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

mistress's door, she said hurriedly to Florence, before leaving her for the
night:
'Your Pa's a going off, Miss Floy, to-morrow morning.'
'To-morrow morning, Susan?'
'Yes, Miss; that's the orders. Early.'
'Do you know,' asked Florence, without looking at her, 'where Papa is going,
Susan?'
'Not exactly, Miss. He's going to meet that precious Major first, and I must
say if I was acquainted with any Major myself (which Heavens forbid), it
shouldn't be a blue one!'
'Hush, Susan!' urged Florence gently.
'Well, Miss Floy,' returned Miss Nipper, who was full of burning
indignation, and minded her stops even less than usual. 'I can't help it,
blue he is, and while I was a Christian, although humble, I would have
natural-coloured friends, or none.'
It appeared from what she added and had gleaned downstairs, that Mrs. Chick
had proposed the Major for Mr. Dombey's companion, and that Mr. Dombey,
after some hesitation, had invited him.
'Talk of him being a change, indeed!' observed Miss Nipper to herself with
boundless contempt. 'If he's a change give me a constancy.'
'Good night, Susan,' said Florence.
'Good night, my darling dear Miss Floy.'
Her tone of commiseration smote the chord so often roughly touched, but
never listened to while she or any one looked on. Florence left alone, laid