and respect, expressed in it, he felt the blood rush to his own face quite as plainly as the watchful eyes upon him saw it there.

`Mrs. Dombey and myself,' he went on to say, `had some discussion, before Mrs. Skewton's death, upon the cause of my dissatisfaction; of which you will have formed a general understanding from having been a witness of what passed between Mrs. Dombey and myself on the evening when you were at our--at my house.'

`When I so much regretted being present,' said the smiling Carker. `Proud as a man in my position necessarily must be of your familiar notice--though I give you no credit for it; you may do anything you please without losing caste-and honoured as I was by an early presentation to Mrs. Dombey, before she was made eminent by bearing your name, I almost regretted that night, I assure you, that I had been the object of such especial good fortune.'

That any man could, under any possible circumstances, regret the being distinguished by his condescension and patronage, was a moral phenomenon which Mr. Dombey could not comprehend. He therefore responded, with a considerable accession of dignity. `Indeed! And why, Carker?'

`I fear,' returned the confidential agent, `that Mrs. Dombey, never very much disposed to regard me with favourable interest--one in my position could not expect that, from a lady naturally proud, and whose pride becomes her so well--may not easily forgive my innocent part in that conversation. Your displeasure is no light matter, you must remember; and to be visited with it before a third party--'

`Carker,' said Mr. Dombey, arrogantly; `I presume that I am the first consideration?'

`Oh! Can there be a doubt about it?' replied the other, with the impatience of a man admitting a notorious and incontrovertible fact.

`Mrs. Dombey becomes a secondary consideration, when we are both in question, I imagine,' said Mr. Dombey. `Is that so?'

`Is it so?' returned Carker. `Do you know better than any one, that you have no need to ask?'

`Then I hope, Carker,' said Mr. Dombey, `that your regret in the acquisition of Mrs. Dombey's displeasure, may be almost counterbalanced by your satisfaction in retaining my confidence and good opinion.'

`I have the misfortune, I find,' returned Carker, `to have incurred that displeasure. Mrs. Dombey has expressed it to you?'

`Mrs. Dombey has expressed various opinions,' said Mr. Dombey, with majestic coldness and indifference, `in which I do not participate, and which I am not inclined to discuss, or to recall. I made Mrs. Dombey acquainted, some time since, as I have already told you, with certain points of domestic deference and submission on which I felt it necessary to insist. I failed to convince Mrs. Dombey of the expediency of her immediately altering her conduct in those respects, with a view to her own peace and welfare, and my dignity; and I informed Mrs. Dombey that if I should find it necessary to object or remonstrate again, I should express my opinion to her through yourself, my confidential agent.'

Blended with the look, that Carker bent upon him, was a devilish look at the picture over his head, that struck upon it like a flash of lightning.

`Now, Carker,' said Mr. Dombey, `I do not hesitate to say to you that I will carry my point. I am not to be trifled with. Mrs. Dombey must understand that my will is law, and that I cannot allow of one exception to the whole rule of my life. You will have the goodness to undertake this charge, which, coming from me, is not unacceptable to you, I hope, whatever regret you may politely profess--for which I am obliged