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

'And nothing to do, Rob?'
'Nothing particular to do just now, Misses Brown, but to--keep my eyes
open,' said the Grinder, rolling them in a forlorn way.
'Masters abroad, Rob?'
'Oh, for goodness' sake, Misses Brown, couldn't you gossip with a cove about
anything else?' cried the Grinder, in a burst of despair.
The impetuous Mrs. Brown rising directly, the tortured Grinder detained her,
stammering 'Ye-es, Misses Brown, I believe he's abroad. What's she staring
at?' he added, in allusion to the daughter, whose eyes were fixed upon the
face that now again looked out behind him.
'Don't mind her, lad,' said the old woman, holding him closer to prevent his
turning round. 'It's her way--her way. Tell me, Rob. Did you ever see the
lady, deary?'
'Oh, Misses Brown, what lady?' cried the Grinder in a tone of piteous
supplication.
'What lady?' she retorted. 'The lady; Mrs. Dombey.'
'Yes, I believe I see her once,' replied Rob.
'The night she went away, Robby, eh?' said the old woman in his ear, and
taking note of every change in his face. 'Aha!I know it was that night.'
'Well, if you know it was that night, you know, Misses Brown,' replied Rob,
'it's no use putting pinchers into a cove to make him say so.'
'Where did they go that night, Rob? Straight away? How did they go? Where
did you see her? Did she laugh? Did she cry? Tell me all about it,' cried
the old hag, holding him closer yet, patting the hand that was drawn through