【导读】 《董贝父子》是狄更斯最重要的作品之一，发表于1848年。小说描写了董贝父子公司的盛衰史。董贝是个贪得无厌的大资本家，妻子儿女都成了他追逐利润的工具和摆设。公司经理卡克尔是个奸诈小人，骗取了董贝的信任后又一手造成了他的破产。在现实的教训中，董贝的思想发生了转变。最后，虽然他已无法重整家业，却成全了真正的家庭幸福。
Dombey and Son(Excerpt)
“I must have done something，” said Florence.“Tell me what it is.You have changed your manner to me，dear Mama.I cannot say how instantly I feel the least change; for I love you with my whole heart.”
“As I do you，” said Edith.“Ah，Florence，believe me never more than now！”
“Why do you go away from me so often，and keep away？” asked Florence.“And why do you sometimes look so strangely on me，dear Mama? You do so，do you not？”
Edith signified assent with her dark eyes.
“Why？” returned Florence imploringly.“Tell me why，that I may know how to please you better; and tell me this shall not be so any more.”
“My Florence，” answered Edith，taking the hand that embraced her neck，and looking into the eyes that looked into hers so lovingly，as Florence knelt upon the ground before her；“why it is，I cannot tell you.It is neither for me to say，nor you to hear; but that it is，and that it must be，I know.Should I do it if I did not？”
“Are we to be estranged，Mama？” asked Florence，gazing at her like one frightened.
Edith's silent lips formed “Yes.”
Florence looked at her with increasing fear and wonder，until she could see her no more through the blinding tears that ran down her face.
“Florence! my life！” said Edith，hurriedly，“listen to me.I cannot bear to see this grief.Be calmer.You see that I am composed，and is it nothing to me？”
She resumed her steady voice and manner as she said the latter words，and added presently：
“Not wholly estranged.Partially: and only that，in appearance，Florence，for in my own breast I am still the same to you，and ever will be.But what I do is not done for myself.”
“Is it for me，Mama？” asked Florence.
