to draw his arm through hers, and
keep it there.

'And how's Master, deary dear?' said Mrs Brown, when, sitting in this
amicable posture, they had pledged each other.

'Hush! If you'd be so good, Misses Brown, as to speak a little lower,'
Rob implored. 'Why, he's pretty well, thank'ee, I suppose.'

'You're not out of place, Robby?' said Mrs Brown, in a wheedling tone.

'Why, I'm not exactly out of place, nor in,' faltered Rob. 'I--I'm still
in pay, Misses Brown.'

'And nothing to do, Rob?'

'Nothing particular to do just now, Misses Brown, but to--keep my eyes
open, said the Grinder, rolling them in a forlorn way.

'Master abroad, Rob?'

'Oh, for goodness' sake, Misses Brown, couldn't you gossip with a cove
about anything else?' cried the Grinder, in a burst of despair.

The impetuous Mrs Brown rising directly, the tortured Grinder detained
her, stammering 'Ye-es, Misses Brown, I believe he's abroad. What's
she staring at?' he added, in allusion to the daughter, whose eyes were
fixed upon the face that now again looked out behind.

'Don't mind her, lad,' said the old woman, holding him closer to prevent
his turning round. 'It's her way--her way. Tell me, Rob. Did you ever
see the lady, deary?'

'Oh, Misses Brown, what lady?' cried the Grinder in a tone of piteous
supplication.

'What lady?' she retorted. 'The lady; Mrs Dombey.'

'Yes, I believe I see her once,' replied Rob.

'The night she went away, Robby, eh?' said the old woman in his ear,
and taking note of every change in his face. 'Aha! I know it was that
night.'

'Well, if you know it was that night, you know, Misses Brown,' replied
Rob, 'it's no use putting pinchers into a cove to make him say so.

'Where did they go that night, Rob? Straight away? How did they go?
Where did you see her? Did she laugh? Did she cry? Tell me all about
it,' cried the old hag, holding him closer yet, patting the hand that
was drawn through his arm against her other hand, and searching every
line in his face with her bleared eyes. 'Come! Begin! I want to be told
all about it. What, Rob, boy! You and me can keep a secret together, eh?
We've done so before now. Where did they go first, Rob?'

The wretched Grinder made a gasp, and a pause.

'Are you dumb?' said the old woman, angrily.

'Lord, Misses Brown, no! You expect a cove to be a flash of lightning. I
wish I was the electric fluency,' muttered the bewildered Grinder. 'I'd
have a shock at somebody, that wou