ntered no second look from her father,
although she saw him every day. Nor had she much communication in words
with her new Mama, who was imperious and proud to all the house but
her--Florence could not but observe that--and who, although she always
sent for her or went to her when she came home from visiting, and would
always go into her room at night, before retiring to rest, however late
the hour, and never lost an opportunity of being with her, was often her
silent and thoughtful companion for a long time together.

Florence, who had hoped for so much from this marriage, could not help
sometimes comparing the bright house with the faded dreary place out of
which it had arisen, and wondering when, in any shape, it would begin to
be a home; for that it was no home then, for anyone, though everything
went on luxuriously and regularly, she had always a secret misgiving.
Many an hour of sorrowful reflection by day and night, and many a tear
of blighted hope, Florence bestowed upon the assurance her new Mama had
given her so strongly, that there was no one on the earth more powerless
than herself to teach her how to win her father's heart. And soon
Florence began to think--resolved to think would be the truer
phrase--that as no one knew so well, how hopeless of being subdued or
changed her father's coldness to her was, so she had given her this
warning, and forbidden the subject in very compassion. Unselfish here,
as in her every act and fancy, Florence preferred to bear the pain of
this new wound, rather than encourage any faint foreshadowings of the
truth as it concerned her father; tender of him, even in her wandering
thoughts. As for his home, she hoped it would become a better one, when
its state of novelty and transition should be over; and for herself,
thought little and lamented less.

If none of the new family were particularly at home in private, it was
resolved that Mrs Dombey at least should be at home in public, without
delay. A series of entertainments in celebration of the late nuptials,
and in cultivation of society, were arranged, chiefly by Mr Dombey and
Mrs Skewton; and it was settled that the festive proceedings should
commence by Mrs Dombey's being at home upon a certain evening, and by
Mr and Mrs Dombey's requesting the honour of the company of a great many
incongruous people to dinner on the same day.

Accordingly, Mr Dombey produced a list of sundry eastern magnates who
were to be bidden to this