Page:Dombey and Son.djvu/462

Rh to say, that I have the greatest possible respect for, and interest in, Mr. Dombey;" Miss Tox’s voice faltered; "and everything that relates to him."

Mr. Toodle, enlightened, shook his head, and said he had heerd it said, and, for his own part, he did think, as Mr. Dombey was a difficult subject.

"Pray don’t say so, Sir, if you please," returned Miss Tox. "Let me entreat you not to say so, Sir, either now, or at any future time. Such observations cannot but be very painful to me; and to a gentleman, whose mind is constituted as, I am quite sure, yours is, can afford no permanent satisfaction."

Mr. Toodle, who had not entertained the least doubt of offering a remark that would be received with acquiescence, was greatly confounded.

"All that I wish to say, Mrs. Richards," resumed Miss Tox,—"and I address myself to you too, Sir,—is this. That any intelligence of the proceedings of the family, of the welfare of the family, of the health of the family, that reaches you, will be always most acceptable to me. That I shall be always very glad to chat with Mrs. Richards about the family, and about old time. And as Mrs Richards and I never had the least difference (though I could wish now that we had been better acquainted, but I have no one but myself to blame for that), I hope she will not object to our being very good friends now, and to my coming backwards and forwards here, when I like, without being a stranger. Now, I really hope, Mrs. Richards," said Miss Tox—earnestly, "that you will take this, as I mean it, like a good-humoured creature, as you always were."

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 slightly 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 Tox, "and everything will go on just as if I were not here. Mrs 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 good-naturedly, without another word about it."

The bargain was ratified on the spot; and Miss Tox found herself so