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

Paul heard Lady Skettles say to Mrs. Blimber, while she beat time with her
fan, that her dear boy was evidently smitten to death by that angel of a
child, Miss Dombey, it would seem that Skettles Junior was in a state of
bliss, without showing it.
Little Paul thought it a singular coincidence that nobody had occupied his
place among the pillows; and that when he came into the room again, they
should all make way for him to go back to it, remembering it was his. Nobody
stood before him either, when they observed that he liked to see Florence
dancing, but they left the space in front quite clear, so that he might
follow her with his eyes. They were so kind too, even the strangers, of whom
there were soon a great many, that they came and spoke to him every now and
then, and asked him how he was, and if his head ached, and whether he was
tired. He was very much obliged to them for all their kindness and
attention, and reclining propped up in his corner, with Mrs. Blimber and
Lady Skettles on the same sofa, and Florence coming and sitting by his side
as soon as every dance was ended, he looked on very happily indeed.
Florence would have sat by him all night, and would not have danced at all
of her own accord, but Paul made her, by telling her how much it pleased
him. And he told her the truth, too; for his small heart swelled, and his
face glowed, when he saw how much they all admired her, and how she was the
beautiful little rosebud of the room.
From his nest among the pillows, Paul could see and hear almost everything
that passed, as if the whole were being done for his amusement. Among other
little incidents that the observed, he observed Mr. Baps the dancing-master
get into conversation with Sir Barnet Skettles, and very soon ask him, as he
had asked Mr. Toots, what you were to do with your raw materials, when they
came into your ports in return for your drain of gold--which was such a
mystery to Paul that he was quite desirous to know what ought to be done
with them. Sir Barnet Skettles had much to say upon the question, and said
it; but it did not appear to solve the question, for Mr. Baps retorted, Yes,
but supposing Russia stepped in with her tallows; which struck Sir Barnet
almost dumb, for he could only shake his head after that, and say, Why then
you must fall back upon your cottons, he supposed.