CHAPTER I. Dombey and Son

rmalstate(anacquaintanceveryvaluabletousinformingouropinionsintheseoccasions),isofopinion,withme,thatNaturemustbecalledupontomakeavigorouseffortinthisinstanceandthatifourinterestingfriendtheCountessofDombey—IbegyourpardonMrsDombey—shouldnotbe—” “Able,”saidthefamilypractitioner. “Tomake,”saidDoctorParkerPeps. “Thateffort,”saidthefamilypractitioner. “Successfully,”saidtheybothtogether. “Then,”addedDoctorParkerPeps,aloneandverygravely,“acrisismightarise,whichweshouldbothsincerelydeplore.” Withthat,theystoodforafewsecondslookingattheground.Then,onthemotion—madeindumbshow—ofDoctorParkerPeps,theywentupstairsthefamilypractitioneropeningtheroomdoorforthatdistinguishedprofessional,andfollowinghimout,withmostobsequiouspoliteness. TorecordofMrDombeythathewasnotinhiswayaffectedbythisintelligence,wouldbetodohimaninjustice.Hewasnotamanofwhomitcouldproperlybesaidthathewaseverstartled,orshockedbuthecertainlyhadasensewithinhim,thatifhiswifeshouldsickenanddecay,hewouldbeverysorry,andthathewouldfindasomethinggonefromamonghisplateandfurniture,andotherhouseholdpossessions,whichwaswellworththehaving,andcouldnotbelostwithoutsincereregret.Thoughitwouldbeacool,business-like,gentlemanly,self-possessedregret,nodoubt. Hismeditationsonthesubjectweresooninterrupted,firstbytherustlingofgarmentsonthestaircase,andthenbythesuddenwhiskingintotheroomofaladyratherpastthemiddleagethanotherwisebutdressedinaveryjuvenilemanner,particularlyastothetightnessofherbodice,who,runninguptohimwithakindofscrewinherfaceandcarriage,expressiveofsuppressedemotion,flungherarmsaroundhisneck,andsaid,inachokingvoice, “MydearPaul!He’squiteaDombey!” “Well,well!”returnedherbrother—forMrDombeywasherbrother—“Ithinkheislikethefamily.Don’tagitateyourself,Louisa.” “It’sveryfoolishofme,”saidLouisa,sittingdown,andtakingoutherpocket-handkerchief,“buthe’s—he’ssuchaperfectDombey!” MrDombeycoughed. “It’ssoextraordinary,”saidLouisasmilingthroughhertears,whichindeedwerenotoverpowering,“astobeperfectlyridiculous.Socompletelyourfamily.Ineversawanythinglikeitinmylife!” “ButwhatisthisaboutFanny,herself?”saidMrDombey.“HowisFanny?” “MydearPaul,”returnedLouisa,“it’snothingwhatever.Takemyword,it’snothingwhatever.Thereisexhaustion,certainly,butnothinglikewhatIunderwentmyself,eitherwithGeorgeorFrederick.Aneffortisnecessary.That’sall.IfdearFannywereaDombey!—ButIdaresayshe’llmakeitIhavenodoubtshe’llmakeit.Knowingittoberequiredofher,asaduty,ofcourseshe’llmakeit.MydearPaul,it’sveryweakandsillyofme,Iknow,tobesotremblyandshakyfromheadtofootbutIamsoveryqueerthatImustaskyouforaglassofwineandamorselofthatcake.” MrDombeypromptlysuppliedherwiththeserefreshmentsfromatrayonthetable. “Ishallnotdrinkmylovetoyou,Paul,”saidLouisa:“IshalldrinktothelittleDombey.Goodgraciousme!—it’sthemostastonishingthingIeverknewinallmydays,he’ssuchaperfectDombey.” Quenchingthisexpressionofopinioninashorthystericallaughwhichterminatedintears,Louisacastuphereyes,andemptiedherglass. “Iknowit’sveryweakandsillyofme,”sherepeated,“tobesotremblyandshakyfromheadtofoot,andtoallowmyfeelingssocompletelytogetthebetterofme,butIcannothelpit.IthoughtIshouldhavefallenoutofthestaircasewindowasIcamedownfromseeingdearFanny,andthattiddyicklesing.”Theselastwordsoriginatedinasuddenvividreminiscenceofthebaby. Theyweresucceededbyagentletapatthedoor. “MrsChick,”saidaveryblandfemalevoiceoutside,“howareyounow,mydearfriend?” “MydearPaul,”saidLouisainalowvoice,assherosefromherseat,“it’sMissTox.Thekindestcreature!Inevercouldhavegotherewithouther!MissTox,mybrotherMrDombey.Paul,mydear,myveryparticularfriendMissTox.” Theladythusspeciallypresented,wasalongleanfigure,wearingsuchafadedairthatsheseemednottohavebeenmadeinwhatlinen-draperscall“fastcolours”originally,andtohave,bylittleandlittle,washedout.Butforthisshemighthavebeendescribedastheverypinkofgeneralpropitiationandpoliteness.Fromalonghabitoflisteningadmiringlytoeverythingthatwassaidinherpresence,andlookingatthespeakersasifshewerementallyengagedintakingoffimpressionsoftheirimagesuponhersoul,nevertopartwiththesamebutwithlife,herheadhadquitesettledononeside.Herhandshadcontractedaspasmodichabitofraisingthemselvesoftheirownaccordasininvoluntaryadmiration.Hereyeswereliabletoasimilaraffection.Shehadthesoftestvoicethateverwasheardandhernose,stupendouslyaquiline,hadalittleknobintheverycentreorkey-stoneofthebridge,whenceittendeddownwardstowardsherface,asinaninvincibledeterminationnevertoturnupatanything. MissTox’sd