CHAPTER I. Dombey and Son

veeverseenofanyonehasbeenhalfsorepletewiththosequalities.Somethingsostately,youknow:souncompromising:soverywideacrossthechest:soupright!ApecuniaryDukeofYork,mylove,andnothingshortofit!”saidMissTox.“That’swhatIshoulddesignatehim.” “Why,mydearPaul!”exclaimedhissister,ashereturned,“youlookquitepale!There’snothingthematter?” “Iamsorrytosay,Louisa,thattheytellmethatFanny—” “Now,mydearPaul,”returnedhissisterrising,“don’tbelieveit.Donotallowyourselftoreceiveaturnunnecessarily.Rememberofwhatimportanceyouaretosociety,anddonotallowyourselftobeworriedbywhatissoveryinconsideratelytoldyoubypeoplewhooughttoknowbetter.ReallyI’msurprisedatthem.” “IhopeIknow,Louisa,”saidMrDombey,stiffly,“howtobearmyselfbeforetheworld.” “Nobodybetter,mydearPaul.Nobodyhalfsowell.Theywouldbeignorantandbaseindeedwhodoubtedit.” “Ignorantandbaseindeed!”echoedMissToxsoftly. “But,”pursuedLouisa,“ifyouhaveanyrelianceonmyexperience,Paul,youmayrestassuredthatthereisnothingwantingbutaneffortonFanny’spart.Andthateffort,”shecontinued,takingoffherbonnet,andadjustinghercapandgloves,inabusiness-likemanner,“shemustbeencouraged,andreally,ifnecessary,urgedtomake.Now,mydearPaul,comeupstairswithme.” MrDombey,who,besidesbeinggenerallyinfluencedbyhissisterforthereasonalreadymentioned,hadreallyfaithinherasanexperiencedandbustlingmatron,acquiescedandfollowedher,atonce,tothesickchamber. Theladylayuponherbedashehadlefther,claspingherlittledaughtertoherbreast.Thechildclungcloseabouther,withthesameintensityasbefore,andneverraisedherhead,ormovedhersoftcheekfromhermother’sface,orlookedonthosewhostoodaround,orspoke,ormoved,orshedatear. “Restlesswithoutthelittlegirl,”theDoctorwhisperedMrDombey.“Wefounditbesttohaveherinagain.” “Cannothingbedone?”askedMrDombey. TheDoctorshookhishead.“Wecandonomore.” Thewindowsstoodopen,andthetwilightwasgatheringwithout. Thescentoftherestorativesthathadbeentriedwaspungentintheroom,buthadnofragranceinthedullandlanguidairtheladybreathed. Therewassuchasolemnstillnessroundthebedandthetwomedicalattendantsseemedtolookontheimpassiveformwithsomuchcompassionandsolittlehope,thatMrsChickwasforthemomentdivertedfromherpurpose.Butpresentlysummoningcourage,andwhatshecalledpresenceofmind,shesatdownbythebedside,andsaidinthelowprecisetoneofonewhoendeavourstoawakenasleeper: “Fanny!Fanny!” TherewasnosoundinanswerbuttheloudtickingofMrDombey’swatchandDoctorParkerPeps’swatch,whichseemedinthesilencetoberunningarace. “Fanny,mydear,”saidMrsChick,withassumedlightness,“here’sMrDombeycometoseeyou.Won’tyouspeaktohim?Theywanttolayyourlittleboy—thebaby,Fanny,youknowyouhavehardlyseenhimyet,Ithink—inbedbuttheycan’ttillyourouseyourselfalittle.Don’tyouthinkit’stimeyourousedyourselfalittle?Eh?” Shebenthereartothebed,andlistened:atthesametimelookingroundatthebystanders,andholdingupherfinger. “Eh?”sherepeated,“whatwasityousaid,Fanny?Ididn’thearyou.” Nowordorsoundinanswer.MrDombey’swatchandDrParkerPeps’swatchseemedtoberacingfaster. “Now,really,Fannymydear,”saidthesister-in-law,alteringherposition,andspeakinglessconfidently,andmoreearnestly,inspiteofherself,“Ishallhavetobequitecrosswithyou,ifyoudon’trouseyourself.It’snecessaryforyoutomakeaneffort,andperhapsaverygreatandpainfuleffortwhichyouarenotdisposedtomakebutthisisaworldofeffortyouknow,Fanny,andwemustneveryield,whensomuchdependsuponus.Come!Try!Imustreallyscoldyouifyoudon’t!” Theraceintheensuingpausewasfierceandfurious.Thewatchesseemedtojostle,andtotripeachotherup. “Fanny!”saidLouisa,glancinground,withagatheringalarm.“Onlylookatme.Onlyopenyoureyestoshowmethatyouhearandunderstandmewillyou?GoodHeaven,gentlemen,whatistobedone!” ThetwomedicalattendantsexchangedalookacrossthebedandthePhysician,stoopingdown,whisperedinthechild’sear.Nothavingunderstoodthepurportofhiswhisper,thelittlecreatureturnedherperfectlycolourlessfaceanddeepdarkeyestowardshimbutwithoutlooseningherholdintheleast. Thewhisperwasrepeated. “Mama!”saidthechild. Thelittlevoice,familiaranddearlyloved,awakenedsomeshowofconsciousness,evenatthatebb.Foramoment,theclosedeyelidstrembled,andthenostrilquivered,andthefaintestshadowofasmilewasseen. “Mama!”criedthechildsobbingaloud.“OhdearMama!ohdearMama!” TheDoctorgentlybrushedthescatteredringletsofthechild,asidefromthefaceandmouthofthemother.Alashowcalmtheylaytherehowlittlebreaththerewastostirthem! Thus,clingingfasttothatslightsparwithinherarms,themotherdriftedoutuponthedarkandunknownseathatrollsroundalltheworld.