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

Florence, he still stood glancing at him with the same expression, as if he
had read some fate upon his face, mournfully at variance with its present
brightness.
'What do you advise, Mr. Carker?' said Walter, smiling. 'You always give me
good advice, you know, when you do speak to me. That's not often, though.'
'I think your own idea is the best,' he answered: looking from Florence to
Walter, and back again.
'Mr. Carker,' said Walter, brightening with a generous thought, 'Come!
Here's chance for you. Go you to Mr. Dombey's and be the messenger of good
news. It may do you some good, Sir. I'll remain at home. You shall go.'
'I!' returned the other.
'Yes. Why not, Mr. Carker?' said the boy.
He merely shook him by the hand in answer; he seemed in a manner ashamed and
afraid even to do that; and bidding him good night, and advising him to make
haste, turned away.
'Come, Miss Dombey,' said Walter, looking after him as they turned away
also, 'we'll go to my uncle's as quick as we can. Did you ever hear Mr.
Dombey speak of Mr. Carker the junior, Miss Florence?'
'No,' returned the child, mildly, 'I don't often hear papa speak.'
'Ah! true! more shame for him,' thought Walter. After a minute's pause,
during which he had been looking down upon the gentle patient little face
moving on at his side, he bestirred himself with his accustomed boyish
animation and restlessness to change the subject; and one of the unfortunate
shoes coming off again opportunely, proposed to carry Florence to his
uncle's in his arms. Florence, though very tired, laughingly declined the
proposal, lest he should let her fall; and as they were already near the
wooden midshipman, and as Walter went on to cite various precedents, from