returnedCarker
,
with
an
air
of
disparagement
.
`
It
wants
that
qualification
.
Well
!
we
have
said
enough
about
it
;
and
though
you
can
afford
to
praise
it
,
I
thank
you
none
the
less
.
Will
you
walk
in
?
´
Mr.
Dombey
,
entering
the
house
,
noticed
,
as
he
had
reason
to
do
,
the
complete
arrangement
of
the
rooms
,
and
the
numerous
contrivances
for
comfort
and
effect
that
abounded
there
.
Mr.
Carker
,
in
his
ostentation
of
humility
,
received
this
notice
with
a
deferential
smile
,
and
said
he
understood
its
delicate
meaning
,
and
appreciated
it
,
but
in
truth
the
cottage
was
good
enough
for
one
in
his
position
—
better
,
perhaps
,
than
such
a
man
should
occupy
,
poor
as
it
was
.
`
But
perhaps
to
you
,
who
are
so
far
removed
,
it
really
does
look
better
than
it
is
,
´
he
said
,
with
his
false
mouth
distended
to
its
fullest
stretch
.
`
Just
as
monarchs
imagine
attractions
in
the
lives
of
beggars
.
´
He
directed
a
sharp
glance
and
a
sharp
smile
at
Mr.
Dombey
as
he
spoke
,
and
a
sharper
glance
,
and
a
sharper
smile
yet
,
when
Mr.
Dombey
,
drawing
himself
up
before
the
fire
,
in
the
attitude
so
often
copied
by
his
second
in
command
,
looked
round
at
the
pictures
on
the
walls
.
Cursorily
as
his
cold
eye
wandered
over
them
,
Carker
's
keen
glance
accompanied
his
,
and
kept
pace
with
his
,
marking
exactly
where
it
went
,
and
what
it
saw
.
As
it
rested
on
one
picture
in
particular
,
Carker
hardly
seemed
to
breathe
,
his
sidelong
scrutiny
was
so
catlike
and
vigilant
,
but
the
eye
of
his
great
chief
passed
from
that
,
as
from
the
others
,
and
appeared
no
more
impressed
by
it
than
by
the
rest
.
Carker
looked
at
it
—
it
was
the
picture
that
resembled
Edith
—
as
if
it
were
a
living
thing
;
and
with
a
wicked
,
silent
laugh
upon
his
face
,
that
seemed
in
part
addressed
to
it
,
though
it
was
all
derisive
of
the
great
man
standing
so
unconscious
beside
him
.
Breakfast
was
soon
set
upon
the
table
:
and
,
inviting
Mr.
Dombey
to
a
chair
which
had
its
back
towards
this
picture
,
he
took
his
own
seat
opposite
to
it
as
usual
.
Mr.
Dombey
was
even
graver
than
it
was
his
custom
to
be
,
and
quite
silent
.
The
parrot
,
swinging
in
the
gilded
hoop
within
her
gaudy
cage
,
attempted
in
vain
to
attract
notice
,
for
Carker
was
too
observant
of
his
visitor
to
heed
her
;
and
the
visitor
,
abstracted
in
meditation
,
looked
fixedly
,
not
to
say
sullenly
,
over
his
stiff
neckcloth
,
without
raising
his
eyes
from
the
table-cloth
.
As
to
Rob
,
who
was
in
attendance
,
all
his
faculties
and
energies
were
so
locked
up
in
observation
of
his
master
,
that
he
scarcely
ventured
to
give
shelter
to
the
thought
that
the
visitor
was
the
great
gentleman
before
whom
he
had
been
carried
as
a
certificate
of
the
family
health
,
in
his
childhood
,
and
to
whom
he
had
been
indebted
for
his
leather
smalls
.
`
Allow
me
,
´
said
Carker
suddenly
,
`
to
ask
how
Mrs.
Dombey
is
?
´
He
leaned
forward
obsequiously
,
as
he
made
the
inquiry
,
with
his
chin
resting
on
his
hand
;
and
at
the
same
time
his
eyes
went
up
to
the
picture
,
as
if
he
said
to
it
,
`
Now
,
see
,
how
I
will
lead
him
on
!
´
Mr.
Dombey
reddened
as
he
answered
:
`
Mrs.
Dombey
is
quite
well
.
You
remind
me
,
Carker
,
of
some
conversation
that
I
wish
to
have
with
you
.
´
`
Robin
,
you
can
leave
us
,
´
said
his
master
,
at
whose
mild
tones
Robin
started
and
disappeared
,
with
his
eyes
fixed
on
his
patron
to
the
last
.
`
You
do
n't
remember
that
boy
,
of
course
?
´
he
added
,
when
the
immeshed
Grinder
was
gone
.
`
No
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
with
magnificent
indifference
.
`
Not
likely
that
a
man
like
you
would
.
Hardly
possible
,
´
murmured
Carker
.
`
But
he
is
one
of
that
family
from
whom
you
took
a
nurse
.
Perhaps
you
may
remember
having
generously
charged
yourself
with
his
education
?
´
`
Is
it
that
boy
?
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
with
a
frown
.
`
He
does
little
credit
to
his
education
,
I
believe
.
´
`
Why
,
he
is
a
young
rip
,
I
am
afraid
,
´
returned
Carker
,
with
a
shrug
.
`
He
bears
that
character
.
But
the
truth
is
,
I
took
him
into
my
service
because
,
being
able
to
get
no
other
employment
,
he
conceived
(
had
been
taught
at
home
,
I
dare
say
)
that
he
had
some
sort
of
claim
upon
you
,
and
was
constantly
trying
to
dog
your
heels
with
his
petition
.
And
although
my
defined
and
recognised
connexion
with
your
affairs
is
merely
of
a
business
character
,
still
I
have
that
spontaneous
interest
in
everything
belonging
to
you
,
that
—
´
He
stopped
again
,
as
if
to
discover
whether
he
had
led
Mr.
Dombey
far
enough
yet
.
And
again
,
with
his
chin
resting
on
his
hand
,
he
leered
at
the
picture
.
`
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
I
am
sensible
that
you
do
not
limit
your
—
´
`
Service
,
´
suggested
his
smiling
entertainer
.
`
No
;
I
prefer
to
say
your
regard
,
´
observed
Mr.
Dombey
;
very
sensible
,
as
he
said
so
,
that
he
was
paying
him
a
handsome
and
flattering
compliment
,
`
to
our
mere
business
relations
.
Your
consideration
for
my
feelings
,
hopes
and
disappointments
,
in
the
little
instance
you
have
just
now
mentioned
,
is
an
example
in
point
.
I
am
obliged
to
you
,
Carker
.
´
Mr.
Carker
bent
his
head
slowly
,
and
very
softly
rubbed
his
hands
,
as
if
he
were
afraid
by
any
action
to
disturb
the
current
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
confidence
.
`
Your
allusion
to
it
is
opportune
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
after
a
little
hesitation
;
`
for
it
prepares
the
way
to
what
I
was
beginning
to
say
to
you
,
and
reminds
me
that
that
involves
no
absolutely
new
relations
between
us
,
although
it
may
involve
more
personal
confidence
on
my
part
than
I
have
hitherto
—
´
`
Distinguished
me
with
,
´
suggested
Carker
,
bending
his
head
again
:
`
I
will
not
say
to
you
how
honoured
I
am
;
for
a
man
like
you
well
knows
how
much
honour
he
has
in
his
power
to
bestow
at
pleasure
.
´
`
Mrs.
Dombey
and
myself
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
passing
this
compliment
with
august
self-denial
,
`
are
not
quite
agreed
upon
some
points
.
We
do
not
appear
to
understand
each
other
yet
.
Mrs.
Dombey
has
something
to
learn
.
´
`
Mrs.
Dombey
is
distinguished
by
many
rare
attractions
;
and
has
been
accustomed
,
no
doubt
,
to
receive
much
adulation
,
´
said
the
smooth
,
sleek
watcher
of
his
slightest
look
and
tone
.
`
But
where
there
is
affection
,
duty
,
and
respect
,
any
little
mistakes
engendered
by
such
causes
are
soon
set
right
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
's
thoughts
instinctively
flew
back
to
the
face
that
had
looked
at
him
in
his
wife
's
dressing-room
,
when
an
imperious
hand
was
stretched
towards
the
door
;
and
remembering
the
affection
,
duty
,
and
respect
,
expressed
in
it
,
he
felt
the
blood
rush
to
his
own
face
quite
as
plainly
as
the
watchful
eyes
upon
him
saw
it
there
.
`
Mrs.
Dombey
and
myself
,
´
he
went
on
to
say
,
`
had
some
discussion
,
before
Mrs.
Skewton
's
death
,
upon
the
cause
of
my
dissatisfaction
;
of
which
you
will
have
formed
a
general
understanding
from
having
been
a
witness
of
what
passed
between
Mrs.
Dombey
and
myself
on
the
evening
when
you
were
at
our
—
at
my
house
.
´
`
When
I
so
much
regretted
being
present
,
´
said
the
smiling
Carker
.
`
Proud
as
a
man
in
my
position
necessarily
must
be
of
your
familiar
notice
—
though
I
give
you
no
credit
for
it
;
you
may
do
anything
you
please
without
losing
caste-and
honoured
as
I
was
by
an
early
presentation
to
Mrs.
Dombey
,
before
she
was
made
eminent
by
bearing
your
name
,
I
almost
regretted
that
night
,
I
assure
you
,
that
I
had
been
the
object
of
such
especial
good
fortune
.
´
That
any
man
could
,
under
any
possible
circumstances
,
regret
the
being
distinguished
by
his
condescension
and
patronage
,
was
a
moral
phenomenon
which
Mr.
Dombey
could
not
comprehend
.
He
therefore
responded
,
with
a
considerable
accession
of
dignity
.
`
Indeed
!
And
why
,
Carker
?
´
`
I
fear
,
´
returned
the
confidential
agent
,
`
that
Mrs.
Dombey
,
never
very
much
disposed
to
regard
me
with
favourable
interest
—
one
in
my
position
could
not
expect
that
,
from
a
lady
naturally
proud
,
and
whose
pride
becomes
her
so
well
—
may
not
easily
forgive
my
innocent
part
in
that
conversation
.
Your
displeasure
is
no
light
matter
,
you
must
remember
;
and
to
be
visited
with
it
before
a
third
party
—
´
`
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
arrogantly
;
`
I
presume
that
I
am
the
first
consideration
?
´
`
Oh
!
Can
there
be
a
doubt
about
it
?
´
replied
the
other
,
with
the
impatience
of
a
man
admitting
a
notorious
and
incontrovertible
fact
.
`
Mrs.
Dombey
becomes
a
secondary
consideration
,
when
we
are
both
in
question
,
I
imagine
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
Is
that
so
?
´
`
Is
it
so
?
´
returned
Carker
.
`
Do
you
know
better
than
any
one
,
that
you
have
no
need
to
ask
?
´
`
Then
I
hope
,
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
that
your
regret
in
the
acquisition
of
Mrs.
Dombey
's
displeasure
,
may
be
almost
counterbalanced
by
your
satisfaction
in
retaining
my
confidence
and
good
opinion
.
´
`
I
have
the
misfortune
,
I
find
,
´
returned
Carker
,
`
to
have
incurred
that
displeasure
.
Mrs.
Dombey
has
expressed
it
to
you
?
´
`
Mrs.
Dombey
has
expressed
various
opinions
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
with
majestic
coldness
and
indifference
,
`
in
which
I
do
not
participate
,
and
which
I
am
not
inclined
to
discuss
,
or
to
recall
.
I
made
Mrs.
Dombey
acquainted
,
some
time
since
,
as
I
have
already
told
you
,
with
certain
points
of
domestic
deference
and
submission
on
which
I
felt
it
necessary
to
insist
.
I
failed
to
convince
Mrs.
Dombey
of
the
expediency
of
her
immediately
altering
her
conduct
in
those
respects
,
with
a
view
to
her
own
peace
and
welfare
,
and
my
dignity
;
and
I
informed
Mrs.
Dombey
that
if
I
should
find
it
necessary
to
object
or
remonstrate
again
,
I
should
express
my
opinion
to
her
through
yourself
,
my
confidential
agent
.
´
Blended
with
the
look
,
that
Carker
bent
upon
him
,
was
a
devilish
look
at
the
picture
over
his
head
,
that
struck
upon
it
like
a
flash
of
lightning
.
`
Now
,
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
I
do
not
hesitate
to
say
to
you
that
I
will
carry
my
point
.
I
am
not
to
be
trifled
with
.
Mrs.
Dombey
must
understand
that
my
will
is
law
,
and
that
I
cannot
allow
of
one
exception
to
the
whole
rule
of
my
life
.
You
will
have
the
goodness
to
undertake
this
charge
,
which
,
coming
from
me
,
is
not
unacceptable
to
you
,
I
hope
,
whatever
regret
you
may
politely
profess
—
for
which
I
am
obliged
to
you
on
behalf
of
Mrs.
Dombey
;
and
you
will
have
the
goodness
,
I
am
persuaded
,
to
discharge
it
as
exactly
as
any
other
commission
.
´
`
You
know
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
`
that
you
have
only
to
command
me
.
´
`
I
know
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
with
a
majestic
indication
of
assent
,
`
that
I
have
only
to
command
you
.
It
is
necessary
that
I
should
proceed
in
this
.
Mrs.
Dombey
is
a
lady
undoubtedly
highly
qualified
,
in
many
respects
,
to
—
´
`
To
do
credit
even
to
your
choice
,
´
suggested
Carker
,
with
a
fawning
show
of
teeth
.
`
Yes
;
if
you
please
to
adopt
that
form
of
words
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
his
tone
of
state
;
`
and
at
present
I
do
not
conceive
that
Mrs.
Dombey
does
that
credit
to
it
,
to
which
it
is
entitled
.
There
is
a
principle
of
opposition
in
Mrs.
Dombey
that
must
be
eradicated
;
that
must
be
overcome
:
Mrs.
Dombey
does
not
appear
to
understand
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
forcibly
,
`
that
the
idea
of
opposition
to
Me
is
monstrous
and
absurd
.
´
`
We
,
in
the
City
,
know
you
better
,
´
replied
Carker
,
with
a
smile
from
ear
to
ear
.
`
You
know
me
better
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
I
hope
so
.
Though
,
indeed
,
I
am
bound
to
do
Mrs.
Dombey
the
justice
of
saying
,
however
inconsistent
it
may
seem
with
her
subsequent
conduct
(
which
remains
unchanged
)
,
that
on
my
expressing
my
disapprobation
and
determination
to
her
,
with
some
severity
,
on
the
occasion
to
which
I
have
referred
,
my
admonition
appeared
to
produce
a
very
powerful
effect
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
delivered
himself
of
those
words
with
most
portentous
stateliness
.
`
I
wish
you
to
have
the
goodness
,
then
,
to
inform
Mrs.
Dombey
,
Carker
,
from
me
,
that
I
must
recall
our
former
conversation
to
her
remembrance
,
in
some
surprise
that
it
has
not
yet
had
its
effect
.
That
I
must
insist
upon
her
regulating
her
conduct
by
the
injunctions
laid
upon
her
in
that
conversation
.
That
I
am
not
satisfied
with
her
conduct
.
That
I
am
greatly
dissatisfied
with
it
.
And
that
I
shall
be
under
the
very
disagreeable
necessity
of
making
you
the
bearer
of
yet
more
unwelcome
and
explicit
communications
,
if
she
has
not
the
good
sense
and
the
proper
feeling
to
adapt
herself
to
my
wishes
,
as
the
first
Mrs.
Dombey
did
,
and
,
I
believe
I
may
add
,
as
any
other
lady
in
her
place
would
.
´
`
The
first
Mrs.
Dombey
lived
very
happily
,
´
said
Carker
.
`
The
first
Mrs.
Dombey
had
great
good
sense
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
a
gentlemanly
toleration
of
the
dead
,
`
and
very
correct
feeling
.
´
`
Is
Miss
Dombey
like
her
mother
,
do
you
think
?
´
said
Carker
.
Swiftly
and
darkly
,
Mr.
Dombey
's
face
changed
.
His
confidential
agent
eyed
it
keenly
.
`
I
have
approached
a
painful
subject
,
´
he
said
,
in
a
soft
regretful
tone
of
voice
,
irreconcilable
with
his
eager
eye
.
`
Pray
forgive
me
.
I
forget
these
chains
of
association
in
the
interest
I
have
.
Pray
forgive
me
.
´
But
for
all
he
said
,
his
eager
eye
scanned
Mr.
Dombey
's
downcast
face
none
the
less
closely
;
and
then
it
shot
a
strange
triumphant
look
at
the
picture
,
as
appealing
to
it
to
bear
witness
how
he
led
him
on
again
,
and
what
was
coming
.
`
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
looking
here
and
there
upon
the
table
,
and
speaking
in
a
somewhat
altered
and
more
hurried
voice
,
and
with
a
paler
lip
,
`
there
is
no
occasion
for
apology
.
You
mistake
.
The
association
is
with
the
matter
in
hand
,
and
not
with
any
recollection
,
as
you
suppose
.
I
do
not
approve
of
Mrs.
Dombey
's
behaviour
towards
my
daughter
.
´
`
Pardon
me
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
`
I
do
n't
quite
understand
.
´
`
Understand
then
,
´
returned
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
that
you
may
make
that
—
that
you
will
make
that
,
if
you
please
—
matter
of
direct
objection
from
me
to
Mrs.
Dombey
.
You
will
please
to
tell
her
that
her
show
of
devotion
for
my
daughter
is
disagreeable
to
me
.
It
is
likely
to
be
noticed
.
It
is
likely
to
induce
people
to
contrast
Mrs.
Dombey
in
her
relation
towards
my
daughter
,
with
Mrs.
Dombey
in
her
relation
towards
myself
.
You
will
have
the
goodness
to
let
Mrs.
Dombey
know
,
plainly
,
that
I
object
to
it
;
and
that
I
expect
her
to
defer
,
immediately
,
to
my
objection
.
Mrs.
Dombey
may
be
in
earnest
,
or
she
may
be
pursuing
a
whim
,
or
she
may
be
opposing
me
;
but
I
object
to
it
in
any
case
,
and
in
every
case
.
If
Mrs.
Dombey
is
in
earnest
,
so
much
the
less
reluctant
should
she
be
to
desist
;
for
she
will
not
serve
my
daughter
by
any
such
display
.
If
my
wife
has
any
superfluous
gentleness
and
duty
over
and
above
her
proper
submission
to
me
,
she
may
bestow
them
where
she
pleases
,
perhaps
;
but
I
will
have
submission
first
!
—
Carker
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
checking
the
unusual
emotion
with
which
he
had
spoken
,
and
falling
into
a
tone
more
like
that
in
which
he
was
accustomed
to
assert
his
greatness
,
`
you
will
have
the
goodness
not
to
omit
or
slur
this
point
,
but
to
consider
it
a
very
important
part
of
your
instructions
.
´
Mr.
Carker
bowed
his
head
,
and
rising
from
the
table
,
and
standing
thoughtfully
before
the
fire
,
with
his
hand
to
his
smooth
chin
,
looked
down
at
Mr.
Dombey
with
the
evil
slyness
of
some
monkish
carving
,
half
human
and
half
brute
;
or
like
a
leering
face
on
an
old
water-spout
.
Mr.
Dombey
,
recovering
his
composure
by
degrees
,
or
cooling
his
emotion
in
his
sense
of
having
taken
a
high
position
,
sat
gradually
stiffening
again
,
and
looking
at
the
parrot
as
she
swung
to
and
fro
,
in
her
great
wedding
ring
.
`
I
beg
your
pardon
,
´
said
Carker
,
after
a
silence
,
suddenly
resuming
his
chair
,
and
drawing
it
opposite
to
Mr.
Dombey
's
,
`
but
let
me
understand
.
Mrs.
Dombey
is
aware
of
the
probability
of
your
making
me
the
organ
of
your
displeasure
?
´
`
Yes
,
´
replied
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
I
have
said
so
.
´
`
Yes
,
´
rejoined
Carker
,
quickly
;
`
but
why
?
´
`
Why
!
´
Mr.
Dombey
repeated
,
not
without
hesitation
.
`
Because
I
told
her
.
´
`
Aye
,
´
replied
Carker
.
`
But
why
did
you
tell
her
?
You
see
,
´
he
continued
with
a
smile
,
and
softly
laying
his
velvet
hand
,
as
a
cat
might
have
laid
its
sheathed
claws
,
on
Mr.
Dombey
's
arm
;
`
if
I
perfectly
understand
what
is
in
your
mind
,
I
am
so
much
more
likely
to
be
useful
,
and
to
have
the
happiness
of
being
effectually
employed
.
I
think
I
do
understand
.
I
have
not
the
honour
of
Mrs.
Dombey
's
good
opinion
.
In
my
position
,
I
have
no
reason
to
expect
it
;
but
I
take
the
fact
to
be
,
that
I
have
not
got
it
?
´
`
Possibly
not
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
Consequently
,
´
pursued
Carker
,
`
your
making
these
communications
to
Mrs.
Dombey
through
me
,
is
sure
to
be
particularly
unpalatable
to
that
lady
?
´
`
It
appears
to
me
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
with
haughty
reserve
,
and
yet
with
some
embarrassment
,
`
that
Mrs.
Dombey
's
views
upon
the
subject
form
no
part
of
it
as
it
presents
itself
to
you
and
me
,
Carker
.
But
it
may
be
so
.
´
`
And
—
pardon
me
—
do
I
misconceive
you
,
´
said
Carker
,
`
when
I
think
you
descry
in
this
,
a
likely
means
of
humbling
Mrs.
Dombey
's
pride
—
I
use
the
word
as
expressive
of
a
quality
which
,
kept
within
due
bounds
,
adorns
and
graces
a
lady
so
distinguished
for
her
beauty
and
accomplishments
—
and
,
not
to
say
of
punishing
her
,
but
of
reducing
her
to
the
submission
you
so
naturally
and
justly
require
?
´
`
I
am
not
accustomed
,
Carker
,
as
you
know
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
to
give
such
close
reasons
for
any
course
of
conduct
I
think
proper
to
adopt
,
but
I
will
gainsay
nothing
of
this
.
If
you
have
any
objection
to
found
upon
it
,
that
is
indeed
another
thing
,
and
the
mere
statement
that
you
have
one
will
be
sufficient
.
But
I
have
not
supposed
,
I
confess
,
that
any
confidence
I
could
intrust
to
you
,
would
be
likely
to
degrade
you
—
´
`
Oh
!
I
degraded
!
´
exclaimed
Carker
.
`
In
your
service
!
´
`
—
or
to
place
you
,
´
pursued
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
in
a
false
position
.
´
`
I
in
a
false
position
!
´
exclaimed
Carker
.
`
I
shall
be
proud
—
delighted
—
to
execute
your
trust
.
I
could
have
wished
,
I
own
,
to
have
given
the
lady
at
whose
feet
I
would
lay
my
humble
duty
and
devotion
—
for
is
she
not
your
wife
!
—
no
new
cause
of
dislike
;
but
a
wish
from
you
is
,
of
course
,
paramount
to
every
other
consideration
on
earth
.
Besides
,
when
Mrs.
Dombey
is
converted
from
these
little
errors
of
judgment
,
incidental
,
I
would
presume
to
say
,
to
the
novelty
of
her
situation
,
I
shall
hope
that
she
will
perceive
in
the
slight
part
I
take
,
only
a
grain
—
my
removed
and
different
sphere
gives
room
for
little
more
—
of
the
respect
for
you
,
and
sacrifice
of
all
considerations
to
you
,
of
which
it
will
be
her
pleasure
and
privilege
to
garner
up
a
great
store
every
day
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
seemed
,
at
the
moment
,
again
to
see
her
with
her
hand
stretched
out
towards
the
door
,
and
again
to
hear
through
the
mild
speech
of
his
confidential
agent
an
echo
of
the
words
,
`
Nothing
can
make
us
stranger
to
each
other
than
we
are
henceforth
!
´
But
he
shook
off
the
fancy
,
and
did
not
shake
in
his
resolution
,
and
said
,
`
Certainly
,
no
doubt
.
´
`
There
is
nothing
more
,
´
quoth
Carker
,
drawing
his
chair
back
to
its
old
place
—
for
they
had
taken
little
breakfast
as
yet
—
and
pausing
for
an
answer
before
he
sat
down
.
`
Nothing
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
but
this
.
You
will
be
good
enough
to
observe
,
Carker
,
that
no
message
to
Mrs.
Dombey
with
which
you
are
or
may
be
charged
,
admits
of
reply
.
You
will
be
good
enough
to
bring
me
no
reply
.
Mrs.
Dombey
is
informed
that
it
does
not
become
me
to
temporise
or
treat
upon
any
matter
that
is
at
issue
between
us
,
and
that
what
I
say
is
final
.
´
Mr.
Carker
signified
his
understanding
of
these
credentials
,
and
they
fell
to
breakfast
with
what
appetite
they
might
.
The
Grinder
also
,
in
due
time
,
reappeared
,
keeping
his
eyes
upon
his
master
without
a
moment
's
respite
,
and
passing
the
time
in
a
reverie
of
worshipful
terror
.
Breakfast
concluded
,
Mr.
Dombey
's
horse
was
ordered
out
again
,
and
Mr.
Carker
mounting
his
own
,
they
rode
off
for
the
City
together
.
Mr.
Carker
was
in
capital
spirits
,
and
talked
much
.
Mr.
Dombey
received
his
conversation
with
the
sovereign
air
of
a
man
who
had
a
right
to
be
talked
to
,
and
occasionally
condescended
to
throw
in
a
few
words
to
carry
on
the
conversation
.
So
they
rode
on
characteristically
enough
.
But
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
his
dignity
,
rode
with
very
long
stirrups
,
and
a
very
loose
rein
,
and
very
rarely
deigned
to
look
down
to
see
where
his
horse
went
.
In
consequence
of
which
it
happened
that
Mr.
Dombey
's
horse
,
while
going
at
a
round
trot
,
stumbled
on
some
loose
stones
,
threw
him
,
rolled
over
him
,
and
lashing
out
with
his
iron-shod
feet
,
in
his
struggles
to
get
up
,
kicked
him
.
Mr.
Carker
,
quick
of
eye
,
steady
of
hand
,
and
a
good
horseman
,
was
afoot
,
and
had
the
struggling
animal
upon
his
legs
and
by
the
bridle
,
in
a
moment
.
Otherwise
that
morning
's
confidence
would
have
been
Mr.
Dombey
's
last
.
Yet
even
with
the
flush
and
hurry
of
this
action
red
upon
him
,
he
bent
over
his
prostrate
chief
with
every
tooth
disclosed
,
and
muttered
as
he
stooped
down
,
`
I
have
given
good
cause
of
offence
to
Mrs.
Dombey
now
,
if
she
knew
it
!
´
Mr.
Dombey
being
insensible
,
and
bleeding
from
the
head
and
face
,
was
carried
by
certain
menders
of
the
road
,
under
Carker
's
direction
,
to
the
nearest
public-house
,
which
was
not
far
off
,
and
where
he
was
soon
attended
by
divers
surgeons
,
who
arrived
in
quick
succession
from
all
parts
,
and
who
seemed
to
come
by
some
mysterious
instinct
,
as
vultures
are
said
to
gather
about
a
camel
who
dies
in
the
desert
.
After
being
at
some
pains
to
restore
him
to
consciousness
,
these
gentlemen
examined
into
the
nature
of
his
injuries
.
One
surgeon
who
lived
hard
by
was
strong
for
a
compound
fracture
of
the
leg
,
which
was
the
landlord
's
opinion
also
;
but
two
surgeons
who
lived
at
a
distance
,
and
were
only
in
that
neighbourhood
by
accident
,
combated
this
opinion
so
disinterestedly
,
that
it
was
decided
at
last
that
the
patient
,
though
severely
cut
and
bruised
,
had
broken
no
bones
but
a
lesser
rib
or
so
,
and
might
be
carefully
taken
home
before
night
.
His
injuries
being
dressed
and
bandaged
,
which
was
a
long
operation
,
and
he
at
length
left
to
repose
,
Mr.
Carker
mounted
his
horse
again
,
and
rode
away
to
carry
the
intelligence
home
.
Crafty
and
cruel
as
his
face
was
at
the
best
of
times
,
though
it
was
a
sufficiently
fair
face
as
to
form
and
regularity
of
feature
,
it
was
at
its
worst
when
he
set
forth
on
this
errand
;
animated
by
the
craft
and
cruelty
of
thoughts
within
him
,
suggestions
of
remote
possibility
rather
than
of
design
or
plot
,
that
made
him
ride
as
if
he
hunted
men
and
women
.
Drawing
rein
at
length
,
and
slackening
in
his
speed
,
as
he
came
into
the
more
public
roads
,
he
checked
his
white-legged
horse
into
picking
his
way
along
as
usual
,
and
hid
himself
beneath
his
sleek
,
hushed
,
crouched
manner
,
and
his
ivory
smile
,
as
he
best
could
.
He
rode
direct
to
Mr.
Dombey
's
house
,
alighted
at
the
door
,
and
begged
to
see
Mrs.
Dombey
on
an
affair
of
importance
.
The
servant
who
showed
him
to
Mr.
Dombey
's
own
room
,
soon
returned
to
say
that
it
was
not
Mrs.
Dombey
's
hour
for
receiving
visitors
,
and
that
he
begged
pardon
for
not
having
mentioned
it
before
.
Mr.
Carker
,
who
was
quite
prepared
for
a
cold
reception
,
wrote
upon
a
card
that
he
must
take
the
liberty
of
pressing
for
an
interview
,
and
that
he
would
not
be
so
bold
as
to
do
so
,
for
the
second
time
(
this
he
underlined
)
,
if
he
were
not
equally
sure
of
the
occasion
being
sufficient
for
his
justification
.
After
a
trifling
delay
,
Mrs.
Dombey
's
maid
appeared
,
and
conducted
him
to
a
morning
room
upstairs
,
where
Edith
and
Florence
were
together
.
He
had
never
thought
Edith
half
so
beautiful
before
.
Much
as
he
admired
the
graces
of
her
face
and
form
,
and
freshly
as
they
dwelt
within
his
sensual
remembrance
,
he
had
never
thought
her
half
so
beautiful
.
Her
glance
fell
haughtily
upon
him
in
the
doorway
;
but
he
looked
at
Florence
—
though
only
in
the
act
of
bending
his
head
,
as
he
came
in
—
with
some
irrepressible
expression
of
the
new
power
he
held
;
and
it
was
his
triumph
to
see
the
glance
droop
and
falter
,
and
to
see
that
Edith
half
rose
up
to
receive
him
.
He
was
very
sorry
,
he
was
deeply
grieved
;
he
could
n't
say
with
what
unwillingness
he
came
to
prepare
her
for
the
intelligence
of
a
very
slight
accident
.
He
entreated
Mrs.
Dombey
to
compose
herself
.
Upon
his
sacred
word
of
honour
,
there
was
no
cause
of
alarm
.
But
Mr.
Dombey
—
—
Florence
uttered
a
sudden
cry
.
He
did
not
look
at
her
,
but
at
Edith
.
Edith
composed
and
reassured
her
.
She
uttered
no
cry
of
distress
.
No
,
no.
Mr.
Dombey
had
met
with
an
accident
in
riding
.
His
horse
had
slipped
,
and
he
had
been
thrown
.
Florence
wildly
exclaimed
that
he
was
badly
hurt
;
that
he
was
killed
!
No.
Upon
his
honour
,
Mr.
Dombey
,
though
stunned
at
first
,
was
soon
recovered
,
and
though
certainly
hurt
was
in
no
kind
of
danger
.
If
this
were
not
the
truth
,
he
,
the
distressed
intruder
,
never
could
have
had
the
courage
to
present
himself
before
Mrs.
Dombey
.
It
was
the
truth
indeed
,
he
solemnly
assured
her
.
All
this
he
said
as
if
he
were
answering
Edith
,
and
not
Florence
,
and
with
his
eyes
and
his
smile
fastened
on
Edith
.
He
then
went
on
to
tell
her
where
Mr.
Dombey
was
lying
,
and
to
request
that
a
carriage
might
be
placed
at
his
disposal
to
bring
him
home
.
`
Mama
,
´
faltered
Florence
in
tears
,
`
if
I
might
venture
to
go
!
´
Mr.
Carker
,
having
his
eyes
on
Edith
when
he
heard
these
words
,
gave
her
a
secret
look
and
slightly
shook
his
head
.
He
saw
how
she
battled
with
herself
before
she
answered
him
with
her
handsome
eyes
,
but
he
wrested
the
answer
from
her
—
he
showed
her
that
he
would
have
it
,
or
that
he
would
speak
and
cut
Florence
to
the
heart
—
and
she
gave
it
to
him
.
As
he
had
looked
at
the
picture
in
the
morning
,
so
he
looked
at
her
afterwards
,
when
she
turned
her
eyes
away
.
`
I
am
directed
to
request
,
´
he
said
,
`
that
the
new
housekeeper
—
Mrs.
Pipchin
,
I
think
,
is
the
name
—
´
Nothing
escaped
him
.
He
saw
in
an
instant
,
that
she
was
another
slight
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
on
his
wife
.
`
—
may
be
informed
that
Mr.
Dombey
wishes
to
have
his
bed
prepared
in
his
own
apartments
down
stairs
,
as
he
prefers
those
rooms
to
any
other
.
I
shall
return
to
Mr.
Dombey
almost
immediately
.
That
every
possible
attention
has
been
paid
to
his
comfort
,
and
that
he
is
the
object
of
every
possible
solicitude
,
I
need
not
assure
you
,
Madam
.
Let
me
again
say
,
there
is
no
cause
for
the
least
alarm
.
Even
you
may
be
quite
at
ease
,
believe
me
.
´
He
bowed
himself
out
,
with
his
extremest
show
of
deference
and
conciliation
;
and
having
returned
to
Mr.
Dombey
's
room
,
and
there
arranged
for
a
carriage
being
sent
after
him
to
the
City
,
mounted
his
horse
again
,
and
rode
slowly
thither
.
He
was
very
thoughtful
as
he
went
along
,
and
very
thoughtful
there
,
and
very
thoughtful
in
the
carriage
on
his
way
back
to
the
place
where
Mr.
Dombey
had
been
left
.
It
was
only
when
sitting
by
that
gentleman
's
couch
that
he
was
quite
himself
again
,
and
conscious
of
his
teeth
.
About
the
time
of
twilight
,
Mr.
Dombey
,
grievously
afflicted
with
aches
and
pains
,
was
helped
into
his
carriage
,
and
propped
with
cloaks
and
pillows
on
one
side
of
it
,
while
his
confidential
agent
bore
him
company
upon
the
other
.
As
he
was
not
to
be
shaken
,
they
moved
at
little
more
than
a
foot
pace
;
and
hence
it
was
quite
dark
when
he
was
brought
home
.
Mrs.
Pipchin
,
bitter
and
grim
,
and
not
oblivious
of
the
Peruvian
mines
,
as
the
establishment
in
general
had
good
reason
to
know
,
received
him
at
the
door
,
and
freshened
the
domestics
with
several
little
sprinklings
of
wordy
vinegar
,
while
they
assisted
in
conveying
him
to
his
room
.
Mr.
Carker
remained
in
attendance
until
he
was
safe
in
bed
,
and
then
,
as
he
declined
to
receive
any
female
visitor
,
but
the
excellent
Ogress
who
presided
over
his
household
,
waited
on
Mrs.
Dombey
once
more
,
with
his
report
on
her
lord
's
condition
.
He
again
found
Edith
alone
with
Florence
,
and
he
again
addressed
the
whole
of
his
soothing
speech
to
Edith
,
as
if
she
were
a
prey
to
the
liveliest
and
most
affectionate
anxieties
.
So
earnest
he
was
in
his
respectful
sympathy
,
that
on
taking
leave
,
he
ventured
—
with
one
more
glance
towards
Florence
at
the
moment
—
to
take
her
hand
,
and
bending
over
it
,
to
touch
it
with
his
lips
.
Edith
did
not
withdraw
the
hand
,
nor
did
she
strike
his
fair
face
with
it
,
despite
the
flush
upon
her
cheek
,
the
bright
light
in
her
eyes
,
and
the
dilation
of
her
whole
form
.
But
when
she
was
alone
in
her
own
room
,
she
struck
it
on
the
marble
chimney-shelf
,
so
that
,
at
one
blow
,
it
was
bruised
,
and
bled
;
and
held
it
from
her
,
near
the
shining
fire
,
as
if
she
could
have
thrust
it
in
and
burned
it
.
Far
into
the
night
she
sat
alone
,
by
the
sinking
blaze
,
in
dark
and
threatening
beauty
,
watching
the
murky
shadows
looming
on
the
wall
,
as
if
her
thoughts
were
tangible
,
and
cast
them
there
.
Whatever
shapes
of
outrage
and
affront
,
and
black
foreshadowings
of
things
that
might
happen
,
flickered
,
indistinct
and
giant-like
,
before
her
,
one
resented
figure
marshalled
them
against
her
.
And
that
figure
was
her
husband
.
CHAPTER
XLIII
The
Watches
of
the
Night
FLORENCE
,
long
since
awakened
from
her
dream
,
mournfully
observed
the
estrangement
between
her
father
and
Edith
,
and
saw
it
widen
more
and
more
,
and
knew
that
there
was
greater
bitterness
between
them
every
day
.
Each
day
's
added
knowledge
deepened
the
shade
upon
her
love
and
hope
,
roused
up
the
old
sorrow
that
had
slumbered
for
a
little
time
,
and
made
it
even
heavier
to
bear
than
it
had
been
before
.
It
had
been
hard
—
how
hard
may
none
but
Florence
ever
know
!
—
to
have
the
natural
affection
of
a
true
and
earnest
nature
turned
to
agony
;
and
slight
,
or
stern
repulse
,
substituted
for
the
tenderest
protection
and
the
dearest
care
.
It
had
been
hard
to
feel
in
her
deep
heart
what
she
had
felt
,
and
never
know
the
happiness
of
one
touch
of
response
.
But
it
was
much
more
hard
to
be
compelled
to
doubt
either
her
father
or
Edith
,
so
affectionate
and
dear
to
her
,
and
to
think
of
her
love
for
each
of
them
,
by
turns
,
with
fear
,
distrust
,
and
wonder
.
Yet
Florence
now
began
to
do
so
;
and
the
doing
of
it
was
a
task
imposed
upon
her
by
the
very
purity
of
her
soul
,
as
one
she
could
not
fly
from
.
She
saw
her
father
cold
and
obdurate
to
Edith
,
as
to
her
;
hard
,
inflexible
,
unyielding
.
Could
it
be
,
she
asked
herself
with
starting
tears
,
that
her
own
dear
mother
had
been
made
unhappy
by
such
treatment
,
and
had
pined
away
and
died
?
Then
she
would
think
how
proud
and
stately
Edith
was
to
every
one
but
her
,
with
what
disdain
she
treated
him
,
how
distantly
she
kept
apart
from
him
,
and
what
she
had
said
on
the
night
when
she
came
home
;
and
quickly
it
would
come
on
Florence
,
almost
as
a
crime
,
that
she
loved
one
who
was
set
in
opposition
to
her
father
,
and
that
her
father
knowing
of
it
,
must
think
of
her
in
his
solitary
room
as
the
unnatural
child
who
added
this
wrong
to
the
old
fault
,
so
much
wept
for
,
of
never
having
won
his
fatherly
affection
from
her
birth
.
The
next
kind
word
from
Edith
,
the
next
kind
glance
,
would
shake
these
thoughts
again
,
and
make
them
seem
like
black
ingratitude
;
for
who
but
she
had
cheered
the
drooping
heart
of
Florence
,
so
lonely
and
so
hurt
,
and
been
its
best
of
comforters
!
Thus
,
with
her
gentle
nature
yearning
to
them
both
,
feeling
the
misery
of
both
,
and
whispering
doubts
of
her
own
duty
to
both
,
Florence
in
her
wider
and
expanded
love
,
and
by
the
side
of
Edith
,
endured
more
than
when
she
had
hoarded
up
her
undivided
secret
in
the
mournful
house
,
and
her
beautiful
Mama
had
never
dawned
upon
it
.
One
exquisite
unhappiness
that
would
have
far
outweighed
this
,
Florence
was
spared
.
She
never
had
the
least
suspicion
that
Edith
by
her
tenderness
for
her
widened
the
separation
from
her
father
,
or
gave
him
new
cause
of
dislike
.
If
Florence
had
conceived
the
possibility
of
such
an
effect
being
wrought
by
such
a
cause
,
what
grief
she
would
have
felt
,
what
sacrifice
she
would
have
tried
to
make
,
poor
loving
girl
,
how
fast
and
sure
her
quiet
passage
might
have
been
beneath
it
to
the
presence
of
that
higher
Father
who
does
not
reject
his
children
's
love
,
or
spurn
their
tried
and
broken
hearts
,
Heaven
knows
!
But
it
was
otherwise
,
and
that
was
well
.
No
word
was
ever
spoken
between
Florence
and
Edith
now
,
on
these
subjects
.
Edith
had
said
there
ought
to
be
between
them
,
in
that
wise
,
a
division
and
a
silence
like
the
grave
itself
:
and
Florence
felt
that
she
was
right
.
In
this
state
of
affairs
her
father
was
brought
home
suffering
and
disabled
:
and
gloomily
retired
to
his
own
rooms
,
where
he
was
tended
by
servants
,
not
approached
by
Edith
,
and
had
no
friend
or
companion
but
Mr.
Carker
,
who
withdrew
near
midnight
.
`
And
nice
company
he
is
,
Miss
Floy
,
´
said
Susan
Nipper
.
`
Oh
,
he
's
a
precious
piece
of
goods
!
If
ever
he
wants
a
character
do
n't
let
him
come
to
me
whatever
he
does
,
that
's
all
I
tell
him
.
´
`
Dear
Susan
,
´
urged
Florence
,
`
do
n't
!
´
`
Oh
,
it
's
very
well
to
say
“
do
n't
”
Miss
Floy
,
´
returned
the
Nipper
,
much
exasperated
;
`
but
raly
begging
your
pardon
we
're
coming
to
such
passes
that
it
turns
all
the
blood
in
a
person
's
body
into
pins
and
needles
,
with
their
pints
all
ways
.
Do
n't
mistake
me
,
Miss
Floy
,
I
do
n't
mean
nothing
again
your
ma-in-law
who
has
always
treated
me
as
a
lady
should
though
she
is
rather
high
I
must
say
not
that
I
have
any
right
to
object
to
that
particular
,
but
when
we
come
to
Mrs.
Pipchinses
and
having
them
put
over
us
and
keeping
guard
at
your
pa
's
door
like
crocodiles
(
only
make
us
thankful
that
they
lay
no
eggs
!
)
we
are
a
growing
too
outrageous
!
´
`
Papa
thinks
well
of
Mrs.
Pipchin
,
Susan
,
´
returned
Florence
,
`
and
has
a
right
to
choose
his
housekeeper
,
you
know
.
Pray
do
n't
!
´
`
Well
Miss
Floy
,
´
returned
the
Nipper
,
`
when
you
say
do
n't
,
I
never
do
I
hope
but
Mrs.
Pipchin
acts
like
early
gooseberries
upon
me
Miss
,
and
nothing
less
.
´
Susan
was
unusually
emphatic
and
destitute
of
punctuation
in
her
discourse
on
this
night
,
which
was
the
night
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
being
brought
home
,
because
,
having
been
sent
down
stairs
by
Florence
to
inquire
after
him
,
she
had
been
obliged
to
deliver
her
message
to
her
mortal
enemy
Mrs.
Pipchin
;
who
,
without
carrying
it
in
to
Mr.
Dombey
,
had
taken
upon
herself
to
return
what
Miss
Nipper
called
a
huffish
answer
,
on
her
own
responsibility
.
This
,
Susan
Nipper
construed
into
presumption
on
the
part
of
that
exemplary
sufferer
by
the
Peruvian
mines
,
and
a
deed
of
disparagement
upon
her
young
lady
,
that
was
not
to
be
forgiven
;
and
so
far
her
emphatic
state
was
special
.
But
she
had
been
in
a
condition
of
greatly
increased
suspicion
and
distrust
,
ever
since
the
marriage
;
for
,
like
most
persons
of
her
quality
of
mind
,
who
form
a
strong
and
sincere
attachment
to
one
in
the
different
station
which
Florence
occupied
,
Susan
was
very
jealous
,
and
her
jealousy
naturally
attached
to
Edith
,
who
divided
her
old
empire
,
and
came
between
them
.
Proud
and
glad
as
Susan
Nipper
truly
was
,
that
her
young
mistress
should
be
advanced
towards
her
proper
place
in
the
scene
of
her
old
neglect
,
and
that
she
should
have
her
father
's
handsome
wife
for
her
companion
and
protectress
,
she
could
not
relinquish
any
part
of
her
own
dominion
to
the
handsome
wife
,
without
a
grudge
and
a
vague
feeling
of
ill-will
,
for
which
she
did
not
fail
to
find
a
disinterested
justification
in
her
sharp
perception
of
the
pride
and
passion
of
the
lady
's
character
.
From
the
background
to
which
she
had
necessarily
retired
somewhat
,
since
the
marriage
,
Miss
Nipper
looked
on
,
therefore
,
at
domestic
affairs
in
general
,
with
a
resolute
conviction
that
no
good
would
come
of
Mrs.
Dombey
:
always
being
very
careful
to
publish
on
all
possible
occasions
,
that
she
had
nothing
to
say
against
her
.
`
Susan
,
´
said
Florence
,
who
was
sitting
thoughtfully
at
her
table
,
`
it
is
very
late
.
I
shall
want
nothing
more
to-night
.
´
`
Ah
,
Miss
Floy
!
´
returned
the
Nipper
,
`
I
'm
sure
I
often
wish
for
them
old
times
when
I
sat
up
with
you
hours
later
than
this
and
fell
asleep
through
being
tired
out
when
you
was
as
broad
awake
as
spectacles
,
but
you
've
ma's-in-law
to
come
and
sit
with
you
now
Miss
Floy
and
I
'm
thankful
for
it
I
'm
sure
.
I
've
not
a
word
to
say
against
'
em
.
´
`
I
shall
not
forget
who
was
my
old
companion
when
I
had
none
,
Susan
,
´
returned
Florence
,
gently
,
`
never
.
´
And
looking
up
,
she
put
her
arm
round
the
neck
of
her
humble
friend
,
drew
her
face
down
to
hers
,
and
bidding
her
good
night
,
kissed
it
;
which
so
mollified
Miss
Nipper
,
that
she
fell
a
sobbing
.
`
Now
my
dear
Miss
Floy
,
´
said
Susan
,
`
let
me
go
down
stairs
again
and
see
how
your
pa
is
,
I
know
you
're
wretched
about
him
,
do
let
me
go
downstairs
again
and
knock
at
his
door
my
own
self
.
´
`
No
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
go
to
bed
.
We
shall
hear
more
in
the
morning
.
I
will
inquire
myself
in
the
morning
.
Mama
has
been
down
,
I
dare
say
;
´
Florence
blushed
,
for
she
had
no
such
hope
;
`
or
is
there
now
,
perhaps
,
Good
night
!
´
Susan
was
too
much
softened
to
express
her
private
opinion
on
the
probability
of
Mrs.
Dombey
's
being
in
attendance
on
her
husband
;
and
silently
withdrew
.
Florence
left
alone
,
soon
hid
her
head
upon
her
hands
as
she
had
often
done
in
other
days
,
and
did
not
restrain
the
tears
from
coursing
down
her
face
.
The
misery
of
this
domestic
discord
and
unhappiness
;
the
withered
hope
she
cherished
now
,
if
hope
it
could
be
called
,
of
ever
being
taken
to
her
father
's
heart
;
her
doubts
and
fears
between
the
two
;
the
yearning
of
her
innocent
breast
to
both
;
the
heavy
disappointment
and
regret
of
such
an
end
as
this
,
to
what
had
been
a
vision
of
bright
hope
and
promise
to
her
;
all
crowded
on
her
mind
and
made
her
tears
flow
fast
.
Her
mother
and
her
brother
dead
,
her
father
unmoved
towards
her
,
Edith
opposed
to
him
and
casting
him
away
,
but
loving
her
,
and
loved
by
her
,
it
seemed
as
if
her
affection
could
never
prosper
,
rest
where
it
would
.
That
weak
thought
was
soon
hushed
,
but
the
thoughts
in
which
it
had
arisen
were
too
true
and
strong
to
be
dismissed
with
it
;
and
they
made
the
night
desolate
.
Among
such
reflections
there
rose
up
,
as
there
had
risen
up
all
day
,
the
image
of
her
father
,
wounded
and
in
pain
,
alone
in
his
own
room
,
untended
by
those
who
should
be
nearest
to
him
,
and
passing
the
tardy
hours
in
lonely
suffering
.
A
frightened
thought
which
made
her
start
and
clasp
her
hands
—
though
it
was
not
a
new
one
in
her
mind
—
that
the
might
die
,
and
never
see
her
or
pronounce
her
name
,
thrilled
her
whole
frame
.
In
her
agitation
she
thought
,
and
trembled
while
she
thought
,
of
once
more
stealing
down
stairs
,
and
venturing
to
his
door
.
She
listened
at
her
own
.
The
house
was
quiet
,
and
all
the
lights
were
out
.
It
was
a
long
,
long
time
,
she
thought
,
since
she
used
to
make
her
nightly
pilgrimages
to
his
door
!
It
was
a
long
,
long
time
,
she
tried
to
think
,
since
she
had
entered
his
room
at
midnight
,
and
he
had
led
her
back
to
the
stair-foot
!
With
the
same
child
's
heart
within
her
,
as
of
old
:
even
with
the
child
's
sweet
timid
eyes
and
clustering
hair
:
Florence
,
as
strange
to
her
father
in
her
early
maiden
bloom
,
as
in
her
nursery
time
,
crept
down
the
staircase
listening
as
she
went
,
and
drew
near
to
his
room
.
No
one
was
stirring
in
the
house
.
The
door
was
party
open
to
admit
air
;
and
all
was
so
still
within
,
that
she
could
hear
the
burning
of
the
fire
,
and
count
the
ticking
of
the
clock
that
stood
upon
the
chimney-piece
.
She
looked
in
.
In
that
room
,
the
housekeeper
wrapped
in
a
blanket
was
fast
asleep
in
an
easy
chair
before
the
fire
.
The
doors
between
it
and
the
next
were
partly
closed
,
and
a
screen
was
drawn
before
them
;
but
there
was
a
light
there
,
and
it
shone
upon
the
cornice
of
his
bed
.
All
was
so
very
still
that
she
could
hear
from
his
breathing
that
he
was
asleep
.
This
gave
her
courage
to
pass
round
the
screen
,
and
look
into
his
chamber
.
It
was
as
great
a
start
to
come
upon
his
sleeping
face
as
if
she
had
not
expected
to
see
it
.
Florence
stood
arrested
on
the
spot
,
and
if
he
had
awakened
then
,
must
have
remained
there
.
There
was
a
cut
upon
his
forehead
,
and
they
had
been
wetting
his
hair
,
which
lay
bedabbled
and
entangled
on
the
pillow
.
One
of
his
arms
,
resting
outside
the
bed
,
was
bandaged
up
,
and
he
was
very
white
.
But
it
was
not
this
,
that
after
the
first
quick
glance
,
and
first
assurance
of
his
sleeping
quietly
,
held
Florence
rooted
to
the
ground
.
It
was
something
very
different
from
this
,
and
more
than
this
,
that
made
him
look
so
solemn
in
her
eyes
.
She
had
never
seen
his
face
in
all
her
life
,
but
there
had
been
upon
it
—
or
she
fancied
so
—
some
disturbing
consciousness
of
her
.
She
had
never
seen
his
face
in
all
her
life
,
but
hope
had
sunk
within
her
,
and
her
timid
glance
had
drooped
before
its
stern
,
unloving
,
and
repelling
harshness
.
As
she
looked
upon
it
now
,
she
saw
it
,
for
the
first
time
,
free
from
the
cloud
that
had
darkened
her
childhood
.
Calm
,
tranquil
night
was
reigning
in
its
stead
.
Her
might
have
gone
to
sleep
,
for
anything
she
saw
there
,
blessing
her
.
Awake
,
unkind
father
!
Awake
,
now
,
sullen
man
!
The
time
is
flitting
by
;
the
hour
is
coming
with
an
angry
tread
.
Awake
!
There
was
no
change
upon
his
face
;
and
as
she
watched
it
,
awfully
,
its
motionless
repose
recalled
the
faces
that
were
gone
.
So
they
looked
,
so
would
he
;
so
she
,
his
weeping
child
,
who
should
say
when
!
so
all
the
world
of
love
and
hatred
and
indifference
around
them
!
When
that
time
should
come
,
it
would
not
be
the
heavier
to
him
,
for
this
that
she
was
going
to
do
;
and
it
might
fall
something
lighter
upon
her
.
She
stole
close
to
the
bed
,
and
drawing
in
her
breath
bent
down
,
and
softly
kissed
him
on
the
face
,
and
laid
her
own
for
one
brief
moment
by
its
side
,
and
put
the
arm
,
with
which
she
dared
not
touch
him
,
round
about
him
on
the
pillow
.
Awake
,
doomed
man
,
while
she
is
near
.
The
time
is
flitting
by
;
the
hour
is
coming
with
an
angry
tread
;
its
food
is
in
the
house
.
Awake
!
In
her
mind
,
she
prayed
to
God
to
bless
her
father
,
and
to
soften
him
towards
her
,
if
it
might
be
so
;
and
if
not
,
to
forgive
him
if
he
was
wrong
,
and
pardon
her
the
prayer
which
almost
seemed
impiety
.
And
doing
so
,
and
looking
back
at
him
with
blinded
eyes
,
and
stealing
timidly
away
,
passed
out
of
his
room
,
and
crossed
the
other
,
and
was
gone
.
He
may
sleep
on
now
.
He
may
sleep
on
while
he
may
.
But
let
him
look
for
that
slight
figure
when
he
wakes
,
and
find
it
near
him
when
the
hour
is
come
!
Sad
and
grieving
was
the
heart
of
Florence
,
as
she
crept
upstairs
.
The
quiet
house
had
grown
more
dismal
since
she
came
down
.
The
sleep
she
had
been
looking
on
,
in
the
dead
on
night
,
had
the
solemnity
to
her
of
death
and
life
in
one
.
The
secrecy
and
silence
of
her
own
proceeding
made
the
night
secret
,
silent
,
and
oppressive
.
She
felt
unwilling
,
almost
unable
,
to
go
on
to
her
own
chamber
;
and
turning
into
the
drawing-rooms
,
where
the
clouded
moon
was
shining
through
the
blinds
,
looked
out
into
the
empty
streets
.
The
wind
was
blowing
drearily
.
The
lamps
looked
pale
,
and
shook
as
if
they
were
cold
.
There
was
a
distant
glimmer
of
something
that
was
not
quite
darkness
,
rather
than
of
light
,
in
the
sky
;
and
foreboding
night
was
shivering
and
restless
,
as
the
dying
are
who
make
a
troubled
end
.
Florence
remembered
how
,
as
a
watcher
,
by
a
sick-bed
,
she
had
noted
this
bleak
time
,
and
felt
its
influence
,
as
if
in
some
hidden
natural
antipathy
to
it
;
and
now
it
was
very
,
very
gloomy
.
Her
Mama
had
not
come
to
her
room
that
night
,
which
was
one
cause
of
her
having
sat
late
out
of
her
bed
.
In
her
general
uneasiness
,
no
less
than
in
her
ardent
longing
to
have
somebody
to
speak
to
,
and
to
break
the
spell
of
gloom
and
silence
,
Florence
directed
her
steps
towards
the
chamber
where
she
slept
.
The
door
was
not
fastened
within
,
and
yielded
smoothly
to
her
hesitating
hand
.
She
was
surprised
to
find
a
bright
light
burning
;
still
more
surprised
,
on
looking
in
,
to
see
that
her
Mama
,
but
partially
undressed
,
was
sitting
near
the
ashes
of
the
fire
,
which
had
crumbled
and
dropped
away
.
Her
eyes
were
intently
bent
upon
the
air
;
and
in
their
light
,
and
in
her
face
,
and
in
her
form
,
and
in
the
grasp
with
which
she
held
the
elbows
of
her
chair
as
if
about
to
start
up
,
Florence
saw
such
fierce
emotion
that
it
terrified
her
.
`
Mama
!
´
she
cried
,
`
what
is
the
matter
?
´
Edith
started
;
looking
at
her
with
such
a
strange
dread
in
her
face
,
that
Florence
was
more
frightened
than
before
.
`
Mama
!
´
said
Florence
,
hurriedly
advancing
.
`
Dear
Mama
!
what
is
the
matter
?
´
`
I
have
not
been
well
,
´
said
Edith
,
shaking
,
and
still
looking
at
her
in
the
same
strange
way
.
`
I
have
had
bad
dreams
,
my
love
.
´
`
And
not
yet
been
to
bed
,
Mama
?
´
`
No
,
´
she
returned
.
`
Half-waking
dreams
.
´
Her
features
gradually
softened
;
and
suffering
Florence
to
come
closer
to
her
,
within
her
embrace
,
she
said
in
a
tender
manner
,
`
But
what
does
my
bird
do
here
?
What
does
my
bird
do
here
?
´
`
I
have
been
uneasy
,
Mama
,
in
not
seeing
you
to-night
,
and
in
not
knowing
how
Papa
was
;
and
I
—
—
´
Florence
stopped
there
,
and
said
no
more
.
`
Is
it
late
?
´
asked
Edith
,
fondly
putting
back
the
curls
that
mingled
with
her
own
dark
hair
,
and
strayed
upon
her
face
.
`
Very
late
.
Near
day
.
´
`
Near
day
!
´
she
repeated
in
surprise
.
`
Dear
Mama
,
what
have
you
done
to
your
hand
?
´
said
Florence
.
Edith
drew
it
suddenly
away
,
and
,
for
a
moment
,
looked
at
her
with
the
same
strange
dread
(
there
was
a
sort
of
wild
avoidance
in
it
)
as
before
;
but
she
presently
said
,
`
Nothing
,
nothing
.
A
blow
.
´
And
then
she
said
,
`
My
Florence
!
'
and
then
her
bosom
heaved
,
and
she
was
weeping
passionately
.
`
Mama
!
´
said
Florence
.
`
Oh
Mama
,
what
can
I
do
,
what
should
I
do
,
to
make
us
happier
?
Is
there
anything
?
´
`
Nothing
,
´
she
replied
.
`
Are
you
sure
of
that
?
Can
it
never
be
?
If
I
speak
now
of
what
is
in
my
thoughts
,
in
spite
of
what
we
have
agreed
,
´
said
Florence
,
`
you
will
not
blame
me
,
will
you
?
´
`
It
is
useless
,
´
she
replied
,
`
useless
.
I
have
told
you
,
dear
,
that
I
have
had
bad
dreams
.
Nothing
can
change
them
,
or
prevent
their
coming
back
.
´
`
I
do
not
understand
,
´
said
Florence
,
gazing
on
her
agitated
face
,
which
seemed
to
darken
as
she
looked
.
`
I
have
dreamed
,
´
said
Edith
in
a
low
voice
,
`
of
a
pride
that
is
all
powerless
for
good
,
all
powerful
for
evil
;
of
a
pride
that
has
been
galled
and
goaded
,
through
many
shameful
years
,
and
has
never
recoiled
except
upon
itself
;
a
pride
that
has
debased
its
owner
with
the
consciousness
of
deep
humiliation
,
and
never
helped
its
owner
boldly
to
resent
it
or
avoid
it
,
or
to
say
,
“
This
shall
not
be
!
”
a
pride
that
,
rightly
guided
,
might
have
led
perhaps
to
better
things
,
but
which
,
misdirected
and
