his presence of mind, when Florence had run up to him, clasped her hands round his neck, kissed his face, and hurried out of the room. He looked round as if to refer the matter to somebody else, but Edith had gone after Florence, instantly.

`Now, confess, my dear Dombey,' said Mrs. Skewton, giving him her hand, `that you never were more surprised and pleased in your life.'

`I never was more surprised,' said Mr. Dombey.

`Nor pleased, my dearest Dombey?' returned Mrs. Skewton, holding up her fan.

`I--yes, I am exceedingly glad to meet Florence here,' said Mr. Dombey. He appeared to consider gravely about it for a moment, and then said, more decidedly, `Yes, I really am very glad indeed to meet Florence here.'

`You wonder how she comes here?' said Mrs. Skewton, `don't you?'

`Edith, perhaps--' suggested Mr. Dombey.

`Ah! wicked guesser!' replied Cleopatra, shaking her head. `Ah! cunning, cunning man! One shouldn't tell these things; your sex, my dear Dombey, are so vain, and so apt to abuse our weaknesses; but you know my open soul--very well; immediately.'

This was addressed to one of the very tall young men who announced dinner.

`But Edith, my dear Dombey,' she continued in a whisper, `when she cannot have you near her--and as I tell her, she cannot expect that always--will at least have near her something or somebody belonging to you. Well, how extremely natural that is! And in this spirit, nothing would keep her from riding off to-day to fetch our darling Florence. Well, how excessively charming that is!'

As she waited for an answer, Mr. Dombey answered, `Eminently so.'

`Bless you, my dear Dombey, for that proof of heart!' cried Cleopatra, squeezing his hand. `But I am growing too serious!Take me down stairs, like an angel, and let us see what these people intend to give us for dinner. Bless you, dear Dombey!'

Cleopatra skipping off her couch with tolerable briskness, after the last benediction, Mr. Dombey took her arm in his and led her ceremoniously down stairs; one of the very tall young men on hire, whose organ of veneration was imperfectly developed, thrusting his tongue into his cheek, for the entertainment of the other very tall young man on hire, as the couple turned into the dining-room.

Florence and Edith were already there, and sitting side by side. Florence would have risen when her father entered, to resign her chair to him; but Edith openly put her hand upon her arm, and Mr. Dombey took an opposite place at the round table.

The conversation was almost entirely sustained by Mrs. Skewton. Florence hardly dared to raise her eyes, lest they should reveal the traces of tears; far less dared to speak; and Edith never uttered one word, unless in answer to a question. Verily, Cleopatra worked hard, for the establishment that was so nearly clutched; and verily it should have been a rich one to reward her!

`And so your preparations are nearly finished at last, my dear Dombey?' said Cleopatra, when the dessert was put upon the table, and the silver-headed butler had withdrawn. `Even the lawyers' preparations!'

`Yes, madam,' replied Mr. Dombey; `the deed of settlement, the professional gentlemen inform me, is now ready, and as I was mentioning to you, Edith has only to do us the favour to suggest her own time for its execution.'