Staring wide, she tries to nod in answer.
`Can you recollect the night before I married?'
The head is motionless, but it expresses somehow that she does.
`I told you then I forgave your part in it, and prayed God to forgive my own. I told you that the past was at an end between us. I say so now, again. Kiss me, mother.'
Edith touches the white lips, and for a moment all is still. A moment afterwards, her mother, with her girlish laugh, and the skeleton of the Cleopatra manner, rises in her bed.
Draw the rose-coloured curtains. There is something else upon its flight besides the wind and clouds. Draw the rosecoloured curtains close!
Intelligence of the event is sent to Mr. Dombey in town, who waits upon Cousin Feenix (not yet able to make up his mind for Baden-Baden), who has just received it too. A goodnatured creature like Cousin Feenix is the very man for a marriage or a funeral, and his position in the family renders it right that he should be consulted.
`Dombey,' said Cousin Feenix, `upon my soul, I am very much shocked to see you on such a melancholy occasion. My poor aunt! She was a devilish lively woman.'
Mr. Dombey replies, `Very much so.'
`And made up,' says Cousin Feenix, `really young, you know, considering. I am sure, on the day of your marriage, I thought she was good for another twenty years. In point of fact, I said so to a man at Brook's-- little Billy Joper--you know him, no doubt--man with a glass in his eye?'
Mr. Dombey bows a negative. `In reference to the obsequies,' he hints, `whether there is any suggestion
`Well, upon my life,' says Cousin Feenix, stroking his chin, which he has just enough of hand below his wristbands to do; `I really don't know. There's a Mausoleum down at my place, in the park, but I'm afraid it's in bad repair, and, in point of fact, in a devil of a state. But for being a little out at elbows, I should have had it put to rights; but I believe the people come and make pic-nic parties there inside the iron railings.'
Mr. Dombey is clear that this won't do.
`There's an uncommon good church in the village,' says Cousin Feenix, thoughtfully; `pure specimen of the AngloNorman style, and admirably well sketched too by Lady Jane Finchbury--woman with tight stays--but they've spoilt it with whitewash, I understand, and it's a long journey.'
`Perhaps Brighton itself,' Mr. Dombey suggests.
`Upon my honour, Dombey, I don't think we could do better,' says Cousin Feenix. `It's on the spot, you see, and a very cheerful place.'
`And when,' hints Mr. Dombey, `would it be convenient?'
`I shall make a point,' says Cousin Feenix, `of pledging myself for any day you think best. I shall have
great pleasure (melancholy pleasure, of course) in following my poor aunt to the confines of the
`Would Monday do for leaving town?' says Mr. Dombey.