with a great gasp, struck the table a tremendous blow, cried in a stentorian roar, `Sol Gills ahoy!' and tumbled into the arms of a weather-beaten pea-coat that had come with Polly into the room.
In another moment, Walter was in the arms of the weather-beaten pea-coat. In another moment, Florence was in the arms of the weather-beaten pea-coat. In another moment, Captain Cuttle had embraced Mrs. Richards and Miss Nipper, and was violently shaking hands with Mr. Toots, exclaiming, as he waved his hook above his head, `Hooroar, my lad, hooroar!' To which Mr. Toots, wholly at a loss to account for these proceedings, replied with great politeness, `Certainly, Captain Gills, whatever you think proper!'
The weather-beaten pea-coat, and a no less weather-beaten cap and comforter belonging to it, turned from the Captain and from Florence back to Walter, and sounds came from the weather-beaten pea- coat, cap, and comforter, as of an old man sobbing underneath them; while the shaggy sleeves clasped Walter tight. During this pause, there was an universal silence, and the Captain polished his nose with great diligence. But when the pea-coat, cap, and comforter lifted themselves up again, Florence gently moved towards them; and she and Walter taking them off, disclosed the old Instrument-maker, a little thinner and more careworn than of old, in his old Welsh wig and his old coffee-coloured coat and basket buttons, with his old infallible chronometer ticking away in his pocket.
`Chock full o' science,' said the radiant Captain, `as ever he was! Sol Gills, Sol Gills, what have you been up to, for this many a long day, my ould boy?'
`I'm half blind, Ned,' said the old man, `and almost deaf and dumb with joy.'
`His wery woice,' said the Captain, looking round with an exultation to which even his face could hardly render justice--`his wery woice as chock full o' science as ever it was! Sol Gills, lay to, my lad, upon your own wines and fig-trees, like a taut ould patriark as you are, and overhaul them there adwentures o' yourn, in your own formilior woice. 'Tis the woice, said the Captain, impressively, and announcing a quotation with his hook, `of the sluggard, I heerd him complain, you have woke me too soon, I must slumber again. Scatter his ene-mies, and make 'em fall!'
The Captain sat down with the air of a man who had happily expressed the feeling of everybody present, and immediately rose again to present Mr. Toots, who was much disconcerted by the arrival of anybody, appearing to prefer a claim to the name of Gills.
`Although,' stammered Mr. Toots, `I had not the pleasure of your acquaintance, Sir, before you were--you were--'
`Lost to sight, to memory dear,' suggested the Captain, in a low voice.
`Exactly so, Captain Gills!' assented Mr. Toots. `Although I had not the pleasure of your acquaintance, Mr.--Mr. Sols,' said Toots, hitting on that name in the inspiration of a bright idea, `before that happened, I have the greatest pleasure, I assure you, in--you know, in knowing you. I hope,' said Mr. Toots, `that you're as well as can be expected.'
With these courteous words, Mr. Toots sat down blushing and chuckling.
The old Instrument-maker, seated in a corner between Walter and Florence, and nodding at Polly, who was looking on, all smiles and delight, answered the Captain thus:
`Ned Cuttle, my dear boy, although I have heard something of the changes of events here, from my pleasant friend there--what a pleasant face she has to be sure, to welcome a wanderer home!' said the old man, breaking off, and rubbing his hands in his old dreamy way.
`Hear him!' cried the Captain gravely. `'Tis woman as seduces all mankind. For which,' aside to Mr. Toots, `you'll overhaul your Adam and Eve, brother.'