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266 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 down stairs to enliven "Dombey" and his right-hand man.

Dombey 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 honour, 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 Dombey, Sir?" cried the Major. "You see me, Mr. Carker, standing here! J. B.?"

He was puffy enough to see, and blue enough; and Mr. Carker intimated the he had that pleasure.

"Then you see a man, Sir, who would go through fire and water to serve Dombey," 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 Jove, 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 seemed to hint at it; for I know you military men—"

The Major gave the horse’s 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 button-hole, 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 Dombey was over 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 Dombey had fortune; and what more could any couple have? Hearing Mr. Dombey’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 lustre of Mr. Dombey at the