Mrs. Skewton, prepared to greet her darling daughter and dear son-in-law with open arms, is appropriately attired for that purpose in a very youthful costume, with short sleeves. At present, however, her ripe charms are blooming in the shade of her own apartments, whence she had not emerged since she took possession of them a few hours ago, and where she is fast growing fretful, on account of the postponement of dinner. The maid who ought to be a skeleton, but is in truth a buxom damsel, is, on the other hand, in a most amiable state: considering her quarterly stipend much safer than heretofore, and foreseeing a great improvement in her board and lodging.
Where are the happy pair, for whom this brave home is waiting? Do steam, tide, wind, and horses, all abate their speed, to linger on such happiness? Does the swarm of loves and graces hovering about them retard their progress by its numbers? Are there so many flowers in their happy path, that they can scarcely move along, without entanglement in thornless roses, and sweetest briar?
They are here at last! The noise of wheels is heard, grows louder, and a carriage drives up to the door! A thundering knock from the obnoxious foreigner anticipates the rush of Mr. Towlinson and party to open it; and Mr. Dombey and his bride alight, and walk in arm in arm.
“My sweetest Edith!” cries an agitated voice upon the stairs. “My dearest Dombey!” and the short sleeves wreath themselves about the happy couple in turn, and embrace them.
Florence had come down to the hall too, but did not advance: reserving her timid welcome until these nearer and dearer transports should subside. But the eyes of Edith sought her out, upon the threshold; and dismissing her sensitive parent with a slight kiss on the cheek, she hurried on to Florence and embraced her.
“How do you do, Florence?” said Mr. Dombey, putting out his hand.
As Florence, trembling, raised it to her lips, she met his glance. The look was cold and distant enough, but it stirred her heart to think that she observed in it something more of interest than he had ever shown before. It even expressed a kind of faint surprise, and not a disagreeable surprise, at sight of her. She dared not raise her eyes to his any more; but she felt that he looked at her once again, and not less favourably. Oh what a thrill of joy shot through her, awakened by even this intangible and baseless confirmation of her hope that she would learn to win him, through her new and beautiful Mama!
“You will not be long dressing, Mrs. Dombey, I presume?” said Mr. Dombey.
“I shall be ready immediately.”
“Let them send up dinner in a quarter of an hour.”
With that Mr. Dombey stalked away to his own dressing-room, and Mrs. Dombey went upstairs to hers. Mrs. Skewton and Florence repaired to the drawing-room, where that excellent mother considered it incumbent on her to shed a few irrepressible tears, supposed to be forced from her by her daughter’s felicity; and which she was still drying, very gingerly, with a laced corner of her pocket-handkerchief, when her son-in-law appeared.
“And how, my dearest Dombey, did you find that delightfullest of cities, Paris?” she asked, subduing her emotion.
“It was cold,” returned Mr. Dombey.
“Gay as ever,” said Mrs. Skewton, “of course.”
“Not particularly. I thought it dull,” said Mr. Dombey.
“Fie, my dearest Dombey!” archly; “dull!”
“It made that impression upon me, Madam,” said Mr. Dombey, with grave politeness. “I believe Mrs. Dombey found it dull too. She mentioned once or twice that she thought it so.”
“Why, you naughty girl!” cried Mrs. Skewton, rallying her dear child, who now entered, “what dreadfully heretical things have you been saying about Paris?”
Edith raised her eyebrows with an air of weariness; and passing the folding-doors which were thrown open to display the suite of rooms in their new and handsome garniture, and barely glancing at them as she passed, sat down by Florence.
“My dear Dombey,” said Mrs. Skewton, “how charmingly these people have carried out every idea that we hinted. They have made a perfect palace of the house, positively.”
“It is handsome,” said Mr. Dombey, looking round. “I directed that no expense should be spared; and all that money could do, has been done, I believe.”
“And what can it not do, dear Dombey?” observed Cleopatra.
“It is powerful, Madam,” said Mr. Dombey.
He looked in his solemn way towards his wife, but not a word said she.
“I hope, Mrs. Dombey,” addressing her after a moment’s silence, with especial distinctness; “that these alterations meet with your approval?”
“They are as handsome as they can be,” she returned, with haughty carelessness. “They should be so, of course. And I suppose they are.”
An expression of scorn was habitual to the proud face, and seemed inseparable from it; but the contempt with which it received any appeal to admiration, respect, or consideration on the ground of his riches, no matter how slight or ordinary in itself,
