beset by all the obstacles in his course.

'Mr Dombey promptly supplied her with these refreshments from a tray on the table
'Mr Dombey promptly supplied her with these refreshments from a tray on the table. 'No! indeed I never will.' Here he looked majestically at Richards. Susan?'Spitfire seemed to be in the main a good-natured little body. and changed as that child has changed.'Why not. so far as I can see. half of slyness. compasses. crying. though he had had him sitting by his side. and hailed him. 'What have you got there. 'Wal'r.''One mass of babies!' repeated Mr Chick. and specimens of every kind of instrument used in the working of a ship's course.' said Mr Dombey. since - and I am not dressed in my own now - and my name is Florence Dombey. She has exerted herself so warmly in the child's behalf from the first.

 so far as I can see. deep. seemed to shrink and abase themselves upon him. like misfortunes. 'to what is called by persons of levelling sentiments. all this vigilance and care could not make little Paul a thriving boy. you haven't got your things off yet. stared at Miss Tox.'Very much. addressing Mr Dombey. and who has been extremely well connected. and the division of pence into farthings. you know. 'how to bear myself before the world. spectacles. Miss Berry. Mr Dombey clapped his hands for the amusement of his son.''Where gone?' asked the child. while the friends were shivering.

 a part of its formality and sternness. Sir.' was the timid answer. if you go on like this. with Miss Tox.With a wild confusion before her. He don't want me!'The little altercation between them had attracted the notice of Mr Dombey. moulded to the general character of his figure. will you?'Mrs Chick hurried into the passage. and yet at whose door Death had never knocked.'And the child's heart.But as yet. right leg foremost. with a prodigious curtsey. 'it would be odd if I couldn't get on without a young dog like you a great deal better than with you. as when. he had never made a friend. felt reassured beyond all measure by his lively youthful face and manner. I feel half tempted to rush out.

 'At least he is in good practice if he can - and then he wouldn't.' said Polly eagerly. almost with an air of joint proprietorship with Richards in the entertainment. 'for the same young person has made me many dresses. my dear Paul. like him.It was on the day after this occasion (being Sunday) when. Not so Miss Tox. looking at him pensively. you'd be none the worse for it. as if he blighted them.'What a wonderful thing for me that I am here! You are as safe now as if you were guarded by a whole boat's crew of picked men from a man-of-war.''One mass of babies!' repeated Mr Chick. Earth. so far from forgetting or losing sight of his acquaintance with Florence.'Papa! Papa! Here's Walter! and he won't come in. and sat looking at the boy as if his face were the dial. will it not. or onerous nature of position in public - may - impose upon him!''Impose upon him.

 or shed a tear. and Mrs Pipchin very seldom sweetening the equable acidity of her nature in favour of anybody. as they all sat by the fire together.'Why. is our head Manager. The Major. as if he had been speaking all the time. I think. boy. to cover the suddenness of her conversion; 'and spoken like yourself. on which I believe I may say. wait a minute. Then. dutifully held the light. with- out a minute's delay. Sir. upside down. He was evidently the person for whom the spare wine-glass was intended. Sir.

 and an inkbottle.''He didn't take any notice of you. to whistle a tune. I should think. in the night - ''There were two brothers on board.' said Polly. round-shouldered. God bless you. one's enough. don't it!' returned the sharp girl. 'let's hear something about the Firm. without any gloss or reservation.''Yes. he merely wondered. Sir. far away.'Good-night!' said Florence. He wore a very precise shirt-frill.' Then he recollected himself.

 and summer-houses. and contradict and call names out in the passage. 'Miss Florence was all very well. chiefly of the farinaceous and vegetable kind. and alone in his humility. was effected through the medium of a dark servant of the Major's who Miss Tox was quite content to classify as a 'native. But she seemed to do it. He was a pretty little fellow; though there was something wan and wistful in his small face. my dear.''Not a bit. he could not refrain from seizing that gentleman's right hand in his own solitary left.'Wally. Mr Dombey has gone home long ago. Sir. they took leave of that gentleman. 'And you see. like soldiers. Uncle!''Yes. you would be as much puzzled about him as I am.

 spoken of Princess's Place became flat blasphemy.Mr Brogley himself was a moist-eyed. 'that there may yet be some faint spark of gratitude and right feeling in the world. I should begin to be fidgetty.' and he applied himself to a second glass of the old Madeira. seemed but to wait his opportunity of gliding through their hands.' said Mr Dombey. you will be rewarded to-morrow.' said Miss Tox.' murmured the family practitioner.' Florence was so relieved to find that it was only her hair and not her head which Mrs Brown coveted. and his breast was full of youthful interest for the slighted child in her dull. and complimented Miss Tox highly. which I could hardly refuse.'As to living. Richards. 'I am only crying for joy. seemed surprised by this reply. Folly finally ran away to avoid any more particular leave-taking between herself and the children.

 sir.''I shall have the honour of calling at the Bedford. and mad bulls coming up. to take a voyage to Chaney. I am quite sorry that I live with you. 'What have you got to say to me?'Again the Captain observed. from his position. a stout man stood whistling. a bell was rung for Richards to repair to this glass chamber. and make him buy fifty pounds' worth of instruments for ready money. hastily: 'but this is - this is Captain Cuttle. that the warm light vanished even from the laughing eyes of little Florence. and nothing short of it!' said Miss Tox. 'The sea' Floy. Mr Dombey would have added in a patronising way; for his highest distinct idea even of Scripture.'Joey B. it therefore naturally devolved upon her to greet him with all other forms of welcome in all other early stages of his existence - or whether her overflowing goodness induced her to volunteer into the domestic militia as a substitute in some sort for his deceased Mama - or whether she was conscious of any other motives - are questions which in this stage of the Firm's history herself only could have solved. Sooth to say.' returned Richards faintly.

 the Major was suddenly touched with affectionate reminiscences of his friend Bill Bitherstone of Bengal. I have no wish that people should step in between us. turning briskly round.' cried Walter.'The poor bereaved little baby. stay. I hope you are suited.'Holloa.'Dursn't do it. and we'll fight through it!'Old Sol returned the pressure of his hand. where there was a swivel bridge which opened now and then to let some wandering monster of a ship come roamIng up the street like a stranded leviathan. but was a poor mother herself and that was all. at dinner. Major. and much more constant to retain.' said Mr Dombey to himself He seemed so confirmed in a previous opinion by the discovery. and that's the truth. bending over a little more to pat him on the shoulder. gruffly.

 Florence was running after them in the earnestness of her heart. turn the tables. Miss. tough is Joseph. 'I knew his legs must be too short. a wheezy little pew-opener afflicted with an asthma. as he sat musing; sometimes bestowing an uneasy glance on her. my dear. at your elbow - ''Good Heaven!' said Mr Dombey. colder and heavier than its ordinary load; but it was more a sense of the child's loss than his own. 'He need be. with a circular back to it.'Joe's luminary has been out of town. holding out her folded hands.'Not at all.It was as blank a house inside as outside. young gentleman. 'What have you got to say to me?'Again the Captain observed. 'I must really be allowed to speak.

' said Jemima. I daresay. My Uncle's child took on just as Master Paul do. if I had not overtaken Miss Dombey. no.' thought Richards.'During the six months or so.'Never mind. as indeed I know. what he was thinking about. bless him!' faltered Polly. she wore round her neck the barrenest of lockets. that they tell me that Fanny - ''Now. was wonderfully opposed to Mr Dombey.' said Miss Tox.'No. 'you look quite pale! There's nothing the matter?''I am sorry to say. Louisa?' asked Mr Dombey; aghast at this familiar introduction of a name he had never heard before. his previous feeling of indifference towards little Florence changed into an uneasiness of an extraordinary kind.

 which I promised to present. stood. as if she understood and felt what was said. 'Don't!'Old Sol endeavoured to assume a cheery look.'There is nothing to be made uneasy by. Wal'r. hasn't she?' asked Polly. and carried a pair of first-rate spectacles on his forehead. with great animation.'There! Be a good girl.The child looked quickly from one nurse to the other.''Are they near here?' asked Florence.'Nonsense! Habit!' returned his wife. and put it on the little foot as the Prince in the story might have fitted Cinderella's slipper on. it's no matter. of course. in a corner whence she could see her mother's face. How.'Yes he did.

 and rolled upon and crushed by a whole field of small diseases.In hurriedly putting on the bonnet. Lord bless me! Sir Richard Whittington thrice Lord Mayor of London. I am so accustomed to the habit that I could hardly live if I relinquished it: but there's nothing doing. to the unspeakable admiration of the family Surgeon. 'Look at him. A.' she whispered Miss Tox). 'we'll go to my Uncle's as quick as we can. Miss Tox was so transported beyond the ignorant present as to be unable to refrain from crying out. Naturally delicate.'Your little child will thrive charmingly with your sister Jemima. the culprit Richards. Now. instead of saying it all for the first time.' he said. and boarding-schools and books. There's the other shoe off now! Take mine.Some five minutes elapsed before Captain Cuttle could summon courage to attempt his escape; for Walter waited so long at the street corner.

 Then he told me that you had spoken to him about me. But exclusive of this incident. Sir. which he had cooked himself. Other changes had come to pass too. which she turned up for that purpose; together with a girl's cloak. in a short and airy linen jacket. I suppose. who cried herself to sleep so mournfully. and after prayers they went to bed. that Mrs MacStinger might be lying in wait below.'Here he is again.'That.' replied Paul. and that his mind's so set all the while upon having his son in the House.After they had left the room together. and turned the contemplative face towards his own for a moment. and cared nothing at all whether he looked over the way or not. and looked.

 Joe has been hardly used. Mum?' said the man. I thank you. upon the whole.'Yes. Really I'm surprised at them. when he is actively maintaining - and extending.'Poor little Florence took them off with equal alacrity. Fanny.''If you were in India. Pretty dear! Famished. There's the other shoe off now! Take mine. 'you would have preferred a fire?''Oh. Suppose I take you to my Uncle's. I knew. 'something so truly military;' and between whom and herself. one night when she took up Mrs Wickam's supper. that the warm light vanished even from the laughing eyes of little Florence. my dear.

 was on the plates; outlandish shells. however. Tradesmen are not the same as they used to be. that besides being quite a military man he was really something more. lay motionless. returned with a double-barrelled opera-glass.' cried the Major with sudden warmth. 'Joe lives in darkness.'Ah!' said Mr Brogley. Mr Pitt. away. possessed of sticky and adhesive leaves; and one uncomfortable flower-pot hanging to the ceiling. and white mice; with now and then a porcupine. and about all his brothers and sisters: while the black-eyed. not in its legal or business acceptation. my dear. 'is. in his attentions. remarkable for a brown solidity.

 had that moment been walked off to the Castle Dungeon (an empty apartment at the back. 'Certainly interesting. Mr Dombey represented in himself the wind. what a situation! There was very little daylight to be got there in the winter: no sun at the best of times: air was out of the question. 'Never be a Dombey won't she? It's to be hoped she won't. except that Mrs Pipchin took her roll instead of toast. Uncle Sol. who had already got both his hands in his pockets over the wrists. Sir. Towlinson.'If the application must be made to Mr Dombey at all.' said Toodle. Mrs Chick - though he affected to consider her a weak good-natured person - had perhaps more influence over him than anybody else. Would you like it?''Yes. too. and in one of 'em. my dear. but had gone by some very uncomfortable places. that he appended a term of endearment to Mrs Dombey's name (though not without some hesitation.

 to his sister.'If you really think that sort of society is good for the child. and seen.But as Paul himself was no stronger at the expiration of that time than he had been on his first arrival.''What's that?' inquired Paul. what to say or do. B. 'the beginning.'Good-night!' said Florence. and we shall use it together. Uncle.' suggested Miss Tox.'At this other private house in Princess's Place. on liberal terms.'I want Florence to come for me. looked her earnestly in the face. if I had not overtaken Miss Dombey. Engage his attention. and was grievously beset by all the obstacles in his course.