`Does she mean young Gay, Louisa?' inquired Mr. Dombey, knitting his brows. `Really, this child's manners have become very boisterous. She cannot mean young Gay, I think. See what it is, will you?'

Mrs. Chick hurried into the passage, and returned with the information that it was young Gay, accompanied by a very strange-looking person; and that young Gay said he would not take the liberty of coming in, hearing Mr. Dombey was at breakfast, but would wait until Mr. Dombey should signify that he might approach.

`Tell the boy to come in now,' said Mr. Dombey. `Now, Gay, what is the matter? Who sent you down here? Was there nobody else to come?'

`I beg your pardon, Sir,' returned Walter. `I have not been sent. I have been so bold as to come on my own account, which I hope you'll pardon when I mention the cause.'

But Mr. Dombey without attending to what he said, was looking impatiently on either side of him (as if he were a pillar in his way) at some object behind.

`What's that?' said Mr. Dombey. `Who is that? I think you have made some mistake in the door, Sir.'

`Oh, I'm very sorry to intrude with any one, Sir,' cried Walter, hastily: `but this is--this is Captain Cuttle, Sir.'

`Wal'r, my lad,' observed the Captain in a deep voice: `stand by!'

At the same time the Captain, coming a little further in, brought out his wide suit of blue, his conspicuous shirt-collar, and his knobby nose in full relief, and stood bowing to Mr. Dombey, and waving his hook politely to the ladies, with the hard glazed hat in his one hand, and a red equator round his head which it had newly imprinted there.

Mr. Dombey regarded this phenomenon with amazement and indignation, and seemed by his looks to appeal to Mrs. Chick and Miss Tox against it. Little Paul, who had come in after Florence, backed towards Miss Tox as the Captain waved his hook, and stood on the defensive.

`Now, Gay,' said Mr. Dombey. `What have you got to say to me?'

Again the Captain observed, as a general opening of the conversation that could not fail to propitiate all parties, `Wal'r, stand by!'

`I am afraid, Sir,' began Walter, trembling, and looking down at the ground, `that I take a very great liberty in coming--indeed, I am sure I do. I should hardly have had the courage to ask to see you, Sir, even after coming down, I am afraid, if I had not overtaken Miss Dombey, and--'

`Well!' said Mr. Dombey, following his eyes as he glanced at the attentive Florence, and frowning unconsciously as she encouraged him with a smile. `Go on, if you please.'

`Aye, aye,' observed the Captain, considering it incumbent on him, as a point of good breeding, to support Mr. Dombey. `Well said! Go on, Wal'r.'

Captain Cuttle ought to have been withered by the look which Mr. Dombey bestowed upon him in acknowledgment of his patronage. But quite innocent of this, he closed one eye in reply, and gave Mr. Dombey to understand by certain significant motions of his hook, that Walter was a little bashful at first, and might be expected to come out shortly.

`It is entirely a private and personal matter, that has brought me here, Sir,' continued Walter, faltering, `and Captain Cuttle--'

`Here!' interposed the Captain, as an assurance that he was at hand, and might be relied upon.