Whendinnerwasannounced，Mr。Dombeytookdownanoldladylikeacrimsonvelvetpincushionstuffedwithbanknotes，whomighthavebeentheidenticaloldladyofThreadneedleStreet，shewassorich，andlookedsounaccommodating；CousinFeenixtookdownMrs。Dombey；MajorBagstocktookdownMrs。Skewton；theyoungthingwiththeshoulderswasbestowed，asanextinguisher，upontheEastIndiaDirector；andtheremainingladieswereleftonviewinthedrawing-roombyremaininggentlemen，untilaforlornhopevolunteeredtoconductthemdownstairs，andthosebravespiritswiththeircaptivesblockedupthedining-roomdoor，shuttingoutsevenmildmeninthestony-heartedhall。Whenalltherestweregotinandwereseated，oneofthesemildmenstillappeared，insmilingconfusion，totallydestituteandunprovidedfor，andescortedbythebutler，madethecompletecircuitofthetabletwicebeforehischaircouldbefound，whichitfinallywas，onMrs。Dombey\'slefthand；afterwhichthemildmanneverhelduphisheadagain。
Now，thespaciousdining-room，withthecompanyseatedroundtheglitteringtable，busywiththeirglitteringspoons，andknivesandforks，andplates，mighthavebeentakenforagrown-upexpositionofTomTiddler\'sground，wherechildrenpickupgoldandsilver。Mr。Dombey，asTiddler，lookedhischaractertoadmiration；andthelongplateauofpreciousmetalfrosted，separatinghimfromMrs。Dombey，whereonfrostedCupidsofferedscentlessflowerstoeachofthem，wasallegoricaltosee。
CousinFeenixwasingreatforce，andlookedastonishinglyyoung。
Buthewassometimesthoughtlessinhisgoodhumour——hismemoryoccasionallywanderinglikehislegs——andonthisoccasioncausedthecompanytoshudder。
Ithappenedthus。Theyoungladywiththeback，whoregardedCousinFeenixwithsentimentsoftenderness，hadentrappedtheEastIndiaDirectorintoleadinghertotheChairnexthim；inreturnforwhichgoodoffice，sheimmediatelyabandonedtheDirector，who，beingshadedontheothersidebyagloomyblackvelvethatsurmountingabonyandspeechlessfemalewithafan，yieldedtoadepressionofspiritsandwithdrewintohimself。CousinFeenixandtheyoungladywereverylivelyandhumorous，andtheyoungladylaughedsomuchatsomethingCousinFeenixrelatedtoher，thatMajorBagstockbeggedleavetoinquireonbehalfofMrs。Skewtontheyweresittingopposite，alittlelowerdown，whetherthatmightnotbeconsideredpublicproperty。