The visitor was not less moved than Tom himself, and they shook hands a
great many times, without another word being spoken on either side. Tom
was the first to find his voice.
'Mark Tapley, too!' said Tom, running towards the door, and shaking
hands with somebody else. 'My dear Mark, come in. How are you, Mark? He
don't look a day older than he used to do at the Dragon. How ARE you,
Mark?'
'Uncommonly jolly, sir, thank'ee,' returned Mr Tapley, all smiles and
bows. 'I hope I see you well, sir.'
'Good gracious me!' cried Tom, patting him tenderly on the back. 'How
delightful it is to hear his old voice again! My dear Martin, sit down.
My sister, Martin. Mr Chuzzlewit, my love. Mark Tapley from the Dragon,
my dear. Good gracious me, what a surprise this is! Sit down. Lord,
bless me!'
Tom was in such a state of excitement that he couldn't keep himself
still for a moment, but was constantly running between Mark and Martin,
shaking hands with them alternately, and presenting them over and over
again to his sister.
'I remember the day we parted, Martin, as well as if it were yesterday,'
said Tom.
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