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I never can remember those frightful names without having your whole Soul and Being inspired by the sight of Nature; by the perfume, said Mrs Skewton, rustling a handkerchief that was faint and sickly with essences, 'of her artless breath, you creature!
'Then perhaps I had better answer it myself, said Mrs Skewton, 'though I had thought of asking you to be my secretary, darling. As Edith made no movement, and no answer, Mrs Skewton begged the Major to wheel her little table nearer, and to set open the desk it contained, and to take out pen and paper for her; all which congenial offices of gallantry the Major discharged, with much submission and devotion.
Mrs Skewton and Edith were driven to their own lodgings; Mr Carker was graciously invited by Cleopatra to return thither with Mr Dombey and the Major, in the evening, to hear some of Edith's music; and the three gentlemen repaired to their hotel to dinner. The dinner was the counterpart of yesterday's, except that the Major was twenty-four hours more triumphant and less mysterious.
Falsest of Majors, giving him her little finger, 'how do you do? 'Mrs Skewton, said Mr Dombey, 'let me gratify my friend Carker: Mr Dombey unconsciously emphasised the word friend, as saying "no really; I do allow him to take credit for that distinction:" 'by presenting him to you. You have heard me mention Mr Carker. 'I am charmed, I am sure, said Mrs Skewton, graciously.
If you take old Josh at all, you take him as you find him; and a devilish rusty, old rasper, of a close-toothed, J. B. file, you do find him. Dombey, said the Major, 'your wife's mother is on the move, Sir. 'I fear, returned Mr Dombey, with much philosophy, 'that Mrs Skewton is shaken. 'Shaken, Dombey! said the Major. 'Smashed!
But Mrs Skewton conducted the whole business, whatever it happened to be; and Edith looked on as uninterested and with as much apparent indifference as if she had no concern in it. Florence might perhaps have thought she was haughty and listless, but that she was never so to her. So Florence quenched her wonder in her gratitude whenever it broke out, and soon subdued it. The week fled faster.
'You wonder how she comes here? said Mrs Skewton, 'don't you? 'Edith, perhaps suggested Mr Dombey. 'Ah! wicked guesser! replied Cleopatra, shaking her head. 'Ah! cunning, cunning man! One shouldn't tell these things; your sex, my dear Dombey, are so vain, and so apt to abuse our weakness; but you know my open soul very well; immediately.
As Withers disappeared, Mrs Skewton turned her head languidly towards the Major, without otherwise moving, and asked him how his friend was. 'Dombey, Ma'am, returned the Major, with a facetious gurgling in his throat, 'is as well as a man in his condition can be. His condition is a desperate one, Ma'am. He is touched, is Dombey! Touched! cried the Major. 'He is bayonetted through the body.
Florence and Edith were already there, and sitting side by side. Florence would have risen when her father entered, to resign her chair to him; but Edith openly put her hand upon her arm, and Mr Dombey took an opposite place at the round table. The conversation was almost entirely sustained by Mrs Skewton.
'Oh! cried Mrs Skewton, with a faded little scream of rapture, 'the Castle is charming! associations of the Middle Ages and all that which is so truly exquisite. Don't you dote upon the Middle Ages, Mr Carker? 'Very much, indeed, said Mr Carker. 'Such charming times! cried Cleopatra. 'So full of faith! So vigorous and forcible! So picturesque! So perfectly removed from commonplace! Oh dear!
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