CHAPTER I. Dombey and Son

ress,thoughperfectlygenteelandgood,hadacertaincharacterofangularityandscantiness.Shewasaccustomedtowearoddweedylittleflowersinherbonnetsandcaps.Strangegrassesweresometimesperceivedinherhairanditwasobservedbythecurious,ofallhercollars,frills,tuckers,wristbands,andothergossamerarticles—indeedofeverythingsheworewhichhadtwoendstoitintendedtounite—thatthetwoendswereneverongoodterms,andwouldn’tquitemeetwithoutastruggle.Shehadfurryarticlesforwinterwear,astippets,boas,andmuffs,whichstooduponendinrampantmanner,andwerenotatallsleek.Shewasmuchgiventothecarryingaboutofsmallbagswithsnapstothem,thatwentofflikelittlepistolswhentheywereshutupandwhenfull-dressed,sheworeroundherneckthebarrenestoflockets,representingafishyoldeye,withnoapproachtospeculationinit.Theseandotherappearancesofasimilarnature,hadservedtopropagatetheopinion,thatMissToxwasaladyofwhatiscalledalimitedindependence,whichsheturnedtothebestaccount.Possiblyhermincinggaitencouragedthebelief,andsuggestedthatherclippingastepofordinarycompassintotwoorthree,originatedinherhabitofmakingthemostofeverything. “Iamsure,”saidMissTox,withaprodigiouscurtsey,“thattohavethehonourofbeingpresentedtoMrDombeyisadistinctionwhichIhavelongsought,butverylittleexpectedatthepresentmoment.MydearMrsChick—mayIsayLouisa!” MrsChicktookMissTox’shandinhers,restedthefootofherwine-glassuponit,repressedatear,andsaidinalowvoice,“Godblessyou!” “MydearLouisathen,”saidMissTox,“mysweetfriend,howareyounow?” “Better,”MrsChickreturned.“Takesomewine.YouhavebeenalmostasanxiousasIhavebeen,andmustwantit,Iamsure.” MrDombeyofcourseofficiated,andalsorefilledhissister’sglass,whichshe(lookinganotherway,andunconsciousofhisintention)heldstraightandsteadythewhile,andthenregardedwithgreatastonishment,saying,“MydearPaul,whathaveyoubeendoing!” “MissTox,Paul,”pursuedMrsChick,stillretainingherhand,“knowinghowmuchIhavebeeninterestedintheanticipationoftheeventoftoday,andhowtremblyandshakyIhavebeenfromheadtofootinexpectationofit,hasbeenworkingatalittlegiftforFanny,whichIpromisedtopresent.MissToxisingenuityitself.” “MydearLouisa,”saidMissTox.“Don’tsayso.” “Itisonlyapincushionforthetoilettetable,Paul,”resumedhissister“oneofthosetrifleswhichareinsignificanttoyoursexingeneral,asit’sverynaturaltheyshouldbe—wehavenobusinesstoexpecttheyshouldbeotherwise—buttowhichweattachsomeinterest.” “MissToxisverygood,”saidMrDombey. “AndIdosay,andwillsay,andmustsay,”pursuedhissister,pressingthefootofthewine-glassonMissTox’shand,ateachofthethreeclauses,“thatMissToxhasveryprettilyadaptedthesentimenttotheoccasion.Icall‘WelcomelittleDombey’Poetry,myself!” “Isthatthedevice?”inquiredherbrother. “Thatisthedevice,”returnedLouisa. “Butdomethejusticetoremember,mydearLouisa,”saidMissToxinatoneoflowandearnestentreaty,“thatnothingbutthe—Ihavesomedifficultyinexpressingmyself—thedubiousnessoftheresultwouldhaveinducedmetotakesogreataliberty:‘Welcome,MasterDombey,’wouldhavebeenmuchmorecongenialtomyfeelings,asIamsureyouknow.Buttheuncertaintyattendantonangelicstrangers,will,Ihope,excusewhatmustotherwiseappearanunwarrantablefamiliarity.”MissToxmadeagracefulbendasshespoke,infavourofMrDombey,whichthatgentlemangraciouslyacknowledged.EventhesortofrecognitionofDombeyandSon,conveyedintheforegoingconversation,wassopalatabletohim,thathissister,MrsChick—thoughheaffectedtoconsiderheraweakgood-naturedperson—hadperhapsmoreinfluenceoverhimthananybodyelse. “MydearPaul,”thatladybrokeoutafresh,aftersilentlycontemplatinghisfeaturesforafewmoments,“Idon’tknowwhethertolaughorcrywhenIlookatyou,Ideclare,youdosoremindmeofthatdearbabyupstairs.” “Well!”saidMrsChick,withasweetsmile,“afterthis,IforgiveFannyeverything!” ItwasadeclarationinaChristianspirit,andMrsChickfeltthatitdidhergood.Notthatshehadanythingparticulartoforgiveinhersister-in-law,norindeedanythingatall,exceptherhavingmarriedherbrother—initselfaspeciesofaudacity—andherhaving,inthecourseofevents,givenbirthtoagirlinsteadofaboy:which,asMrsChickhadfrequentlyobserved,wasnotquitewhatshehadexpectedofher,andwasnotapleasantreturnforalltheattentionanddistinctionshehadmetwith. MrDombeybeinghastilysummonedoutoftheroomatthismoment,thetwoladieswereleftalonetogether.MissToximmediatelybecamespasmodic. “Iknewyouwouldadmiremybrother.Itoldyousobeforehand,mydear,”saidLouisa.MissTox’shandsandeyesexpressedhowmuch.“Andastohisproperty,mydear!” “Ah!”saidMissTox,withdeepfeeling. “Im-mense!” “Buthisdeportment,mydearLouisa!”saidMissTox.“Hispresence!Hisdignity!NoportraitthatIha