Page:Dombey and Son.djvu/712

Rh Miss Tox addressed herself to a bullet-headed young man, who appeared to be in but indifferent circumstances, and in depressed spirits, and who was sitting in a remote corner. Rising, he disclosed to view the form and features of the Grinder.

"Robin," said Miss Tox, "I have just observed to your mother, as you may have heard, that she is a good creature."

"And so she is, Miss," quoth the Grinder, with some feeling.

"Very well, Robin," said Miss Tox, "I am glad to hear you say so. Now, Robin, as I am going to give you a trial, at your urgent request, as my domestic, with a view to your restoration to respectability, I will take this impressive occasion of remarking that I hope you will never forget that you have, and have always had, a good mother, and that you will endeavour so to conduct yourself as to be a comfort to her."

"Upon my soul I will, Miss," returned the Grinder. "I have come through a good deal, and my intentions is now as straightfor’ard, Miss, as a cove’s—"

"I must get you to break yourself of that word, Robin, if you please," interposed Miss Tox, politely.

"If you please, Miss, as a chap’s—"

"Thankee, Robin, no," returned Miss Tox, "I should prefer individual."

"As a indiwiddle’s," said the Grinder.

"Much better," remarked Miss Tox, complacently; "infinitely more expressive!"

"—can be," pursued Rob. "If I hadn’t been and got made a Grinder on, Miss and Mother, which was a most unfortunate circumstance for a young co—indiwiddle—"

"Very good indeed," observed Miss Tox, approvingly.

"—and if I hadn’t been led away by birds, and then fallen into a bad service," said the Grinder, "I hope I might have done better. But it’s never too late for a—"

"Indi—" suggested Miss Tox.

"widdle," said the Grinder, "to mend; and I hope to mend, Miss, with your kind trial; and wishing, Mother, my love to father, and brothers and sisters, and saying of it."

"I am very glad indeed to hear it," observed Miss Tox. "Will you take a little bread and butter, and a cup of tea, before we go, Robin?"

"Thankee, Miss," returned the Grinder; who immediately began to use his own personal grinders in a most remarkable manner, as if he had been on very short allowance for a considerable period.

Miss Tox, being, in good time, bonneted and shawled, and Polly too, Rob hugged his mother, and followed his new mistress away; so much to the hopeful admiration of Polly, that something in her eyes made luminous rings round the gas-lamps as she looked after him. Polly then put out her light, locked the house-door, delivered the key at an agent’s hard by, and went home as fast as she could go; rejoicing in the shrill delight that her unexpected arrival would occasion there. The great house, dumb as to all that had been suffered in it, and the changes it had witnessed, stood frowning like a dark mute on the street; baulking any nearer inquiries with the staring announcement that the lease of this desirable Family Mansion was to be disposed of.