 Chapter 23 of Dombie and Son Florence Solitary and the Midshipmen Mysterious Florence lived alone in the great dreary house, and day succeeded day, and still she lived alone, and the blank walls looked down upon her with a vacant stare, as if they had a gorgon-like mind to stare her youth and beauty into stone. No magic-dwelling place in magic's story, shut up in the heart of a thick wood, was ever more solitary and deserted to the fancy than was her father's mansion. In its grim reality, as it stood lowering on the street, always by night, when lights were shining from neighboring windows, a blot upon its scanty brightness, always by day, a frown upon its never-smiling face. There were not two dragon sentries keeping ward before the gate of this abode, as in magic legend are usually found on duty over the wronged innocents imprisoned, but besides a glowering visage with its thin lips parted wickedly. That surveyed all comers from above the archway of the door. There was a monstrous fantasy of rusty iron curling and twisting like a petrification of an arbor over the threshold, butting in spikes and corkscrew points, and bearing one on either side, two ominous extinguishers that seem to say, who enter here leave light behind. There were no talismanic characters engraven on the portal, but the house was now so neglected in appearance that boys chalked the railings in the pavement, particularly round the corner where the side wall was, and drew ghosts on the stable door, and being sometimes driven off by Mr. Talinson made portraits of him in return with his ears growing out horizontally from under his hat. Noise ceased to be within the shadow of the roof, the brass band that came into the street once a week in the morning never braided a note in at those windows, but all such company down to a poor little piping organ of weak intellect with an imbecile party of automaton dancers waltzing in and out at folding doors fell off from it with one accord and shunned it as a hopeless place. The spell upon it was more wasting than the spell that used to set enchanted houses sleeping once upon a time, but left their waking freshness unimpaired. The passive desolation of disuse was everywhere silently manifest about it, within doors curtains drooping heavily lost their old folds and shapes, and hung like cumbress pawls, hecatombs of furniture still piled and covered up shrunk like imprisoned and forgotten men and changed insensibly, mirrors were dim as with the breath of years, patterns of carpets faded and became perplexed and faint like the memory of those years trifling incidents, boards starting at unwanted footsteps, creaked and shook, keys rusted in the locks of doors, damp started on the walls and as the stains came out the pictures seemed to go in and secrete themselves, mildew and mold began to lurk in closets, fungus trees grew in corners of the cellars, dust cumulated, nobody knew whence nor how, spiders, moths and grubs were heard of every day, an exploratory black beetle now and then was found immovable upon the stairs or in an upper room as wondering how he got there, rats began to squeak and scuffle in the night time through dark galleries they mined behind the paneling, the dreary magnificence of the state rooms seen imperfectly by the doubtful light admitted through closed shutters would have answered well enough for an enchanted abode, such as the tarnished paws of gilded lions stealthily put out from beneath their wrappers the marble liniments of busts on pedestals fearfully revealing themselves through veils, the clocks that never told the time or if wound up by any chance told it wrong and struck unearthly numbers which are not upon the dial the accidental tinklings among the pendant lusters more startling than alarm bells the softened sounds and laggard air that made their way among these objects and a phantom crowd of others shrouded and hooded and made spectral of shade, but besides there was the great staircase where the lord of the place so rarely set his foot and by which his little child had gone up to heaven there were other staircases and passages where no one went for weeks together there were two closed rooms associated with dead members of the family and with whispered recollections of them and to all the house but Florence there was a gentle figure moving through the solitude and gloom that gave to every lifeless thing a touch of present human interest and wonder for Florence lived alone in the deserted house and day succeeded day and still she lived alone and the cold walls looked down upon her with a vacant stare as if they had a gorgon like mind to stare her youth and beauty into stone the grass began to grow upon the roof and in the crevices of the basement paving a scaly crumbling vegetation sprouted round the windowsills fragments of mortar lost their hold upon the insides of the unused chimneys and came dropping down the two trees with a smoky trunks were blighted high up and the withered branches domineered above the leaves through the whole building white had turned yellow yellow nearly black and since the time when the poor lady died it had slowly become a dark gap in the long monotonous street but Florence bloomed there like the king's fair daughter in the story her books her music and her daily teachers were her only real companions Susan Nipper and Diogenes accepted of whom the former in her attendance on the studies of her young mistress began to grow quite learned herself while the latter soften possibly by the same influences would lay his head upon the window ledge and placidly open and shut his eyes upon the street all through a summer morning sometimes pricking up his head to look with great significance after some noisy dog in a cart who was barking his way along and sometimes with an exasperated and unaccountable recollection of his supposed enemy in the neighborhood rushing to the door whence after a deafening disturbance he would come jogging back with a ridiculous complacency that belonged to him and lay his jaw upon the window ledge again with the air of a dog who had done a public service so Florence lived in her wilderness of a home within the circle of her innocent pursuits and thoughts and nothing harmed her she could go down to her father's rooms now and think of him and suffer her loving heart humbly to approach him without fear of repulse she could look upon the objects that had surrounded him in his sorrow and could nestle near his chair and not dread the glance that she so well remembered she could render him such little tokens of her duty and service as putting everything in order for him with her own hands binding little nose gaze for his table changing them as one by one they withered and he did not come back preparing something for him every day and leaving some timid mark of her presence near his usual seat today it was a little painted stand for his watch tomorrow she would be afraid to leave it and would substitute some other trifle of her making not so likely to attract his eye waking in the night perhaps she would tremble at the thought of his coming home and angrily rejecting it and would hurry down with slipper feet and quickly beating heart and bring it away at another time she would only lay her face upon his desk and leave a kiss there and a tear still no one knew of this unless the household found it out when she was not there and they all held Mr. Dombie's rooms in awe it was as deep a secret in her breast as what had gone before it Florence stole into these rooms at twilight early in the morning and at times when meals were served downstairs and although they were in every nook the better and the brighter for her care she entered and passed out as quietly as any sunbeam accepting that she left her light behind shadowy company attended Florence up and down the echoing house and sat with her in the dismantled rooms as if her life were an enchanted vision there arose out of her solitude ministering thoughts that made it fanciful and unreal she imagined so often what her life would have been if her father could have loved her and she had been a favorite child that sometimes for the moment she almost believed it was so and born on by the current of that pensive fiction seemed to remember how they had watched her brother in his grave together how they had freely shared his heart between them how they were united in the dear remembrance of him how they often spoke about him yet and her kind father looking at her gently told her of their common hope and trust in God at other times she pictured to herself her mother yet alive and oh the happiness of falling on her neck and clinging to her with a love and confidence of all her soul and oh the desolation of the solitary house again with evening coming on and no one there but there was one thought scarcely shaped out to herself yet fervent and strong within her that upheld Florence when she strove and filled her true young heart so sorely tried with constancy of purpose into her mind as into all others contending with the great affliction of our mortal nature there had stolen solemn wonderings and hopes arising in the dim world beyond the present life and murmuring like faint music of recognition in the far off land between her brother and her mother of some present consciousness in both of her some love and commiseration for her and some knowledge of her as she went her way upon the earth it was a soothing consolation to Florence to give shelter to these thoughts until one day it was soon after she had last seen her father in his own room late at night the fancy came upon her that in weeping for his alienated heart she might stir the spirits of the dead against him wild weak childish as it may have been to think so and to tremble at the half form thought it was the impulse of her loving nature and from that hour Florence strove against the cruel wound in her breast and tried to think of him whose hand had made it only with hope her father did not know she held to it from that time how much she loved him she was very young and had no mother and had never learned by some fault or misfortune how to express to him that she loved him she would be patient and would try to gain that art in time and win him to a better knowledge of his only child this became the purpose of her life the morning sun shown down upon the faded house and found the resolution bright and fresh within the bosom of its solitary mistress through all the duties of the day it animated her for Florence hoped that the more she knew and the more accomplished she became the more glad he would be when he came to know and like her sometimes she wondered with a swelling heart and a rising tear whether she was proficient enough in anything to surprise him when they should become companions sometimes she tried to think if there were any kind of knowledge that would bespeak his interest more readily than another always at her books her music and her work in her morning walks and in her nightly prayers she had her engrossing aim in view strange study for a child to learn the road to a hard parent's heart there were many careless lounges through the street as the summer evening deepened in tonight who glanced across the road at the somber house and saw the youthful figure at the window such a contrast to it looking upward at the stars as they began to shine who would have slept the worse if they had known on what design she mused so steadfastly the reputation of the mansion as a haunted house would not have been the gayer with some humble dwellers elsewhere who were struck by its external gloom in passing and repassing on their daily avocations and so named it if they could have read its story in the darkening face but Florence held her sacred purpose unsuspected and unaided and studied only how to bring her father to the understanding that she loved him and made no appeal against him in any wandering thought thus Florence lived alone in the deserted house and day succeeded day and still she lived alone and the notness walls look down upon her with a stare as if they had a gorgon-like intent to stare her youth and beauty into stone Susan Nipper stood opposite to her young mistress one morning as she folded and sealed a note she had been writing and showed in her looks and approving knowledge of its contents better late than ever dear Miss Floyd said Susan and I do say that even a visit to them old Skelos's will be a godsend it is very good of sir Barnett and ladies Skelos Susan return Florence with a mild correction of that young ladies familiar mention of the family in question to repeat their invitation so kindly Miss Nipper who was perhaps the most thoroughgoing partisan on the face of the earth and who carried her partisanship into all matters great or small and perpetually waged war with it against society screwed up her lips and shook her head as a protest against any recognition of disinterestedness in the Skelos's and a plea in bar that they would have valuable consideration for their kindness in the company of Florence they know what they're about if ever people did merman Miss Nipper drawing in her breath oh trust them Skelos's for that I am not very anxious to go to fulham Susan I confess said Florence thoughtfully but it will be right to go I think it will be better much better into pose Susan with another emphatic shake of her head and so said Florence though I would prefer to have gone when there was no one there instead of in this vacation time when it seems there are some young people staying in the house I have thankfully said yes for which I say Miss Floyd oh be joyful return Susan this last ejaculation with which Miss Nipper frequently wound up a sentence at about that epoch of time was supposed below the level of the hall to have a general reference to Mr. Dombie and to be expressive of a yearning in Miss Nipper to favor that gentleman with a piece of her mind but she never explained it and it had in consequence the charm of mystery in addition to the advantage of the sharpest expression how long it is before we have any news of Walter Susan observed Florence after a moment's silence long indeed Miss Floyd replied her maid and perch said when he came just now to see for letters but what signifies what he says exclaimed Susan reddening and breaking off much he knows about it Florence raised her eyes quickly and a flush overspread her face if I hadn't said Susan Nipper evidently struggling with some latent anxiety and alarm and looking full at her young mistress while endeavoring to work herself into a state of resentment with the unoffending Mr. Perch's image if I hadn't more manliness than that insipidist of his sex I'd never take pride in my hair again but turn it up behind my ears and wear coarse caps without a bit of border until death released me from my insignificance I may not be a Amazon miss Floyd and wouldn't so demean myself by such disfigurement but anyways I'm not a give her up I hope give up what cried Florence with a face of terror why nothing miss had Susan good gracious nothing it's only that wet curl paper of a man perch that anyone might almost make away with with a touch and really it would be a blessed event for all parties if someone would take pity on him and would have the goodness does he give up the ship Susan inquired Florence very pale no miss return Susan I should like to see him make so bold as to do it to my face no miss but he goes on about some bothering ginger that Mr. Walter was to send to Mrs. Perch and shakes his dismal head and says he hopes it may be coming anyhow he says it can't come now in time for the intended occasion but may do for next which really said miss Nipper with aggravated scorn puts me out of patience with a man for though I can bear a great deal I am not a camel neither am I added Susan after a moment's consideration if I know myself a drama Derry neither what else does he say Susan inquired Florence earnestly won't you tell me as if I wouldn't tell you anything miss Floyd and everything said Susan why miss he says that there begins to be a general talk about the ship and that they have never had a ship on that voyage half so long unheard of and that the captain's wife was at the office yesterday and seemed a little put out about it but anyone could say that we knew nearly that before I must visit Walter's uncle said Florence hurriedly before I leave home I will go and see him this morning let us walk there directly Susan miss Nipper having nothing to urge against the proposal but being perfectly acquiescent they were soon equipped and in the streets and on their way towards a little midshipmen the state of mind in which poor Walter had gone to Captain Cuddles on the day when Broglie the broker came into possession and when there seemed to him to be an execution in the very steeples was pretty much the same as that in which Florence now took her way to Uncle Sal's with this difference that Florence suffered the added pain of thinking that she had been perhaps the innocent occasion of involving Walter in peril and all to whom he was dear herself included in an agony of suspense for the rest uncertainty and danger seemed written upon everything the weather cocks on spires and house tops were mysterious with hints of stormy wind and pointed like so many ghostly fingers out to dangerous seas where fragments of great wrecks were drifting perhaps and helpless men were rocked upon them into a sleep as deep as the unfathomable waters when Florence came into the city and past gentlemen who were talking together she dreaded to hear them speaking of the ship and saying it was lost pictures and prints of vessels fighting with the rolling waves filled her with alarm the smoke and clouds though moving gently move too fast for her apprehensions and made her fear there was a tempest blowing at that moment on the ocean Susan Nipper may or may not have been affected similarly but having her attention much engaged in struggles with boys whenever there was any press of people for between that grade of humankind and herself there was some natural animosity that invariably broke out whenever they came together and it would seem that she had not much leisure on the road for intellectual operations arriving in good time abreast of the wooden mid shipment on the opposite side of the way and waiting for an opportunity to cross the street they were a little surprised at first to see at the instrument makers door around headed lad with his chubby face addressed towards the sky who as they looked at him suddenly thrust into his capacious mouth two fingers of each hand and with the assistance of that machinery whistled with astonishing shrillness to some pigeons at a considerable elevation in the air Mrs. Richard's eldest miss said Susan and the word of Mrs. Richard's life as Polly had been to tell Florence of the resuscitated prospects of her son and heir Florence was prepared for the meeting so a favorable moment presented itself they both hastened across without any further contemplation of Mrs. Richard's bane that sporting character unconscious of their approach again whistled with his utmost might and then yelled in a rapture of excitement strays who strays which identification had such an effect upon the conscious stricken pigeons that instead of going direct to some town in the north of England as appeared to have been their original intention they began to wheel and falter where upon Mrs. Richard's first born pierced them with another whistle and again yelled in a voice that rose above the turmoil of the street strays who strays from this transport he was abruptly recalled to terrestrial objects by a poke from Miss Nipper which sent him into the shop is this the way you show your penitence when Mrs. Richard's has been fretting for you months and months set Susan following the poke where's Mr. Gills Rob who smoothed his first rebellious glance at Miss Nipper when he saw Florence following put his knuckles to his hair in honor of the latter and said to the former that Mr. Gills was out fetch him home said Miss Nipper with authority and say that my young ladies here I don't know where he's gone said Rob is that your penitence cried Susan with stinging sharpness why how can I go fetch him when I don't know where to go whimpered the baited Rob how can you be so unreasonable did Mr. Gills say when he should be home asked Florence yes miss replied Rob with another application of his knuckles to his hair he said he should be home early in the afternoon in about a couple of hours from now miss is he very anxious about his nephew inquired Susan yes miss returned Rob preferring to address himself to Florence and slighting Nipper I should say he was very much so he ain't indoors miss not a quarter of an hour together he can't settle in one place five minutes he goes about like a like just like a stray said Rob stooping to get a glimpse of the pigeons through the window and checking himself with his fingers halfway to his mouth on the verge of another whistle do you know a friend of Mr. Gills called Captain Cuddle inquired Florence after a moment's reflection him with a hook miss rejoined Rob with an illustrative twist of his left hand yes miss he was here the day before yesterday has he not been here since asked Susan no miss returned Rob still addressing his reply to Florence perhaps Walter's uncle has gone there Susan observed Florence turning to her to Captain Cuddle's miss into post Rob no he's not there gone there miss because he left particular word that if Captain Cuddle called I should tell him how surprised he was not to have seen him yesterday and should make him stop till he came back do you know where Captain Cuddle lived asked Florence Rob replied in the affirmative and turning to a greasy parchment book on the shop desk read the address aloud Florence again turned to her maid and took counsel with her in a low voice while Rob the round eyed mindful of his patron secret charge looked on and listened Florence proposed that they should go to Captain Cuddle's house hear from his own lips what he thought of the absence of any tidings of the sun and air and bring him if they could to comfort old Uncle Saul Susan at first objected slightly on the score of distance but a hackney coach being mentioned by her mistress withdrew that opposition and gave in her a sin there were some minutes of discussion between them before they came to this conclusion during which the staring Rob paid close attention to both speakers and inclined his ear to each by turns as if he were appointed arbitrator of the arguments in fine Rob was dispatched for a coach the visitors keeping shop meanwhile and when he brought it they got into it leaving word for Uncle Saul that they would be sure to call again on their way back Rob having stared after the coach until it was as invisible as the pigeons had now become sat down behind the desk with a most assiduous demeanor and in order that he might forget nothing of what had transpired made notes on it on various small scraps of paper with a vast expenditure of ink there was no danger of these documents betraying anything if accidentally lost for long before a word was dry it became as profound a mystery to Rob as if he had no part whatever in its production while he was yet busy with these labors the hackney coach after encountering unheard of difficulties from swivel bridges soft roads impassable canals caravans of casks settlements of scarlet beans and little wash houses and many such obstacles abounding in that country stopped at the corner of Brigplace a lighting here Florence and Susan Nipper walked down the street and sought out the abode of Captain Cuddle it happened by evil chance to be one of Mrs. Mcstinger's great cleaning days on these occasions Mrs. Mcstinger was knocked up by the policemen at a quarter before three in the morning and rarely succumbed before twelve o'clock next night the chief object of this institution appeared to be that Mrs. Mcstinger should move all the furniture into the back garden at early dawn walk about the house in patterns all day and move the furniture back again after dark these ceremonies greatly fluttered those doves the young Mcstingers who were not only unable at such times to find any resting place for the soles of their feet but generally came in for a good deal of pecking from the maternal bird during the progress of the some lemnities at the moment when Florence and Susan Nipper presented themselves at Mrs. Mcstinger's door that worthy but redoubtable female was in the act of conveying Alexander Mcstinger aged two years and three months along the passage for forcible deposition in a sitting posture on the street pavement Alexander being black in the face with holding his breath after punishment and a cool paving stone being usually found to act as a powerful restorative in such cases the feelings of Mrs. Mcstinger as a woman and a mother were outraged by the look of pity for Alexander which she observed on Florence's face therefore Mrs. Mcstinger asserting those finest emotions of our nature in preference to weakly gratifying her curiosity shook and buffeted Alexander both before and during the application of the paving stone and took no further notice of the strangers I beg your pardon ma'am said Florence when the child had found his breath again and was using it is this Captain Cuddle's house no said Mrs. Mcstinger not number nine asked Florence hesitating who said it wasn't number nine said Mrs. Mcstinger Susan Nipper instantly struck in and begged to inquire what Mrs. Mcstinger meant by that and if she knew whom she was talking to Mrs. Mcstinger in retort looked at her all over what do you want with Captain Cuddle I should wish to know said Mrs. Mcstinger should you then I'm sorry that you won't be satisfied returned Miss Nipper hush Susan if you please said Florence perhaps you can have the goodness to tell us where Captain Cuddle lives ma'am as he don't live here who says he don't live here retorted the implacable Max Stinger I said it wasn't Captain Cuddle's house and it ain't his house and forbid it that it ever should be his house for Captain Cuddle don't know how to keep a house and don't deserve to have a house it's my house and when I let the upper floor to Captain Cuddle oh do I do a thankless thing and cast pearls before swine Mrs. Mcstinger pitched her voice for the upper windows in offering these remarks and cracked off each clause sharply by itself as if from a rifle possessing an infinity of barrels after the last shot the captain's voice was heard to say in feeble remonstrance from his own room steady below since you want Captain Cuddle there he is said Mrs. Mcstinger with an angry motion of her hand on Florence making bold to enter without any more parlay and on Susan following Mrs. Mcstinger recommenced her pedestrian exercise in patents and Alexander Max Stinger still on the paving stone who had stopped in his crying to attend to the conversation began to wail again entertaining himself during that dismal performance which was quite mechanical with a general survey of the prospect terminating in the Hackney coach the cap in his own apartment was sitting with his hands in his pockets and legs drawn up under the chair on a very small desolate island lying about midway in an ocean of soap and water the captain's windows had been cleaned the walls had been cleaned the stove had been cleaned and everything the stove accepted was wet and shining with soft soap and sand the smell of which dry sultry impregnated the air in the midst of the dreary scene the captain cast away upon his island looked round on the waste of waters with a rueful countenance and seemed waiting for some friendly bark to come that way and take him off but when the captain directing his foreign larn visage towards the door saw Florence appear with her maid no words can describe his astonishment mrs. mcstinger's eloquence having rendered all other sounds but imperfectly distinguishable he had looked for no rarer visitor than the pot boy or the milkman wherefore when Florence appeared and coming to the confines of the island put her hand in his the captain stood up aghast as if he supposed her for the moment to be some young member of the flying dutchman's family instantly recovering his self-possession however the captain's first care was to place her on dry land which he happily accomplished with one motion of his arm issuing forth then upon the main captain cuddle took miss nip around the waste and bore her to the island also captain cuddle then with great respect and admiration raised the hand of Florence to his lips and standing off a little for the island was not large enough for three beamed on her from the soap and water like a new description of triton you are amazed to see us i am sure said Florence with a smile the inexpressibly gratified captain kissed his hook in reply and growled as if a choice and delicate compliment were included in the words stand by stand by but i couldn't rest at Florence without coming to ask you what you think about dear walter who is my brother now and whether there is anything to fear and whether you will not go and console his poor uncle every day until we have some intelligence of him at these words captain cuddle as by an involuntary gesture clapped his hand to his head on which the hard glazed hat was not and looked discomforted have you any fears for walter safety inquired Florence from whose face the captain so enraptured he was with it could not take his eyes while she in her turn looked earnestly at him to be assured of the sincerity of his reply no hearts delight said captain cuddle i am not a fared walter is a lad as a go through a deal of hard weather walter is a lad as a bring as much success to that air brig as a lad is capable on walter said the captain his eyes glistening with the praise of his young friend and his hook raised to announce a beautiful quotation is what you may call an outward and visible sign of an inward and spirited grasp and when found make a note of Florence who did not quite understand this though the captain evidently thought it full of meaning and highly satisfactory mildly look to him for something more i am not a feared my hearts delight resume the captain there's been most uncommon bad weather in them latitudes there's no denying and they have drove and drove and been beat off maybe to the other side of the world but the ship's a good ship and the lads a good lad and it ain't easy thank the lord captain made a little bow to break up hearts of oak whether they're in briggs or bosoms here we have them both ways which is bringing it up with a round turn and so i ain't a bit of feared as yet as yet repeated Florence not a bit returned the captain kissing his iron hand and before i begin to be my heart's delight walter will have wrote home from the island or from some port or another and made all taught and ship shape and with regard to old sol gills here the captain became solemn who all stand by and not desert until death do us part and when the stormy winds do blow do blow do blow overhaul the catechism said the captain parenthetically and there you'll find them expressions if it would console sol gills to have the opinion of a seafaring man as has got a mind equal to any undertaking that he puts it alongside of and as was all but smashed in his prentice ship and of which the name is bunsby that airman shall give him such an opinion in his own parlor as will stun him ah said captain cuddle hauntingly as much as if he'd gone and knocked his head again adore let us take this gentleman to see him and let us hear what he says cried Florence will you go with us now we have a coach here again the captain clapped his hand to his head on which the hard glazed hat was not and looked discomforted but at this instant a most remarkable phenomenon occurred the door opening without any note of preparation and apparently of itself the hard glazed hat in question skimmed into the room like a bird and alighted heavily at the captain's feet the door then shut as violently as it had opened and nothing ensued in explanation of the prodigy captain cuddle picked up his hat and having turned it over with a look of interest and welcome began to polish it on his sleeve while doing so the captain eyed his visitors intently and said in a low voice you see i should have bore down on sol gills yesterday and this morning but she she took it away and kept it that's the long and short of the subject who did for goodness sakes at susan nipper the lady of the house my dear returned the captain in a gruff whisper and making signals of secrecy we had some words about the swabbing of these here planks and she in short said the captain eyeing the door and relieving himself with a long breath she stopped my liberty oh i wish she had me to deal with said susan reddening with the energy of the wish i'd stop her would you do you think my dear rejoined the captain shaking his head doubtfully but regarding the desperate courage of the fair aspirant with obvious admiration i don't know it's difficult navigation she's very hard to carry on with my dear you never can tell how she'll head you see she's full one minute and round upon you next and when she is a tartar said the captain with a perspiration breaking out upon his forehead there was nothing but a whistle emphatic enough for the conclusion of the sentence so the captain whistled tremulously after which he again shook his head and recurring to his admiration of miss nipper's devoted bravery timidly repeated would you do you think my dear susan only replied with a bridling smile but that was so full of defiance that there is no knowing how long captain cuddle might have stood entranced in its contemplation if florence in her anxiety had not again proposed they're immediately resorting to the iracula bunsby thus reminded of his duty captain cuddle put on the glazed hat firmly took up another knobby stick with which he had supplied the place of that one given to walter and offering his arm to florence prepared to cut his way through the enemy it turned out however that mrs. mix stinger had already changed her course and that she headed as the captain had remarked she often did in quite a new direction for when they got downstairs they found that exemplary woman beating the mats on the doorsteps with alexander still upon the paving stone dimly looming through a fog of dust and so absorbed was mrs. mix stinger in her household occupation that when captain cuddle and his visitors passed she beat the harder and neither by word nor gesture showed any consciousness of their vicinity the captain was so well pleased with this easy escape although the effect of the doormat on him was like a copious administration of snuff and made him sneeze until the tears ran down his face that he could hardly believe his good fortune but more than once between the door and the hackney coach looked over his shoulder with an obvious apprehension of mrs. mix stingers giving chase yet however they got to the corner of brig place without any molestation from that terrible fire ship and the captain mounting the coach box for his gallantry would not allow him to ride inside with the ladies though besought to do so piloted the driver on his course for captain bunsby's vessel which was called cautious clara and was lying hard by rat cliff arriving at the wharf off which this great commander's ship was jammed in among some 500 companions whose tangled rigging looked like monstrous cobwebs half swept down captain cuttle appeared at the coach window and invited florence and miss nipper to accompany him on board observing that bunsby was to the last degree soft-hearted in respect of ladies and that nothing would so much tend to bring his expansive intellect into a state of harmony as their presentation to the cautious clara florence readily consented and the captain taking her little hand in his prodigious palm led her with a mixed expression of patronage paternity pride and ceremony that was pleasant to see over several very dirty decks until coming to the clara they found that cautious craft which lay outside the tear with her gangway removed and half a dozen feet of river interposed between herself and her nearest neighbor it appeared from captain cuttle's explanation that the great bunsby like himself was cruelly treated by his landlady and that when her usage of him for the time being was so hard that he could bear it no longer he set this gulf between them as a last resource clara ahoy cried the captain putting a hand to each side of his mouth ahoy cried a boy like the captain's echo tumbling up from below bunsby aboard cried the captain hailing the boy in a stentorian voice as if he were a half a mile off instead of two yards ii cried the boy in the same tone the boy then shoved out a plank to captain cuttle who adjusted it carefully and led florence across returning presently for miss nipper so they stood upon the deck of the cautious clara in whose standing rigging diverse fluttering articles of dress were curing in company with a few tongues and some mackerel immediately there appeared coming slowly up above the bulkhead of the cabin another bulkhead human and very large with one stationary eye in the mahogany face and one revolving one on the principle of some lighthouses this head was decorated with shaggy hair like okam which had no governing inclination toward the north east west or south but inclined to all four quarters of the compass and to every point upon it the head was followed by a perfect desert of chin and by a shirt collar and necker chief and by a dreadnought pilot coat and by a pair of dreadnought pilot trousers where of the waistband was so very broad and high that it became a succadanium for a waistcoat being ornamented near the wearer's breastbone with some massive wooden buttons like backgammon men as the lower portion of these pantaloons became revealed bunsby stood confessed his hands in their pockets which were of vast size and his gaze directed not to captain cuddle or the ladies but the mast head the profound appearance of this philosopher who was bulky and strong and on whose extremely red face an expression of taciturnity sat enthroned not inconsistent with his character in which that quality was proudly conspicuous almost daunted captain cuddle though unfamiliar terms with him whispering to florins that bunsby had never in his life expressed surprise and was considered not to know what it meant the captain watched him as he eyed his mast head and afterwards swept the horizon and when the revolving eyes seemed to be coming around in his direction said bunsby my lad how fares it a deep gruff husky utterance which seemed to have no connection with bunsby and certainly had not the least effect upon his face replied aye aye ship met how goes it at the same time bunsby's right hand and arm emerging from a pocket shook the captains and went back again bunsby said the captain striking home at once here you are a man of mind and a man as can give an opinion here's a young lady as wants to take that opinion in regard of my friend walter likewise my the other friend sol gills which is a character for you to come within hail of being a man of science which is mother of invention and knows no law bunsby will you wear to oblige me and come along with us the great commander who seemed by the expression of his visage to be always on the lookout for something in the extremist distance and to have no oracular knowledge of anything within 10 miles made no reply whatever here is a man said the captain addressing himself to his fair auditors and indicating the commander with his outstretched hook that has fell down more than any man alive that has had more accidents happen to his own self than the seamen's hospital to all hands that took as many spars and bars and bolts about the outside of his head when he was young as you'd want a order for on chatham yard to build a pleasure yacht with and yet that got his opinions in that way it's my belief for there ain't nothing like him afloat or ashore the stolid commander appeared by a very slight vibration in his elbows to express some satisfaction in this encomium but if his face had been as distant as his gaze was it could hardly have enlightened the beholder's less in reference to anything that was passing in his thoughts ship met said bunsby all of a sudden and stooping down to look out under some interposing spar what if the ladies drink captain cuddle whose delicacy was shocked by such an inquiry in connection with florence drew the sage aside and seemed to explain in his ear accompanied him below where that he might not take offense the captain drank a dram himself which florence and susan glancing down the open skylight saw the sage with difficulty finding room for himself between his birth and a very little brass fireplace serve out for self and friend they soon reappeared on deck and captain cuddle triumphing in the cess of his enterprise conducted florence back to the coach while bunsby followed a scouting miss nipper whom he hugged upon the way much to that young lady's indignation with his pilot coated arm like a blue bear the captain put his oracle inside and gloried so much in having secured him and having got that mind into a hackney coach that he could not refrain from often peeping in at florence through the little window behind the driver and testifying his delight in smiles and also in taps upon his forehead to hint to her that the brain of bunsby was hard at it in the meantime bunsby still hugging miss nipper for his friend the captain had not exaggerated the softness of his heart uniformly preserved his gravity of deportment and showed no other consciousness of her or anything uncle sol who had come home received them at the door and ushered them immediately into the little back parlor strangely altered by the absence of walter on the table and about the room were the charts and maps on which the heavy-hearted instrument maker had again and again tracked the missing vessel across the sea and on which with a pair of compasses that he still had in his hand he had been measuring a minute before how far she must have driven to have driven here or there and trying to demonstrate that a long time must elapse before hope was exhausted whether she can have run said uncle sol looking wistfully over the chart but no that's almost impossible or whether she can have been forced by stress of weather but that's not reasonably likely or whether there is any hope she so far changed her course as but even i can hardly hope that with such broken suggestions poor old uncle sol roamed over the great sheet before him and could not find a spec of hopeful probability in it large enough to set one small point of the compasses upon florence saw immediately it would have been difficult to help seeing that there was a singular indescribable change in the old man and that while his manner was far more restless and unsettled than usual there was yet a curious and contradictory decision in it that perplexed her very much she fancied once that he spoke wildly and at random for on her saying she regretted not to have seen him when she had been there before that morning he at first replied that he had been to see her and directly afterwards seemed to wish to recall that answer you have been to see me said florence today yes my dear young lady returned uncle sol looking at her and away from her in a confused manner i wish to see with my own eyes and to hear you with my own ears once more before then he stopped before what before when said florence putting her hand upon his arm did i say before replied old sol if i did i must have meant before we should have news of my dear boy you are not well said florence tenderly you have been so very anxious i am sure you are not well i am as well returned the old man shutting up his right hand and holding it out to show her as well and as firm as any man at my time of life can hope to be see it's steady is its master not as capable of resolution and fortitude as many a younger man i think so we shall see there was that in his manner more than in his words though they remained with her too which impressed florence so much that she would have confided her uneasiness to captain cuddle at that moment if the captain had not seized that moment for expounding the state of circumstances on which the opinion of the sagacious bunsby was requested and in treating that profound authority to look to deliver the same bunsby whose eye continued to be addressed to somewhere about the halfway house between london and gravesend two or three times put out his rough right arm as seeking to wind it for inspiration round the fair form of miss nipper but that young female having withdrawn herself in displeasure to the opposite side of the table the soft heart of the commander of the cautious clara met with no response to its impulses after sundry failures in this wise the commander addressing himself to nobody thus spake or rather the voice within him said of its own accord and quite independent of himself as if he were possessed by a gruff spirit my name's jack bunsby he was christen john said the delighted captain cuddle hear him and what i says pursued the voice after some deliberation i stands to the captain with florence on his arm nodded at the auditory and seemed to say now he's coming out this is what i meant when i brought him whereby preceded the voice why not if so what odds can any man say otherwise no awas then when it had pursued its train of argument to this point the voice stopped and rested it then proceeded very slowly thus do i believe that this here son and air has gone down my lady may have do i say so which if a skipper stands out by sen george's channel making for the downs what's right ahead of him the good ones he isn't forced to run upon the good ones but he may the bearings of this observation lays in the application on it that ain't no part of my duty awas then keep a bright look out forward and good luck to you the voice here went out of the back parlor and into the street taking the commander of the cautious clara with it and accompanying him on board again with all convenient expedition where he immediately turned in and refreshed his mind with a nap the students of the sages precepts left to their own application of his wisdom upon a principle which was the main leg of the bunsby tripod as it is per chance of some other irraculous stools looked upon one another in a little uncertainty where upon rob the grinder who had taken the innocent freedom of peering in and listening through the skylight in the roof came softly down from the leads in a state of very dense confusion captain cuddle however whose admiration of bunsby was if possible enhanced by the splendid manner in which he had justified his reputation and come through this solemn reference proceeded to explain that bunsby meant nothing but confidence that bunsby had no misgivings and that such an opinion as that man had given coming from such a mind as his was hope's own anchor with good roads to cast it in florence endeavored to believe that the captain was right but the nipper with her arms tight folded shook her head in resolute denial and had no more trust in bunsby than in mr perch himself the philosophers seem to have left uncle sol pretty much where he had found him for he was still roaming about the watery world compasses in hand and discovering no rest for them it was in pursuance of a whisper in his ear from florence while the old man was absorbed in this pursuit that captain cuddle laid his heavy hand upon his shoulder what cheer sol gills cried the captain heartily but so so Ned returned the instrument maker I have been remembering all this afternoon that on the very day when my boy entered donby's house and came home late to dinner sitting just there where you stand we talked of storm and shipwreck and I could hardly turn him from the subject but meeting the eyes of florence which were fixed with earnest scrutiny upon his face the old man stopped and smiled standby old friend cried the captain look alive I tell you what sol gills after I've conveyed hearts delight safe home here the captain kissed his hook to florence I'll come back and take you in tow for the rest of this blessed day you'll come and eat your dinner along with me sol somewheres or other not today Ned said the old man quickly and appearing to be unaccountably startled by the proposition not today I couldn't do it why not return the captain gazing at him in astonishment I have so much to do I mean to think of and arrange I couldn't do it Ned indeed I must go out again and be alone and turn my mind to many many things today the captain looked at the instrument maker and looked at florence and again at the instrument maker tomorrow then he suggested at last yes yes tomorrow said the old man think of me tomorrow say tomorrow I shall come here early mind sol gills stipulated the captain yes yes the first thing tomorrow morning said the old sol and now goodbye Ned cuddle and god bless you squeezing both captain's hands with uncommon fervor as he said it the old man turned to florence folded hers in his own and put them to his lips then hurried her out to the coach with very singular precipitation altogether he made such an effect upon captain cuddle that the captain lingered behind an instructed Rob to be particularly gentle and attentive to his master until the morning which in junction he strengthened with the payment of one shilling down and the promise of another six pence before noon next day this kind office performed captain cuddle who considered himself the natural and lawful bodyguard of florence mounted the box with a mighty sense of his trust and escorted her home at parting he assured her that he would stand by sol gills close and true and once again inquired of susan nipper unable to forget her gallant words in reference to mrs. Mcstinger would you do you think my dear though when the desolate house had closed upon the two the captain's thoughts reverted to the old instrument maker and he felt uncomfortable therefore instead of going home he walked up and down the street several times and eking out his leisure until evening dined late at a certain angular little tavern in the city with a public parlor like a wedge to which glazed hats much resorted the captain's principal intention was to pass sol gills after dark and look in through the window which he did the parlor door stood open and he could see his old friend writing busily and steadily at the table within while the little midshipmen already sheltered from the night dues watched him from the counter under which rob the grinder made his own bed preparatory to shutting the shop reassured by the tranquility that reigned within the precincts of the wooden mariner the captain headed for brig place resolving to weigh anchor betimes in the morning end of chapter 23 chapter 24 of domby and son this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org domby and son by charles dickens chapter 24 the study of a loving heart recording by scintilla lions sir barnett and lady scettles very good people resided in a pretty villa at fulham on the banks of the which was one of the most desirable residences in the world when a rowing match happened to be going past but had its little inconveniences at other times among which may be enumerated the occasional appearance of the river in the drawing room and the contemporaneous disappearance of the lawn and shrubbery sir barnett scettles expressed his personal consequence chiefly through an antique gold snuff box and a ponderous silk pocket handkerchief which he had an opposing manner of drawing out of his pocket like a banner and using with both hands at once sir barnett's object in life was constantly to extend the range of his acquaintance like a heavy body dropped into water not to disparage so worthy a gentleman by the comparison it was in the nature of things that sir barnett must spread an ever-widening circle about him until there was no room left or like a sound in the air the vibration of which according to the speculation of an ingenious modern philosopher may go on traveling forever through the interminable fields of space nothing but coming to the end of his moral tether could stop sir barnett's scettles in his voyage of discovery through the social system sir barnett was proud of making people acquainted with people he liked the thing for its own sake and it advanced his favorite object too for example if sir barnett had the good fortune to get hold of a raw recruit or a country gentleman and ensnared him to his hospitable villa sir barnett would say to him on the morning after his arrival now my dear sir is there anybody you would like to know who is there you would wish to meet do you take any interest in writing people or in painting or in sculpturing people or in acting people or in anything of that sort possibly the patient answered yes and mentioned somebody of whom sir barnett had no more personal knowledge than of ptolemy the great sir barnett replied that nothing on earth was easier as he knew him very well immediately called on the aforesaid somebody left his card wrote a short note my dear sir penalty of your eminent position friend at my house naturally desirous ladies scettles and myself participate trust that genius being superior to ceremonies you will do us the distinguished favor of giving us the pleasure etc etc and so killed a brace of birds with one stone dead as doornails with the snuff box and banner in full force sir barnett scettles propounded his usual inquiry to florence on the first morning of her visit when florence thanked him and said there was no one in particular whom she desired to see it was natural she should think with a pang of poor lost walter when sir barnett scettles urging his kind offer said my dear miss domby are you sure you can remember no one whom your good papa to whom i beg you to present the best compliments of myself and ladies scettles when you write might wish you to know it was natural perhaps that her poor head should droop a little and that her voice should tremble as it softly answered in the negative scettles jr much stiffened as to his cravat and sobered down as to his spirits was at home for the holidays and appeared to feel himself aggrieved by the solicitude of his excellent mother that he should be attentive to florence another and a deeper injury under which the soul of young barnett chafed was the company of doctor and mrs blimber who had been invited on a visit to the paternal roof tree and of whom the young gentleman often said he would have preferred their passing the vacation at jericho is there anybody you can suggest now dr blimber said sir barnett scettles turning to that gentleman you are very kind sir barnett returned dr blimber really i am not aware that there is in particular i like to know my fellow men in general sir barnett what does tarence say anyone who is the parent of a son is interesting to me has mrs blimber any wish to see any remarkable person asked sir barnett courteously mrs blimber replied with a sweet smile and a shake of her sky blue cap that if sir barnett could have made her known to cicero she would have troubled him but such an introduction not being feasible and she already enjoying the friendship of himself and his amiable lady and possessing with the doctor her husband their joint confidence in regard to their dear son here young barnett was observed to curl his nose she asked no more sir barnett was feign under these circumstances to content himself for the time with the company assembled florins was glad of that for she had a study to pursue among them and it lay too near her heart and was too precious and momentous to yield to any other interest there were some children staying in the house children who were as frank and happy with fathers and with mothers as those rosy faces opposite home children who had no restraint upon their love and freely showed it florins sought to learn their secret sought to find out what it was she had missed what simple art they knew and she knew not how she could be taught by them to show her father that she loved him and to win his love again many a day did florins thoughtfully observe these children on many a bright morning did she leave her bed when the glorious sun rose and walking up and down upon the river's bank before anyone in the house was stirring look up at the windows of their rooms and think of them asleep so gently tended and affectionately thought of florins would feel more lonely then than in the great house all alone and would think sometimes that she was better there than here and that there was greater peace in hiding herself than in mingling with others of her age and finding how unlike them all she was but attentive to her study though it touched her to the quick at every little leaf she turned in the hard book florins remained among them and tried with patient hope to gain the knowledge that she wear it for ah how to gain it how to know the charm in its beginning there were daughters here who rose up in the morning and laid down to rest at night possessed a father's hearts already they had no impulse to overcome no coldness to dread no frown to smooth away as the morning advanced and the windows opened one by one and the dew began to dry upon the flowers and grass and youthful feet began to move upon the lawn florins glancing round at the bright faces thought what was there she could learn from these children it was too late to learn from them each could approach her father fearlessly and put up her lips to meet the ready kiss and wind her arm about the neck that bent down to caress her she could not begin by being so bold oh could it be that there was less and less hope as she studied more and more she remembered well that even the old woman who had robbed her when a little child whose image and whose house and all she had said and done were stamped upon her recollection with the enduring sharpness of a fearful impression made at that early period of life had spoken fondly of her daughter and how terribly even she had cried out in the pain of hopeless separation from her child but her own mother she would think again when she recalled this had loved her well then sometimes when her thoughts reverted swiftly to the void between herself and her father florins would tremble and the tears would start upon her face as she pictured to herself her mother living on and coming also to dislike her because of her wanting the unknown grace that should conciliate that father naturally and had never done so from her cradle she knew that this imagination did wrong to her mother's memory and had no truth in it or base to rest upon and yet she tried so hard to justify him and to find the whole blame in herself that she could not resist in passing like a wild cloud through the distance of her mind there came among the other visitors soon after Florence one beautiful girl three or four years younger than she who was an orphan child and who was accompanied by her aunt a gray haired lady who spoke much to Florence and who greatly liked but that they all did to hear her sing of an evening and would always sit near her at that time with motherly interest they had only been two days in the house when Florence being in an arbor in the garden one warm morning musingly observant of a youthful group upon the turf through some intervening boughs and wreathing flowers for the head of one little creature among them who was the pet and plaything of the rest heard this same lady and her niece in pacing up and down a sheltering nook close by speak of herself is Florence an orphan like me aunt said the child no my love she has no mother but her father is living is she in mourning for her poor mama now inquired the child quickly no for her only brother has she no other brother none no sister none i am very very sorry said the little girl as they stopped soon afterwards to watch some boats and had been silent in the meantime Florence who had risen when she heard her name and had gathered up her flowers to go and meet them that they might know of her being within hearing resumed her seat and work expecting to hear no more but the conversation recommend next moment Florence is a favorite with everyone here and deserves to be i am sure said the child earnestly where is her papa the aunt replied after a moment's pause that she did not know her tone of voice arrested Florence who had started from her seat again and held her fast into the spot with her work hastily caught up to her bosom and her two hands saving it from being scattered on the ground he is in england i hope aunt said the child i believe so yes i know he is indeed has he ever been here i believe not no is he coming here to see her i believe not is he lame or blind or ill aunt asked the child the flowers that Florence held to her breast began to fall when she heard those words so wonderingly spoken she held them closer and her face hung down upon them Kate said the lady after another moment of silence i will tell you the whole truth about Florence as i have heard it and believe it to be tell no one else my dear because it may be little known here and your doing would so give her pain i never will exclaim the child i know you never will return the lady i can trust you as myself i fear then kate that Florence's father cares little for her very seldom sees her never was kind to her in her life and now quite shuns her and avoids her she would love him dearly if he would suffer her but he will not though for no fault of hers and she is greatly to be loved and pitied by all gentle hearts more of the flowers that Florence held fell scattering on the ground those that remained were wet but not with dew and her face dropped upon her laden hands poor Florence dear good Florence cried the child do you know why i have told you this Kate said the lady that i may be very kind to her and take great care to try to please her is that the reason aren't partly said the lady but not all though we see her so cheerful with a pleasant smile for everyone ready to oblige us all and bearing her part in every amusement here she can hardly be quite happy do you think she can kate i am afraid not said the little girl and you can understand pursued the lady why her observation of children who have parents who are fond of them and proud of them like many here just now should make her sorrowful in secret yes dear aunt said the child i understand that very well poor Florence more flowers straight upon the ground and those she had held to her breasts trembled as if a wintry wind were rustling them my Kate said the lady whose voice was serious but very calm and sweet and had so impressed Florence from the first moment of her hearing it of all the youthful people here you are her natural and harmless friend you have not the innocent means that happier children have there are none happier aunt exclaimed the child who seemed to cling about her as other children have dear Kate of reminding her of her misfortune therefore i would have you when you try to be her little friend try all the more for that and feel that the bereavement you sustained thank heaven before you knew its weight gives you claim and hold upon poor Florence but i am not without a parents love aunt and i never have been said the child with you however that may be my dear return the lady your misfortune is a lighter one than Florence's for not an orphan in the wide world can be so deserted as the child who is an outcast from a living parents love the flowers were scattered on the ground like dust the empty hands were spread upon the face and orphaned Florence shrinking down upon the ground wept long and bitterly but true of heart and resolute in her good purpose Florence held to it as her dying mother held by her upon the day that gave paul life he did not know how much she loved him however long the time in coming and however slow the interval she must try to bring that knowledge to her father's heart one day or other meantime she must be careful in no faultless word or look or burst of feeling awakened by any chance circumstance to complain against him or to give occasion for these whispers to his prejudice even in the response she made the orphan child to whom she was attracted strongly and whom she had such occasion to remember Florence was mindful of him if she singled her out too plainly Florence thought from among the rest she would confirm in one mind certainly perhaps in more the belief that he was cruel and unnatural her own delight was no set off to this what she had overheard was a reason not for soothing herself but for saving him and Florence did it in the pursuance of the study of her heart she did so always if a book were read aloud and there were anything in the story that pointed at an unkind father she was in pain for their application of it to him not for herself so with any trifle of an interlude that was acted or picture that was shown or game that was played among them the occasions for such tenderness toward him were so many that her mind misgave her often it would indeed be better to go back to the old house and live again within the shadow of its dull walls undisturbed how few who saw sweet Florence in her spring of womanhood the modest little queen of those small revels imagined what a load of sacred care lay heavy in her breast how few of those who stiffened in her father's freezing atmosphere suspected what a heap of fiery coals was piled upon his head Florence pursued her study patiently and failing to acquire the secret of the nameless grace she sought among the youthful company who were assembled in the house often walked out alone in the early morning among the children of the poor but still she found them all too far advanced to learn from they had won their household places long ago and did not stand without as she did with a bar across the door there was one man whom she several times observed at work very early and often with a girl of about her own age seated near him he was a very poor man who seemed to have no regular employment but now went roaming about the banks of the river when the tide was low looking out for bits and scraps in the mud and now worked at the unpromising little patch of garden ground before his cottage and now tinkered up a miserable old boat that belonged to him or did some job of that kind for a neighbor as chance occurred whatever the man's labor the girl was never employed but sat when she was with him in a listless moping state and idle Florence had often wished to speak to this man yet she had never taken courage to do so as he made no movement towards her but one morning when she happened to come upon him suddenly from a bypass among some pollard willows which terminated in the little shelving piece of stony ground that lay between his dwelling and the water where he was bending over a fire he had made to caulk the old boat which was lying bottom upwards close by he raised his head at the sound of her footstep and gave her good morning good morning said Florence approaching Nira you were at work early i'll be glad to be often at work earlier miss if i had work to do is it so hard to get asked Florence i find it so replied the man Florence glanced to where the girl was sitting drawn together with her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hands and said is that your daughter he raised his head quickly and looking towards the girl with a brightened face nodded to her and said yes Florence looked towards her too and gave her a kind salutation the girl muttered something in return ungraciously and sullenly is she in want of employment also asked Florence the man shook his head no miss he said i work for both are there only you two then inquired Florence only us two said the man her mother has been dead these 10 years Martha he lifted up his head again and whistled to her won't you say a word to the pretty young lady the girl made an impatient gesture with her cowering shoulders and turned her head another way ugly misshapen peevish ill-conditioned ragged dirty but beloved oh yes Florence had seen her father's look towards her and she knew whose look it had no likeness to i'm afraid she's worse this morning my poor girl said the man suspending his work and contemplating his ill-favored child with a compassion that was the more tender for being rough she is ill then said Florence the man drew a deep sigh i don't believe my marthas had five short days good health he answered looking at her still in as many long years i and more than that john said a neighbor who had come down to help him with the boat more than that you say do you cried the other pushing back his battered hat and drawing his hand across his forehead very like it seems a long long time and the more the time pursued the neighbor the more you favored and humored her john till she's got to be a burden to herself and everybody else not to me said her father falling to his work again not to me Florence could feel who better how truly he spoke she drew a little closer to him and would have been glad to touch his rugged hand and thank him for his goodness to the miserable object that he looked upon with eyes so different from any other man's who would favor my poor girl to call it favoring if i didn't said the father i i cried the neighbor in reason john but you you rob yourself to give to her you bind yourself hand and foot on her account you make your life miserable along of her and what does she care you don't believe she knows it the father lifted up his head again and whistled to her Martha made the same impatient gesture with her crouching shoulders in reply and he was glad and happy only for that miss said the neighbor with a smile in which there was more of secret sympathy than he expressed only to get that he never lets her out of his sight because the day'll come and has been coming along while observed the other bending low over his work when to get half as much from that unfortunate child of mind to get the trembling of a finger or the waving of a hair would be to raise the dead Florence softly put some money near his hand on the old boat and left him and now Florence began to think if she were to fall ill if she were to fade like her dear brother would he then know that she had loved him would she then grow dear to him would he come to her bedside when she was weak and dim of sight and take her into his embrace and cancel all the past would he so forgive her in that changed condition for not having been able to lay open her childish heart to him as to make it easy to relate with what emotions she had gone out of his room that night what she had meant to say if she had had the courage and how she had endeavored afterwards to learn the way she never knew in infancy yes she thought if she were dying he would relent she thought that if she lay serene and not unwilling to depart upon the bed that was curtain round with recollections of their darling boy he would be touched home and would say dear Florence live for me and we will love each other as we might have done and be as happy as we might have been these many years she thought that if she heard such words from him and had her arms clasped round him she could answer with a smile it is too late for anything but this I could never be happier dear father and so leave him with a blessing on her lips the golden water she remembered on the wall appeared to Florence in the light of such reflections only as a current flowing on to rest and to a region where the dear ones gone before were waiting hand in hand and often when she looked upon the darker river rippling at her feet she thought with awful wonder but not terror of that river which her brother had so often said was bearing him away the father and his sick daughter were yet fresh in Florence's mind and indeed that incident was not a week old when sir Barnett and his lady going out walking in the lanes one afternoon proposed to her to bear them company Florence readily consenting lady sceptles ordered out young Barnett as a matter of course for nothing delighted lady sceptles so much as beholding her eldest son with Florence on his arm Barnett to say the truth appeared to entertain an opposite sentiment on the subject and on such occasions frequently expressed himself audibly though indefinitely in reference to a parcel of girls as it was not easy to ruffle her sweet temper however Florence generally reconciled the young gentleman to his fate after a few minutes and they strolled on amicably lady sceptles and sir Barnett following in a state of perfect complacency and high gratification this was the order of procedure on the afternoon in question and Florence had almost succeeded in overruling the present objections of sceptles junior to his destiny when a gentleman on horseback came riding by looked at them earnestly as he passed drew in his reins wheeled round and came riding back again hat in hand the gentleman had looked particularly at Florence and when the little party stopped on his riding back he bowed to her before saluting sir Barnett and his lady Florence had no remembrance of having ever seen him but she started involuntarily when he came nearer and drew back my horse is perfectly quiet I assure you said the gentleman it was not that but something in the gentleman himself Florence could not have said what that made her recoil as if she had been stung I have the honor to address Miss Dombie I believe said the gentleman with a most persuasive smile on Florence inclining her head he added my name is Parker I can hardly hope to be remembered by Miss Dombie except by name Parker Florence sensible of a strange inclination to shiver though the day was hot presented him to her host and hostess by whom he was very graciously received I beg pardon said Mr. Parker a thousand times but I am going down tomorrow morning to Mr. Dombie at Leamington and if Miss Dombie can entrust me with any commission need I say how very happy I shall be sir Barnett immediately divining that Florence would desire to write a letter to her father proposed to return and be sought Mr. Parker to come home and dine in his riding gear Mr. Parker had the misfortune to be engaged to dinner but if Miss Dombie wished to write nothing would delight him more than to accompany them back and to be her faithful slave in waiting as long as she pleased as he said this with his widest smile and bent down close to her to pat his horse's neck Florence meeting his eye saw rather than heard him say there is no news of the ship confused frightened shrinking from him and not even sure that he had said those words for he seemed to have shown them to her in some extraordinary manner through his smile instead of uttering them Florence faintly said that she was obliged to him but she would not write she had nothing to say nothing to send miss Dombie said the man of teeth nothing said Florence but my but my dear love if you please disturbed as Florence was she raised her eyes to his face with an imploring and expressive look that plainly besought him if he knew which he as plainly did that any message between her and her father was an uncommon charge but that one most of all to spare her Mr. Parker smiled and bowed low and being charmed by Sir Barnett with best compliments of himself and Lady Sketles took his leave and wrote away leaving a favorable impression upon that worthy couple Florence was seized with such a shudder as he went that Sir Barnett adopting the popular superstition supposed somebody was passing over her grave Mr. Parker turning a corner on the instant look back and bowed and disappeared as if he wrote off to the church yard straight to do it end of chapter 24