his marriage.' The Major ran the representative of the deceased Granger through and through the body with his walking-stick, and went on again, carrying his stick over his shoulder.

`How long is this ago?' asked Mr. Dombey, making another halt.

`Edith Granger, Sir,' replied the Major, shutting one eye, putting his head on one side, passing his cane into his left hand, and smoothing his shirt-frill with his right, `is, at this present time, not quite thirty. And damme, Sir,' said the Major, shouldering his stick once more, and walking on again, `she's a peerless woman!'

`Was there any family?' asked Mr. Dombey presently.

`Yes, Sir' said the Major. `There was a boy.'

Mr. Dombey's eyes sought the ground, and a shade came over his face.

`Who was drowned, Sir,' pursued the Major. `When a child of four or five years old.'

`Indeed?' said Mr. Dombey, raising his head.

`By the upsetting of a boat in which his nurse had no business to have put him,' said the Major. `That's his history. Edith Granger is Edith Granger still; but if tough old Joey B., Sir, were a little younger and a little richer, the name of that immortal paragon should be Bagstock.'

The Major heaved his shoulders, and his cheeks, and laughed more like an over-fed Mephistopheles than ever, as he said the words.

`Provided the lady made no objection, I suppose?' said Mr. Dombey coldly.

`By Gad, Sir,' said the Major, `the Bagstock breed are not accustomed to that sort of obstacle. Though it's true enough that Edith might have married twin-ty times, but for being proud, Sir, Proud.'

Mr. Dombey seemed, by his face, to think no worse of her for that.

`It's a great quality after all,' said the Major. `By the Lord, it's a high quality! Dombey! You are proud yourself, and your friend, Old Joe, respects you for it, Sir.'

With this tribute to the character of his ally, which seemed to be wrung from him by the force of circumstances and the irresistible tendency of their conversation, the Major closed the subject, and glided into a general exposition of the extent to which he had been beloved and doated on by splendid women and brilliant creatures.

On the next day but one, Mr. Dombey and the Major encountered the Honourable Mrs. Skewton and her daughter in the Pump-room; on the day after, they met them again very near the place where they had met them first. After meeting them thus, three or four times in all, it became a point of mere civility to old acquaintances that the Major should go there one evening. Mr. Dombey had to originally intended to pay visits, but on the Major announcing this intention, he said he would have the pleasure of accompanying him. So the Major told the Native to go round before dinner, and say, with his and Mr. Dombey's compliments, that they would have the honour of visiting the ladies that same evening, if the ladies were alone. In answer to which message, the Native brought back a very small note with a very large quantity of scent about it, indited by the Honourable Mrs. Skewton to Major Bagstock, and briefly saying, `You are a shocking bear, and I have a great mind not to forgive you, but if you are very good indeed,' which was underlined, `you may come. Compliments (in which Edith unites) to Mr. Dombey.'

The Honourable Mrs. Skewton and her daughter, Mrs. Granger, resided, while at Leamington, in lodgings that were fashionable enough and dear enough, but rather limited in point of space and conveniences; so