 Chapter 25 of Dombie and Son. Captain Cuddle, though no sluggered, did not turn out so early on the morning after he had seen Saul Gilles, through the shop window, writing in the parlor, with midshipmen upon the counter, and robbed the grinder making up his bed below it, but that the clock struck six as he raised himself on his elbow, and took a survey of his little chamber. The captain's eyes must have done severe duty if he usually opened them as wide unawakening as he did that morning, and were but roughly rewarded for their vigilance, if he generally rubbed them half as hard. But the occasion was no common one, for rob the grinder had certainly never stood in the doorway of Captain Cuddle's bedroom before, and in it he stood then, panting at the captain, with a flushed and tussled air of bed about him, that greatly heightened both his color and expression. Hello! roared the captain, what's the matter? Before rob could stammer a word in answer, Captain Cuddle turned out, all in a heap, and covered the boy's mouth with his hand. Steady, my lad, said the captain, don't you speak a word to me as yet? The captain, looking at his visitor in great consternation, greatly shouldered him into the next room, after laying this injunction upon him, and disappearing for a few moments, forthwith returned in the blue suit. Holding up his hand in token of the injunction not yet being taken off, Captain Cuddle walked up to the cupboard, and poured himself out a dram, a counterpart of which he handed to the messenger. The captain then stood himself up in a corner against the wall, as if to forestall the possibility of being knocked backwards by the communication that was to be made to him, and having swallowed his liquor, with his eyes fixed on the messenger, and his face as pale as his face could be, requested him to heave ahead. Do you mean tell you, Captain, asked Rob, who had been greatly impressed by these precautions? I said the captain. Well, sir, said Rob, I ain't got much to tell, but look here. Rob produced a bundle of keys. The captain surveyed them, remained in his corner, and surveyed the messenger. And look here, pursued Rob. The boy produced a sealed packet, which Captain Cuddle stared at, as he had stared at the keys. When I woke this morning, Captain said Rob, which was about a quarter after five, I found these on my pillow. The shop door was unbolted and unlocked, and Mr. Gill's gone. Gone roared the captain. Float, sir, returned Rob. The captain's voice was so tremulous, and he came out of his corner with such way on him that Rob retreated before him into another corner, holding out the keys and packet, to prevent himself from being run down. For Captain Cuddle, sir, cried Rob, is on the keys and on the packet, too. Upon my word and honor, Captain Cuddle, I don't know anything more about it. I wish I may die if I do. Here's a situation for a lad that's just got a situation, cried the unfortunate grinder, screwing his cuff into his face. His master bolted with his place, and him blamed for it. These lamentations had reference to Captain Cuddle's gaze, or rather glare, which was full of vague suspicions, threatenings, and denunciations. Taking the proffered packet from his hand, the captain opened it and read as follows. My dear Ned Cuddle, enclosed is my will. The captain turned it over with a doubtful look. And testament. Where's the testament? said the captain, instantly impeaching the ill-fated grinder. What have you done with that, my lad? I never see it, whimpered Rob. Don't keep on suspecting an innocent lad, Captain. I never touched the testament. Captain Cuddle shook his head, implying that somebody must be made answerable for it, and gravely proceeded. Which don't break open for a year, or until you have decisive intelligence of my dear Walter, who is dear to you, Ned too, I am sure. The captain paused and shook his head in some emotion. As a re-establishment of his dignity in this trying position, looked with exceeding sternness at the grinder. If you should never hear of me, or see me more, Ned, remember as an old friend as he will remember you to the last, kindly, and at least until the period I have mentioned has expired. Keep a home in the old place for Walter. There are no debts, the loan from Dombie's house is paid off, and all my keys I send with this. Keep this quiet, and make no inquiry for me, it is useless. So no more, dear Ned, from your true friend, Solomon Gills. The captain took a long breath, and then read these words, written below. The boy, Rob, well recommended, as I told you, from Dombie's house. If all else should come to the hammer, take care, Ned, of the little midshipmen. To convey to posterity any idea of the manner in which the captain, after turning this letter over and over and reading it a score of times, sat down in his chair and held a court-martial on the subject in his own mind, would require the united genius of all the great men, who, discarding their own untoward days, have determined to go down to posterity, and have never got there. At first the captain was too much confounded and distressed to think of anything but the letter itself, and even when his thoughts began to glance upon the various attendant facts, they might, perhaps, as well, have occupied themselves with their former theme, for any light reflected on them. In this state of mind, Captain Cuddle, having the grinder before the court, and no one else, found it a great relief to decide, generally, that he was an object of suspicion, which the captain so clearly expressed in his visage, that Robb remonstrated. Oh, don't, Captain, cried the grinder, I wonder how you can, what have I done to be looked at, like that? My lads, said Captain Cuddle, don't you sing out a four-year hurt, and don't you commit yourself whatever you do? I haven't been and committed nothing, Captain, answered Robb. Keep her free, then, said the captain impressively, and ride easy. With a deep sense of the responsibility imposed upon him, and the necessity of thoroughly feathering this mysterious affair, as became a man in his relations with the parties, Captain Cuddle resolved to go down and examine the premises, and to keep the grinder with him, considering that youth, as under arrest at present, the captain was in some doubt whether it might not be expedient to handcuff him, or tie his ankles together, or attach a weight to his legs, but not being clear as to the legality of such formalities, the captain decided merely to hold him by the shoulder all the way, and knock him down if he made any objection. However, he made none, and consequently got to the instrument maker's house without being placed under any more stringent restraint. As the shutters were not yet taken down, the captain's first care was to have the shop opened, and when the daylight was freely admitted, he proceeded with its aid to further investigation. The captain's first care was to establish himself in a chair in the shop, as president of the solemn tribunal that was sitting within him, and to require Rob to lie down in his bed under the counter, show exactly where he discovered the keys and packet when he awoke, how he found the door when he went to try it, how he started off to brig place, cautiously preventing the latter imitation from being carried farther than the threshold, and so on to the end of the chapter. When all this had been done several times, the captain shook his head and seemed to think the matter had a bad look. Next, the captain, with some indistinct idea of finding a body, noted a strict search over the whole house, groping in the cellars with a lighted candle, thrusting his hook behind doors, bringing his head into violent contact with beams, and covering himself with cobwebs. Mounting up to the old man's bedroom, they found that he had not been in bed on the previous night, but had merely lain down on the coverlet as was evident from the impression yet remaining there. And I think, captain, said Rob, looking round the room, that when Mr. Gills was going in and out so often these last few days, he was taking little things away, piecemeal, not to attract attention. I said the captain mysteriously, why so, my lad? Why, returned Rob looking about, I don't see his shaving tackle, nor his brushes, captain, nor no shirts, nor yet his shoes. As each of these articles was mentioned, captain Cuddle took particular notice of the corresponding department of the grinder, lest he should appear to have been in recent use, or should prove to be in present possession thereof. But Rob had no occasion to shave, certainly was not brushed, and wore the clothes he had worn for a long time past, beyond all possibility of mistake. And what should you say, said the captain, not committing yourself, about his time of shearing off, hey! Why, I think, captain, returned Rob, that he must have gone pretty soon after I began to snore. What o'clock was that? said the captain, prepared to be very particular about the exact time. How can I tell, captain? answered Rob. I only know that I'm a heavy sleeper at first, and a light one towards morning, and if Mr. Gills had come through the shop near daybreak, though ever so much on tiptoe, I'm pretty sure I should have heard him shut the door at all events. On mature consideration of this evidence, captain Cuddle began to think that the instrument-maker must have vanished of his own accord, to which logical conclusion he was assisted by the letter addressed to himself, which, as being unquestionably in the old man's handwriting, would seem with no great forcing to bear the construction that he arranged of his own will to go and so went. The captain had next to consider where and why, and as there was no way whatsoever that he sought the solution of the first difficulty, he confined his meditations to the second. Remembering the old man's curious manner and the farewell he had taken of him, unaccountably fervent at the time, but quite intelligible now, a terrible apprehension strengthened on the captain, that, overpowered by his anxieties and regrets for Walter, he had been driven to commit suicide. Unequal to the wear and tear of daily life, as he had often professed himself to be, and shaken, as he no doubt was, by the uncertainty and deferred hope he had undergone, it seemed no violently strained misgiving, but only too probable. Free from debt, and with no fear for his personal liberty, or the seizure of his goods, what else but such a state of madness could have hurried him away alone and secretly. As to his carrying some apparel with him, if he had really done so, and they were not even sure of that, he might have done so the captain argued to prevent inquiry, to distract attention from his probable fate, or to ease the very mind that was now revolving all these possibilities. Such reduced into plain language and condensed within a small compass was the final result and substance of Captain Cuddle's deliberations, which took a long time to arrive at this pass, and were, like some more public deliberations, very discursive and disorderly. Dejected and despondent in the extreme, Captain Cuddle felt it just to release Robb from the arrest in which he had placed him, and to enlarge him, subject to a kind of honourable inspection which he still resolved to exercise, and having hired a man from Broglie the Broker to sit in the shop during their absence, the captain taking Robb with him issued forth upon a dismal quest after the mortal remains of Solomon Gills, not a station house or bone house or workhouse in the metropolis escaped a visitation from the hard glazed hat. Along the wharves, among the shipping on the bankside, up the river, down the river, here, there, everywhere, it went gleaming where men were thickest, like the hero's helmet in an epic battle. For a whole week the Captain read of all the found and missing people in all the newspapers and hand-bills, and went forth on expeditions at all hours of the day to identify Solomon Gills in poor little ship-boys who had fallen overboard, and in tall foreigners with dark beards who had taken poison to make sure Captain Cuddle said that it weren't him. It is a sure thing that it never was and that the good Captain had no other satisfaction. Captain Cuddle at last abandoned these attempts as hopeless and set himself to consider what was to be done next. After several new perusals of his poor friend's letter, he considered that the maintenance of a home in the old place for Walter was the primary duty imposed upon him. Therefore the Captain's decision was that he would keep house on the premises of Solomon Gills himself, and would go into the instrument business and see what came of it. But as this step involved the relinquishment of his apartments at Mrs. McStingers, and he knew that resolute woman would never hear of his deserting them, the Captain took the desperate determination of running away. Now, look ye here, my lad, said the Captain to Rob when he had matured this notable scheme. Tomorrow I shan't be found in this here roadstead till night, not till after midnight perhaps, but you keep watch till you hear me knock, and the moment you do turn to and open the door. Very good, Captain, said Rob. You'll continue to be raided on these here books, pursued the Captain condescendingly, and I don't say but what you may get promotion if you and me should pull together with a will, but the moment you hear me knock tomorrow night whatever time it is turn to and show yourself smart with the door. I'll be sure to do it, Captain, replied Rob. Because you understand, resumed the Captain, coming back again to enforce this charge upon his mind. There may be, for anything I can say, a chase, and I might be took while I was waiting, if you didn't show yourself smart with the door. Rob again assured the Captain that he would be prompt and wakeful, and the Captain having made this prudent arrangement went home to Mrs. McStingers for the last time. The sense the Captain had of its being the last time, and of the awful purpose hidden between his blue waistcoat inspired him with such a mortal dread of Mrs. McStinger that the sound of that lady's foot downstairs at any time of the day was sufficient to throw him into a fit of trembling. It fell out, too, that Mrs. McStinger was in a charming temper, mild and placid as a house-lam, and Captain Cuddle's conscience suffered terrible twinges when she came up to inquire if she could cook him nothing for his dinner. "'A nice small kidney-putting now,' Captain Cuddle,' said his landlady, "'or a sheep's heart. Don't mind my trouble.' "'No, thank you, ma'am,' returned the Captain. "'Have a roast, fowl,' said Mrs. McStinger, with a bit of wheel-stuffing and some egg-sauce. Come, Captain Cuddle, give yourself a little treat. No, thank you, ma'am,' returned the Captain, very humbly. "'I'm sure you're out of sorts and want to be stimulated,' said Mrs. McStinger, whining at have, for once in a way, a bottle of sherry wine. "'Well, ma'am,' rejoined the Captain, "'if you'd be so good as to take a glass or two, I think I would try that. Would you do me the favor, ma'am?' said the Captain, torn to pieces by his conscience, to accept a quarter's rent ahead. And why so, Captain Cuddle, retorted Mrs. McStinger sharply, as the Captain thought. The Captain was frightened to death. "'If you would, ma'am,' he said, with a submission, it would oblige me. I can't keep my money very well. It pays itself out. I should take it if you'd comply.' "'Well,' Captain Cuddle said, the unconscious McStinger, rubbing her hands, "'you can do as you please. It's not for me with my family to refuse, no more than it is to ask.' "'And would you, ma'am?' said the Captain, taking down the tin canister in which he kept his cash, from the top shelf of the cupboard. "'To be so good as offer eighteen pence apiece to the little family all round. If you could make it convenient, ma'am, to pass the word presently, for them children to come forward in a body, I should be glad to see them.' His innocent McStingers were so many daggers to the Captain's breast, when they appeared in a swarm and tore at him with the confiding trustfulness he so little deserved. The eye of Alexander McStinger, who had been his favourite, was insupportable to the Captain. The voice of Juliana McStinger, who was the picture of her mother, made a coward of him. Captain Cuddle kept up appearances, nevertheless tolerably well, and for an hour or two was very hardly used and roughly handled by the young McStingers, who, in their childish frolics, did a little damage also to the glazed hat, by sitting in it, two at a time, as in a nest, and drumming on the inside of the crown with their shoes. At length the Captain sorrowfully dismissed them, taking leave of these cherubs with the poignant remorse and grief of a man who was going to execution. In the silence of night the Captain packed up his heavier property in a chest, which he locked, intending to leave it there in all probability forever, but on the forlorn chance of one day finding a man sufficiently bold and desperate to come and ask for it. Of his lighter necessaries the Captain made a bundle and disposed his plate about his person ready for flight. At the hour of midnight, when Brig Place was buried in slumber and Mrs. McStinger was lulled in sweet oblivion with her infants around her, the guilty Captain stealing down on Tiptoe in the dark, opened the door, closed it softly after him, and took to his heels. By the image of Mrs. McStinger springing out of bed and regardless of costume, following and bringing him back, pursued also by a consciousness of his enormous crime, Captain Cuddle held on at a great pace and allowed no grass to grow under his feet between Brig Place and the instrument maker's door. It opened when he knocked, for Rob was on the watch, and when it was bolted and locked behind him, Captain Cuddle felt comparatively safe. Woo! cried the Captain looking round him. It's a breather. Nothing the matter is there, Captain, cried the gaping Rob. No, no, said Captain Cuddle after changing color and listening to a passing footstep in the street. But mind ye, my lad, if any lady except either of them, too, as you see the other day ever comes and asks for Captain Cuddle, be sure to report no person of that name known, nor never heard of here. Observe them orders, will ye? I'll take care, Captain, returned Rob. You might say, if you liked, hesitated the Captain, that you'd read in the paper that a Captain of that name was gone to Australia, emigrating along with a whole ship's complement of people, as had all swore never to come back no more. Rob nodded, his understanding of these instructions, and Captain Cuddle promised to make a man of him, if he obeyed orders, dismissing him, yawning, to his bed under the counter, and went aloft to the chamber of Solomon Gill's. What the Captain suffered next day, whenever a bonnet passed, or how often he darted out of the shop to elude imaginary mech-stingers, and sought safety in the attic, cannot be told. But to avoid the fatigues attendant on this means of self-preservation, the Captain curtained the glass door of communication between the shop and parlor, on the inside, fitted a key to it from the bunch that had been sent to him, and cut a small hole of a spile in the wall. The advantage of this fortification is obvious. On a bonnet appearing, the Captain instantly slipped into his garrison, locked himself up and took a secret observation of the enemy. Finding it a false alarm, the Captain instantly slipped out again. And the bonnets in the street were so very numerous, and alarms were so inseparable from their appearance that the Captain was almost incessantly slipping in and out all day long. Captain Cuddle found time, however, in the midst of this fatiguing service, to inspect the stock, in connection with which he had the general idea very laborious to rob, that too much friction could not be bestowed upon it, and that it could not be made too bright. He also ticketed a few attractive-looking articles at a venture, at prices ranging from ten shillings to fifty pounds, and exposed them in the window to the great astonishment of the public. After effecting these improvements, Captain Cuddle, surrounded by the instruments, began to feel scientific and looked up at the stars at night through the skylight, when he was smoking his pipe in the little back parlor before going to bed, as if he had established a kind of property in them. As a tradesman in the city, too, he began to have an interest in the Lord Mayor and the sheriffs, and in public companies, and felt bound to read the quotations of the funds every day, though he was unable to make out on any principle of navigation what the figures meant and could have very well dispensed with the fraction. Florence, the captain waited on, with his strange news of Uncle Saul, immediately after taking possession of the midshipman, but she was away from home, so the captain sat himself down in his altered station of life with no company but Rob the grinder, and losing count of time, as men do when great changes come upon them, thought musingly of Walter and of Solomon Gill's, and even of Mrs. McStinger herself, as among the things that had been. 26 of Dombie 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. Dombie and Son by Charles Dickens, Chapter 26. Shadows of the Past and Future. Your most obedient, sir, said the Major. Dami, sir, a friend of my friend Dombie's, is a friend of mine, and I'm glad to see you. I am infinitely obliged, Carker, explained Mr. Dombie, to Major Bagstock. For his company and conversation, Major Bagstock has rendered me great service, Carker. Mr. Carker, the manager, hat in hand, just arrived at Leamington, and just introduced to the Major, showed the Major his whole double range of teeth, and trusted he might take the liberty of thanking him with all his heart for having effected so great an improvement in Mr. Dombie's looks and spirits. By God, sir, said the Major in reply. There are no thanks due to me, for it's a give and take affair. A great creature, like our friend Dombie, sir, said the Major, lowering his voice, but not lowering it so much as to render it inaudible to that gentleman. Cannot help improving and exalting his friends. He strengthens and invigorates a man, sir, does Dombie, in his moral nature. Mr. Carker snapped at the expression, in his moral nature, exactly the very words he had been on the point of suggesting. But when my friend Dombie, sir, added the Major, talks to you of Major Bagstock, I must gravely to set him and you right. He means plain Joe, sir, Joey B, Josh, Bagstock, Joseph, rough and tough, old Joe, sir, at your service. Mr. Carker's excessively friendly inclinations towards the Major, and Mr. Carker's admiration of his roughness, toughness and plainness gleamed out of every tooth in Mr. Carker's head. And now, sir, said the Major, you and Dombie have the devil's own amount of business to talk over. By no means, Major, observed Mr. Dombie. Dombie, said the Major, defiantly, I know better a man of your mark, the colossus of commerce, is not to be interrupted. Your moments are precious. We shall meet at dinnertime. In the interval, old Joseph will be scarce. The dinner hour is a sharp seven, Mr. Carker. With that, the Major, greatly swollen as to his face, withdrew, but immediately putting in his head at the door again, said, I beg your pardon, Dombie, have you got any message to him? Mr. Dombie, in some embarrassment, and not without a glance, at the courteous keeper of his business confidence, entrusted the Major with his compliments. By the Lord, sir, said the Major, you must make it something warmer than that, or old Joe will be far from welcome. Regards, then, if you will, Major, return, Mr. Dombie. Dami, sir, said the Major, shaking his shoulders and his great cheeks jocularly. Make it something warmer than that. What you please, then, Major, observed Mr. Dombie. Our friend is sly, sir, sly, sir, devilish sly, said the Major, staring round the door at Carker. So is Bagstock, but stopping in the midst of a chuckle and drawing himself up to his full height, the Major solemnly exclaimed, as he struck himself on the chest, Dombie, I envy your feelings, God bless you, and withdrew. You must have found the gentleman a great resource, said Carker, following him with his teeth. Very great indeed, said Mr. Dombie. He has friends here, no doubt. Pursuit Carker. I perceive from what he has said that you go into society here. Do you know, smiling horribly, I am so very glad that you go into society. Mr. Dombie acknowledged the display of interest on the part of his second in command, by twirling his watch chain and slightly moving his head. You were formed for society, said Carker, of all the men I know you are the best adapted by nature and by position for society. Do you know I have been frequently amazed that you should have held it at arm's length so long? I have had my reasons, Carker. I have been alone and indifferent to it. But you have great social qualifications yourself, and are the most likely to have been surprised. Oh, I return the other? With ready self-disparagement? It's quite another matter in the case of a man like me. I don't come into comparison with you. Mr. Dombie put his hand to his neckcloth, settled his chin in it, coughed and stood looking at his faithful friend and servant for a few moments in silence. I shall have the pleasure, Carker, said Mr. Dombie at length, making as if he swallowed something a little too large for his throat, to present you to my, to the major's friends, ladies among them, I presume, insinuated the smooth manager. They are all, that is to say, they are both ladies, replied Mr. Dombie. Only two, smiled Carker. They are only two. I have confined my visits to their residence and have made no other acquaintance here. Sisters perhaps, quoth Carker. Mother and daughter, replied Mr. Dombie. As Mr. Dombie dropped his eyes and adjusted his neckcloth again, the smiling face of Mr. Carker the manager became in a moment and without any stage of transition, transformed into a most intent and frowning face, scanning his closely and with an ugly sneer. As Mr. Dombie raised his eyes, it changed back no less quickly to its old expression and showed him every gum of which it stood possessed. You are very kind, said Carker. I shall be delighted to know them. Speaking of daughters, I have seen Miss Dombie. There was a sudden rush of blood to Mr. Dombie's face. I took the liberty of waiting on her, said Carker, to inquire if she could charge me with any little commission. I am not so fortunate as to be the bearer of any but her, but her dear love. Wolves face that it was then, with even the hot tongue revealing itself through the stretched mouth as the eyes encountered Mr. Dombie's. What business intelligence is there, inquired the latter gentleman, after a silence during which Mr. Carker had produced some memoranda and other papers. There is very little return, Carker, upon the whole we have not had our usual good fortune of late, but that is of little moment to you. At Lloyd's they give up the sun and air for lost. Well, she was insured from her keel to her mast-head. Carker, said Mr. Dombie, taking a chair near him. I cannot say that young man, gay, ever impressed me favorably. Nor me, interposed the manager. But I wish, said Mr. Dombie, without heeding the interruption, he had never gone on board that ship. I wish he had never been sent out. It is a pity you didn't say so in good time, is it not? Retorted Carker, coolly. However, I think it's all for the best. I really think it's all for the best. Did I mention that there was something like a little confidence between Miss Dombie and myself? No, said Mr. Dombie sternly. I have no doubt returned Mr. Carker after an impressive pause, that wherever gay is, he is much better where he is than at home here. If I were or could be in your place, I should be satisfied of that. Miss Dombie is confiding in young, perhaps hardly proud enough for your daughter, if she have a fault. Not that that is much though. I am sure. Will you check these balances with me? Mr. Dombie leaned back in his chair instead of bending over the papers that were laid before him and looked the manager steadily in the face. The manager, with his eyelid slightly raised, affected to be glancing at his figures and to wait the leisure of his principal. He showed that he affected this as if from great delicacy and with a design to spare Mr. Dombie's feelings and the latter, as he looked at him, was cognizant of his intended consideration and felt that but for it this confidential Carker would have said a great deal more, which he, Mr. Dombie, was too proud to ask for. It was his way in business often, little by little Mr. Dombie's gaze relaxed and his attention became diverted to the papers before him. But while busy with the occupation they afforded him, he frequently stopped and looked at Mr. Carker again. Whenever he did so, Mr. Carker was demonstrative as before in his delicacy and impressed it on his great chief more and more. While they were thus engaged and under the skillful culture of the manager, angry thoughts in reference to poor Florence brooded and bred in Mr. Dombie's breast, usurping the place of the cold dislike that generally reigned there. Major bag stock, much admired by the old ladies of Leamington and followed by the native, carrying the usual amount of light baggage, straddled along the shady side of the way to make a morning call on Mrs. Skeuton. It being midday when the major reached the bower of Cleopatra, he had the good fortune to find his princess on her usual sofa, languishing over a cup of coffee with the room so darkened and shaded for her more luxurious repose that withers who was in attendance on her loomed like a phantom page. What insupportable creature is this coming in? said Mrs. Skeuton. I cannot bear it. Go away, whoever you are. You have not the heart to banish J.B., ma'am, said the major, halting midway to remonstrate with his cane over his shoulder. Oh, it's you, is it? On second thoughts you may enter, observed Cleopatra. The major entered accordingly and advancing to the sofa pressed her charming hand to his lips. Sit down, said Cleopatra, listlessly waving her fan a long way off. Don't come too near me, for I am frightfully faint and sensitive this morning, and you smell of the sun. You are absolutely tropical. By George, ma'am, said the major, the time has been when Joseph Bagstock has been grilled and blistered by the sun. The time was when he was forced, ma'am, into such full blow by high, hot-house heat in the West Indies that he was known as the flower. A man never heard of Bagstock, ma'am. In those days he heard of the flower, the flower of ours. The flower may have faded, more or less, ma'am, observed the major, dropping into a much nearer chair than had been indicated by his cruel divinity, but it is a tough plant yet, and constant as the evergreen. Here the major, under cover of the dark room, shut up one eye, rolled his head like a harlequin, and in his great self-satisfaction perhaps went nearer to the confines of apoplexy than he had ever gone before. Where is Mrs. Granger? inquired Cleopatra of her page. Withers believed she was in her own room. Very well, said Mrs. Skeuton, go away and shut the door. I am engaged. As Withers disappeared, Mrs. Skeuton turned her head languidly toward the major without otherwise moving and asked him how his friend was. Domby, ma'am, returned the major with a facetious gurgling in his throat, is as well as a man in his condition can be. His condition is a desperate one, ma'am. He is touched, is Domby. Touched, cried the major. He is bayonetted through the body. Cleopatra cast a sharp look at the major that contrasted forcibly with the affected drawl in which she presently said, Major Bagstock, although I know but little of the world, nor can I really regret my inexperience, for I fear it is a false place full of withering conventionalities, where nature is but little regarded and where the music of the heart and the gushing of the soul and all that sort of thing, which is so truly poetical, is seldom heard. I cannot misunderstand your meaning. There is an illusion to Edith, to my extremely dear child, said Mrs. Scuton, tracing the outline of her eyebrows with her forefinger in your words, to which the tenderest of chords vibrates excessively. Bluntness, ma'am, returned the major, has ever been the characteristic of the Bagstock breed. You are right, Joe admits it. And that illusion pursued Cleopatra would involve one of the most, if not positively the most, touching and thrilling and sacred emotions of which our sadly fallen nature is susceptible, I conceive. The major laid his hand upon his lips and wafted a kiss to Cleopatra as if to identify the emotion in question. I feel that I am weak. I feel that I am wanting in that energy, which should sustain a mama, not to say apparent on such a subject, said Mrs. Scuton, trimming her lips with the laced edge of her pocket handkerchief. But I can hardly approach a topic so excessively momentous to my dearest Edith without a feeling of faintness. Nevertheless, bad man, as you have boldly remarked upon it, and as it has occasioned me great anguish, Mrs. Scuton touched her left side with her fan, I will not shrink from my duty. The major, under cover of the dimness, swelled and swelled and rolled his purple face about and winked his lobster eye until he fell into a fit of wheezing, which obliged him to rise and take a turn or two about the room before his fair friend could proceed. Mr. Dombie, said Mrs. Scuton, when she, at length, resumed, was obliging enough, now many weeks ago, to do us the honor of visiting us here in company, my dear major, with yourself. I acknowledge, let me be open, that it is my failing to be the creature of impulse and to wear my heart as it were outside. I know my failing full well, my enemy cannot know it better, but I am not penitent. I would rather not be frozen by the heartless world and am content to hear this imputation justly. Mrs. Scuton arranged her tucker, pinched her wiry throat to give it a soft surface and went on with great complacency. It gave me, my dear Edith, too, I am sure, infinite pleasure to receive Mr. Dombie. As a friend of yours, my dear major, we were naturally disposed to be prepossessed in his favor, and I fancied that I observed an amount of heart in Mr. Dombie that was excessively refreshing. There is devilish little heart in Dombie now, ma'am, said the major. Wretched man, cried Mrs. Scuton, looking at him languidly, pray be silent. JB is dumb, ma'am, said the major. Mr. Dombie pursued Cleopatra, smoothing the rosy hue upon her cheeks. Accordingly repeated his visit and possibly finding some attraction in the simplicity and primitiveness of our tastes, for there is always a charm in nature. It is so very sweet, became one of our little circle every evening. Little did I think of the awful responsibility into which I plunged when I encouraged Mr. Dombie to beat up these quarters, ma'am, suggested major bag stock. Courseperson, said Mrs. Scuton, you anticipate my meaning, though in odious language. Here Mrs. Scuton rested her elbow on the little table at her side, and suffering her wrist to droop, in what she considered a graceful and becoming manner, dangled her fan to and fro, and lazily admired her hand while speaking. The agony I have endured, she said mincingly, as the truth has by degrees dawned upon me, has been too exceedingly terrific to dilate upon. My whole existence is bound up in my sweetest edith, and to see her change from day to day, my beautiful pet, who has positively garnered up her heart since the death of that most delightful creature, Granger, is the most affecting thing in the world. Mrs. Scuton's world was not a very trying one, if one might judge of it by the influence of its most affecting circumstances upon her, but this, by the way. Edith, simpered Mrs. Scuton, who is the perfect pearl of my life, is said to resemble me. I believe we are alike. There is one man in the world who will never admit that anyone resembles you, ma'am, said the Major, and that man's name is old Joe Bagstock. Cleopatra made as if she would brain the flatterer with her fan, but, relenting, smiled upon him and proceeded. If my charming girl inherits any advantages from me, wicked one, the Major was the wicked one. She inherits also my foolish nature. She has great force of character. Mine has been said to be immense, though I don't believe it, but once moved she is susceptible and sensitive to the last extent. What are my feelings when I see her pining? They destroy me. The Major, advancing, his double chin, and pursuing up his blue lips into a soothing expression affected the profoundest sympathy. The confidence, said Mrs. Scuton, that has subsisted between us. The free development of soul and openness of sentiment is touching to think of. We have been more like sisters than mama and child. JB's own sentiment observed the Major, expressed by JB fifty thousand times. Do not interrupt, rude man, said Cleopatra. What are my feelings then when I find that there is one subject avoided by us, that there is a what's his name, a gulf open between us, that my own artless Edith is changed to me. They are of the most poignant description, of course. The Major left his chair and took one nearer to the little table. From day to day I see this, my dear Major, proceeded Mrs. Scuton. From day to day I feel this. From hour to hour I reproach myself for that excess of faith and trustfulness which has led to such distressing consequences. And almost from minute to minute I hope that Mr. Dombie may explain himself and relieve the torture I undergo which is extremely wearing. But nothing happens, my dear Major. I am the slave of remorse. Take care of the coffee cup. You are so very awkward. My darling Edith is an altered being, and I really don't see what is to be done or what good creature I can advise with. Major Backstock encouraged perhaps by the softened and confidential tone into which Mrs. Scuton, after several times lapsing into it for a moment, seemed now to have subsided for good, stretched out his hand across the little table, and said with a leer, Advise with Joe, ma'am. Then you aggravating monster said Cleopatra, giving one hand to the Major, and tapping his knuckles with her fan, which she held in the other. Why don't you talk to me? You know what I mean, and why don't you tell me something to the purpose? The Major laughed and kissed the hand she had bestowed upon him, and laughed again immensely. Is there as much heart in Mr. Dombie as I gave him credit for? Languished Cleopatra tenderly. Do you think he is an earnest, my dear Major? Would you recommend his being spoken to or his being left alone? Now tell me, like a dear man, what would you advise? Shall we marry him to Edith Granger, ma'am? Chuckled the Major, hoarsely? Mysterious creature returned Cleopatra, bringing her fan to bear upon the Major's nose. How can we marry him? Shall we marry him to Edith Granger, ma'am, I say? Chuckled the Major again. Mrs. Skewton returned to answer in words, but smiled upon the Major with so much archness and vivacity, that that gallant officer considering himself challenged would have imprinted a kiss on her exceedingly red lips, but for her interposing the fan with a very winning and juvenile dexterity. It might have been in modesty, it might have been in apprehension of some danger to their bloom. Dombie, ma'am, said the Major, is a great catch. O mercenary wretch! cried Cleopatra with a little shriek. I am shocked! And Dombie, ma'am, pursued the Major, thrusting forward his head and distending his eyes. Is in earnest? Joseph says it, back-stock knows it. JB keeps him to the mark. Leave Dombie to himself, ma'am. Dombie is safe, ma'am. Do as you have done, do no more, and trust to JB for the end. You really think so, my dear Major? returned Cleopatra, who had eyed him very cautiously and very searchingly in spite of her listless bearing. Sure of it, ma'am, rejoined the Major, Cleopatra the peerless and her Anthony, back-stock, will often speak of this triumphantly when sharing the elegance and wealth of Edith Dombie's establishment. Dombie's right-hand man, ma'am, said the Major, stopping abruptly in a chuckle and becoming serious, has arrived. This morning, said Cleopatra, this morning, ma'am, returned the Major, and Dombie's agonizity for his arrival, ma'am, is to be referred, take JB's word for this, for Joe is devilish sly. The Major tapped his nose and screwed up one of his eyes tight, which did not enhance his native beauty. To his desire, that what is in the wind should become known to him, without Dombie's telling and consulting him, for Dombie is as proud, ma'am, said the Major, as Lucifer. A charming quality, lips'd, Mrs. Scuton, reminding one of dearest Edith. Well, ma'am, said the Major, I have thrown out hints already, and the right-hand man understands him, and I'll throw out more before the day is done. Dombie projected this morning a ride to Warwick Castle and to Kenilworth, tomorrow, to be preceded by a breakfast with us. I undertook the delivery of this invitation. Will you honor us so far, ma'am? Said the Major, swelling with shortness of breath and slowness, as he produced a note addressed to the honorable Mrs. Scuton by favor of Major Bagstock, wherein hers ever faithfully, Paul Dombie, besought her and her amiable and accomplished daughter to consent to the proposed excursion, and in a postscript unto which the same ever faithfully, Paul Dombie, entreated to be recalled to the remembrance of Mrs. Granger. Hush, said Cleopatra, suddenly. Edith! The loving mother can scarcely be described as resuming her insipid and affected air when she made this exclamation, for she had never cast it off, nor was it likely that she ever would or could in any other place than in the grave. But hardly dismissing whatever shadow of earnestness or faint confession of purpose laudable or wicked that her face or voice or manner had, for the moment, betrayed, she lounged upon the couch, her most insipid and most languid self again, as Edith entered the room. Edith, so beautiful and stately, but so cold and so repelling, who, slightly acknowledging the presence of major back-stock, and directing a keen glance at her mother, drew back the curtain from a window and sat down there, looking out. My dearest Edith, said Mrs. Skeuten, where on earth have you been? I have wanted you, my love, most sadly. You said you were engaged, and I stayed away, she answered, without turning her head. It was cruel to old Joe, ma'am, said the major, in his gallantry. It was very cruel, I know, she said, still looking out, and said with such calm disdain that the major was discomfited and could think of nothing in reply. Major back-stock, my darling Edith, drawled her mother, who is generally the most useless and disagreeable creature in the world as you know. It is surely not worthwhile, ma'am, said Edith, looking round, to observe these forms of speech. We are quite alone, we know each other. The quiet scorn that sat upon her handsome face, a scorn that evidently lighted on herself, no less than them, was so intense and deep that her mother's simper for the instant, though of a hearty constitution, drooped before it. My darling girl, she began again. Not woman yet, said Edith, with a smile. How very odd you are to-day, my dear. Pray let me say my love, that major back-stock has brought the kindest of notes from Mr. Dombie, proposing that we should breakfast with him to-morrow and ride to Warwick and Kenilworth. Will you go, Edith? Will I go? She repeated, turning very red, and breathing quickly as she looked round at her mother. I knew you would, my own, observed the latter carelessly. It is, as you say, quite a form to ask. Here is Mr. Dombie's letter, Edith. Thank you, I have no desire to read it, was her answer. Then perhaps I had better answer it myself, said Mrs. Skeuton, though I had thought of asking you to be my secretary, darling. As Edith made no movement and no answer, Mrs. Skeuton begged the major to wheel her little table nearer, and to set open the desk it contained, and to take out pen and paper for her, all which congenial offices of gallantry the major discharged, with much submission and devotion. Your regards, Edith, my dear, said Mrs. Skeuton, pausing pen and hand at the post-script. What you will, mama, she answered, without turning her head, and with supreme indifference. Mrs. Skeuton wrote what she would, without seeking for any more explicit directions, and handed her letter to the major, who, receiving it as a precious charge, made a show of laying it near his heart, but was feigned to put it in the pocket of his pantaloons on account of the insecurity of his waistcoat. The major then took a very polished and chivalrous farewell of both ladies, which the elder one acknowledged in her usual manner, while the younger, sitting with her face addressed to the window, bent her head so slightly that it would have been a greater compliment to the major to have made no sign at all, and to have left him to infer that he had not been heard or thought of. As to alteration in her, sir, mused the major on his way back, on which expedition, the afternoon being sunny and hot, he ordered the native and the light baggage to the front, and walked in the shadow of that expatriated prince, as to alteration, sir, and pining, and so forth, that won't go down with Joseph Bagstock. None of that, sir, it won't do here, but as to there being something of a division between them, or a gulf, as the mother calls it, dammy, sir, that seems true enough, and it's odd enough, well, sir, panted the major, Edith Granger and Dombie are well matched, let them fight it out, Bagstock backs the winner. The major, by saying these latter words aloud in the vigor of his thought, caused the unhappy native to stop and turn round in the belief that he was personally addressed. Exasperated to the last degree by this act of insubordination, the major, though he was swelling with enjoyment of his own humor at the moment of its occurrence, instantly thrust his cane among the native's ribs, and continued to stir him up at short intervals, all the way to the hotel. Nor was the major less exasperated as he dressed for dinner, during which operation the dark servant underwent the pelting of a shower of miscellaneous objects, varying in size from a boot to a hairbrush, and including everything that came within his master's reach. For the major plumed himself on having the native in a perfect state of drill and visited the least departure from strict discipline with this kind of fatigue duty. Add to this that he maintained the native about his person as a counter-irritant against the gout, and all other vexations, mental as well as bodily, and the native would appear to have earned his pay, which was not large. At length the major having disposed of all the missiles that were convenient to his hand and having called the native so many new names as must have given him great occasion to marvel at the resources of the English language submitted to have his cravat put on, and being dressed and finding himself in a brisk flow of spirits after this exercise went downstairs to enliven Dombi and his right-hand man. Dombi was not yet in the room, but the right-hand man was there, and his dental treasures were, as usual, ready for the major. Well, sir, said the major, how have you passed the time since I had the happiness of meeting you? Have you walked at all? A saunter of barely half an hour's duration, returned Carker. We have been so much occupied. Business, eh? said the major. A variety of little matters necessary to be gone through, replied Carker. But, do you know, this is quite unusual with me, educated in a distrustful school, and who am not generally disposed to be communicative, he said, breaking off and speaking in a charming tone of frankness. But I feel quite confidential with you, Major Bagstock. You do me honor, sir, returned the major. You may be. Do you know then, pursued Carker, that I have not found my friend, our friend, I ought rather to call him? Meaning Dombi, sir, cried the major. You see me, Mr. Carker, standing here, JB? He was puffy enough to see and blue enough, and Mr. Carker intimated that he had that pleasure. Then you see a man, sir, who would go through fire and water to serve Mr. Dombi, returned Major Bagstock. Mr. Carker smiled and said he was sure of it. Do you know, Major, he proceeded to resume where I left off, that I have not found our friend so attentive to business today as usual? No, observed the delighted Major. I have found him a little abstracted, and with his attention disposed to wander, said Carker. By Job, sir, cried the Major, there's a lady in the case. Indeed, I begin to believe there really is, returned Carker. I thought you might be jesting when you seem to hint at it, for I know you military men. The Major gave the horses cough, and shook his head and shoulders as much as to say, well, we are gay dogs, there's no denying. He then seized Mr. Carker by the buttonhole, and, with starting eyes, whispered in his ear that she was a woman of extraordinary charms. Sir, that she was a young widow, sir, that she was of a fine family, sir, that Dombie was head and ears in love with her, sir, and that it would be a good match on both sides, for she had beauty, blood, and talent, and Dombie had fortune, and what more could any couple have? Hearing Mr. Dombie's footsteps without, the Major cut himself short by saying that Mr. Carker would see her tomorrow morning, and would judge for himself, and between his mental excitement and the exertion of saying all this in wheezy whispers, the Major sat gurgling in the throat and watering at the eyes until dinner was ready. The Major, like some other noble animals, exhibited himself to great advantage at feeding time. On this occasion, he shone resplendent at one end of the table, supported by the milder luster of Mr. Dombie at the other, while Carker, on one side, lent his ray to either light, or suffered it to merge into both as occasion arose. During the first course or two, the Major was usually grave, for the native, in obedience to general orders, secretly issued, collected every sauce and crew around him, and gave him a great deal to do in taking out the stoppers and mixing up the contents in his plate, besides which the native had private zests and flavors on a side table with which the Major daily scorched himself to say nothing of strange machines out of which he spirited unknown liquids into the Major's drink. But on this occasion, Major Backstock, even amidst these many occupations, found time to be social, and his sociality consisted in excessive slinus for the behoof of Mr. Carker and the betrayal of Mr. Dombie's state of mind. Dombie said the Major, you don't eat, what's the matter? Thank you, returned the gentlemen. I am doing very well. I have no great appetite today. Why, Dombie, what's become of it, asked the Major. Where's it gone? You haven't left it with your friends, I'll swear, for I can answer for there having none today at luncheon. I can answer for one of them, at least, I won't say which. Then the Major winked at Carker and became so frightfully sly that his dark attendant was obliged to pat him on the back without orders, or he would have probably have disappeared under the table. In a later stage of the dinner, that is to say, when the native stood at the Major's elbow ready to serve the first bottle of champagne, the Major became still slyer. Fill this to the brim you scoundrel, said the Major, holding up his glass. Fill Mr. Carker's to the brim too, and Mr. Dombie's too, by God, gentlemen, said the Major, winking at his new friend while Mr. Dombie looked into his plate with a conscious air. We'll consecrate this glass of wine to a divinity whom Joe is proud to know, and at a distance, humbly and reverently, to admire Edith, said the Major. Is her name Angelic Edith? Too Angelic Edith, said the smiling Carker. Edith, by all means, said Mr. Dombie. The entrance of the waiters with new dishes caused the Major to be slyer yet, but in a more serious vein, for though among ourselves Joe Backstock mingles jest and earnest on this subject, sir, said the Major, laying his finger on his lips and speaking half apart to Carker. He holds that name too sacred to be made the property of these fellows, or of any fellows, but not a word, sir, while they are here. This was respectful and becoming on the Major's part, and Mr. Dombie plainly felt it so. Although embarrassed in his own frigid way by the Major's illusions, Mr. Dombie had no objection to such rallying, it was clear, but rather courted it. Perhaps the Major had been pretty near the truth when he had divined that morning that the great man who was too haughty formally to consult with, or confide in his prime minister on such a matter, yet wished him to be fully possessed of it. Let this be how it may, he often glanced at Mr. Carker, while the Major plied his light artillery and seemed watchful of its effect upon him. But the Major, having secured an attentive listener and a smiler who had not his match in all the world, in short, a devilish, intelligent, and agreeable fellow, as he often afterwards declared, was not going to let him off with a little slinus personal to Mr. Dombie. Therefore, on the removal of the cloth, the Major developed himself as a choice spirit in the broader and more comprehensive range of narrating regimental stories and cracking regimental jokes, which he did with such prodigal exuberance that Carker was, or feigned to be, quite exhausted with laughter and admiration, while Mr. Dombie looked on over his starched cravat, like the Major's proprietor, or like a stately showman who was glad to see his bear dancing well. When the Major was too hoarse with meat and drink and the display of his social powers to render himself intelligible any longer, they adjourned to coffee, after which the Major inquired of Mr. Carker, the manager, with little apparent hope of an answer in the affirmative, if he played P.K. Yes, I play P.K. a little, said Mr. Parker. Backgammon, perhaps, observed the Major, hesitating. Yes, I play Backgammon a little too, replied the man of teeth. Parker plays at all games, I believe, said Mr. Dombie, laying himself on a sofa like a man of wood without a hinge or a joint in him, and plays them well. In soothe he played the two in question, to such perfection that the Major was astonished and asked him at random if he played chess. Yes, I play chess a little, answered Parker. I have sometimes played and won a game. It's a mere trick, without seeing the board. By God, sir, said the Major, staring, you are a contrast to Dombie who plays nothing. Oh, he returned the manager. He has never had occasion to acquire such little arts. To men like me, they are sometimes useful, as at present Major Backstock when they enable me to take a hand with you. It might be only the false mouth, so smooth and wide, and yet there seem to lurk beneath the humility and subserviency of this short speech as something like a snarl. And for a moment one might have thought that the white teeth were prone to bite the hand they fond upon. But the Major thought nothing about it, and Mr. Dombie lay meditating with his eyes half shut during the whole of the play, which lasted until bedtime. By that time Mr. Parker, though the winner, had mounted high into the Major's good opinion in so much that when he left the Major at his own rooms before going to bed, the Major, as a special attention, sent the native, who always rested on a mattress spread upon the ground at his master's door along the gallery to light him to his room in state. There was a faint blur on the surface of the mirror in Mr. Parker's chamber, and its reflection was perhaps a false one. But it showed that night the image of a man who saw in his fancy a crowd of people slumbering on the ground at his feet like the poor native at his master's door, who picked his way among them, looking down maliciously enough, but trod upon no upturned face as yet. End of chapter 26.