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

'You are the next?' muttered the Manager. 'Yes! Creditable to me! There!'
Pointing to the heaps of opened letters, he turned disdainfully away, in his
elbow-chair, and broke the seal of that one which he held in his hand.
'I am sorry to trouble you, James,' said the brother, gathering them up,
'but'
'Oh! you have something to say. I knew that. Well?'
Mr. Carker the Manager did not raise his eyes or turn them on his brother,
but kept them on his letter, though without opening it.
'Well?' he repeated sharply.
'I am uneasy about Harriet.'
'Harriet who? what Harriet? I know nobody of that name.'
'She is not well, and has changed very much of late.'
'She changed very much, a great many years ago,' replied the Manager; 'and
that is all I have to say.'
'I think if you would hear me--'
'Why should I hear you, Brother John?' returned the Manager, laying a
sarcastic emphasis on those two words, and throwing up his head, but not
lifting his eyes. 'I tell you, Harriet Carker made her choice many years ago
between her two brothers. She may repent it, but she must abide by it.'
'Don't mistake me. I do not say she does repent it. It would be black
ingratitude in me to hint at such a thing,' returned the other. 'Though
believe me, James, I am as sorry for her sacrifice as you.'