Polly was gratified, and showed it. Mr. Toodle didn't know whether he was gratified or not, and preserved a stolid calmness. "You see, Mrs. Richards," said Miss Tox-" and I hope you see too, Sir-there are many little ways in which I can be slight ly useful to you, if you will make no stranger of me; and in which I shall be delighted to be so. For instance, I can teach your children something. I shall bring a few little books if you'll allow me, and some work, and of an evening now and then, they'll learn-dear me, they'll learn a great deal, I trust, and be a credit to their teacher."

Mr. Toodle, who had a great respect for learning, jerked his head approvingly at his wife, and moistened his hands with dawning satisfaction.

"Then, not being a stranger, I shall be in nobody's way," said Miss T^x, “and everything will go on, just as if I were not here. Mr3. Richards will do her mending, or her ironing, or her nursing, whatever it is, without minding me; and you'll smoke your pipe too, if you 're so disposed, Sir, won't you?"

"Thank'ee Mum," said Mr. Toodle. "Yes; I'll take my bit of backer."

"Very good of you to say so, Sir," rejoined Miss Tox, “and I really do assure you now, unfeignedly, that it will be a great comfort to me, and that whatever good I may be fortunate enough to do the children, you will more than pay back to me, if you 'll enter into this little bargain comfortably, and easily, and goodnaturedly, without another word about it."

The bargain was ratified on the spot; and Miss Tox found herself so much at home already, that without delay she instituted a preliminary examination of the children, all roundwhich Mr. Toodle much admired-and booked their ages, names, and acquirements on a piece of paper. This ceremony, and a little attendant gossip, prolonged the time until after their usual hour of going to bed, and detained Miss Tox at the Toodle fireside until it was too late for her to walk home alone. The gallant Grinder, however, being still there, politely offered to attend her to her own door; and as it was something to Miss Tox to be seen home by a youth whom Mr. Dombey had first inducted into

hose manly garments which are rarely mentioned by name, she very readily accepted the proposal.

After shaking hands with Mr. Toodle and Polly, and kissing all the children, Miss Tox left the house, therefore, with unlimited popularity, and carrying away with her so light a heart that it might have given Mrs. Chick offence if that good lady could have weighed it.

Rob the Grinder in his modesty would have walked behind, but Miss Tox desired him to keep beside her, for conversational purposes; and as she afterwards expressed it to his mother, "drew him out," upon the road.

He drew out so bright, and clear, and shining, that Miss Tox was charmed with him. The rore Miss Tox drew him out, the

finer he came—like wire.

promising youth- mor

There never was a better or more ffectionate, steady, prudent, sober,

honest, meek, candid young man-than Rob drew out, that night. "I am quite glar," said Miss Tox, arrived at her own door, "to know you. I hope you'll consider me your friend, and that you'll come and see me as often as you like. Do you keep a money box ?"

"Yes, Ma'am," returned Rob; "I'm saving up, against I've got enough to put in the bank, Ma'am."

Very laudable indeed," said Miss Tox. "I'm glad to hear it. Put this half crown into it, if you please."

"O thank you, Ma'am," replied Rob, "but really I couldn't think of depriving you."

"I commend your independent spirit," said Miss Tox, "but it's no deprivation, I assure you. I shall be offended if you don't take it as a mark of my good will. Good night, Robin."

"Good night, Ma'am," said Rob," and thank you !"

Who ran sniggering off to get change, and tossed it away with a pieman. But they never taught honor at the Grinders' School, where the system that prevailed was particularly strong in the engendering of hypocrisy. Insomuch, that many of the friends and masters of past Grinders said, if this were what came of education for the common people, let us have none. Some more rational said, let us have a better one. But the governing powers of the Grinders' Company were always ready for them,

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by picking out a few boys who had turned out well in spite of the system, and roundly asserting that they could have only turned out well because of it. Which settled the business of those objectors out of hand, and established the glory of the Grinders' Institution.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Further Adventures of Captain Edward Cuttle, Mariner

TIME, sure of foot, and strong of will, had so pressed onward, that the year enjoined by the old Instrument-maker, as the term during which his friend should refrain from opening the sealed packet accompanying the letter he had left for him, was now nearly expired, and Captain Cuttle began to look at it, of an evening, with feelings of mystery and uneasiness.

The Captain, in his honor, would as soon have thought of opening the parcel one hour before the expiration of the term, as he would have thought of opening himself study his own anatomy. He merely brought it out, at certain stage of his first evening pipe, laid it on the table, and sat gazing at the outside of it, through the smoke, in silent gravity, for two or three hours at a spell. Sometimes, when he had contemplated it thus for a pretty long while, the Captain would hitch his chair, by degrees, further and further off, as if to get beyond the range of its fascination; but if this were his design, he never succeeded: for even when he was brought up by the parlor wall, the packet still attracted him; or if his eyes, in thoughtful wandering, roved to the ceiling or the fire, its image immediately followed, and posted itself conspicuously among the coals, or took up an advantageous Dosition on the whitewash.

In respect of Heart's Delight, the Captain's parental regard and admiration knew no change. But since his last interview with Mr. Carker, Captain Cuttle had come to entertain doubts whether his former intervention in behalf of that young lady and his dear boy Wal'r, had proved altogether so favorable as he could have wished, and as he at the time believed. The Captain was troubled with a serious misgiving that he had done more