Move Back to Brighton 8

Re-reading Dombey and Son. How did Dickens create so many walk-on characters that are funny but also alive? Miss Tox and the Major being two. Both are shown to clearly want something - to marry Dombey (Miss Tox) to impress Miss Tox (the Major.) It reminds me of Evelyn Waugh advising a writer not just to bring someone onstage to make jokes. Miss Tox and the Major are always trying to reach their goals. Marty comes over again to collect some records. He tells me he has so many records he keeps them in three different places. He could make a definite list of records he will play at a gig, he says, but then there are always those moments when he feels, 'Oh, I wish I had such and such a tune...that would be perfect to play right now.' He tells me Flixy had a good first night - though she didn't particularly like Stevenage - is sharing a hotel room with someone 'calmer' (he doesn't say who she shared with before that wasn't calm) and she was able this time to join in with the singing,…