When Paul was dressed, which was very soon done, for he felt unwell and drowsy and not able to stand about it very long, he went down into the drawing-room.  Shortly afterwards Mrs. Blimber appeared, looking lovely, Paul thought, and Miss Blimber came down soon after her mama.  Mr. Toots and Mr. Feeder were the next arrivals.  Each of these gentlemen brought his hat in his hand as if he lived somewhere else; and when they were announced by the butler.  Doctor Blimber said, “Aye, aye, aye!  God bless my soul!” and seemed extremely glad to see them.  Mr. Toots was one blaze of jewellery and buttons, and all the other young gentlemen were tightly cravatted, curled, and pumped, and all came in with their hats in their hands at separate times and were announced and introduced.  Soon Paul slipped down from the cushioned corner of a sofa, and went downstairs into the tearoom to be ready for Florence.  Presently she came; looking so beautiful in her simple ball-dress, with her fresh flowers in her hand, that when she knelt down, to take Paul round the neck and kiss him, he could hardly make up his mind to let her go again, or to take away her bright and loving eyes from his face.

“But what is the matter, Floy?” asked Paul, almost sure that he saw a tear there.

“Nothing, darling, nothing,” returned Florence.

Paul touched her cheek gently with his finger, and it was a tear.

“We’ll go home together, and I’ll nurse you, love,” said Florence.

“Nurse me?” echoed Paul.

“Floy,” said Paul, holding a ringlet of her dark hair in his hand.  “Tell me, dear.  Do you think I have grown old-fashioned?”

His sister laughed, and fondled him and told him, “No.”

Through the evening Paul sat in his corner watching the dancing and beaming with pride as he heard praise showered on Dombey’s sister.  They all loved her—­how could they help it, Paul had known beforehand that they must and would, and few would have thought with what triumph and delight he watched her.  Thus little Paul sat musing, listening, looking on and dreaming; and was very happy.  Until the time came for taking leave, and then indeed there was a sensation in the party.  Every one took the heartiest sort of leave of him.

“Good-bye, Doctor Blimber,” said Paul, stretching out his hand.

“Good-bye, my little friend,” returned the doctor.

“I’m very much obliged to you, sir,” said Paul, looking innocently up into his awful face.  “Ask them to take care of Diogenes, if you please.”

Diogenes was the dog who had never received a friend into his confidence, before Paul.  The doctor promised that every attention should be paid to Diogenes in Paul’s absence, and Paul having again thanked him, and shaken hands with him, bade adieu to Mrs. Blimber and Cornelia.  Cornelia, taking both Paul’s hands in hers said,—­“Dombey, Dombey, you have always been my favourite pupil.  God bless you!” And it showed, Paul thought, how easily one might do injustice to a person; for Miss Blimber meant it—­although she was a Forcer.