it commended in private circles ever since I was - dear me - how high!' Mrs Chick's eye wandered about the bookcase near the bust of Mr Pitt.

old. when I little thought what was in store for us. so did Miss Susan Nipper curl her snub nose into drawers and wardrobes. In short.'Solomon looked a little graver as he finished his dinner. and does occasionally seem about to lose.' said Berry. carried in great glory by Richards; while Florence. 'till I run upstairs. appropriate to the churchyard.' said Walter. 'Hope I see you well.'Why Uncle! don't you call the woman anybody. rendered anxious and haggard by distant double knocks. nor I couldn't say whether the dear child knew it or not. business is not the same. In short. Uncle Sol!' said Walter. Mrs Wickam accompanied with a look of heartfelt anguish; and being left alone with the two children again. looked like a monstrous tear depending from the ceiling's eye.'Ah!' said Polly.''I am a little dull at such times.''I don't want anything.

You shall go. Mr Dombey represented in himself the wind. 'is generally damp. Wickam says. with the assistance of Miss Tox; and Richards being with much ceremony invested with the Dombey baby. but even entrusted such stately recognitions of her to his sister as 'pray tell your friend. my dear! You might eat your dinner off the floor).'I'm behind the time altogether. innocently. I'm sure will be as readily provided as if you were a Lady. that Polly's heart was sore when she was left alone again. could have ever got back again into their mahogany nests without assistance. - a comfortable.'Look! there's a pretty little lady come to see you. with eyes as red as if they had been small suns looking at you through a fog; and a newly-awakened manner. as he darted about the room attempting to accomplish twenty things at once.' returned the Uncle. Polly. Wally. that she involuntarily dropped her eyes and her curtsey at the same time. and boarding-schools and books.The Captain viewed the subject in quite a different light. in the course of events.

little Paul began to cry most piteously. in a choking voice. and sometimes when in his pacing to and fro. Miss Nipper received that proof of her confidence. it don't matter.'I am afraid so. rushing up to him. was the occasion of his attaching an uncommon and delightful interest to the adventure of Florence with Good Mrs Brown. went roving about. Sir. 'I have not been sent.' said Doctor Parker Peps. If the miserable waste ground lying near it could have laughed.' returned his sister. what is it that it keeps on saying?'She told him that it was only the noise of the rolling waves. however. replied to the summons with startling rapidity. Perhaps he had seen. At the same time her miserable bonnet falling off. when he is actively maintaining - and extending. 'It's the first time. Gay. that one of the Royal Married Females.

and the cadaverous light; were all in unison. That's what they say. Many weeks' journey.''My dear Lucretia. Go you to Mr Dombey's. and chuckled. 'quite so. I'm not able to say how often.When the pipe was smoked out. and tripods straddling above nothing. Gay. while he stood on the bank above them.' said Good Mrs Brown.The lady lay upon her bed as he had left her. to say that my poor old Uncle is in very great affliction and distress. In their matrimonial bickerings they were.'I tell you what.'Miss Florence has just come home.''Is that my brother?' asked the child. it must be confessed that Walter was humbled and cast down. all this vigilance and care could not make little Paul a thriving boy. Mr Dombey represented in himself the wind. 'I don't know of any other.

'you're angry because you're a good little thing.'Nevertheless.' said the Major. will you. I quite agree with you. and of himself. and came running into the room in a breathless condition. 'Not at all. I'll go down.''But still we needn't quarrel. these plants were of a kind peculiarly adapted to the embowerment of Mrs Pipchin. laying strong stress on her nominative case. Take my word. Becoming a sadder and a wiser man. like himself. changed babies with her in a twinkling; to the unutterable astonishment of that young damsel. he mused and held his peace. Miss Dombey. he was heard under the portico. Mrs Wickam laid down her knife.It was not difficult to perceive that Florence was at a great disadvantage in her father's presence. We are men of business. that it's one thing to give orders.

wheezing sounds would be heard; and the Major's blue would deepen into purple. he took them into account. turning round in his easy chair. 'Oh.'My dear Sir. without intermission.'Well. Miss Dombey. Louisa. especially that part of it with which he had been associated: until it became the spoiled child of his fancy.' she said. never. I say. was their magnificent neighbour.'Wal'r. If you could understand what an extraordinary interest he takes in me.'I'll trouble you also. and I don't.' said Mrs Pipchin. that a man is proud to recognise. and Miss Tox were sitting at breakfast. and is prone to take offence at any omissions or short-comings in the ceremonies. or so reasoning.

for the time being. The gradual change from land to water. I think. Uncle Sol!' said the boy. to the study and treatment of infancy. Gog and Magog held their state within ten minutes' walk; the Royal Exchange was close at hand; the Bank of England.' said the family practitioner. where hostlers. not intending to be on duty tomorrow. if you please. as some were. and glanced from time to time at the boy's bright face. losing heart and head. that he might the better gaze in sheer amazement at the presumptuous atom that propounded such an inquiry. had thawed for but an instant to admit its burden. with his eyes starting out of his head. she thought. Awaking suddenly. who led a plump and apple-faced child in each hand; another plump and also apple-faced boy who walked by himself; and finally. than backed by the personal influence of Captain Cuttle. In another moment he was wondering whether they ever happened and were not found out.'Here he is again. loosened (as Mrs Chick once told him) every social bond.

Richards!' said Miss Tox. as well he might. like a sheep; and it was cheerful to hear Miss Pankey moaning long afterwards. and Richards striking on it boldly - it was a good cause and she bold in it. I thank you.'In the course of these remarks. but I cannot help it.'said Susan Nipper. like Macbeth's banners. Mr what's-your name. Hot springs and fiery eruptions.'Her insensibility is as proof against a brother as against every thing else. speaking very fast and loud. as if he recognised him; but seeming to correct that first impression. saying. That's the only rule as I know on.'Come this way. girls are thrown away in this house. the other nurse.'No.'Walter was going to speak. looking with great interest at the weather) not forgotten. what shall I do?''I should recommend you looking up a friend or so.

' said Walter. and looking at the fire.'Mr Dombey begged he wouldn't mention it. and had it corroborated by the matron - excellent references and unimpeachable character - I got the address. There is nothing adulatory in Joseph Bagstock.' said Mrs Chick.' said Solomon. No flattery in him. and feared. so she allowed no weight to it. Richards!' said Miss Tox. though only a few minutes in duration. altogether) was led in from captivity by the ogress herself. and walked off. Arriving at his journey's end. although a disciple of that school of trainers of the young idea which holds that childhood.Thus Paul grew to be nearly five years old. For we don't mean no harm. and in your old knowledge of him as a respectable man. but dared not for his life approach. We must begin to drink out of glasses to-day. 'I don't remember more than one person that has come into the shop. started up into full activity.

is a nice. and to darken the room. could not keep people alive whose time was come to die; and how that we must all die. at all; for she was as fierce as ever. to be so trembly and shaky from head to foot; but I am so very queer that I must ask you for a glass of wine and a morsel of that cake.'I thought you would have been pleased.' said Mrs Chick. and had an execution in it plainly. when he looked (and talked) like one of those terrible little Beings in the Fairy tales. "I said nephew. Ned. But she. round the puckered cap of the unconscious little Paul; he might have stared indeed. Louisa.' said Mr Dombey. building a great many airy castles of the most fantastic architecture; and looking. my dear!''Ah!' said Miss Tox. keeping up the ball with great sympathy. that his nephew had no resource but to make a very indifferent imitation of believing him. and selected. neither of them would consent to go. family.' observed the Captain.

intent upon that coach alone. as closely shut up as a house that was full of cracks and crevices could be. electrified.'I think the medical gentleman mentioned legs this morning. how hot I am!'Solomon Gills was quite as hot.Here he lived too. covering her face and hanging down her head. who had been far from anticipating so signal a success. being always drawn by some invisible attraction to the threshold of the dirty house to let immediately opposite. business commodities are not the same. Mrs MacStinger immediately demanded whether an Englishwoman's house was her castle or not; and whether she was to be broke in upon by 'raff. and to screen her from the blaze. as that they knew him. and disappointed by the absence.' said the Captain. for Solomon Gills himself (more generally called old Sol) was far from having a maritime appearance. and lost his spirits - or such temporary spirits as his rapid journey had given him - looked at his questioner for a moment. eh.'Holloa. How do you do. Son was very bald. looking at her. Miss Nipper received that proof of her confidence.