Dealings
with
the
firm
of
Dombey
and
Son
,
wholesale
,
retail
,
and
for
exportation
By
Charles
Dickens
London
Bradbury
+
Evans
Bouverie
Street
1848
This
story
is
dedicated
,
with
great
esteem
,
to
The
Marchioness
of
Normanby
PREFACE
.
I
CANNOT
forego
my
usual
opportunity
of
saying
farewell
to
my
readers
in
this
greeting-place
,
though
I
have
only
to
acknowledge
the
unbounded
warmth
and
earnestness
of
their
sympathy
in
every
stage
of
the
journey
we
have
just
concluded
.
If
any
of
them
have
felt
a
sorrow
in
one
of
the
principal
incidents
on
which
this
fiction
turns
,
I
hope
it
may
be
a
sorrow
of
that
sort
which
endears
the
sharers
in
it
,
one
to
another
.
This
is
not
unselfish
in
me
.
I
may
claim
to
have
felt
it
,
at
least
as
much
as
anybody
else
;
and
I
would
fain
be
remembered
kindly
for
my
part
in
the
experience
.
Devonshire
Terrace
,
Twenty-Fourth
March
,
1848
CHAPTER
I
Dombey
and
Son
DOMBEY
sat
in
the
corner
of
the
darkened
room
in
the
great
arm-chair
by
the
bedside
,
and
Son
lay
tucked
up
warm
in
a
little
basket
bedstead
,
carefully
disposed
on
a
low
settee
immediately
in
front
of
the
fire
and
close
to
it
,
as
if
his
constitution
were
analogous
to
that
of
a
muffin
,
and
it
was
essential
to
toast
him
brown
while
he
was
very
new
.
Dombey
was
about
eight-and-forty
years
of
age
.
Son
about
eight-and-forty
minutes
.
Dombey
was
rather
bald
,
rather
red
,
and
though
a
handsome
well-made
man
,
too
stern
and
pompous
in
appearance
,
to
be
prepossessing
.
Son
was
very
bald
,
and
very
red
,
and
though
(
of
course
)
an
undeniably
fine
infant
,
somewhat
crushed
and
spotty
in
his
general
effect
,
as
yet
.
On
the
brow
of
Dombey
,
Time
and
his
brother
Care
had
set
some
marks
,
as
on
a
tree
that
was
to
come
down
in
good
time
—
remorseless
twins
they
are
for
striding
through
their
human
forests
,
notching
as
they
go
—
while
the
countenance
of
Son
was
crossed
and
recrossed
with
a
thousand
little
creases
,
which
the
same
deceitful
Time
would
take
delight
in
smoothing
out
and
wearing
away
with
the
flat
part
of
his
scythe
,
as
a
preparation
of
the
surface
for
his
deeper
operations
.
Dombey
,
exulting
in
the
long-looked-for
event
,
jingled
and
jingled
the
heavy
gold
watch-chain
that
depended
from
below
his
trim
blue
coat
,
whereof
the
buttons
sparkled
phosphorescently
in
the
feeble
rays
of
the
distant
fire
.
Son
,
with
his
little
fists
curled
up
and
clenched
,
seemed
,
in
his
feeble
way
,
to
be
squaring
at
existence
for
having
come
upon
him
so
unexpectedly
.
`
The
house
will
once
again
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
be
not
only
in
name
but
in
fact
Dombey
and
Son
;
Dom-bey
and
Son
!
´
The
words
had
such
a
softening
influence
,
that
he
appended
a
term
of
endearment
to
Mrs.
Dombey
's
name
(
though
not
without
some
hesitation
,
as
being
a
man
but
little
used
to
that
form
of
address
)
:
and
said
,
`
Mrs.
Dombey
,
my
—
my
dear
.
´
A
transient
flush
of
faint
surprise
overspread
the
sick
lady
's
face
as
she
raised
her
eyes
towards
him
.
`
He
will
be
christened
Paul
,
my
—
Mrs.
Dombey
—
of
course
.
´
She
feebly
echoed
,
`
Of
course
,
´
or
rather
expressed
it
by
the
motion
of
her
lips
,
and
closed
her
eyes
again
.
`
His
father
's
name
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
and
his
grandfather
's
!
I
wish
his
grandfather
were
alive
this
day
!
´
And
again
he
said
`
Dom-bey
and
Son
,
´
in
exactly
the
same
tone
as
before
.
Those
three
words
conveyed
the
one
idea
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
life
.
The
earth
was
made
for
Dombey
and
Son
to
trade
in
,
and
the
sun
and
moon
were
made
to
give
them
light
.
Rivers
and
seas
were
formed
to
float
their
ships
;
rainbows
gave
them
promise
of
fair
weather
;
winds
blew
for
or
against
their
enterprises
;
stars
and
planets
circled
in
their
orbits
,
to
preserve
inviolate
a
system
of
which
they
were
the
centre
.
Common
abbreviations
took
new
meanings
in
his
eyes
,
and
had
sole
reference
to
them
:
A.D.
had
no
concern
with
anno
Domini
,
but
stood
for
anno
Dombei
—
and
Son
.
He
had
risen
,
as
his
father
had
before
him
,
in
the
course
of
life
and
death
,
from
Son
to
Dombey
,
and
for
nearly
twenty
years
had
been
the
sole
representative
of
the
firm
.
Of
those
years
he
had
been
married
,
ten
—
married
,
as
some
said
,
to
a
lady
with
no
heart
to
give
him
;
whose
happiness
was
in
the
past
,
and
who
was
content
to
bind
her
broken
spirit
to
the
dutiful
and
meek
endurance
of
the
present
.
Such
idle
talk
was
little
likely
to
reach
the
ears
of
Mr.
Dombey
,
whom
it
nearly
concerned
;
and
probably
no
one
in
the
world
would
have
received
it
with
such
utter
incredulity
as
he
,
if
it
had
reached
him
.
Dombey
and
Son
had
often
dealt
in
hides
,
but
never
in
hearts
.
They
left
that
fancy
ware
to
boys
and
girls
,
and
boarding-schools
and
books
.
Mr.
Dombey
would
have
reasoned
:
That
a
matrimonial
alliance
with
himself
must
,
in
the
nature
of
things
,
be
gratifying
and
honourable
to
any
woman
of
common
sense
.
That
the
hope
of
giving
birth
to
a
new
partner
in
such
a
house
,
could
not
fail
to
awaken
a
glorious
and
stirring
ambition
in
the
breast
of
the
least
ambitious
of
her
sex
.
That
Mrs.
Dombey
had
entered
on
that
social
contract
of
matrimony
:
almost
necessarily
part
of
a
genteel
and
wealthy
station
,
even
without
reference
to
the
perpetuation
of
family
firms
:
with
her
eyes
fully
open
to
these
advantages
.
That
Mrs.
Dombey
had
had
daily
practical
knowledge
of
his
position
in
society
.
That
Mrs.
Dombey
had
always
sat
at
the
head
of
his
table
,
and
done
the
honours
of
his
house
in
a
remarkably
lady-like
and
becoming
manner
.
That
Mrs.
Dombey
must
have
been
happy
.
That
she
could
n't
help
it
.
Or
,
at
all
events
,
with
one
drawback
.
Yes
.
That
he
would
have
allowed
.
With
only
one
;
but
that
one
certainly
involving
much
.
They
had
been
married
ten
years
,
and
until
this
present
day
on
which
Mr.
Dombey
sat
jingling
and
jingling
his
heavy
gold
watch-chain
in
the
great
arm-chair
by
the
side
of
the
bed
,
had
had
no
issue
.
—
To
speak
of
;
none
worth
mentioning
.
There
had
been
a
girl
some
six
years
before
,
and
the
child
,
who
had
stolen
into
the
chamber
unobserved
,
was
now
crouching
timidly
,
in
a
corner
whence
she
could
see
her
mother
's
face
.
But
what
was
a
girl
to
Dombey
and
Son
!
In
the
capital
of
the
House
's
name
and
dignity
,
such
a
child
was
merely
a
piece
of
base
coin
that
could
n't
be
invested
—
a
bad
Boy
—
nothing
more
.
Mr.
Dombey
's
cup
of
satisfaction
was
so
full
at
this
moment
,
however
,
that
he
felt
he
could
afford
a
drop
or
two
of
its
contents
,
even
to
sprinkle
on
the
dust
in
the
by-path
of
his
little
daughter
.
So
he
said
,
`
Florence
,
you
may
go
and
look
at
your
pretty
brother
,
if
you
like
,
I
dare
say
.
Do
n't
touch
him
!
´
The
child
glanced
keenly
at
the
blue
coat
and
stiff
white
cravat
,
which
,
with
a
pair
of
creaking
boots
and
a
very
loud
ticking
watch
,
embodied
her
idea
of
a
father
;
but
her
eyes
returned
to
her
mother
's
face
immediately
,
and
she
neither
moved
nor
answered
.
Next
moment
,
the
lady
had
opened
her
eyes
and
seen
the
child
;
and
the
child
had
run
towards
her
;
and
,
standing
on
tip-toe
,
the
better
to
hide
her
face
in
her
embrace
,
had
clung
about
her
with
a
desperate
affection
very
much
at
variance
with
her
years
.
`
Oh
Lord
bless
me
!
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
rising
testily
.
`
A
very
ill-advised
and
feverish
proceeding
this
,
I
am
sure
.
I
had
better
ask
Doctor
Peps
if
he
'll
have
the
goodness
to
step
up
stairs
again
perhaps
.
I
'll
go
down
.
I
'll
go
down
.
I
need
n't
beg
you
,
´
he
added
,
pausing
for
a
moment
at
the
settee
before
the
fire
,
`
to
take
particular
care
of
this
young
gentleman
,
Mrs.
—
-
´
`
Blockitt
,
Sir
?
´
suggested
the
nurse
,
a
simpering
piece
of
faded
gentility
,
who
did
not
presume
to
state
her
name
as
a
fact
,
but
merely
offered
it
as
a
mild
suggestion
.
`
Of
this
young
gentleman
,
Mrs.
Blockitt
.
´
`
No
,
Sir
,
indeed
.
I
remember
when
Miss
Florence
was
born
—
´
`
Ay
,
ay
,
ay
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
bending
over
the
basket
bedstead
,
and
slightly
bending
his
brows
at
the
same
time
.
`
Miss
Florence
was
all
very
well
,
but
this
is
another
matter
.
This
young
gentleman
has
to
accomplish
a
destiny
.
A
destiny
,
little
fellow
!
´
As
he
thus
apostrophised
the
infant
he
raised
one
of
his
hands
to
his
lips
,
and
kissed
it
;
then
,
seeming
to
fear
that
the
action
involved
some
compromise
of
his
dignity
,
went
,
awkwardly
enough
,
away
.
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
one
of
the
Court
Physicians
,
and
a
man
of
immense
reputation
for
assisting
at
the
increase
of
great
families
,
was
walking
up
and
down
the
drawing-room
with
his
hands
behind
him
,
to
the
unspeakable
admiration
of
the
family
Surgeon
,
who
had
regularly
puffed
the
case
for
the
last
six
weeks
,
among
all
his
patients
,
friends
,
and
acquaintances
,
as
one
to
which
he
was
in
hourly
expectation
day
and
night
of
being
summoned
,
in
conjunction
with
Doctor
Parker
Peps
.
`
Well
,
Sir
,
´
said
Doctor
Parker
Peps
in
a
round
,
deep
,
sonorous
voice
,
muffled
for
the
occasion
,
like
the
knocker
;
`
do
you
find
that
your
dear
lady
is
at
all
roused
by
your
visit
?
´
`
Stimulated
as
it
were
?
´
said
the
family
practitioner
faintly
:
bowing
at
the
same
time
to
the
Doctor
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
`
Excuse
my
putting
in
a
word
,
but
this
is
a
valuable
connexion
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
was
quite
discomfited
by
the
question
.
He
had
thought
so
little
of
the
patient
,
that
he
was
not
in
a
condition
to
answer
it
.
He
said
that
it
would
be
a
satisfaction
to
him
,
if
Doctor
Parker
Peps
would
walk
up
stairs
again
.
`
Good
!
We
must
not
disguise
from
you
,
Sir
,
´
said
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
`
that
there
is
a
want
of
power
in
Her
Grace
the
Duchess
—
I
beg
your
pardon
;
I
confound
names
;
I
should
say
,
in
your
amiable
lady
.
That
there
is
a
certain
degree
of
languor
,
and
a
general
absence
of
elasticity
,
which
we
would
rather
—
not
—
´
`
See
,
´
interposed
the
family
practitioner
with
another
inclination
of
the
head
.
`
Quite
so
,
´
said
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
`
which
we
would
rather
not
see
.
It
would
appear
that
the
system
of
Lady
Cankaby
—
excuse
me
:
I
should
say
of
Mrs.
Dombey
:
I
confuse
the
names
of
cases
—
´
`
So
very
numerous
,
´
murmured
the
family
practitioner
—
`
ca
n't
be
expected
I
'm
sure
—
quite
wonderful
if
otherwise
—
Doctor
Parker
Peps
's
West-End
practice
—
´
`
Thank
you
,
´
said
the
Doctor
,
`
quite
so
.
It
would
appear
,
I
was
observing
,
that
the
system
of
our
patient
has
sustained
a
shock
,
from
which
it
can
only
hope
to
rally
by
a
great
and
strong
—
´
`
And
vigorous
,
´
murmured
the
family
practitioner
.
`
Quite
so
,
´
assented
the
Doctor
—
`
and
vigorous
effort
.
Mr.
Pilkins
here
,
who
from
his
position
of
medical
adviser
in
this
family
—
no
one
better
qualified
to
fill
that
position
,
I
am
sure
.
´
`
Oh
!
´
murmured
the
family
practitioner
.
`
+rdquo
;
Praise
from
Sir
Hubert
Stanley
!
”
´
`
You
are
good
enough
,
´
returned
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
`
to
say
so
.
Mr.
Pilkins
who
,
from
his
position
,
is
best
acquainted
with
the
patient
's
constitution
in
its
normal
state
(
an
acquaintance
very
valuable
to
us
in
forming
our
opinions
on
these
occasions
)
,
is
of
opinion
,
with
me
,
that
Nature
must
be
called
upon
to
make
a
vigorous
effort
in
this
instance
;
and
that
if
our
interesting
friend
the
Countess
of
Dombey
—
I
beg
your
pardon
;
Mrs.
Dombey
—
should
not
be
—
´
`
Able
,
´
said
the
family
practitioner
.
`
To
make
that
effort
successfully
,
´
said
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
`
then
a
crisis
might
arise
,
which
we
should
both
sincerely
deplore
.
´
With
that
,
they
stood
for
a
few
seconds
looking
at
the
ground
.
Then
,
on
the
motion
—
made
in
dumb
show
—
of
Doctor
Parker
Peps
,
they
went
up
stairs
;
the
family
practitioner
opening
the
room
door
for
that
distinguished
professional
,
and
following
him
out
,
with
most
obsequious
politeness
.
To
record
of
Mr.
Dombey
that
he
was
not
in
his
way
affected
by
this
intelligence
,
would
be
to
do
him
an
injustice
.
He
was
not
a
man
of
whom
it
could
properly
be
said
that
he
was
ever
startled
or
shocked
;
but
he
certainly
had
a
sense
within
him
,
that
if
his
wife
should
sicken
and
decay
,
he
would
be
very
sorry
,
and
that
he
would
find
a
something
gone
from
among
his
plate
and
furniture
,
and
other
household
possessions
,
which
was
well
worth
the
having
,
and
could
not
be
lost
without
sincere
regret
.
Though
it
would
be
a
cool
,
business-like
,
gentlemanly
,
self-possessed
regret
,
no
doubt
.
His
meditations
on
the
subject
were
soon
interrupted
,
first
by
the
rustling
of
garments
on
the
staircase
,
and
then
by
the
sudden
whisking
into
the
room
of
a
lady
rather
past
the
middle
age
than
otherwise
,
but
dressed
in
a
very
juvenile
manner
,
particularly
as
to
the
tightness
of
her
bodice
,
who
,
running
up
to
him
with
a
kind
of
screw
in
her
face
and
carriage
,
expressive
of
suppressed
emotion
,
flung
her
arms
round
his
neck
,
and
said
in
a
choking
voice
,
`
My
dear
Paul
!
He
's
quite
a
Dombey
!
´
`
Well
,
well
!
´
returned
her
brother
—
for
Mr.
Dombey
was
her
brother
—
`
I
think
he
is
like
the
family
.
Do
n't
agitate
yourself
,
Louisa
.
´
`
It
's
very
foolish
of
me
,
´
said
Louisa
,
sitting
down
,
and
taking
out
her
pocket-handkerchief
,
`
but
he
's
—
he
's
such
a
perfect
Dombey
!
I
never
saw
anything
like
it
in
my
life
!
´
`
But
what
is
this
about
Fanny
,
herself
?
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
How
is
Fanny
?
´
`
My
dear
Paul
,
´
returned
Louisa
,
`
it
's
nothing
whatever
.
Take
my
word
,
it
's
nothing
whatever
.
There
is
exhaustion
,
certainly
,
but
nothing
like
what
I
underwent
myself
,
either
with
George
or
Frederick
.
An
effort
is
necessary
.
That
's
all
.
If
dear
Fanny
were
a
Dombey
!
—
But
I
dare
say
she
'll
make
it
;
I
have
no
doubt
she
'll
make
it
.
Knowing
it
to
be
required
of
her
,
as
a
duty
,
of
course
she
'll
make
it
.
My
dear
Paul
,
it
's
very
weak
and
silly
of
me
,
I
know
,
to
be
so
trembly
and
shaky
from
head
to
foot
;
but
I
am
so
very
queer
that
I
must
ask
you
for
a
glass
of
wine
and
a
morsel
of
that
cake
.
I
thought
I
should
have
fallen
out
of
the
staircase
window
as
I
came
down
from
seeing
dear
Fanny
,
and
that
tiddy
ickle
sing
.
´
These
last
words
originated
in
a
sudden
vivid
reminiscence
of
the
baby
.
They
were
succeeded
by
a
gentle
tap
at
the
door
.
`
Mrs.
Chick
,
´
said
a
very
bland
female
voice
outside
,
`
how
are
you
now
,
my
dear
friend
?
´
`
My
dear
Paul
,
´
said
Louisa
in
a
low
voice
,
as
she
rose
from
her
seat
,
`
it
's
Miss
Tox
.
The
kindest
creature
!
I
never
could
have
got
here
without
her
!
Miss
Tox
,
my
brother
Mr.
Dombey
.
Paul
,
my
dear
,
my
very
particular
friend
Miss
Tox
.
´
The
lady
thus
specially
presented
,
was
a
long
lean
figure
,
wearing
such
a
faded
air
that
she
seemed
not
to
have
been
made
in
what
linen-drapers
call
`
fast
colours
´
originally
,
and
to
have
,
by
little
and
little
,
washed
out
.
But
for
this
she
might
have
been
described
as
the
very
pink
of
general
propitiation
and
politeness
.
From
a
long
habit
of
listening
admirably
to
everything
that
was
said
in
her
presence
,
and
looking
at
the
speakers
as
if
she
were
mentally
engaged
in
taking
off
impressions
of
their
images
upon
her
soul
,
never
to
part
with
the
same
but
with
life
,
her
head
had
quite
settled
on
one
side
.
Her
hands
had
contracted
a
spasmodic
habit
of
raising
themselves
of
their
own
accord
as
in
involuntary
admiration
.
Her
eyes
were
liable
to
a
similar
affection
.
She
had
the
softest
voice
that
ever
was
heard
;
and
her
nose
,
stupendously
aquiline
,
had
a
little
knob
in
the
very
centre
or
key-stone
of
the
bridge
,
whence
it
tended
downwards
towards
her
face
,
as
in
an
invincible
determination
never
to
turn
up
at
anything
.
Miss
Tox
's
dress
,
though
perfectly
genteel
and
good
,
had
a
certain
character
of
angularity
and
scantiness
.
She
was
accustomed
to
wear
odd
weedy
little
flowers
in
her
bonnets
and
caps
.
Strange
grasses
were
sometimes
perceived
in
her
hair
;
and
it
was
observed
by
the
curious
,
of
all
her
collars
,
frills
,
tuckers
,
wristbands
,
and
other
gossamer
articles
—
indeed
of
everything
she
wore
which
had
two
ends
to
it
intended
to
unite
—
that
the
two
ends
were
never
on
good
terms
,
and
would
n't
quite
meet
without
a
struggle
.
She
had
furry
articles
for
winter
wear
,
as
tippets
,
boas
,
and
muffs
,
which
stood
up
on
end
in
a
rampant
manner
,
and
were
not
at
all
sleek
.
She
was
much
given
to
the
carrying
about
of
small
bags
with
snaps
to
them
,
that
went
off
like
little
pistols
when
they
were
shut
up
;
and
when
full-dressed
,
she
wore
round
her
neck
the
barrenest
of
lockets
,
representing
a
fishy
old
eye
,
with
no
approach
to
speculation
in
it
.
These
and
other
appearances
of
a
similar
nature
,
had
served
to
propagate
the
opinion
,
that
Miss
Tox
was
a
lady
of
what
is
called
a
limited
independence
,
which
she
turned
to
the
best
account
.
Possibly
her
mincing
gait
encouraged
the
belief
,
and
suggested
that
her
clipping
a
step
of
ordinary
compass
into
two
or
three
,
originated
in
her
habit
of
making
the
most
of
everything
.
`
I
am
sure
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
with
a
prodigious
curtsey
,
`
that
to
have
the
honour
of
being
presented
to
Mr.
Dombey
is
a
distinction
which
I
have
long
sought
,
but
very
little
expected
at
the
present
moment
.
My
dear
Mrs.
Chick
—
may
I
say
Louisa
!
´
Mrs.
Chick
took
Miss
Tox
's
hand
in
hers
,
rested
the
foot
of
her
wine-glass
upon
it
,
repressed
a
tear
,
and
said
in
a
low
voice
`
Bless
you
!
´
`
My
dear
Louisa
then
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
my
sweet
friend
,
how
are
you
now
?
´
`
Better
,
´
Mrs.
Chick
returned
.
`
Take
some
wine
.
You
have
been
almost
as
anxious
as
I
have
been
,
and
must
want
it
,
I
am
sure
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
of
course
officiated
.
`
Miss
Tox
,
Paul
,
´
pursued
Mrs.
Chick
,
still
retaining
her
hand
,
`
knowing
how
much
I
have
been
interested
in
the
anticipation
of
the
event
of
to-day
,
has
been
working
at
a
little
gift
for
Fanny
,
which
I
promised
to
present
.
It
is
only
a
pin-cushion
for
the
toilette
table
,
Paul
,
but
I
do
say
,
and
will
say
,
and
must
say
,
that
Miss
Tox
has
very
prettily
adapted
the
sentiment
to
the
occasion
.
I
call
`
Welcome
little
Dombey
´
Poetry
,
myself
!
´
`
Is
that
the
device
?
´
inquired
her
brother
.
`
That
is
the
device
,
´
returned
Louisa
.
`
But
do
me
the
justice
to
remember
,
my
dear
Louisa
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
in
a
tone
of
low
and
earnest
entreaty
,
`
that
nothing
but
the
—
I
have
some
difficulty
in
expressing
myself
—
the
dubiousness
of
the
result
would
have
induced
me
to
take
so
great
a
liberty
:
“
Welcome
,
Master
Dombey
,
”
would
have
been
much
more
congenial
to
my
feelings
,
as
I
am
sure
you
know
.
But
the
uncertainty
attendant
on
angelic
strangers
,
will
,
I
hope
,
excuse
what
must
otherwise
appear
an
unwarrantable
familiarity
.
´
Miss
Tox
made
a
graceful
bend
as
she
spoke
,
in
favour
of
Mr.
Dombey
,
which
that
gentleman
graciously
acknowledged
.
Even
the
sort
of
recognition
of
Dombey
and
Son
,
conveyed
in
the
foregoing
conversation
,
was
so
palatable
to
him
,
that
his
sister
,
Mrs.
Chick
—
though
he
affected
to
consider
her
a
weak
good-natured
person
—
had
perhaps
more
influence
over
him
than
anybody
else
.
`
Well
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
with
a
sweet
smile
,
`
after
this
,
I
forgive
Fanny
everything
!
´
It
was
a
declaration
in
a
Christian
spirit
,
and
Mrs.
Chick
felt
that
it
did
her
good
.
Not
that
she
had
anything
particular
to
forgive
in
her
sister-in-law
,
nor
indeed
anything
at
all
,
except
her
having
married
her
brother
—
in
itself
a
species
of
audacity
—
and
her
having
,
in
the
course
of
events
,
given
birth
to
a
girl
instead
of
a
boy
:
which
,
as
Mrs.
Chick
had
frequently
observed
,
was
not
quite
what
she
had
expected
of
her
,
and
was
not
a
pleasant
return
for
all
the
attention
and
distinction
she
had
met
with
.
Mr.
Dombey
being
hastily
summoned
out
of
the
room
at
this
moment
,
the
two
ladies
were
left
alone
together
.
Miss
Tox
immediately
became
spasmodic
.
`
I
knew
you
would
admire
my
brother
.
I
told
you
so
before-hand
,
my
dear
,
´
said
Louisa
.
Miss
Tox
's
hands
and
eyes
expressed
how
much
.
`
And
as
to
his
property
,
my
dear
!
´
`
Ah
!
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
with
deep
feeling
.
`
Im
—
mense
!
´
`
But
his
deportment
,
my
dear
Louisa
!
´
said
Miss
Tox
.
`
His
presence
!
His
dignity
!
No
portrait
that
I
have
ever
seen
of
any
one
has
been
half
so
replete
with
those
qualities
.
Something
so
stately
,
you
know
:
so
uncompromising
:
so
very
wide
across
the
chest
:
so
upright
!
A
pecuniary
Duke
of
York
,
my
love
,
and
nothing
short
of
it
!
´
said
Miss
Tox
.
`
That
's
what
I
should
designate
him
.
´
`
Why
,
my
dear
Paul
!
´
exclaimed
his
sister
,
as
he
returned
,
`
you
look
quite
pale
!
There
's
nothing
the
matter
?
´
`
I
am
sorry
to
say
,
Louisa
,
that
they
tell
me
that
Fanny
—
´
`
Now
,
my
dear
Paul
,
´
returned
his
sister
rising
,
`
do
n't
believe
it
.
If
you
have
any
reliance
on
my
experience
,
Paul
,
you
may
rest
assured
that
there
is
nothing
wanting
but
an
effort
on
Fanny
's
part
.
And
that
effort
,
´
she
continued
,
taking
off
her
bonnet
,
and
adjusting
her
cap
and
gloves
,
in
a
business-like
manner
,
`
she
must
be
encouraged
,
and
really
,
if
necessary
,
urged
to
make
.
Now
,
my
dear
Paul
,
come
up
stairs
with
me
.
´
Mr.
Dombey
,
who
,
besides
being
generally
influenced
by
his
sister
for
the
reason
already
mentioned
,
had
really
faith
in
her
as
an
experienced
and
bustling
matron
,
acquiesced
:
and
followed
her
,
at
once
,
to
the
sick
chamber
.
The
lady
lay
upon
her
bed
as
he
had
left
her
,
clasping
her
little
daughter
to
her
breast
.
The
child
clung
close
about
her
,
with
the
same
intensity
as
before
,
and
never
raised
her
head
,
or
moved
her
soft
cheek
from
her
mother
's
face
,
or
looked
on
those
who
stood
around
,
or
spoke
,
or
moved
,
or
shed
a
tear
.
`
Restless
without
the
little
girl
,
´
the
Doctor
whispered
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
We
found
it
best
to
have
her
in
again
.
´
There
was
such
a
solemn
stillness
round
the
bed
;
and
the
two
medical
attendants
seemed
to
look
on
the
impassive
form
with
so
much
compassion
and
so
little
hope
,
that
Mrs.
Chick
was
for
the
moment
diverted
from
her
purpose
.
But
presently
summoning
courage
,
and
what
she
called
presence
of
mind
,
she
sat
down
by
the
bedside
,
and
said
in
the
low
precise
tone
of
one
who
endeavours
to
awaken
a
sleeper
:
`
Fanny
!
Fanny
!
´
There
was
no
sound
in
answer
but
the
loud
ticking
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
watch
and
Doctor
Parker
Peps
's
watch
,
which
seemed
in
the
silence
to
be
running
a
race
.
`
Fanny
,
my
dear
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
with
assumed
lightness
,
`
here
's
Mr.
Dombey
come
to
see
you
.
Wo
n't
you
speak
to
him
?
They
want
to
lay
your
little
boy
—
the
baby
,
Fanny
,
you
know
;
you
have
hardly
seen
him
yet
,
I
think
—
in
bed
;
but
they
ca
n't
till
you
rouse
yourself
a
little
.
Do
n't
you
think
it
's
time
you
roused
yourself
a
little
?
Eh
?
´
She
bent
her
ear
to
the
bed
,
and
listened
:
at
the
same
time
looking
round
at
the
bystanders
,
and
holding
up
her
finger
.
`
Eh
?
´
she
repeated
,
`
what
was
it
you
said
,
Fanny
?
I
did
n't
hear
you
.
´
No
word
or
sound
in
answer
.
Mr.
Dombey
's
watch
and
Dr.
Parker
Peps
's
watch
seemed
to
be
racing
faster
.
`
Now
,
really
,
Fanny
my
dear
,
´
said
the
sister-in-law
,
altering
her
position
,
and
speaking
less
confidently
,
and
more
earnestly
,
in
spite
of
herself
,
`
I
shall
have
to
be
quite
cross
with
you
,
if
you
do
n't
rouse
yourself
.
It
's
necessary
for
you
to
make
an
effort
,
and
perhaps
a
very
great
and
painful
effort
which
you
are
not
disposed
to
make
;
but
this
is
a
world
of
effort
you
know
,
Fanny
,
and
we
must
never
yield
,
when
so
much
depends
upon
us
.
Come
!
Try
!
I
must
really
scold
you
if
you
do
n't
!
´
The
race
in
the
ensuing
pause
was
fierce
and
furious
.
The
watches
seemed
to
jostle
,
and
to
trip
each
other
up
.
`
Fanny
!
´
said
Louisa
,
glancing
round
,
with
a
gathering
alarm
.
`
Only
look
at
me
.
Only
open
your
eyes
to
show
me
that
you
hear
and
understand
me
;
will
you
?
Good
Heaven
,
gentlemen
,
what
is
to
be
done
!
´
The
two
medical
attendants
exchanged
a
look
across
the
bed
;
and
the
Physician
,
stooping
down
,
whispered
in
the
child
's
ear
.
Not
having
understood
the
purport
of
his
whisper
,
the
little
creature
turned
her
perfectly
colourless
face
,
and
deep
dark
eyes
towards
him
;
but
without
loosening
her
hold
in
the
least
.
The
whisper
was
repeated
.
`
Mama
!
´
said
the
child
.
The
little
voice
,
familiar
and
dearly
loved
,
awakened
some
show
of
consciousness
,
even
at
that
ebb
.
For
a
moment
,
the
closed
eye-lids
trembled
,
and
the
nostril
quivered
,
and
the
faintest
shadow
of
a
smile
was
seen
.
`
Mama
!
´
cried
the
child
sobbing
aloud
.
`
Oh
dear
Mama
!
oh
dear
Mama
!
´
The
Doctor
gently
brushed
the
scattered
ringlets
of
the
child
,
aside
from
the
face
and
mouth
of
the
mother
.
Alas
how
calm
they
lay
there
;
how
little
breath
there
was
to
stir
them
!
Thus
,
clinging
fast
to
that
slight
spar
within
her
arms
,
the
mother
drifted
out
upon
the
dark
and
unknown
sea
that
rolls
round
all
the
world
.
CHAPTER
II
In
which
Timely
Provision
is
made
for
an
Emergency
that
will
sometimes
arise
in
the
best-regulated
Families
`
I
SHALL
never
cease
to
congratulate
myself
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
`
on
having
said
,
when
I
little
thought
what
was
in
store
for
us
,
—
really
as
if
I
was
inspired
by
something
,
—
that
I
forgave
poor
dear
Fanny
everything
.
Whatever
happens
,
that
must
always
be
a
comfort
to
me
!
´
Mrs.
Chick
made
this
impressive
observation
in
the
drawing-room
,
after
having
descended
thither
from
the
inspection
of
the
Mantua-Makers
up
stairs
,
who
were
busy
on
the
family
mourning
.
She
delivered
it
for
the
behoof
of
Mr.
Chick
,
who
was
a
stout
bald
gentleman
,
with
a
very
large
face
,
and
his
hands
continually
in
his
pockets
,
and
who
had
a
tendency
in
his
nature
to
whistle
and
hum
tunes
,
which
,
sensible
of
the
indecorum
of
such
sounds
in
a
house
of
grief
,
he
was
at
some
pains
to
repress
at
present
.
`
Do
n't
you
over-exert
yourself
,
Loo
,
´
said
Mr.
Chick
,
`
or
you
'll
be
laid
up
with
spasms
,
I
see
.
Right
tol
loor
rul
!
Bless
my
soul
,
I
forgot
!
We
're
here
one
day
and
gone
the
next
!
´
Mrs.
Chick
contented
herself
with
a
glance
of
reproof
,
and
then
proceeded
with
the
thread
of
her
discourse
.
`
I
am
sure
,
´
she
said
,
`
I
hope
this
heart-rending
occurrence
will
be
a
warning
to
all
of
us
,
to
accustom
ourselves
to
rouse
ourselves
,
and
to
make
efforts
in
time
where
they
're
required
of
us
.
There
's
a
moral
in
everything
,
if
we
would
only
avail
ourselves
of
it
.
It
will
be
our
own
faults
if
we
lose
sight
of
this
one
.
´
Mr.
Chick
invaded
the
grave
silence
which
ensued
on
this
remark
with
the
singularly
inappropriate
air
of
`
A
cobbler
there
was
;
´
and
checking
himself
,
in
some
confusion
,
observed
,
that
it
was
undoubtedly
our
own
faults
if
we
did
n't
improve
such
melancholy
occasions
as
the
present
.
`
Which
might
be
better
improved
,
I
should
think
,
Mr.
C
.
,
´
retorted
his
helpmate
,
after
a
short
pause
,
`
than
by
the
introduction
,
either
of
the
college
hornpipe
,
or
the
equally
unmeaning
and
unfeeling
remark
of
rump-te-iddity
,
bow-wow-wow
!
'
—
which
Mr.
Chick
had
indeed
indulged
in
under
his
breath
,
and
which
Mrs.
Chick
repeated
in
a
tone
of
withering
scorn
.
`
Merely
habit
,
my
dear
,
´
pleaded
Mr.
Chick
.
`
Nonsense
!
Habit
!
´
returned
his
wife
.
`
If
you
're
a
rational
being
,
do
n't
make
such
ridiculous
excuses
.
Habit
!
If
I
was
to
get
a
habit
(
as
you
call
it
)
of
walking
on
the
ceiling
,
like
the
flies
,
I
should
hear
enough
of
it
,
I
dare
say
.
´
It
appeared
so
probable
that
such
a
habit
might
be
attended
with
some
degree
of
notoriety
,
that
Mr.
Chick
did
n't
venture
to
dispute
the
position
.
`
How
's
the
Baby
,
Loo
?
´
asked
Mr.
Chick
:
to
change
the
subject
.
`
What
Baby
do
you
mean
?
´
answered
Mrs.
Chick
.
`
I
am
sure
the
morning
I
have
had
,
with
that
dining-room
down
stairs
one
mass
of
babies
,
no
one
in
their
senses
would
believe
.
´
`
One
mass
of
babies
!
´
repeated
Mr.
Chick
,
staring
with
an
alarmed
expression
about
him
.
`
It
would
have
occurred
to
most
men
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
`
that
poor
dear
Fanny
being
no
more
,
it
becomes
necessary
to
provide
a
Nurse
.
´
`
Oh
!
Ah
!
´
said
Mr.
Chick
.
`
Toor-rul
—
such
is
life
,
I
mean
.
I
hope
you
are
suited
,
my
dear
.
´
`
Indeed
I
am
not
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
;
`
nor
likely
to
be
,
so
far
as
I
can
see
.
Meanwhile
,
of
course
,
the
child
is
—
´
`
Going
to
the
very
Deuce
,
´
said
Mr.
Chick
,
thoughtfully
,
`
to
be
sure
.
´
Admonished
,
however
,
that
he
had
committed
himself
,
by
the
indignation
expressed
in
Mrs.
Chick
's
countenance
at
the
idea
of
a
Dombey
going
there
;
and
thinking
to
atone
for
his
misconduct
by
a
bright
suggestion
,
he
added
:
`
Could
n't
something
temporary
be
done
with
a
teapot
?
´
If
he
had
meant
to
bring
the
subject
prematurely
to
a
close
,
he
could
not
have
done
it
more
effectually
.
After
looking
at
him
for
some
moments
in
silent
resignation
,
Mrs.
Chick
walked
majestically
to
the
window
and
peeped
through
the
blind
,
attracted
by
the
sound
of
wheels
.
Mr.
Chick
,
finding
that
his
destiny
was
,
for
the
time
,
against
him
,
said
no
more
,
and
walked
off
.
But
it
was
not
always
thus
with
Mr.
Chick
.
He
was
often
in
the
ascendant
himself
,
and
at
those
times
punished
Louisa
roundly
.
In
their
matrimonial
bickerings
they
were
,
upon
the
whole
,
a
well-matched
,
fairly-balanced
,
give-and-take
couple
.
It
would
have
been
,
generally
speaking
,
very
difficult
to
have
betted
on
the
winner
.
Often
when
Mr.
Chick
seemed
beaten
,
he
would
suddenly
make
a
start
,
turn
the
tables
,
clatter
them
about
the
ears
of
Mrs.
Chick
,
and
carry
all
before
him
.
Being
liable
himself
to
similar
unlookedfor
checks
from
Mrs.
Chick
,
their
little
contests
usually
possessed
a
character
of
uncertainty
that
was
very
animating
.
Miss
Tox
had
arrived
on
the
wheels
just
now
alluded
to
,
and
came
running
into
the
room
in
a
breathless
condition
.
`
My
dear
Louisa
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
is
the
vacancy
still
unsupplied
?
´
`
You
good
soul
,
yes
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
.
`
Then
,
my
dear
Louisa
,
´
returned
Miss
Tox
,
`
I
hope
and
believe
—
but
in
one
moment
,
my
dear
,
I
'll
introduce
the
party
.
´
Running
down
stairs
again
as
fast
as
she
had
run
up
,
Miss
Tox
got
the
party
out
of
the
hackney-coach
,
and
soon
returned
with
it
under
convoy
.
It
then
appeared
that
she
had
used
the
word
,
not
in
its
legal
or
business
acceptation
,
when
it
merely
expresses
an
individual
,
but
as
a
noun
of
multitude
,
or
signifying
many
:
for
Miss
Tox
escorted
a
plump
rosy-cheeked
wholesome
apple-faced
young
woman
,
with
an
infant
in
her
arms
;
a
younger
woman
not
so
plump
,
but
apple-faced
also
,
who
led
a
plump
and
apple-faced
child
in
each
hand
;
another
plump
and
also
apple-faced
boy
who
walked
by
himself
;
and
finally
,
a
plump
and
apple-faced
man
,
who
carried
in
his
arms
another
plump
and
apple-faced
boy
,
whom
he
stood
down
on
the
floor
,
and
admonished
,
in
a
husky
whisper
,
to
`
kitch
hold
of
his
brother
Johnny
.
´
`
My
dear
Louisa
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
knowing
your
great
anxiety
,
and
wishing
to
relieve
it
,
I
posted
off
myself
to
the
Queen
Charlotte
's
Royal
Married
Females
,
which
you
had
forgot
,
and
put
the
question
,
Was
there
anybody
there
that
they
thought
would
suit
?
No
,
they
said
there
was
not
.
When
they
gave
me
that
answer
,
I
do
assure
you
,
my
dear
,
I
was
almost
driven
to
despair
on
your
account
.
But
it
did
so
happen
,
that
one
of
the
Royal
Married
Females
,
hearing
the
inquiry
,
reminded
the
matron
of
another
who
had
gone
to
her
own
home
,
and
who
,
she
said
,
would
in
all
likelihood
be
most
satisfactory
.
The
moment
I
heard
this
,
and
had
it
corroborated
by
the
matron
—
excellent
references
and
unimpeachable
character
—
I
got
the
address
,
my
dear
,
and
posted
off
again
.
´
`
Like
the
dear
good
Tox
,
you
are
!
´
said
Louisa
.
`
Not
at
all
,
´
returned
Miss
Tox
.
`
Do
n't
say
so
.
Arriving
at
the
house
(
the
cleanest
place
,
my
dear
!
You
might
eat
your
dinner
off
the
floor
)
,
I
found
the
whole
family
sitting
at
table
;
and
feeling
that
no
account
of
them
could
be
half
so
comfortable
to
you
and
Mr.
Dombey
as
the
sight
of
them
all
together
,
I
brought
them
all
away
.
This
gentleman
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
pointing
out
the
apple-faced
man
,
`
is
the
father
.
Will
you
have
the
goodness
to
come
a
little
forward
,
Sir
?
´
The
apple-faced
man
having
sheepishly
complied
with
this
request
,
stood
chuckling
and
grinning
in
a
front
row
.
`
This
is
his
wife
,
of
course
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
singling
out
the
young
woman
with
the
baby
.
`
How
do
you
do
,
Polly
?
´
`
I
'm
pretty
well
,
I
thank
you
,
Ma'am
,
´
said
Polly
.
By
way
of
bringing
her
out
dexterously
,
Miss
Tox
had
made
the
inquiry
as
in
condescension
to
an
old
acquaintance
whom
she
had
n't
seen
for
a
fortnight
or
so
.
`
I
,
m
glad
to
hear
it
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
.
`
The
other
young
woman
is
her
unmarried
sister
who
lives
with
them
,
and
would
take
care
of
her
children
.
Her
name
's
Jemima
.
How
do
you
do
,
Jemima
?
´
`
I
'm
pretty
well
,
I
thank
you
,
Ma'am
,
´
returned
Jemima
.
`
I
'm
very
glad
indeed
to
hear
it
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
.
`
I
hope
you
'll
keep
so
.
Five
children
.
Youngest
six
weeks
.
The
fine
little
boy
with
the
blister
on
his
nose
is
the
eldest
.
The
blister
,
I
believe
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
looking
round
upon
the
family
,
`
is
not
constitutional
,
but
accidental
?
´
The
apple-faced
man
was
understood
to
growl
,
`
Flat
iron
.
´
`
I
beg
your
pardon
,
Sir
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
did
you
?
—
´
`
Flat
iron
,
´
he
repeated
.
`
Oh
yes
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
.
`
Yes
!
quite
true
.
I
forgot
.
The
little
creature
,
in
his
mother
's
absence
,
smelt
a
warm
flat
iron
.
You
're
quite
right
,
Sir
.
You
were
going
to
have
the
goodness
to
inform
me
,
when
we
arrived
at
the
door
that
you
were
by
trade
,
a
—
´
`
Stoker
,
´
said
the
man
.
`
A
choker
!
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
quite
aghast
.
`
Stoker
,
´
said
the
man
.
`
Stream
ingine
.
´
`
Oh-h
!
Yes
!
´
returned
Miss
Tox
,
looking
thoughtfully
at
him
,
and
seeming
still
to
have
but
a
very
imperfect
understanding
of
his
meaning
.
`
And
how
do
you
like
it
,
Sir
?
´
`
Which
,
Mum
?
´
said
the
man
.
`
That
,
´
replied
Miss
Tox
.
`
Your
trade
.
´
`
Oh
!
Pretty
well
,
Mum
.
The
ashes
sometimes
gets
in
here
;
´
touching
his
chest
:
`
and
makes
a
man
speak
gruff
,
as
at
the
present
time
.
But
it
is
ashes
,
Mum
,
not
crustiness
.
´
Miss
Tox
seemed
to
be
so
little
enlightened
by
this
reply
,
as
to
find
a
difficulty
in
pursuing
the
subject
.
But
Mrs.
Chick
relieved
her
,
by
entering
into
a
close
private
examination
of
Polly
,
her
children
,
her
marriage
certificate
,
testimonials
,
and
so
forth
.
Polly
coming
out
unscathed
from
this
ordeal
,
Mrs.
Chick
withdrew
with
her
report
to
her
brother
's
room
,
and
as
an
emphatic
comment
on
it
,
and
corroboration
of
it
,
carried
the
two
rosiest
little
Toodles
with
her
,
Toodle
being
the
family
name
of
the
apple-faced
family
.
Mr.
Dombey
had
remained
in
his
own
apartment
since
the
death
of
his
wife
,
absorbed
in
visions
of
the
youth
,
education
,
and
destination
of
his
baby
son
.
Something
lay
at
the
bottom
of
his
cool
heart
,
colder
and
heavier
than
its
ordinary
load
;
but
it
was
more
a
sense
of
the
child
's
loss
than
his
own
,
awakening
within
him
an
almost
angry
sorrow
.
That
the
life
and
progress
on
which
he
built
such
hopes
,
should
be
endangered
in
the
outset
by
so
mean
a
want
;
that
Dombey
and
Son
should
be
tottering
for
a
nurse
,
was
a
sore
humiliation
.
And
yet
in
his
pride
and
jealousy
,
he
viewed
with
so
much
bitterness
the
thought
of
being
dependent
for
the
very
first
step
towards
the
accomplishment
of
his
soul
's
desire
,
on
a
hired
serving-woman
who
would
be
to
the
child
,
for
the
time
,
all
that
even
his
alliance
could
have
made
his
own
wife
,
that
in
every
new
rejection
of
a
candidate
he
felt
a
secret
pleasure
.
The
time
had
now
come
,
however
,
when
he
could
no
longer
be
divided
between
these
two
sets
of
feelings
.
The
less
so
,
as
there
seemed
to
be
no
flaw
in
the
title
of
Polly
Toodle
after
his
sister
had
set
it
forth
,
with
many
commendations
on
the
indefatigable
friendship
of
Miss
Tox
.
`
These
children
look
healthy
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
But
to
think
of
their
some
day
claiming
a
sort
of
relationship
to
Paul
!
Take
them
away
,
Louisa
!
Let
me
see
this
woman
and
her
husband
.
´
Mrs.
Chick
bore
off
the
tender
pair
of
Toodles
,
and
presently
returned
with
that
tougher
couple
whose
presence
her
brother
had
commanded
.
`
My
good
woman
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
turning
round
in
his
easy
chair
,
as
one
piece
,
and
not
as
a
man
with
limbs
and
joints
,
`
I
understand
you
are
poor
,
and
wish
to
earn
money
by
nursing
the
little
boy
,
my
son
,
who
has
been
so
prematurely
deprived
of
what
can
never
be
replaced
.
I
have
no
objection
to
your
adding
to
the
comforts
of
your
family
by
that
means
.
So
far
as
I
can
tell
,
you
seem
to
be
a
deserving
object
.
But
I
must
impose
one
or
two
conditions
on
you
,
before
you
enter
my
house
in
that
capacity
.
while
you
are
here
,
I
must
stipulate
that
you
are
always
known
as
—
say
as
Richards
—
an
ordinary
name
,
and
convenient
.
Have
you
any
objection
to
be
known
as
Richards
?
You
had
better
consult
your
husband
.
´
As
the
husband
did
nothing
but
chuckle
and
grin
,
and
continually
draw
his
right
hand
across
his
mouth
,
moistening
the
palm
,
Mrs.
Toodle
,
after
nudging
him
twice
or
thrice
in
vain
,
dropped
a
curtsey
and
replied
`
that
perhaps
if
she
was
to
be
called
out
of
her
name
,
it
would
be
considered
in
the
wages
.
´
`
Oh
,
of
course
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
I
desire
to
make
it
a
question
of
wages
,
altogether
.
Now
,
Richards
,
if
you
nurse
my
bereaved
child
,
I
wish
you
to
remember
this
always
.
You
will
receive
a
liberal
stipend
in
return
for
the
discharge
of
certain
duties
,
in
the
performance
of
which
,
I
wish
you
to
see
as
little
of
your
family
as
possible
.
When
those
duties
cease
to
be
required
and
rendered
,
and
the
stipend
ceases
to
be
paid
,
there
is
an
end
of
all
relations
between
us
.
Do
you
understand
me
?
´
Mrs.
Toodle
seemed
doubtful
about
it
;
and
as
to
Toodle
himself
,
he
had
evidently
no
doubt
whatever
,
that
he
was
all
abroad
.
`
You
have
children
of
your
own
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
It
is
not
at
all
in
this
bargain
that
you
need
become
attached
to
my
child
,
or
that
my
child
need
become
attached
to
you
.
I
do
n't
expect
or
desire
anything
of
the
kind
.
Quite
the
reverse
.
When
you
go
away
from
here
,
you
will
have
concluded
what
is
a
mere
matter
of
bargain
and
sale
,
hiring
and
letting
:
and
will
stay
away
.
The
child
will
cease
to
remember
you
;
and
you
will
cease
,
if
you
please
,
to
remember
the
child
.
´
Mrs.
Toodle
,
with
a
little
more
colour
in
her
cheeks
than
she
had
had
before
,
said
`
she
hoped
she
knew
her
place
.
´
`
I
hope
you
do
,
Richards
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
I
have
no
doubt
you
know
it
very
well
.
Indeed
it
is
so
plain
and
obvious
that
it
could
hardly
be
otherwise
.
Louisa
,
my
dear
,
arrange
with
Richards
about
money
,
and
let
her
have
it
when
and
how
she
pleases
.
Mr.
what's-your
name
,
a
word
with
you
,
if
you
please
!
´
Thus
arrested
on
the
threshold
as
he
was
following
his
wife
out
of
the
room
,
Toodle
returned
and
confronted
Mr.
Dombey
alone
.
He
was
a
strong
,
loose
,
round-shouldered
,
shuffling
,
shaggy
fellow
,
on
whom
his
clothes
sat
negligently
:
with
a
good
deal
of
hair
and
whisker
,
deepened
in
its
natural
tint
,
perhaps
by
smoke
and
coal-dust
:
hard
knotty
hands
:
and
a
square
forehead
,
as
coarse
in
grain
as
the
bark
of
an
oak
.
A
thorough
contrast
in
all
respects
to
Mr.
Dombey
,
who
was
one
of
those
close-shaved
close-cut
moneyed
gentlemen
who
are
glossy
and
crisp
like
new
bank-notes
,
and
who
seem
to
be
artificially
braced
and
tightened
as
by
the
stimulating
action
of
golden
shower-baths
.
`
You
have
a
son
,
I
believe
?
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
Four
on
'
em
,
Sir
.
Four
hims
and
a
her
.
All
alive
!
´
`
Why
,
it
's
as
much
as
you
can
afford
to
keep
them
!
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
I
could
n't
hardly
afford
but
one
thing
in
the
world
less
,
Sir
.
´
`
What
is
that
?
´
`
To
lose
'
em
,
Sir
.
´
`
Can
you
read
?
´
asked
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
Why
,
not
partick'ler
,
Sir
.
´
`
Write
?
´
`
With
chalk
,
Sir
?
´
`
With
anything
?
´
`
I
could
make
shift
to
chalk
a
little
bit
,
I
think
,
if
I
was
put
to
it
,
´
said
Toodle
after
some
reflection
.
`
And
yet
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
you
are
two
or
three
and
thirty
,
I
suppose
?
´
`
Thereabouts
,
I
suppose
,
Sir
,
´
answered
Toodle
,
after
more
reflection
.
`
Then
why
do
n't
you
learn
?
´
asked
Mr.
Dombey
.
`
So
I
'm
a
going
to
,
Sir
.
One
of
my
little
boys
is
a
going
to
learn
me
,
when
he
's
old
enough
,
and
been
to
school
himself
.
´
`
Well
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
after
looking
at
him
attentively
,
and
with
no
great
favour
,
as
he
stood
gazing
round
the
room
(
principally
round
the
ceiling
)
and
still
drawing
his
hand
across
and
across
his
mouth
.
`
You
heard
what
I
said
to
your
wife
just
now
?
´
`
Polly
heerd
it
,
´
said
Toodle
,
jerking
his
hat
over
his
shoulder
in
the
direction
of
the
door
,
with
an
air
of
perfect
confidence
in
his
better
half
.
`
It
's
all
right
.
´
`
As
you
appear
to
leave
everything
to
her
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
frustrated
in
his
intention
of
impressing
his
views
still
more
distinctly
on
the
husband
,
as
the
stronger
character
,
`
I
suppose
it
is
of
no
use
my
saying
anything
to
you
.
´
`
Not
a
bit
,
´
said
Toodle
.
`
Polly
heerd
it
.
She
's
awake
,
Sir
.
´
`
I
wo
n't
detain
you
any
longer
then
,
´
returned
Mr.
Dombey
disappointed
.
`
Where
have
you
worked
all
your
life
?
´
`
Mostly
underground
,
Sir
,
'
till
I
got
married
.
I
come
to
the
level
then
.
I
'm
a
going
on
one
of
these
here
railroads
when
they
comes
into
full
play
.
´
As
the
last
straw
breaks
the
laden
camel
's
back
,
this
piece
of
underground
information
crushed
the
sinking
spirits
of
Mr.
Dombey
.
He
motioned
his
child
's
foster-father
to
the
door
,
who
departed
by
no
means
unwillingly
:
and
then
turning
the
key
,
paced
up
and
down
the
room
in
solitary
wretchedness
.
For
all
his
starched
,
impenetrable
dignity
and
composure
,
he
wiped
blinding
tears
from
his
eyes
as
he
did
so
;
and
often
said
,
with
an
emotion
of
which
he
would
not
,
for
the
world
,
have
had
a
witness
,
`
Poor
little
fellow
!
´
It
may
have
been
characteristic
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
pride
,
that
he
pitied
himself
through
the
child
.
Not
poor
me
.
Not
poor
widower
,
confiding
by
constraint
in
the
wife
of
an
ignorant
Hind
who
has
been
working
`
mostly
underground
´
all
his
life
,
and
yet
at
whose
door
Death
had
never
knocked
,
and
at
whose
poor
table
four
sons
daily
sit
—
but
poor
little
fellow
!
Those
words
being
on
his
lips
,
it
occurred
to
him
—
and
it
is
an
instance
of
the
strong
attraction
with
which
his
hopes
and
fears
and
all
his
thoughts
were
tending
to
one
centre
—
that
a
great
temptation
was
being
placed
in
this
woman
's
way
.
Her
infant
was
a
boy
too
.
Now
,
would
it
be
possible
for
her
to
change
them
?
Though
he
was
soon
satisfied
that
he
had
dismissed
the
idea
as
romantic
and
unlikely
—
though
possible
,
there
was
no
denying
—
he
could
not
help
pursuing
it
so
far
as
to
entertain
within
himself
a
picture
of
what
his
condition
would
be
,
if
he
should
discover
such
an
imposture
when
he
was
grown
old
.
Whether
a
man
so
situated
,
would
be
able
to
pluck
away
the
result
of
so
many
years
of
usage
,
confidence
,
and
belief
,
from
the
impostor
,
and
endow
a
stranger
with
it
?
As
his
unusual
emotion
subsided
,
these
misgivings
gradually
melted
away
,
though
so
much
of
their
shadow
remained
behind
,
that
he
was
constant
in
his
resolution
to
look
closely
after
Richards
himself
,
without
appearing
to
do
so
.
Being
now
in
an
easier
frame
of
mind
,
he
regarded
the
woman
's
station
as
rather
an
advantageous
circumstance
than
otherwise
,
by
placing
,
in
itself
,
a
broad
distance
between
her
and
the
child
,
and
rendering
their
separation
easy
and
natural
.
Meanwhile
terms
were
ratified
and
agreed
upon
between
Mrs.
Chick
and
Richards
,
with
the
assistance
of
Miss
Tox
;
and
Richards
being
with
much
ceremony
invested
with
the
Dombey
baby
,
as
if
it
were
an
Order
,
resigned
her
own
,
with
many
tears
and
kisses
,
to
Jemima
.
Glasses
of
wine
were
then
produced
,
to
sustain
the
drooping
spirits
of
the
family
.
`
You
'll
take
a
glass
yourself
,
Sir
,
wo
n't
you
?
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
as
Toodle
appeared
.
`
Thankee
,
Mum
,
´
said
Toodle
,
`
since
you
are
suppressing
.
´
`
And
you
're
very
glad
to
leave
your
dear
good
wife
in
such
a
comfortable
home
,
ai
n't
you
,
Sir
?
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
nodding
and
winking
at
him
stealthily
.
`
No
,
Mum
,
´
said
Toodle
.
`
Here
's
wishing
of
her
back
agin
.
´
Polly
cried
more
than
ever
at
this
.
So
Mrs.
Chick
,
who
had
her
matronly
apprehensions
that
this
indulgence
in
grief
might
be
prejudicial
to
the
little
Dombey
(
`
acid
,
indeed
,
´
she
whispered
Miss
Tox
)
,
hastened
to
the
rescue
.
`
Your
little
child
will
thrive
charmingly
with
your
sister
Jemima
,
Richards
,
'
said
Mrs.
Chick
;
`
and
you
have
only
to
make
an
effort
—
this
is
a
world
of
effort
,
you
know
,
Richards
—
to
be
very
happy
indeed
.
You
have
been
already
measured
for
your
mourning
,
have
n't
you
,
Richards
?
´
`
Ye
—
es
,
Ma'am
,
´
sobbed
Polly
.
`
And
it
'll
fit
beautifully
.
I
know
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
`
for
the
same
young
person
has
made
me
many
dresses
.
The
very
best
materials
,
too
!
´
`
Lor
,
you
'll
be
so
smart
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
that
your
husband
wo
n't
know
you
;
will
you
,
Sir
?
´
`
I
should
know
her
,
´
said
Toodle
,
gruffly
,
`
anyhows
and
anywheres
.
´
Toodle
was
evidently
not
to
be
bought
over
.
`
As
to
living
,
Richards
,
you
know
,
´
pursued
Mrs.
Chick
,
`
why
the
very
best
of
everything
will
be
at
your
disposal
.
You
will
order
your
little
dinner
every
day
;
and
anything
you
take
a
fancy
to
,
I
'm
sure
will
be
as
readily
provided
as
if
you
were
a
Lady
.
´
`
Yes
,
to
be
sure
!
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
keeping
up
the
ball
with
great
sympathy
.
`
And
as
to
porter
!
—
quite
unlimited
,
will
it
not
,
Louisa
?
´
`
Oh
,
certainly
!
´
returned
Mrs.
Chick
in
the
same
tone
.
`
With
a
little
abstinence
,
you
know
,
my
dear
,
in
point
of
vegetables
.
´
`
And
pickles
,
perhaps
,
´
suggested
Miss
Tox
.
`
With
such
exceptions
,
´
said
Louisa
,
`
she
'll
consult
her
choice
entirely
,
and
be
under
no
restraint
at
all
,
my
love
.
´
`
And
then
,
of
course
,
you
know
,
´
said
Miss
Tox
,
`
however
fond
she
is
of
her
own
dear
little
child
—
and
I
'm
sure
,
Louisa
,
you
do
n't
blame
her
for
being
fond
of
it
?
´
`
Oh
no
!
´
cried
Mrs.
Chick
,
benignantly
.
`
Still
,
´
resumed
Miss
Tox
,
`
she
naturally
must
be
interested
in
her
young
charge
,
and
must
consider
it
a
privilege
to
see
a
little
cherub
closely
connected
with
the
superior
classes
,
gradually
unfolding
itself
from
day
to
day
at
one
common
fountain
.
Is
it
not
so
,
Louisa
?
´
`
Most
undoubtedly
!
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
.
`
You
see
,
my
love
,
she
's
already
quite
contented
and
comfortable
,
and
means
to
say
good-bye
to
her
sister
Jemima
and
her
little
pets
,
and
her
good
honest
husband
,
with
a
light
heart
and
a
smile
;
do
n't
she
,
my
dear
!
´
`
Oh
yes
!
´
cried
Miss
Tox
.
`
To
be
sure
she
does
!
´
Notwithstanding
which
,
however
,
poor
Polly
embraced
them
all
round
in
great
distress
,
and
finally
ran
away
