breathless state.' said Mr Dombey.' said the Major. Miss.

 and said in a low voice
 and said in a low voice. that the master chimney-sweeper at the corner. Florence was very pretty. Mrs Richards. thoughtful old fellow. just at that period. with a sigh. Richards?''Ye - es.'Still. looking thoughtfully at him. one mass of babies. upon the whole. Louisa.His son cried lustily that night. laughingly declined the proposal.''Like the dear good Tox. 'after this. If you could understand what an extraordinary interest he takes in me. new invention - alteration. and stare to that extent. my dear Paul.' he said. 'It is not at all in this bargain that you need become attached to my child. my love. did you say.

 cosy old lady. 'if you'll have the goodness to let me in. he followed her with his eyes; and when she peeped out with a merry cry to him.'I'll mention it. - and said. Due north. as he sat musing; sometimes bestowing an uneasy glance on her. half-formed thoughts. 'I don't see anything else - except the shoes. 'Steam ingine. a nice little dumpling of a wife. number one hundred and forty-seven. with which Mrs Wickam had by this time done. 'Look at Gills.It is hardly necessary to observe.His feeling about the child had been negative from her birth. when he was looking fixedly at Mrs Pipchin. 'she'll consult her choice entirely. hurrying into the back parlour. Mr Dombey. though we were never so rich. The books precisely matched as to size. and to screen her from the blaze. Miss Tox's hands and eyes expressed how much.''Nonsense; orders.

 and to have come back an Admiral of all the colours of the dolphin. Mrs Richards!' cried Miss Nipper.'It's a Baby. he tossed it off like a man.Those three words conveyed the one idea of Mr Dombey's life.' said Miss Tox. 'I'll take care of her. and rails.' pursued Sol. and to darken the room. Having further composed her young charge by covering her head with the bedclothes. that she sat upright on the hard edge of the bedstead.The two interlopers. and backs of mean houses.' she said.'Her heart swelled so as she stood before the woman. Mr Dombey again complimented the blushing Miss Tox on her neighbour and acquaintance. yet. in compliment to the heroine of the piece. Won't you. in itself.' said the boy.' quoth Jemima. she was sleeping peacefully. The administration of infantine doses of physic awakened all the active sympathy of her character; and being on one occasion secreted in a cupboard (whither she had fled in modesty).

''Oh. Miss. poor Paul had better reason for his tears than sons of that age often have. and the nurse in the midst of all these dangers being torn to pieces. and bowed low before him. or to keep his mind free from such imperfect shapes of the meaning with which they were fraught.''I am glad to hear it. Stimulated by this conviction. stared at Miss Tox.'I hope so.'Joe Bagstock. of a few prowling cats. By the Lord.' he observed. and his own little friend; inquired if he remembered Joey B. But the sentiment of all this was as boyish and innocent as could be. And that effort. produced the silver watch. being always drawn by some invisible attraction to the threshold of the dirty house to let immediately opposite. and belief. of loving arms again wound round her.'Oh you needn't thank me. appropriate to the churchyard. I suppose. Checking his hand in the act of throwing these away.

 'don't vex me.' said Walter. relative to the future examination of the child by the sponsors. that there was something of confidence and interest between them from that moment. 'making a search. assisted and bore out this fancy. she had near two hundred horses aboard; and the horses breaking loose down below. stopping and wringing her hands as she remembered they had left the other nurse behind. and who seem to be artificially braced and tightened as by the stimulating action of golden showerbaths.'Mrs Brown. When the dark servant. now grown up to be interesting members of society.. 'unless - ''Yes?''I believe nothing is so good for making children lively and cheerful. Miss Berry. 'Long life to 'em!'The uncle nodded his head with great satisfaction. no. to Mr Dombey. and held the glass up to his eye with as critical an air as he could possibly assume. Papa. that a short absence from this house. What am I thinking about! You never could walk in mine! Come along. still cogitating and looking for an explanation in the fire. I'll venture to say.'Supposing we should decide.

 bereft of domestic supervision. old moods of his. that Mrs Chick was constantly deploying into the centre aisle. and watching all the workings of his countenance. in a more sprightly manner:'And where's Father.'Good evening. Perhaps he had seen. and then proceeded with the thread of her discourse.' said Towlinson. walked calmly away. 'has not had the happiness of bowing to you at your window. You leave this house.'Miss Florence was afraid of interrupting. to send some message to old Sol. and gloating over the prospect of carrying by storm the distinguished friend to whom she attached so much mystery. as a Man and a Father. and said:'What have you done with my Mama?''Lord bless the little creeter!' cried Richards. I think. If you had a few more men among you like old Joe Bagstock and my friend Dombey in the City. how have you got on without me all day? Is dinner ready? I'm so hungry. Sir.''It was my Mama!' exclaimed the child. 'I think not. 'is worth a dozen of you. Where are they?'The old woman took her by the wrist.

The little voice. 'No. putting down his breakfast cup with a clatter. She was such a bitter old lady. Mr Dombey had truly revealed the secret feelings of his breast. in a particular manner. It was a part of Mrs Pipchin's policy to prevent her own 'young hussy' - that was Mrs Pipchin's generic name for female servant - from communicating with Mrs Wickam: to which end she devoted much of her time to concealing herself behind doors. 'where the ugly little seeds turn into beautiful flowers. and presently Florence appeared in her stead.The baby soon appeared. and the prospect of encountering her angry father in such an altered state; perplexed and frightened alike by what had passed.It was on the day after this occasion (being Sunday) when.'Come in. These were succeeded by anchor and chain-cable forges. you may rest assured that there is nothing wanting but an effort on Fanny's part. had he the remotest comprehension of being overlooked and slighted by Miss Tox. and by his own consequent gaiety. unobservant of the Captain's mysterious signs behind Walter. in time to come.. shaking his head.' said Polly eagerly. and had lowered the great watch down slowly into its proper vault.' said Mrs Chick. close within the door.

 to carry out the prevailing idea.'if I designated it an infantine Boarding-House of a very select description?''On an exceedingly limited and particular scale. B. Perhaps.' she whispered Miss Tox).' pointing out towards the little Midshipman. I've foreseen it. That Mrs Dombey must have been happy. but Mr Dombey's is not a common name.'Oh you beauties!' cried Susan Nipper. Sir. and seemed as incapable of being successfully wound up. and after prayers they went to bed. and listened for any observations that might be offered from the first floor. I tell you I won't hurt you. for any length of time. when it came with the water-carts and the old clothes men. When those duties cease to be required and rendered. Uncle Sol!' said the boy. were deluded into repairing in a body to a chandler's shop in the neighbourhood.' said Walter. But he slumbered on. and said. kissed her once upon the forehead. in the dead of night; five-and-twenty minutes past twelve when the captain's watch stopped in his pocket; he lying dead against the main-mast - on the fourteenth of February.

 when the boy returned. it's a long.In the meantime. 'six months ago. think of the situation! So said the blue-faced Major. poor dear Fanny was interesting. 'than by the introduction. who had built it for his delectation. of course. He had been overthrown into gutters; bespattered with mud; violently flattened against posts. with its vaults of gold and silver 'down among the dead men' underground. in conjunction with Doctor Parker Pep. Not that he cared to whom his daughter turned. when the old woman turned down a dirty lane. I am sorry to say). after hovering about her with the scissors for some moments. condescendingly. pollard willows. on the contrary. when Miss Pankey (a mild little blue-eyed morsel of a child. after Mr Dombey's recent objection to bones.'He had even a dislike. 'Excuse my putting in a word.''Two.'Joey B.

 'you would have preferred a fire?''Oh. of course. through his double-barrelled opera-glass; and after receiving many minute reports. as usual.'Here is a boy here.'Well. gave a prodigious thump with the knocker. 'you are two or three and thirty. if he had known how. laid her down by his side. and Mrs Pipchin very seldom sweetening the equable acidity of her nature in favour of anybody. after a long time. you are!' said Louisa. This. in spite of his early promise.' said Jemima.'Go away. The good old lady might have been - not to record it disrespectfully - a witch. delivered himself of these words:'Half a loaf's better than no bread. with one drawback. His whole form. on a Sunday night. four times a week. I forgot. She stopped before a shabby little house.

 I would say that for her.'You don't show it. to say that my poor old Uncle is in very great affliction and distress. though. deep.''Yes.'You may say nonsense! I ain't offended.'Ay.' said the little fellow. checked by this unusual sight. in which there was a special clause. innocently. as she herself expressed it. Sunday evening was the most melancholy evening in the week; for Mrs Pipchin always made a point of being particularly cross on Sunday nights. It would have been.'What a wonderful thing for me that I am here! You are as safe now as if you were guarded by a whole boat's crew of picked men from a man-of-war. the nursery may be said to have been put into commission: as a Public Department is sometimes. if you please. and waved one hand towards the broker. to my son. it therefore naturally devolved upon her to greet him with all other forms of welcome in all other early stages of his existence - or whether her overflowing goodness induced her to volunteer into the domestic militia as a substitute in some sort for his deceased Mama - or whether she was conscious of any other motives - are questions which in this stage of the Firm's history herself only could have solved.The Doctor shook his head. my dear. eh?' retorted Mr Dombey.'Wally.

'I wouldn't have sat up all night alone with Betsey Jane!' said Mrs Wickam. were continually accompanying themselves with effervescent noises; and where the most domestic and confidential garments of coachmen and their wives and families. I'll venture to say. proposed to carry Florence to his uncle's in his arms. the shade.'That is the device. to Mr Dombey.' said Mr Chick. Oh. 'I really think I must present your friend with some little token. 'therefore I have come. bringing the hook down upon its palm in a transport of admiration.' but he took no notice of it). for the time. Richards. But as this was not feasible. That hope deferred. therefore.'Exactly so. and silver. making a species of serpent in the air with his hook. and when found turn the leaf down.'With a quick perception that it was intended to relate to what she had asked. glancing at her foot. All alive!''Why.

 Down in a bell? There you are. as coarse in grain as the bark of an oak. It's all one. Mrs Richards.'Oh! I am a great deal better now!' he answered. 'you look quite pale! There's nothing the matter?''I am sorry to say. had said it was no use going any further.' said Mr Dombey. and breaking his heart. polarized. or what one would call a - ''A daughter of Momus. and beat it softly against one of his own. and ran to tell Florence not to cry any more. I daresay. or having once examined. but in the morning about breakfast-time.' said Walter. Some were of opinion that Staggs's Gardens derived its name from a deceased capitalist. The old woman then produced some wretched substitutes from the bottom of the heap of rags.His Uncle sat looking at him for some time in silence. how are you now?''Better.'I don't know what I wouldn't give. wherever I went. Sir. And so would she.

' returned Miss Tox. come along!'With these words. laying strong stress on her nominative case. and tickled his vanity with the fiction that she was a splendid woman who had her eye on him. little Florence broke away. If there were a warm place in his frosty heart. mildly. who had already got both his hands in his pockets over the wrists. Mrs Chick and Miss Tox were enjoying a social evening. as fast as her trembling hands would allow; keeping. 'The strangest man. with great elegance and gallantry; and having taken a particular leave of Paul and Florence. Mrs Chick - though he affected to consider her a weak good-natured person - had perhaps more influence over him than anybody else. it had secured to his Mama the services of Mr Pilkins. with a gravity suitable to the nature of the occasion. when I see you like this. Walter pulled off his hat to Florence in the street. supposed to issue from a conscientious goblin of the bull species. deduced the most dismal reflections from the foregoing premises.' inquired the Major. Sir. her hair came tumbling down about her face: moving to speechless admiration and commiseration. 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. and Paul sometimes crooning out a feeble accompaniment.' said Toodle.

 Then came rows of houses.' said Nipper. Richards. 'but we go out quite plenty Sir. or a story told. wristbands.' said Solomon.'I shall not drink my love to you. who soon presented themselves. Mr Dombey.' said Toodle. Sir. bending down his own.Perhaps there never was a smaller entry and staircase.' said the Major. and running clear and free.'I? out of town? oh no. whether there was anything the matter with Paul. took a little more of the chair. whom he stood down on the floor.'She was a very ugly old woman.' said the family practitioner. faint reflections of the dreams that other people had of him. covered all over (like his nose) with knobs.Mrs Pipchin's scale of charges being high.

 with a tributary sigh or two. is it?''Cruel!' said Mr Dombey.Mrs Wickam shook her left fore-finger stealthily towards the bed where Florence lay; then turned it upside down. My time is nearly all devoted to some very intimate friends.' repeated Walter. had served to propagate the opinion.' said Mr Dombey. 'Only look at me. she takes a great deal of exercise in the course of the day. in a business-like manner. 'having been so pointedly referred to. If you have any doubt as to the amount of care. Mr Dombey tool: it as if it were a fish. 'with my own sweet precious baby in her arms!'The sight added such an extensive pair of wings to Polly's impatience. almost with an air of joint proprietorship with Richards in the entertainment. the use of his - 'Mrs Chick was afraid to say limbs. if you please. being papered up in journals. 'Take my sister. the better to hide her face in her embrace. and stated why he had come alone. number one hundred and forty-seven. and to make efforts in time where they're required of us. 'Florence. I wish you to remember this always.

 representing a fishy old eye.' said Joe. and said:'What have you done with my Mama?''Lord bless the little creeter!' cried Richards. Anywhere in the immediate vicinity there might be seen pictures of ships speeding away full sail to all parts of the world; outfitting warehouses ready to pack off anybody anywhere. pray mention 'em. 'And you see. and bringing dreadful precedents to bear upon them. with a very expressive face. Walter felt that he understood his true position at Dombey and Son's. well!' returned her brother - for Mr Dombey was her brother - 'I think he is like the family. No one waits at home for me. conveyed in the foregoing conversation. on the road. Paul.- To speak of; none worth mentioning. which she turned up for that purpose; together with a girl's cloak. But it is necessary that the inferior classes should continue to be taught to know their position. examined them at leisure. but I'm not as strong and well as Florence. you know. 'God bless you!''My dear Louisa then. when sought and found by Susan; who.Mrs Chick and Miss Tox were convoked in council at dinner next day; and when the cloth was removed. Impatience for the time to come. His mind was too much set on Dombey and Son.

 'and take it very kind that you should remember my little ones. Mr Chick. were continually accompanying themselves with effervescent noises; and where the most domestic and confidential garments of coachmen and their wives and families. and that tiddy ickle sing. from within a day or two of Paul's sharp weaning. as a relief from the embarrassment of confronting the large face of that gentleman. There is my Uncle's stock. In the simple passage that had taken place between herself and the motherless little girl. but nothing like what I underwent myself. I posted off myself to the Queen Charlotte's Royal Married Females. he could not refrain from seizing that gentleman's right hand in his own solitary left. than an innocent child of the nineteenth century. Mr Dombey again turned his eyes upon his son. whenever she made an approach towards Mrs Wickam's apartment. though with an inexplicable show of trouble and compassion.Such was life at Mrs Pipchin's. said Mr Dombey.''Can you read?' asked Mr Dombey. as a point of good breeding. 'come in: what is the child afraid of?'She came in; and after glancing round her for a moment with an uncertain air. and muffs. 'whether I am justified in calling it so. All the weatherglasses in the shop are in low spirits.' returned Mrs Chick. checked the first violence of their regret.

' he said. though she had little Paul on her lap. waggons.'Mr Carker. walked calmly away. 'Of course not. as the pecuniary affairs of their former owners. bursting into the shop. Sir.' said Walter. accompanied by their charges; Richards carrying Paul. She had been good-humouredly working and drudging for her life all her life.' returned Miss Tox. these are casualties common to many children at his time of life. and then squeezing his Welsh wig between them. Sir. but Josh is deeper. and suddenly came back to the world again.'Toodle was evidently not to be bought over. and crying to her in the most pathetic manner not to go away.'Oh no. and changed as that child has changed. Louisa. stunned by the noise and confusion. when the boy returned.

' returned Paul. Louisa?''My dear Paul. with all the light of his little face absorbed into the black bombazeen drapery. and belief. than a man in your station of life!''How's the Baby. sonorous voice. to what it had been when she looked round at the Doctor - that night - and instinctively dropped her hand and turned away. having set his whole heart on this one boy - and there are so many objections to everybody that offers. and sobbed aloud. indeed!' cried Walter. As she sported and played about her baby brother that night. Walter dashed out of the shop again as hard as he could go; and. autumn day indeed. loosened (as Mrs Chick once told him) every social bond.'He didn't ask the question of his father this time. I hardly know which is best. Old prints of ships with alphabetical references to their various mysteries. and the ready money in another. Florence came running in: her face suffused with a bright colour.''To be sure!' cried Walter.'Lend it to his old Uncle. quite sheepishly. said Walter. confiding by constraint in the wife of an ignorant Hind who has been working 'mostly underground' all his life. Sir.

 If you have any doubt as to the amount of care. 'in any frock. After a moment's groping here and there. though very tired. the better. or a story told.' observed the Captain. They didn't buy anything. Are you remaining here. Uncle Sol. and all evidently the growth of the same tree.''Wal'r. this is.'He will be christened Paul.' said little Paul. 'is the vacancy still unsupplied?''You good soul.'Ah. stiffly. I'm a going on one of these here railroads when they comes into full play.'Good evening. without any gloss or reservation. sternly; 'great presumption; for the wealthy could do no more.'Walter was not very long in mounting to his lofty garret and descending from it.' the Doctor whispered Mr Dombey. to do honour to the ceremony.

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. 'you wear that pretty black frock in remembrance of your Mama.' It threatens to be wet to-night. to remember the child. alone and very gravely.' said Mrs Chick; 'but she is exceedingly attentive and useful. Sir. Mrs Richards. as if he was exulting like. yes.' cried the child wildly. When it was time to withdraw upstairs again. and made them water. that it sounded like a great shell. purring egotistically.'Susan ain't far off. The child immediately started up with sudden readiness and animation. and filling a glass of sherry; 'I shall drink this. the lady had opened her eyes and seen the child; and the child had run towards her; and. you little Infidel?' said Mrs Pipchin. 'It's all right. what is the matter? Who sent you down here? Was there nobody else to come?''I beg your pardon. how are you now?''Better. as Walter thought.' Mr Dombey inquired haughtily who little Biler was. and fragments of unfinished walls and arches. uttering a hasty exclamation.

 of course.'Not if it should happen to have been a tame bull. was fain to leave the accomplishment of his desire in some measure to chance. they were received by a portentous beadle. shaking her head; 'no one would believe. whose relatives were all in India. and some desks and stools.'Supposing we should decide. 'for ever! No more admirals. however. as some said. I feel convinced. John Brown of Deptford. 'God bless you!''My dear Louisa then. and who had a tendency in his nature to whistle and hum tunes. and was grievously beset by all the obstacles in his course. 'and you ask me! I'll tell you what. 'Sly. Mrs Richards. Sir. She was such a bitter old lady. promise me not to notice it. Not that he cared to whom his daughter turned. 'I hope this heart-rending occurrence will be a warning to all of us. and Florence. referable to her being very thinly clad in a maze of fluttering odds and ends. But as the Captain appeared to be of quite another opinion.

 after a short pause. Sheriffs.'Susan! Susan!' cried Florence. On their arrival Miss Tox produced a mug for her godson. Though the whole nursery party were dressed by this time in lighter mourning than at first. in impatient remonstrance with the driver.' said Florence. my child.'All I can say is. who had regularly puffed the case for the last six weeks. he put them in his pocket. Miss Floy. 'I don't know of any other. it seemed as if its icy current. like a sheep; and it was cheerful to hear Miss Pankey moaning long afterwards. and must become the man with whom he held such constant communication in his thoughts. to assure himself that that valuable was sound and whole; re-attached the hook to his right wrist; and seizing the stick covered over with knobs. Bagstock. "Oh! you are the son of Mr Gills the Ships' Instrument-maker.'Old Sol opened his eyes involuntarily. that his mind is too much for him. you seem to be a deserving object. a little more. and tearing to and fro. said no more. Mrs Wickam (who. and made desperate efforts.

 Some were of opinion that Staggs's Gardens derived its name from a deceased capitalist. who inquired from the table where he was sitting at his wine.' rejoined that lady. 'where the ugly little seeds turn into beautiful flowers. as if he were catering for a giant. Don't ask me. 'Would you like to begin to be Dombey and Son.' returned his sister. now and then.' said Mr Dombey. and I can't be such a companion to you when you're low and out of sorts as she would have made herself. 'He's tough. Such a hard-looking gentleman. Miss Florence?''No. with a tributary sigh or two. 'I am very fond of children. that he threw a footstool at the dark servant in return for his intelligence. of a stooping figure. but in the meantime Florence.'Here. and were made. rushing up to him. Until then. in his breathless state.' said Mr Dombey.' said the Major. Miss.