here, of
explaining himself, and has been satisfied with none. Mr John, I am not
quite a stranger here. You were stricken with astonishment when you saw
me at your door just now. I observe you are more astonished at present.
Well! That's reasonable enough under existing circumstances. If we were
not such creatures of habit as we are, we shouldn't have reason to be
astonished half so often.'

By this time, he had greeted Harriet with that able mingling of
cordiality and respect which she recollected so well, and had sat down
near her, pulled off his gloves, and thrown them into his hat upon the
table.

'There's nothing astonishing,' he said, 'in my having conceived a desire
to see your sister, Mr John, or in my having gratified it in my own way.
As to the regularity of my visits since (which she may have mentioned
to you), there is nothing extraordinary in that. They soon grew into a
habit; and we are creatures of habit--creatures of habit!'

Putting his hands into his pockets, and leaning back in his chair, he
looked at the brother and sister as if it were interesting to him to
see them together; and went on to say, with a kind of irritable
thoughtfulness:

'It's this same habit that confirms some of us, who are capable of
better things, in Lucifer's own pride and stubbornness--that confirms
and deepens others of us in villainy--more of us in indifference--that
hardens us from day to day, according to the temper of our clay, like
images, and leaves us as susceptible as images to new impressions and
convictions. You shall judge of its influence on me, John. For more
years than I need name, I had my small, and exactly defined share, in
the management of Dombey's House, and saw your brother (who has proved
himself a scoundrel! Your sister will forgive my being obliged to
mention it) extending and extending his influence, until the business
and its owner were his football; and saw you toiling at your obscure
desk every day; and was quite content to be as little troubled as I
might be, out of my own strip of duty, and to let everything about me go
on, day by day, unquestioned, like a great machine--that was its habit
and mine--and to take it all for granted, and consider it all right.
My Wednesday nights came regularly round, our quartette parties came
regularly off, my violoncello was in good tune, and there was nothing
wrong in my world--or if anything not much--or little or much, it was no
affair of mine.'

'I can