New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-19
LITTLE DORRIT.
IN TWO BOOKS.
RY CHARLES DICKENS.
cOSTISUED.l
CHAPTER V.
FAMILY AFFAIRS.

As ,be city clocks struck nine on Monday morning,
Mrs Cennam was wheeled 10y Jeremiah fhnt"ihch
of the cut-down aspect to her tall cabinet "heh sue
I'd ull oil md opened it. and had settled herself at
ia de.k. jeremiah Withdrawals it might be, to hang
biu,self more efecuolly-and her son appeared.
Are Won ans better this oIning mother!
She shook her head with the same austere air OF
luxutiousness that she had shown overnight when
speaking of the weather. IL shall never be better any
more. 1t i, well for me, Arthur, that know 1t anl
can bear II. -, 80. l., ,,,or tho dost
and the tall cabinet towering before her. she looked as
Il abe were performing dumb churcn-orgah. fier
son ttoubt 20 al wac an ol thVugh' WIN "i'HI WYNN
sbe onened a drawer or two looked over some bust
ness paers and put them back again. Her severe face
had no thread OtroaXatoni IN II, by Whch any SAPon
could have been guided TO the gloomy labyrinth Oh hei
thoughts. H., 49,. - -
" Shall speak of our affairs, mother Are you H.
clned to enter upon business W.
+" Am Inclined Arthur Rather, are you iOur
faith, has becp dead wear and more. have zen at
your disposal and waiting your pleasure, ever shce
There was much to arrange before couiu leaNe
aud when did leave, travaed little Tor rost anu
She turned her face towards him, as not having
heard or understood his last words.
For rest aud relief
She glanced round the sOmber room and appeared
from the motion Of her hips repeat the words To her
self as calling 1t to witness how little OF either 1t al
forded her. o.o.s oD5
''Besides mother, you being sole execptrix, ana
having the direction and management OF the estate,
there remained little business, or | might say none,
that could transact until you had had time TO arrange
matters to your satisfaction: ~,
1.-THE accounts made out, she returned, " L
have them here. Tie vouchers have all been exam
med and passed You can inspec; them when you
Ike, Arthur; now, if you please
at is quite enough, mother, TO know that the DuSl-
meas is completed. Shall proceed them
"Why not :" she said, in her frozen way.
"Nother our House has done less aud less for some
years past; and our dealings nave 9een prosteSsNeg
dence, OF invited much; have attached no people
10 us the track have kept Is not the track OF the
time; and We have been left far behind need mol
dwell on this TO you mother. lou know necessarily.
al know what you mean she answered in quail
fed tone.
Even this old house in which we speak" pursued
her son as an instance of what say In my father
esrer time and in his unc!e time before him, II was
a place Of business-really place OF business, ana
business resort. Now, il is mere anomaly ana IN,
congruity here, OUT Of date and ont oil purpose AL
our consignments have long been made to Rowing
hams the COMMITS ion mere ants; and although as
check upon them, and in the stewardship OF my
father resources, your Judgment ana WstchluneS
have been actively eXeTtea, stu those quan.eS wou
have Influenced my fathers fortunes equally II you
had lived in any private dwelling: would they not g
"Do YOU consider" she returned without answer
ing his question - that house serves no purpose Ar
thur in she,ering your infrIn and aitcted-lusiy n-
firm and rghteously sfiicted-motherl =
81 was speaking only OF business purposes
With what object ~
Il am coming TO H..
81 foresee" she returned, fixing her eyes upon him,
what II is But the Lord forbid that should repine
under any yi,atation In my snfGlness merit bitter
disappointment, and accept 1t.
Mother, / gricve to hear you speak like this,
though l have lad my apprehensions that you
would
"You knew would. You knew me- she inter-
upted II. :.
Her son paused for a moment, He bad struck hre
out Of her and surprised. Wen! she sai' IT,
lansing into stone GO ou Let me hear"
You have anticipated mother, that decide 10Y
my part. TO abandon the business. have done with
it. l will not take upon myself to advise you; you
viii continue II, sec. If had any influence WIN
you, would SIMPLY use it to soften your judgment ot
me in causing you this disappointment; To represent
toyou that have lived the half of long term OF NE
and have never set my own will against yours:
cannSt SAY that l have been abe to conform
myself, in heart and spirit, to your rules
4 cannot say that | believe my forty year,
have been profitable or pleasant 10 myself OF any one;