She watched him still attentively. But he watched her too; and he saw that this indication of a knowledge on his part, of something that had passed between herself and her husband, rankled and smarted in her haughty breast, like a poisoned arrow.

`I do not recall all this to widen the breach between yourself and Mr. Dombey, Madam--Heaven forbid! what would it profit me?--but as an example of the hopelessness of impressing Mr. Dombey with a sense that anybody is to be considered when he is in question. We who are about him, have, in our various positions, done our part, I dare say, to confirm him in his way of thinking; but if we had not done so, others would--or they would not have been about him; and it has always been from the beginning, the very staple of his life. Mr. Dombey has had to deal, in short, with none but submissive and dependent persons, who have bowed the knee, and bent the neck, before him. He has never known what it is to have angry pride and strong resentment opposed to him.'

`But he will know it now!' she seemed to say; though her lips did not part, not her eyes falter. He saw the soft down tremble once again, and he saw her lay the plumage of the beautiful bird against her bosom for a moment; and he unfolded one more ring of the coil into which he had gathered himself.

`Mr. Dombey, though a most honourable gentleman,' he said, `is so prone to pervert even facts to his own view, when he is at all opposed, in consequence of the warp in his mind, that he--can I give a better instance than this!--he sincerely believes (you will excuse the folly of what I am about to say; it not being mine) that his severe expression of opinion to his present wife, on a certain special occasion she may remember, before the lamented death of Mrs. Skewton, produced a withering effect, and for the moment quite subdued her!'

Edith laughed. How harshly and unmusically need not be described. It is enough that he was glad to hear her.

`Madam,' he resumed, `I have done with this. Your own opinions are so strong, and, I am persuaded, so unalterable,' he repeated those words slowly and with great emphasis, `that I am almost afraid to incur your displeasure anew, when I say that in spite of these defects and my full knowledge of them, I have become habituated to Mr. Dombey, and esteem him. But when I say so, it is not, believe me, for the mere sake of vaunting a feeling that is so utterly at variance with your own, and for which you can have sympathy'--oh how distinct and plain and emphasized this was!--`but to give you an assurance of the zeal with which, in this unhappy matter, I am yours, and the indignation with which I regard the part I am required to fill!'

She sat as if were afraid to take her eyes from his face.

And now to unwind the last ring of the coil!

`It is growing late,' said Carker, after a pause, `and you are, as you said, fatigued. But the second object of this interview, I must not forget. I must recommend you, I must entreat you in the most earnest manner, for sufficient reasons that I have, to be cautious in your demonstrations of regard for Miss Dombey.'

`Cautious! What do you mean?'

`To be careful how you exhibit too much affection for that young lady.'

`Too much affection, Sir!' said Edith, knitting her broad brow and rising. `Who judges my affection, or measures it out? You?'

`It is not I who do so.' He was, or feigned to be, perplexed.

`Who then?'

`Can you not guess who then?'


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