Florence received this intimation with the prettiest expression of perplexity possible.

`I mean,' said Mr. Toots, `that I shall consider it my duty as a fellow-creature generally, until I am claimed by the silent tomb, to make the best of myself, and to--to have my boots as brightly polished, as--as circumstances will admit of. This is the last time, Miss Dombey, of my intruding any observation of a private and personal nature. I thank you very much indeed. If I am not, in a general way, as sensible as my friends could wish me to be, or as I could wish myself, I really am, upon my word and honour, particularly sensible of what is considerate and kind. I feel,' said Mr. Toots, in an impassioned tone, `as if I could express my feelings, at the present moment, in a most remarkable manner, if--if--I could only get a start.'

Appearing not to get it, after waiting a minute or two to see if it would come, Mr. Toots, took a hasty leave, and went below to seek the Captain, whom he found in the shop.

`Captain Gills,' said Mr. Toots, `what is now to take place between us, takes place under the sacred seal of confidence. It is the sequel, Captain Gills, of what has taken place between myself and Miss Dombey, up stairs.'

`Alow and aloft, eh, my lad?' murmured the Captain.

`Exactly so, Captain Gills,' said Mr. Toots, whose fervour of acquiescence was greatly heightened by his entire ignorance of the Captain's meaning. `Miss Dombey, I believe, Captain Gills, is to be shortly united to Lieutenant Walters?'

`Why, aye, my lad. We're all shipments here,--Wal'r and sweetheart will be jined together in the house of bondage, as soon as the askings is over,' whispered Captain Cuttle, in his ear.

`The askings, Captain Gills!' repeated Mr. Toots.

`In the church, down yonder,' said the Captain, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.

`Oh! Yes!' returned Mr. Toots.

`And then,' said the Captain, in his hoarse whisper, and tapping Mr. Toots on the chest with the back of his hand, and falling from him with a look of infinite admiration, `what follers? That there pretty creetur, as delicately brought up as a foreign bird, goes away upon the roaring main with Wal'r on a woyage to China!'

`Lord, Captain Gills!' said Mr. Toots.

`Aye!' nodded the Captain. `The ship as took him up, when he was wrecked in the hurricane that had drove her clean out of her course, was a China trader, and Wal'r made the woyage, and got into favour, aboard and ashore--being as smart and good a lad as ever stepped--and so, the supercargo dying at Canton, he got made (having acted as clerk afore), and now he's supercargo aboard another ship, same owners. And so, you see,' repeated the Captain, thoughtfully, `the pretty creetur goes away upon the roaring main with Wal'r, on a woyage to China.'

Mr. Toots and Captain Cuttle heaved a sigh in concert.

`What then?' said the Captain. `She loves him true. He loves her true. Them as should have loved and tended of her, treated of her like the beasts as perish. When she, cast out of home, come here to me, and dropped upon them planks, her wownded heart was broke. I know it. I, Ed'ard Cuttle, see it. There's nowt but true, kind, steady love, as can ever piece it up again. If so be I didn't know that, and didn't know as Wal'r was her true love, brother, and she his, I'd have these here blue arms and legs chopped off, afore I'd let her go. But I do know it, and what then? Why, then, I say, Heaven go with 'em both, and so it will! Amen!'