 of the tender passion, you
know, Captain Gills.«
    »Aye, aye, my lad,« says the Captain, »as makes us all slue round - for
which you'll overhaul the book -«
    »I shall certainly do so, Captain Gills,« says Mr. Toots, with great
earnestness; »when we first began to mention such subjects, I explained that I
was what you may call a Blighted Flower, you know.«
    The Captain approves of this figure greatly; and murmurs that no flower as
blows, is like the rose.
    »But Lord bless me,« pursues Mr. Toots, »she was as entirely conscious of
the state of my feelings as I was myself. There was nothing I could tell her.
She was the only person who could have stood between me and the silent Tomb, and
she did it, in a manner to command my everlasting admiration. She knows that
there's nobody in the world I look up to, as I do to Miss Dombey. She knows that
there's nothing on earth I wouldn't do for Miss Dombey. She knows that I
consider Miss Dombey the most beautiful, the most amiable, the most angelic of
her sex. What is her observation upon that? The perfection of sense. My dear,
you're right. I think so too.«
    »And so do I!« says the Captain.
    »So do I,« says Sol Gills.
    »Then,« resumes Mr. Toots, after some contemplative pulling at his pipe,
during which his visage has expressed the most contented reflection, »what an
observant woman my wife is! What sagacity she possesses! What remarks she makes!
It was only last night, when we were sitting in the enjoyment of connubial bliss
- which, upon my word and honour, is a feeble term to express my feelings in the
society of my wife - that she said how remarkable it was to consider the present
position of our friend Walters. Here, observes my wife, he is, released from
sea-going, after that first long voyage with his young bride - as you know he
was, Mr. Sols.«
    »Quite true,« says the old Instrument-maker, rubbing his hands.
    »Here he is, says my wife, released from that, immediately; appointed by the
same establishment to a post of great trust and confidence at home; showing
himself again worthy; mounting up the ladder with the greatest expedition;
beloved by everybody; assisted by his uncle at the very best
