u quite surprise me!' And again he uttered
never a word.

'May I go on?' said John Carker, mildly.

'On your way?' replied his smiling brother. 'If you will have the
goodness.

John Carker, with a sigh, was passing slowly out at the door, when his
brother's voice detained him for a moment on the threshold.

'If she has gone, and goes, her own way cheerfully,' he said, throwing
the still unfolded letter on his desk, and putting his hands firmly in
his pockets, 'you may tell her that I go as cheerfully on mine. If she
has never once looked back, you may tell her that I have, sometimes, to
recall her taking part with you, and that my resolution is no easier to
wear away;' he smiled very sweetly here; 'than marble.'

'I tell her nothing of you. We never speak about you. Once a year, on
your birthday, Harriet says always, "Let us remember James by name, and
wish him happy," but we say no more.'

'Tell it then, if you please,' returned the other, 'to yourself. You
can't repeat it too often, as a lesson to you to avoid the subject in
speaking to me. I know no Harriet Carker. There is no such person. You
may have a sister; make much of her. I have none.'

Mr Carker the Manager took up the letter again, and waved it with a
smile of mock courtesy towards the door. Unfolding it as his brother
withdrew, and looking darkly after him as he left the room, he once
more turned round in his elbow-chair, and applied himself to a diligent
perusal of its contents.

It was in the writing of his great chief, Mr Dombey, and dated from
Leamington. Though he was a quick reader of all other letters, Mr Carker
read this slowly; weighing the words as he went, and bringing every
tooth in his head to bear upon them. When he had read it through once,
he turned it over again, and picked out these passages. 'I find myself
benefited by the change, and am not yet inclined to name any time for my
return.' 'I wish, Carker, you would arrange to come down once and see me
here, and let me know how things are going on, in person.' 'I omitted
to speak to you about young Gay. If not gone per Son and Heir, or if Son
and Heir still lying in the Docks, appoint some other young man and
keep him in the City for the present. I am not decided.' 'Now that's
unfortunate!' said Mr Carker the Manager, expanding his mouth, as if it
were made of India-rubber: 'for he's far away.'

Still that passage, which was in a postscript, attracted his attention
and his teeth,