 CHAPTER 49 THE MIDSHIPMAN MAKES A DISCOVERY It was long before Florence awoke. The day was in its prime, the day was in its wane, and still, uneasy in mind and body she slept on, unconscious of her strange bed, of the noise and turmoil in the street, and of the light that shone outside the shaded window, perfect unconsciousness of what had happened in the home that existed no more. Even the deep slumber of exhaustion could not produce. Some undefined and mournful recollection of it, dozing uneasily but never sleeping, pervaded all her rest. A dull sorrow, like a half lulled sense of pain, was always present to her, and her pale cheek was oftener wet with tears than the honest captain, softly putting in his head from time to time at the half-closed door could have desired to see it. The sun was getting low in the west and glancing out of a red mist, pierced with its rays opposite loopholes and pieces of fretwork in the spires of city churches as if with golden arrows that struck through and through them, and far away a thwart the river and its flat banks. It was gleaming like a path of fire, and out at sea it was irradiating sails of ships, and, looking toward, from quiet church yards upon hilltops in the country, it was steeping distant prospects in a flush and glow that seemed to mingle earth and sky together in one glorious suffusion. When Florence, opening her heavy eyes, lay at first, looking without interest or recognition at the unfamiliar walls around her, and listening in the same regardless manner to the noises in the street. But presently she started up upon her couch, gazed round with a surprised and vacant look, and recollected all. My pretty said the captain knocking at the door. What cheer! Dear friend, cried Florence, hurrying to him. Is it you? The captain felt so much pride in the name and was so pleased by the gleam of pleasure in her face when she saw him that he kissed his hook by way of reply in speechless gratification. What cheer! bright diamond! said the captain. I have surely slept very long, returned Florence. When did I come here yesterday? This here blessed day, my lady last, replied the captain. Has there been no night? Is it still day? asked Florence. Getting on for evening now, my pretty said the captain, drawing back the curtain of the window. See? Florence, with her hand upon the captain's arm, so sorrowful and timid, and the captain with his rough face and burly figure, so quietly protective of her, stood in the rosy light of the bright evening sky without saying a word. However strange the form of speech into which he might have fashioned the feeling, if he had had to give it utterance, the captain felt, as sensibly as the most eloquent of men could have done, that there was something in the tranquil time and in its softened beauty that would make the wounded heart of Florence overflow, and that it was better that such tears should have their way. So not a word spake, captain Cuddle, but when he felt his arm clasped closer, and when he felt the lonely head come nearer to it, and lay itself against his homely, coarse blue sleeves, he pressed it gently with his rugged hand, and understood it, and was understood. Better now, my pretty, said the captain, cheerily, cheerily, I'll go down below and get some dinner ready. Will you come down of your own self afterwards, pretty? Or shall Edward Cuddle come and fetch you? As Florence assured him that she was quite able to walk downstairs, the captain, though evidently doubtful of his own hospitality in permitting it, left her to do so, and immediately set about roasting a fowl at the fire in the little parlor. To achieve his cookery with the greater skill, he pulled off his coat, tucked up his wrist bands, and put on his glazed hat, without which assistant he never applied himself to any nice or difficult undertaking. After cooling her aching head and burning face in the fresh water which the captain's care had provided for her while she slept, Florence went to the little mirror to bind up her disordered hair. Then she knew, in a moment, for she shunned it instantly, that on her breast there was the darkening mark of an angry hand. Her tears burst forth afresh at the sight. She was ashamed and afraid of it, but it moved her to no anger against him. Homeless and fatherless, she forgave him everything, hardly thought that she had need to forgive him or that she did, but she fled from the idea of him as she had fled from the reality, and he was utterly gone and lost. There was no such being in the world. What to do or where to live, Florence's poor inexperienced girl could not yet consider. She had indistinct dreams of finding, a long way off, some little sisters to instruct, who would be gentle with her and to whom under some feigned name she might attach herself, and who would grow up in their happy home and marry and be good to their old governess, and perhaps entrust her in time with the education of their own daughters. And she thought how strange and sorrowful it would be, thus to become a grey-haired woman, carrying her secret to the grave when Florence Dombie was forgotten. But it was all dim and clouded to her now. She only knew that she had no father upon earth, and she said so many times, with her suppliant head hidden from all, but her father who was in heaven. Her little stock of money amounted to but a few guineas. With a part of this it would be necessary to buy some clothes, for she had none but those she wore. She was too desolate to think how soon her money would be gone. Too much a child in worldly matters to be greatly troubled on that score yet, even if her other trouble had been less. She tried to calm her thoughts and stay her tears, to quiet the hurry in her throbbing head, and bring herself to believe that what had happened were but the events of a few hours ago, instead of weeks or months, as they appeared, and went down to her kind protector. The captain had spread the cloth with great care, and was making some egg sauce in a little saucepan, basting the fell from time to time during the process with a strong interest, as it turned and browned on a string before the fire. Having propped Florence up with cushions on the sofa, which was already wheeled into a warm corner for her greater comfort, the captain pursued his cooking with extraordinary skill, making hot gravy in a second little saucepan, boiling a handful of potatoes in a third, never forgetting the egg sauce in the first, and making an impartial round of basting and stirring with the most useful of spoons every minute. Besides these cares, the captain had to keep his eye on a diminutive frying pan, in which some sausages were hissing and bubbling in a most musical manner. And there was never such a radiant cook as the captain looked, in the height and heat of these functions. It being impossible to say whether his face or his glazed hat shone the brighter. The dinner being at length quite ready, captain cuddled, dished and served it up with no less dexterity than he had cooked it. He then dressed for dinner by taking off his glazed hat and putting on his coat. That done, he wheeled the table close against Florence on the sofa, said Grace, unscrewed his hook, screwed his fork into its place, and did the honors of the table. My lady lass, said the captain, cheer up and try to eat a deal. Stand by, my dearie, liver wing it is, sausage it is, sausage it is, and potato, all of which the captain ranged symmetrically on a plate and pouring hot gravy on the whole with the useful spoon set before his cherished guest. The whole row of deadlights is up, forward, lady lass, observed the captain encouragingly, and every think is made snug. Try and pick a bit, my pretty, if Walter were here. Ah, if I had him for my brother now, cried Florence. Don't, don't take on my pretty, said the captain. Ah, was to oblige me. He was your natural-born friend. Like, weren't he, pet? Florence had no words to answer with. She only said, oh, dear, dear, Paul, oh, Walter. The very planks she walks on, murmured the captain, looking at her drooping face, was as high esteemed by Walter as the water Brooks is by the heart which never rejoices. I see him now, the wary day he was raided on, them donby books, us speaking of her, with his face aglistening with dew, least ways, with his modest sentiments, like a new-blowed rose at dinner. Well, well, if our poor Walter was here, my lady lass, or if he could be, for he's drowned it, ain't he? Florence shook her head. Yes, yes, drowned it, said the captain, soothingly. As I was saying, if he could be here, he'd beg and pray of you, my precious, to pick a little bit, with a lookout for your own sweet health, whereby hold your own, my lady lass, as it was for Walter's sake and lay your pretty head to the wind. Florence essayed to eat a morsel for the captain's pleasure. The captain, meanwhile, who seemed to have quite forgotten his own dinner, laid down his knife and fork, and drew his chair to the sofa. Walter was a trim lad, weren't he, precious? said the captain, after sitting for some time, silently rubbing his chin with his eyes fixed upon her, and a brave lad, and a good lad. Florence tearfully assented. And he's drowned beauty, ain't he? said the captain, in a soothing voice. Florence could not but assent again. He was older than you, my lady lass, pursued the captain, but you was like two children together at first, weren't you? Florence answered yes. And Walter's drowned it, said the captain, ain't he? The repetition of this inquiry was a curious source of consolation, but it seemed to be one to captain Cuddle, for he came back to it again and again. Florence, feigned to push from her untasted dinner and to lie back on her sofa, gave him her hand, feeling that she had disappointed him, though truly wishing to have pleased him after all his trouble. But he held it in his own, which shook as he held it, and appeared to have quite forgotten all about the dinner, and her want of appetite, went on growling at intervals in a ruminating tone of sympathy. Poor Walter, aye-aye, drowned it, ain't he? And always waited for her answer, in which the great point of these singular reflections appeared to consist. The fowl and sausages were cold, and the gravy and the egg sauce stagnant, before the captain remembered that they were on the board, and fell, too, with the assistance of Diogenes, whose united efforts quickly dispatched the banquet. The captain's delight and wonder at the quiet, housewifery of Florence in assisting to clear the table, arrange the parlor, and sweep up the hearth, only to be equaled by the fervency of his protest when she began to assist him, were gradually raised to that degree. That, at last, he could not choose, but do nothing himself, and stand looking at her, as if she were some fairy, daintily performing these offices for him, the red rim on his forehead glowing again in his unspeakable admiration. But when Florence, taking down his pipe from the mantle shelf, gave it into his hand, and entreated him to smoke it, the good captain was sober-wildered by her attention, that he held it as if he had never held a pipe in all his life. Likewise, when Florence, looking into the little cupboard, took out the case-bottle, and mixed a perfect glass of grog for him. Unasked and sadded at his elbow, his ruddy nose turned pale, he felt himself so graced and honored. When he had filled his pipe in an absolute reverie of satisfaction, Florence lighted it for him, the captain having no power to object or to prevent her, and resuming her place on the old sofa, looked at him, with a smile so loving and so grateful, a smile that showed him so plainly how her forlorn heart turned to him, as her face did, through grief, that the smoke of the pipe got into the captain's throat and made him cough, and got into the captain's eyes, and made him blink and water. The manner in which the captain tried to make believe that the cause of these effects lay hidden in the pipe itself, and the way in which he looked into the bowl for it, and not finding it there, pretended to blow it out of the stem, was wonderfully pleasant. The pipe soon, getting into better condition, he fell into that state of repose, becoming a good smoker, but sat with his eyes fixed on Florence, and with a beaming placidity not to be described, and stopping every now and then to discharge a little cloud from his lips, slowly puffed it forth, as if it were a scroll coming out of his mouth, bearing the legend, poor Walter II, drowned it, ain't he, after which he would resume his smoking with infinite gentleness. Unlike as they were externally, and there could scarcely be a more decided contrast than between Florence in her delicate youth and beauty, and Captain Cuddle with his knobby face, his great broad weather-beaten person, and his gruff voice, in simple innocence of the world's ways, and the world's perplexities and dangers, they were nearly on a level. No child could have surpassed Captain Cuddle in inexperience of everything but wind and weather, simplicity, credulity, and generous trustfulness. Faith, hope, and charity shared his whole nature among them. An odd sort of romance, perfectly unimaginative, yet perfectly unreal, and subject to no considerations of worldly prudence or practicability, was the only partner they had in his character. As the captain sat and smoked, and looked at Florence, God knows what impossible pictures, in which she was the principal figure, presented themselves to his mind. Equally vague and uncertain, though not so sanguine, were her own thoughts of the life before her, and even as her tears made prismatic colors in the light she gazed at. So, through her new and heavy grief, she already saw a rainbow faintly shining in the far-off sky. A wandering princess and a good monster in a storybook might have sat by the fireside, and talked as Captain Cuddle and poor Florence thought, and not have looked very much unlike them. The captain was not troubled with the faintest idea of any difficulty in retaining Florence, or of any responsibility thereby incurred. Having put up the shutters and locked the door, he was quite satisfied on this head. If she had been a warden chancery, it would have made no difference at all to Captain Cuddle. He was the last man in the world to be troubled by any such considerations. So the captain smoked his pipe very comfortably, and Florence and he meditated after their own manner. When the pipe was out, they had some tea, and then Florence entreated him to take her to some neighboring shop where she could buy the few necessaries she immediately wanted. It being quite dark, the captain consented, peeping, carefully out first, as he had been want to do in the time of his hiding from Mrs. McStinger and arming himself with his large stick in case of an appeal to arms being rendered necessary by any unforeseen circumstances. The pride Captain Cuddle had in giving his arm to Florence and escorting her some two or three hundred yards, keeping a bright look out all the time, and attracting the attention of everyone who passed them by his great vigilance and numerous precautions was extreme. Arrived at the shop, the captain felt at a point of delicacy to retire during the making of the purchases as they were to consist of wearing apparel. But he previously deposited his tin canister on the counter and informing the young lady of the establishment that it contained fourteen pound two requested her in case that amount of property should not be sufficient to defray the expenses of his niece's little outfit. At the word niece, he bestowed a most significant look on Florence, accompanied with pantomime, expressive of sagacity and mystery, to have the goodness to sing out, and he would make up the difference from his pocket. Casually consulting his big watch as a deep means of dazzling the establishment and impressing it with a sense of property, the captain then kissed his hook to his niece and retired outside the window where it was a choice site to see his great face looking in from time to time among the silks and ribbons with an obvious misgiving that Florence had been spirited away by a back door. Dear Captain Cuddle said Florence when she came out with a parcel the size of which greatly disappointed the captain who had expected to see a porter following with a bale of goods. I don't want this money indeed I have not spent any of it I have money of my own. My lady lass returned the baffled captain looking straight down the street before them take care on it for me will you be so good till such time as I ask you for it may I put it back in its usual place said Florence and keep it there the captain was not at all gratified by this proposal but he answered aye I put it anywhere my lady lass so long as you know where to find it again it ain't no use to me said the captain I wonder I haven't chucked it away for now the captain was quite disheartened for the moment but he revived at the first touch of Florence's arm and they returned with the same precautions as they had come the captain opening the door of the little mitchet man's birth and diving in with a suddenness which his great practice only could have taught him during Florence's slumber in the morning he had engaged the daughter of an elderly lady who usually sat under a blue umbrella in ledden hall market selling poultry to come and put her room in order and render her any little services she required and this damsel now appearing Florence found everything about her as convenient and orderly if not as handsome as in the terrible dream she had once called home when they were alone again the captain insisted on her eating a slice of dry toast and drinking a glass of spiced negus which he made to perfection and encouraging her with every kind word an inconsequential co quotation he could possibly think of let her upstairs to her bedroom but he too had something on his mind and was not easy in his manner good night dear heart said captain cuddle to her at her chamber door Florence raised her lips to his face and kissed him at any other time the captain would have been overbalanced by such a token of her affection and gratitude but now although he was very sensible of it he looked in her face with even more uneasiness than he had testified before and seemed unwilling to leave her poor walter said the captain poor poor walter said Florence drowned it ain't he said the captain Florence shook her head and sighed good night my lady last said captain cuddle putting out his hand god bless you dear kind friend but the captain lingered still is anything the matter dear captain cuddle said Florence easily alarmed in her then state of mind have you anything to tell me to tell you lady last replied the captain meeting her eyes in confusion no no what should i have to tell you pretty you don't expect as i've got anything good to tell you sure no said Florence shaking her head the captain looked at her wistfully and repeated no still lingering and still showing embarrassment poor walter said the captain my walter as i used to call you old sol gillis is nevy welcome to all as knowed you as the flowers in may where are you got to brave boy drowned it ain't he concluding his apostrophe with this abrupt appeal to Florence the captain baked her good night and descended the stairs while Florence remained at the top holding the candle out to light him down he was lost in the obscurity and judging from the sound of his receding footsteps was in the act of turning into the little parlor when his head and shoulders unexpectedly emerged again as from the deep apparently for no other purpose than to repeat drowned it ain't he pretty for when he said that in a tone of tender condolence he disappeared Florence was very sorry that she should unwittingly though naturally have awakened these associations in the mind of her protector by taking refuge there and sitting down before the little table where the captain had arranged the telescope and song book and those other rarities thought of walter and of all that was connected with him in the past until she could have almost wished to lie down on her bed and fade away but in her lonely yearning to the dead whom she had loved no thought of home no possibility of going back no presentation of it as yet existing or as sheltering her father once entered her thoughts she had seen the murder done in the last lingering natural aspect in which she had cherished him through so much he had been torn out of her heart defaced and slain the thought of it was so appalling to her that she covered her eyes and shrunk trembling from the least remembrance of the deed or of the cruel hand that did it if her fond heart could have held his image after that it must have broken but it could not and the void was filled with a wild dread that fled from all confronting with its shattered fragments with such a dread as could have risen out of nothing but the depths of such a love so wronged she dared not look into the glass for the sight of the darkening mark upon her bosom made her afraid of herself as if she bore about her something wicked she covered it up with a hasty faltering hand and in the dark and laid her weary head down weeping the captain did not go to bed for a long time he walked to and fro in the shop and in the little parlor for a full hour and appearing to have composed himself by that exercise sat down with a grave and thoughtful face and read out of a prayer book the forms of prayer appointed to be used at sea these were not easily disposed of the good captain being a mighty slow gruff reader and frequently stopping at a hard word to give himself such encouragement as now my lad what a will or steady edward cuddle steady which had a great effect in helping him out of any difficulty moreover his spectacles greatly interfered with his powers of vision but not withstanding these drawbacks the captain being heartily in earnest read the service to the very last line and with genuine feeling too and approving of it very much when he had done turned in under the counter but not before he had been upstairs and listened at Florence's door with a serene breast and most benevolent visage the captain turned out several times in the course of the night to assure himself that his charge was resting quietly and once at daybreak found that she was awake for she called to know if it were he on hearing footsteps near her door yes my lady lass replied the captain in a growling whisper are you all right diamond Florence thanked him and said yes the captain could not lose so favorable an opportunity of applying his mouth to the keyhole and calling through it like a horse breeze poor walter drowned ain't he after which he withdrew and turning in again slept till seven o'clock nor was he free from his uneasy and embarrassed manner all that day though Florence being busy with her needle in the little parlor was more calm and tranquil than she had been on the day proceeding almost always when she raised her eyes from her work she observed the captain looking at her and thoughtfully stroking his chin and he so often hitched his armchair close to her as if he were going to say something very confidential and hitched it away again as not being able to make up his mind how to begin that in the course of the day he cruised completely around the parlor in that frail bark and more than once went ashore against the wainscot or the closet door in a very distressed condition it was not until the twilight that captain cuddle fairly dropping anchor at last by the side of Florence began to talk at all connectedly but when the light of the fire was shining on the walls and ceiling of the little room and on the teaboard and the cups and saucers that were ranged upon the table and on her calm face turned towards the flame and reflecting it in the tears that filled her eyes the captain broke along silence thus you never was at sea my own no replied Florence I said the captain reverentially it's a almighty element there's wonders in the deep my pretty think on it when the wind is roaring and the waves is rolling think on it when the stormy nights is so pitch dark said the captain solemnly holding up his hook as you can't see your hand before you accepting when the wade lightning reveals the same and when you drive drive drive through the storm and dark as if you was a driving head on to the world without end evermore amen and when found making a note of them's the times my beauty when a man may say to his messmate previously a overhauling of the volume a still norwester's blowing bill hark don't you hear it roar now lord help him how I pity's all unhappy folks ashore now which quotation as particularly applicable to the terrors of the ocean the captain delivered in a most impressive manner concluding with a sonorous stand by were you ever in a dreadful storm as Florence why I my lady lass I've seen my share of bad weather said the captain tremulously wiping his head and I've had my share of knocking about but but it ain't of myself as I was meaning to speak our dear boy drawing closer to her walter darling was drowned it the captain spoke in such a trembling voice and looked at Florence with a face so pale and agitated that she clung to his hand in a fright your face is changed said Florence you are altered in a moment what is it dear captain cuddle it turns me cold to see you what lady lass returned the captain supporting her with his hand don't be took a back no no all's well all's well my dear as I was saying walter he's he's drowned it ain't he Florence looked at him intently her color came and went and she laid her hand upon her breast there's perils and dangers on the deep my beauty said the captain and over many a brave ship and many and many a bold heart the secret waters has closed up and never told no tales but there's escapes upon the deep too and sometimes one man out of a score ah maybe out of a hundred pretty has been saved by the mercy of god and come home after being given over for dead and told of all hands lost I I know a story hearts delight stammered the captain of this nature as was told to me once and being on this here tack and you and me sitting alone by the fire maybe you'd like to hear me tell it would you dearie Florence trembling with an agitation which she could not control or understand involuntarily followed his glance which went behind her into the shop where a lamp was burning the instant that she turned her head the captain sprung out of his chair and interposed his hand there's nothing there my beauty said the captain don't look there why not ask Florence the captain murmured something about its being dull that way and about the fire being cheerful he drew the door a jar which had been standing open until now and resumed his seat Florence followed him with her eyes and looked intently in his face the story was about a ship my lady lass began the captain as sailed out of the port of London with a fair wind and in fair weather bound for don't be took a back my lady lass she was only outward bound pretty only outward bound the expression on Florence's face alarmed the captain who was himself very hot and flurried and showed scarcely less agitation than she did shall I go on beauty said the captain yes yes pray cried Florence the captain made a gulp as if to get down something that was sticking in his throat and nervously proceeded that their unfortunate ship met with such foul weather out at sea as don't blow once in 20 year my darling there was hurricanes ashore as tore up forest and blowed downtowns and there was gales at sea in them latitudes as not the stoutest vessel ever launched could live in day after day that their unfortunate ship behaved noble I'm told and did her duty brave my pretty but at one blow a must her bulwarks was stovin her masks and rudder carried away her best men swept overboard and she left to the mercy of the storm as had no mercy but blowed harder and harder yet while the waves dashed over her and beat her in and every time they come a thundering at her broke her like a shell every black spot in every mountain of water that rolled away was a bit of the ship's life or a living man and so she went to pieces beauty and no grass will never grow upon the graves of them as man that ship they were not all lost cried Florence some were saved was one a board of that their unfortunate vessel said the captain rising from his chair and clenching his hand with prodigious energy and exultation was a lad gallant lad as I've heard tell that had loved when he was a boy to read and talk about brave actions in shipwrecks I've heard him I've heard him and he remembered of him in his hour of need for when the stoutest hearts and oldest hands were hoved down he was firm and cheery it weren't the want of objects to like and love assure that gave him courage it was his natural mind I've seen it in his face when he was no more than a child I many a time and when I thought it nothing but his good looks bless him and was he saved cried Florence was he saved that brave lad said the captain look at me pretty don't look round Florence had hardly power to repeat why not because there's nothing there my dearie said the captain don't be took a back pretty creature don't for the sake of Walter as was dear to all of us that their lad said the captain after working with the best and standing by the faint hearted and never making no complaint nor sign of fear and keeping up a spirit and all hands that made him honor as if he'd been an admiral that lad along with the second mate and one seaman was left of all the beating hearts that went aboard that ship the only living creatures lashed to a fragment of the wreck and drifting on the stormy sea were they saved cried Florence days and nights they drifted on them endless waters said the captain until it lasts no don't look that way pretty a sail board down upon him and they was by the lord's mercy took a board two living and one dead which of them was dead cried Florence not the lad I speak on said the captain thank god oh thank god amen returned the captain hurriedly don't be took a back a minute more my lady last with a good heart board that ship they went along voyage right away across the chart for there weren't no touching nowhere and on that voyage the seaman as was picked up with him died but he was spared and the captain without knowing what he did had cut a slice of bread from the loaf and put it on his hook which was his usual toasting fork on which he now held it to the fire looking behind Florence with great emotion in his face and suffering the bread to blaze and burn like fuel was spared repeated Florence and and come home in that ship said the captain still looking in the same direction and and don't be frightened pretty and landed and one morning came cautiously to his own door to take an observation knowing that his friends would think him grounded when he sheared off at the unexpected at the unexpected barking of a dog cried Florence quickly yes word the captain steady darling courage don't look round yet see there upon the wall there was the shadow of a man upon the wall close to her she started up looked round and with a piercing cry saw Walter gay behind her she had no thought of him but as a brother a brother rescued from the grave a shipwrecked brother saved and at her side and rushed into his arms in all the world he seemed to be her hope her comfort refuge natural protector take care of Walter I was fond of Walter the dear remembrance of the plaintive voice that said so rushed upon her soul like music in the night oh welcome home dear Walter welcome to this stricken breast she felt the words although she could not utter them and held him in her pure embrace captain cuddle in a fit of delirium attempted to wipe his head with the blackened toast upon his hook and finding it an uncongenial substance for the purpose put it into the crown of his glazed hat put the glazed hat on with some difficulty essay to sing a verse of lovely peg broke down at the first word and retired into the shop once he presently came back express with a face all flushed and besmeared and the starch completely taken out of his shirt collar to say these words Walter my lad here is a little bit of property as I should wish to make over jointly the captain hastily produced the big watch the teaspoons the sugar tongs and the canister and laying them on the table swept them with his great hand into Walter's hat but in handing that singular strongbox to Walter he was so overcome again that he was feigned to make another retreat into the shop and absent himself for a longer space of time than on his first retirement but Walter sought him out and brought him back and then the captain's great apprehension was that Florence would suffer from this new shock he felt it so earnestly that he turned quite rational and positively interdicted any further illusion to Walter's adventures for some days to come captain cuddle then became sufficiently composed to relieve himself of the toast in his hat and to take his place at the tea board but finding Walter's grasp upon his shoulder on one side and Florence whispering her tearful congratulations on the other the captain suddenly bolted again and was missing for a good ten minutes but never in all his life had the captain's face so shown and glistened as when at last he sat stationary at the tea board looking from Florence to Walter and from Walter to Florence nor was this effect produced or at all heightened by the immense quantity of polishing he had administered to his face with his coat sleeve during the last half hour it was solely the effect of his internal emotions there was a glory and delight within the captain that spread itself over his whole visage and made a perfect illumination there the pride with which the captain looked upon the bronze cheek and the courageous eyes of his recovered boy with which he saw the generous fervor of his youth and all its frank and hopeful qualities shining once more in the fresh wholesome manner and the ardent face would have kindled something of this light in his countenance the admiration and sympathy with which he turned his eyes on Florence whose beauty grace and innocence could have won no truer or more zealous champion than himself would have had an equal influence upon him but the fullness of his of the glow he shed around him could only have been engendered in his contemplation of the two together and in all the fancy springing out of that association that came sparkling and beaming into his head and danced about it how they talked of poor old uncle saw and dwelt on every little circumstance relating to his disappearance how their joy was moderated by the old man's absence and by the misfortunes of Florence how they released diogenes whom the captain had decoyed upstairs some time before lest he should bark again the captain though he was in one continual flutter and made many more short plunges into the shop fully comprehended but he he no more dreamed that walter looked on Florence as it were from a new and far off place that while his eyes often sought the lovely face they seldom met its open glance of sisterly affection but withdrew themselves when hers were raised towards him then he believed that it was walters ghost who sat beside him he saw them there together in their youth and beauty and he knew the story of their younger days and he had no inch of room beneath his great blue waistcoat for anything save admiration of such a pair and gratitude for their being reunited they sat thus until it grew late the captain would have been content to sit so for a week but walter rose to take leave for the night going walters said florins where he slings his hammock for the present lady lass said captain cuddle round at broglee's within hail hearts delight i am the cause of you going away walter said florins there is a houseless sister in your place dear miss domby replied walter hesitating if it is not too bold to call you so walter she exclaimed surprised if anything could make me happier in being allowed to see or speak to you would it not be the discovery that i had any means on earth of doing you a moment service where would i not go what would i not do for your sake she smiled and called him brother you are so changed said walter i changed she interrupted to me said walter softly as if he were thinking aloud changed to me i left you such a child and find you oh something so different but your sister walter you have not forgotten what we promised to each other when we parted forgotten but he said no more and if you had if suffering and danger had driven it from your thoughts which it has not you would remember it now walter when you find me poor and abandoned with no hum but this and no friends but the two who hear me speak i would heaven knows i would said walter oh walter exclaimed florins through her sobs and tears dear brother show me some way through the world some humble path that i may take alone and labor in and sometimes think of you as one who will protect and care for me as for a sister oh help me walter for i need help so much miss domby florins i would die to help you but your friends are proud and rich your father no no walter she shrieked and put her hands up to her head in an attitude of terror that transfixed him where he stood don't say that word he never from that hour forgot the voice and look with which she stopped him at the name he felt that if he were to live a hundred years he could never forget it somewhere anywhere but never home all passed all gone all lost all broken up the whole history of her untold slight and suffering was in the cry and look and he felt he could never forget it and he never did she laid her gentle face upon the captain's shoulder and related how and why she had fled if every sorrowing tear she shed in doing so had been a curse upon the head of him she never named or blamed it would have been better for him walter thought with awe then to be renounced out of such a strength and might of love their precious said the captain when she ceased and deep attention the captain had paid to her while she spoke listening with his glazed hat all awry in his mouth wide open awast awast my eyes walter dear lad shear off for for tonight and leave the pretty one to me walter took her hand in both of his and put it to his lips and kissed it he knew now that she was indeed a homeless wandering fugitive but richer to him so then in all the wealth and pride of her right station she seemed farther off than ever on the height that had made him giddy in his boyish dreams captain cuttle perplexed by no such meditations guarded Florence to her room and watched at intervals upon the charmed ground outside her door for such a truly was to him until he felt sufficiently easy in his mind about her to turn in under the counter on abandoning his watch for that purpose he could not help calling once rapturously through the keyhole drowned it ain't he pretty or when he got downstairs making another trial at that first of lovely peg but it stuck in his throat somehow and he could make nothing of it so he went to bed and dream that old solgills was married to mrs. Mcstinger and kept prisoner by that lady in a secret chamber on a short allowance of vittles end of chapter 49 chapter 50 of dombe and son this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Cynthia Lyons Dombe and son by Charles Dickens chapter 50 mr. Toots complaint there was an empty room above stairs at the wooden midshipments which in days of yore had been Walter's bedroom Walter rousing up the captain betimes in the morning proposed that they should carry thither such furniture out of the little parlor as would grace it best so that Florence might take possession of it when she rose as nothing could be more agreeable to captain cuddle than making himself very red and short of breath in such a cause he turned to as he himself said with a will and in a couple of hours this garret was transformed into a species of land cabin adorned with the choicest movables out of the parlor inclusive even of the tartare frigate which the captain hung up over the chimney piece with such extreme delight that he could do nothing for half an hour afterwards but walk backwards from it lost in admiration the captain could be induced by no persuasion of walters to wind up the big watch or take back the canister or to touch the sugar tongues and teaspoons no no my lad was the captain's invariable reply to any solicitation of the kind i've made that their little property over gently these words he repeated with great unction and gravity evidently believing that they had the virtue of an active parliament and that unless he committed himself by some new admission of ownership no flaw could be found in such a form of conveyance it was an advantage of the new arrangement that besides the greater seclusion it afforded Florence it admitted of the midshipman being restored to his usual post of observation and also of the shop shutters being taken down the latter ceremony however little importance the unconscious captain attached to it was not wholly superfluous for on the previous day so much excitement had been occasioned in the neighborhood by the shutters remaining unopened that the instrument maker's house had been honored with an unusual share of public observation and had been intently stared at from the opposite side of the way by groups of hungry gazers at any time between sunrise and sunset the idlers and vagabonds had been particularly interested in the captain's fate constantly groveling in the mud to apply their eyes to the cellar grading under the shop window and delighting their imaginations with the fancy that they could see a piece of his coat as he hung in a corner it was not without exciting some discontent therefore that the subject of these rumors was seen early in the morning standing at his shop door as hail and hardy as if nothing had happened and the beetle of that quarter a man of an ambitious character who had expected to have the distinction of being present at the breaking open of the door and of giving evidence in full uniform before the coroner went so far as to say to an opposite neighbor that the chap in the glazed hat had better not try it on there without more particularly mentioning what and further that he the beetle would keep his eye upon him captain cuddle said walter musing when they stood resting from their labors at the shop door looking down the old familiar street it being still early in the morning nothing at all of uncle sol in all that time nothing at all my lad replied the captain shaking his head gone in search of me dear kind old man said walter yet never write to you but why not he says an effect in this packet that you gave me taking the paper from his pocket which had been opened in the presence of the enlightened bunsby that if you never hear from him before opening it you may believe him dead heaven forbid but you would have heard of him even if he were dead someone would have written surely by his desire if he could not and have said on such a day there died in my house or under my care or so forth mr. Solomon gills of london who left this last remembrance and this last request to you the captain who had never climbed to such a clear height of probability before was greatly impressed by the wide prospect it opened and answered with a thoughtful shake of his head well said my lad very well said i have been thinking of this or at least said walter coloring i have been thinking of one thing and another all through a sleepless night and i cannot believe captain cuddle but that my uncle sol lord bless him is alive and will return i don't so much wonder at his going away because leaving out of consideration that spice of the marvelous which was always in his character and his great affection for me before which every other consideration of his life became nothing as no one ought to know so well as i who had the best of fathers in him walters voice was indistinct and husky here and he looked away along the street leaving that out of consideration i say i have often read and heard of people who having some near and dear relative who was supposed to be shipwrecked at sea have gone down to live on that part of the seashore where any tidings of the missing ship might be expected to arrive though only an hour or two sooner than elsewhere or have even gone upon her track to the place whether she was bound as if they're going would create intelligence i think i should do such a thing myself as soon as another or sooner than many perhaps but why my uncle shouldn't write to you when he's so clearly intended to do so or how he should die abroad and you not know it through some other hand i cannot make out captain cuddle observed with the shake of his head that jack buns be himself hadn't made it out and that he was a man as could give a pretty taught opinion to if my uncle had been a heedless young man likely to be entrapped by jovial company to some drinking place where he was to be got rid of for the sake of what money he might have about him said walter or if he had been a reckless sailor going ashore with two or three months pay in his pocket i could understand his disappearing and leaving no trace behind but being what he was and is i hope i can't believe it walter my lad inquired the captain wistfully eyeing him as he pondered and pondered what do you make of it then captain cuddle returned walter i don't know what to make of it i suppose he never has written there is no doubt about that if so be as sol gills wrote my lad replied the captain argumentatively wears his dispatch say that he entrusted it to some private hand suggested walter and that it has been forgotten or carelessly thrown aside or lost even that is more probable to me than the other event in short i not only cannot bear to contemplate that other event captain cuddle but i can't and won't hope you see walter said the captain sagely hope it's that as animates you hope is a boy for which you overhaul your little warbler sentimental division but lord my lad like any other boy it only floats it can't be steered nowhere along with the figurehead of hope said the captain there's a anchor but what's the good of my having a anchor if i can't find no bottom to let it go in captain cuddle said this rather in his character of a sagacious citizen and householder bound to impart a morsel from his stores of wisdom to an inexperienced youth than in his own proper person indeed his face was quite luminous as he spoke with new hope caught from walter and he appropriately concluded by slapping him on the back and saying with enthusiasm hurrah my lad individually i'm of your opinion walter with his cheerful laugh returned the salutation and said only one more word about my uncle at present captain cuddle i suppose it is impossible that he can have written in the ordinary course by mail packet or ship letter you understand ii my lad said the captain approvingly and that you have missed the letter anyhow why walter said the captain turning his eyes upon him with a faint approach to a severe expression ain't i been on the lookout for any tidings of that man of science old sol gills your uncle day and night ever since i lost him ain't my heart been heavy and watchful always along of him and you sleeping and waking ain't i been upon my post and wouldn't i scorn to quit it while this here midshipman held together yes captain cuddle replied walter grasping his hand i know you would and i know how faithful and earnest all you say and feel is i am sure of it you don't doubt that i am as sure of it as i am that my foot is again upon this doorstep or that i again have hold of this true hand do you know now walter returned the captain with his beaming face i'll hazard no more conjectures said walter fervently shaking the hard hand of the captain who shook his with no less goodwill all i will add is heaven forbid that i should touch my uncle's possessions captain cuddle everything that he left here shall remain in the care of the truest of stewards and kindest of men and if his name is not cuddle he has no name now best of friends about miss domby there was a change in walter's manner as he came to these two words and when he uttered them all his confidence and cheerfulness appeared to have deserted him i thought before miss domby stopped me when i spoke of her father last night said walter you remember how the captain well remembered and shook his head i thought said walter before that that we had but one hard duty to perform and that it was to prevail upon her to communicate with her friends and to return home the captain muttered a feeble a last or a stand by or something or other equally pertinent to the occasion but it was rendered so extremely feeble by the total discomforture with which he received this announcement that what it was is mere matter of conjecture but said walter that is over i think so no longer i would sooner be put back again upon that piece of wreck on which i have so often floated since my preservation in my dreams and there left to drift and drive and die heror my lad exclaimed the captain in a burst of uncontrollable satisfaction heror heror heror to think that she so young so good and beautiful said walter so delicately brought up and born to such a different fortune should strive with a rough world but we have seen the gulf that cuts off all behind her though no one but herself can know how deep it is and there is no return captain cuddle without quite understanding this greatly approved of it and observed in a tone of strong corroboration that the wind was quite abaffed she ought not to be alone here ought she captain cuddle said walter anxiously well my lad replied the captain after a little sagacious consideration i don't know you being here to keep her company you see and you too being jointly dear captain cuddle remonstrated walter i being here miss domby in her guileless innocent heart regards me as her adopted brother but what would the guile and guilt of my heart be if i pretended to believe that i had any right to approach her familiarly in that character if i pretended to forget that i am bound in honor not to do it walter my lad hinted the captain with some revival of his discomforture ain't there no other character as oh returned walter would you have me die in her esteem in such esteem as hers and put a veil between myself and her angel's face forever by taking advantage of her being here for refuge so trusting and so unprotected to endeavor to exalt myself into her lover what do i say there is no one in the world who would be more opposed to me if i could do so then you walter my lad said the captain drooping more and more providing as there is any just cause or impediment why two persons should not be joined together in the house of bondage for which you'll overhaul the place and make a note i hope i should declare it as promised and wowed in the bands so there ain't no other character ain't there my lad walter briskly waved his hand in the negative well my lad growled the captain slowly i won't deny but what i find myself very much down by the head along of this here but what i've done gone clean about but as to lady last walter mind you what's respect and duty to her is respect and duty to my articles how some ever disappointing and therefore i follows in your wake my lad and feel as you are no doubt acting up to yourself and there ain't no other character ain't there said the captain musing over the runes of his fallen castle with a very despondent face now captain cuddle said walter starting a fresh point with a gayer air to cheer the captain up but nothing could do that he was too much concerned i think we should exert ourselves to find someone who would be a proper attendant for miss domby while she remains here and who may be trusted none of her relations may it's clear miss domby feels that they are all subservient to her father what has become of susan the young woman returned the captain it's my belief as she was sent away again the will of heart's delight i made a signal for her when lady last first come and she rated of her very high and said she had been gone a long time then said walter do you ask miss domby where she's gone and we'll try to find her the morning's getting on and miss domby will soon be rising you are her best friend wait for her upstairs and leave me to take care of all down here the captain very crestfallen indeed echoed the sigh with which walter said this and complied florins was delighted with her new room anxious to see walter and overjoyed at the prospect of greeting her old friend susan but florins could not say where susan was gone except that it was in essics and no one could say she remembered unless it were mr toots with this information the melancholy captain returned to walter and gave him to understand that mr toots was the young gentleman whom he had encountered on the doorstep and that he was a friend of his and that he was a young gentleman of property and that he hopelessly adored miss domby the captain also related how the intelligence of walters supposed fate had first made him acquainted with mr toots and how there was solemn treaty and compact between them that mr toots should be mute upon the subject of his love question then was whether florins could trust mr toots and florins sang with a smile oh yes with her whole heart it became important to find out where mr toots lived this florins didn't know and the captain had forgotten and the captain was telling walter in the little parlor that mr toots was sure to be there soon when in came mr toots himself captain gills said mr toots rushing into the parlor without any ceremony i'm in a state of mind bordering on distraction mr toots had discharged those words as from a mortar before he observed walter whom he recognized with what may be described as a chuckle of missering you'll excuse me sir said mr toots holding his forehead but i'm at present in that state that my brain is going if not gone and anything approaching to politeness in an individual so situated would be a hollow mockery captain gills i beg to request the favor of a private interview why brother returned the captain taking him by the hand you are the man as we was on the lookout for oh captain gills said mr toots what a lookout that must be of which i am the object i haven't dared to shave i'm in that rash state i haven't had my clothes brushed my hair is matted together i told the chicken that if he offered to clean my boots i'd stretch him a corpse before me all these indications of a disordered mind were verified in mr toots appearance which was wild and savage see here brother said the captain this here's old sol gills nevy walter him as was supposed to have perished at sea mr toots took his hand from his forehead and stared at walter good gracious me stammered mr toots what a complication of misery how do you i i'm afraid you must have got very wet captain gills will you allow me a word in the shop he took the captain by the coat and going out with him whispered that then captain gills is the party you spoke of when you said that he and miss domby were made for one another why i my lad replied the disconsulate captain i was of that mind once and at this time exclaimed mr toots with his hand to his forehead again of all others a hated rival at least he ain't a hated rival said mr toots stopping short on second thoughts and taking away his hand what should i hate him for no if my affection has been truly disinterested captain gills let me prove it now mr toots shot back abruptly into the polar and said ringing walter by the hand how did you i hope you didn't take any cold i i shall be very glad if you'll give me the pleasure of your acquaintance i wish you many happy returns of the day upon my word and honor said mr toots warming as he became better acquainted with walter's face and figure i'm very glad to see you thank you heartily said walter i couldn't desire a more genuine and genial welcome couldn't you though said mr toots still shaking his hand it's very kind of you i'm much obliged to you how do you do i hope you left everybody quite well over the that is upon the i mean wherever you came from last you know all these good wishes and better intentions walter responded to manfully captain gills said mr toots i should wish to be strictly honorable but i trust i mean maybe allowed now to allude to a certain subject that i i'm allowed return the captain freely freely then captain gills said mr toots and left tenant walters are you aware that the most dreadful circumstances have been happening at mr domby's house and that miss domby herself has left her father who in my opinion said mr toots with great excitement is a brute that it would be a flattery to call uh a marble monument or a bird of prey and that she is not to be found and has gone no one knows where may i ask how you heard this inquired walter left tenant walters said mr toots who had arrived at that appellation by a process peculiar to himself probably by jumbling up his christian name with a seafaring profession and supposing some relationship between him and the captain which would extend as a matter of course to their titles left tenant walters i can have no objection to make a straightforward reply the fact is that feeling extremely interested in everything that relates to miss domby not for any selfish reason left tenant walters for i am well aware that the most agreeable thing i could do for all parties would be to put an end to my existence which can only be regarded as an inconvenience i have been in the habit of bestowing a trifle now and then upon a footman a most respectable young man of the name of tallinson who has lived in the family some time and tallinson informed me yesterday evening that this was the state of since which captain gills and left tenant walters i have been perfectly frantic and have been lying down on the sofa all night the ruin you behold mr toots said walter i am happy to be able to relieve your mind pray calm yourself miss domby is safe and well sir cried mr toots starting from his chair and shaking hands with him anew the relief is so excessive and unspeakable that if you were to tell me now that miss domby was married even i could smile yes captain gills said mr toots appealing to him upon my soul and body i really think whatever i might do to myself immediately afterwards that i could smile i am so relieved it will be a greater relief and delight still to such a generous mind as yours said walter not at all slow in returning his greeting to find that you can render service to miss domby captain cuddle will you have the kindness to take mr toots upstairs the captain beckon to mr toots who followed him with a bewildered countenance and ascending to the top of the house was introduced without a word of preparation from his conductor into florence's new retreat poor mr toots's amazement and pleasure at sight of her were such that they could find a vent in nothing but extravagance he ran up to her seized her hand kissed it dropped it seized it again fell upon one knee shed tears chuckled and was quite regardless of his danger of being pinned by diogenes who inspired by the belief that there was something hostile to his mistress in these demonstrations worked round and round him as if only undecided at what particular to go in for the assault but quite resolved to do him a fearful mischief oh die you bad forgetful dog dear mr toots i am so rejoiced to see you thanky said mr toots i am pretty well i much obliged to you miss domby i hope all the family are the same mr toots said this without the least notion of what he was talking about and sat down on a chair staring at florence with the liveliest contention of delight and despair going on in his face that any face could exhibit captain gills and lieutenant walters have mentioned miss domby gas mr toots that i can do you some service if i could by any means wash out the remembrance of that day at brighten when i conducted myself much more like a parasite than a person of independent property said mr toots with severe self accusation i should sink into the silent tomb with a gleam of joy pray mr toots said florence do not wish me to forget anything in our acquaintance i never can believe me you have been far too kind and good to me always miss domby returned mr toots your consideration for my feelings is a part of your angelic character thank you a thousand times it's of no consequence at all what we thought of asking you said florence is whether you remember where susan whom you were so kind as to accompany to the coach office when she left me is to be found why i do not certainly miss domby said mr toots after a little consideration remember the exact name of the place that was on the coach and i do recollect that she said she was not going to stop there but was going farther on but miss domby if your object is to find her and to have her here myself and the chicken will produce her with every dispatch that devotion on my part and great intelligence on the chickens can ensure mr toots was so manifestly delighted and revived by the prospect of being useful and the disinterested sincerity of his devotion was so unquestionable that it would have been cruel to refuse him florence with an instinctive delicacy for bore to urge the least obstacle though she did not forbear to overpower him with thanks and mr toots proudly took the commission upon himself for immediate execution miss domby said mr toots touching her pro offered hand with a pang of hopeless love visibly shooting through him and flashing out in his face goodbye allow me to take the liberty of saying that your misfortunes make me perfectly wretched and that you may trust me next to captain gills himself i am quite aware miss domby of my own deficiencies they're not of the least consequence thank you but i am entirely to be relied upon i do assure you miss domby with that mr toots came out of the room again accompanied by the captain who's standing at a little distance holding his hat under his arm and arranging his scattered locks with his hook had been a not uninterested witness of what passed and when the door closed behind them the light of mr toots life was darkly clouded again captain gills said the gentleman stopping near the bottom of the stairs and turning around to tell you the truth i am not in a frame of mind at the present moment in which i could see lieutenant walters with that entirely friendly feeling towards him that i should wish to harbor in my breast we cannot always command our feelings captain gills and i should take it as a particular favor if you'd let me out at the private door brother return the captain you shall shape your own course whatever course you take is plain and seeming like i'm very sure captain gills said mr toots you're extremely kind your good opinion is a consolation to me there is one thing said mr toots standing in the passage behind the half open door that i hope you'll bear in mind captain gills and that i should wish lieutenant walters to be made acquainted with i have quite come into my property now you know and and i don't know what to do with it if i could be at all useful in a pecuniary point of view i should glide into the silent tomb with ease and smoothness mr toots said no more but slipped out quietly and shut the door upon himself to cut the captain off from any reply florence thought of this good creature long after he had left her with mingled emotions of pain and pleasure he was so honest and warm hearted that to see him again and be assured of his truth to her in her distress was a joy and comfort beyond all price but for that very reason it was so affecting to think that she caused him a moment's unhappiness or ruffled by a breath the harmless current of his life that her eyes filled with tears and her bosom overflowed with pity captain cuddle in his different way thought much of mr toots too and so did walter and when the evening came and they were all sitting together in florence's new room walter praised him in a most impassioned manner and told florence what he had said on leaving the house with every graceful setting off in the way of comment and appreciation that his own honesty and sympathy could surround it with mr toots did not return upon the next day or the next or for several days and in the mean while florence without any new alarm lived like a quiet bird in a cage at the top of the old instrument maker's house but florence drooped and hung her head more and more plainly as the days went on and the expression that had been seen in the face of the dead child was often turned to the sky from her high window as if it sought his angel out on the bright shore of which he had spoken lying on his little bed florence had been weak and delicate of late and the agitation she had undergone was not without its influences on her health but it was no bodily illness that affected her now she was distressed in mind and the cause of her distress was wolf interested in her anxious for her proud and glad to serve her and showing all this with the enthusiasm and order of his character florence saw that he avoided her all the long day through he seldom approached her room if she asked for him he came again for the moment as earnest and as bright as she remembered him when she was a lost child in the staring streets but he soon became constrained her quick affection was too watchful not to know it and uneasy and soon left her unsought he never came all day between the morning and the night when the evening closed in he was always there and that was her happiest time for then she half believed that the old walter of her childhood was not changed but even then some trivial word look or circumstance would show her that there was an indefinable division between them which could not be passed and she could not but see that these revelings of a great alteration in walter manifested themselves in despite of his utmost efforts to hide them in his consideration for her she thought and in the earnestness of his desire to spare her any wound from his kind hand he resorted to innumerable little artifices and disguises so much the more did florence feel the greatness of the alteration in him so much the oftener did she weep at this estrangement of her brother the good captain her untiring tender ever zealous friend sought to florence thought and it pained him he was less cheerful and hopeful than he had been at first and would steal looks at her and walter by turns when they were all three together of an evening with quite a sad face florence resolved at last to speak to walter she believed she knew now what the cause of his estrangement was and she thought it would a relief to her full heart and would set him more at ease if she told him she had found it out and quite submitted to it and did not reproach him it was on a certain sunday afternoon that florence took this resolution the faithful captain in an amazing shirt collar was sitting by her reading with his spectacles on and she asked him where walter was i think he's down below my lady last returned the captain i should like to speak to him said florence rising hurriedly as if to go downstairs i'll rouse him up here beauty said the captain in a trice there upon the captain with much alacrity shouldered his book for he made it a point of duty to read none but very large books on a sunday as having a more state appearance and had bargained years ago for a prodigious volume at a bookstore five lines of which utterly confounded him at any time in so much that he had not yet ascertained of what subject it treated and withdrew walter soon appeared captain cuddle tells me miss domby he eagerly began on coming in but stopped when he saw her face you are not well today you look distressed you have been weeping he spoke so kindly and with such a fervent tremor in his voice that the tears gushed into her eyes at the sound of his words walter said florence gently i am not quite well and i have been weeping i want to speak to you he sat down opposite to her looking at her beautiful and innocent face and his own turned pale and his lips trembled you said upon the night when i knew that you were saved and oh dear walter what i felt that night and what i hoped he put his trembling hand upon the table between them and sat looking at her that i was changed i was surprised to hear you say so but i understand now that i am don't be angry with me walter i was too much overjoyed to think of it then she seemed a child to him again it was the ingenuous confiding loving child he saw and heard not the dear woman at whose feet he would have laid the riches of the earth you remember the last time i saw you walter before you went away he put his hand into his breast and took out a little purse i have always worn it round my neck if i had gone down in the deep it would have been with me at the bottom of the sea and you will wear it still walter for my old sake until i die she laid her hand on his as fearlessly and simply as if not a day had intervened since she gave him the little token of remembrance i am glad of that i shall be always glad to think so walter do you recollect that a thought of this change seemed to come into our minds at the same time that evening when we were talking together no he answered in a wandering tone yes walter i had been the means of injuring your hopes and prospects even then i fear to think so then but i know it now if you were able then in your generosity to hide from me that you knew it too you cannot do so now although you try as generously as before you do i thank you for it walter deeply truly but you cannot succeed you have suffered too much in your own hardships and in those of your dearest relation quite to overlook the innocent cause of all the peril and affliction that has befallen you you cannot quite forget me in that character and we can be brother and sister no longer but dear walter do not think that i complain of you in this i might have known it or to have known it but forgot it in my joy all i hope is that you may think of me less irksomely when this feeling is no more a secret one and all i ask is walter in the name of the poor child who was your sister once that you will not struggle with yourself and pain yourself for my sake now that i know all walter had looked upon her while she said this with a face so full of wonder and amazement that it had room for nothing else now he caught up the hand that touched his so intriguingly and held it between his own oh miss domby he said is it possible that while i have been suffering so much in striving with my sense of what is due to you and must be rendered to you i have made you suffer what your words disclose to me never never before heaven have i thought of you but as the single bright pure blessed recollection of my boyhood and my youth never have i from the first and never shall i to the last regard your part in my life but as something sacred never to be lightly thought of never to be esteemed enough never until death to be forgotten again to see your look and hear you speak as you did on that night when we parted is happiness to me that there are no words to utter and to be loved and trusted as your brother is the next great gift i could receive and prize walter said florence looking at him earnestly but with a changing face what is that which is due to me and must be rendered to me at the sacrifice of all this respect said walter in a low tone reverence the color dawned in her face and she timidly and thoughtfully withdrew her hand still looking at him with unabated earnestness i have not a brother's right said walter i have not a brother's claim i left a child i find a woman the color overspread her face she made a gesture as if of entreaty that he would say no more and her face dropped upon her hands they were both silent for a time she weeping i owe it to a heart so trusting pure and good said walter even to tear myself from it though i rend my own how dare i say it is my sister's she was weeping still if you had been happy surround it as you should be by loving and admiring friends and by all that makes the station you were born to enviable said walter and if you had called me brother then in your affectionate remembrance of the past i could have answered to the name from my distant place with no inward assurance that i wronged your spotless truth by doing so but here and now oh thank you thank you walter forgive my having wronged you so much i had no one to advise me i am quite alone florence said walter passionately i am hurried on to say what i thought but a few moments ago nothing could have forced from my lips if i had been prosperous if i had any means or hope of being one day able to restore you to a station near your own i would have told you that there was one name you might bestow upon me a right above all others to protect and cherish you that i was worthy of in nothing but the love and honor that i bore you and in my whole heart being yours i would have told you that it was the only claim that you could give me to defend and guard you which i dare accept and dare assert but that if i had that right i would regard it as a trust so precious and so priceless that the undivided truth and fervor of my life would poorly acknowledge its worth the head was still bent down the tears still falling and the bosom swelling with its sobs dear florence dear florence whom i called so in my thoughts before i could consider how presumptuous and wild it was one last time let me call you by your own dear name and touch this gentle hand in token of your sisterly forgetfulness of what i have said she raised her head and spoke to him with such a solemn sweetness in her eyes with such a calm bright placid smile shining on him through her tears with such a low soft tremble in her frame and voice that the innermost cords of his heart were touched and his sight was dim as he listened no walter i cannot forget it i would not forget it for the world are you are you very poor i am but a wanderer said walter making voyages to live across the sea that is my calling now are you going away again walter very soon she sat looking at him for a moment then timidly put her trembling hand in his if you will take me for your wife walter i will love you dearly if you will let me go with you walter i will go to the world's end without fear i can give up nothing for you i have nothing to resign and no one to forsake but all my love and life shall be devoted to you and with my last breath i will breathe your name to god if i have sense and memory left he caught her to his heart and laid her cheek against his own and now no more repulsed no more forlorn she wept indeed upon the breast of her dear lover blessed sunday bells ringing so tranquilly in their entranced and happy ears blessed sunday peace and quiet harmonizing with the calmness in their souls and making holy air around them blessed twilight stealing on and shading her so soothingly and gravely as she falls asleep like a hush child upon the bosom she has clung to oh load of love and trustfulness that lies so lightly there i look down at the closed eyes walter with a proudly tender gaze for in all the wide world they seek but thee now only thee the captain remained in the little parlor until it was quite dark he took the chair on which walter had been sitting and looked up at the skylight until the day by little and little faded away and the stars peeped out he lighted a candle lighted a pipe smoked it out and wondered what on earth was going on upstairs and why they didn't call him to tea florins came to his side while he was in the height of his wonderment i lady last cried the captain why you and walter have had a long spell of talk my beauty florins put her little hand round one of the great buttons on his coat and said looking down into his face dear captain i want to tell you something if you please the captain raised his head pretty smartly to hear what it was catching by this means a more distinct view of florins he pushed back his chair and himself with it as far as they could go what hearts delight cried the captain suddenly elated is it that yes at florins equally walter husband that roared the captain tossing up his glazed hat into the skylight yes cried florins laughing and crying together the captain immediately hugged her and then picking up the glazed hat and putting it on drew her arm through his and conducted her upstairs again where he felt that the great joke of his life was now to be made what walter my lads of the captain looking in at the door with his face like an amiable warming pan so there ain't no other character ain't there he had liked to have suffocated himself with this pleasantry which he repeated at least 40 times during tea polishing his radiant face with the sleeve of his coat and dabbing his head all over with his pocket handkerchief in the intervals but he was not without a graver source of enjoyment to fall back upon when so disposed for he was repeatedly heard to say in an undertone as he looked with inevitable delight at walter and florins edward cuddle my lad you never shaped a better course in your life than when you made that their little property over jointly end of chapter 50