Mr and Mrs Toots withdrew to the Bedford (Mrs Toots had been there before in old times, under her maiden name of Nipper), and there found a letter, which it took Mr Toots such an enormous time to read, that Mrs Toots was frightened.
“My dear Susan,” said Mr Toots, “fright is worse than exertion. Pray be calm!”
“Who is it from?” asked Mrs Toots.
“Why, my love,” said Mr Toots, “it’s from Captain Gills. Do not excite yourself. Walters and Miss Dombey are expected home!”
“My dear,” said Mrs Toots, raising herself quickly from the sofa, very pale, “don’t try to deceive me, for it’s no use, they’re come home—I see it plainly in your face!”
“She’s a most extraordinary woman!” exclaimed Mr Toots, in rapturous admiration. “You’re perfectly right, my love, they have come home. Miss Dombey has seen her father, and they are reconciled!”
“Reconciled!” cried Mrs Toots, clapping her hands.
“My dear,” said Mr Toots; “pray do not exert yourself. Do remember the medical man! Captain Gills says—at least he don’t say, but I imagine, from what I can make out, he means—that Miss Dombey has brought her unfortunate father away from his old house, to one where she and Walters are living; that he is lying very ill there—supposed to be dying; and that she attends upon him night and day.”
Mrs Toots began to cry quite bitterly.
“My dearest Susan,” replied Mr Toots, “do, do, if you possibly can, remember the medical man! If you can’t, it’s of no consequence—but do endeavour to!”