′I really don′t see what is to become of her when she grows older, or what position she is to take. She don′t gain on her Papa in the least. How can one expect she should, when she is so very unlike a Dombey?′
Miss Tox looked as if she saw no way out of such a cogent argument as that, at all.
′And the child, you see,′ said Mrs Chick, in deep confidence, ′has poor dear Fanny′s nature. She′ll never make an effort in after-life, I′ll venture to say. Never! She′ll never wind and twine herself about her Papa′s heart like - ′
′Like the ivy?′ suggested Miss Tox.
′Like the ivy,′ Mrs Chick assented. ′Never! She′ll never glide and nestle into the bosom of her Papa′s affections like - the - ′
′Startled fawn?′ suggested Miss Tox.
′Like the startled fawn,′ said Mrs Chick. ′Never! Poor Fanny! Yet, how I loved her!′
′You must not distress yourself, my dear,′ said Miss Tox, in a soothing voice. ′Now really! You have too much feeling.′
′We have all our faults,′ said Mrs Chick, weeping and shaking her head. ′I daresay we have. I never was blind to hers. I never said I was. Far from it. Yet how I loved her!′
What a satisfaction it was to Mrs Chick - a common-place piece of folly enough, compared with whom her sister-in-law had been a very angel of womanly intelligence and gentleness - to patronise and be tender to the memory of that lady: in exact pursuance of her conduct to her in her lifetime: and to thoroughly believe herself, and take herself in, and make herself uncommonly comfortable on the strength of her toleration! What a mighty pleasant virtue toleration should be when we are right, to be so very pleasant when we are wrong, and quite unable to demonstrate how we come to be invested with the privilege of exercising it!
Mrs Chick was yet drying her eyes and shaking her head, when Richards made bold to caution her that Miss Florence was awake and sitting in her bed. She had risen, as the nurse said, and the lashes of her eyes were wet with tears. But no one saw them glistening save Polly. No one else leant over her, and whispered soothing words to her, or was near enough to hear the flutter of her beating heart.
′Oh! dear nurse!′ said the child, looking earnestly up in her face, ′let me lie by my brother!′
′Why, my pet?′ said Richards.
′Oh! I think he loves me,′ cried the child wildly. ′Let me lie by him. Pray do!′
Mrs Chick interposed with some motherly words about going to sleep like a dear, but Florence repeated her supplication, with a frightened look, and in a voice broken by sobs and tears.
′I′ll not wake him,′ she said, covering her face and hanging down her head. ′I′ll only touch him with my hand, and go to sleep. Oh, pray, pray, let me lie by my brother to-night, for I believe he′s fond of me!′
Richards took her without a word, and carrying her to the little bed in which the infant was sleeping, laid her down by his side. She crept as near him as she could without disturbing his rest; and stretching out one arm so that it timidly embraced his neck, and hiding her face on the other, over which her damp and scattered hair fell loose, lay motionless.
′Poor little thing,′ said Miss Tox; ′she has been dreaming, I daresay.
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