If it only made yourself ridiculous, Ma'am,' said the Major, rolling his head at the unconscious Miss Tox, while his starting eyes appeared to make a leap towards her, 'you might do that to your heart's content, Ma'am, without any objection, I assure you, on the part of Bagstock.' Here the Major laughed frightfully up in the tips of his ears and in the veins of his head.

'But when, Ma'am,' said the Major, 'you compromise other people, and generous, unsuspicious people too, as a repayment for their condescension, you stir the blood of old Joe in his body.' 'Major,' said Mr Dombey, reddening, 'I hope you do not hint at anything so absurd on the part of Miss Tox as--' 'Dombey,' returned the Major, 'I hint at nothing.

But Joey B.has lived in the world, Sir: lived in the world with his eyes open, Sir, and his ears cocked: and Joe tells you, Dombey, that there's a devilish artful and ambitious woman over the way.' Mr Dombey involuntarily glanced over the way; and an angry glance he sent in that direction, too.
'That's all on such a subject that shall pass the lips of Joseph Bagstock,' said the Major firmly.

'Joe is not a tale-bearer, but there are times when he must speak, when he will speak!--confound your arts, Ma'am,' cried the Major, again apostrophising his fair neighbour, with great ire,--'when the provocation is too strong to admit of his remaining silent.' The emotion of this outbreak threw the Major into a paroxysm of horse's coughs, which held him for a long time.

On recovering he added: 'And now, Dombey, as you have invited Joe--old Joe, who has no other merit, Sir, but that he is tough and hearty--to be your guest and guide at Leamington, command him in any way you please, and he is wholly yours.