oyful, and in tears,
she knew not how, or how long, but all at once: when her new Mama came
back, and took her in her arms again.

'Florence,' said the lady, hurriedly, and looking into her face with
great earnestness. 'You will not begin by hating me?'

'By hating you, Mama?' cried Florence, winding her arm round her neck,
and returning the look.

'Hush! Begin by thinking well of me,' said the beautiful lady. 'Begin by
believing that I will try to make you happy, and that I am prepared to
love you, Florence. Good-bye. We shall meet again soon. Good-bye! Don't
stay here, now.'

Again she pressed her to her breast she had spoken in a rapid manner,
but firmly--and Florence saw her rejoin them in the other room. And now
Florence began to hope that she would learn from her new and beautiful
Mama, how to gain her father's love; and in her sleep that night, in her
lost old home, her own Mama smiled radiantly upon the hope, and blessed
it. Dreaming Florence!

CHAPTER 29. The Opening of the Eyes of Mrs Chick

Miss Tox, all unconscious of any such rare appearances in connexion with
Mr Dombey's house, as scaffoldings and ladders, and men with their heads
tied up in pocket-handkerchiefs, glaring in at the windows like flying
genii or strange birds,--having breakfasted one morning at about this
eventful period of time, on her customary viands; to wit, one French
roll rasped, one egg new laid (or warranted to be), and one little pot
of tea, wherein was infused one little silver scoopful of that herb
on behalf of Miss Tox, and one little silver scoopful on behalf of
the teapot--a flight of fancy in which good housekeepers delight; went
upstairs to set forth the bird waltz on the harpsichord, to water and
arrange the plants, to dust the nick-nacks, and, according to her daily
custom, to make her little drawing-room the garland of Princess's Place.

Miss Tox endued herself with a pair of ancient gloves, like dead leaves,
in which she was accustomed to perform these avocations--hidden from
human sight at other times in a table drawer--and went methodically to
work; beginning with the bird waltz; passing, by a natural association
of ideas, to her bird--a very high-shouldered canary, stricken in years,
and much rumpled, but a piercing singer, as Princess's Place well knew;
taking, next in order, the little china ornaments, paper fly-cages, and
so forth; and coming round, in good time, to the plants, which generally
required