rned Mr Toots, 'you really do me an honour and a
kindness. This proof of your confidence, after the manner in which I was
Beast enough to conduct myself at Brighton--'

'Yes,' said Florence, hurriedly--'no--don't think of that. Then would
you have the kindness to--to go? and to be ready to meet her when she
comes out? Thank you a thousand times! You ease my mind so much. She
doesn't seem so desolate. You cannot think how grateful I feel to
you, or what a good friend I am sure you are!' and Florence in
her earnestness thanked him again and again; and Mr Toots, in his
earnestness, hurried away--but backwards, that he might lose no glimpse
of her.

Florence had not the courage to go out, when she saw poor Susan in the
hall, with Mrs Pipchin driving her forth, and Diogenes jumping about
her, and terrifying Mrs Pipchin to the last degree by making snaps
at her bombazeen skirts, and howling with anguish at the sound of her
voice--for the good duenna was the dearest and most cherished aversion
of his breast. But she saw Susan shake hands with the servants all
round, and turn once to look at her old home; and she saw Diogenes bound
out after the cab, and want to follow it, and testify an impossibility
of conviction that he had no longer any property in the fare; and the
door was shut, and the hurry over, and her tears flowed fast for the
loss of an old friend, whom no one could replace. No one. No one.

Mr Toots, like the leal and trusty soul he was, stopped the cabriolet in
a twinkling, and told Susan Nipper of his commission, at which she cried
more than before.

'Upon my soul and body!' said Mr Toots, taking his seat beside her. 'I
feel for you. Upon my word and honour I think you can hardly know your
own feelings better than I imagine them. I can conceive nothing more
dreadful than to have to leave Miss Dombey.'

Susan abandoned herself to her grief now, and it really was touching to
see her.

'I say,' said Mr Toots, 'now, don't! at least I mean now do, you know!'

'Do what, Mr Toots!' cried Susan.

'Why, come home to my place, and have some dinner before you start,'
said Mr Toots. 'My cook's a most respectable woman--one of the most
motherly people I ever saw--and she'll be delighted to make you
comfortable. Her son,' said Mr Toots, as an additional recommendation,
'was educated in the Bluecoat School,' and blown up in a powder-mill.'

Susan accepting this kind offer, Mr Toots conducted her to his dwelling,
wher