much at home already, that without delay she instituted a preliminary examination of the children all round—which Mr. Toodle much admired—and booked their ages, names, and acquirements, on a piece of paper. This ceremony, and a little attendant gossip, prolonged the time until after their usual hour of going to bed, and detained Miss Tox at the Toodle fireside until it was too late for her to walk home alone. The gallant Grinder, however, being still there, politely offered to attend her to her own door; and as it was something to Miss Tox to be seen home by a youth whom Mr. Dombey had first inducted into those manly garments which are rarely mentioned by name, she very readily accepted the proposal.
After shaking hands with Mr. Toodle and Polly, and kissing all the children, Miss Tox left the house, therefore, with unlimited popularity, and carrying away with her so light a heart that it might have given Mrs. Chick offence if that good lady could have weighed it.
Rob the Grinder, in his modesty, would have walked behind, but Miss Tox desired him to keep beside her, for conversational purposes; and, as she afterwards expressed it to his mother, "drew him out," upon the road.
He drew out so bright, and clear, and shining, that Miss Tox was charmed with him. The more Miss Tox drew him out, the finer he came—like wire. There never was a better or more promising youth—a more affectionate, steady, prudent, sober, honest, meek, candid young man—than Rob drew out, that night.
"I am quite glad," said Miss Tox, arrived at her own door, "to know you. I hope you ’ll consider me your friend, and that you ’ll come and see me as often as you like. Do you keep a money-box?"
"Yes, Ma’am," returned Rob; "I’m saving up, against I ’ve got enough to put in the Bank, Ma’am.
"Very laudable indeed," said Miss Tox. "I’m glad to hear it. Put this half-crown into it, if you please."
"Oh thank you, Ma’am," replied Rob, "but really I couldn’t think of depriving you."
"I commend your independent spirit," said Miss Tox, "but it’s no deprivation, I assure you. I shall be offended if you don’t take it, as a mark of my good will. Good night, Robin."
"Good night, Ma’am," said Rob, "and thank you!"
Who ran sniggering off to get change, and tossed it away with a pieman. But they never taught honour at the Grinders’ School, where the system that prevailed was particularly strong in the engendering of hypocrisy. Insomuch, that many of the friends and masters of past Grinders said, if this were what came of education for the common people, let us have none. Some more rational said, let us have a better one. But the governing powers of the Grinders’ Company were always ready for them, by picking out a few boys who had turned out well in spite of the system, and roundly asserting that they could have only turned out well because of it. Which settled the business of those objectors out of hand, and established the glory of the Grinders’ Institution.
