Blimberdissolved
the
sitting
,
and
sent
Cornelia
away
,
very
cool
and
comfortable
,
in
a
postchaise
,
with
the
man
of
her
heart
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Toots
withdrew
to
the
Bedford
(
Mrs.
Toots
had
been
there
before
in
old
times
,
under
her
maiden
name
of
Nipper
)
,
and
there
found
a
letter
,
which
it
took
Mr.
Toots
such
an
enormous
time
to
read
,
that
Mrs.
Toots
was
frightened
.
`
My
dear
Susan
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
`
fright
is
worse
than
exertion
.
Pray
be
calm
!
´
`
Who
is
it
from
?
´
asked
Mrs.
Toots
.
`
Why
,
my
love
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
`
it
's
from
Captain
Gills
.
Do
not
excite
yourself
.
Walters
and
Miss
Dombey
are
expected
home
!
´
`
My
dear
,
´
said
Mrs.
Toots
,
raising
herself
quickly
from
the
sofa
,
very
pale
,
`
do
n't
try
to
deceive
me
,
for
it
's
no
use
,
they
're
come
home
—
I
see
it
plainly
in
your
face
!
´
`
She
's
a
most
extraordinary
woman
!
´
exclaimed
Mr.
Toots
,
in
rapturous
admiration
.
`
You
're
perfectly
right
,
my
love
,
they
have
come
home
.
Miss
Dombey
has
seen
her
father
,
and
they
are
reconciled
!
´
`
Reconciled
!
´
cried
Mrs.
Toots
,
clapping
her
hands
.
`
My
dear
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
;
`
pray
do
not
exert
yourself
.
Do
remember
the
medical
man
!
Captain
Gills
says
—
at
least
he
do
n't
say
,
but
I
imagine
,
from
what
I
can
make
out
,
he
means
—
that
Miss
Dombey
has
brought
her
unfortunate
father
away
from
his
old
house
,
to
one
where
she
and
Walters
are
living
;
that
he
is
lying
very
ill
there
—
supposed
to
be
dying
;
and
that
she
attends
upon
him
night
and
day
.
´
Mrs.
Toots
began
to
cry
quite
bitterly
.
`
My
dearest
Susan
,
´
replied
Mr.
Toots
,
`
do
,
do
,
if
you
possibly
can
,
remember
the
medical
man
!
If
you
ca
n't
,
it
's
of
no
consequence
—
but
do
endeavour
to
!
´
His
wife
,
with
her
old
manner
suddenly
resorted
,
so
pathetically
entreated
him
to
take
her
to
her
precious
pet
,
her
little
mistress
,
her
own
darling
,
and
the
like
,
that
Mr.
Toots
,
whose
sympathy
and
admiration
were
of
the
strongest
kind
,
consented
from
his
very
heart
of
hearts
;
and
they
agreed
to
depart
immediately
,
and
present
themselves
in
answer
to
the
Captain
's
letter
.
Now
some
hidden
sympathies
of
things
,
or
some
coincidences
,
had
that
day
brought
the
Captain
himself
(
toward
whom
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Toots
were
soon
journeying
)
into
the
flowery
train
of
wedlock
;
not
as
a
principal
,
but
as
an
accessory
.
It
happened
accidentally
,
and
thus
:
The
Captain
,
having
seen
Florence
and
her
baby
for
a
moment
,
to
his
unbounded
content
,
and
having
had
a
long
talk
with
Walter
,
turned
out
for
a
walk
;
feeling
it
necessary
to
have
some
solitary
meditation
on
the
changes
of
human
affairs
,
and
to
shake
his
glazed
hat
profoundly
over
the
fall
of
Mr.
Dombey
,
for
whom
the
generosity
and
simplicity
of
his
nature
were
awakened
in
a
lively
manner
.
The
Captain
would
have
been
very
low
,
indeed
,
on
the
unhappy
gentleman
's
account
,
but
for
the
recollection
of
the
baby
;
which
afforded
him
such
intense
satisfaction
whenever
it
arose
,
that
he
laughed
aloud
as
he
went
along
the
street
,
and
,
indeed
,
more
than
once
,
in
a
sudden
impulse
of
joy
,
threw
up
his
glazed
hat
and
caught
it
again
;
much
to
the
amazement
of
the
spectators
.
The
rapid
alternations
of
light
and
shade
to
which
these
two
conflicting
subjects
of
reflection
exposed
the
Captain
,
were
so
very
trying
to
his
spirits
,
that
he
felt
a
long
walk
necessary
to
his
composure
;
and
as
there
is
a
great
deal
in
the
influence
of
harmonious
associations
,
he
chose
,
for
the
scene
of
this
walk
,
his
old
neighbourhood
,
down
among
the
mast
,
oar
,
and
block
makers
,
ship-biscuit
bakers
,
coal-whippers
,
pitch-kettles
,
sailors
,
canals
,
docks
,
swing-bridges
,
and
other
soothing
objects
.
These
peaceful
scenes
,
and
particularly
the
region
of
Lime-house
Hole
and
thereabouts
,
were
so
influential
in
calming
the
Captain
,
that
he
walked
on
with
restored
tranquillity
,
and
was
,
in
fact
,
regaling
himself
,
under
his
breath
,
with
the
ballad
of
Lovely
Peg
,
when
,
on
turning
a
corner
,
he
was
suddenly
transfixed
and
rendered
speechless
by
a
triumphant
procession
that
he
beheld
advancing
towards
him
.
This
awful
demonstration
was
headed
by
that
determined
woman
,
Mrs.
MacStinger
,
who
,
preserving
a
countenance
of
inexorable
resolution
,
and
wearing
conspicuously
attached
to
her
obdurate
bosom
a
stupendous
watch
and
appendages
,
which
the
Captain
recognised
at
a
glance
as
the
property
of
Bunsby
,
conducted
under
her
arm
no
other
than
that
sagacious
mariner
;
he
,
with
the
distraught
and
melancholy
visage
of
a
captive
borne
into
a
foreign
land
,
meekly
resigning
himself
to
her
will
.
Behind
them
appeared
the
young
MacStingers
,
in
a
body
,
exulting
.
Behind
them
,
two
ladies
of
a
terrible
and
steadfast
aspect
,
leading
between
them
a
short
gentleman
in
a
tall
hat
,
who
likewise
exulted
.
In
the
wake
,
appeared
Bunsby
's
boy
,
bearing
umbrellas
.
The
whole
were
in
good
marching
order
;
and
a
dreadful
smartness
that
pervaded
the
party
would
have
sufficiently
announced
,
if
the
intrepid
countenances
of
the
ladies
had
been
wanting
,
that
it
was
a
procession
of
sacrifice
,
and
that
the
victim
was
Bunsby
.
The
first
impulse
of
the
Captain
was
to
run
away
.
This
also
appeared
to
be
the
first
impulse
of
Bunsby
,
hopeless
as
its
execution
must
have
proved
.
But
a
cry
of
recognition
proceeding
from
the
party
,
and
Alexander
MacStinger
running
up
to
the
Captain
with
open
arms
,
the
Captain
struck
.
`
Well
,
Cap'en
Cuttle
!
´
said
Mrs.
MacStinger
.
`
This
is
indeed
a
meeting
!
I
bear
no
malice
now
.
Cap'en
Cuttle
—
you
need
n't
fear
that
I
'm
a
going
to
cast
any
reflections
.
I
hope
to
go
to
the
altar
in
another
spirit
.
´
Here
Mrs.
MacStinger
paused
,
and
drawing
herself
up
,
and
inflating
her
bosom
with
a
long
breath
,
said
,
in
allusion
to
the
victim
,
`
My
'
usband
,
Cap'en
Cuttle
!
´
The
abject
Bunsby
looked
neither
to
the
right
nor
to
the
left
,
nor
at
his
bride
,
nor
at
his
friend
,
but
straight
before
him
at
nothing
.
The
Captain
putting
out
his
hand
,
Bunsby
put
out
his
;
but
,
in
answer
to
the
Captain
's
greeting
,
spake
no
word
.
`
Cap'en
Cuttle
,
´
said
Mrs.
MacStinger
,
`
if
you
would
wish
to
heal
up
past
animosities
,
and
to
see
the
last
of
your
friend
,
my
'
usband
,
as
a
single
person
,
we
should
be
'
appy
of
your
company
to
chapel
.
Here
is
a
lady
here
,
´
said
Mrs.
MacStinger
,
turning
round
to
the
more
intrepid
of
the
two
,
`
my
bridesmaid
,
that
will
be
glad
of
your
protection
,
Cap'en
Cuttle
.
´
The
short
gentleman
in
the
tall
hat
,
who
it
appeared
was
the
husband
of
the
other
lady
,
and
who
evidently
exulted
at
the
reduction
of
a
fellow-creature
to
his
own
condition
,
gave
place
at
this
,
and
resigned
the
lady
to
Captain
Cuttle
.
The
lady
immediately
seized
him
,
and
,
observing
that
there
was
no
tome
to
lose
,
gave
the
word
,
in
a
strong
voice
,
to
advance
.
The
Captain
's
concern
for
his
friend
,
not
unmingled
,
at
first
,
with
some
concern
for
himself
—
for
a
shadowy
terror
that
he
might
be
married
by
violence
,
possessed
him
,
until
his
knowledge
of
the
service
came
to
his
relief
,
and
remembering
the
legal
obligation
of
saying
,
`
I
will
,
´
he
felt
himself
personally
safe
so
long
as
he
resolved
,
if
asked
any
question
,
distinctly
to
reply
`
I
wo
n't
'
—
threw
him
into
a
profuse
perspiration
;
and
rendered
him
,
for
a
time
,
insensible
to
the
movements
of
the
procession
,
of
which
he
now
formed
a
feature
,
and
to
the
conversation
of
his
fair
companion
.
But
as
he
became
less
agitated
,
he
learnt
from
this
lady
that
she
was
the
widow
of
a
Mr.
Bokum
,
who
had
held
and
employment
in
the
Custom
House
;
that
she
was
the
dearest
friend
of
Mrs.
MacStinger
,
whom
she
considered
a
pattern
for
her
sex
;
that
she
had
often
heard
of
the
Captain
,
and
now
hoped
he
had
repented
of
his
past
life
;
that
she
trusted
Mr.
Bunsby
knew
what
a
blessing
he
had
gained
,
but
that
she
feared
men
seldom
did
know
what
such
blessings
were
,
until
they
had
lost
them
;
with
more
to
the
same
purpose
.
All
this
time
,
the
Captain
could
not
but
observe
that
Mrs.
Bokum
kept
her
eyes
steadily
on
the
bridegroom
,
and
that
whenever
they
came
near
a
court
or
other
narrow
turning
which
appeared
favourable
for
flight
,
she
was
on
the
alert
to
cut
him
off
if
he
attempted
escape
.
The
other
lady
,
too
,
as
well
as
her
husband
,
the
short
gentleman
with
the
tall
hat
,
were
plainly
on
guard
,
according
to
a
preconcerted
plan
;
and
the
wretched
man
was
so
secured
by
Mrs.
MacStinger
,
that
any
effort
at
self-preservation
by
flight
was
rendered
futile
.
This
,
indeed
,
was
apparent
to
the
mere
populace
,
who
expressed
their
perception
of
the
fact
by
jeers
and
cries
;
to
all
of
which
,
the
dread
MacStinger
was
inflexibly
indifferent
,
while
Bunsby
himself
appeared
in
a
state
of
unconsciousness
.
The
Captain
made
many
attempts
to
accost
the
philosopher
,
if
only
in
a
monosyllable
or
a
signal
;
but
always
failed
,
in
consequence
of
the
vigilance
of
the
guard
,
and
the
difficulty
,
at
all
times
peculiar
to
Bunsby
's
constitution
,
of
having
his
attention
aroused
by
any
outward
any
visible
sign
whatever
.
Thus
they
approached
the
chapel
,
a
neat
whitewashed
edifice
,
recently
engaged
by
the
Reverend
Melchisedech
Howler
,
who
had
consented
,
on
very
urgent
solicitation
,
to
give
the
world
another
two
years
of
existence
,
but
had
informed
his
followers
that
,
then
,
it
must
positively
go
.
While
the
Reverend
Melchisedech
was
offering
up
some
extemporary
orisons
,
the
Captain
found
an
opportunity
of
growling
in
the
bridegroom
's
ear
:
`
What
cheer
,
my
lad
,
what
cheer
?
´
To
which
Bunsby
replied
,
with
a
forgetfulness
of
the
Reverend
Melchisedech
,
which
nothing
but
his
desperate
circumstances
could
have
excused
:
`
D
—
d
bad
.
´
`
Jack
Bunsby
,
´
whispered
the
Captain
,
`
do
you
do
this
here
,
o
´
your
own
free
will
?
´
Mr.
Bunsby
answered
`
No.
´
`
Why
do
you
do
it
,
then
,
my
lad
?
´
inquired
the
Captain
,
not
unnaturally
.
Bunsby
,
still
looking
,
and
always
looking
with
an
immovable
countenance
,
at
the
opposite
side
of
the
world
,
made
no
reply
.
`
Why
not
sheer
off
?
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Eh
?
´
whispered
Bunsby
,
with
a
momentary
gleam
of
hope
.
`
Sheer
off
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Where
's
the
good
?
´
retorted
the
forlorn
sage
.
`
She
'd
capter
me
agen
.
´
`
Try
!
´
replied
the
Captain
.
`
Cheer
up
!
Come
!
Now
's
your
time
.
Sheer
off
,
Jack
Bunsby
!
´
Jack
Bunsby
,
however
,
instead
of
profiting
by
the
advice
,
said
in
a
doleful
whisper
:
`
It
all
began
in
that
there
chest
o
´
yourn
.
Why
did
I
ever
conwoy
her
into
port
that
night
?
´
`
My
lad
,
´
faltered
the
Captain
,
`
I
thought
as
you
had
come
over
her
;
nor
as
she
had
come
over
you
.
A
man
as
has
got
such
opinions
as
you
have
!
´
Mr.
Bunsby
merely
uttered
a
suppressed
groan
.
`
Come
!
´
said
the
Captain
,
nudging
him
with
his
elbow
,
`
now
's
your
time
!
Sheer
off
!
I
'll
cover
your
retreat
.
The
time
's
a
flying
.
Bunsby
!
It
's
for
liberty
.
Will
you
once
?
´
Bunsby
was
immovable
.
`
Bunsby
!
´
whispered
the
Captain
,
`
will
you
twice
?
´
Bunsby
would
n't
twice
.
`
Bunsby
!
´
urged
the
Captain
,
`
it
's
for
liberty
;
will
you
three
times
?
Now
or
never
!
´
Bunsby
did
n't
then
,
and
did
n't
ever
;
for
Mrs.
MacStinger
immediately
afterwards
married
him
.
One
of
the
most
frightful
circumstances
of
the
ceremony
to
the
Captain
,
was
the
deadly
interest
exhibited
therein
by
Juliana
MacStinger
;
and
the
fatal
concentration
of
her
faculties
,
with
which
that
promising
child
,
already
the
image
of
her
parent
,
observed
the
whole
proceedings
.
The
Captain
saw
in
this
a
succession
of
man-traps
stretching
out
infinitely
;
a
series
of
ages
of
oppression
and
coercion
,
through
which
the
seafaring
line
was
doomed
.
It
was
a
more
memorable
sight
than
the
unflinching
steadiness
of
Mrs.
Bokum
and
the
other
lady
,
the
exultation
of
the
short
gentleman
in
the
tall
hat
,
or
even
the
fell
inflexibility
of
Mrs.
MacStinger
.
The
Master
MacStingers
understood
little
of
what
was
going
on
,
and
cared
less
;
being
chiefly
engaged
,
during
the
ceremony
,
in
treading
on
one
another
's
half-boots
;
but
the
contrast
afforded
by
those
wretched
infants
only
set
off
and
adorned
the
precocious
woman
in
Juliana
.
Another
year
or
two
,
the
Captain
thought
,
and
to
lodge
where
that
child
was
,
would
be
destruction
.
The
ceremony
was
concluded
by
a
general
spring
of
the
young
family
on
Mr.
Bunsby
,
whom
they
hailed
by
the
endearing
name
of
father
,
and
from
whom
they
solicited
half-pence
.
These
gushes
of
affection
over
,
the
procession
was
about
to
issue
forth
again
,
when
it
was
delayed
for
some
little
time
by
an
unexpected
transport
on
the
part
of
Alexander
MacStinger
.
That
dear
child
,
it
seemed
,
connecting
a
chapel
with
tombstones
,
when
it
was
entered
for
any
purpose
apart
from
the
ordinary
religious
exercises
,
could
not
be
persuaded
but
that
his
mother
was
now
to
be
decently
interred
,
and
lost
to
him
for
ever
.
In
the
anguish
of
this
conviction
,
he
screamed
with
astonishing
force
,
and
turned
black
in
the
face
.
However
touching
these
marks
of
a
tender
disposition
were
to
his
mother
,
it
was
not
in
the
character
of
that
remarkable
woman
to
permit
her
recognition
of
them
to
degenerate
into
weakness
.
Therefore
,
after
vainly
endeavouring
to
convince
his
reason
by
shakes
,
pokes
,
bawlings-out
,
and
similar
applications
to
his
head
,
she
led
him
into
the
air
,
and
tried
another
method
;
which
was
manifested
to
the
marriage
party
by
a
quick
succession
of
sharp
sounds
,
resembling
applause
,
and
subsequently
,
by
their
seeing
Alexander
in
contact
with
the
coolest
paving-stone
in
the
court
,
greatly
flushed
,
and
loudly
lamenting
.
The
procession
being
then
in
a
condition
to
from
itself
once
more
,
and
repair
to
Brig
Place
,
where
a
marriage
feast
was
in
readiness
,
returned
as
it
had
come
;
not
without
the
receipt
,
by
Bunsby
,
of
many
humorous
congratulations
from
the
populace
on
his
recently-acquired
happiness
.
The
Captain
accompanied
it
as
far
as
the
house-door
,
but
,
being
made
uneasy
by
the
gentler
manner
of
Mrs.
Bokum
,
who
,
now
that
she
was
relieved
from
her
engrossing
duty
—
for
the
watchfulness
and
alacrity
of
the
ladies
sensibly
diminished
when
the
bridegroom
was
safely
married
—
had
greater
leisure
to
show
an
interest
in
his
behalf
,
there
left
it
and
the
captive
;
faintly
pleading
an
appointment
,
and
promising
to
return
presently
.
The
Captain
had
another
cause
for
uneasiness
,
in
remorsefully
reflecting
that
he
had
been
the
first
means
of
Bunsby
's
entrapment
,
though
certainly
without
intending
it
,
and
through
his
unbounded
faith
in
the
resources
of
that
philosopher
.
To
go
back
to
old
Sol
Gills
at
the
Wooden
Midshipman
's
,
and
not
first
go
round
to
ask
how
Mr.
Dombey
fared
—
albeit
the
house
where
he
lay
was
out
of
London
,
and
away
on
the
borders
of
a
fresh
heath
—
was
quite
out
of
the
Captain
's
course
.
So
he
got
a
lift
when
he
was
tired
,
and
made
out
the
journey
gaily
.
The
blinds
were
pulled
down
,
and
the
house
so
quiet
,
that
the
Captain
was
almost
afraid
to
knock
;
but
listening
at
the
door
,
he
heard
low
voices
within
,
very
near
it
,
and
knocking
softly
,
was
admitted
by
Mr.
Toots
.
Mr.
Toots
and
his
wife
had
,
in
fact
,
just
arrived
there
;
having
been
at
the
Midshipman
's
to
seek
him
,
and
having
there
obtained
the
address
.
They
were
not
so
recently
arrived
,
but
that
Mrs.
Toots
had
caught
the
baby
from
somebody
,
taken
it
in
her
arms
,
and
sat
down
on
the
stairs
,
hugging
and
fondling
it
.
Florence
was
stooping
down
beside
her
;
and
no
one
could
have
said
which
Mrs.
Toots
was
hugging
and
fondling
most
,
the
mother
or
the
child
,
or
which
was
the
tenderer
,
Florence
of
Mrs.
Toots
,
or
Mrs.
Toots
of
her
,
or
both
of
the
baby
;
it
was
such
a
little
group
of
love
and
agitation
.
`
And
is
your
Pa
very
ill
,
my
darling
dear
Miss
Floy
?
´
asked
Susan
.
`
He
is
very
,
very
ill
,
´
said
Florence
.
`
But
,
Susan
,
dear
,
you
must
not
speak
to
me
as
you
used
to
speak
.
And
what
's
this
?
´
said
Florence
,
touching
her
clothes
,
in
amazement
.
`
Your
old
dress
,
dear
?
Your
old
cap
,
curls
,
and
all
?
´
Susan
burst
into
tears
,
and
showered
kisses
on
the
little
hand
that
had
touched
her
so
wonderingly
.
`
My
dear
Miss
Dombey
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
stepping
forward
,
`
I
'll
explain
.
She
's
the
most
extraordinary
woman
.
There
are
not
many
to
equal
her
!
She
has
always
said
—
she
said
before
we
were
married
,
and
has
said
to
this
day
—
that
whenever
you
came
home
,
she
'd
come
to
you
in
no
dress
but
the
dress
she
used
to
serve
you
in
,
for
fear
she
might
seem
strange
to
you
,
and
you
might
like
her
less
.
I
admire
the
dress
myself
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
`
of
all
things
.
I
adore
her
in
it
!
My
dear
Miss
Dombey
,
she
'll
be
your
maid
again
,
your
nurse
,
all
that
she
ever
was
,
and
more
.
There
's
no
change
in
her
.
But
,
Susan
,
my
dear
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
who
had
spoken
with
great
feeling
and
high
admiration
,
`
all
I
ask
is
,
that
you
'll
remember
the
medical
man
,
and
not
exert
yourself
too
much
.
´
CHAPTER
LXI
Relenting
FLORENCE
had
need
of
help
.
Her
father
's
need
of
it
was
sore
,
and
made
the
aid
of
her
old
friend
invaluable
.
Death
stood
at
his
pillow
.
A
shade
,
already
,
of
what
he
had
been
,
shattered
in
mind
,
and
perilously
sick
in
body
,
he
laid
his
weary
head
down
on
the
bed
his
daughter
's
hands
prepared
for
him
,
and
had
never
raised
it
since
.
She
was
always
with
him
.
He
knew
her
,
generally
;
though
,
in
the
wandering
of
his
brain
,
he
often
confused
the
circumstances
under
which
he
spoke
to
her
.
Thus
he
would
address
her
,
sometimes
,
as
if
his
boy
were
newly
dead
;
and
would
tell
her
,
that
although
he
had
said
nothing
of
her
ministering
at
the
little
bedside
,
yet
he
had
seen
it
—
he
had
seen
it
;
and
then
would
hide
his
face
and
sob
,
and
put
out
his
worn
hand
.
Sometimes
he
would
ask
her
for
herself
.
`
Where
is
Florence
?
´
`
I
am
here
,
Papa
,
I
am
here
.
´
`
I
do
n't
know
her
!
´
he
would
cry
`
We
have
been
parted
so
long
,
that
I
do
n't
know
her
!
´
and
and
then
a
staring
dread
would
be
upon
him
,
until
she
could
soothe
his
perturbation
;
and
recall
the
tears
she
tried
so
hard
,
at
other
times
,
to
dry
.
He
rambled
through
the
scenes
of
his
old
pursuits
—
through
many
where
Florence
lost
him
as
she
listened
—
sometimes
for
hours
.
He
would
repeat
that
childish
question
,
`
What
is
money
?
´
and
ponder
on
it
,
and
think
about
it
,
and
reason
with
himself
,
more
or
less
connectedly
,
for
a
good
answer
;
as
if
it
had
never
been
proposed
to
him
until
that
moment
.
He
would
go
on
with
a
musing
repetition
of
the
title
of
his
old
firm
twenty
thousand
times
,
and
at
every
one
of
them
,
would
turn
his
head
upon
his
pillow
.
He
would
count
his
children
—
one
—
two
—
stop
,
and
go
back
,
and
begin
again
in
the
same
way
.
But
this
was
when
his
mind
was
in
its
most
distracted
state
.
In
all
the
other
phases
of
its
illness
,
and
in
those
to
which
it
was
most
constant
,
it
always
turned
on
Florence
.
What
he
would
oftenest
do
was
this
:
he
would
recall
that
night
he
had
so
recently
remembered
,
the
night
on
which
she
came
down
to
his
room
,
and
would
imagine
that
his
heart
smote
him
,
and
that
he
went
out
after
her
,
and
up
the
stairs
to
seek
her
.
Then
,
confounding
that
time
with
the
later
days
of
the
many
footsteps
,
he
would
be
amazed
at
their
number
,
and
begin
to
count
them
as
he
followed
her
.
Here
,
of
a
sudden
,
was
a
bloody
footstep
going
on
among
the
others
;
and
after
it
there
began
to
be
,
at
intervals
,
doors
standing
open
,
through
which
certain
terrible
pictures
were
seen
,
in
mirrors
,
of
haggard
men
,
concealing
something
in
their
breasts
.
Still
,
among
the
many
footsteps
and
the
bloody
footsteps
here
and
there
,
was
the
step
of
Florence
.
Still
she
was
going
on
before
.
Still
the
restless
mind
went
,
following
and
counting
,
ever
farther
,
ever
higher
,
as
to
the
summit
of
a
mighty
tower
that
it
took
years
to
climb
.
One
day
he
inquired
if
that
were
not
Susan
who
had
spoken
a
long
while
ago
.
Florence
said
`
Yes
,
dear
Papa
;
´
and
asked
him
would
he
like
to
see
her
?
He
said
`
very
much
.
´
And
Susan
,
with
no
little
trepidation
,
showed
herself
at
his
bedside
.
It
seemed
a
great
relief
to
him
.
He
begged
her
not
to
go
;
to
understand
that
he
forgave
her
what
she
had
said
;
and
that
she
was
to
stay
.
Florence
and
he
were
very
different
now
,
he
said
,
and
very
happy
.
Let
her
look
at
this
!
He
meant
his
drawing
gentle
head
down
to
his
pillow
,
and
laying
it
beside
him
.
He
remained
like
this
for
days
and
weeks
.
At
length
,
lying
,
the
faint
feeble
semblance
of
a
man
,
upon
his
bed
,
and
speaking
in
a
voice
so
low
that
they
could
only
hear
him
by
listening
very
near
to
his
lips
,
he
became
quiet
.
It
was
dimly
pleasant
to
him
now
,
to
lie
their
,
with
the
window
open
,
looking
out
at
the
summer
sky
and
the
trees
:
and
,
in
the
evening
,
at
the
sunset
.
To
watch
the
shadows
of
the
clouds
and
leaves
,
and
seem
to
feel
a
sympathy
with
shadows
.
It
was
natural
that
he
should
.
To
him
,
life
and
the
world
were
nothing
else
.
He
began
to
show
now
that
he
thought
of
Florence
's
fatigue
:
and
often
taxed
his
weakness
to
whisper
to
her
,
`
Go
and
walk
,
my
dearest
,
in
the
sweet
air
,
Go
to
your
good
husband
!
´
One
time
when
Walter
was
in
his
room
,
he
beckoned
him
to
come
near
,
and
to
stoop
down
;
and
pressing
his
hand
,
whispered
an
assurance
to
him
that
he
knew
he
could
trust
him
with
his
child
when
he
was
dead
.
It
chanced
one
evening
,
towards
sunset
,
when
Florence
and
Walter
were
sitting
in
his
room
together
,
as
he
liked
to
see
them
,
that
Florence
,
having
her
baby
in
her
arms
,
began
in
a
low
voice
to
sing
to
the
little
fellow
,
and
sang
the
old
tune
she
had
so
often
sung
to
the
dead
child
.
He
could
not
bear
it
at
the
time
;
he
held
up
his
trembling
hand
,
imploring
her
to
stop
;
but
next
day
he
asked
her
to
repeat
it
,
and
to
do
so
often
of
an
evening
:
which
she
did
.
He
listening
,
with
his
face
turned
away
.
Florence
was
sitting
on
a
certain
time
by
his
window
,
with
her
work-basket
between
her
and
her
old
attendant
,
who
was
still
her
faithful
companion
.
He
had
fallen
into
a
doze
.
It
was
a
beautiful
evening
,
with
two
hours
of
light
to
come
yet
;
and
the
tranquillity
and
quiet
made
Florence
very
thoughtful
.
She
was
lost
to
everything
for
the
moment
,
but
the
occasion
when
the
so
altered
figure
on
the
bed
had
first
presented
her
to
her
beautiful
mama
;
when
a
touch
from
Walter
leaning
on
the
back
of
her
chair
,
made
her
start
.
`
My
dear
,
´
said
Walter
,
`
there
is
some
one
down
stairs
who
wishes
to
speak
to
you
.
´
She
fancied
Walter
looked
grave
,
and
asked
him
if
anything
had
happened
.
`
No
,
no
,
my
love
!
´
said
Walter
.
`
I
have
seen
the
gentleman
myself
,
and
spoken
with
him
.
Nothing
has
happened
.
Will
you
come
?
´
Florence
put
her
arm
through
his
;
and
confiding
her
father
to
the
black-eyed
Mrs.
Toots
,
who
sat
as
brisk
and
smart
at
her
work
as
black-eyed
woman
could
,
accompanied
her
husband
down
stairs
.
In
the
pleasant
little
parlour
opening
on
the
garden
,
sat
a
gentleman
,
who
rose
to
advance
towards
her
when
she
came
in
,
but
turned
off
,
by
reason
of
some
peculiarity
in
his
legs
,
and
was
only
stopped
by
the
table
.
Florence
then
remembered
Cousin
Feenix
,
whom
she
had
not
at
first
recognised
in
the
shade
of
the
leaves
.
Cousin
Feenix
took
her
hand
,
and
congratulated
her
upon
her
marriage
.
`
I
could
have
wished
,
I
am
sure
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
sitting
down
as
Florence
sat
,
`
to
have
had
an
earlier
opportunity
of
offering
my
congratulations
;
but
,
in
point
of
fact
,
so
many
painful
occurrences
have
happened
,
treading
,
as
a
man
may
say
,
on
one
another
's
heels
,
that
I
have
been
in
a
devil
of
a
state
myself
,
and
perfectly
unfit
for
every
description
of
society
.
The
only
description
of
society
I
have
kept
,
has
been
my
own
;
and
it
certainly
is
anything
but
flattering
to
a
man
's
good
opinion
of
his
own
resources
,
to
know
that
,
in
point
of
fact
,
he
has
the
capacity
of
boring
himself
to
a
perfectly
unlimited
extent
.
´
Florence
divined
,
from
some
indefinable
constraint
and
anxiety
in
this
gentleman
's
manner
—
which
was
always
a
gentleman
's
,
in
spite
of
the
harmless
little
eccentricities
that
attached
to
it
—
and
from
Walter
's
manner
no
less
,
that
something
more
immediately
tending
to
some
object
was
to
follow
this
.
`
I
have
been
mentioning
to
my
friend
Mr.
Gay
,
if
I
may
be
allowed
to
have
the
honour
of
calling
him
so
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
that
I
am
rejoiced
to
hear
that
my
friend
Dombey
is
very
decidedly
mending
.
I
trust
my
friend
Dombey
will
not
allow
his
mind
to
be
too
much
preyed
upon
,
by
any
mere
loss
of
fortune
.
I
cannot
say
that
I
have
ever
experienced
any
very
great
loss
of
fortune
myself
:
never
having
had
,
in
point
of
fact
,
any
great
amount
of
fortune
to
lose
.
But
as
much
as
I
could
lose
,
I
have
lost
;
and
I
do
n't
find
that
I
particularly
care
about
it
.
I
know
my
friend
Dombey
to
be
a
devilish
honourable
man
;
and
it
's
calculated
to
console
my
friend
Dombey
very
much
,
to
know
,
that
this
is
the
universal
sentiment
.
Even
Tommy
Screwzer
,
—
a
man
of
an
extremely
bilious
habit
,
with
whom
my
friend
Gay
is
probably
acquainted
—
cannot
say
a
syllable
in
disputation
of
the
fact
.
´
Florence
felt
,
more
than
ever
,
that
there
was
something
to
come
;
and
looked
earnestly
for
it
.
So
earnestly
,
that
Cousin
Feenix
answered
,
as
if
she
had
spoken
.
`
The
fact
is
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
that
my
friend
Gay
and
myself
have
been
discussing
the
propriety
of
entreating
a
favour
at
your
hands
;
and
that
I
have
the
consent
of
my
friend
Gay
—
who
has
met
me
in
an
exceedingly
kind
and
open
manner
,
for
which
I
am
very
much
indebted
to
him
—
to
solicit
it
.
I
am
sensible
that
so
amiable
a
lady
as
the
lovely
and
accomplished
daughter
of
my
friend
Dombey
,
will
not
require
much
urging
;
but
I
am
happy
to
know
,
that
I
am
supported
by
my
friend
Gay
's
influence
and
approval
.
As
in
my
parliamentary
time
,
when
a
man
had
a
motion
to
make
of
any
sort
—
which
happened
seldom
in
those
days
,
for
we
were
kept
very
tight
in
hand
,
the
leaders
on
both
sides
being
regular
Martinets
,
which
was
a
devilish
good
thing
for
the
rank
and
file
,
like
myself
,
and
prevented
our
exposing
ourselves
continually
,
as
a
great
many
of
us
had
a
feverish
anxiety
to
do
—
as
,
in
my
parliamentary
time
,
I
was
about
to
say
,
when
a
man
had
leave
to
let
off
any
little
private
popgun
,
it
was
always
considered
a
great
point
for
him
to
say
that
he
had
the
happiness
of
believing
that
his
sentiments
were
not
without
an
echo
in
the
breast
of
Mr.
Pitt
;
the
pilot
,
in
point
of
fact
,
who
had
weathered
the
storm
.
Upon
which
,
a
devilish
large
number
of
fellows
immediately
cheered
,
and
put
him
in
spirits
.
Though
the
fact
is
,
that
these
fellows
,
being
under
orders
to
cheer
most
excessively
whenever
Mr.
Pitt
's
name
was
mentioned
,
became
so
proficient
that
it
always
woke
'em
.
And
they
were
so
entirely
innocent
of
what
was
going
on
,
otherwise
,
that
it
used
to
be
commonly
said
by
Conversation
Brown
—
four-bottle
man
at
the
Treasury
Board
,
with
whom
the
father
of
my
friend
Gay
was
probably
acquainted
,
for
it
was
before
my
friend
Gay
's
time
—
that
if
a
man
had
risen
in
his
place
,
and
said
that
he
regretted
to
inform
the
house
that
there
was
an
Honourable
Member
in
the
last
stage
of
convulsions
in
the
Lobby
,
and
that
the
Honourable
Member
's
name
was
Pitt
,
the
approbation
would
have
been
vociferous
.
´
This
postponement
of
the
point
,
put
Florence
in
a
flutter
;
and
she
looked
from
Cousin
Feenix
to
Walter
,
in
increasing
agitation
.
`
My
love
,
´
said
Walter
,
`
there
is
nothing
the
matter
.
´
`
There
is
nothing
the
matter
,
upon
my
honour
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
;
`
and
I
am
deeply
distressed
at
being
the
means
of
causing
you
a
moment
's
uneasiness
.
I
beg
to
assure
you
that
there
is
nothing
the
matter
.
The
favour
that
I
have
to
ask
is
,
simply
—
but
it
really
does
seem
so
exceeding
singular
,
that
I
should
be
in
the
last
degree
obliged
to
my
friend
Gay
if
he
would
have
the
goodness
to
break
the
—
in
point
of
fact
,
the
ice
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
.
Walter
thus
appealed
to
,
and
appealed
to
no
less
in
the
look
that
Florence
turned
towards
him
,
said
:
`
My
dearest
,
it
is
no
more
than
this
.
That
you
will
ride
to
London
with
this
gentleman
,
whom
you
know
.
´
`
And
my
friend
Gay
,
also
—
I
beg
your
pardon
!
´
interrupted
Cousin
Feenix
.
`
—
And
with
me
—
and
make
a
visit
somewhere
.
´
`
To
whom
?
´
asked
Florence
,
looking
from
one
to
the
other
.
`
If
I
might
entreat
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
that
you
would
not
press
for
an
answer
to
that
question
,
I
would
venture
to
take
the
liberty
of
making
the
request
.
´
`
Do
you
know
,
Walter
?
´
`
Yes
.
´
`
And
think
it
right
?
´
`
Yes
.
Only
because
I
am
sure
that
you
would
too
.
Though
there
may
be
reasons
I
very
well
understand
,
which
make
it
better
that
nothing
more
should
be
said
beforehand
.
´
`
If
Papa
is
still
asleep
,
or
can
spare
me
if
he
is
awake
,
I
will
go
immediately
,
'
said
Florence
.
And
rising
quietly
,
and
glancing
at
them
with
a
look
that
was
a
little
alarmed
but
perfectly
confiding
,
left
the
room
.
When
she
came
back
,
ready
to
bear
them
company
,
they
were
talking
together
,
gravely
,
at
the
window
;
and
Florence
could
not
but
wonder
what
the
topic
was
,
that
had
made
them
so
well
acquainted
in
so
short
a
time
.
She
did
not
wonder
at
the
look
of
pride
and
love
with
which
her
husband
broke
off
as
she
entered
;
for
she
never
saw
him
,
but
that
rested
on
her
.
`
I
will
leave
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
a
card
for
my
friend
Dombey
,
sincerely
trusting
that
he
will
pick
up
health
and
strength
with
every
returning
hour
.
And
I
hope
my
friend
Dombey
will
do
me
the
favour
to
consider
me
a
man
who
has
a
devilish
warm
admiration
of
his
character
,
as
,
in
point
of
fact
,
a
British
merchant
and
a
devilish
upright
gentleman
.
My
place
in
the
country
is
in
a
most
confounded
state
of
dilapidation
,
but
if
my
friend
Dombey
should
require
a
change
of
air
,
and
would
take
up
his
quarters
there
,
he
would
find
it
a
remarkably
healthy
spot
—
as
it
need
be
,
for
it
's
amazingly
dull
.
If
my
friend
Dombey
suffers
from
bodily
weakness
,
and
would
allow
me
to
recommend
what
has
frequently
done
myself
good
,
as
a
man
who
has
been
extremely
queer
at
times
,
and
who
lived
pretty
freely
in
the
days
when
men
lived
very
freely
,
I
should
say
,
let
it
be
in
point
of
fact
the
yolk
of
an
egg
,
beat
up
with
sugar
and
nutmeg
,
in
a
glass
of
sherry
,
and
taken
in
the
morning
with
a
slice
of
dry
toast
.
Jackson
,
who
kept
the
boxing-rooms
in
Bond
Street
—
man
of
very
superior
qualifications
,
with
whose
reputation
my
friend
Gay
is
no
doubt
acquainted
—
used
to
mention
that
in
training
for
the
ring
they
substituted
rum
for
sherry
.
I
should
recommend
sherry
in
this
case
,
on
account
of
my
friend
Dombey
being
in
an
invalided
condition
;
which
might
occasion
rum
to
fly
—
in
point
of
fact
to
his
head
—
and
throw
him
into
a
devil
of
a
state
.
´
Of
all
this
,
Cousin
Feenix
delivered
himself
with
an
obviously
nervous
and
discomposed
air
.
Then
,
giving
his
arm
to
Florence
,
and
putting
the
strongest
possible
constraint
upon
his
wilful
legs
,
which
seemed
determined
to
go
out
into
the
garden
,
he
led
her
to
the
door
,
and
handed
her
into
a
carriage
that
was
ready
for
her
reception
.
Walter
entered
after
him
,
and
they
drove
away
.
Their
ride
was
six
or
eight
miles
long
.
When
they
drove
through
certain
dull
and
stately
streets
,
lying
westward
in
London
,
it
was
growing
dusk
.
Florence
had
,
by
this
time
,
put
her
hand
in
Walter
's
;
and
was
looking
very
earnestly
,
and
with
increasing
agitation
,
into
every
new
street
into
which
they
turned
.
When
the
carriage
stopped
,
at
last
,
before
that
house
in
Brook
street
,
where
her
father
's
unhappy
marriage
had
been
celebrated
,
Florence
said
,
`
Walter
,
what
is
this
?
Who
is
here
?
´
Walter
cheering
her
,
and
not
replying
,
she
glanced
up
at
the
house-front
,
and
saw
that
all
the
windows
were
shut
,
as
if
it
were
uninhabited
.
Cousin
Feenix
had
by
this
time
alighted
,
and
was
offering
his
hand
.
`
Are
you
not
coming
,
Walter
?
´
`
No
,
I
will
remain
here
.
Do
n't
tremble
!
there
is
nothing
to
fear
,
dearest
Florence
.
´
`
I
know
that
,
Walter
,
with
you
so
near
.
I
am
sure
of
that
,
but
—
—
´
The
door
was
softly
opened
,
without
any
knock
,
and
Cousin
Feenix
led
her
out
of
the
summer
evening
air
into
the
close
dull
house
.
More
sombre
and
brown
than
ever
,
it
seemed
to
have
been
shut
up
from
the
wedding-day
,
and
to
have
hoarded
darkness
and
sadness
ever
since
.
Florence
ascended
the
dusky
staircase
,
trembling
;
and
stopped
,
with
her
conductor
,
at
the
drawing-room
door
.
He
opened
it
,
without
speaking
,
and
signed
an
entreaty
to
her
to
advance
into
the
inner
room
,
while
he
remained
there
.
Florence
,
after
hesitating
an
instant
,
compiled
.
Sitting
by
the
window
at
a
table
,
where
she
seemed
to
have
been
writing
or
drawing
,
was
a
lady
,
whose
head
,
turned
away
towards
the
dying
light
,
was
resting
on
her
hand
.
Florence
advancing
,
doubtfully
,
all
at
once
stood
still
,
as
if
she
had
lost
the
power
of
motion
.
The
lady
turned
her
head
.
`
Great
Heaven
!
´
she
said
,
`
What
is
this
?
´
`
No
,
no
!
´
cried
Florence
,
shrinking
back
as
she
rose
up
and
putting
out
her
hands
to
keep
her
off
.
`
Mama
!
´
They
stood
looking
at
each
other
.
Passion
and
pride
had
worn
it
,
but
it
was
the
face
of
Edith
,
and
beautiful
and
stately
yet
.
It
was
the
face
of
Florence
,
and
through
all
the
terrified
avoidance
it
expressed
,
there
was
pity
in
it
,
sorrow
,
a
grateful
tender
memory
.
On
each
face
,
wonder
and
fear
were
painted
vividly
;
each
so
still
and
silent
,
looking
at
the
other
over
the
black
gulf
of
the
irrevocable
past
.
Florence
was
the
first
to
change
.
Bursting
into
tears
,
she
said
from
her
full
heart
,
`
Oh
,
Mama
,
Mama
!
why
do
we
meet
like
this
?
Why
were
you
ever
kind
to
me
when
there
was
no
one
else
,
that
we
should
meet
like
this
?
´
Edith
stood
before
her
,
dumb
and
motionless
.
Her
eyes
were
fixed
upon
her
face
.
`
I
dare
not
think
of
that
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
I
am
come
from
Papa
's
sick
bed
.
We
are
never
asunder
now
;
we
never
shall
be
,
any
more
.
If
you
would
have
me
ask
his
pardon
,
I
will
do
it
,
Mama
.
I
am
almost
sure
he
will
grant
it
now
,
if
I
ask
him
.
May
Heaven
grant
it
to
you
,
too
,
and
comfort
you
!
´
She
answered
not
a
word
.
`
Walter
—
I
am
married
to
him
,
and
we
have
a
son
,
´
said
Florence
,
timidly
—
`
is
at
the
door
,
and
has
brought
me
here
.
I
will
tell
him
that
you
are
repentant
;
that
you
are
changed
,
´
said
Florence
,
looking
mournfully
upon
her
;
`
and
he
will
speak
to
Papa
with
me
,
I
know
.
Is
there
anything
but
this
that
I
can
do
?
´
Edith
,
breaking
her
silence
,
without
moving
eye
or
limb
,
answered
slowly
:
`
The
stain
upon
your
name
,
upon
your
husband
's
,
on
your
child
's
.
Will
that
ever
be
forgiven
,
Florence
?
´
`
Will
it
ever
be
,
Mama
?
It
is
!
Freely
,
freely
,
both
by
Walter
an
by
me
.
If
that
is
any
consolation
to
you
,
there
is
nothing
that
you
may
believe
more
certainly
.
You
do
not
—
you
do
not
,
´
faltered
Florence
,
`
speak
of
Papa
;
but
I
am
sure
you
wish
that
I
should
ask
him
for
his
forgiveness
.
I
am
sure
you
do
.
´
She
answered
not
a
word
.
`
I
will
!
´
said
Florence
.
`
I
will
bring
it
you
,
if
you
will
let
me
;
and
then
,
perhaps
,
we
may
take
leave
of
each
other
,
more
like
what
we
used
to
be
to
one
another
.
I
have
not
,
´
said
Florence
very
gently
,
and
drawing
nearer
to
her
,
`
I
have
not
shrunk
back
from
you
,
Mama
,
because
I
fear
you
,
or
because
I
dread
to
be
disgraced
by
you
.
I
only
wish
to
do
my
duty
to
Papa
.
I
am
very
dear
to
him
,
and
he
is
very
dear
to
me
.
But
I
never
can
forget
that
your
were
very
good
to
me
.
Oh
,
pray
to
Heaven
,
´
cried
Florence
,
falling
on
her
bosom
,
`
pray
to
Heaven
,
mama
,
to
forgive
you
all
this
sin
and
shame
,
and
to
forgive
me
if
I
cannot
help
doing
this
(
if
it
is
wrong
)
,
when
I
remember
what
you
used
to
be
!
´
Edith
,
as
if
she
fell
beneath
her
touch
,
sunk
down
on
her
knees
,
and
caught
her
round
the
neck
.
`
Florence
!
´
she
cried
.
`
My
better
angel
!
Before
I
am
mad
again
,
before
my
stubbornness
comes
back
and
strikes
me
dumb
,
believe
me
,
upon
my
soul
I
am
innocent
.
´
`
Mama
!
´
`
Guilty
of
much
!
Guilty
of
that
which
sets
a
waste
between
us
evermore
.
Guilty
of
what
must
separate
me
,
through
the
whole
remainder
of
my
life
,
from
purity
and
innocence
—
from
you
,
of
all
the
earth
.
Guilty
of
a
blind
and
passionate
resentment
,
of
which
I
do
not
,
cannot
,
will
not
,
even
now
,
repent
;
but
not
guilty
with
that
dead
man
.
Before
God
!
´
Upon
her
knees
upon
the
ground
,
she
held
up
both
her
hands
,
and
swore
it
.
`
Florence
!
´
she
said
,
`
purest
and
best
of
natures
,
—
whom
I
love
—
who
might
have
changed
me
long
ago
,
and
did
for
a
time
work
some
change
even
in
the
woman
that
I
am
,
—
believe
me
,
I
am
innocent
of
that
;
and
once
more
,
on
my
desolate
heart
,
let
me
lay
this
dear
head
,
for
the
last
time
!
´
She
was
moved
and
weeping
.
Had
she
been
oftener
thus
in
older
days
,
she
had
been
happier
now
.
`
There
is
nothing
else
in
all
the
world
,
´
she
said
,
`
that
would
have
wrung
denial
from
me
.
No
love
,
no
hatred
,
no
hope
,
no
threat
.
I
said
that
I
would
die
,
and
make
no
sign
.
I
could
have
done
so
,
and
I
would
,
if
we
had
never
met
,
Florence
.
´
`
I
trust
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
ambling
in
at
the
door
,
and
speaking
,
half
in
the
room
,
and
half
out
of
it
,
`
that
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
will
excuse
my
having
,
by
a
little
stratagem
,
effected
this
meeting
.
I
cannot
say
that
I
was
,
at
first
,
wholly
incredulous
as
to
the
possibility
of
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
having
,
very
unfortunately
,
committed
herself
with
the
deceased
person
with
white
teeth
;
because
,
in
point
of
fact
,
one
does
see
,
in
this
world
—
which
is
remarkable
for
devilish
strange
arrangements
,
and
for
being
decidedly
the
most
unintelligible
thing
within
a
man
's
experience
—
very
odd
conjunctions
of
that
sort
.
But
as
I
mentioned
to
my
friend
Dombey
,
I
could
not
admit
the
criminality
of
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
until
it
was
perfectly
established
.
And
feeling
,
when
the
deceased
person
was
,
in
point
of
fact
,
destroyed
in
a
devilish
horrible
manner
,
that
her
position
was
a
very
painful
one
—
and
feeling
besides
that
our
family
had
been
a
little
to
blame
in
not
paying
more
attention
to
her
,
and
that
we
are
a
careless
family
—
and
also
that
my
aunt
,
though
a
devilish
lively
woman
,
had
perhaps
not
been
the
very
best
of
mothers
—
I
took
the
liberty
of
seeking
her
in
France
,
and
offering
her
such
protection
as
a
man
very
much
out
at
elbows
could
offer
.
Upon
which
occasion
,
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
did
me
the
honour
to
express
that
she
believed
I
was
,
in
my
way
,
a
devilish
good
sort
of
fellow
;
and
that
therefore
she
put
herself
under
my
protection
.
Which
in
point
of
fact
I
understood
to
be
a
kind
thing
on
the
part
of
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
,
as
I
am
getting
extremely
shaky
,
and
have
derived
great
comfort
from
her
solicitude
.
´
Edith
,
who
had
taken
Florence
to
a
sofa
,
made
a
gesture
with
her
hand
as
if
she
would
have
begged
him
to
say
no
more
.
`
My
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
,
´
resumed
Cousin
Feenix
,
still
ambling
about
at
the
door
,
`
will
excuse
me
,
if
,
for
her
satisfaction
,
and
my
own
,
and
that
of
my
friend
Dombey
,
whose
lovely
and
accomplished
daughter
we
so
much
admire
,
I
complete
the
thread
of
my
observations
.
She
will
remember
that
,
from
the
first
,
she
and
I
have
never
alluded
to
the
subject
of
her
elopement
.
My
impression
,
certainly
,
has
always
been
,
that
there
was
a
mystery
in
the
affair
which
she
could
explain
if
so
inclined
.
But
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
being
a
devilish
resolute
woman
,
I
knew
that
she
was
not
,
in
point
of
fact
,
to
be
trifled
with
,
and
therefore
did
not
involve
myself
in
any
discussions
,
But
observing
lately
,
that
her
accessible
point
did
appear
to
be
a
very
strong
description
of
tenderness
for
the
daughter
of
my
friend
Dombey
,
it
occurred
to
me
that
if
I
could
bring
about
a
meeting
,
unexpected
on
both
sides
,
it
might
lead
to
beneficial
results
.
Therefore
,
we
being
in
London
,
in
the
present
private
way
,
before
going
to
the
South
of
Italy
,
there
to
establish
ourselves
,
in
point
of
fact
,
until
we
go
to
our
long
homes
,
which
is
a
devilish
disagreeable
reflection
for
a
man
,
I
applied
myself
to
the
discovery
of
the
residence
of
my
friend
Gay
—
handsome
man
of
an
uncommonly
frank
disposition
,
who
is
probably
known
to
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
—
and
had
the
happiness
of
bringing
his
amiable
wife
to
the
present
place
.
And
now
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
with
a
real
and
genuine
earnestness
shining
through
the
levity
of
his
manner
and
his
slipshod
speech
,
`
I
do
conjure
my
relative
,
not
to
stop
half
way
,
but
to
set
right
,
as
far
as
she
can
,
whatever
she
has
done
wrong
—
not
for
the
honour
of
her
family
,
not
for
her
own
fame
,
not
for
any
of
those
considerations
which
unfortunate
circumstances
have
induced
her
to
regard
as
hollow
,
and
in
point
of
fact
,
as
approaching
to
humbug
—
but
because
it
is
wrong
,
and
not
right
.
´
Cousin
Feenix
's
legs
consented
to
take
him
away
after
this
;
and
leaving
them
alone
together
,
he
shut
the
door
.
Edith
remained
silent
for
some
minutes
,
with
Florence
sitting
close
beside
her
.
Then
she
took
from
her
bosom
a
sealed
paper
.
`
I
debated
with
myself
a
long
time
,
´
she
said
in
a
low
voice
,
`
whether
to
write
this
at
all
,
in
case
of
dying
suddenly
or
by
accident
,
and
feeling
the
want
of
it
upon
me
.
I
have
deliberated
,
ever
since
,
when
and
how
to
destroy
it
.
Take
it
,
Florence
.
The
truth
is
written
in
it
.
´
`
Is
it
for
Papa
?
´
asked
Florence
.
`
It
is
for
whom
you
will
,
´
she
answered
.
`
It
is
given
to
you
,
and
is
obtained
by
you
.
He
never
could
have
had
it
otherwise
.
´
Again
they
sat
silent
,
in
the
deepening
darkness
.
`
Mama
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
he
has
lost
his
fortune
;
he
has
been
at
the
point
of
death
;
he
may
not
recover
,
even
now
.
Is
there
any
word
that
I
shall
say
to
him
from
you
?
´
`
Did
you
tell
me
,
´
asked
Edith
,
`
that
you
were
very
dear
to
him
?
´
`
Yes
!
´
said
Florence
,
in
a
thrilling
voice
.
`
Tell
him
I
am
sorry
that
we
ever
met
.
´
`
No
more
?
´
said
Florence
after
a
pause
.
`
Tell
him
,
if
he
asks
,
that
I
do
not
repent
of
what
I
have
done
—
not
yet
—
for
if
it
were
to
do
again
to-morrow
,
I
should
do
it
.
But
if
he
is
a
changed
man
—
´
She
stopped
.
There
was
something
in
the
silent
touch
of
Florence
's
hand
that
stopped
her
.
`
—
But
that
being
a
changed
man
,
he
knows
,
now
,
it
would
never
be
.
Tell
him
I
wish
it
never
had
been
.
´
`
May
I
say
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
that
you
grieved
to
hear
of
the
afflictions
he
has
suffered
?
´
`
Not
,
´
she
replied
,
`
if
they
have
taught
him
that
his
daughter
is
very
dear
to
him
.
He
will
not
grieve
for
them
himself
,
one
day
,
if
they
have
brought
that
lesson
,
Florence
.
´
`
You
wish
well
to
him
,
and
would
have
him
happy
.
I
am
sure
you
would
!
´
said
Florence
.
`
Oh
!
let
me
be
able
,
if
I
have
the
occasion
at
some
future
time
,
to
say
so
?
´
Edith
sat
with
her
dark
eyes
gazing
steadfastly
before
her
,
and
did
not
reply
until
Florence
had
repeated
her
entreaty
;
when
she
drew
her
hand
within
her
arm
,
and
said
,
with
the
same
thoughtful
gaze
upon
the
night
outside
:
`
Tell
him
that
if
,
in
his
own
present
,
he
can
find
any
reason
to
compassionate
my
past
,
I
sent
word
that
I
asked
him
to
do
so
.
Tell
him
that
if
,
in
his
own
present
,
he
can
find
a
reason
to
think
less
bitterly
of
me
,
I
asked
him
to
do
so
.
Tell
him
,
that
,
dead
as
we
are
to
one
another
,
never
more
to
meet
on
this
side
of
eternity
,
he
knows
there
is
one
feeling
in
common
between
us
now
,
that
there
never
was
before
.
´
Her
sternness
seemed
to
yield
,
and
there
were
tears
in
her
dark
eyes
.
`
I
trust
myself
to
that
,
´
she
said
,
`
for
his
better
thoughts
of
me
,
and
mine
of
him
.
When
he
loves
his
Florence
most
,
he
will
hate
me
least
.
When
he
is
most
proud
and
happy
in
her
and
her
children
,
he
will
be
most
repentant
of
his
own
part
in
the
dark
vision
of
our
married
life
.
At
that
time
,
I
will
be
repentant
too
—
let
him
know
it
then
—
and
think
that
when
I
thought
so
much
of
all
the
causes
that
had
made
me
what
I
was
,
I
needed
to
have
allowed
more
for
the
causes
that
had
made
him
what
he
was
.
I
will
try
,
then
,
to
forgive
him
his
share
of
blame
.
Let
him
try
to
forgive
me
mine
!
´
`
Oh
Mama
!
´
said
Florence
.
`
How
it
lightens
my
heart
,
even
in
such
a
meeting
and
parting
,
to
hear
this
!
´
`
Strange
words
in
my
own
ears
,
´
said
Edith
,
`
and
foreign
to
the
sound
of
my
own
voice
!
But
even
if
I
had
been
the
wretched
creature
I
have
given
him
occasion
to
believe
me
,
I
think
I
could
have
said
them
still
,
hearing
that
you
and
he
were
very
dear
to
one
another
.
Let
him
,
when
you
are
dearest
,
ever
feel
that
he
is
most
forbearing
in
his
thoughts
of
me
—
that
I
am
most
forbearing
in
my
thoughts
of
him
!
Those
are
the
last
words
I
send
him
!
Now
,
good-bye
,
my
life
!
´
She
clasped
her
in
her
arms
,
and
seemed
to
pour
out
all
her
woman
's
soul
of
love
and
tenderness
at
once
.
`
This
kiss
for
your
child
!
These
kisses
for
a
blessing
on
your
head
!
My
own
dear
Florence
,
my
sweet
girl
,
farewell
!
´
`
To
meet
again
!
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Never
again
!
Never
again
!
When
you
leave
me
in
this
dark
room
,
think
that
you
have
left
me
in
the
grave
.
Remember
only
that
I
was
once
,
and
that
I
loved
you
!
´
And
Florence
left
her
,
seeing
her
face
no
more
,
but
accompanied
by
her
embraces
and
caresses
to
the
last
.
Cousin
Feenix
met
her
at
the
door
,
and
took
her
down
to
Walter
in
the
dingy
dining-room
:
upon
whose
shoulder
she
laid
her
head
weeping
.
`
I
am
devilish
sorry
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
lifting
his
wrist-bands
to
his
eyes
in
the
simplest
manner
possible
,
and
without
the
least
concealment
,
`
that
the
lovely
and
accomplished
daughter
of
my
friend
Dombey
and
amiable
wife
of
my
friend
Gay
,
should
have
had
her
sensitive
nature
so
very
much
distressed
and
cut
up
by
the
interview
which
is
just
concluded
.
But
I
hope
and
trust
I
have
acted
for
the
best
,
and
that
my
honourable
friend
Dombey
will
find
his
mind
relieved
by
the
disclosures
which
have
taken
place
.
I
exceedingly
lament
that
my
friend
Dombey
should
have
got
himself
,
in
point
of
fact
,
into
the
devil
's
own
state
of
conglomeration
by
an
alliance
with
our
family
;
but
am
strongly
of
opinion
that
if
it
had
n't
been
for
the
infernal
scoundrel
Barker
—
man
with
white
teeth
—
everything
would
have
gone
on
pretty
smoothly
.
In
regard
to
my
relative
who
does
me
the
honour
to
have
formed
an
uncommonly
good
opinion
of
myself
,
I
can
assure
the
amiable
wife
of
my
friend
Gay
,
that
she
may
rely
on
my
being
,
in
point
of
fact
,
a
father
to
her
.
And
in
regard
to
the
changes
of
human
life
,
and
the
extraordinary
manner
in
which
we
are
perpetually
conducting
ourselves
,
all
I
can
say
is
,
with
my
friend
Shakespeare
—
man
who
was
n't
for
an
age
but
for
all
time
,
and
with
whom
my
friend
Gay
is
no
doubt
