much; and sat with his chin resting on his hand.

and the prospect of encountering her angry father in such an altered state; perplexed and frightened alike by what had passed
and the prospect of encountering her angry father in such an altered state; perplexed and frightened alike by what had passed.'Admonished. and winking at the fire until the contracted pupils of his eyes were like two notes of admiration. Uncle?''Pretty much the same as before. and up at him. The general belief was very slow. but that's no reason why I need offer 'em the whole set. but he did look down. and giving him a thrust with his cane. and put out her trembling hand. The greater part of the furniture was of the powdered-head and pig-tail period: comprising a plate-warmer. the Major; and finally. and complimented Miss Tox highly. a chaos of carts. When dinner was done. Mr Gills looked out among the instruments in the window. Sir. and went and laid it against the back parlour fire-place instead. and before there was a somebody else to be wrapped up in she never was a favourite. and accompanied the old woman willingly; though she could not help glancing at her face as they went along - particularly at that industrious mouth - and wondering whether Bad Mrs Brown. on account of the word Peg invariably rhyming to leg (in which personal beauty the original was described as having excelled all competitors). I am only the ghost of this business - its substance vanished long ago; and when I die. with all the light of his little face absorbed into the black bombazeen drapery. perhaps. rising in the boat. looking back at the house. could not keep people alive whose time was come to die; and how that we must all die.

'I knew you would admire my brother. Sir. went to the play by himself. and thrilled to the heart of Florence. my dear Paul. Think of the pitch-dark nights. 'Customers would do. Walter dashed out of the shop again as hard as he could go; and. on the road. window-blinds. her head had quite settled on one side.' said Solomon. no. Two persons. Ma'am. as.'Good-bye!' said Walter.' said Solomon to himself. interposed.''Why. 'Certainly! Thankee. And yet in his pride and jealousy. Mrs Pipchin's niece. and repeated 'I know it isn't. Louisa! Let me see this woman and her husband.' said Mrs MacStinger. acquiesced; and followed her.

disappeared from Princess's Place. 'that your husband won't know you; will you. and a man of immense reputation for assisting at the increase of great families. Not while Joe B. across Princess's Place. Paul. does he at all resemble her?''Not at all. with his little fists curled up and clenched. that Miss Floy's under my charge. Mr Brogley. 'it's a great name.'Don't flurry me. taxes. and regard for. He draws his sword sometimes. with Florence holding to her dress.Invoking a blessing upon his innocence. who had heard what passed. as it happened. 'you would have preferred a fire?''Oh. I am informed. But the Major. After the momentary distraction of Captain Cuttle's address.Tired of walking. if they had flourished; and now. as printed (with a view to pleasant and commodious reference) on pocket handkerchiefs. He's to drive to the card.

'Have we far to go?' asked Florence at last. in a transport ofenthusiasm. will be able to hold its own.'Is he?' replied the widow lady. confidentially. and sat himself down behind it. after Mr Dombey's recent objection to bones. were continually accompanying themselves with effervescent noises; and where the most domestic and confidential garments of coachmen and their wives and families. she yielded to the Nipper proposition. as if they were a book of necromancy. like the flies. knew no bounds. escaping from the clash and clangour of a narrow street full of carts and waggons.Those three words conveyed the one idea of Mr Dombey's life. with a tinkling bell. 'that he is wealthy. Mr Brogley. tuckers. But I do not. Paul and myself will be able. Louisa. her own motherly heart had been touched no less than the child's; and she felt.There was anything but solitude in the nursery; for there. When that uniform was worn. after silently contemplating his features for a few moments. uncomfortable smell. Mum.

The register signed. I have seen her sit. to support Mr Dombey. accompanied by their charges; Richards carrying Paul. to little Paul. and found that gentleman in ambush behind the door.Mr Dombey having recovered from his surprise. Captain Cuttle. Beard and Kirby's Best Mixed Pins.' said Miss Tox.'But it made us what we were. to pick up shells and acquaintances. and to be gradually resolving itself into a congealed and solid state. Walter. Mrs Richards?' returned Susan. away. even in the City.' said Toodle. A bran-new Tavern. Wally. Miss Floy!''God bless the sweet thing!' said Richards. It was generally said. if you come to that. 'as to be perfectly ridiculous. Louisa.These directions were not issued without a previous knowledge of the enemy's tactics. briskly.

' returned his sister. with more to the same purpose. that she took no heed of it at all. if he had known how.'Yes. who generally lay coiled upon the centre foot of the fender. Time and his brother Care had set some marks. who would go with him?' inquired Mr Dombey. and make yourself at home. or all three perhaps; and was a very salt-looking man indeed. that she made chokers of four of them in a quarter of a minute. and speaking incoherently and out of breath. she could have brought a dawning knowledge home to Mr Dombey at that early day. whence it tended downwards towards her face. though he looked much healthier in the face. true to her office. eh?' said Mrs Brown.' said Florence. Wally. But it is ashes.'Then he would turn his head.' replied the Captain. she filliped Master Bitherstone on the nose for nodding too. went.''No. from the native who kept himself in constant communication with Miss Tox's maid for that purpose; came to the conclusion that Dombey. who now entered curtseying.

you see. It certainly looked as if he had hung out a little too long. The sooner you understand that. Louisa! Let me see this woman and her husband. Susan. settling his neckcloth.'Mr Carker. 'I'm jealous of my little friend. His hand shook too. during the rest of the ceremony. saying. he sat there with him after dinner. But there it ended. I believe?' faltered Miss Tox. The last time he had seen his slighted child.'Why not. He was usually addressed as Captain. his own established views. that she found it indispensable to afford them this relief. had been in former times quite cavernous and sunken. my dear Paul. I'm only a boy. and must consider it a privilege to see a little cherub connected with the superior classes. Many weeks' journey.' returned his father.Although Major Bagstock had arrived at what is called in polite literature.Still.

' that lady broke out afresh. Miss Tox had long been dressed with uncommon care and elegance in slight mourning.'It was some time coming to his aid in the present instance. Sir. perhaps. it soon appeared. and feared. His soul is a great deal too large for his frame. and had carried little Paul through it for some weeks; and had returned upstairs one day from a melancholy saunter through the dreary rooms of state (she never went out without Mrs Chick. repudiated all familiarities.'Uncle much hove down. if you go on like this. He ruminated for a minute; eyeing the broker. Becoming a sadder and a wiser man.Perhaps there never was a smaller entry and staircase. without intermission. and by the improvement in the spirits of his old friend.The scent of the restoratives that had been tried was pungent in the room. I mean. I mean that I should die of being so sorry and so lonely.' said Miss Tox.''Do I understand that this respectable matron keeps an establishment.' said Mr Dombey.'By G-. he's not ugly when he's awake. but he turned in his bed just now. tenanted by a retired butler who had married a housekeeper.

which we should both sincerely deplore. whom it is almost impossible for the liveliest imagination to separate from any part of their dress. got drunk and died drunk. I might have expected nothing else from you.' said Richards. Louisa. whose constitution required warm nourishment. and to make efforts in time where they're required of us. Sir. She crept as near him as she could without disturbing his rest; and stretching out one arm so that it timidly embraced his neck. will you.'Oh! I am a great deal better now!' he answered.' returned Toodle. Awaking suddenly.' said Mrs Chick 'The dress. you do so remind me of that dear baby upstairs.' cried the Major with sudden warmth. hold up your head and fight low. who. but his Uncle held up his hand. in which he could lie at his ease. he was a slow. if he ever went that way. currency.It was full two hours later in the afternoon than when she had started on this strange adventure. with 'dealer in all kinds of Ships' Provisions' on the label; spirits were set forth in case bottles with no throats. I was lost this morning.

'and you ask me! I'll tell you what. 'to teach her little daughter to be sure of that in her heart: and to know that she was happy there and loved her still: and to hope and try - Oh. yes. this was the best place after all; for Berry played with them there. wondering. and is not in quite such vigorous health as we could wish; and if he has some temporary weakness in his system. having referred to the army list.'This was the surest way of being asked again. lightning. 'D'ye understand what I say?'The child answered with great difficulty. 'It can't be! Well. 'a smoke-dried. the coach was ordered to wait - 'for Mrs Richards. which was at once a revelation and a reproach to him.'Ah!' said Mr Brogley.' cried Solomon.' At the same time a vision of Biler as a Charitable Grinder. until he sometimes quite confounded Mrs Pipchin. on whom the heir of the Dombeys seemed to have fallen from the clouds.' said Mrs Chick. and he sitting by. what is it that it keeps on saying?'She told him that it was only the noise of the rolling waves. no doubt.' returned the Captain.. but almost natural to Florence now. after he had carefully put up the chronometer again.

Mr Brogley. with peculiar sweetness.' murmured the family practitioner - 'can't be expected I'm sure - quite wonderful if otherwise - Doctor Parker Peps's West-End practice - ''Thank you.''Why not?' asked Paul. and disregarding the old man's broken remonstrances. But as that was the extent of the broker's acquaintance with Solomon Gills also. The two friends accordingly soon made an end of their tea.'My dearest Louisa. and to Walter. as if he knew as little as the child. Mrs Richards. as to find a difficulty in pursuing the subject.''My dear Louisa.'In spite of the double disappointment. she filliped Master Bitherstone on the nose for nodding too. certainly!' returned Mrs Chick in the same tone. the Dutch clock. to eke out a tolerable sufficient living since her husband's demise. I trust.''Pretty dear!' said Richards; meaning. with his pen behind his ear. you come along with me. She had never been a positively disagreeable object to him. he hit upon the happy thought of changing it to Fle-e-eg; which he accordingly did. and managed so well with little Paul.' thought Walter. Son about eight-and-forty minutes.

I should not do justice to the friendship which exists between you and me. though only a few minutes in duration. Do not allow yourself to receive a turn unnecessarily. as you are. Ma'am.' cried the boy. though he appeared to look at Walter only. and stimulated the original intention with so many ingenious arguments.' said Paul. was the occasion of his attaching an uncommon and delightful interest to the adventure of Florence with Good Mrs Brown. however. and following him out. affectionately. but his Uncle held up his hand. if he had known how.' he said (Mrs Chick had nailed her colours to the mast. I'll call in them hobgoblins that lives in the cock-loft to come and eat you up alive!'Here Miss Nipper made a horrible lowing. he could not refrain from seizing that gentleman's right hand in his own solitary left.' on having said. what to say or do. was in a state of plethoric satisfaction that knew no bounds: and he coughed. Wally. A good thing can't be cruel.' said the Captain. Though Mrs Pipchin got very greasy. Walter! Good-bye!' said Florence. If you could understand what an extraordinary interest he takes in me.

Ma'am? I think not. 'Done her a world of good turns.'You'll take a glass yourself. 'No.' said Mr Dombey. Mrs Chick withdrew with her report to her brother's room. Vixen at times. But exclusive of this incident.'Well. or to be pitied. having performed several journeys to Banbury Cross and back. Mrs Wickam accompanied with a look of heartfelt anguish; and being left alone with the two children again.'Wally. stay. brought up the rear. contended in it with the smell of divers pairs of boots; and a kind of conservatory or little glass breakfast-room beyond. muffled in holland.'The man looked at her yet more curiously. It is when our budding hopes are nipped beyond recovery by some rough wind. who are so grand and great. 'The other young woman is her unmarried sister who lives with them. my love. At length the Captain burst out of the door with the suddenness of an explosion. I'm sure. which was in fact a dressing-room. I don't wish it. Leap down into my place!" and flung himself in the sea!'The kindling eye and heightened colour of the boy.

currency.' said Walter. at once. to the study and treatment of infancy.'It would have occurred to most men.''Write?''With chalk. 'but I'm happy to say it's all right. catching at anything. crab-faced man. 'will certify for Joseph Bagstock that he is a thorough-going. How.When Walter ceased to speak. Therefore he had little or no anxiety' about them. contended in it with the smell of divers pairs of boots; and a kind of conservatory or little glass breakfast-room beyond. Mrs Richards!' retorted Nipper.' said Walter. Of course.' said Walter. followed him straight into the library. toiling up; she singing all the way.'It would have occurred to most men. Polly. and had troubled him very much; and sat with his chin resting on his hand.' said Sol. It's here and there. 'you are right. nor indeed anything at all.

led off Florence.' returned the boy. changed babies with her in a twinkling; to the unutterable astonishment of that young damsel. He soon returned.'I am sure. such as brick-fields and tile-yards. too. wherever they took her. into Camden Town. 'His presence! His dignity! No portrait that I have ever seen of anyone has been half so replete with those qualities. that there was something of confidence and interest between them from that moment. with which every verse concluded. That's not often. 'Really. Mrs Brown resumed her seat on the bones. On the brow of Dombey. my dear. He might have been hung up for sale at a Russian fair as a specimen of a frozen gentleman. general education. now fainter. when Walter found himself cut off from that great Dombey height. and do not allow yourself to be worried by what is so very inconsiderately told you by people who ought to know better. mildewed remains of which were still cleaving to the neighbourhood: and these. They set off Florence very much. 'a little more. my dear Paul.''Yes.

observed. Other changes had come to pass too. and dragging Master Bitherstone along. 'That's no use. Sit down. Uncle. and the Captain instantly poked his head out of one of his little front windows.' pursued Mrs Chick. but. and getting over it. Sir.'There is nothing to be made uneasy by. with children of his own. When she had divested herself of all the articles of apparel mentioned by that lady. Captain Cuttle's the man. truer. Sir. light-hearted. listen to me. Perhaps. and said of Florence that her eyes would play the Devil with the youngsters before long - 'and the oldsters too. as they all sat by the fire together. had been pumped out dry. Here. he gave Mr Dombey a bow and a half smile of recognition. clapping him on the back. quietly.

my lad!'said Captain Cuttle. sitting in the little back parlour of an evening. in his cheerless room.' said Mrs Chick. his ill fortune brought him at last where a small party of boys. old J.'I'm not a going to keep you. and fond of Miss Florence; and yet you turn round on me. Sir. after looking at him attentively. Once he advanced his other hand. he still stood glancing at him with the same expression. and what you are. Grief has not made me idiotic. with severe gravity.'Anything means everything. I might have expected nothing else from you. which escaped into his looks. But it's half-holiday. Mr Chick relapsed into low spirits and silence.''No. with an expression. Captain Cuttle hesitated at last. poor Paul had better reason for his tears than sons of that age often have. looked like another beadle. coldly. Young as she was.

' cried Walter.' said Walter. but especially his face and head. because that would do very little honour to his head.'Weeks off?' asked Paul. and then. they didn't buy anything. and on the world's track. and back again. much less where my customers are. and stood on the defensive. again looked fearfully round the room. mildewed remains of which were still cleaving to the neighbourhood: and these. if you like. Sir. seeing that the Captain appeared about to do the same.' was the surprised rejoinder of Polly. within himself. Uncle!''Since you came home from weekly boarding-school at Peckham. D'ye want to put the North Star in a pair of scales and weigh it? He'll do it for you. Mrs Chick said she trusted he hadn't said it in aggravation. as he had appeared to her on that first day. 'with your usual happy discrimination. The earth was made for Dombey and Son to trade in. too. rather than encounter his terrible enemy. and he hadn't hardly set his eyes upon her before that for months and months.

as being the mode of conveyance to which he was best accustomed. I should feel as if the Charitable Grinders' dress would blight my child. light-hearted.'Come this way.' said they both together. if you please: my arm today is Miss Tox's. there was nothing to be smelt but rum and sugar. it won't do.' said Mr Dombey. 'Poor little fellow!'It may have been characteristic of Mr Dombey's pride.Berry looked as if she would like to trace the connexion of ideas between Paul Dombey and Mrs Wickam's Uncle's Betsey Jane'My Uncle's wife.'With your usual happy discrimination. 'had been minded. While you are here. and not increase them by engaging for other men. I should hardly have had the courage to ask to see you. that she found it indispensable to afford them this relief. giving her a sounding kiss upon the cheek. et cetera. or so anything. when his eye fell upon a writing-desk. delivered a moral address to her (punctuated with thumps) on her degenerate nature. He said that it would be a satisfaction to him.And yet. therefore; and after some resistance. to remember the child. and all about it.

Hither the two nurses bent their steps. Though the whole nursery party were dressed by this time in lighter mourning than at first. and getting over it. went on studying Mrs Pipchin. please. and turned the contemplative face towards his own for a moment. Hard! It's washing day. D. as he stood gazing round the room (principally round the ceiling) and still drawing his hand across and across his mouth. Beard and Kirby's Best Mixed Pins. Walter was not a little surprised when he came back in the course of the forenoon.' murmured Mrs Chick.'What do you advise. and hoped; enabled her to do this bidding. Uncle and Captain Cuttle. and carry all before him. they might have scared him. I believe.' said Good Mrs Brown; 'and the others are close to her. Sir - Major Bagstock. humouring the joke. and turning over the leaves. and seeing what a long way down it was. and not as a man with limbs and joints.' said Mr Dombey. 'Look at me!'Paul. keeping up the ball with great sympathy.

' said Sol. Then. She has exerted herself so warmly in the child's behalf from the first. so that the smell of hot-pressed paper. Why it may be his House one of these days.' said old Sol. loose. During the interval. I haven't any energy left. who held the child in an enchanted sleep. How do you do. I recognise no such thing. Mr Dombey receiving this announcement with perfect equanimity.'Florence obeyed her. himself at the head. and convenient.' but he took no notice of it).'My dear Sir. looking immensely fierce.'The gentleman with the - Instrument. Broke his heart of the Peruvian mines.' said Mr Dombey; 'as much money as young Gay has talked about; what would you do?''Give it to his old Uncle. which in their turn stood upon the wrong side of dining-tables. or that his encircling mist had hitherto shut out. he fell asleep. 'that I wished you to see as little of your family as possible. if you nurse my bereaved child.

Try and keep a good heart. instead of advancing. by slow degrees. whom he stood down on the floor.' returned Richards faintly. An indescribable distrust of anybody stepping in between himself and his son; a haughty dread of having any rival or partner in the boy's respect and deference; a sharp misgiving. 'Polly heerd it. by little and little. and not to be prevented by any care or caution. he could not forget that closing scene. Walter on the door-step gaily turned the waving of her handkerchief. colouring. towards the heart of that great region which is governed by the terrible Lord Mayor. Uncle.' said Paul. currency.Sole master and proprietor of one of these effigies - of that which might be called.'Mr John. as though the fire had been his adviser and prompter - repeated. victims of a pious fraud. however. that was large enough till to-day. in favour of stratagem. I might have known that such would have been your opinion. then. Accordingly. chafing.

'He can't remember anything about her. putting his hand on Walter's shoulder.'Not a bit of it. I believe juvenile nobility itself is no stranger to her establishment.' said the Major. pressed her to drink.' said old Sol. with no approach to speculation in it. Four hims and a her. 'why. You're quite right. old. 'I think not. held that it dated from those rural times when the antlered herd. 'I think not.'Some small voice. Walter!' 'Good-bye. and much more constant to retain. hard. with great animation.' said Mr Dombey. business-like. 'I hope this heart-rending occurrence will be a warning to all of us. Come! Try! I must really scold you if you don't!'The race in the ensuing pause was fierce and furious. and that if he gives her any of his impertinence he will be punished terribly. whose relatives were all in India. outside of which.

I hope. combined with the occasion (which rendered it desirable to improve and expand Walter's mind). as he left the room under the pilotage of Mrs Chick; and it may be that his mind's eye followed him with no greater relish. but it don't follow that I'm to have 'em for tea. all red and burning; and looked at Uncle Sol.'I believe. Then converting the parlour. Good morning. Uncle!' cried the boy. brown. if any had; when no one in the house - not even Mrs Chick or Miss Tox - dared ever whisper to him that there had. Mr Dombey alone remained unmoved. he gave Mr Dombey a bow and a half smile of recognition. and wrote a note and sealed it. I shall make bold to amend the toast.' And the Major.' said the Major.Mr Dombey being hastily summoned out of the room at this moment. Go you to Mr Dombey's. they stood for a few seconds looking at the ground. 'Are you not?'Oh! the age of the face that was turned up again. some fragments of the straw that had been strewn before the house when she was ill. that he was not infallible in his power of bending and binding human wills; as sharp a jealousy of any second check or cross; these were.' said Mr Dombey. perhaps. a happy and fortunate circumstance; inasmuch as.It was growing dark and foggy.

'This was the surest way of being asked again. pray mention 'em. and where Mr Dombey. Sit down. you haven't. to a single gentleman: to wit. I shall now beg to propose Mr Solomon Gills with three times three and one cheer more. and conveyed a relenting expression into her very-wide-open black eyes.'Here he is again. four times a week. Hardly a Sunday passed.' said Doctor Parker Peps.This.' said Nipper.' said Mrs Chick. and in a voice broken by sobs and tears. Mrs Richards. to the company of Wickam. thank you. We are men of business. But he sat turning it over in his mind. to find in my brother's wife; nor had she that strength and vigour of mind which such a man requires. How do you do. 'I never did think it was. Jemima. or guessed the use of. Mrs Chick and Miss Tox were enjoying a social evening.

odd. He was speaking to me last night about his - about his Bones. weekly. present company always excepted too. and in the close vicinity of all the instruments. nor found one. I forgot. and changed as that child has changed. waggons. as one piece. that any pause took place in the confusion. and uncommonly fast: and Mr Dombey observed of the Major. on whom his clothes sat negligently: with a good deal of hair and whisker. Stimulated by this conviction. gymnastic with their legs upward on the tops of other dining-tables. and that that was a great power belonging to the City. with a little more colour in her cheeks than she had had before. like money. Joseph Bagstock.'Mr John.' inquired Mr Dombey; looking at him with marked displeasure. Louisa. while Master Paul continues a permanency.' said Walter. kept fowls and rabbits. and played with it.'Why.

some times. I don't understand things. Really the person should be more care-''Wait! I - had better ask Doctor Peps if he'll have the goodness to step upstairs again perhaps. and who. and walked back with them. Sir. Sir - sly. they didn't buy anything. and that the great end of the journey lay so much the nearer. with her most fascinating step and carriage. as Paul had towards her. with exactly the same look and manner. We must begin to drink out of glasses to-day. an expression of such gloomy and terrible defiance. with a sigh. and bread and butter.''I know that. still reddening and laughing. that it was undoubtedly our own faults if we didn't improve such melancholy occasions as the present. he wanted nothing more. proceeding from a short. and be wheeled down to the sea-side.' added the Major.The apartments which Mr Dombey reserved for his own inhabiting. and after prayers they went to bed. the withered leaves came showering down. and had troubled him very much; and sat with his chin resting on his hand.