`To Mrs. Feeder, my love!' said Mr. Toots, in a subdued tone of private discussion: `"whom God hath joined," you know, "let no man"--don't you know? I cannot allow my friend Feeder to be married--especially to Mrs. Feeder--without proposing their--their--Toasts; and may,' said Mr. Toots, fixing his eyes on his wife, as if for inspiration in a high flight, `may the torch of Hymen be the beacon of joy, and may the flowers we have this day strewed in their path, be the--the banishers of--of gloom!'

Doctor Blimber, who had a taste of metaphor, was pleased with this, and said, `Very good, Toots! Very well said, indeed, Toots!' and nodded his head and patted his hands. Mr. Feeder made in reply, a comic speech chequered with sentiment. Mr. Alfred Feeder, M.A., was afterwards very happy on Doctor and Mrs. Blimber; Mr. Feeder, B.A., scarcely less so, on the gauzy little bridesmaids. Doctor Blimber then, in a sonorous voice, delivered a few thoughts in the pastoral style, relative to the rushes among which it was the intention of himself and Mrs. Blimber to dwell, and the bee that would hum around their cot. Shortly after which, as the Doctor's eyes were twinkling in a remarkable manner, and his son-in-law had already observed that time was made for slaves, and had inquired whether Mrs. Toots sang, the discreet Mrs. Blimber dissolved the sitting, and sent Cornelia away, very cool and comfortable, in a postchaise, with the man of her heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Toots withdrew to the Bedford (Mrs. Toots had been there before in old times, under her maiden name of Nipper), and there found a letter, which it took Mr. Toots such an enormous time to read, that Mrs. Toots was frightened.

`My dear Susan,' said Mr. Toots, `fright is worse than exertion. Pray be calm!'

`Who is it from?' asked Mrs. Toots.

`Why, my love,' said Mr. Toots, `it's from Captain Gills. Do not excite yourself. Walters and Miss Dombey are expected home!'

`My dear,' said Mrs. Toots, raising herself quickly from the sofa, very pale, `don't try to deceive me, for it's no use, they're come home--I see it plainly in your face!'

`She's a most extraordinary woman!' exclaimed Mr. Toots, in rapturous admiration. `You're perfectly right, my love, they have come home. Miss Dombey has seen her father, and they are reconciled!'

`Reconciled!' cried Mrs. Toots, clapping her hands.

`My dear,' said Mr. Toots; `pray do not exert yourself. Do remember the medical man! Captain Gills says-- at least he don't say, but I imagine, from what I can make out, he means--that Miss Dombey has brought her unfortunate father away from his old house, to one where she and Walters are living; that he is lying very ill there--supposed to be dying; and that she attends upon him night and day.'

Mrs. Toots began to cry quite bitterly.

`My dearest Susan,' replied Mr. Toots, `do, do, if you possibly can, remember the medical man! If you can't, it's of no consequence--but do endeavour to!'

His wife, with her old manner suddenly resorted, so pathetically entreated him to take her to her precious pet, her little mistress, her own darling, and the like, that Mr. Toots, whose sympathy and admiration were of the strongest kind, consented from his very heart of hearts; and they agreed to depart immediately, and present themselves in answer to the Captain's letter.

Now some hidden sympathies of things, or some coincidences, had that day brought the Captain himself (toward whom Mr. and Mrs. Toots were soon journeying) into the flowery train of wedlock; not as a principal, but as an accessory. It happened accidentally, and thus: