And they do say, Uncle and Captain Cuttle,′ lowering his voice, ′that he′s taken a dislike to her, and that she′s left, unnoticed, among the servants, and that his mind′s so set all the while upon having his son in the House, that although he′s only a baby now, he is going to have balances struck oftener than formerly, and the books kept closer than they used to be, and has even been seen (when he thought he wasn′t) walking in the Docks, looking at his ships and property and all that, as if he was exulting like, over what he and his son will possess together. That′s what they say. Of course, I don′t know.
′He knows all about her already, you see,′ said the instrument-maker.
′Nonsense, Uncle,′ cried the boy, still reddening and laughing, boy-like. ′How can I help hearing what they tell me?′
′The Son′s a little in our way at present, I′m afraid, Ned,′ said the old man, humouring the joke.
′Very much,′ said the Captain.
′Nevertheless, we′ll drink him,′ pursued Sol. ′So, here′s to Dombey and Son.′
′Oh, very well, Uncle,′ said the boy, merrily. ′Since you have introduced the mention of her, and have connected me with her and have said that I know all about her, I shall make bold to amend the toast. So here′s to Dombey - and Son - and Daughter!′
CHAPTER 5.
Paul′s Progress and Christening
Little Paul, suffering no contamination from the blood of the Toodles, grew stouter and stronger every day. Every day, too, he was more and more ardently cherished by Miss Tox, whose devotion was so far appreciated by Mr Dombey that he began to regard her as a woman of great natural good sense, whose feelings did her credit and deserved encouragement. He was so lavish of this condescension, that he not only bowed to her, in a particular manner, on several occasions, but even entrusted such stately recognitions of her to his sister as ′pray tell your friend, Louisa, that she is very good,′ or ′mention to Miss Tox, Louisa, that I am obliged to her;′specialities which made a deep impression on the lady thus distinguished.
Whether Miss Tox conceived that having been selected by the Fates to welcome the little Dombey before he was born, in Kirby, Beard and Kirby′s Best Mixed Pins, it therefore naturally devolved upon her to greet him with all other forms of welcome in all other early stages of his existence - or whether her overflowing goodness induced her to volunteer into the domestic militia as a substitute in some sort for his deceased Mama - or whether she was conscious of any other motives - are questions which in this stage of the Firm′s history herself only could have solved. Nor have they much bearing on the fact (of which there is no doubt), that Miss Tox′s constancy and zeal were a heavy discouragement to Richards, who lost flesh hourly under her patronage, and was in some danger of being superintended to death.
Miss Tox was often in the habit of assuring Mrs Chick, that nothing could exceed her interest in all connected with the development of that sweet child;′ and an observer of Miss Tox′s proceedings might have inferred so much without declaratory confirmation. She would preside over the innocent repasts of the young heir, with ineffable satisfaction, almost with an air of joint proprietorship with Richards in the entertainment. At the little ceremonies of the bath and toilette, she assisted with enthusiasm.
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