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

for Edith sat apart by an open window during the whole time (in spite of her
mother's fears that she would take cold), and remained there until Mr.
Dombey took leave. He was serenely gracious to Florence when he did so; and
Florence went to bed in a room within Edith's, so happy and hopeful, that
she thought of her late self as if it were some other poor deserted girl who
was to be pitied for her sorrow; and in her pity, sobbed herself to sleep.
The week fled fast. There were drives to milliners, dress-makers, jewellers,
lawyers, florists, pastry-cooks; and Florence was always of the party.
Florence was to go to the wedding. Florence was to cast off her mourning,
and to wear a brilliant dress on the occasion. The milliner's intentions on
the subject of this dress--the milliner was a Frenchwoman, and greatly
resembled Mrs. Skewton--were so chaste and elegant, that Mrs. Skewton
bespoke one like it for herself. The milliner said it would become her to
admiration, and that all the world would take her for the young lady's
sister.
The week fled faster. Edith looked at nothing and cared for nothing. Her
rich dresses came home, and were tried on, and were loudly commended by Mrs.
Skewton and the milliners, and were put away without a word from her. Mrs.
Skewton made their plans for every day, and executed them. Sometimes Edith
sat in the carriage when they went to make purchases; sometimes, when it was
absolutely necessary, she went into the shops. But Mrs. Skewton conducted
the whole business, whatever it happened to be: and Edith looked on as
uninterested and with as much apparent indifference as if she had no concern
in it. Florence might perhaps have thought she was haughty and listless, but
that she was never so to her. So Florence quenched her wonder in her
gratitude whenever it broke out, and soon subdued it.
The week fled faster. It had nearly winged its flight away. The last night
of the week, the night before the marriage was come. In the dark room--for
Mrs. Skewton's head was no better yet, though she expected to recover
permanently to-morrow--were that lady, Edith, and Mr. Dombey. Edith was at
her open window looking out into the street; Mr. Dombey and Cleopatra were
talking softly on the sofa. It was growing late; and Florence being
fatigued, had gone to bed.