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

'Florence, love, the lading of our ship is nearly finished, and probably on
the very day of our marriage she will drop down the river. Shall we go away
that morning, and stay in Kent until we go on board at Gravesend within a
week?'
'If you please, Walter. I shall be happy anywhere. But
'Yes, my life?'
'You know,' said Florence, 'that we shall have no marriage party, and that
nobody will distinguish us by our dress from other people. As we leave the
same day, will you--will you take me somewhere that morning,
Walter--early--before we go to church?'
Walter seemed to understand her, as so true a lover so truly loved should,
and confirmed his ready promise with a kiss--with more than one perhaps, or
two or three, or five or six; and in the grave, peaceful evening, Florence
was very happy.
Then into the quiet room came Susan Nipper and the candles: shortly
afterwards, the tea, the Captain, and the excursive Mr. Toots, who, as above
mentioned, was frequently on the move afterwards, and passed but a restless
evening. This, however, was not his habit: for he generally got on very
well, by dint of playing at cribbage with the Captain under the advice and
guidance of Miss Nipper, and distracting his mind with the calculations
incidental to the game; which he found to be a very effectual means of
utterly confounding himself.
The Captain's visage on these occasions presented one of the finest examples
of combination and succession of expression ever observed. His instinctive
delicacy and his chivalrous feeling towards Florence, taught him that it was
not a time for any boisterous jollity, or violent display of satisfaction.
Certain floating reminiscences of Lovely Peg, on the other hand, were
constantly struggling for a vent, and urging the Captain to commit himself
by some irreparable demonstration. Anon, his admiration of Florence and