New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-07-19

entertainment OF the other very tall young msn on
hire. as the couple turned into the dining room.
Florence and Edith were already there and sit
ting side by side. Flcrcncs would have risen
when her father entered. % resign her chair 70
him but Edith openly put her hand upon her arm.
aud Mr. Dombey took an opposite place at the round
table.
The conversation was almost entirely sustained
by Mrs Skewton. Florence hardly dared 10 raise
her eyes. lest they should reveal { traces OF
tears far less dared % speak and Edith never Ut.
tered one word, unless IA answer % question.
Verify Cleopatra worked hard Tor the establish.
ment that wss 50 nearly clutched, aud verify Il
should have been a rich one 10 reward her!
And your preparations are nearly finished al
last my dear D0mbey p said Cleopatra, when the
dessert was put upon the table. and the silver
headed butler had withdrawn. " Even the law
yers preparations
.. Yes madam replied Mr. D0mbey " the deed
Of settlement the professional gentlemen inform
me is now ready. and rs | was mentioning to you,
Edith has only 70 DO the favor 10 suggest her
own time for its execution
Edith SAT, like a handsome statue as cold. rs
silent and as still
NV dearest love. said Cleopatra do YOU hear
what Mir Dombey SAYS All my dear Dombey
aside % that gentleman, How her absence as the
/ time approaches, reminds me OF the days, when
that most agreeable OF creatures, her papa, in
/ your situation!
Il have nothing to suggest. IL shall be when
you please said Edith. scarcely looking over the
table az Mr.. Dombey.
Tomorrow D. suggested Mr. Dombey.
II you please.
'Or would next day" said Mr.. Dombey, suit
/ your engagements better "
" | have no engagements. l am always AZ your
disposal. Let II be when you like
No engagements, my dear Edith " remon-
strated her mother when you are IN a most terri
bic state of furry all day long, and have thousand
and one appointments with all sorts OF tradespeo
pie W
They are Of your making, returned Edith,
turning on her with a slight contraction of her
brow. You and Mr.. Dombey can arrange be
tween you
/ Very true, indeed my love and most consd.
crate OF YOU said Cleopatra " My darling Flor
ence, you must really COME and Kiss me once more,
If you please my dear
Singular coincidence that these gushes of inter
est in Florence hurried Cleopatra away from al
most every dialogue In which Edith had share
/ however trihing Florence had certainly never
undergone so much embracing, and perhaps had
never been, unconsciousy, so useful in her HE.
Mr. DOmbey was far from quarrellng. IN his own
breast with the manner OF his beautiful betrothed.
. He had that good reason for sympathy with haugh-
tness and GOODNESS which is found In fellow feel
ing. Ii tlattered him TO think how these deferred
u him In Edith case, and seemed 20 have no Will
apart from his Ii battered him to picture TO him
sell, TINS proud anu stately NoiuAh uollS tne HOhors
Of his house, and chilling his guests after his own
manner The dignity Of Dombey and Son would be
. heightened and maintained indeed, Ia such bands
so thought Mr. Dombey. when he wss left alone
at the dining.tabe, and unused upon his past and
future fortunes finding no uncongenallty IN an air
of scant and gloomy state that pervaded the room,
in color dark brown with black Indictments OF
pictures botching the walls and twenty four black
chairs with almost as many nails in them as so
many collins, waiting like mutes, upon the thresh-
old OF the Turkey carpet: and two exhausted ne
groes holding up two wlthercd branches OF Candida
bra on the side board, and a musty smell prevailing
as II the ashes of ten thousand dinners were en-
tombed in the sarcophagus below it, The owner
of the house lived much abroad the air OF England
seldom agreed long with n member Of the h eenlx
family and the room had gradually put itself into
deeper and still deeper mourning tor him, until II
was become SO unereal as 30 want nothing but a
body in 1t ~ be quite complete.
No bad representation OF the body, Tor the nonce,
in his unbendiDg form, If not in his attitude, Mr.
Dombey looked down into the cold depths OF the
dead sea Of mahogany on which the fruit dishes
aud decanters lay at anchor; as II the subjects OF
his thoughts were rising toward the surface one by
one. and plungiug down again. Edith was there
IN all her majesty Of brow and figure and close 10
her came Florence, with her timid head turned to
hin, as il had been. for instant when she lett
the room and Ediths eyes upon her and Edith 5
hand put out prOtectingy. A little hgure IN low
j
looked upon him wonderIngly, with its bright eyes
and It's oldy Dung face cleaning IN the tckerlng
. OF an evening fire. Again came Florence close
upon IT, and absorbed his whole attention. Whe-
Their as a iorc-doomed difficulty and disappointment
/ 70 him whether as q rival who had crossed him IN
his way, aud might again, whether as his child, OF
whom in his successful wOoing, he could stoOp 10
think as claiming. at such n time, 20 be no more
estranged or whether as a hint 10 him that the
mere appearance OF caringi his own blood should
be maintained in his new relations he best knew
IndiiFerenty well, perhaps, at best for marriage
company and marriage affairs and ambitious scenes
still biotted here and there with florence-al-
WAYS Florence-turned up so fast, and 50 confused
ly that he rose and went up stairs 20 escape them
IL was quite late at night before candles were
brought for at present they made Mrs Ske"tons
head ache she complained and in the meantime
Florence and Mrs. SkewtOn talked together Cleo
patra being very anxious 10 keep her close 10 her
self or Florence touched the piano softly Tor Mrs
Skewton's delight 10 make no mention OF lew
occasions In the course OF the evening when mat
aiectiOnate lady was impelled to solicit another
kiss and which always happened alter bdith mad
said anything They were not many however, Tor
Edith sat apart by an open window during the
whole time lin spite OF her mother Tears that she
would take cold,l and remained there until Mr..
. DOmbey took leave He was serenely gracious 70
Florence when he did 20 and Florence went 10
bed in room within Ediths. so happy and hopeful,
that she thought Of her late self as II II were some
other poor deserted girl who was 70 be pitled tor
her sorrow and in her pity sobbed herself ~ sleep
The week fed fast. There were drives % MILL
ners dress makers jewellers, lawyers florists, pas
try cooks and Florence was always OF the party
Florence was ~ 20 70 tie wedding. Florence was
10 cast OFT her mourning. and 70 wear brilliant
dress on the occasion The milllners lntentions on
the subjectofth this dress-the niliner was French
woman and greatly resembled Mrs. skewton-
were so chsste aud elegant that Mrs. Skewton be
spoke one like Il for herself The mililner said II
would become her 10 admiration and that all the
world would take her for the young ladys sister.
The week fed faster Edith looked al nothing
and cared Tor nothing Her rch dresses came nome,
and were tried on, and were loudly commended by
Mrs SkeWt0n and the milliners aud were puta"sy
without word from her Mrs. Skewton made
their plans for every day and executed them
Sometimes Edith sat IN the carriage when lhey
went % make purchases sometimes when II gas
absolutely necessary, she went into the shops. pug
Mrs Skewton conducted the whole business "hat
ever IL happened 10 be and Edith looked on as IN
Interested and with as much apparent indinefehoe
as il she had no concern 10 IT, Florence ml9ht per
haps have thought she was naughty ana iistleAs'
bus that she was never 50 70 her % Florence
qgencned her wonder IN her gratIuue whenever +"