New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-21
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
PART XII.
DEALINGS WITH THE FIRM 0F
DOMBEY AND SON,
WHOLESALE. RETAIL AND FOR EXPECTATION.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

CHAPTER XXI.

aBy Of bis prudent provisions against surprise, be
cause of the non appearance OF the enemy. The
CAPTAIN argued that his present security was too
profound aud wonderful 70 endure much longer
be knew that when the wind stood in a fair quar-
ter the weathercOck was seldom nailed there
and he was too well acquainted with the deter
mined and danntess character OF Mrs. Mac Singer,
~ doubt that that heroic woman bad devoted her
self to the task Of his discovery and capture -
Trembling beneath the weight Of these reasons
Captain Cattle lived very close aud retired life
seldom stirring abroad until after dark venturlng
even then only into the Obscurest streets; never
going forth at all on Sundays and both within and
without the walls OF his retreat avoiding bonnets,
as II they were worn by raging lions
The Captain never dreamed that IN the event OF
his being pounced upon by Mrs. Mac Singer, in
bis walks, it would be possible TO offer resistance
He felt that it could not be done He saw him
self in his minds eye, put meekly into hackney
coach and carried of TO his old lodgings. He fore
saw that, once immured there, he was lost man:
his hat gone Mrs Mac Singer watchful Of him
DAY and night; reproaches heaped upon his head,
before the infant family; himself the guilty object
ofsuspic0n and distrust an ogre In the childrens
ewes and in their mothers detected traitor.
violent perspirstion, aud a lowness Of spirits,
always came over the Captain as this gloomy pic
tore presented itself TO his imagination 1t gener-
ay did so previous TO bis stealing out OF doors at
night for aif and exercise. Sensible OF the risk he
ran the Captain took leave OF Rob, at those times,
with the solemnity which became a man who
might never return exhortiDg him. in the event OF
his the Captains being lost sight Of for time, 10
tread in the paths Of virtue, and keep the brazen
instruments well polished
But not 10 throw away chance; and 10 secure
10 himself a means in case OF the the worst, OF
holding communication with the external world
CAPTAIN Cutie soon conceived the happy idea OF
teaching Rob the Grinder some secret signal, by
which that adherent might make his presence and
fidelity known to his commander, in the hour OF adj
versity After much cogitation. the Captain de-
cided in favor Of instructng him TO whistle the ma
1ne melody a. Oh cheerily, cheerily :" and Rob the
Grinder attsining point near perfection In that
accomplishment as a andsman could hope TO reach,
the Captain impressed these mysterious nstruc-
I" Now. my lad. stand by II ever m took
Took, Captain T. interposed Rob, with his
round eyes wide open.
nAhi' said Captain Cutie darkly, "if ever
goes away meaning 10 come back to supper, and
don I come within hail again. twenty four hours
after my loss 20 you 10 Brig Place and whistle that
ere tune near my old moorings-not as if you was
ameaDing of il. you understand but as n you
dnlted there promscuOus. III answer IN that tune,
you sheer off my lad, and come back four. twenty
hours aterward IL answer in another tune, do
you stand off aud on, and wait till throw out
farther signals Do you understand them orders
nowi"
What am to stand off and on Of Captain T.
inquired Rob The horseroad T.
Here q smart lad for you" cried the Cap
tain, cycling him sternly, as don Z know his own
native alphabet Go away bit and come back
again altenate-dye understand that T.
"Yes. Captain, said Rob-
Very good. my lad, then, said the Captain, re-
lenting. do itW
That he might do il the better, Captain Cutie
sometimes condescended, of an evening alter the
shop was shut, 10 rehearse this scene retiring
into the paror for the purpose into the lodgings
a md a ID.
serving the behavior Of his ally. from the hole OF
espial be had cut in the wall. Rob the Grinder
discharged himself of his duty with so much exact
ness and Judgment, when thus put 10 the proof,
that the Captain presented him. al divers times,
with seven sxpences, in token OF satisfaction and
gradually felt stealing over his spirit the resigna
ton Of man who had made provision for the worst
and taken every reasonable precautlon against an
unrelenting fate.
Nevertheless the captain did not tempt i'll for
tune by being a whit more venturesome than be
fore. Though he considered 1t point OF good
breeding in himself, a general friend OF the fam
w. 10 attend Mr. Dombeys wedding, lof which he
had heard from Mr.. Perch and TO show that gen
tleman pleasant and approving countenance from
the gallery he had repaired TO the church IN
hackney cabriolet with both windows up and
might have scruped even 10 make that venture, IN
his dread of Mrs Mac Singer, but that the lady
attendance on the ministry of the Reverend Mel
chisedeck rendered 1t peculiarly unlikely that she
wOald be found in communion with the Establish
ment
The Captain got safe home again, and fell into
the ordinary routine OF his new lite without encoun
tefing any more direct alarm from the enemy, than
was suggested 10 him BY the daily bonnets in the
street. But other subjects began 10 lie heavy on
the Captains mind. Walters ship was still IN
heard Of No news came OF old Sci ellis. Flor
ence did not even know of the old mans disappear
ance, and Captain Cutie had not the heart to tell
her Indeed, the Captain as his own hopes OF the
generous. handsome. gallant hearted youth, whom
he had loved, according To his rough manner, from
child, began ~ fade and faded more aud more
hon day To day, shrank with instructive pain from
NE thought OF exchanging word with Florence.
II he had had good news to carry 10 her the homes,
Captain woald have brsved the newly decorated
house and splendid Northumberland these. con
nected with the lady he had seen al Church were
awfai to nim-and made his way into her preseace.
With dark HORIZON gathering around their com.
moa hopes, however, that darkened every hour the
Captain almost felt as II he were new misfortune
and affection TO her; and was scarcely less afraid
ia visit from Florence, than from Mrs Mac String
ekerselE
h was chill, dark autumn evening and Cap
tau Cattle had ordered tire to be kindled in th,
hssle back parlor. now more than ever hike tbs
cabin Of ship The rain fell fast and the win,
blew hard and strsying out ON the housetop b,
that stormy bedroom OF his old friend, 70 take Al
observation Of the weather the Captains hear
e'ed within him, when he saw how wild and desc
ne WA Not that he associated the weathe
o. that time with poor w alters destiny or doabtet
test II Providence had doomed him % be lost an'
aipwrecked, il was over, long ago but that be
heath an outward influence, quite distinct from IN,
suoleet matter Of his thoughts, the Captains spir
rs "nk, and bis hopes turned pate, as those o
vser men had often done before him, and Will otter
Captain Cutie. addressing his fece 10 the SHARP
"hd and santing rain lo<,keA nm at the heav,