quite follow you sometimes. But upon my word I--it's a hard thing,
Captain Gills, not to be able to mention Miss Dombey. I really have
got such a dreadful load here!'--Mr Toots pathetically touched his
shirt-front with both hands--'that I feel night and day, exactly as if
somebody was sitting upon me.

'Them,' said the Captain, 'is the terms I offer. If they're hard upon
you, brother, as mayhap they are, give 'em a wide berth, sheer off, and
part company cheerily!'

'Captain Gills,' returned Mr Toots, 'I hardly know how it is, but after
what you told me when I came here, for the first time, I--I feel that
I'd rather think about Miss Dombey in your society than talk about her
in almost anybody else's. Therefore, Captain Gills, if you'll give me
the pleasure of your acquaintance, I shall be very happy to accept it
on your own conditions. I wish to be honourable, Captain Gills,' said Mr
Toots, holding back his extended hand for a moment, 'and therefore I
am obliged to say that I can not help thinking about Miss Dombey. It's
impossible for me to make a promise not to think about her.'

'My lad,' said the Captain, whose opinion of Mr Toots was much improved
by this candid avowal, 'a man's thoughts is like the winds, and nobody
can't answer for 'em for certain, any length of time together. Is it a
treaty as to words?'

'As to words, Captain Gills,' returned Mr Toots, 'I think I can bind
myself.'

Mr Toots gave Captain Cuttle his hand upon it, then and there; and the
Captain with a pleasant and gracious show of condescension, bestowed
his acquaintance upon him formally. Mr Toots seemed much relieved
and gladdened by the acquisition, and chuckled rapturously during the
remainder of his visit. The Captain, for his part, was not ill pleased
to occupy that position of patronage, and was exceedingly well satisfied
by his own prudence and foresight.

But rich as Captain Cuttle was in the latter quality, he received a
surprise that same evening from a no less ingenuous and simple youth,
than Rob the Grinder. That artless lad, drinking tea at the same table,
and bending meekly over his cup and saucer, having taken sidelong
observations of his master for some time, who was reading the newspaper
with great difficulty, but much dignity, through his glasses, broke
silence by saying--

'Oh! I beg your pardon, Captain, but you mayn't be in want of any
pigeons, may you, Sir?'

'No, my lad,' replied the Captain.

'Because I was w