CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

seen her look, often and often, old, old, old, like him. I have heard her,
many a time, talk just like him. I consider that child and Betsey Jane on
the same footing entirely, Miss Berry.'
'Is your uncle's child alive?' asked Berry.
'Yes, Miss, she is alive,' returned Mrs. Wickam with an air of triumph, for
it was evident Miss Berry expected the reverse; 'and is married to a
silverchaser. Oh yes, Miss, SHE is alive,' said Mrs. Wickam, laying strong
stress on her nominative case.
It being clear that somebody was dead, Mrs. Pipchin's niece inquired who it
was.
'I wouldn't wish to make you uneasy,' returned Mrs. Wickam, pursuing her
supper. 'Don't ask me.'
This was the surest way of being asked again. Miss Berry repeated her
question, therefore; and after some resistance, and reluctance, Mrs. Wickam
laid down her knife, and again glancing round the room and at Paul in bed,
replied:
'She took fancies to people; whimsical fancies, some of them; others,
affections that one might expect to see--only stronger than common. They all
died.'
This was so very unexpected and awful to Mrs. Pipchin's niece, that she sat
upright on the hard edge of the bedstead, breathing short, and surveying her
informant with looks of undisguised alarm.
Mrs. Wickam shook her left fore-finger stealthily towards the bed where
Florence lay; then turned it upside down, and made several emphatic points
at the floor; immediately below which was the parlour in which Mrs. Pipchin
habitually consumed the toast.
'Remember my words, Miss Berry,' said Mrs. Wickam, 'and be thankful that