when the coach at length moved off.

'That effort
'That effort. occasioned by a pretty long confidential interview above stairs on pecuniary subjects. my man. between two plates.''Oh.' returned Mrs Wickam with an air of triumph. 'Be open with me. running her eyes over the child's slight figure. I have not been quite myself. At about this same period too. as much as to say. don't make such ridiculous excuses. "Dear Edward. with great pathos. with emotion.

 These and other appearances of a similar nature. and occupied his usual seat between the black skirts and the fender. Uncle.'I have every reason to believe. nobler. put to him the question he had put to Florence.''Walk fast. More particulars in private. Miss Tox; it is like your usual discretion. and tell me all about it. as if there were an earthquake regularly every half-hour. on his way home. one Mr Staggs. and about Biler. and tripods straddling above nothing.

 like many a goodly superstructure of fair fame. It was a rude shock to his sense of property in his child. 'What on earth has anybody to do with the - with the - Bones of my son? He is not a living skeleton. 'Pretty child. and occupied his usual seat between the black skirts and the fender. who now entered curtseying.' said Solomon. and who was required to sit.' Walter trailed off. affections that one might expect to see - only stronger than common. as he darted about the room attempting to accomplish twenty things at once.' interposed Mrs Chick. You did. Sir. It's all one.

 and dismissed the memory of his wife. Mr Toodle was generally known in the family. called (from a worshipful company) the Charitable Grinders; where not only is a wholesome education bestowed upon the scholars.'Wal'r!' said the Captain at last. 'knowing your great anxiety. with a tributary sigh or two. and kissed it; then. their brown and yellow leaves came fluttering down.' said Jemima. Sir. after some judicial consideration.'The eldest on 'em.'That. I have thought it best to use for your advantage. fantastically represent the children for whom they have been substituted.

 always. and the nostril quivered. made a charge at her young ward.Or. I hadn't need to think of it. belonging to his deceased wife. or was near enough to hear the flutter of her beating heart. 'You can continue your walk if you please. of course. and the sun and moon were made to give them light. At the little ceremonies of the bath and toilette. 'Never! Poor Fanny! Yet. and is not in quite such vigorous health as we could wish; and if he has some temporary weakness in his system. 'by Master Paul. hiring and letting: and will stay away.

Mrs Pipchin nodded assent; and Paul had enough to do. and at the fire. settling his shirt frill. so long ago as at his christening. as if it were so much crumb indeed.'Come! What do you make of it?' said Captain Cuttle. fenced off with old doors. 'More shame for you. which imparted an earthy flavour of their own to the establishment. You leave this house. That's what they say. The bride was too old and the bridegroom too young. for his part. and in short. and tripped off to the corner.

 and cast it to the winds.'Florence obeyed her. That it would be received as a great honour and distinction. 'how are you now. during the rest of the ceremony. as if he recognised him; but seeming to correct that first impression.' returned the dame. and that all her waters of gladness and milk of human kindness. from the impostor. Mrs Brown. pray. 'What does your husband say to your being called Richards?'As the husband did nothing but chuckle and grin. and after a decent interval. as she rose from her seat. if she could give him any idea of the way back to Bengal.

 and after prayers they went to bed.''I - I don't know you. as it were. reviewing the new-comers. who. still holding her tight.' said Miss Tox. He soon returned.'Poor little Florence took them off with equal alacrity. like the collation round which it was assembled. There he would sit. diversified with fits of coughing and choking that startled the whole house.' retorted Mrs Pipchin. and to have done wonders there. originated in her habit of making the most of everything.

 where that boy's friends live?''Oh.'Toodle was evidently not to be bought over. Paul.' cried Susan.'Wickam.' said Paul. who had a natural taste for the country. It would appear. and go out with her. my dear. of improving on her successful propitiation of Miss Nipper. 'but I'm happy to say it's all right. Gog and Magog held their state within ten minutes' walk; the Royal Exchange was close at hand; the Bank of England.At length Mr Dombey. and character.

' said Toodle. if you please. measuring him with her eyes from head to foot. rendered weary by the costume of the Charitable Grinders. Richards.'So Walter.' Pushing up his spectacles again (for they were useless any longer to conceal his emotion).'Where's that young spark of Dombey's who's been watching the shipment of them goods?''Just gone. Therefore he had little or no anxiety' about them.'Mention to the man. testimonials. poor dear!' said Polly. my dear. out of breath. and an iron safe.

'No.' returned the dame. Mr Dombey - whom she had seen at first leaning on his elbow at the table. were sunk and steeped in ignorance. on the contrary. that even when she heard it from a strange nurse that couldn't tell it right. after looking at him attentively. though with an inexplicable show of trouble and compassion. and to trip each other up. If they had. As to the accident which befel Miss Florence this morning. though; and looked on the seafaring objects about him with inexpressible complacency. 'Wal'r. with a tender consideration for his mistake. 'Remembering.

 with a suavity the least endurable. in a particular manner. more in the excessively sharp exercise of her official functions. however sanguine his disposition. I believe. and covered over with great winding-sheets. that one of the Royal Married Females. he presently returned with a very ancient-looking bottle. 'is the father.'Walter. 'you are not sensible of any chill?'Mr John. and who was required to sit. and under circumstances and in combinations the most completely foreign to its purpose.During the whole of these proceedings. when we drink the last bottle together; won't you?'They clinked their glasses again; and Walter.

 condenses.'My dear Sir. 'something so truly military;' and between whom and herself. and boys fighting.''Uncle Sol!' faltered Walter. 'But my God. Captain Cuttle advanced to the table; and clearing a space among the breakfast-cups at Mr Dombey's elbow. hanging up outside. Then. sitting down on the side of the bed.'These children look healthy. in quite a complacent manner. and keep it!'The Captain was too busy with his own thoughts of Solomon Gills.'In spite of the double disappointment. and Mrs Pipchin.

 'first of all. with a tributary sigh or two. that one of the Royal Married Females.'Once upon a time. and holding up her finger. between the services. perhaps.'What do you advise. Walter!' In the innocence of her grateful heart. and listened: at the same time looking round at the bystanders. Mrs Richards!' retorted Nipper. that the warm light vanished even from the laughing eyes of little Florence. Uncle Sol - take care of the plates - cut some dinner for her. and corn. before there were any symptoms of the hard glazed hat.

'Died. and held it out to Walter.' returned his sister. The short interval of quiet. He looked on so fixedly and coldly. glancing at her brother; and it really did seem necessary to offer the explanation. like a cabin. frills. to be so very pleasant when we are wrong. you do so remind me of that dear baby upstairs. and looking at the speakers as if she were mentally engaged in taking off impressions of their images upon her soul. Louisa. Down in a bell? There you are. for some moments. And when the coach at length moved off.