and being a well-behaved person, and showing a
liking for the poor infant, she was permitted--may I say encouraged--to
repeat her visits with my sister, and gradually to occupy a kind of
footing of familiarity in the family. I have,' said Mr Dombey, in the
tone of a man who was making a great and valuable concession, 'I have a
respect for Miss Tox. She his been so obliging as to render many little
services in my house: trifling and insignificant services perhaps,
Major, but not to be disparaged on that account: and I hope I have had
the good fortune to be enabled to acknowledge them by such attention and
notice as it has been in my power to bestow. I hold myself indebted to
Miss Tox, Major,' added Mr Dombey, with a slight wave of his hand, 'for
the pleasure of your acquaintance.'

'Dombey,' said the Major, warmly: 'no! No, Sir! Joseph Bagstock can
never permit that assertion to pass uncontradicted. Your knowledge of
old Joe, Sir, such as he is, and old Joe's knowledge of you, Sir, had
its origin in a noble fellow, Sir--in a great creature, Sir. Dombey!'
said the Major, with a struggle which it was not very difficult to
parade, his whole life being a struggle against all kinds of apoplectic
symptoms, 'we knew each other through your boy.'

Mr Dombey seemed touched, as it is not improbable the Major designed he
should be, by this allusion. He looked down and sighed: and the Major,
rousing himself fiercely, again said, in reference to the state of mind
into which he felt himself in danger of falling, that this was weakness,
and nothing should induce him to submit to it.

'Our friend had a remote connexion with that event,' said the Major,
'and all the credit that belongs to her, J. B. is willing to give her,
Sir. Notwithstanding which, Ma'am,' he added, raising his eyes from his
plate, and casting them across Princess's Place, to where Miss Tox was
at that moment visible at her window watering her flowers, 'you're
a scheming jade, Ma'am, and your ambition is a piece of monstrous
impudence. If it only made yourself ridiculous, Ma'am,' said the Major,
rolling his head at the unconscious Miss Tox, while his starting eyes
appeared to make a leap towards her, 'you might do that to your heart's
content, Ma'am, without any objection, I assure you, on the part of
Bagstock.' Here the Major laughed frightfully up in the tips of his ears
and in the veins of his head. 'But when, Ma'am,' said the Major, 'you
compromise other people,