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

seen the gentleman away?'
'I don't know, mother.' Rob hesitated, and looked down. 'Father--when's he
coming home?'
'Not till two o'clock to-morrow morning.'
'I'll come back, mother dear!' cried Rob. And passing through the shrill cry
of his brothers and sisters in reception of this promise, he followed Mr.
Carker out.
'What!' said Mr. Carker, who had heard this. 'You have a bad father, have
you?'
'No, Sir!' returned Rob, amazed. 'There ain't a better nor a kinder father
going, than mine is.'
'Why don't you want to see him then?' inquired his patron.
'There's such a difference between a father and a mother, Sir,' said Rob,
after faltering for a moment. 'He couldn't hardly believe yet that I was
going to do better--though I know he'd try to--but a mother--she always
believes what's good, Sir; at least I know my mother does, God bless her!'
Mr. Carker's mouth expanded, but he said no more until he was mounted on his
horse, and had dismissed the man who held it, when, looking down from the
saddle steadily into the attentive and watchful face of the boy, he said:
'You'll come to me to-morrow morning, and you shall be shown where that old
gentleman lives; that old gentleman who was with me this morning; where you
are going, as you heard me say.'
'Yes, Sir,' returned Rob.
'I have a great interest in that old gentleman, and in serving him, you
serve me, boy, do you understand? Well,' he added, interrupting him, for he