the picture in the morning, so he looked at her
afterwards, when she turned her eyes away.

'I am directed to request,' he said, 'that the new housekeeper--Mrs
Pipchin, I think, is the name--'

Nothing escaped him. He saw in an instant, that she was another slight
of Mr Dombey's on his wife.

'--may be informed that Mr Dombey wishes to have his bed prepared in
his own apartments downstairs, as he prefers those rooms to any other.
I shall return to Mr Dombey almost immediately. That every possible
attention has been paid to his comfort, and that he is the object of
every possible solicitude, I need not assure you, Madam. Let me again
say, there is no cause for the least alarm. Even you may be quite at
ease, believe me.'

He bowed himself out, with his extremest show of deference and
conciliation; and having returned to Mr Dombey's room, and there
arranged for a carriage being sent after him to the City, mounted his
horse again, and rode slowly thither. He was very thoughtful as he went
along, and very thoughtful there, and very thoughtful in the carriage
on his way back to the place where Mr Dombey had been left. It was only
when sitting by that gentleman's couch that he was quite himself again,
and conscious of his teeth.

About the time of twilight, Mr Dombey, grievously afflicted with aches
and pains, was helped into his carriage, and propped with cloaks and
pillows on one side of it, while his confidential agent bore him company
upon the other. As he was not to be shaken, they moved at little more
than a foot pace; and hence it was quite dark when he was brought home.
Mrs Pipchin, bitter and grim, and not oblivious of the Peruvian mines,
as the establishment in general had good reason to know, received him at
the door, and freshened the domestics with several little sprinklings
of wordy vinegar, while they assisted in conveying him to his room. Mr
Carker remained in attendance until he was safe in bed, and then, as
he declined to receive any female visitor, but the excellent Ogress who
presided over his household, waited on Mrs Dombey once more, with his
report on her lord's condition.

He again found Edith alone with Florence, and he again addressed the
whole of his soothing speech to Edith, as if she were a prey to the
liveliest and most affectionate anxieties. So earnest he was in his
respectful sympathy, that on taking leave, he ventured--with one more
glance towards Florence at the moment--to take her ha