toprepare
Sol
Gills
's
chamber
as
a
place
of
retirement
for
her
immediately
.
He
therefore
hastily
betook
himself
to
the
top
of
the
house
,
and
made
the
best
arrangement
of
it
that
his
imagination
and
his
means
suggested
.
It
was
very
clean
already
;
and
the
Captain
being
an
orderly
man
,
and
accustomed
to
make
things
ship-shape
,
converted
the
bed
into
a
couch
,
by
covering
it
all
over
with
a
clean
white
drapery
.
By
a
similar
contrivance
,
the
Captain
converted
the
little
dressing-table
into
a
species
of
alter
,
on
which
he
set
forth
two
silver
teaspoons
,
a
flower-pot
,
a
telescope
,
his
celebrated
watch
,
a
pocket-comb
,
and
a
song-book
,
as
a
small
collection
of
rarities
,
that
made
a
choice
appearance
.
Having
darkened
the
window
,
and
straightened
the
pieces
of
carpet
on
the
floor
,
the
Captain
surveyed
these
preparations
with
great
delight
,
and
descended
to
the
little
parlour
again
,
to
bring
Florence
to
her
bower
.
Nothing
would
induce
the
Captain
to
believe
that
it
was
possible
for
Florence
to
walk
upstairs
.
If
he
could
have
got
the
idea
into
his
head
,
he
would
have
considered
it
an
outrageous
breach
of
hospitality
to
allow
her
to
do
so
.
Florence
was
too
weak
to
dispute
the
point
,
and
the
Captain
carried
her
up
out
of
hand
,
laid
her
down
,
and
covered
her
with
a
great
watch-coat
.
`
My
lady
lass
!
´
said
the
Captain
,
`
you
're
as
safe
here
as
if
you
was
at
the
top
of
St.
Paul
's
Cathedral
,
with
the
ladder
cast
off
.
Sleep
is
what
you
want
,
afore
all
other
things
,
and
may
you
be
able
to
show
yourself
smart
with
that
there
balsam
for
the
still
small
woice
of
a
wownded
mind
!
When
there
's
anything
you
want
,
my
Heart
's
Delight
,
as
this
here
humble
house
or
town
can
offer
,
pass
the
word
to
Ed'ard
Cuttle
,
as
'll
stand
off
and
on
outside
that
door
,
and
that
there
man
will
wibrate
with
joy
.
´
The
Captain
concluded
by
kissing
the
hand
that
Florence
stretched
out
to
him
,
with
the
chivalry
of
any
old
knight-errant
,
and
walking
on
tip-toe
out
of
the
room
.
Descending
to
the
little
parlour
,
Captain
Cuttle
,
after
holding
a
hasty
council
with
himself
,
decided
to
open
the
shopdoor
for
a
few
minutes
,
and
satisfy
himself
that
now
,
at
all
events
,
there
was
no
one
loitering
about
it
.
Accordingly
he
set
it
open
,
and
stood
upon
the
threshold
,
keeping
a
bright
look-out
,
and
sweeping
the
whole
street
with
his
spectacles
.
`
How
de
do
,
Captain
Gills
?
´
said
a
voice
beside
him
.
The
Captain
,
looking
down
,
found
that
he
had
been
boarded
by
Mr.
Toots
while
sweeping
the
horizon
.
`
How
are
you
,
my
lad
?
´
replied
the
Captain
.
`
Well
,
I
'm
pretty
well
,
thank'ee
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
.
`
You
know
I
'm
never
quite
what
I
could
wish
to
be
,
now
.
I
do
n't
expect
that
I
ever
shall
be
any
more
.
´
Mr.
Toots
never
approached
any
nearer
than
this
to
the
great
theme
of
his
life
,
when
in
conversation
with
Captain
Cuttle
,
on
account
of
the
agreement
between
them
.
`
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
`
if
I
could
have
the
pleasure
of
a
word
with
you
,
it
's
—
it
's
rather
particular
.
´
`
Why
,
you
see
,
my
lad
,
´
replied
the
Captain
,
leading
the
way
into
the
parlour
,
`
I
a
n't
what
you
may
call
exactly
free
this
morning
;
and
therefore
if
you
can
clap
on
a
bit
,
I
should
take
it
kindly
.
´
`
Certainly
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
replied
Mr.
Toots
,
who
seldom
had
any
notion
of
the
Captain
's
meaning
.
`
To
clap
on
,
is
exactly
what
I
could
wish
to
do
.
Naturally
.
´
`
If
so
be
,
my
lad
,
´
returned
the
Captain
,
`
do
it
!
´
The
Captain
was
so
impressed
by
the
possession
of
his
tremendous
secret
—
by
the
fact
of
Miss
Dombey
being
at
that
moment
under
his
roof
,
while
the
innocent
and
unconscious
Toots
sat
opposite
to
him
—
that
a
perspiration
broke
out
on
his
forehead
,
and
he
found
it
impossible
while
slowly
drying
the
same
,
glazed
hat
in
hand
,
to
keep
his
eyes
off
Mr.
Toots
's
face
.
Mr.
Toots
,
who
himself
appeared
to
have
some
secret
reasons
for
being
in
a
nervous
state
,
was
so
unspeakably
disconcerted
by
the
Captain
's
stare
,
that
after
looking
at
him
vacantly
for
some
time
in
silence
,
and
shifting
uneasily
on
his
chair
,
he
said
:
`
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Captain
Gills
,
but
you
do
n't
happen
to
see
anything
particular
in
me
,
do
you
?
´
`
No
,
my
lad
,
´
returned
the
Captain
.
`
No.
´
`
Because
you
know
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
with
a
chuckle
,
`
I
know
I
'm
wasting
away
.
You
need
n't
at
all
mind
alluding
to
that
.
I
—
I
should
like
it
.
Burgess
and
Co.
have
altered
my
measure
,
I
'm
in
that
state
of
thinness
.
It
's
a
gratification
to
me
.
I
—
I
'm
glad
of
it
.
I
—
I
'd
a
great
deal
rather
go
into
a
decline
,
if
I
could
.
I
'm
a
mere
brute
you
know
,
grazing
upon
the
surface
of
the
earth
,
Captain
Gills
.
´
The
more
Mr.
Toots
went
on
in
this
way
,
the
more
the
Captain
was
weighed
down
by
his
secret
,
and
stared
at
him
.
What
with
this
cause
of
uneasiness
,
and
his
desire
to
get
rid
of
Mr.
Toots
,
the
Captain
was
in
such
a
scared
and
strange
condition
,
indeed
,
that
if
he
had
been
in
conversation
with
a
ghost
,
he
could
hardly
have
evinced
greater
discomposure
.
`
But
I
was
going
to
say
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
.
`
Happening
to
be
this
way
early
this
morning
—
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
I
was
coming
to
breakfast
with
you
.
As
to
sleep
,
you
know
,
I
never
sleep
now
.
I
might
be
a
Watchman
,
except
that
I
do
n't
get
any
pay
,
and
he
's
got
nothing
on
his
mind
.
´
`
Carry
on
,
my
lad
!
´
said
the
Captain
,
in
an
admonitory
voice
.
`
Certainly
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
.
`
Perfectly
true
!
Happening
to
be
this
way
early
this
morning
(
an
hour
or
so
ago
)
,
and
finding
the
door
shut
—
´
`
What
!
were
you
waiting
there
,
brother
?
´
demanded
the
Captain
.
`
Not
at
all
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
returned
Mr.
Toots
.
`
I
did
n't
stop
a
moment
.
I
thought
you
were
out
.
But
the
person
said
—
by
the
bye
you
do
n't
keep
a
dog
,
do
you
,
Captain
Gills
?
´
The
Captain
shook
his
head
.
`
To
be
sure
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
`
that
's
exactly
what
I
said
.
I
knew
you
did
n't
.
There
is
a
dog
,
Captain
Gills
,
connected
with
—
but
excuse
me
.
That
's
forbidden
ground
.
´
The
Captain
stared
at
Mr.
Toots
until
he
seemed
to
swell
to
twice
his
natural
size
;
and
again
the
perspiration
broke
out
on
the
Captain
's
forehead
,
when
he
thought
of
Diogenes
taking
it
into
his
head
to
come
down
and
make
a
third
in
the
parlour
.
`
The
person
said
,
´
continued
Mr.
Toots
,
`
that
he
had
heard
a
dog
barking
in
the
shop
:
which
I
knew
could
n't
be
,
and
I
told
him
so
.
But
he
was
as
positive
as
if
he
had
seen
the
dog
.
´
`
What
person
,
my
lad
?
´
inquired
the
Captain
.
`
Why
,
you
see
there
it
is
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Mr.
Toots
,
with
a
perceptible
increase
in
the
nervousness
of
his
manner
.
`
It
's
not
for
me
to
say
what
may
have
taken
place
,
or
what
may
not
have
taken
place
.
Indeed
,
I
do
n't
know
.
I
get
mixed
up
with
all
sorts
of
things
that
I
do
n't
quite
understand
,
and
I
think
there
's
something
rather
weak
in
my
—
in
my
head
,
in
short
.
´
The
Captain
nodded
his
own
,
as
a
mark
of
assent
.
`
But
the
person
said
,
as
we
were
walking
away
,
´
continued
Mr.
Toots
,
`
that
you
knew
what
,
under
existing
circumstances
,
might
occur
—
he
said
“
Might
,
”
very
strongly
—
and
that
if
you
were
requested
to
prepare
yourself
,
you
would
,
no
doubt
,
come
prepared
.
´
`
Person
,
my
lad
!
´
the
Captain
repeated
.
`
I
do
n't
know
what
person
,
I
'm
sure
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
replied
Mr.
Toots
,
`
I
have
n't
the
least
idea
.
But
coming
to
the
door
,
I
found
him
waiting
there
;
and
he
said
was
I
coming
back
again
,
and
I
said
yes
;
and
he
said
did
I
know
you
,
and
I
said
yes
,
I
had
the
pleasure
of
your
acquaintance
—
you
had
given
me
the
pleasure
of
your
acquaintance
,
after
some
persuasion
;
and
he
said
,
if
that
was
the
case
,
would
I
say
to
you
what
I
have
said
,
about
existing
circumstances
and
coming
prepared
,
and
as
soon
as
ever
I
saw
you
,
would
I
ask
you
to
step
round
the
corner
,
if
it
was
only
for
one
minute
,
on
most
important
business
,
to
Mr.
Brogley
's
the
Broker
's
.
Now
,
I
tell
you
what
,
Captain
Gills
—
whatever
it
is
,
I
am
convinced
it
's
very
important
;
and
if
you
like
to
step
round
,
now
,
I
'll
wait
here
till
you
come
back
.
´
The
Captain
,
divided
between
his
fear
of
compromising
Florence
in
some
way
by
not
going
,
and
his
horror
of
leaving
Mr.
Toots
in
possession
of
the
house
with
a
chance
of
finding
out
the
secret
,
was
a
spectacle
of
mental
disturbance
that
even
Mr.
Toots
could
not
be
blind
to
.
But
that
young
gentleman
,
considering
his
nautical
friend
as
merely
in
a
state
of
preparation
for
the
interview
he
was
going
to
have
,
was
quite
satisfied
,
and
did
not
review
his
own
discreet
conduct
without
chuckles
.
At
length
the
Captain
decided
,
as
the
lesser
of
two
evils
,
to
run
round
to
Brogley
's
the
Broker
's
:
previously
locking
the
door
that
communicated
with
the
upper
part
of
the
house
,
and
putting
the
key
in
his
pocket
.
`
If
so
be
,
´
said
the
Captain
to
Mr.
Toots
,
with
not
a
little
shame
and
hesitation
,
`
as
you
'll
excuse
my
doing
of
it
,
brother
.
´
`
Captain
Gills
,
´
returned
Mr.
Toots
,
`
whatever
you
do
,
is
satisfactory
to
me
.
´
The
Captain
thanked
him
heartily
,
and
promising
to
come
back
in
less
that
five
minutes
,
went
out
in
quest
of
the
person
who
had
intrusted
Mr.
Toots
with
this
mysterious
message
.
Poor
Mr.
Toots
,
left
to
himself
,
lay
down
upon
the
sofa
,
little
thinking
who
had
reclined
there
last
,
and
gazing
up
at
the
skylight
and
resigning
himself
to
visions
of
Miss
Dombey
,
lost
all
heed
of
time
and
place
.
It
was
as
well
that
he
did
so
;
for
although
the
Captain
was
not
gone
long
,
he
was
gone
much
longer
than
he
had
proposed
.
When
he
came
back
,
he
was
very
pale
indeed
,
and
greatly
agitated
,
and
even
looked
as
if
he
had
been
shedding
tears
.
He
seemed
to
have
lost
the
faculty
of
speech
,
until
he
had
been
to
the
cupboard
and
taken
a
dram
of
rum
from
the
case-bottle
,
when
he
fetched
a
deep
breath
,
and
sat
down
in
a
chair
with
his
hand
before
his
face
.
`
Captain
Gills
,
´
said
Toots
,
kindly
,
`
I
hope
and
trust
there
's
nothing
wrong
?
´
`
Thank'ee
,
my
lad
,
not
a
bit
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Quite
contrary
.
´
`
You
have
the
appearance
of
being
overcome
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
observed
Mr.
Toots
.
`
Why
,
my
lad
,
I
am
took
aback
,
´
the
Captain
admitted
.
`
I
am
.
´
`
Is
there
anything
I
can
do
,
Captain
Gills
?
´
inquired
Mr.
Toots
.
`
If
there
is
,
make
use
of
me
.
´
The
Captain
removed
his
hand
from
his
face
,
looked
at
him
with
a
remarkable
expression
of
pity
and
tenderness
,
and
took
him
by
the
hand
and
shook
it
hard
.
`
No
,
thank'ee
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Nothing
.
Only
I
'll
take
it
as
a
favour
if
you
'll
part
company
for
the
present
.
I
believe
,
brother
,
´
wringing
his
hand
again
,
`
that
,
after
Wal'r
,
and
on
a
different
model
,
you
're
as
good
a
lad
as
ever
stepped
.
´
`
Upon
my
word
and
honour
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
returned
Mr.
Toots
,
giving
the
Captain
's
hand
a
preliminary
slap
before
shaking
it
again
,
`
it
's
delightful
to
me
to
possess
your
good
opinion
.
Thank'ee
.
´
`
And
bear
hand
and
cheer
up
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
patting
him
on
the
back
.
`
What
!
There
's
more
than
one
sweet
creetur
in
the
world
!
´
`
Not
to
me
,
Captain
Gills
,
´
replied
Mr.
Toots
gravely
.
`
Not
to
me
,
I
assure
you
.
The
state
of
my
feelings
towards
Miss
Dombey
is
of
that
unspeakable
description
,
that
my
heart
is
a
desert
island
,
and
she
lives
in
it
alone
.
I
'm
getting
more
used
up
every
day
,
and
I
'm
proud
to
be
so
.
If
you
could
see
my
legs
when
I
take
my
boots
off
,
you
'd
form
some
idea
of
what
unrequited
affection
is
.
I
have
been
prescribed
bark
,
but
I
do
n't
take
it
,
for
I
do
n't
wish
to
have
any
tone
whatever
given
to
my
constitution
.
I
'd
rather
not
.
This
,
however
,
is
forbidden
ground
.
Captain
Gills
,
good-bye
!
´
Captain
Cuttle
cordially
reciprocating
the
warmth
of
Mr.
Toots
's
farewell
,
locked
the
door
behind
him
,
and
shaking
his
head
with
the
same
remarkable
expression
of
pity
and
tenderness
as
he
had
regarded
him
with
before
,
went
up
to
see
if
Florence
wanted
him
.
There
was
an
entire
change
in
the
Captain
's
face
as
he
went
upstairs
.
He
wiped
his
eyes
with
his
handkerchief
,
and
he
polished
the
bridge
of
his
nose
with
his
sleeve
as
he
had
done
already
that
morning
,
but
his
face
was
absolutely
changed
.
Now
,
he
might
have
been
thought
supremely
happy
;
now
,
he
might
have
been
thought
sad
;
but
the
kind
of
gravity
that
sat
upon
his
features
was
quite
new
to
them
,
and
was
as
great
an
improvement
to
them
as
if
they
had
undergone
some
sublimating
process
.
He
knocked
softly
,
with
his
hook
,
at
Florence
's
door
,
twice
or
thrice
;
but
,
receiving
no
answer
,
ventured
first
to
peep
in
,
and
then
to
enter
:
emboldened
to
take
the
latter
step
,
perhaps
,
by
the
familiar
recognition
of
Diogenes
,
who
,
stretched
upon
the
ground
by
the
side
of
her
couch
,
wagged
his
tail
,
and
winked
his
eyes
at
the
Captain
,
without
being
at
the
trouble
of
getting
up
.
She
was
sleeping
heavily
,
and
moaning
in
her
sleep
;
and
Captain
Cuttle
,
with
a
perfect
awe
of
her
youth
and
beauty
,
and
her
sorrow
,
raised
her
head
,
and
adjusted
the
coat
that
covered
her
,
where
it
had
fallen
off
,
and
darkened
the
window
a
little
more
that
she
might
sleep
on
,
and
crept
out
again
,
and
took
his
post
of
watch
upon
the
stairs
.
All
this
,
with
a
touch
and
tread
as
light
as
Florence
's
own
.
Long
may
it
remain
in
this
mixed
world
a
point
not
easy
of
decision
,
which
is
the
more
beautiful
evidence
of
the
Almighty
's
goodness
—
the
delicate
fingers
that
are
formed
for
sensitiveness
and
sympathy
of
touch
,
and
made
to
minister
to
pain
and
grief
,
or
the
rough
hard
Captain
Cuttle
hand
,
that
the
heart
teaches
,
guides
,
and
softens
in
a
moment
!
Florence
slept
upon
her
couch
,
forgetful
of
her
homelessness
and
orphanage
,
and
Captain
Cuttle
watched
upon
the
stairs
.
A
louder
sob
or
moan
than
usual
,
brought
him
sometimes
to
her
door
;
but
by
degrees
she
slept
more
peacefully
,
and
the
Captain
's
watch
was
undisturbed
.
CHAPTER
XLIX
The
Midshipman
makes
a
Discovery
IT
was
long
before
Florence
awoke
.
The
day
was
in
its
prime
,
the
day
was
in
its
wane
,
and
still
,
uneasy
in
mind
and
body
,
she
slept
on
;
unconscious
of
her
strange
bed
,
of
the
noise
and
turmoil
in
the
street
,
and
of
the
light
that
shone
outside
the
shaded
window
.
Perfect
unconsciousness
of
what
had
happened
in
the
home
that
existed
no
more
,
even
the
deep
slumber
of
exhaustion
could
not
produce
.
Some
undefined
and
mournful
recollection
of
it
,
dozing
uneasily
but
never
sleeping
,
pervaded
all
her
rest
.
A
dull
sorrow
,
like
a
half-lulled
sense
of
pain
,
was
always
present
to
her
;
and
her
pale
cheek
was
oftener
wet
with
tears
than
the
honest
Captain
,
softly
putting
in
his
head
from
time
to
time
at
the
half-closed
door
,
could
have
desired
to
see
it
.
The
sun
was
getting
low
in
the
west
,
and
glancing
out
of
a
red
mist
,
pierced
with
its
rays
opposite
loop-holes
and
pieces
of
fret-work
in
the
spires
of
city
churches
,
as
if
with
golden
arrows
that
struck
through
and
through
them
—
and
far
away
athwart
the
river
and
its
flat
blanks
,
it
was
gleaming
like
a
path
of
fire
—
and
out
at
sea
it
was
irradiating
sails
of
ships
—
and
,
looked
towards
,
from
quiet
churchyards
,
upon
hill-tops
in
the
country
,
it
was
steeping
distant
prospects
in
a
flush
and
glow
that
seemed
to
mingle
earth
and
sky
together
in
one
glorious
suffusion
—
when
Florence
,
opening
her
heavy
eyes
,
lay
at
first
,
looking
without
interest
or
recognition
at
the
unfamiliar
walls
around
her
,
and
listening
in
the
same
regardless
manner
to
the
noises
in
the
street
.
But
presently
she
started
up
upon
her
couch
,
gazed
round
with
a
surprised
and
vacant
look
,
and
recollected
all
.
`
My
pretty
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
knocking
at
the
door
,
`
what
cheer
?
´
`
Dear
friend
,
´
cried
Florence
,
hurrying
to
him
,
`
is
it
you
?
´
The
Captain
felt
so
much
pride
in
the
name
,
and
was
so
pleased
by
the
gleam
of
pleasure
in
her
face
,
when
she
saw
him
,
that
he
kissed
his
hook
,
by
way
of
reply
,
in
speechless
gratification
.
`
What
cheer
,
bright
di'mond
?
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
I
have
surely
slept
very
long
,
´
returned
Florence
.
`
When
did
I
come
here
?
Yesterday
?
´
`
This
here
blessed
day
,
my
lady
lass
,
´
replied
the
Captain
.
`
Has
there
been
no
night
?
Is
it
still
day
?
´
asked
Florence
.
`
Getting
on
for
evening
now
,
my
pretty
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
drawing
back
the
curtain
of
the
window
.
`
See
!
´
Florence
,
with
her
hand
upon
the
Captain
's
arm
,
so
sorrowful
and
timid
,
and
the
Captain
with
his
rough
face
and
burly
figure
,
so
quietly
protective
of
her
,
stood
in
the
rosy
light
of
the
bright
evening
sky
,
without
saying
a
word
.
However
strange
the
form
of
speech
into
which
he
might
have
fashioned
the
feeling
,
if
he
had
had
to
give
it
utterance
,
the
Captain
felt
,
as
sensibly
as
the
most
eloquent
of
men
could
have
done
,
that
there
was
something
in
the
tranquil
time
and
in
its
softened
beauty
that
would
make
the
wounded
heart
of
Florence
overflow
;
and
that
it
was
better
that
such
tears
should
have
their
way
.
So
not
a
word
spake
Captain
Cuttle
.
But
when
he
felt
his
arm
clasped
closer
,
and
when
he
felt
the
lonely
head
come
nearer
to
it
,
and
lay
itself
against
his
homely
coarse
blue
sleeve
,
he
pressed
it
gently
with
his
rugged
hand
,
and
understood
it
,
and
was
understood
.
`
Better
now
,
my
pretty
!
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Cheerily
,
cheerily
;
I
'll
go
down
below
,
and
get
some
dinner
ready
.
Will
you
come
down
of
your
own
self
,
arterwards
,
pretty
,
or
shall
Ed'ard
Cuttle
come
and
fetch
you
?
´
As
Florence
assured
him
that
she
was
quite
able
to
walk
down
stairs
,
the
Captain
,
though
evidently
doubtful
of
his
own
hospitality
in
permitting
it
,
left
her
to
do
so
,
and
immediately
set
about
roasting
a
fowl
at
the
fire
in
the
little
parlour
.
To
achieve
his
cookery
with
the
greater
skill
,
he
pulled
off
his
coat
,
tucked
up
his
wristbands
,
and
put
on
his
glazed
hat
,
without
which
assistant
he
never
applied
himself
to
any
nice
or
difficult
undertaking
.
After
cooling
her
aching
head
and
burning
face
in
the
fresh
water
which
the
Captain
's
care
had
provided
for
her
while
she
slept
,
Florence
went
to
the
little
mirror
to
bind
up
her
disordered
hair
.
Then
she
knew
—
in
a
moment
,
for
she
shunned
it
instantly
—
that
on
her
breast
there
was
the
darkening
mark
of
any
angry
hand
.
Her
tears
burst
forth
afresh
at
the
sight
;
she
was
ashamed
and
afraid
of
it
;
but
it
moved
her
to
no
anger
against
him
.
Homeless
and
fatherless
,
she
forgave
him
everything
;
hardly
thought
that
she
had
need
to
forgive
him
,
or
that
she
did
;
but
she
fled
from
the
idea
of
him
as
she
had
fled
from
the
reality
,
and
he
was
utterly
gone
and
lost
.
There
was
no
such
Being
in
the
world
.
What
to
do
,
or
where
to
live
,
Florence
—
poor
,
inexperienced
girl
!
—
could
not
yet
consider
.
She
had
indistinct
dreams
of
finding
,
a
long
way
off
,
some
little
sisters
to
instruct
,
who
would
be
gentle
with
her
,
and
to
whom
,
under
some
feigned
name
,
she
might
attach
herself
,
and
who
would
grow
up
in
their
happy
home
,
and
marry
,
and
be
good
to
their
old
governess
,
and
perhaps
intrust
her
,
in
time
,
with
the
education
of
their
own
daughters
.
And
she
thought
how
strange
and
sorrowful
it
would
be
,
thus
to
become
a
grey-haired
woman
,
carrying
her
secret
to
the
grave
,
when
Florence
Dombey
was
forgotten
.
But
it
was
all
dim
and
clouded
to
her
now
.
She
only
knew
that
she
had
no
Father
upon
earth
,
and
she
said
so
,
many
times
,
with
her
suppliant
head
hidden
from
all
,
but
her
Father
who
was
in
Heaven
.
Her
little
stock
of
money
amounted
to
but
a
few
guineas
.
With
a
part
of
this
,
it
would
be
necessary
to
buy
some
clothes
,
for
she
had
none
but
those
she
wore
.
She
was
too
desolate
to
think
how
soon
her
money
would
be
gone
—
too
much
a
child
in
worldly
matters
to
be
greatly
troubled
on
that
score
yet
,
even
if
her
other
trouble
had
been
less
.
She
tried
to
calm
her
thoughts
and
stay
her
tears
;
to
quiet
the
hurry
in
her
throbbing
head
,
and
bring
herself
to
believe
that
what
had
happened
were
but
the
events
of
a
few
hours
ago
,
instead
of
weeks
or
months
,
as
they
appeared
;
and
went
down
to
her
kind
protector
.
The
Captain
had
spread
the
cloth
with
great
care
,
and
was
making
some
egg-sauce
in
a
little
saucepan
:
basting
the
fowl
from
time
to
time
during
the
process
with
a
strong
interest
,
as
it
turned
and
browned
on
a
string
before
the
fire
.
Having
propped
Florence
up
with
cushions
on
the
sofa
,
which
was
already
wheeled
into
a
warm
corner
for
her
greater
comfort
,
the
Captain
pursued
his
cooking
with
extraordinary
skill
,
making
hot
gravy
in
a
second
little
saucepan
,
boiling
a
handful
of
potatoes
in
a
third
,
never
forgetting
the
egg-sauce
in
the
first
,
and
making
an
impartial
round
of
basting
and
stirring
with
the
most
useful
of
spoons
every
minute
.
Besides
these
cares
,
the
Captain
had
to
keep
his
eye
on
a
diminutive
fryingpan
,
in
which
some
sausages
were
hissing
and
bubbling
in
a
most
musical
manner
;
and
there
was
never
such
a
radiant
cook
as
the
Captain
looked
,
in
the
height
and
heat
of
these
functions
:
it
being
impossible
to
say
whether
his
face
or
his
glazed
hat
shone
the
brighter
.
The
dinner
being
at
length
quite
ready
,
Captain
Cuttle
dished
and
served
it
up
,
with
no
less
dexterity
than
he
had
cooked
it
.
He
then
dressed
for
dinner
,
by
taking
off
his
glazed
hat
and
putting
on
his
coat
.
That
done
,
he
wheeled
the
table
close
against
Florence
on
the
sofa
,
said
grace
,
unscrewed
his
hook
,
screwed
his
fork
into
its
place
,
and
did
the
honours
of
the
table
.
`
My
lady
lass
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
`
cheer
up
,
and
try
to
eat
a
deal
.
Stand
by
,
my
deary
!
Liver
wing
it
is
.
Sarse
it
is
.
Sassage
it
is
.
And
potato
!
´
all
which
the
Captain
ranged
symmetrically
on
a
plate
,
and
pouring
hot
gravy
on
the
whole
with
the
useful
spoon
,
set
before
his
cherished
guest
.
`
The
whole
row
o
´
dead
lights
is
up
,
for'ard
,
lady
lass
,
´
observed
the
Captain
,
encouragingly
,
`
and
everything
is
made
snug
.
Try
and
pick
a
bit
,
my
pretty
.
If
Wal'r
was
here
—
´
`
Ah
!
If
I
had
him
for
my
brother
now
!
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Do
n't
!
do
n't
take
on
,
my
pretty
!
´
said
the
Captain
,
`
awast
to
obleege
me
!
He
was
your
nat'ral
born
friend
like
,
war
n't
he
,
Pet
?
´
Florence
had
no
words
to
answer
with
.
She
only
said
,
`
Oh
,
dear
,
dear
Paul
!
oh
,
Walter
!
´
`
The
wery
planks
she
walked
on
,
´
murmured
the
Captain
,
looking
at
her
drooping
face
,
`
was
as
high
esteemed
by
Wal'r
,
as
the
water
brooks
is
by
the
hart
which
never
rejices
!
I
see
him
now
,
the
wery
day
as
he
was
rated
on
them
Dombey
books
,
a
speaking
of
her
with
his
face
a
glistening
with
doo
—
leastways
with
his
modest
sentiments
—
like
a
new
blowed
rose
,
at
dinner
.
Well
,
well
!
If
our
poor
Wal'r
was
here
,
my
lady
lass
—
or
if
he
could
be
—
for
he
's
drownded
,
a
n't
he
?
´
Florence
shook
her
head
.
`
Yes
,
yes
;
drownded
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
soothingly
;
`
as
I
was
saying
,
if
he
could
be
here
he
'd
beg
and
pray
of
you
,
my
precious
,
to
pick
a
leetle
bit
,
with
a
look-out
for
your
own
sweet
health
.
Whereby
,
hold
your
own
,
my
lady
lass
,
as
if
it
was
for
Wal'r
's
sake
,
and
lay
your
pretty
head
to
the
wind
.
´
Florence
essayed
to
eat
a
morsel
,
for
the
Captain
's
pleasure
.
The
Captain
,
meanwhile
,
who
seemed
to
have
quite
forgotten
his
own
dinner
,
laid
down
his
knife
and
fork
,
and
drew
his
chair
to
the
sofa
.
`
Wal'r
was
a
trim
lad
,
war
n't
he
,
precious
?
´
said
the
Captain
,
after
sitting
for
some
time
silently
rubbing
his
chin
,
with
his
eyes
fixed
upon
her
,
`
and
a
brave
lad
,
and
a
good
lad
?
´
Florence
tearfully
assented
.
`
And
he
's
drownded
,
Beauty
,
a
n't
he
?
´
said
the
Captain
,
in
a
soothing
voice
.
Florence
could
not
but
assent
again
.
`
He
was
older
than
you
,
my
lady
lass
,
´
pursued
the
Captain
,
`
but
you
was
like
two
children
together
,
at
first
;
war
n't
you
?
´
Florence
answered
`
Yes
.
´
`
And
Wal'r
's
drownded
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
A
n't
he
?
´
The
repetition
of
this
inquiry
was
a
curious
source
of
consolation
,
but
it
seemed
to
be
one
to
Captain
Cuttle
,
for
he
came
back
to
it
again
and
again
.
Florence
,
fain
to
push
from
her
her
untasted
dinner
,
and
to
lie
back
on
her
sofa
,
gave
him
her
hand
,
feeling
that
she
had
disappointed
him
,
though
truly
wishing
to
have
pleased
him
after
all
his
trouble
,
but
he
held
it
in
his
own
(
which
shook
as
he
held
it
)
,
and
appearing
to
have
quite
forgotten
all
about
the
dinner
and
her
want
of
appetite
,
went
on
growling
at
intervals
,
in
a
ruminating
tone
of
sympathy
,
`
Poor
Wal'r
.
Aye
,
aye
!
Drownded
.
A
n't
he
?
´
And
always
waited
for
her
answer
,
in
which
the
great
point
of
these
singular
reflections
appeared
to
consist
.
The
fowl
and
sausages
were
cold
,
and
the
gravy
and
the
egg-sauce
stagnant
,
before
the
Captain
remembered
that
they
were
on
the
board
,
and
fell
to
with
the
assistance
of
Diogenes
,
whose
united
efforts
quickly
dispatched
the
banquet
.
The
Captain
's
delight
and
wonder
at
the
quiet
housewifery
of
Florence
in
assisting
to
clear
the
table
,
arrange
the
parlour
,
and
sweep
up
the
hearth
—
only
to
be
equalled
by
the
fervency
of
his
protest
when
she
began
to
assist
him
—
were
gradually
raised
to
that
degree
,
that
at
last
he
could
not
choose
but
do
nothing
himself
,
and
stand
looking
at
her
as
if
she
were
some
Fairy
,
daintily
performing
these
offices
for
him
;
the
red
rim
on
his
forehead
glowing
again
,
in
his
unspeakable
admiration
.
But
when
Florence
,
taking
down
his
pipe
from
the
mantelshelf
gave
it
into
his
hand
,
and
entreated
him
to
smoke
it
,
the
good
Captain
was
so
bewildered
by
her
attention
that
he
held
it
as
if
he
had
never
held
a
pipe
in
all
his
life
.
Likewise
,
when
Florence
,
looking
into
the
little
cupboard
,
took
out
the
casebottle
and
mixed
a
perfect
glass
of
grog
for
him
,
unasked
,
and
set
it
at
his
elbow
,
his
ruddy
nose
turned
pale
,
he
felt
himself
so
graced
and
honoured
.
When
he
had
filled
his
pipe
in
an
absolute
reverie
of
satisfaction
,
Florence
lighted
it
for
him
—
the
Captain
having
no
power
to
object
,
or
to
prevent
her
—
and
resuming
her
place
on
the
old
sofa
,
looked
at
him
with
a
smile
so
loving
and
so
grateful
,
a
smile
that
showed
him
so
plainly
how
her
forlorn
heart
turned
to
him
,
as
her
face
did
,
through
grief
,
that
the
smoke
of
the
pipe
got
into
the
Captain
's
throat
and
made
him
cough
,
and
got
into
the
Captain
's
eyes
,
and
made
them
blink
and
water
.
The
manner
in
which
the
Captain
tried
to
make
believe
that
the
cause
of
these
effects
lay
hidden
in
the
pipe
itself
,
and
the
way
in
which
he
looked
into
the
bowl
for
it
,
and
not
finding
it
there
,
pretended
to
blow
it
out
of
the
stem
,
was
wonderfully
pleasant
.
The
pipe
soon
getting
into
better
condition
,
he
fell
into
that
state
of
repose
becoming
a
good
smoker
;
but
sat
with
his
eyes
fixed
on
Florence
,
and
,
with
a
beaming
placidity
not
to
be
described
,
and
stopping
every
now
and
then
to
discharge
a
little
cloud
from
his
lips
,
slowly
puffed
it
forth
,
as
if
it
were
a
scroll
coming
out
of
his
mouth
,
bearing
the
legend
`
Poor
Wal'r
,
aye
,
aye
.
Drownded
,
a
n't
he
?
´
after
which
he
would
resume
his
smoking
with
infinite
gentleness
.
Unlike
as
they
were
externally
—
and
there
could
scarcely
be
a
more
decided
contrast
than
between
Florence
in
her
delicate
youth
and
beauty
,
and
Captain
Cuttle
with
his
knobby
face
,
his
great
broad
weather-beaten
person
,
and
his
gruff
voice
—
in
simple
innocence
of
the
world
's
ways
and
the
world
's
perplexities
and
dangers
,
they
were
nearly
on
a
level
.
No
child
could
have
surpassed
Captain
Cuttle
in
inexperience
of
everything
but
wind
and
weather
;
in
simplicity
,
credulity
,
and
generous
trustfulness
.
Faith
,
hope
,
and
charity
,
shared
his
whole
nature
among
them
.
An
odd
sort
of
romance
,
perfectly
unimaginative
,
yet
perfectly
unreal
,
and
subject
to
no
considerations
of
worldly
prudence
or
practicability
,
was
the
only
partner
they
had
in
his
character
.
As
the
Captain
sat
,
and
smoked
,
and
looked
at
Florence
,
God
knows
what
impossible
pictures
,
in
which
she
was
the
principal
figure
,
presented
themselves
to
his
mind
.
Equally
vague
and
uncertain
,
though
not
so
sanguine
,
were
her
own
thoughts
of
the
life
before
her
;
and
even
as
her
tears
made
prismatic
colours
in
the
light
she
gazed
at
so
,
through
her
new
and
heavy
grief
,
she
already
saw
a
rainbow
faintly
shining
in
the
far-off
sky
.
A
wandering
princess
and
a
good
monster
in
a
story-book
might
have
sat
by
the
fireside
,
and
talked
as
Captain
Cuttle
and
poor
Florence
thought
—
and
not
have
looked
very
much
unlike
them
.
The
Captain
was
not
troubled
with
the
faintest
idea
of
any
difficulty
in
retaining
Florence
,
or
of
any
responsibility
thereby
incurred
.
Having
put
up
the
shutters
and
locked
the
door
,
he
was
quite
satisfied
on
this
head
.
If
she
had
been
a
Ward
in
Chancery
,
it
would
have
made
no
difference
at
all
to
Captain
Cuttle
.
He
was
the
last
man
in
the
world
to
be
troubled
by
any
such
considerations
.
So
the
Captain
smoked
his
pipe
very
comfortably
,
and
Florence
and
he
meditated
after
their
own
manner
.
When
the
pipe
was
out
,
they
had
some
tea
;
and
then
Florence
entreated
him
to
take
her
to
some
neighbouring
shop
,
where
she
could
buy
the
few
necessaries
she
immediately
wanted
.
It
being
quite
dark
,
the
Captain
consented
;
peeping
carefully
out
first
,
as
he
had
been
wont
to
do
in
his
time
of
hiding
from
Mrs.
MacStinger
;
and
arming
himself
with
his
large
stick
,
in
case
of
an
appeal
to
arms
being
rendered
necessary
by
any
unforeseen
circumstance
.
The
pride
Captain
Cuttle
had
,
in
giving
his
arm
to
Florence
,
and
escorting
her
some
two
or
three
hundred
yards
,
keeping
a
bright
look-out
all
the
time
,
and
attracting
the
attention
of
every
one
who
passed
them
,
by
his
great
vigilance
and
numerous
precautions
,
was
extreme
.
Arrived
at
the
shop
,
the
Captain
felt
it
a
point
of
delicacy
to
retire
during
the
making
of
the
purchases
,
as
they
were
to
consist
of
wearing
apparel
;
but
he
previously
deposited
his
tin
canister
on
the
counter
,
and
informing
the
young
lady
of
the
establishment
that
it
contained
fourteen
pound
two
,
requested
her
,
in
case
that
amount
of
property
should
not
be
sufficient
to
defray
the
expenses
of
his
niece
's
little
outfit
—
at
the
word
`
niece
,
´
he
bestowed
a
most
significant
look
on
Florence
,
accompanied
with
pantomime
,
expressive
of
sagacity
and
mystery
—
to
have
the
goodness
to
`
sing
out
,
´
and
he
would
make
up
the
difference
from
his
pocket
.
Casually
consulting
his
big
watch
,
as
a
deep
means
of
dazzling
the
establishment
,
and
impressing
it
with
a
sense
of
property
,
the
Captain
then
kissed
his
hook
to
his
niece
,
and
retired
outside
the
window
,
where
it
was
a
choice
sight
to
see
his
great
face
looking
in
from
time
to
time
,
among
the
silks
and
ribbons
,
with
an
obvious
misgiving
that
Florence
had
been
spirited
away
by
a
back
door
.
`
Dear
Captain
Cuttle
,
´
said
Florence
,
when
she
came
out
with
a
parcel
,
the
size
of
which
greatly
disappointed
the
Captain
,
who
had
expected
to
see
a
porter
following
with
a
bale
of
goods
,
`
I
do
n't
want
this
money
,
indeed
.
I
have
not
spent
any
of
it
.
I
have
money
of
my
own
.
´
`
My
lady
lass
,
´
returned
the
baffled
Captain
,
looking
straight
down
the
street
before
them
,
`
take
care
on
it
for
me
,
will
you
be
so
good
,
till
such
time
as
I
ask
ye
for
it
?
´
`
May
I
put
it
back
in
its
usual
place
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
and
keep
it
there
?
´
The
Captain
was
not
at
all
gratified
by
this
proposal
,
but
he
answered
,
`
Aye
,
aye
,
put
it
anywheres
,
my
lady
lass
,
so
long
as
you
know
where
to
find
it
again
.
It
a
n't
o
´
no
use
to
me
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
I
wonder
I
have
n't
chucked
it
away
afore
now
.
´
The
Captain
was
quite
disheartened
for
the
moment
,
but
he
revived
at
the
first
touch
of
Florence
's
arm
,
and
they
returned
with
the
same
precautions
as
they
had
come
;
the
Captain
opening
the
door
of
the
little
Midshipman
's
berth
,
and
diving
in
,
with
a
suddenness
which
his
great
practice
only
could
have
taught
him
.
During
Florence
's
slumber
in
the
morning
,
he
had
engaged
the
daughter
of
an
elderly
lady
,
who
usually
sat
under
a
blue
umbrella
in
Leadenhall
Market
,
selling
poultry
,
to
come
and
put
her
room
in
order
,
and
render
her
any
little
services
she
required
;
and
this
damsel
now
appearing
,
Florence
found
everything
about
her
as
convenient
and
orderly
,
if
not
as
handsome
,
as
in
the
terrible
dream
she
had
once
called
Home
.
When
they
were
alone
again
,
the
Captain
insisted
on
her
eating
a
slice
of
dry
toast
,
and
drinking
a
glass
of
spiced
negus
(
which
he
made
to
perfection
)
;
and
,
encouraging
her
with
every
kind
word
and
inconsequential
quotation
he
could
possibly
think
of
,
led
her
upstairs
to
her
bedroom
.
But
he
too
had
something
on
his
mind
,
and
was
not
easy
in
his
manner
.
`
Good
night
,
dear
heart
,
´
said
Captain
Cuttle
to
her
at
her
chamber-door
.
Florence
raised
his
lips
to
his
face
,
and
kissed
him
.
At
any
other
time
the
Captain
would
have
been
overbalanced
by
such
a
token
of
her
affection
and
gratitude
;
but
now
,
although
he
was
very
sensible
of
it
,
he
looked
in
her
face
with
even
more
uneasiness
than
he
had
testified
before
,
and
seemed
unwilling
to
leave
her
.
`
Poor
Wal'r
!
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Poor
,
poor
Walter
!
´
sighed
Florence
.
`
Drownded
,
a
n't
he
?
´
said
the
Captain
.
Florence
shook
her
head
,
and
sighed
.
`
Good
night
,
my
lady
lass
!
´
said
Captain
Cuttle
,
putting
out
his
hand
.
`
God
bless
you
,
dear
,
kind
friend
!
´
But
the
Captain
lingered
still
.
`
Is
anything
the
matter
,
dear
Captain
Cuttle
?
´
said
Florence
,
easily
alarmed
in
her
then
state
of
mind
.
`
Have
you
anything
to
tell
me
?
´
`
To
tell
you
,
lady
lass
!
´
replied
the
Captain
,
meeting
her
eyes
in
confusion
.
`
No
,
no
;
what
should
I
have
to
tell
you
,
pretty
!
You
do
n't
expect
as
I
've
got
anything
good
to
tell
you
,
sure
?
´
`
No
!
´
said
Florence
,
shaking
her
head
.
The
Captain
looked
at
her
wistfully
,
and
repeated
`
No
,
'
—
still
lingering
,
and
still
showing
embarrassment
.
`
Poor
Wal'r
!
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
My
Wal'r
,
as
I
used
to
call
you
!
Old
Sol
Gills
's
nevy
!
Welcome
to
all
as
knowed
you
,
as
the
flowers
in
May
!
Where
are
you
got
to
,
brave
boy
?
Drownded
,
a
n't
he
?
´
Concluding
his
apostrophe
with
this
abrupt
appeal
to
Florence
,
the
Captain
bade
her
good
night
,
and
descended
the
stairs
,
while
Florence
remained
at
the
top
,
holding
the
candle
out
to
light
him
down
.
He
was
lost
in
the
obscurity
,
and
,
judging
from
the
sound
of
his
receding
footsteps
,
was
in
the
act
of
turning
into
the
little
parlour
,
when
his
head
and
shoulders
unexpectedly
emerged
again
,
as
from
the
deep
,
apparently
for
no
other
purpose
than
to
repeat
,
`
Drownded
,
a
n't
he
,
pretty
?
´
For
when
he
had
said
that
in
a
tone
of
tender
condolence
,
he
disappeared
.
Florence
was
very
sorry
that
she
should
unwittingly
,
though
naturally
,
have
awakened
these
associations
in
the
mind
of
her
protector
,
by
taking
refuge
there
;
and
sitting
down
before
the
little
table
where
the
Captain
had
arranged
the
telescope
and
song-book
,
and
those
other
rarities
,
thought
of
Walter
,
and
of
all
that
was
connected
with
him
in
the
past
,
until
she
could
have
almost
wished
to
lie
down
on
her
bed
and
fade
away
.
But
in
her
lonely
yearning
to
the
dead
whom
she
had
loved
,
no
thought
of
home
—
no
possibility
of
going
back
—
no
presentation
of
it
as
yet
existing
,
or
as
sheltering
her
father
—
once
entered
her
thoughts
.
She
had
seen
the
murder
done
.
In
the
last
lingering
natural
aspect
in
which
she
had
cherished
him
through
so
much
,
he
had
been
torn
out
of
her
heart
,
defaced
,
and
slain
.
The
thought
of
it
was
so
appalling
to
her
,
that
she
covered
her
eyes
,
and
shrunk
trembling
from
the
least
remembrance
of
the
deed
,
or
of
the
cruel
hand
that
did
it
.
If
her
fond
heart
could
have
held
his
image
after
that
,
it
must
have
broken
;
but
it
could
not
;
and
the
void
was
filled
with
a
wild
dread
that
fled
from
all
confronting
with
its
shattered
fragments
—
with
such
a
dread
as
could
have
risen
out
of
nothing
but
the
depths
of
such
a
love
,
so
wronged
.
She
dared
not
look
into
the
glass
;
for
the
sight
of
the
darkening
mark
upon
her
bosom
made
her
afraid
of
herself
,
as
if
she
bore
about
her
something
wicked
.
She
covered
it
up
,
with
a
hasty
,
faltering
hand
,
and
in
the
dark
;
and
laid
her
weary
head
down
,
weeping
.
The
Captain
did
not
go
to
bed
for
a
long
time
.
He
walked
to
and
fro
in
the
shop
and
in
the
little
parlour
,
for
a
full
hour
,
and
,
appearing
to
have
composed
himself
by
that
exercise
,
sat
down
with
a
grave
and
thoughtful
face
,
and
read
out
of
a
Prayer-book
the
forms
of
prayer
appointed
to
be
used
at
sea
.
These
were
not
easily
disposed
of
;
the
good
Captain
being
a
mighty
slow
,
gruff
reader
,
and
frequently
stopping
at
a
hard
word
to
give
himself
such
encouragement
as
`
Now
,
my
lad
!
With
a
will
!
´
or
,
`
Steady
,
Ed'ard
Cuttle
,
steady
!
´
which
had
a
great
effect
in
helping
him
out
of
any
difficulty
.
Moreover
,
his
spectacles
greatly
interfered
with
his
powers
of
vision
.
But
notwithstanding
these
drawbacks
,
the
Captain
,
being
heartily
in
earnest
,
read
the
service
to
the
very
last
line
,
and
with
genuine
feeling
too
;
and
approving
of
it
very
much
when
he
had
done
,
turned
in
under
the
counter
(
but
not
before
he
had
been
upstairs
,
and
listened
at
Florence
's
door
)
,
with
a
serene
breast
,
and
a
most
benevolent
visage
.
The
Captain
turned
out
several
times
in
the
course
of
the
night
,
to
assure
himself
that
his
charge
was
resting
quietly
;
and
once
,
at
daybreak
,
found
that
she
was
awake
:
for
she
called
to
know
if
it
were
he
,
on
hearing
footsteps
near
her
door
.
`
Yes
,
my
lady
lass
,
´
replied
the
Captain
,
in
a
growling
whisper
.
`
Are
you
all
right
,
di'mond
?
´
Florence
thanked
him
,
and
said
`
Yes
.
´
The
Captain
could
not
lose
so
favourable
an
opportunity
of
applying
his
mouth
to
the
keyhole
,
and
calling
through
it
,
like
a
hoarse
breeze
,
`
Poor
Wal'r
!
Drownded
,
a
n't
he
?
´
After
which
he
withdrew
,
and
turning
in
again
,
slept
till
seven
o'clock
.
Nor
was
he
free
from
his
uneasy
and
embarrassed
manner
all
that
day
;
though
Florence
,
being
busy
with
her
needle
in
the
little
parlour
,
was
more
calm
and
tranquil
than
she
had
been
on
the
day
preceding
.
Almost
always
when
she
raised
her
eyes
from
her
work
,
she
observed
the
Captain
looking
at
her
,
and
thoughtfully
stroking
his
chin
;
and
he
so
often
hitched
his
arm-chair
close
to
her
,
as
if
he
were
going
to
say
something
very
confidential
,
and
hitched
it
away
again
,
as
not
being
able
to
make
up
his
mind
how
to
begin
,
that
in
the
course
of
the
day
he
cruised
completely
round
the
parlour
in
that
frail
bark
,
and
more
than
once
went
ashore
against
the
wainscot
or
the
closet
door
,
in
a
very
distressed
condition
.
It
was
not
until
the
twilight
that
Captain
Cuttle
,
fairly
dropping
anchor
,
at
last
,
by
the
side
of
Florence
,
began
to
talk
at
all
connectedly
.
But
when
the
light
of
the
fire
was
shining
on
the
walls
and
ceiling
of
the
little
room
,
and
on
the
teaboard
and
the
cups
and
saucers
that
were
ranged
upon
the
table
,
and
on
her
calm
face
turned
towards
the
flame
,
and
reflecting
it
in
the
tears
that
filled
her
eyes
,
the
Captain
broke
a
long
silence
thus
:
`
You
never
was
at
sea
,
my
own
?
´
`
No
,
´
replied
Florence
.
`
Aye
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
reverentially
;
`
it
's
a
almighty
element
.
There
's
wonders
in
the
deep
,
my
pretty
.
Think
on
it
when
the
winds
is
roaring
and
the
waves
is
rowling
.
Think
on
it
when
the
stormy
nights
is
so
pitch
dark
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
solemnly
holding
up
his
hook
,
`
as
you
ca
n't
see
your
hand
afore
you
,
excepting
when
the
wiwid
lightning
reweals
the
same
;
and
when
you
drive
,
drive
,
drive
through
the
storm
and
dark
,
as
if
you
was
a
driving
,
head
on
,
to
the
world
without
end
,
evermore
,
amen
,
and
when
found
making
a
note
of
.
Them
's
the
times
,
my
beauty
,
when
a
man
may
say
to
his
messmate
(
previously
a
overhauling
of
the
wollume
)
,
“
A
stiff
nor'wester
's
blowing
,
Bill
;
hark
do
n't
you
hear
it
roar
now
!
Lord
help
'
em
,
how
I
pitys
all
unhappy
folks
ashore
now
!
”
´
Which
quotation
,
as
particularly
applicable
to
the
terrors
of
the
ocean
,
the
Captain
delivered
in
a
most
impressive
manner
,
concluding
with
a
sonorous
`
Stand
by
!
´
`
Were
you
ever
in
a
dreadful
storm
?
´
asked
Florence
.
`
Why
aye
,
my
lady
lass
,
I
've
seen
my
share
of
bad
weather
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
tremulously
wiping
his
head
,
`
and
I
've
had
my
share
of
knocking
about
;
but
—
but
it
a
n't
myself
as
I
was
a
meaning
to
speak
.
Our
dear
boy
,
´
drawing
closer
to
her
,
`
Wal'r
,
darling
,
as
was
drownded
.
´
The
Captain
spoke
in
such
a
trembling
voice
,
and
looked
at
Florence
with
a
face
so
pale
and
agitated
,
that
she
clung
to
his
hand
in
affright
.
`
Your
face
is
changed
,
´
cried
Florence
.
`
You
are
altered
in
a
moment
.
What
is
it
?
Dear
Captain
Cuttle
,
it
turns
me
cold
to
see
you
!
´
`
What
!
Lady
lass
,
´
returned
the
Captain
,
supporting
her
with
his
hand
,
`
do
n't
be
took
aback
.
No
,
no
!
All
's
well
,
all
's
well
,
my
dear
.
As
I
was
a
saying
—
Wal'r
—
he
's
—
he
's
drownded
.
A
n't
he
?
´
Florence
looked
at
him
intently
;
her
colour
came
and
went
;
and
she
laid
her
hand
upon
her
breast
.
`
There
's
perils
and
dangers
on
the
deep
,
my
beauty
,
´
said
the
Captain
;
`
and
over
many
a
brave
ship
,
and
many
and
many
a
bould
heart
,
the
secret
waters
has
closed
up
,
and
never
told
no
tales
.
But
there
's
escapes
upon
the
deep
,
too
,
and
sometimes
one
man
out
of
a
score
,
—
ah
!
maybe
out
of
a
hundred
,
pretty
,
—
has
been
saved
by
the
mercy
of
God
,
and
come
home
after
being
given
over
for
dead
,
and
told
of
all
hands
lost
.
I
—
I
know
a
story
,
Heart
's
Delight
,
´
stammered
the
Captain
,
`
o'this
natur
,
as
was
told
to
me
once
;
and
being
on
this
here
tack
,
and
you
and
me
sitting
alone
by
the
fire
,
maybe
you
'd
like
to
hear
me
tell
it
.
Would
you
,
deary
?
´
Florence
,
trembling
with
an
agitation
which
she
could
not
control
or
understand
,
involuntarily
followed
his
glance
,
which
went
behind
her
into
the
shop
,
where
a
lamp
was
burning
.
The
instant
that
she
turned
her
head
,
the
Captain
sprung
out
of
his
chair
,
and
interposed
his
hand
.
`
There
's
nothing
there
,
my
beauty
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Do
n't
look
there
.
´
`
Why
not
?
´
asked
Florence
.
The
Captain
murmured
something
about
its
being
dull
that
way
,
and
about
the
fire
being
cheerful
.
He
drew
the
door
ajar
,
which
had
been
standing
open
until
now
,
and
resumed
his
seat
.
Florence
followed
him
with
her
eyes
,
and
looked
intently
in
his
face
.
`
The
story
was
about
a
ship
,
my
lady
lass
,
´
began
the
Captain
,
`
as
sailed
out
of
the
Port
of
London
,
with
a
fair
wind
and
in
fair
weather
,
bound
for
—
do
n't
be
took
aback
,
my
lady
lass
,
she
was
only
out'ard
bound
,
pretty
,
only
out'ard
bound
!
´
The
expression
on
Florence
's
face
alarmed
the
Captain
,
who
was
himself
very
hot
and
flurried
,
and
showed
scarcely
less
agitation
than
she
did
.
`
Shall
I
go
on
,
Beauty
?
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Yes
,
yes
,
pray
!
´
cried
Florence
.
The
Captain
made
a
gulp
as
if
to
get
down
something
that
was
sticking
in
his
throat
,
and
nervously
proceeded
:
`
That
there
unfort'nate
ship
met
with
such
foul
weather
,
out
at
sea
,
as
do
n't
blow
once
in
twenty
year
,
my
darling
.
There
was
hurricanes
ashore
as
tore
up
forests
and
blowed
down
towns
,
and
there
was
gales
at
sea
in
them
latitudes
,
as
not
the
stoutest
wessel
ever
launched
could
live
in
.
Day
arter
day
that
there
unfort'nate
ship
behaved
noble
,
I
'm
told
,
and
did
her
duty
brave
,
my
pretty
,
but
at
one
blow
a'most
her
bulwarks
was
stove
in
,
her
masts
and
rudder
carried
away
,
her
best
men
swept
overboard
,
and
she
left
to
the
mercy
of
the
storm
as
had
no
mercy
but
blowed
harder
and
harder
yet
,
while
the
waves
dashed
over
her
,
and
beat
her
in
,
and
every
time
they
come
a
thundering
at
her
,
broke
her
like
a
shell
.
Every
black
spot
in
every
mountain
of
water
that
rolled
away
was
a
bit
o
'
the
ship
's
life
or
a
living
man
,
and
so
she
went
to
pieces
,
Beauty
,
and
no
grass
will
never
grow
upon
the
graves
of
them
as
manned
that
ship
.
´
`
They
were
not
all
lost
!
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Some
were
saved
!
—
Was
one
?
´
`
Aboard
o
´
that
there
unfort'nate
wessel
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
rising
from
his
chair
,
and
clenching
his
hand
with
prodigious
energy
and
exultation
,
`
was
a
lad
,
a
gallant
lad
—
as
I
've
heerd
tell
—
that
had
loved
,
when
he
was
a
boy
,
to
read
and
talk
about
brave
actions
in
shipwrecks
—
I
've
heerd
him
!
I
've
heerd
him
!
—
and
he
remembered
of
'
em
in
his
hour
of
need
;
for
when
the
stoutest
hearts
and
oldest
hands
was
hove
down
,
he
was
firm
and
cheery
.
It
war
n't
the
want
of
objects
to
like
and
love
ashore
that
gave
him
courage
,
it
was
his
nat'ral
mind
.
I
've
seen
it
in
his
face
,
when
he
was
no
more
than
a
child
—
aye
,
many
a
time
!
—
and
when
I
thought
it
nothing
but
his
good
looks
,
bless
him
!
´
`
And
was
he
saved
!
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Was
he
saved
!
´
`
That
brave
lad
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
—
`
look
at
me
,
pretty
!
Do
n't
look
round
—
´
Florence
had
hardly
power
to
repeat
,
`
Why
not
?
´
`
Because
there
's
nothing
there
,
my
deary
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Do
n't
be
took
aback
,
pretty
creetur
!
Do
n't
,
for
the
sake
of
Wal'r
,
as
was
dear
to
all
on
us
!
That
there
lad
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
`
arter
working
with
the
best
,
and
standing
by
the
faint-hearted
,
and
never
making
no
complaint
nor
sign
of
fear
,
and
keeping
up
a
spirit
in
all
hands
that
made
'
em
honour
him
as
if
he
'd
been
a
admiral
—
that
lad
,
along
with
the
secondmate
and
one
seaman
,
was
left
,
of
all
the
beatin
'
hearts
that
went
aboard
that
ship
,
the
only
living
creeturs
—
lashed
to
a
fragment
of
the
wreck
,
and
driftin
´
on
the
stormy
sea
.
´
`
Were
they
saved
?
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Days
and
nights
they
drifted
on
them
endless
waters
,
´
said
the
Captain
,
`
until
at
last
—
No
!
Do
n't
look
that
way
,
pretty
!
—
a
sail
bore
down
upon
'
em
,
and
they
was
,
by
the
Lord
's
mercy
,
took
aboard
:
two
living
and
one
dead
.
´
`
Which
of
them
was
dead
?
´
cried
Florence
.
`
Not
the
lad
I
speak
on
,
´
said
the
Captain
.
`
Thank
God
!
oh
thank
God
!
´
`
Amen
!
´
returned
the
Captain
hurriedly
.
`
Do
n't
be
took
aback
!
A
minute
more
,
my
lady
lass
!
with
a
good
heart
!
—
aboard
that
ship
,
they
went
a
long
voyage
,
right
away
across
the
chart
(
for
there
war
n't
no
touching
nowhere
)
,
and
on
that
voyage
the
seaman
as
was
picked
up
with
dim
died
.
But
he
was
spared
,
and
—
—
´
The
Captain
,
without
knowing
what
