Page:Dombey and Son.djvu/135

Rh Mr. Dombey regarded this phenomenon with amazement and indignation, and seemed by his looks to appeal to Mrs. Chick and Miss Tox against it. Little Paul, who had come in after Florence, backed towards Miss Tox as the Captain waved his hook, and stood on the defensive.

"Now, Gay," said Mr. Dombey. "What have you got to say to me?"

Again the Captain observed, as a general opening of the conversation that could not fail to propitiate all parties, "Wal’r, standby!"

"I am afraid, Sir," began Walter, trembling, and looking down at the ground, "that I take a very great liberty in coming—indeed, I am sure I do. I should hardly have had the courage to ask to see you, Sir, even after coming down, I am afraid, if I had not overtaken Miss Dombey, and—"

"Well!" said Mr. Dombey, following his eyes as he glanced at the attentive Florence, and frowning unconsciously as she encouraged him with a smile. "Go on, if you please."

"Aye, aye," observed the Captain, considering it incumbent on him, as a point of good breeding, to support Mr. Dombey. "Well said! Go on, Wal’r."

Captain Cuttle ought to have been withered by the look which Mr. Dombey bestowed upon him in acknowledgment of his patronage. But quite innocent of this, he closed one eye in reply, and gave Mr. Dombey to understand, by certain significant motions of his hook, that Walter was a little bashful at first, and might be expected to come out shortly.

"It is entirely a private and personal matter, that has brought me here, Sir," continued Walter, faltering, "and Captain Cuttle—"

"Here!" interposed the Captain, as an assurance that he was at hand, and might be relied upon.

"Who is a very old friend of my poor uncle’s, and a most excellent man, Sir," pursued Walter, raising his eyes with a look of entreaty in the Captain’s behalf, "was so good as to offer to come with me, which I could hardly refuse."

"No, no, no," observed the Captain complacently. "Of course not. No call for refusing. Go on, Wal’r."

"And therefore, Sir," said Walter, venturing to meet Mr. Dombey’s eye, and proceeding with better courage in the very desperation of the case, now that there was no avoiding it, "therefore I have come, with him, Sir, to say that my poor old uncle is in very great affliction and distress. That, through the gradual loss of his business, and not being able to make a payment, the apprehension of which has weighed very heavily upon his mind, months and months, as indeed I know, Sir, he has an execution in his house, and is in danger of losing all he has, and breaking his heart. And that if you would, in your kindness, and in your old knowledge of him as a respectable man, do anything to help him out of his difficulty, Sir, we never could thank you enough for it."

Walter’s eyes filled with tears as he spoke; and so did those of Florence. Her father saw them glistening, though he appeared to look at Walter only.

"It is a very large sum, Sir," said Walter. "More than three hundred pounds. My uncle is quite beaten down by his misfortune, it lies so heavy on him; and is quite unable to do anything for his own relief. He doesn’t even know yet, that I have come to speak to you. You would wish me to say, Sir," added Walter, after a moment’s hesitation, "exactly what it is I want. I really don’t know, Sir. There is my uncle’s stock, on which I believe I may say, confidently, there are no other demands, and there is