It is, as Mr. Rokesmith says, a matter of feeling, but Lor how many matters ARE matters of feeling!

The jovial party broke up next morning. Breakings-up are capital things in our school-days, but in after life they are painful enough. Death, self-interest, and fortune's changes, are every day breaking up many a happy group, and scattering them far and wide; and the boys and girls never come back again.

Loves and Cupids took to flight afraid, and Martyrdom had no such torment in its painted history of suffering.

Some philosophers tell us that selfishness is at the root of our best loves and affections. Mr. Dombey's young child was, from the beginning, so distinctly important to him as a part of his own greatness, or (which is the same thing) of the greatness of Dombey and Son, that there is no doubt his parental affection might have been easily traced, like many a goodly superstructure of fair fame, to a very low foundation.

She had gained a reputation for beauty, and (which is often another thing) was beautiful.

... still his philanthropy was of that gunpowderous sort that the difference between it and animosity was hard to determine.

A new heart for a New Year, always!