vised with, I have no doubt my advice would have been cavalierly received, and therefore it is infinitely better as it is. I much prefer it, as it is."

Miss Tox, with head bent down, still clipped among the plants. Mrs. Chick, with energetic shakings of her own head from time to time, continued to hold forth, as if in defiance of somebody.

"If my brother Paul had consulted with me, which he sometimes does-or rather, sometimes used to do; for he will naturally do that no more now, and this is a circumstance which I regard as a relief from responsibility," said Mrs. Chick, hysterically," for I thank Heaven I am not 'jealous-" here Mrs. Chick again shed tears: "if my brother Paul had come to me, and had said, 'Louisa, what kind of qualities would you advise me to look out for, in a wife? I should certainly have answered, "Paul, you must have family, you must have beauty, you must have dignity, you must have connexion.' Those are the words I should have used. You might have led me to the block immediately after. wards," said Mrs. Chick, as if that consequence were highly probable, “but I should have used them. I should have said, 'Paul! You to marry a second time without family! You to marry without beauty! You to marry without dignity! You to marry without connexion! There is nobody in the world, not mad, who could dream of daring to entertain such a preposterous idea!"

Miss Tox stopped clipping; and with her head among the plants, listened attentively. Perhaps Miss Tox thought there was hope in this exordium, and the warmth of Mrs. Chick.

ever to dispute the policy of her living with them: which is Paul's affair, not mine-and as to Paul's choice, herself, I have only seen her picture yet, but that is beautiful indeed. Her name is beautiful too," said Mrs. Chick, shaking her head with energy, and arranging herself in her chair; "Edith is at once uncommon, as it strikes me, and distinguished. Consequently, Lucretia, I have no doubt you will be happy to hear that the marriage is to take place immediately-of course, you will:" great emphasis again: "and that you are delighted with this change in the condition of my brother, who has shown you a great deal of pleasant attention at various times.”

Miss Tox made no verbal answer, but took up the little watering-pot with a trembling hand, and looked vacantly round as if considering what article of furniture would be improved by the contents. The room door opening at this crisis of Miss Tox's feelings, she started, laughed aloud, and fell into the arms of the person entering; happily insensible alike of Mrs. Chick's indignant countenance, and of the Major at his window over the way, who had his double-barrelled eye-glass in full action, and whose face and figure were dilated with Mephistophelean joy.

Not so the expatriated Native, amazed supporter of Miss Tox's swooning form, who, coming straight up stairs, with a polite inquiry, touching Miss Tox's health (in exact pursuance of the Major's malicious instructions), had accidentally arrived in the nick of time to catch the delicate burden in his arms, and to receive the contents of the little watering-pot in his shoe; both of which circumstances, coupled with his consciousness of being closely watched by the wrathful Major, who had threatened the usual penalty in regard of every bone in his skin in case of any failure, combined to render him a moving spectacle of mental and bodily distress.

"I should have adopted this course of argument," pursued the discreet lady, "because I trust I am not a fool. I make no claim to be considered a person of superior intellect-though I believe some people have been extraordinary enough to consider me so; one so little humoured as I am, For some moments, this afflicted foreigner rewould very soon be disabused of any such notion; mained clasping Miss Tox to his heart, with an enbut I trust I am not a downright fool. And to tell ergy of action in remarkable opposition to his disME," said Mrs. Chick with ineffable disdain, "that concerted face, while that poor lady tricked slowly my brother Paul Dombey could ever contemplate down upon him the very last sprinklings of the litthe possibility of uniting himself to anybody-Itle watering-pot, as if he were a delicate exotic don't care who"-she was more sharp and emphatic in that short clause than in any other part of her discourse-"not possessing these requisites, would be to insult what understanding I have got, as much as if I was to be told that I was born and bred an elephant, which I may be told next," said Mrs. Chick, with resignation. "It wouldn't surprise me at all. I expect it."

"Therefore, of course my brother Paul has done what was to be expected of him, and what anybody might have foreseen he would do, if he entered the marriage state again. I confess it takes me rather by surprise, however gratifying; because when Paul went out of town I had no idea at all that he would form any attachment out of town, and he certainly had no attachment when he left here. However, it seems to be extremely desirable in every point of view. I have no doubt the mother is a most genteel and elegant creature, and I have no right what

(which indeed he was), and might be almost expected to blow while the gentle rain descended. Mrs. Chick, at length recovering sufficient presence of mind to interpose, commanded him to drop Miss Tox upon the sofa and withdraw; and the exile promptly obeying, she applied herself to promote Miss Tox's recovery.

But none of that gentle concern which usually characterises the daughters of Eve in their tending of each other; none of that freemasonry in fainting, by which they are generally bound together in a mysterious bond of sisterhood; was visible in Mrs. Chick's demeanour. Rather like the execu tioner who restores the victim to sensation previous to proceeding with the torture (or was wont to do

So,

in the good old times for which all true men wear perpetual mourning), did Mrs. Chick administer the smelling-bottle, the slapping on the hands, the dashing of cold water on the face, and the other proved remedies. And when, at length, Miss Tox opened her eyes, and gradually became restored to animation and consciousness, Mrs. Chick drew off as from a criminal, and reversing the precedent of the murdered king of Denmark, regarded her more in anger than in sorrow.

"Lucretia!" said Mrs. Chick. "I will not attempt to disguise what I feel. My eyes are opened, all

156

I wouldn't have believed this, if a Saint | Chick, with desperate sternness, "whatever you at once. had told it to me."

"I am foolish to give way to faintness," Miss Tox faltered. "I shall be better presently." "You will be better presently!" repeated Mrs. "Do you suppose I Chick, with exceeding scorn. am blind? Do you imagine I am in my second childhood? No, Lucretia! I am obliged to you!" Miss Tox directed an imploring, helpless kind of look towards her friend, and put her handkerchief before her face.

"If any one had told me this yesterday," said Mrs. Chick with majesty, "or even half-an-hour ago, I should have been tempted, I almost believe, to strike them to the earth. Lucretia Tox, my eyes are opened to you all at once. The scales:" here Mrs. Chick cast down an imaginary pair, such as are commonly used in grocer's shops: "have fallen from my sight. The blindness of my confidence is past, Lucretia. It has been abused and played upon, and evasion is quite out of the question now, I assure you."

"Oh! to what do you allude so cruelly, my love?" asked Miss Tox, through her tears.

"Lucretia," said Mrs. Chick, "ask your own heart. I must entreat you not to address me by any such familiar term as you have just used, if you please. I have some self-respect left, though you may think otherwise."

"Oh, Louisa!" cried Miss Tox. "How can you speak to me like that?"

"How can I speak to you like that?" retorted Mrs. Chick, who, in default of having any particular argument to sustain herself upon, relied principally on such repetitions for her most withering effects. Like that! You may well say like that, indeed!"

Miss Tox sobbed pitifully.

"The idea!" said Mrs. Chick," of your having basked at my brother's fireside, like a serpent, and wound yourself, through me, almost into his confidence, Lucretia, that you might, in secret, entertain designs upon him, and dare to aspire to contemplate the possibility of his uniting himself to you! Why, it is an idea," said Mrs. Chick, with sarcastic dignity, "the absurdity of which almost relieves its treachery."

66

"Pray, Louisa," urged Miss Tox, "do not say such dreadful things."

"Dreadful things!" repeated Mrs. Chick. "Dreadful things! Is it not a fact, Lucretia, that you have just now been unable to command your feelings even before me, whose eyes you had so completely closed?"

"I have made no complaint," sobbed Miss Tox. "I have said nothing. If I have been a little overpowered by your news, Louisa, and have ever had any lingering thought that Mr. Dombey was inclined to be particular towards me, surely you will not condemn me."

"She is going to say," said Mrs. Chick, addressing herself to the whole of the furniture, in a comprehensive glance of resignation and appeal, "She is going to say-to know it-that I have encouraged

her!"

"I don't wish to exchange reproaches, dear Louisa," sobbed Miss Tox, "Nor do I wish to complain. But, in my own defence-"

"Yes," cried Mrs. Chick, looking round the room with a prophetic smile, "that's what she's oing to say. I knew it. You had better say it. ay it openly! Be open, Lucretia Tox," said Mrs. |

are."

"In my own defence," faltered Miss Tox, “and
only in my own defence against your unkind
words, my dear Louisa, I would merely ask you
if you haven't often favoured such a fancy, and
even said it might happen, for anything we could
tell?"

"There is a point," said Mrs. Chick, rising, not
she were about to soar up, high, into her native
as if she were going to stop at the floor, but as if
skies, "beyond which endurance becomes ridicu
lous, if not culpable. I can bear much; but not
too much. What spell was on me when I came
-a dark presentiment," said Mrs.
into this house this day, I don't know; but I had
a presentiment-
Chick, with a shiver, "that something was going
to happen. Well may I have had that foreboding,
Lucretia, when my confidence of many years is
destroyed in an instant, when my eyes are opened
true colours. Lucretia, I have been mistaken in
all at once, and when I find you revealed in your
should end here. I wish you well, and I shall ever
you. It is better for us both that this subject
wish you well. But, as an individual who desires
to be true to herself in her own poor position, what-
ever that position may be, or may not be and as
of my brother's wife-and as a connection by mar-
the sister of my brother and as the sister-in-law
riage of my brother's wife's mother-may I be per-
mitted to add, as a Dombey?-I can wish you
nothing else but good morning."

These words, delivered with cutting suavity,
tempered and chastened by a lofty air of moral
rectitude, carried the speaker to the door. There
she inclined her head in a ghostly and statue-like
manner, and so withdrew to her carriage, to seek
comfort and consolation in the arms of Mr. Chick,
her lord.

Figuratively speaking, that is to say; for the arms of Mr. Chick were full of his newspaper. Neither did that gentleman address his eyes to wards his wife otherwise than by stealth. Neither. did he offer any consolation whatever. In short, he sat reading, and humming fag ends of tunes, delivering himself of a word, good, bad, or indif and sometimes glancing furtively at her without ferent.

In the meantime Mrs. Chick sat swelling and bridling, and tossing her head, as if she were still repeating that solemn formula of farewell to Lucretia Tox. At length, she said aloud, 'Oh the day! extent to which her eyes had been opened that

"To which your eyes have been opened, my dear!" repeated Mr. Chick.

66 Oh, don't talk to me!" said Mrs. Chick. "If you can bear to see me in this state, and not ask tongue for ever." me what the matter is, you had better hold your

"What is the matter, my dear?" asked Mr. Chick.

"To think," said Mrs. Chick, in a state of solibase idea of connecting herself with our family by loquy, "that she should ever have conceived the was playing at horses with that dear child who is a marriage with Paul! To think that when she now in his grave-I never liked it at the timeshe should have been hiding such a double-faced design! I wonder she was never afraid that something would happen to her. She is fortunate if nothing does."

"I really thought, my dear," said Mr. Chick slowly, after rubbing the bridge of his nose for some time with his newspaper, "that you had gone on the same tack yourself, all along, until this morn. ing; and had thought it would be a convenient thing enough, if it could have been brought about." Mrs. Chick instantly burst into tears, and told Mr. Chick that if he wished to trample upon her with his boots, he had better do it.

and I really don't know, as Paul is going to be very grand, and these are people of condition, that she would have been quite presentable, and might not have compromised myself. There's a providence in everything; everything works for the best; I have been tried to-day, but, upon the whole, I don't regret it."

In which Christian spirit, Mrs. Chick dried her eyes, and smoothed her lap, and sat as became a person calm under a great wrong, Mr. Chick, feeling his unworthiness no doubt, took an early opportunity of being set down at a street corner and walking away, whistling, with his shoulders very much raised, and his hands in his pockets.

"But with Lucretia Tox I have done," said Mrs. Chick, after abandoning herself to her feelings for some minutes, to Mr. Chick's great terror. "I can bear to resign Paul's confidence in favour of one who, I hope and trust, may be deserving of it, and with whom he has a perfect right to replace poor While poor excommunicated Miss Tox, who, if Fanny if he chooses; I can bear to be informed, in she were a fawner and a toad-eater, was at least an Paul's cool manner, of such a change in his plans, honest and a constant one, and had ever borne a and never to be consulted until all is settled and faithful friendship towards her impeacher, and had determined; but deceit I can not bear, and with been truly absorbed and swallowed up in devotion Lucretia Tox I have done. It is better as it is," to the magnificence of Mr. Dombey-while poor said Mrs. Chick, piously; "much better. It would excommunicated Miss Tox watered her plants with have been a long time before I could have accom- her tears, and felt that it was winter in Princess's modated myself comfortably with her, after this;| Place.

CHAPTER XXX.

THE INTERVAL BEFORE THE MARRIAGE.

beautiful lady, sounded to Florence like an echo of the voice long hushed and silent, How could she love that memory less for living tenderness, when it was her memory of all parental tenderness and love!

Florence was, one day, sitting reading in her room, and thinking of the lady and her promised visit soon-for her book turned on a kindred subject-when, raising her eyes, she saw her standing in the doorway.

ALTHOUGH the enchanted house was no more, and | gentle word that had fallen from the lips of the the working world had broken into it, and was hammering and crashing and tramping up and down stairs all day long, keeping Diogenes in an incessant paroxysm of barking, from sunrise to sunset-evidently convinced that his enemy had got the better of him at last, and was then sacking the premises in triumphant defiance-there was, at first, no other great change in the method of Florence's life. At night, when the workpeople went away, the house was dreary and deserted again; and Florence, listening to their voices echoing through the hall and staircase as they departed, pictured to herself the cheerful homes to which they were returning, and the children who were waiting for them, and was glad to think that they were merry and well pleased to go.

She welcomed back the evening silence as an old friend, but it came now with an altered face, and looked more kindly on her. Fresh hope was in it. The beautiful lady who had soothed and caressed her, in the very room in which her heart had been so wrung, was a spirit of promise to her. Soft shadows of the bright life dawning, when her father's affection should be gradually won, and all, or much should be restored, of what she had lost on the dark day when a mother's love had faded with a mother's last breath on her cheek, moved about her in the twilight and were welcome com. pany. Peeping at the rosy children her neighbours, it was a new and precious sensation to think that they might soon speak together and know each other; when she would not fear, as of old, to show herself before them, lest they should be grieved to see her in her black dress sitting there alone!

In her thoughts of her new mother, and in the love and trust overflowing her pure heart towards ber, Florence loved her own dead mother more and more. She had no fear of setting up a rival in her breast. The new flower sprang from the deepplanted and long-cherished root, she knew. Every

"Mamma!" cried Florence, joyfully meeting her. "Come again!"

"Not Mamma yet," returned the lady, with a serious smile, as she encircled Florence's neck with her arm.

"But very soon to be," cried Florence.
"Very soon now, Florence: very soon."

Edith bent her head a little, so as to press the blooming cheek of Florence against her own, and for some few moments remained thus silent. There was something so very tender in her manner, that Florence was even more sensible of it than on the first occasion of their meeting.

She led Florence to a chair beside her, and sat down: Florence looking in her face, quite wondering at its beauty, and willingly leaving her hand in hers.

"Have you been alone, Florence, since I was here last?"

"Oh yes!" smiled Florence, hastily.

She hesitated and cast down her eyes; for her new mamma was very earnest in her look, and the look was intently and thoughtfully fixed upon her face.

"I-I-am used to be alone," said Florence. "I don't mind it at all. Di and I pass whole days together, sometimes." Florence might have said, whole weeks, and months.

"Is Di your maid, love?"

"My dog, Mamma," said Florence, laughin "Susan is my maid.”

"And these are your rooms," said Edith, looking round. "I was not shown these rooms the other day. We must have them improved, Florence. They shall be made the prettiest in the house."

"If I might change them, Mamma," returned Florence; "there is one up-stairs I should like

much better."

"Is this not high enough, dear girl?" asked Edith, smiling.

"The other was my brother's room," said Florence, "and I am very fond of it. I would have spoken to Papa about it when I came home, and found the workmen here, and everything changing; but-"

Florence dropped her eyes, lest the same look should make her falter again.

"-but I was afraid it might distress him; and as you said you would be here again soon, Mamma, and are the mistress of everything, I determined to take courage and ask you."

Edith sat looking at her, with her brilliant eyes intent upon her face, until Florence raising her own, she, in her turn, withdrew her gaze, and turned it on the ground. It was then that Florence thought how different this lady's beauty was from what she had supposed. She had thought it of a proud and lofty kind; yet her manner was so subdued and gentle, that if she had been of Florence's own age and character, it scarcely could have exhibited confidence more.

scorn expressed in eye and lip, the same fierce beauty, only tamed by a sense of its own little worth, and of the little worth of everything around it, went through the grand saloons and halls, that had got loose among the shady trees, and raged and rent themselves. The mimic roses on the walls and floors were set round with sharp thorns, that tore her breast; in every scrap of gold so dazzling to the eye, she saw some hateful atom of her purchasemoney; the broad, high mirrors showed her, at full length, a woman with a noble quality yet dwelling in her nature, who was too false to her better self, and too debased and lost, to save herself. She be. lieved that all this was so plain more or less, to all eyes, that she had no resource or power of self-assertion but in pride: and with this pride, which tortured her own heart night and day, she fought her fate out, braved it, and defied it.

Was this the woman whom Florence - an inno cent girl, strong only in her earnestness and simple truth-could so impress and quell, that by her side she was another creature, with her tempest of passion hushed, and her very pride itself subdued? Was this the woman who now sat beside her in a carriage, with their arms entwined, and who, while she courted and entreated her to love and trust her, drew her fair head to nestle on her breast, and would have laid down life to shield it from wrong or harm?

Oh, Edith! it were well to die, indeed, at such a time! Better and happier far, perhaps, to die so, Edith, than to live on to the end!

Except when a constrained and singular reserve crept over her, and then she seemed (but Florence hardly understood this, though she could not choose The Honourable Mrs. Skewton, who was think. but notice it, and think about it) as if she were ing of anything rather than of such sentiments— humbled before Florence, and ill at ease. When for, like many genteel persons who have existed at she had said that she was not her Mainma yet, and various times, she set her face against death altowhen Florence had called her the mistress of every-gether, and objected to the mention of any such low thing there, this change was quick and startling; and now, while the eyes of Florence rested on her face, she sat as though she would have shrunk and hidden from her, rather than as one about to love and cherish her, in right of such a near connexion. She gave Florence her ready promise, about her new room, and said she would give directions about it herself. She then asked sonre questions concerning poor Paul; and when they had sat in conversa. tion for some time, told Florence she had come to take her to her own home.

"We have come to London now, my mother and I," said Edith, "and you shall stay with us until I am married. I wish that we should know and trust each other, Florence."

"You are very kind to me," said Florence, "dear Mamma. How much I thank you!"

"Let me say now, for it may be the best opportunity," continued Edith, looking round to see that they were quite alone, and speaking in a lower voice, that when I am married, and have gone away for some weeks, I shall be easier at heart if you will come home here. No matter who invites you to stay elsewhere. Come home here. It is better to be alone than-what I would say is," she added, checking herself, “that I know well you are best at home, dear Florence."

"I will come home on the very day, Mamma." "Do so. I rely on that promise. Now, prepare to come with me, dear girl. You will find me down stairs when you are ready."

Slowly and thoughtfully did Edith wander alone through the mansion of which she was so soon to he the lady and little heed took she of all the elence and splendour it began to display. The same domitable haughtiness of soul, the same proud

and levelling upstart- had borrowed a house in Brook street, Grosvenor square, from a stately relative (one of the Feenix brood), who was out of town, and who did not object to lending it, in the hand. somest manner, for nuptial purposes, as the loan implied his final release and acquittance from all further loans and gifts to Mrs. Skewton and her daughter. It being necessary for the credit of the family to make a handsome appearance at such a time, Mrs. Skewton, with the assistance of an accommodating tradesman resident in the parish of Mary-le-bone, who lent out all sorts of articles to the nobility and gentry, from a service of plate to an army of footmen, clapped into this house a silverheaded butler (who was charged extra on that account, as having the appearance of an ancient family retainer), two very tall young men in livery, and a select staff of kitchen-servants; so that a legend arose, down stairs, that Withers the page, released at once from his numerous household duties, and from the propulsion of the wheeled-chair (inconsistent with the metropolis), had been several times observed to rub his eyes and pinch his limbs, as if he misdoubted his having over-slept himself at the Leamington milkman's, and being still in a celes tial dream. A variety of requisites in plate and china being also conveyed to the same establishment from the same convenient source, with several miscellaneous articles, including a neat chariot and a pair of bays, Mrs. Skewton cushioned herself on the principal sofa, in the Cleopatra attitude, and held her court in fair state.

"And how," said Mrs. Skewton, on the entrance of her daughter and her charge, "is my charming Florence? You must come and kiss me, Florence, if you please, my love."