usband, told her sadly that she could not
help her. This puzzled Florence greatly, for she loved Edith and knew
that Edith loved her in return.

In fact, it was Florence's trust and innocence that made Edith's
conscience torture her the more. In Florence's pure presence she felt
more and more unworthy, and the knowledge that her husband's hardness of
heart was crushing the child's life and happiness made her hate him.

Florence saw, before many months passed, that her father and Edith did
not live in love and contentment. Indeed, how could they? She had
married for ambition, he for pride, and neither loved nor would yield to
the other. They had not the same friends or acquaintances. Hers were
people of fashion; his were men of business. At the dinners they gave,
Mr. Dombey did not think Edith treated his friends politely enough. He
began to reprove her more and more often, and when she paid no heed he
finally chid her openly and sternly in the presence of Carker (who
brought his smile and gleaming teeth often to the house), knowing this
action would most wound Edith's pride. And at length he took the
management of the house out of her hands and hired as housekeeper Mrs.
Pipchin, the old ogre of Brighton, at whose house Florence and little
Paul had once lived.

The worst of it all was that the more Mr. Dombey grew to dislike his
wife the more he saw she loved Florence, and this made him detest the
poor child more than ever. He imagined, in his cruel selfishness, that
as Florence had come between him and the love of little Paul, so she was
now coming between him and his wife. Finally he sent Carker to Edith,
telling her she must no longer sit or talk with Florence--that they must
see each other only in his presence.

Florence's cup of bitterness was now almost full, for she knew nothing
of this command, and, when she saw that Edith avoided her, sorrowed in
secret. She was quite alone again now, save for Diogenes. Neither Major
Bagstock, her father's flatterer, nor Carker, with his cat-like smile,
could she see without a shudder, and all the while her heart was aching
for her father's love.

Mr. Dombey's insults were heaped more and more upon the defenseless
Edith, till at last, made desperate by his pride and cruelty, she
prepared a terrible revenge. On the morning of the anniversary of their
wedding-day Mr. Dombey was startled by the news that Edith had run away
with the false-hearted Carker!

On that terrible mor