He must know of it beforehand; and how to tell him was the point.

As to the question of going or not going, Walter did not consider that he had any power of choice in the matter.

Mr Dombey had truly told him that he was young, and that his Uncle's circumstances were not good; and Mr Dombey had plainly expressed, in the glance with which he had accompanied that reminder, that if he declined to go he might stay at home if he chose, but not in his counting-house.

His Uncle and he lay under a great obligation to Mr Dombey, which was of Walter's own soliciting.

He might have begun in secret to despair of ever winning that gentleman's favour, and might have thought that he was now and then disposed to put a slight upon him, which was hardly just.