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

She rose up as if to leave the room; but sat down again, and looking at him
with all outward composure, said, in the same voice:
'You shall!'
'I must tell you first, that there is a threatening appearance in your
manner, Madam,' said Mr. Dombey, 'which does not become you.'
She laughed. The shaken diamonds in her hair started and trembled. There are
fables of precious stones that would turn pale, their wearer being in
danger. Had these been such, their imprisoned rays of light would have have
taken flight that moment, and they would have been as dull as lead.
Carker listened, with his eyes cast down.
'As to my daughter, Madam,' said Mr. Dombey, resuming the thread of his
discourse, 'it is by no means inconsistent with her duty to me, that she
should know what conduct to avoid. At present you are a very strong example
to her of this kind, and I hope she may profit by it.'
'I would not stop you now,' returned his wife, immoveable in eye, and voice,
and attitude; 'I would not rise and go away, and save you the utterance of
one word, if the room were burning.'
Mr. Dombey moved his head, as if in a sarcastic acknowledgment of the
attention, and resumed. But not with so much self-possession as before; for
Edith's indifference to him and his censure, chafed and galled him like a
stiffening wound.
'Mrs. Dombey,' said he, 'it may not be inconsistent with my daughter's
improvement to know how very much to be lamented, and how necessary to be
corrected, a stubborn disposition is, especially when it is indulged
in--unthankfully indulged in, I will add--after the gratification of
ambition and interest. Both of which, I believe, had some share in inducing
you to occupy your present station at this board.'