`Why should I not, Major?' said Mr. Dombey.

The Major gave no answer but the horse's cough, and went on eating vigorously.

`She has taken an interest in your household,' said the Major, stopping short again, `and has been a frequent visitor at your house for some time now.'

`Yes,' replied Mr. Dombey with great stateliness, `Miss Tox was originally received there, at the time of Mrs. Dombey's death, as a friend of my sister's; and being a well-behaved person, and showing a liking for the poor infant, she was permitted--I may say encouraged--to repeat her visits with my sister, and gradually to occupy a kind of footing of familiarity in the family. I have,' said Mr. Dombey, in the tone of a man who was making a great and valuable concession, `I have a respect for Miss Tox. She has been so obliging as to render many little services in my house: trifling and insignificant services perhaps, Major, but not to be disparaged on that account: and I hope I have had the good fortune to be enabled to acknowledge them by such attention and notice as it has been in my power to bestow. I hold myself indebted to Miss Tox, Major,' added Mr. Dombey, with a slight wave of his hand, `for the pleasure of your acquaintance.'

`Dombey,' said the Major, warmly: `no! No, Sir! Joseph Bagstock can never permit that assertion to pass uncontradicted. Your knowledge of old Joe, Sir, such as he is, and old Joe's knowledge of you, Sir, had its origin in a noble fellow, Sir--in a great creature, Sir. Dombey!' said the Major, with a struggle which it was not very difficult to parade, his whole life being a struggle against all kinds of apoplectic symptoms, `we knew each other through your boy.'

Mr. Dombey seemed touched, as it is not improbable the Major designed he should be, by this allusion. He looked down and sighed: and the Major, rousing himself fiercely, again said, in reference to the state of mind into which he felt himself in danger of falling, that this was weakness, and nothing should induce him to submit to it.

`Our friend has a remote connexion with that event,' said the Major, `and all the credit that belongs to her, J. B. is willing to give her, Sir. Notwithstanding which, Ma'am,' he added, raising his eyes from his plate, and casting them across Princess's Place, to where Miss Tox was at that moment visible at her window watering her flowers, `you're a scheming jade, Ma'am, and your ambition is a piece of monstrous impudence. If it only made yourself ridiculous, Ma'am,' said the Major, rolling his head at the unconscious Miss Tox, while his starting eyes appeared to make a leap towards her, `you might do that to your heart's content, Ma'am, without any objection, I assure you, on the part of Bagstock.' Here the Major laughed frightfully up in the tips of his ears and in the veins of his head. `But when, Ma'am,' said the Major, `you compromise other people, and generous, unsuspicious people too, as a repayment for their condescension, you stir the blood of old Joe in his body.'

`Major,' said Mr. Dombey, reddening, `I hope you do not hint at anything so absurd on the part of Miss Tox as--'

`Dombey,' returned the Major, `I hint at nothing. But Joey B. has lived in the world, Sir: lived in the world with his eyes open, Sir, and his ears cocked: and Joe tells you, Dombey, that there's a de-vilish artful and ambitious woman over the way.'

Mr. Dombey involuntarily glanced over the way; and an angry glance he sent in that direction, too.

`That's all on such a subject that shall pass the lips of Joseph Bagstock,' said the Major firmly. `Joe is not a talebearer, but there are times when he must speak, when he will speak!--confound your arts, Ma'am,' cried the Major, again apostrophising his fair neighbour, with great ire,--`when the provocation is too strong to admit of his remaining silent.'