manya
tear
of
blighted
hope
,
Florence
bestowed
upon
the
assurance
her
new
mama
had
given
her
so
strongly
,
that
there
was
no
one
on
the
earth
more
powerless
than
herself
to
teach
her
how
to
win
her
father
's
heart
.
And
soon
Florence
began
to
think
—
resolved
to
think
would
be
the
truer
phrase
—
that
as
no
one
knew
so
well
,
how
hopeless
of
being
subdued
or
changed
her
father
's
coldness
to
her
was
,
so
she
had
given
her
this
warning
,
and
forbidden
the
subject
in
very
compassion
.
Unselfish
here
,
as
in
her
every
act
and
fancy
,
Florence
preferred
to
bear
the
pain
of
this
new
wound
,
rather
than
encourage
any
faint
foreshadowings
of
the
truth
as
it
concerned
her
father
;
tender
of
him
,
even
in
her
wandering
thoughts
.
As
for
his
home
,
she
hoped
it
would
become
a
better
one
,
when
its
state
of
novelty
and
transition
should
be
over
;
and
for
herself
,
thought
little
and
lamented
less
.
If
none
of
the
new
family
were
particularly
at
home
in
private
,
it
was
resolved
that
Mrs.
Dombey
at
least
should
be
at
home
in
public
,
without
delay
.
A
series
of
entertainments
in
celebration
of
the
late
nuptials
,
and
in
cultivation
of
society
,
were
arranged
,
chiefly
by
Mr.
Dombey
and
Mrs.
Skewton
;
and
it
was
settled
that
the
festive
proceedings
should
commence
by
Mrs.
Dombey
's
being
at
home
upon
a
certain
evening
,
and
by
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Dombey
's
requesting
the
honour
of
the
company
of
a
great
many
incongruous
people
to
dinner
on
the
same
day
.
Accordingly
,
Mr.
Dombey
produced
a
list
of
sundry
eastern
magnates
who
were
to
be
bidden
to
this
feast
on
his
behalf
;
to
which
Mrs.
Skewton
,
acting
for
her
dearest
child
,
who
was
haughtily
careless
on
the
subject
,
subjoined
a
western
list
,
comprising
Cousin
Feenix
,
not
yet
returned
to
Baden-Baden
,
greatly
to
the
detriment
of
his
personal
estate
;
and
a
variety
of
moths
of
various
degrees
and
ages
,
who
had
,
at
various
times
,
fluttered
round
the
light
of
her
fair
daughter
,
or
herself
,
without
any
lasting
injury
to
their
wings
.
Florence
was
enrolled
as
a
member
of
the
dinner-party
,
by
Edith
's
command
—
elicited
by
a
moment
's
doubt
and
hesitation
on
the
part
of
Mrs.
Skewton
;
and
Florence
,
with
a
wondering
heart
,
and
with
a
quick
instinctive
sense
of
everything
that
grated
on
her
father
in
the
least
,
took
her
silent
share
in
the
proceedings
of
the
day
.
The
proceedings
commenced
by
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
a
cravat
of
extraordinary
height
and
stiffness
,
walking
restlessly
about
the
drawing-room
until
the
hour
appointed
for
dinner
;
punctual
to
which
,
an
East
India
Director
,
of
immense
wealth
,
in
a
waistcoat
apparently
constructed
in
serviceable
deal
by
some
plain
carpenter
,
but
really
engendered
in
the
tailor
's
art
,
and
composed
of
the
material
called
nankeen
,
arrived
and
was
received
by
Mr.
Dombey
alone
.
The
next
stage
of
the
proceedings
was
Mr.
Dombey
's
sending
his
compliments
to
Mrs.
Dombey
,
with
a
correct
statement
of
the
time
;
and
the
next
,
the
East
India
Director
's
falling
prostrate
,
in
a
conversational
point
of
view
,
and
as
Mr.
Dombey
was
not
the
man
to
pick
him
up
,
staring
at
the
fire
until
rescue
appeared
in
the
person
of
Mrs.
Skewton
;
whom
the
director
,
as
a
pleasant
start
in
life
for
the
evening
,
mistook
for
Mrs.
Dombey
,
and
greeted
with
enthusiasm
.
The
next
arrival
was
a
Bank
Director
,
reputed
to
be
able
to
buy
up
anything
—
human
Nature
generally
,
if
he
should
take
it
in
his
head
to
influence
the
money
market
in
that
direction
—
but
who
was
a
wonderfully
modest-spoken
man
,
almost
boastfully
so
,
and
mentioned
his
`
little
place
´
at
Kingston-uponThames
,
and
its
just
being
barely
equal
to
giving
Dombey
a
bed
and
a
chop
,
if
he
would
come
and
visit
it
.
Ladies
,
he
said
,
it
was
not
for
a
man
who
lived
in
his
quiet
way
to
take
upon
himself
to
invite
—
but
if
Mrs.
Skewton
and
her
daughter
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
should
ever
find
themselves
in
that
direction
,
and
would
do
him
the
honour
to
look
at
a
little
bit
of
a
shrubbery
they
would
find
there
,
and
a
poor
little
flower-bed
or
so
,
and
a
humble
apology
for
a
pinery
,
and
two
or
three
little
attempts
of
that
sort
without
any
pretension
,
they
would
distinguish
him
very
much
.
Carrying
out
his
character
,
this
gentleman
was
very
plainly
dressed
,
in
a
wisp
of
cambric
for
a
neckcloth
,
big
shoes
,
a
coat
that
was
too
loose
for
him
,
and
a
pair
of
trousers
that
were
too
spare
;
and
mention
being
made
of
the
Opera
by
Mrs.
Skewton
,
he
said
he
very
seldom
went
there
,
for
he
could
n't
afford
it
.
It
seemed
greatly
to
delight
and
exhilarate
him
to
say
so
:
and
he
beamed
on
his
audience
afterwards
,
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
,
and
excessive
satisfaction
twinkling
in
his
eyes
.
Now
Mrs.
Dombey
appeared
,
beautiful
and
proud
,
and
as
disdainful
and
defiant
to
them
all
as
if
the
bridal
wreath
upon
her
head
had
been
a
garland
of
steel
spikes
put
on
to
force
concession
from
her
which
she
would
die
sooner
than
yield
.
With
her
was
Florence
.
When
they
entered
together
,
the
shadow
of
the
night
of
the
return
again
darkened
Mr.
Dombey
's
face
.
But
unobserved
:
for
Florence
did
not
venture
to
raise
her
eyes
to
his
,
and
Edith
's
indifference
was
too
supreme
to
take
the
least
heed
of
him
.
The
arrivals
quickly
became
numerous
.
More
directors
,
chairmen
of
public
companies
,
elderly
ladies
carrying
burdens
on
their
heads
for
full
dress
,
Cousin
Feenix
,
Major
Bagstock
,
friends
of
Mrs.
Skewton
,
with
the
same
bright
bloom
on
their
complexion
,
and
very
precious
necklaces
on
very
withered
necks
.
Among
these
,
a
young
lady
of
sixty-five
,
remarkably
coolly
dressed
as
to
her
back
and
shoulders
,
who
spoke
with
an
engaging
lisp
,
and
whose
eyelids
would
n't
keep
up
well
,
without
a
great
deal
of
trouble
on
her
part
,
and
whose
manners
had
that
indefinable
charm
which
so
frequently
attaches
to
the
giddiness
of
youth
.
As
the
greater
part
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
list
were
disposed
to
be
taciturn
,
and
the
greater
part
of
Mrs.
Dombey
's
list
were
disposed
to
be
talkative
,
and
there
was
no
sympathy
between
them
,
Mrs.
Dombey
's
list
,
by
magnetic
agreement
,
entered
into
a
bond
of
union
against
Mr.
Dombey
's
list
,
who
,
wandering
about
the
rooms
in
a
desolate
manner
,
or
seeking
refuge
in
corners
,
entangled
themselves
with
company
coming
in
,
and
became
barricaded
behind
sofas
,
and
had
doors
opened
smartly
from
without
against
their
heads
,
and
under
went
every
sort
of
discomfiture
.
When
dinner
was
announced
,
Mr.
Dombey
took
down
an
old
lady
like
a
crimson
velvet
pincushion
stuffed
with
bank
notes
,
who
might
have
been
the
identical
old
lady
of
Threadneedle
Street
,
she
was
so
rich
,
and
looked
so
unaccommodating
;
Cousin
Feenix
took
down
Mrs.
Dombey
;
Major
Bagstock
took
down
Mrs.
Skewton
;
the
young
thing
with
the
shoulders
was
bestowed
,
as
an
extinguisher
,
upon
the
East
India
Director
;
and
the
remaining
ladies
were
left
on
view
in
the
drawing-room
by
remaining
gentlemen
,
until
a
forlorn
hope
volunteered
to
conduct
them
downstairs
,
and
those
brave
spirits
with
their
captives
blocked
up
the
dining-room
door
,
shutting
out
seven
mild
men
in
the
stony-hearted
hall
.
When
all
the
rest
were
got
in
and
were
seated
,
one
of
these
mild
men
still
appeared
,
in
smiling
confusion
,
totally
destitute
and
unprovided
for
,
and
escorted
by
the
butler
,
made
the
complete
circuit
of
the
table
twice
before
his
chair
could
be
found
,
which
it
finally
was
,
on
Mrs.
Dombey
's
left
hand
;
after
which
the
mild
man
never
held
up
his
head
again
.
Now
,
the
spacious
dining-room
,
with
the
company
seated
round
the
glittering
table
,
busy
with
their
glittering
spoons
,
and
knives
and
forks
,
and
plates
,
might
have
been
taken
for
a
grown-up
exposition
of
Tom
Tiddler
's
ground
,
where
children
pick
up
gold
and
silver
.
Mr.
Dombey
,
as
Tiddler
,
looked
his
character
to
admiration
;
and
the
long
plateau
of
precious
metal
frosted
,
separating
him
from
Mrs.
Dombey
,
whereon
frosted
Cupids
offered
scentless
flowers
to
each
of
them
,
was
allegorical
to
see
.
Cousin
Feenix
was
in
great
force
,
and
looked
astonishingly
young
.
But
he
was
sometimes
thoughtless
in
his
good
humour
—
his
memory
occasionally
wandering
like
his
legs
—
and
on
this
occasion
caused
the
company
to
shudder
.
It
happened
thus
.
The
young
lady
with
the
back
,
who
regarded
Cousin
Feenix
with
sentiments
of
tenderness
,
had
entrapped
the
East
India
Director
into
leading
her
to
the
Chair
next
him
;
in
return
for
which
good
office
,
she
immediately
abandoned
the
Director
,
who
,
being
shaded
on
the
other
side
by
a
gloomy
black
velvet
hat
surmounting
a
bony
and
speechless
female
with
a
fan
,
yielded
to
a
depression
of
spirits
and
withdrew
into
himself
.
Cousin
Feenix
and
the
young
lady
were
very
lively
and
humorous
,
and
the
young
lady
laughed
so
much
at
something
Cousin
Feenix
related
to
her
,
that
Major
Bagstock
begged
leave
to
inquire
on
behalf
of
Mrs.
Skewton
(
they
were
sitting
opposite
,
a
little
lower
down
)
,
whether
that
might
not
be
considered
public
property
.
`
Why
,
upon
my
life
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
there
's
nothing
in
it
;
it
really
is
not
worth
repeating
;
in
point
of
fact
,
it
's
merely
an
anecdote
of
Jack
Adams
.
I
dare
say
my
friend
Dombey
;
´
for
the
general
attention
was
concentrated
on
Cousin
Feenix
;
`
may
remember
Jack
Adams
,
Jack
Adams
,
not
Joe
;
that
was
his
brother
.
Jack
—
little
Jack
—
man
with
a
cast
in
his
eye
,
and
slight
impediment
in
his
speech
—
man
who
sat
for
somebody
's
borough
.
We
used
to
call
him
in
my
parliamentary
time
W
.
P.
Adams
,
in
consequence
of
his
being
Warming
Pan
for
a
young
fellow
who
was
in
his
minority
.
Perhaps
my
friend
Dombey
may
have
known
the
man
?
´
Mr.
Dombey
,
who
was
as
likely
to
have
known
Guy
Fawkes
,
replied
in
the
negative
.
But
one
of
the
seven
mild
men
unexpectedly
leaped
into
distinction
,
by
saying
he
had
known
him
,
and
adding
—
`
always
wore
Hessian
boots
!
´
`
Exactly
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
bending
forward
to
see
the
mild
man
,
and
smile
encouragement
at
his
down
the
table
.
`
That
was
Jack
.
Joe
wore
—
´
`
Tops
!
´
cried
the
mild
man
,
rising
in
public
estimation
every
instant
.
`
Of
course
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
`
you
were
intimate
with
'
em
?
´
`
I
knew
them
both
,
´
said
the
mild
man
.
With
whom
Mr.
Dombey
immediately
took
wine
.
`
Devilish
good
fellow
,
Jack
!
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
again
bending
forward
,
and
smiling
.
`
Excellent
,
´
returned
the
mild
man
,
becoming
bold
on
his
success
.
`
One
of
the
best
fellows
I
ever
knew
.
´
`
No
doubt
you
have
heard
the
story
?
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
.
`
I
shall
know
,
´
replied
the
bold
mild
man
,
`
when
I
have
heard
your
Ludship
tell
it
.
´
With
that
,
he
leaned
back
in
his
chair
and
smiled
at
the
ceiling
,
as
knowing
it
by
heart
,
and
being
already
tickled
.
`
In
point
of
fact
,
it
's
nothing
of
a
story
in
itself
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
,
addressing
the
table
with
a
smile
,
and
a
gay
shake
of
his
head
,
`
and
not
worth
a
word
of
preface
.
But
it
's
illustrative
of
the
neatness
of
Jack
's
humour
.
The
fact
is
,
that
Jack
was
invited
down
to
a
marriage
—
which
I
think
took
place
in
Barkshire
?
´
`
Shropshire
,
´
said
the
bold
mild
man
,
finding
himself
appealed
to
.
`
Was
it
?
Well
!
In
point
of
fact
it
might
have
been
in
any
shire
,
´
said
Cousin
Feenix
.
`
So
my
friend
being
invited
down
to
this
marriage
in
Anyshire
,
´
with
a
pleasant
sense
of
the
readiness
of
this
joke
,
`
goes
.
Just
as
some
of
us
,
having
had
the
honour
of
being
invited
to
the
marriage
of
my
lovely
and
accomplished
relative
with
my
friend
Dombey
,
did
n't
require
to
be
asked
twice
,
and
were
devilish
glad
to
be
present
on
so
interesting
an
occasion
.
—
Goes
—
Jack
goes
.
Now
,
this
marriage
was
,
in
point
of
fact
,
the
marriage
of
an
uncommonly
fine
girl
with
a
man
for
whom
she
did
n't
care
a
button
,
but
whom
she
accepted
on
account
of
his
property
,
which
was
immense
.
When
Jack
returned
to
town
,
after
the
nuptials
,
a
man
he
knew
,
meeting
him
in
the
lobby
of
the
House
of
Commons
,
says
,
´
“
Well
,
Jack
,
how
are
the
ill-matched
couple
?
”
“
Illmatched
,
”
says
Jack
.
“
Not
at
all
.
It
's
a
perfectly
fair
and
equal
transaction
.
She
is
regularly
bought
,
and
you
may
take
your
oath
he
is
as
regularly
sold
!
”
´
In
his
full
enjoyment
of
this
culminating
point
of
his
story
,
the
shudder
,
which
had
gone
all
round
the
table
like
an
electric
spark
,
struck
Cousin
Feenix
,
and
he
stopped
.
Not
a
smile
occasioned
by
the
only
general
topic
of
conversation
broached
that
day
,
appeared
on
any
face
.
A
profound
silence
ensued
;
and
the
wretched
mild
man
,
who
had
been
as
innocent
of
any
real
foreknowledge
of
the
story
as
the
child
unborn
,
had
the
exquisite
misery
of
reading
in
every
eye
that
he
was
regarded
as
the
prime
mover
of
the
mischief
.
Mr.
Dombey
's
face
was
a
changeful
one
,
and
being
cast
in
its
mould
of
state
that
day
,
showed
litter
other
apprehension
of
the
story
,
if
any
,
than
that
which
he
expressed
when
he
said
solemnly
,
amidst
the
silence
,
that
it
was
`
Very
good
.
'
There
was
a
rapid
glance
from
Edith
towards
Florence
,
but
otherwise
she
remained
,
externally
,
impassive
and
unconscious
.
Through
the
various
stages
of
rich
meats
and
wines
,
continual
gold
and
silver
,
dainties
of
earth
,
air
,
fire
,
and
water
,
heaped-up
fruits
,
and
that
unnecessary
article
in
Mr.
Dombey
's
banquets
—
ice
—
the
dinner
slowly
made
its
way
:
the
later
stages
being
achieved
to
the
sonorous
music
of
incessant
double
knocks
,
announcing
the
arrival
of
visitors
,
whose
portion
of
the
feast
was
limited
to
the
smell
thereof
.
When
Mrs.
Dombey
rose
,
it
was
a
sight
to
see
her
lord
,
with
stiff
throat
and
erect
head
,
hold
the
door
open
for
the
withdrawal
of
the
ladies
;
and
to
see
how
she
swept
past
him
with
his
daughter
on
her
arm
.
Mr.
Dombey
was
a
grave
sight
,
being
the
decanters
,
in
a
state
of
dignity
;
and
the
East
India
Director
was
a
forlorn
sight
near
the
unoccupied
end
of
the
table
,
in
a
state
of
solitude
;
and
the
Major
was
a
military
sight
,
relating
stories
of
the
Duke
of
York
to
six
of
the
seven
mild
men
(
the
ambitious
one
was
utterly
quenched
)
;
and
the
Bank
Director
was
a
lowly
sight
,
making
a
plan
of
his
little
attempt
at
a
pinery
,
with
dessertknives
,
for
a
group
of
admirers
;
and
Cousin
Feenix
was
a
thoughtful
sight
,
as
he
smoothed
his
long
wristbands
and
stealthily
adjusted
his
wig
.
But
all
these
sights
were
of
short
duration
,
being
speedily
broken
up
by
coffee
,
and
the
desertion
of
the
room
.
There
was
a
throng
in
the
state-rooms
upstairs
,
increasing
every
minute
;
but
still
Mr.
Dombey
's
list
of
visitors
appeared
to
have
some
native
impossibility
of
amalgamation
with
Mrs.
Dombey
's
list
,
and
no
one
could
have
doubted
which
was
which
.
The
single
exception
to
this
rule
perhaps
was
Mr.
Carker
,
who
now
smiled
among
the
company
,
and
who
,
as
he
stood
in
the
circle
that
was
gathered
about
Mrs.
Dombey
—
watchful
of
her
,
of
them
,
his
chief
,
Cleopatra
and
the
Major
,
Florence
,
and
everything
around
—
appeared
at
ease
with
both
divisions
of
guests
,
and
not
marked
as
exclusively
belonging
to
either
.
Florence
had
a
dread
of
him
,
which
made
his
presence
in
the
room
a
nightmare
to
her
.
She
could
not
avoid
the
recollection
of
it
,
for
her
eyes
were
drawn
towards
him
every
now
and
then
,
by
an
attraction
of
dislike
and
distrust
that
she
could
not
resist
.
Yet
her
thoughts
were
busy
with
other
things
;
for
as
she
sat
apart
—
not
unadmired
or
unsought
,
but
in
the
gentleness
of
her
quiet
spirit
—
she
felt
how
little
part
her
father
had
in
what
was
going
on
,
and
saw
,
with
pain
,
how
ill
at
ease
he
seemed
to
be
,
and
how
little
regarded
he
was
as
he
lingered
about
near
the
door
,
for
those
visitors
whom
he
wished
to
distinguish
with
particular
attention
,
and
took
them
up
to
introduce
them
to
his
wife
,
who
received
them
with
proud
coldness
,
but
showed
no
interest
or
wish
to
please
,
and
never
,
after
the
bare
ceremony
of
reception
,
in
consultation
of
his
wishes
,
or
in
welcome
of
his
friends
,
opened
her
lips
.
It
was
not
the
less
perplexing
or
painful
to
Florence
,
that
she
who
acted
thus
,
treated
her
so
kindly
and
with
such
loving
consideration
,
that
it
almost
seemed
an
ungrateful
return
on
her
part
even
to
know
of
what
was
passing
before
her
eyes
.
Happy
Florence
would
have
been
,
might
she
have
ventured
to
bear
her
father
company
,
by
so
much
as
a
look
:
and
happy
Florence
was
,
in
little
suspecting
the
main
cause
of
his
uneasiness
.
But
afraid
of
seeming
to
know
that
he
was
placed
at
any
disadvantage
,
lest
he
should
be
resentful
of
that
knowledge
;
and
divided
between
her
impulse
towards
him
,
and
her
grateful
affection
for
Edith
;
she
scarcely
dared
to
raise
her
eyes
towards
either
.
Anxious
and
unhappy
for
them
both
,
the
thought
stole
on
her
through
the
crowd
,
that
it
might
have
been
better
for
them
if
this
noise
of
tongues
and
tread
of
feet
had
never
come
there
,
—
if
the
old
dulness
and
decay
had
never
been
replaced
by
novelty
and
splendour
,
—
if
the
neglected
child
had
found
no
friend
in
Edith
,
but
had
lived
her
solitary
life
,
unpitied
and
forgotten
.
Mrs.
Chick
had
some
such
thoughts
too
,
but
they
were
not
so
quietly
developed
in
her
mind
.
This
good
matron
had
been
outraged
in
the
first
instance
by
not
receiving
an
invitation
to
dinner
.
That
blow
partially
recovered
,
she
had
gone
to
a
vast
expense
to
make
such
a
figure
before
Mrs.
Dombey
at
home
,
as
should
dazzle
the
senses
of
that
lady
,
and
heap
mortification
,
mountains
high
,
on
the
head
of
Mrs.
Skewton
.
`
But
I
am
made
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
to
Mr.
Chick
,
`
of
no
more
account
than
Florence
!
Who
takes
the
smallest
notice
of
me
?
No
one
!
´
`
No
one
,
my
dear
,
´
assented
Mr.
Chick
,
who
was
seated
by
the
side
of
Mrs.
Chick
against
the
wall
,
and
could
console
himself
,
even
there
,
by
softly
whistling
.
`
Does
it
at
all
appear
as
if
I
was
wanted
here
?
´
exclaimed
Mrs.
Chick
,
with
flashing
eyes
.
`
No
,
my
dear
,
I
do
n't
think
it
does
,
´
said
Mr.
Chick
.
`
Paul
's
mad
!
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
.
Mr.
Chick
whistled
.
`
Unless
you
are
a
monster
,
which
I
sometimes
think
you
are
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
with
candour
,
`
do
n't
sit
there
humming
tunes
.
How
any
one
with
the
most
distant
feelings
of
a
man
,
can
see
that
mother-in-law
of
Paul
's
,
dressed
as
she
is
,
going
on
like
that
,
with
Major
Bagstock
,
for
whom
,
among
other
precious
things
,
we
are
indebted
to
your
Lucretia
Tox
—
´
`
My
Lucretia
Tox
,
my
dear
!
´
said
Mr.
Chick
,
astounded
.
`
Yes
,
´
retorted
Mrs.
Chick
,
with
great
severity
,
`
your
Lucretia
Tox
—
I
say
how
anybody
can
see
that
mother-in-law
of
Paul
's
,
and
that
haughty
wife
of
Paul
's
,
and
these
indecent
old
frights
with
their
backs
and
shoulders
,
and
in
short
this
at
home
generally
,
and
hum
—
,
´
on
which
word
Mrs.
Chick
laid
a
scornful
emphasis
that
made
Mr.
Chick
start
,
`
is
,
I
thank
Heaven
,
a
mystery
to
me
!
´
Mr.
Chick
screwed
his
mouth
into
a
form
irreconcilable
with
humming
or
whistling
,
and
looked
very
contemplative
.
`
But
I
hope
I
know
what
is
due
to
myself
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
swelling
with
indignation
,
`
though
Paul
has
forgotten
what
is
due
to
me
.
I
am
not
going
to
sit
here
,
a
member
of
this
family
,
to
be
taken
no
notice
of
.
I
am
not
the
dirt
under
Mrs.
Dombey
's
feet
,
yet
—
not
quite
yet
,
´
said
Mrs.
Chick
,
as
if
she
expected
to
become
so
,
about
the
day
after
to-morrow
.
`
And
I
shall
go
.
I
will
not
say
(
whatever
I
may
think
)
that
this
affair
has
been
got
up
solely
to
degrade
and
insult
me
.
I
shall
merely
go
.
I
shall
not
be
missed
!
´
Mrs.
Chick
rose
erect
with
these
words
,
and
took
the
arm
of
Mr.
Chick
,
who
escorted
her
from
the
room
,
after
half
an
hour
's
shady
sojourn
there
.
And
it
is
due
to
her
penetration
to
observe
that
she
certainly
was
not
missed
at
all
.
But
she
was
not
the
only
indignant
guest
;
for
Mr.
Dombey
's
list
(
still
constantly
in
difficulties
)
were
,
as
a
body
,
indignant
with
Mrs.
Dombey
's
list
for
looking
at
them
through
eyeglasses
,
and
audibly
wondering
who
all
those
people
were
;
while
Mrs.
Dombey
's
list
complained
of
weariness
,
and
the
young
thing
with
the
shoulders
,
deprived
of
the
attentions
of
that
gay
youth
Cousin
Feenix
(
who
went
away
from
the
dinnertable
)
,
confidentially
alleged
to
thirty
or
forty
friends
that
she
was
bored
to
death
.
All
the
old
ladies
with
the
burdens
on
their
heads
,
had
greater
or
less
cause
of
complaint
against
Mrs.
Dombey
;
and
the
Directors
and
Chairmen
coincided
in
thinking
that
if
Dombey
must
marry
,
he
had
better
have
married
somebody
nearer
his
own
age
,
not
quite
so
handsome
,
and
a
little
better
off
.
The
general
opinion
among
this
class
of
gentlemen
was
,
that
it
was
a
weak
thing
in
Dombey
,
and
he
'd
live
to
repent
it
.
Hardly
anybody
there
,
except
the
mild
men
,
stayed
,
or
went
away
,
without
considering
himself
or
herself
neglected
and
aggrieved
by
Mr.
Dombey
or
Mrs.
Dombey
;
and
the
speechless
female
in
the
black
velvet
hat
was
found
to
have
been
stricken
mute
,
because
the
lady
in
the
crimson
velvet
had
been
handed
down
before
her
.
The
nature
even
of
the
mild
men
got
corrupted
,
either
from
their
curdling
it
with
too
much
lemonade
,
or
from
the
general
inoculation
that
prevailed
;
and
they
made
sarcastic
jokes
to
one
another
,
and
whispered
disparagement
on
stairs
and
in
bye-places
.
The
general
dissatisfaction
and
discomfort
so
diffused
itself
,
that
the
assembled
footmen
in
the
hall
were
as
well
acquainted
with
it
as
the
company
above
.
Nay
,
the
very
linkmen
outside
got
hold
of
it
,
and
compared
the
party
to
a
funeral
out
of
mourning
,
with
none
of
the
company
remembered
in
the
will
.
At
last
,
the
guests
were
all
gone
,
and
the
linkmen
too
;
and
the
street
,
crowded
so
long
with
carriages
,
was
clear
;
and
the
dying
lights
showed
no
one
in
the
rooms
,
but
Mr.
Dombey
and
Mr.
Carker
,
who
were
talking
together
apart
,
and
Mrs.
Dombey
and
her
mother
:
the
former
seated
on
an
ottoman
;
the
latter
reclining
in
the
Cleopatra
attitude
,
awaiting
the
arrival
of
her
maid
.
Mr.
Dombey
having
finished
his
communication
to
Carker
,
the
latter
advanced
obsequiously
to
take
leave
.
`
I
trust
,
´
he
said
,
`
that
the
fatigues
of
this
delightful
evening
will
not
inconvenience
Mrs.
Dombey
to-morrow
.
´
`
Mrs.
Dombey
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
advancing
,
`
has
sufficiently
spared
herself
fatigue
,
to
relieve
you
from
any
anxiety
of
that
kind
.
I
regret
to
say
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
that
I
could
have
wished
you
had
fatigued
yourself
a
little
more
on
this
occasion
.
´
She
looked
at
him
with
a
supercilious
glance
,
that
it
seemed
not
worth
her
while
to
protract
,
and
turned
away
her
eyes
without
speaking
.
`
I
am
sorry
,
Madam
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
that
you
should
not
have
thought
it
your
duty
—
´
She
looked
at
him
again
.
`
Your
duty
,
Madam
,
´
pursued
Mr.
Dombey
,
`
to
have
received
my
friends
with
a
little
more
deference
.
Some
of
those
whom
you
have
been
pleased
to
slight
to-night
in
a
very
marked
manner
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
confer
a
distinction
upon
you
,
I
must
tell
you
,
in
any
visit
they
pay
you
.
´
`
Do
you
know
that
there
is
some
one
here
?
´
she
returned
,
now
looking
at
him
steadily
.
`
No
!
Carker
!
I
beg
that
you
do
not
.
I
insist
that
you
do
not
,
´
cried
Mr.
Dombey
,
stopping
that
noiseless
gentleman
in
his
withdrawal
.
`
Mr.
Carker
,
Madam
,
as
you
know
,
possesses
my
confidence
.
He
is
as
well
acquainted
as
myself
with
the
subject
on
which
I
speak
.
I
beg
to
tell
you
,
for
your
information
,
Mrs.
Dombey
,
that
I
consider
these
wealthy
and
important
persons
confer
a
distinction
upon
me
:
´
and
Mr.
Dombey
drew
himself
up
,
as
having
now
rendered
them
of
the
highest
possible
importance
.
`
I
ask
you
,
´
she
repeated
,
bending
her
disdainful
,
steady
gaze
upon
him
,
`
do
you
know
that
there
is
some
one
here
,
Sir
?
´
`
I
must
entreat
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
stepping
forward
,
`
I
must
beg
,
I
must
demand
,
to
be
released
.
Slight
and
unimportant
as
this
difference
is
—
´
Mrs.
Skewton
,
who
had
been
intent
upon
her
daughter
's
face
,
took
him
up
here
.
`
My
sweetest
Edith
,
´
she
said
,
`
and
my
dearest
Dombey
;
our
excellent
friend
Mr.
Carker
,
for
so
I
am
sure
I
ought
to
mention
him
—
´
Mr.
Carker
murmured
,
`
Too
much
honour
.
´
`
—
has
used
the
very
words
that
were
in
my
mind
,
and
that
I
have
been
dying
,
these
ages
,
for
an
opportunity
of
introducing
.
Slight
and
unimportant
!
My
sweetest
Edith
,
and
my
dearest
Dombey
,
do
we
not
know
that
any
difference
between
you
two
—
No
,
Flowers
;
not
now
.
´
Flowers
was
the
maid
,
who
,
finding
gentlemen
present
,
retreated
with
precipitation
.
`
That
any
difference
between
you
two
,
´
resumed
Mrs.
Skewton
,
`
with
the
Heart
you
possess
in
common
,
and
the
excessively
charming
bond
of
feeling
that
there
is
between
you
,
must
be
slight
and
unimportant
?
What
words
could
better
define
the
fact
?
None
.
Therefore
I
am
glad
to
take
this
slight
occasion
—
this
trifling
occasion
,
that
is
so
replete
with
Nature
,
and
your
individual
characters
,
and
all
that
—
so
truly
calculated
to
bring
the
tears
into
a
parent
's
eyes
—
to
say
that
I
attach
no
importance
to
them
in
the
least
,
except
as
developing
these
minor
elements
of
Soul
;
and
that
,
unlike
most
mamas-inlaw
(
that
odious
phrase
,
dear
Dombey
!
)
as
they
have
been
represented
to
me
to
exist
in
this
I
fear
too
artificial
world
,
I
never
shall
attempt
to
interpose
between
you
,
at
such
a
time
,
and
never
can
much
regret
,
after
all
,
such
little
flashes
of
the
torch
of
What's-his-name
—
not
Cupid
,
but
the
other
delightful
creature
.
´
There
was
a
sharpness
in
the
good
mother
's
glance
at
both
her
children
as
she
spoke
,
that
may
have
been
expressive
of
a
direct
and
well-considered
purpose
hidden
between
these
rambling
words
.
That
purpose
,
providently
to
detach
herself
in
the
beginning
from
all
the
clankings
of
their
chain
that
were
to
come
,
and
to
shelter
herself
with
the
fiction
of
her
innocent
belief
in
their
mutual
affection
,
and
their
adaptation
to
each
other
.
`
I
have
pointed
out
to
Mrs.
Dombey
,
´
said
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
his
most
stately
manner
,
`
that
in
her
conduct
thus
early
in
our
married
life
,
to
which
I
object
,
and
which
,
I
request
,
may
be
corrected
.
Carker
,
´
with
a
nod
of
dismissal
,
`
good
night
to
you
!
´
Mr.
Carker
bowed
to
the
imperious
form
of
the
Bride
,
whose
sparkling
eye
was
fixed
upon
her
husband
;
and
stopping
at
Cleopatra
's
couch
on
his
way
out
,
raised
to
his
lips
the
hand
she
graciously
extended
to
him
,
in
lowly
and
admiring
homage
.
If
his
handsome
wife
had
reproached
him
,
or
even
changed
countenance
,
or
broken
the
silence
in
which
she
remained
,
by
one
word
,
now
that
they
were
alone
(
for
Cleopatra
made
off
with
all
speed
)
,
Mr.
Dombey
would
have
been
equal
to
some
assertion
of
his
case
against
her
.
But
the
intense
,
unutterable
,
withering
scorn
,
with
which
,
after
looking
upon
him
,
she
dropped
her
eyes
,
as
if
he
were
too
worthless
and
indifferent
to
her
to
be
challenged
with
a
syllable
—
the
ineffable
disdain
and
haughtiness
in
which
she
sat
before
him
—
the
cold
inflexible
resolve
with
which
her
every
feature
seemed
to
bear
him
down
,
and
put
him
by
—
these
,
he
had
no
resource
against
;
and
he
left
her
,
with
her
whole
overbearing
beauty
concentrated
on
despising
him
.
Was
he
coward
enough
to
watch
her
,
an
hour
afterwards
,
on
the
old
well
staircase
,
where
he
had
once
seen
Florence
in
the
moonlight
,
toiling
up
with
Paul
?
Or
was
he
in
the
dark
by
accident
,
when
,
looking
up
,
he
saw
her
coming
,
with
a
light
,
from
the
room
where
Florence
lay
,
and
marked
again
the
face
so
changed
,
which
he
could
not
subdue
?
But
it
could
never
alter
as
his
own
did
.
It
never
,
in
its
utmost
pride
and
passion
,
knew
the
shadow
that
had
fallen
on
his
,
in
the
dark
corner
,
on
the
night
of
the
return
;
and
often
since
;
and
which
deepened
on
it
now
as
he
looked
up
.
CHAPTER
XXXVII
More
Warnings
than
One
FLORENCE
,
Edith
,
and
Mrs.
Skewton
were
together
next
day
,
and
the
carriage
was
waiting
at
the
door
to
take
them
out
.
For
Cleopatra
had
her
galley
again
now
,
and
Withers
,
no
longer
the
wan
,
stood
upright
in
a
pigeon-breasted
jacket
and
military
trousers
,
behind
her
wheel-less
chair
at
dinner-time
,
and
butted
no
more
.
The
hair
of
Withers
was
radiant
with
pomatum
,
in
these
days
of
down
,
and
he
wore
kid
gloves
and
smelt
of
the
water
of
Cologne
.
They
were
assembled
in
Cleopatra
's
room
.
The
Serpent
of
old
Nile
(
not
to
mention
her
disrespectfully
)
was
reposing
on
her
sofa
,
sipping
her
morning
chocolate
at
three
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
,
and
Flowers
the
Maid
was
fastening
on
her
youthful
cuffs
and
frills
,
and
performing
a
kind
of
private
coronation
ceremony
on
her
,
with
a
peach-coloured
velvet
bonnet
;
the
artificial
roses
in
which
nodded
to
uncommon
advantage
,
as
the
palsy
trifled
with
them
,
like
a
breeze
.
`
I
think
I
am
a
little
nervous
this
morning
,
Flowers
,
´
said
Mrs.
Skewton
.
`
My
hand
quite
shakes
.
´
`
You
were
the
life
of
the
party
last
night
,
Ma'am
,
you
know
,
´
returned
Flowers
,
`
and
you
suffer
for
it
,
to-day
,
you
see
.
´
Edith
,
who
had
beckoned
Florence
to
the
window
,
and
was
looking
out
,
with
her
back
turned
on
the
toilet
of
her
esteemed
mother
,
suddenly
withdrew
from
it
,
as
if
it
had
lightened
.
`
My
darling
child
,
´
cried
Cleopatra
,
languidly
,
`
you
are
not
nervous
?
Do
n't
tell
me
,
my
dear
Edith
,
that
you
,
so
enviably
self-possessed
,
are
beginning
to
be
a
martyr
too
,
like
your
unfortunately
constituted
mother
!
Withers
,
some
one
at
the
door
.
´
`
Card
,
Ma'am
,
´
said
Withers
,
taking
it
towards
Mrs.
Dombey
.
`
I
am
going
out
,
´
she
said
without
looking
at
it
.
`
My
dear
love
,
´
drawled
Mrs.
Skewton
,
`
how
very
odd
to
send
that
message
without
seeing
the
name
!
Bring
it
here
,
Withers
.
Dear
me
,
my
love
;
Mr.
Carker
,
too
!
That
very
sensible
person
!
´
`
I
am
going
out
,
´
repeated
Edith
,
in
so
imperious
a
tone
that
Withers
,
going
to
the
door
,
imperiously
informed
the
servant
who
was
waiting
,
`
Mrs.
Dombey
is
going
out
.
Get
along
with
you
,
´
and
shut
it
on
him
.
But
the
servant
came
back
after
a
short
absence
,
and
whispered
to
Withers
again
,
who
once
more
,
and
not
very
willingly
,
presented
himself
before
Mrs.
Dombey
.
`
If
you
please
,
Ma'am
,
Mr.
Carker
sends
his
respectful
compliments
,
and
begs
you
would
spare
him
one
minute
,
if
you
could
—
for
business
,
Ma'am
,
if
you
please
.
´
`
Really
,
my
love
,
´
said
Mrs.
Skewton
in
her
mildest
manner
;
for
her
daughter
's
face
was
threatening
;
`
if
you
would
allow
me
to
offer
a
word
,
I
should
recommend
—
´
`
Show
him
this
way
,
´
said
Edith
.
As
Withers
disappeared
to
execute
the
command
,
she
added
,
frowning
on
her
mother
,
`
As
he
comes
at
your
recommendation
,
let
him
come
to
your
room
.
´
`
May
I
—
shall
I
go
away
?
´
asked
Florence
,
hurriedly
.
Edith
nodded
yes
,
but
on
her
way
to
the
door
Florence
met
the
visitor
coming
in
.
With
the
same
disagreeable
mixture
of
familiarity
and
forbearance
with
which
he
had
first
addressed
her
,
he
addressed
her
now
in
his
softest
manner
—
hoped
she
was
quite
well
—
needed
not
to
ask
,
with
such
looks
to
anticipate
the
answer
—
had
scarcely
had
the
honour
to
know
her
,
last
night
,
she
was
so
greatly
changed
—
and
held
the
door
open
for
her
to
pass
out
;
with
a
secret
sense
of
power
in
her
shrinking
from
him
,
that
all
the
deference
and
politeness
of
his
manner
could
not
quite
conceal
.
He
then
bowed
himself
for
a
moment
over
Mrs.
Skewton
's
condescending
hand
,
and
lastly
bowed
to
Edith
.
Coldly
returning
his
salute
without
looking
at
him
,
and
neither
seating
herself
nor
inviting
him
to
be
seated
,
she
waited
for
him
to
speak
.
Entrenched
in
her
pride
and
power
,
and
with
all
the
obduracy
of
her
spirit
summoned
about
her
,
still
her
old
conviction
that
she
and
her
mother
had
been
known
by
this
man
in
their
worst
colours
,
from
their
first
acquaintance
;
that
every
degradation
she
had
suffered
in
her
own
eyes
was
plain
to
him
as
to
herself
;
that
he
read
her
life
as
though
it
were
a
vile
book
,
and
fluttered
the
leaves
before
her
in
slight
looks
and
tones
of
voice
which
no
one
else
could
detect
;
weakened
and
undermined
her
.
Proudly
as
she
opposed
herself
to
him
,
with
her
commanding
face
exacting
his
humility
,
her
disdainful
lip
repulsing
him
,
her
bosom
angry
at
his
intrusion
,
and
the
dark
lashes
of
her
eyes
sullenly
veiling
their
light
,
that
no
ray
of
it
might
shine
upon
him
—
and
submissively
as
he
stood
before
her
,
with
an
entreating
injured
manner
,
but
with
complete
submission
to
her
will
—
she
knew
,
in
her
own
soul
,
that
the
cases
were
reversed
,
and
that
the
triumph
and
superiority
were
his
,
and
that
he
knew
it
full
well
.
`
I
have
presumed
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
`
to
solicit
an
interview
,
and
I
have
ventured
to
describe
it
as
being
one
of
business
,
because
—
´
`
Perhaps
you
are
charged
by
Mr.
Dombey
with
some
message
of
reproof
,
´
said
Edith
.
`
You
possess
Mr.
Dombey
's
confidence
in
such
an
unusual
degree
,
Sir
,
that
you
would
scarcely
surprise
me
if
that
were
your
business
.
´
`
I
have
no
message
to
the
lady
who
sheds
a
lustre
upon
his
name
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
.
`
But
I
entreat
that
lady
,
on
my
own
behalf
,
to
be
just
to
a
very
humble
claimant
for
justice
at
her
hands
—
a
mere
dependant
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
—
which
is
a
position
of
humility
;
and
to
reflect
upon
my
perfect
helplessness
last
night
,
and
the
impossibility
of
my
avoiding
the
share
that
was
forced
upon
me
in
a
very
painful
occasion
.
´
`
My
dearest
Edith
,
´
hinted
Cleopatra
in
a
low
voice
,
as
she
held
her
eye-glass
aside
,
`
really
very
charming
of
Mr.
What'shis-name
.
And
full
of
heart
!
´
`
For
I
do
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
appealing
to
Mrs.
Skewton
with
a
look
of
grateful
deference
,
—
`
I
do
venture
to
call
it
a
painful
occasion
,
though
merely
because
it
was
so
to
me
,
who
had
the
misfortune
to
be
present
.
So
light
a
difference
,
as
between
the
principals
—
between
those
who
love
each
other
with
disinterested
devotion
,
and
would
make
any
sacrifice
of
self
,
in
such
a
cause
—
is
nothing
.
As
Mrs.
Skewton
herself
expressed
,
with
so
much
truth
and
feeling
last
night
,
it
is
nothing
.
´
Edith
could
not
look
at
him
,
but
she
said
after
a
few
moments
,
`
And
your
business
,
Sir
—
´
`
Edith
,
my
pet
,
´
said
Mrs.
Skewton
,
`
all
this
time
Mr.
Carker
is
standing
!
My
dear
Mr.
Carker
,
take
a
seat
,
I
beg
.
´
He
offered
no
reply
to
the
mother
,
but
fixed
his
eyes
on
the
proud
daughter
,
as
though
he
would
only
be
bidden
by
her
,
and
was
resolved
to
be
bidden
by
her
.
Edith
,
in
spite
of
herself
,
sat
down
,
and
slightly
motioned
with
her
hand
to
him
to
be
seated
too
.
No
action
could
be
colder
,
haughtier
,
more
insolent
in
its
air
of
supremacy
and
disrespect
,
but
she
had
struggled
against
even
that
concession
ineffectually
,
and
it
was
wrested
from
her
.
That
was
enough
!
Mr.
Carker
sat
down
.
`
May
I
be
allowed
,
Madam
,
´
said
Carker
,
turning
his
white
teeth
on
Mrs.
Skewton
like
a
light
—
`
a
lady
of
your
excellent
sense
and
quick
feeling
will
give
me
credit
,
for
good
reason
,
I
am
sure
—
to
address
what
I
have
to
say
,
to
Mrs.
Dombey
,
and
to
leave
her
to
impart
it
to
you
who
are
her
best
and
dearest
friend
—
next
to
Mr.
Dombey
?
´
Mrs.
Skewton
would
have
retired
,
but
Edith
stopped
her
.
Edith
would
have
stopped
him
too
,
and
indignantly
ordered
him
to
speak
openly
or
not
at
all
,
but
that
he
said
,
in
a
low
voice
—
`
Miss
Florence
—
the
young
lady
who
has
just
left
the
room
—
´
Edith
suffered
him
to
proceed
.
She
looked
at
him
now
.
As
he
bent
forward
,
to
be
nearer
,
with
the
utmost
show
of
delicacy
and
respect
,
and
with
his
teeth
persuasively
arrayed
,
in
a
selfdepreciating
smile
,
she
felt
as
if
she
could
have
struck
him
dead
.
`
Miss
Florence
's
position
,
´
he
began
,
`
has
been
an
unfortunate
one
.
I
have
a
difficulty
in
alluding
to
it
to
you
,
whose
attachment
to
her
father
is
naturally
watchful
and
jealous
of
every
word
that
applies
to
him
.
´
Always
distinct
and
soft
in
speech
,
no
language
could
describe
the
extent
of
his
distinctness
and
softness
,
when
he
said
these
words
,
or
came
to
any
others
of
a
similar
import
.
`
But
,
as
one
who
is
devoted
to
Mr.
Dombey
in
his
different
way
,
and
whose
life
is
passed
in
admiration
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
character
,
may
I
say
,
without
offence
to
your
tenderness
as
a
wife
,
that
Miss
Florence
has
unhappily
been
neglected
—
by
her
father
?
May
I
say
by
her
father
?
´
Edith
replied
,
`
I
know
it
.
´
`
You
know
it
!
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
with
a
great
appearance
of
relief
.
`
It
removes
a
mountain
from
my
breast
.
May
I
hope
you
know
how
the
neglect
originated
;
in
what
an
amiable
phase
of
Mr.
Dombey
's
pride
—
character
I
mean
?
´
`
You
may
pass
that
by
,
Sir
,
´
she
returned
,
`
and
come
the
sooner
to
the
end
of
what
you
have
to
say
.
´
`
Indeed
,
I
am
sensible
,
Madam
,
´
replied
Carker
,
—
`
trust
me
,
I
am
deeply
sensible
,
that
Mr.
Dombey
can
require
no
justification
in
anything
to
you
.
But
,
kindly
judge
of
my
breast
by
your
own
,
and
you
will
forgive
my
interest
in
him
,
if
in
its
excess
,
it
goes
at
all
astray
.
´
What
a
stab
to
her
proud
heart
,
to
sit
there
,
face
to
face
with
him
,
and
have
him
tendering
her
false
oath
at
the
altar
again
and
again
for
her
acceptance
,
and
pressing
it
upon
her
like
the
dregs
of
a
sickening
cup
she
could
not
own
her
loathing
of
,
or
turn
away
from
!
How
shame
,
remorse
,
and
passion
raged
within
her
,
when
,
upright
and
majestic
in
her
beauty
before
him
,
she
knew
that
in
her
spirit
she
was
down
at
his
feet
!
`
Miss
Florence
,
´
said
Carker
,
`
left
to
the
care
—
if
one
may
call
it
care
—
of
servants
and
mercenary
people
,
in
every
way
her
inferiors
,
necessarily
wanted
some
guide
and
compass
in
her
younger
days
,
and
,
naturally
,
for
want
of
them
,
has
been
indiscreet
,
and
has
in
some
degree
forgotten
her
station
.
There
was
some
folly
about
one
Walter
,
a
common
lad
,
who
is
fortunately
dead
now
:
and
some
very
undesirable
association
,
I
regret
to
say
,
with
certain
coasting
sailors
,
of
anything
but
good
repute
,
and
a
runaway
old
bankrupt
.
´
`
I
have
heard
the
circumstances
,
Sir
,
´
said
Edith
,
flashing
her
disdainful
glance
upon
him
,
`
and
I
know
that
you
pervert
them
.
You
may
not
know
it
,
I
hope
so
.
´
`
Pardon
me
,
´
said
Mr.
Carker
,
`
I
believe
that
nobody
knows
them
so
well
as
I
.
Your
generous
and
ardent
nature
,
Madam
—
the
same
nature
which
is
so
nobly
imperative
in
vindication
of
your
beloved
and
honoured
husband
,
and
which
has
blessed
him
as
even
his
merits
deserve
—
I
must
respect
,
defer
to
,
bow
before
.
But
,
as
regards
the
circumstances
,
which
is
indeed
the
business
I
presumed
to
solicit
your
attention
to
,
I
can
have
no
doubt
,
since
,
in
the
execution
of
my
trust
as
Mr.
Dombey
's
confidential
—
I
presume
to
say
—
friend
,
I
have
fully
ascertained
them
.
In
my
execution
of
that
trust
;
in
my
deep
concern
,
which
you
can
so
well
understand
,
for
everything
relating
to
him
,
intensified
,
if
you
will
(
for
I
fear
I
labour
under
your
displeasure
)
,
by
the
lower
motive
of
desire
to
prove
my
diligence
,
and
make
myself
the
more
acceptable
;
I
have
long
pursued
these
circumstances
by
myself
and
trustworthy
instruments
,
and
have
innumerable
and
most
minute
proofs
.
´
She
raised
her
eyes
no
higher
than
his
mouth
,
but
she
saw
the
means
of
mischief
vaunted
in
every
tooth
it
contained
.
`
Pardon
me
,
Madam
,
´
he
continued
,
`
if
in
my
perplexity
,
I
presume
to
take
counsel
with
you
,
and
to
consult
your
pleasure
.
I
think
I
have
observed
that
you
are
greatly
interested
in
Miss
Florence
?
´
What
was
there
in
her
he
had
not
observed
,
and
did
not
know
?
Humbled
and
yet
maddened
by
the
thought
,
in
every
new
presentment
of
it
,
however
faint
,
she
pressed
her
teeth
upon
her
quivering
lip
to
force
composure
on
it
,
and
distantly
inclined
her
head
in
reply
.
`
This
interest
,
Madam
—
so
touching
an
evidence
of
everything
associated
with
Mr.
Dombey
being
dear
to
you
—
induces
me
to
pause
before
I
make
him
acquainted
with
these
circumstances
,
which
,
as
yet
,
he
does
not
know
.
It
so
far
shakes
me
,
if
I
may
make
the
confession
,
in
my
allegiance
,
that
on
the
intimation
of
the
least
desire
to
that
effect
from
you
,
I
would
suppress
them
.
´
Edith
raised
her
head
quickly
,
and
starting
back
,
bent
her
dark
glance
upon
him
.
He
met
it
with
his
blandest
and
most
deferential
smile
,
and
went
on
.
`
You
say
that
as
I
describe
them
,
they
are
perverted
.
I
fear
not
—
I
fear
not
:
but
let
us
assume
that
they
are
.
The
uneasiness
I
have
for
some
time
felt
on
the
subject
,
arises
in
this
:
that
the
mere
circumstance
of
such
association
often
repeated
,
on
the
part
of
Miss
Florence
,
however
innocently
and
confidingly
,
would
be
conclusive
with
Mr.
Dombey
,
already
predisposed
against
her
,
and
would
lead
him
to
take
some
step
(
I
know
he
has
occasionally
contemplated
it
)
of
separation
and
alienation
of
her
from
his
home
.
Madam
,
bear
with
me
,
and
remember
my
intercourse
with
Mr.
Dombey
,
and
my
knowledge
of
him
,
and
my
reverence
for
him
,
almost
from
childhood
,
when
I
say
that
if
he
has
a
fault
,
it
is
a
lofty
stubbornness
,
rooted
in
that
noble
pride
and
sense
of
power
which
belong
to
him
,
and
which
we
must
all
defer
to
;
which
is
not
assailable
like
the
obstinacy
of
other
characters
;
and
which
grows
upon
itself
from
day
to
day
,
and
year
to
year
.
´
She
bent
her
glance
upon
him
still
;
but
,
look
as
steadfast
as
she
would
,
her
haughty
nostrils
dilated
,
and
her
breath
came
somewhat
deeper
,
and
her
lip
would
slightly
curl
,
as
he
described
that
in
his
patron
to
which
they
must
all
bow
down
.
He
saw
it
;
and
though
his
expression
did
not
change
,
she
knew
he
saw
it
.
`
Even
so
slight
an
incident
as
last
night
's
,
´
he
said
,
`
if
I
might
refer
to
it
once
more
,
would
serve
to
illustrate
my
meaning
,
better
than
a
greater
one
.
Dombey
and
Son
know
neither
time
,
nor
place
,
nor
season
,
but
bear
them
all
down
.
But
I
rejoice
in
its
occurrence
,
for
it
has
opened
the
way
for
me
to
approach
Mrs.
Dombey
with
this
subject
to-day
,
even
if
it
has
entailed
upon
me
the
penalty
of
her
temporary
displeasure
.
Madam
,
in
the
midst
of
my
uneasiness
and
apprehension
on
this
subject
,
I
was
summoned
by
Mr.
Dombey
to
Leamington
.
There
I
saw
you
.
There
I
could
not
help
knowing
what
relation
you
would
shortly
occupy
towards
him
—
to
his
enduring
happiness
and
yours
.
There
I
resolved
to
await
the
time
of
your
establishment
at
home
here
,
and
to
do
as
I
have
now
done
.
I
have
,
at
heart
,
no
fear
that
I
shall
be
wanting
in
my
duty
to
Mr.
Dombey
,
if
I
bury
what
I
know
in
your
breast
;
for
where
there
is
but
one
heart
and
mind
between
two
persons
—
as
in
such
a
marriage
—
one
almost
represents
the
other
.
I
can
acquit
my
conscience
therefore
,
almost
equally
,
by
confidence
,
on
such
a
theme
,
in
you
or
him
.
For
the
reasons
I
have
mentioned
I
would
select
you
.
May
I
aspire
to
the
distinction
of
believing
that
my
confidence
is
accepted
,
and
that
I
am
relieved
from
my
responsibility
?
´
He
long
remembered
the
look
she
gave
him
—
who
could
see
it
,
and
forget
it
?
—
and
the
struggle
that
ensued
within
her
.
At
last
she
said
:
`
I
accept
it
,
Sir
.
You
will
please
to
consider
this
matter
at
an
end
,
and
that
it
goes
no
farther
.
´
He
bowed
low
,
and
rose
.
She
rose
too
,
and
he
took
leave
with
all
humility
.
But
Withers
,
meeting
him
on
the
stairs
,
stood
amazed
at
the
beauty
of
his
teeth
,
and
at
his
brilliant
smile
;
and
as
he
rode
away
upon
his
white-legged
horse
,
the
people
took
him
for
a
dentist
,
such
was
the
dazzling
show
he
made
.
The
people
took
her
,
when
she
rode
out
in
her
carriage
presently
,
for
a
great
lady
,
as
happy
as
she
was
rich
and
fine
.
But
they
had
not
seen
her
,
just
before
,
in
her
own
room
with
no
one
by
;
and
they
had
not
heard
her
utterance
of
the
three
words
,
`
Oh
Florence
,
Florence
!
´
Mrs.
Skewton
,
reposing
on
her
sofa
,
and
sipping
her
chocolate
,
had
heard
nothing
but
the
low
word
business
,
for
which
she
had
a
mortal
aversion
,
insomuch
that
she
had
long
banished
it
from
her
vocabulary
,
and
had
gone
nigh
,
in
a
charming
manner
and
with
an
immense
amount
of
heart
,
to
say
nothing
of
soul
,
to
ruin
divers
milliners
and
others
in
consequence
.
Therefore
Mrs.
Skewton
asked
no
questions
,
and
showed
no
curiosity
.
Indeed
,
the
peach-velvet
bonnet
gave
her
sufficient
occupation
out
of
doors
;
for
being
perched
on
the
back
of
her
head
,
and
the
day
being
rather
windy
,
it
was
frantic
to
escape
from
Mrs.
Skewton
's
company
,
and
would
be
coaxed
into
no
sort
of
compromise
.
When
the
carriage
was
closed
,
and
the
wind
shut
out
,
the
palsy
played
among
the
artificial
roses
again
like
an
almshouse-full
of
superannuated
zephyrs
;
and
altogether
Mrs.
Skewton
had
enough
to
do
,
and
got
on
but
indifferently
.
She
got
on
no
better
towards
night
;
for
when
Mrs.
Dombey
,
in
her
dressing-room
,
had
been
dressed
and
waiting
for
her
half
an
hour
,
and
Mr.
Dombey
,
in
the
drawing-room
,
had
paraded
himself
into
a
state
of
solemn
fretfulness
(
they
were
all
three
going
out
to
dinner
)
,
Flowers
the
Maid
appeared
with
a
pale
face
to
Mrs.
Dombey
,
saying
:
`
If
you
please
,
Ma'am
,
I
beg
your
pardon
,
but
I
ca
n't
do
nothing
with
missis
!
´
`
What
do
you
mean
?
´
asked
Edith
.
`
Well
,
Ma'am
,
´
replied
the
frightened
maid
,
`
I
hardly
know
.
She
's
making
faces
!
´
Edith
hurried
with
her
to
her
mother
's
room
.
Cleopatra
was
arrayed
in
full
dress
,
with
the
diamonds
,
short
sleeves
,
rouge
,
curls
,
teeth
,
and
other
juvenility
all
complete
;
but
Paralysis
was
not
to
be
deceived
,
had
known
her
for
the
object
of
its
errand
,
and
had
struck
her
at
her
glass
,
where
she
lay
like
a
horrible
doll
that
had
tumbled
down
.
They
took
her
to
pieces
in
very
shame
,
and
put
the
little
of
her
that
was
real
on
a
bed
.
Doctors
were
sent
for
,
and
soon
came
.
Powerful
remedies
were
resorted
to
;
opinions
given
that
she
would
rally
from
this
shock
,
but
would
not
survive
another
;
and
there
she
lay
speechless
,
and
staring
at
the
ceiling
for
days
;
sometimes
making
inarticulate
sounds
in
answer
to
such
questions
as
did
she
know
who
were
present
,
and
the
like
:
sometimes
giving
no
reply
either
by
sign
or
gesture
,
or
in
her
unwinking
eyes
.
At
length
she
began
to
recover
consciousness
,
and
in
some
degree
the
power
of
motion
,
though
not
yet
of
speech
.
One
day
the
use
of
her
right
hand
returned
;
and
showing
it
to
her
maid
who
was
in
attendance
on
her
,
and
appearing
very
uneasy
in
her
mind
,
she
made
signs
for
a
pencil
and
some
paper
.
This
the
maid
immediately
provided
,
thinking
she
was
going
to
make
a
will
,
or
write
some
last
request
;
and
Mrs.
Dombey
being
from
home
,
the
maid
awaited
the
result
with
solemn
feelings
.
After
much
painful
scrawling
and
erasing
,
and
putting
in
of
wrong
characters
,
which
seemed
to
tumble
out
of
the
pencil
of
their
own
accord
,
the
old
woman
produced
this
document
:
`
Rose-coloured
curtains
.
´
The
maid
being
perfectly
transfixed
,
and
with
tolerable
reason
,
Cleopatra
amended
the
manuscript
by
adding
two
words
more
,
when
it
stood
thus
:
`
Rose-coloured
curtains
for
doctors
.
´
The
maid
now
perceived
remotely
that
she
wished
these
articles
to
be
provided
for
the
better
presentation
of
her
complexion
to
the
faculty
;
and
as
those
in
the
house
who
knew
her
best
,
had
no
doubt
of
the
correctness
of
this
opinion
,
which
she
was
soon
able
to
establish
for
herself
,
the
rose-coloured
curtains
were
added
to
her
bed
,
and
she
mended
with
increased
rapidity
from
that
hour
.
She
was
soon
able
to
sit
up
,
in
curls
and
a
laced
cap
and
night-gown
,
and
to
have
a
little
artificial
bloom
dropped
into
the
hollow
caverns
of
her
cheeks
.
It
was
a
tremendous
sight
to
see
this
old
woman
in
her
finery
leering
and
mincing
at
Death
,
and
playing
off
her
youthful
tricks
upon
him
as
if
he
had
been
the
Major
;
but
an
alteration
in
her
mind
that
ensued
on
the
paralytic
stroke
was
fraught
with
as
much
matter
for
reflection
,
and
was
quite
as
ghastly
.
Whether
the
weakening
of
her
intellect
made
her
more
cunning
and
false
than
before
,
or
whether
it
confused
her
between
what
she
had
assumed
to
be
and
what
she
really
had
been
,
or
whether
it
had
awakened
any
glimmering
of
remorse
,
which
could
neither
struggle
into
light
nor
get
back
into
total
darkness
,
or
whether
,
in
the
jumble
of
her
faculties
,
a
combination
of
these
effects
had
been
shaken
up
,
which
is
perhaps
the
more
likely
supposition
,
the
result
was
this
:
—
That
she
became
hugely
exacting
in
respect
of
Edith
's
affection
and
gratitude
and
attention
to
her
;
highly
laudatory
of
herself
as
a
most
inestimable
parent
;
and
very
jealous
of
having
any
rival
in
Edith
's
regard
.
Further
,
in
place
of
remembering
that
compact
made
between
them
for
an
avoidance
of
the
subject
,
she
constantly
alluded
to
her
daughter
's
marriage
as
a
proof
of
her
being
an
incomparable
