hop where the wooden midshipman stood, but found old Solomon
Gills and Captain Cuttle in as great anxiety.

Old Sol, indeed, was soon in such distress for fear Walter had been
drowned, that he felt he could bear the suspense no longer. One day,
soon after Florence's visit, he disappeared from London, leaving a
letter for Captain Cuttle.

This letter said he had gone to the West Indies to search for Walter,
and asked the captain to care for the little shop and keep it open, so
that it could be a home for his nephew if he should ever appear. As for
himself, Old Sol said if he did not return within a year he would be
dead, and the captain should take the shop for his own.

The disappearance of his old friend was a great blow to bluff Captain
Cuttle, but, determined to do his part, he left his own lodgings and
took up his place at the sign of the wooden midshipman to wait for news
either of Walter or of old Solomon Gills.

Florence knew nothing about this, for the captain had not the heart to
tell her. And, for her own part, she had much to think of in the
approaching marriage of her father, in preparation for which the house
was full of painters and paper-hangers, making it over for the bride.

The first time Florence saw Edith was when one day she entered the
parlor to find her father there with a strange, beautiful lady beside
him. Mr. Dombey told her the lady would soon be her mama, and Edith,
touched by the child's sweet face, bent down and kissed her so tenderly
that Florence, so starved for affection, began at that moment to love
her, and to hope through Edith's love finally to win the love of her
father.

The wedding was a very grand one, and many people were at the church to
see it. Even Captain Cuttle watched it from the gallery, and Carker's
smile, as he looked on, showed more of his white teeth than ever. The
only thing that marred Florence's happiness and hope on this day was the
knowledge that Walter had not been heard from and the fear that he might
never return.

But in spite of her brave hope, after her father and Edith came back
from their wedding journey and the life of parties and dinners began,
Florence was soon disheartened. In the first flush of confidence she
opened all her soul to Edith and begged her to teach her to win her
father's liking. But Edith, knowing (as Florence did not know) how she
had sold herself in this rich marriage and that she had no particle of
love in her heart for her h