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CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

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'Is there anything I can do, Captain Gills?' inquired Mr. Toots. 'If there<br />

is, make use of me.'<br />

The Captain removed his h<strong>and</strong> from his face, looked at him with a remarkable<br />

expression of pity <strong>and</strong> tenderness, <strong>and</strong> took him by the h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> shook it<br />

hard.<br />

'No, thank'ee,' said the Captain. 'Nothing. Only I'll take it as a favour if<br />

you'll part company for the present. I believe, brother,' wringing his h<strong>and</strong><br />

again, 'that, after Wal'r, <strong>and</strong> on a different model, you're as good a lad as<br />

ever stepped.'<br />

'Upon my word <strong>and</strong> honour, Captain Gills,' returned Mr. Toots, giving the<br />

Captain's h<strong>and</strong> a preliminary slap before shaking it again, 'it's delightful<br />

to me to possess your good opinion. Thank'ee.'<br />

'And bear h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> cheer up,' said the Captain, patting him on the back.<br />

'What! There's more than one sweet creetur in the world!'<br />

'Not to me, Captain Gills,' replied Mr. Toots gravely. 'Not to me, I assure<br />

you. The state of my feelings towards Miss <strong>Dombey</strong> is of that unspeakable<br />

description, that my heart is a desert isl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> she lives in it alone.<br />

I'm getting more used up every day, <strong>and</strong> I'm proud to be so. If you could see<br />

my legs when I take my boots off, you'd form some idea of what unrequited<br />

affection is. I have been prescribed bark, but I don't take it, for I don't<br />

wish to have any tone whatever given to my constitution. I'd rather not.<br />

This, however, is forbidden ground. Captain Gills, good-bye!'<br />

Captain Cuttle cordially reciprocating the warmth of Mr. Toots's farewell,<br />

locked the door behind him, <strong>and</strong> shaking his head with the same remarkable<br />

expression of pity <strong>and</strong> tenderness as he had regarded him with before, went<br />

up to see if Florence wanted him.<br />

There was an entire change in the Captain's face as he went upstairs. He<br />

wiped his eyes with his h<strong>and</strong>kerchief, <strong>and</strong> he polished the bridge of his nose

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