party; at which the spirits of Mr. Feeder, B.A., were tremendous, and so communicated themselves to Mrs. Toots, that Mr. Toots was several times heard to observe, across the table, "My dear Susan, don't exert yourself!" The best of it was, that Mr. Toots felt it incumbent on him to make a speech; and in spite of a whole code of telegraphic dissuasions from Mrs. Toots, appeared on his legs for the first time in his life.

"I really," said Mr. Toots, " in this house, where, whatever was done to me in the way of-of any mental confusion sometimes-which is of no consequence, and I impute to nobody-I was always treated like one of Doctor Blimber's family, and had a desk to myself for a considerable period-can-not-allowmy friend Feeder to be-"

Mrs. Toots suggested "married.”

"It may not be inappropriate to the occasion, or altogether uninteresting," said Mr. Toots with a delighted face," to observe that my wife is a most extraordinary woman, and would do this much better than myself-allow my friend Feeder to be married -especially to"

Mrs. Toots suggested, "to Miss Blimber."

"To Mrs. Feeder, my love!" said Mr. Toots, in a subdued tone of private discussion: "whom God hath joined,' you know, 'let no man'--don't you know? I cannot allow my friend, Feeder, to be married-especially to Mrs. Feeder-without proposing their-their-Toasts; and may," said Mr. Toots, fixing his eyes on his wife, as if for inspiration in a high flight, may the torch of Hymen be the beacon of joy, and may the flowers we have this day strewed in their path, be the-the banishers of -of gloom !"

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Doctor Blimber, who had a taste for metaphor, was pleased with this, and said, "Very good, Toots! Very well said, indeed, Toots!" and nodded his head and patted his hands. Mr. Feeder made, in reply, a comic speech chequered with sentiment. Mr. Alfred Feeder, M.A., was afterwards very happy on Doctor and Mrs. Blimber; Mr. Feeder, B.A., scarcely less so, on the gauzy little bridesmaids. Doctor Blimber then, in a sonorous voice, delivered a few thoughts in the pastoral style, relative to the rushes among which it was the intention of himself and Mrs.

Blimber to dwell, and the bee that would hum around their cot. Shortly after which, as the Doctor's eyes were twinkling in a remarkable manner, and his son-in-law had already observed that time was made for slaves, and had inquired whether Mrs. Toots sang, the discreet Mrs. Blimber dissolved the sitting, and sent Cornelia away, very cool and comfortable, in a post-chaise, with the man of her heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Toots withdrew to the Bedford (Mrs. Toots had been there before in old times, under her maiden name of Nipper), and there found a letter, which it took Mr. Toots such an enormous time to read, that Mrs. Toots was frightened.

My dear Susan," said Mr. Toots, "fright is worse than exer. tion. Pray be calm!"

"Who is it from ?" asked Mrs. Toots.

Why, my love," said Mr. Toots, "it's from Captain Gills. Do not excite yourself. Walters and Miss Dombey are expected home!"

"My dear," said Mrs. Toots, raising herself quickly from the sofa, very pale, "don't try to deceive me, for it's no use, they're come home I see it plainly in your face!"

"She's a most extraordinary woman!" exclaimed Mr. Toots, in rapturous admiration. "You're perfectly right, my love, they have come home. Miss Dombey has seen her father, and they are reconciled!"

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"Reconciled!" cried Mrs. Toots, clapping her hands. 'My dear," said Mr. Toots; pray do not exert yourself. Do remember the medical man! Captain Gills says-at least, he don't say, but I imagine, from what I can make out, he means- -that Miss Dombey has brought her unfortunate father away from his old house, to one where she and Walters are living; that he is lying very ill there-supposed to be dying; and that she attends upon him night and day."

Mrs. Toots began to cry quite bitterly.

My dearest Susan," replied Mr. Toots, "do, do, if you possibly can, remember the medical man! If you can't it's of no consequence-but do endeavor to !"

His wife, with her old manner suddenly restored, so pathetically entreated him to take her to her precious pet, her little mistress,

her own darling, and the like, that Mr. Toots, whose sympathy and admiration were of the strongest kind, consented from his very heart of hearts; and they agreed to depart immediately, and present themselves in answer to the Captain's letter.

Now some hidden sympathies of things, or some coincidences, had that day brought the Captain himself (towards whom Mr. and Mrs. Toots were soon journeying, into the flowery train of wed. lock; not as a principal, but as an accessory. It happened ac. cidentally and thus.

The Captain, having seen Florence and her baby for a moment, to his unbounded content, and having had a long talk with Walter, turned out for a walk; feeling it necessary to have some solitary meditation on the changes of human affairs, and to shake his glazed hat profoundly over the fall of Mr. Dombey, for whom the generosity and simplicity of his nature were awakened in a lively manner. The Captain would have been very low, indeed, on the unhappy gentleman's account, but for the recollection of the baby; which afforded him such intense satisfaction whenever it arose, that he laughed aloud as he went along the street, and indeed, more than once, in a sudden impulse of joy, threw up his glazed hat and caught it again much to the amazement of the spectators. The rapid alternations of light and shade to which these two conflicting subjects of reflection exposed the Captain, were so very trying to his spirits, that he felt a long walk necessary to his composure; and as there is a great deal in the influence of harmonious associations, he chose for the scene of this walk, his old neighborhood, down among the mast, oar, and block makers, shipbiscuit bakers, coal-whippers, pitch-kettles, sailors, canals, docks, swing-bridges, and other soothing objects.

These peaceful scenes, and particularly the region of Lime. house-Hole and thereabouts, were so influential in calming the Captain, that he walked on with restored tranquillity, and was, in fact, regaling himself, under his breath, with the ballad of Lovely Peg, when, on turning a corner, he was suddenly transfixed and rendered speechless by a triumphant procession that he beheld advancing towards him.

This awful demonstration was headed by that determined woman Mrs. MacStinger, who, preserving a countenance for