, however, on a favourable occasion.

'And to talk about birdcages, too!' whimpered the Grinder. 'As If that
was a crime! Why, look'ee here! Do you know who this belongs to?'

'To Master, dear?' said the old woman with a grin.

'Ah!' replied the Grinder, lifting a large cage tied up in a wrapper,
on the table, and untying it with his teeth and hands. 'It's our parrot,
this is.'

'Mr Carker's parrot, Rob?'

'Will you hold your tongue, Misses Brown?' returned the goaded Grinder.
'What do you go naming names for? I'm blest,' said Rob, pulling his
hair with both hands in the exasperation of his feelings, 'if she ain't
enough to make a cove run wild!'

'What! Do you snub me, thankless boy!' cried the old woman, with ready
vehemence.

'Good gracious, Misses Brown, no!' returned the Grinder, with tears
in his eyes. 'Was there ever such a--! Don't I dote upon you, Misses
Brown?'

'Do you, sweet Rob? Do you truly, chickabiddy?' With that, Mrs Brown
held him in her fond embrace once more; and did not release him until
he had made several violent and ineffectual struggles with his legs, and
his hair was standing on end all over his head.

'Oh!' returned the Grinder, 'what a thing it is to be perfectly pitched
into with affection like this here. I wish she was--How have you been,
Misses Brown?'

'Ah! Not here since this night week!' said the old woman, contemplating
him with a look of reproach.

'Good gracious, Misses Brown,' returned the Grinder, 'I said tonight's a
week, that I'd come tonight, didn't I? And here I am. How you do go on!
I wish you'd be a little rational, Misses Brown. I'm hoarse with saying
things in my defence, and my very face is shiny with being hugged!' He
rubbed it hard with his sleeve, as if to remove the tender polish in
question.

'Drink a little drop to comfort you, my Robin,' said the old woman,
filling the glass from the bottle and giving it to him.

'Thank'ee, Misses Brown,' returned the Grinder. 'Here's your health. And
long may you--et ceterer.' Which, to judge from the expression of
his face, did not include any very choice blessings. 'And here's her
health,' said the Grinder, glancing at Alice, who sat with her eyes
fixed, as it seemed to him, on the wall behind him, but in reality on Mr
Dombey's face at the door, 'and wishing her the same and many of 'em!'

He drained the glass to these two sentiments, and set it down.

'Well, I say, Misses Brown!' he proceeded. 'To go on a litt