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

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

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'Mrs. Pipchin told me I wasn't to ask questions,' returned Paul.<br />

'I must beg you not to mention Mrs. Pipchin to me, on any account, <strong>Dombey</strong>,'<br />

returned Miss Blimber. 'I couldn't think of allowing it. The course of study<br />

here, is very far removed from anything of that sort. A repetition of such<br />

allusions would make it necessary for me to request to hear, without a<br />

mistake, before breakfast-time to-morrow morning, from Verbum personale down<br />

to simillima cygno.'<br />

'I didn't mean, Ma'am--' began little Paul.<br />

'I must trouble you not to tell me that you didn't mean, if you please,<br />

<strong>Dombey</strong>,' said Miss Blimber, who preserved an awful politeness in her<br />

admonitions. 'That is a line of argument I couldn't dream of permitting.'<br />

Paul felt it safest to say nothing at all, so he only looked at Miss<br />

Blimber's spectacles. Miss Blimber having shaken her head at him gravely,<br />

referred to a paper lying before her.<br />

'"Analysis of the character of P. <strong>Dombey</strong>." If my recollection serves me,'<br />

said Miss Blimber breaking off, 'the word analysis as opposed to synthesis,<br />

is thus defined by Walker. "The resolution of an object, whether of the<br />

senses or of the intellect, into its first elements." As opposed to<br />

synthesis, you observe. Now you know what analysis is, <strong>Dombey</strong>.'<br />

<strong>Dombey</strong> didn't seem to be absolutely blinded by the light let in upon his<br />

intellect, but he made Miss Blimber a little bow.<br />

'"Analysis,"' resumed Miss Blimber, casting her eye over the paper, '"of the<br />

character of P. <strong>Dombey</strong>." I find that the natural capacity of <strong>Dombey</strong> is<br />

extremely good; <strong>and</strong> that his general disposition to study may be stated in<br />

an equal ratio. Thus, taking eight as our st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>and</strong> highest number, I<br />

find these qualities in <strong>Dombey</strong> stated each at six three-fourths!'<br />

Miss Blimber paused to see how Paul received this news. Being undecided

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