conversation,
and
yet
had
in
the
main
preserved
her
self-contained
manner
;
‘you
will
understand
that
if
I
tell
you
what
you
press
to
know
,
it
is
not
by
way
of
complaint
or
regret
.
I
would
never
complain
of
anything
,
and
what
I
have
done
I
do
not
in
the
least
regret.’
‘So
spirited
,
too
!
’
thought
James
Harthouse
.
‘When
I
married
,
I
found
that
my
brother
was
even
at
that
time
heavily
in
debt
.
Heavily
for
him
,
I
mean
.
Heavily
enough
to
oblige
me
to
sell
some
trinkets
.
They
were
no
sacrifice
.
I
sold
them
very
willingly
.
I
attached
no
value
to
them
.
They
,
were
quite
worthless
to
me.’
Either
she
saw
in
his
face
that
he
knew
,
or
she
only
feared
in
her
conscience
that
he
knew
,
that
she
spoke
of
some
of
her
husband’s
gifts
.
She
stopped
,
and
reddened
again
.
If
he
had
not
known
it
before
,
he
would
have
known
it
then
,
though
he
had
been
a
much
duller
man
than
he
was
.
‘Since
then
,
I
have
given
my
brother
,
at
various
times
,
what
money
I
could
spare
:
in
short
,
what
money
I
have
had
.
Confiding
in
you
at
all
,
on
the
faith
of
the
interest
you
profess
for
him
,
I
will
not
do
so
by
halves
.
Since
you
have
been
in
the
habit
of
visiting
here
,
he
has
wanted
in
one
sum
as
much
as
a
hundred
pounds
.
I
have
not
been
able
to
give
it
to
him
.
I
have
felt
uneasy
for
the
consequences
of
his
being
so
involved
,
but
I
have
kept
these
secrets
until
now
,
when
I
trust
them
to
your
honour
.
I
have
held
no
confidence
with
any
one
,
because
—
you
anticipated
my
reason
just
now.’
She
abruptly
broke
off
.
He
was
a
ready
man
,
and
he
saw
,
and
seized
,
an
opportunity
here
of
presenting
her
own
image
to
her
,
slightly
disguised
as
her
brother
.
‘Mrs
.
Bounderby
,
though
a
graceless
person
,
of
the
world
worldly
,
I
feel
the
utmost
interest
,
I
assure
you
,
in
what
you
tell
me
.
I
cannot
possibly
be
hard
upon
your
brother
.
I
understand
and
share
the
wise
consideration
with
which
you
regard
his
errors
.
With
all
possible
respect
both
for
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
for
Mr.
Bounderby
,
I
think
I
perceive
that
he
has
not
been
fortunate
in
his
training
.
Bred
at
a
disadvantage
towards
the
society
in
which
he
has
his
part
to
play
,
he
rushes
into
these
extremes
for
himself
,
from
opposite
extremes
that
have
long
been
forced
—
with
the
very
best
intentions
we
have
no
doubt
—
upon
him
.
Mr.
Bounderby’s
fine
bluff
English
independence
,
though
a
most
charming
characteristic
,
does
not
—
as
we
have
agreed
—
invite
confidence
.
If
I
might
venture
to
remark
that
it
is
the
least
in
the
world
deficient
in
that
delicacy
to
which
a
youth
mistaken
,
a
character
misconceived
,
and
abilities
misdirected
,
would
turn
for
relief
and
guidance
,
I
should
express
what
it
presents
to
my
own
view.’
As
she
sat
looking
straight
before
her
,
across
the
changing
lights
upon
the
grass
into
the
darkness
of
the
wood
beyond
,
he
saw
in
her
face
her
application
of
his
very
distinctly
uttered
words
.
‘All
allowance
,
’
he
continued
,
‘must
be
made
.
I
have
one
great
fault
to
find
with
Tom
,
however
,
which
I
cannot
forgive
,
and
for
which
I
take
him
heavily
to
account.’
Louisa
turned
her
eyes
to
his
face
,
and
asked
him
what
fault
was
that
?
‘Perhaps
,
’
he
returned
,
‘I
have
said
enough
.
Perhaps
it
would
have
been
better
,
on
the
whole
,
if
no
allusion
to
it
had
escaped
me.’
‘You
alarm
me
,
Mr.
Harthouse
.
Pray
let
me
know
it.’
‘To
relieve
you
from
needless
apprehension
—
and
as
this
confidence
regarding
your
brother
,
which
I
prize
I
am
sure
above
all
possible
things
,
has
been
established
between
us
—
I
obey
.
I
cannot
forgive
him
for
not
being
more
sensible
in
every
word
,
look
,
and
act
of
his
life
,
of
the
affection
of
his
best
friend
;
of
the
devotion
of
his
best
friend
;
of
her
unselfishness
;
of
her
sacrifice
.
The
return
he
makes
her
,
within
my
observation
,
is
a
very
poor
one
.
What
she
has
done
for
him
demands
his
constant
love
and
gratitude
,
not
his
ill-humour
and
caprice
.
Careless
fellow
as
I
am
,
I
am
not
so
indifferent
,
Mrs.
Bounderby
,
as
to
be
regardless
of
this
vice
in
your
brother
,
or
inclined
to
consider
it
a
venial
offence.’
The
wood
floated
before
her
,
for
her
eyes
were
suffused
with
tears
.
They
rose
from
a
deep
well
,
long
concealed
,
and
her
heart
was
filled
with
acute
pain
that
found
no
relief
in
them
.
‘In
a
word
,
it
is
to
correct
your
brother
in
this
,
Mrs.
Bounderby
,
that
I
must
aspire
.
My
better
knowledge
of
his
circumstances
,
and
my
direction
and
advice
in
extricating
them
—
rather
valuable
,
I
hope
,
as
coming
from
a
scapegrace
on
a
much
larger
scale
—
will
give
me
some
influence
over
him
,
and
all
I
gain
I
shall
certainly
use
towards
this
end
.
I
have
said
enough
,
and
more
than
enough
.
I
seem
to
be
protesting
that
I
am
a
sort
of
good
fellow
,
when
,
upon
my
honour
,
I
have
not
the
least
intention
to
make
any
protestation
to
that
effect
,
and
openly
announce
that
I
am
nothing
of
the
sort
.
Yonder
,
among
the
trees
,
’
he
added
,
having
lifted
up
his
eyes
and
looked
about
;
for
he
had
watched
her
closely
until
now
;
‘is
your
brother
himself
;
no
doubt
,
just
come
down
.
As
he
seems
to
be
loitering
in
this
direction
,
it
may
be
as
well
,
perhaps
,
to
walk
towards
him
,
and
throw
ourselves
in
his
way
.
He
has
been
very
silent
and
doleful
of
late
.
Perhaps
,
his
brotherly
conscience
is
touched
—
if
there
are
such
things
as
consciences
.
Though
,
upon
my
honour
,
I
hear
of
them
much
too
often
to
believe
in
them.’
He
assisted
her
to
rise
,
and
she
took
his
arm
,
and
they
advanced
to
meet
the
whelp
.
He
was
idly
beating
the
branches
as
he
lounged
along
:
or
he
stooped
viciously
to
rip
the
moss
from
the
trees
with
his
stick
.
He
was
startled
when
they
came
upon
him
while
he
was
engaged
in
this
latter
pastime
,
and
his
colour
changed
.
‘Halloa
!
’
he
stammered
;
‘I
didn’t
know
you
were
here.’
‘Whose
name
,
Tom
,
’
said
Mr.
Harthouse
,
putting
his
hand
upon
his
shoulder
and
turning
him
,
so
that
they
all
three
walked
towards
the
house
together
,
‘have
you
been
carving
on
the
trees
?
’
‘Whose
name
?
’
returned
Tom
.
‘Oh
!
You
mean
what
girl’s
name
?
’
‘You
have
a
suspicious
appearance
of
inscribing
some
fair
creature’s
on
the
bark
,
Tom.’
‘Not
much
of
that
,
Mr.
Harthouse
,
unless
some
fair
creature
with
a
slashing
fortune
at
her
own
disposal
would
take
a
fancy
to
me
.
Or
she
might
be
as
ugly
as
she
was
rich
,
without
any
fear
of
losing
me
.
I’d
carve
her
name
as
often
as
she
liked.’
‘I
am
afraid
you
are
mercenary
,
Tom.’
‘Mercenary
,
’
repeated
Tom
.
‘Who
is
not
mercenary
?
Ask
my
sister.’
‘Have
you
so
proved
it
to
be
a
failing
of
mine
,
Tom
?
’
said
Louisa
,
showing
no
other
sense
of
his
discontent
and
ill-nature
.
‘You
know
whether
the
cap
fits
you
,
Loo
,
’
returned
her
brother
sulkily
.
‘If
it
does
,
you
can
wear
it.’
‘Tom
is
misanthropical
to-day
,
as
all
bored
people
are
now
and
then
,
’
said
Mr.
Harthouse
.
‘Don’t
believe
him
,
Mrs.
Bounderby
.
He
knows
much
better
.
I
shall
disclose
some
of
his
opinions
of
you
,
privately
expressed
to
me
,
unless
he
relents
a
little.’
‘At
all
events
,
Mr.
Harthouse
,
’
said
Tom
,
softening
in
his
admiration
of
his
patron
,
but
shaking
his
head
sullenly
too
,
‘you
can’t
tell
her
that
I
ever
praised
her
for
being
mercenary
.
I
may
have
praised
her
for
being
the
contrary
,
and
I
should
do
it
again
,
if
I
had
as
good
reason
.
However
,
never
mind
this
now
;
it’s
not
very
interesting
to
you
,
and
I
am
sick
of
the
subject.’
They
walked
on
to
the
house
,
where
Louisa
quitted
her
visitor’s
arm
and
went
in
.
He
stood
looking
after
her
,
as
she
ascended
the
steps
,
and
passed
into
the
shadow
of
the
door
;
then
put
his
hand
upon
her
brother’s
shoulder
again
,
and
invited
him
with
a
confidential
nod
to
a
walk
in
the
garden
.
‘Tom
,
my
fine
fellow
,
I
want
to
have
a
word
with
you.’
They
had
stopped
among
a
disorder
of
roses
—
it
was
part
of
Mr.
Bounderby’s
humility
to
keep
Nickits’s
roses
on
a
reduced
scale
—
and
Tom
sat
down
on
a
terrace-parapet
,
plucking
buds
and
picking
them
to
pieces
;
while
his
powerful
Familiar
stood
over
him
,
with
a
foot
upon
the
parapet
,
and
his
figure
easily
resting
on
the
arm
supported
by
that
knee
.
They
were
just
visible
from
her
window
.
Perhaps
she
saw
them
.
‘Tom
,
what’s
the
matter
?
’
‘Oh
!
Mr.
Harthouse
,
’
said
Tom
with
a
groan
,
‘I
am
hard
up
,
and
bothered
out
of
my
life.’
‘My
good
fellow
,
so
am
I.’
‘You
!
’
returned
Tom
.
‘You
are
the
picture
of
independence
.
Mr.
Harthouse
,
I
am
in
a
horrible
mess
.
You
have
no
idea
what
a
state
I
have
got
myself
into
—
what
a
state
my
sister
might
have
got
me
out
of
,
if
she
would
only
have
done
it.’
He
took
to
biting
the
rosebuds
now
,
and
tearing
them
away
from
his
teeth
with
a
hand
that
trembled
like
an
infirm
old
man’s
.
After
one
exceedingly
observant
look
at
him
,
his
companion
relapsed
into
his
lightest
air
.
‘Tom
,
you
are
inconsiderate
:
you
expect
too
much
of
your
sister
.
You
have
had
money
of
her
,
you
dog
,
you
know
you
have.’
‘Well
,
Mr.
Harthouse
,
I
know
I
have
.
How
else
was
I
to
get
it
?
Here’s
old
Bounderby
always
boasting
that
at
my
age
he
lived
upon
twopence
a
month
,
or
something
of
that
sort
.
Here’s
my
father
drawing
what
he
calls
a
line
,
and
tying
me
down
to
it
from
a
baby
,
neck
and
heels
.
Here’s
my
mother
who
never
has
anything
of
her
own
,
except
her
complaints
.
What
is
a
fellow
to
do
for
money
,
and
where
am
I
to
look
for
it
,
if
not
to
my
sister
?
’
He
was
almost
crying
,
and
scattered
the
buds
about
by
dozens
.
Mr.
Harthouse
took
him
persuasively
by
the
coat
.
‘But
,
my
dear
Tom
,
if
your
sister
has
not
got
it
—
’
‘Not
got
it
,
Mr.
Harthouse
?
I
don’t
say
she
has
got
it
.
I
may
have
wanted
more
than
she
was
likely
to
have
got
.
But
then
she
ought
to
get
it
.
She
could
get
it
.
It’s
of
no
use
pretending
to
make
a
secret
of
matters
now
,
after
what
I
have
told
you
already
;
you
know
she
didn’t
marry
old
Bounderby
for
her
own
sake
,
or
for
his
sake
,
but
for
my
sake
.
Then
why
doesn’t
she
get
what
I
want
,
out
of
him
,
for
my
sake
?
She
is
not
obliged
to
say
what
she
is
going
to
do
with
it
;
she
is
sharp
enough
;
she
could
manage
to
coax
it
out
of
him
,
if
she
chose
.
Then
why
doesn’t
she
choose
,
when
I
tell
her
of
what
consequence
it
is
?
But
no.
There
she
sits
in
his
company
like
a
stone
,
instead
of
making
herself
agreeable
and
getting
it
easily
.
I
don’t
know
what
you
may
call
this
,
but
I
call
it
unnatural
conduct.’
There
was
a
piece
of
ornamental
water
immediately
below
the
parapet
,
on
the
other
side
,
into
which
Mr.
James
Harthouse
had
a
very
strong
inclination
to
pitch
Mr.
Thomas
Gradgrind
junior
,
as
the
injured
men
of
Coketown
threatened
to
pitch
their
property
into
the
Atlantic
.
But
he
preserved
his
easy
attitude
;
and
nothing
more
solid
went
over
the
stone
balustrades
than
the
accumulated
rosebuds
now
floating
about
,
a
little
surface-island
.
‘My
dear
Tom
,
’
said
Harthouse
,
‘let
me
try
to
be
your
banker.’
‘For
God’s
sake
,
’
replied
Tom
,
suddenly
,
‘don’t
talk
about
bankers
!
’
And
very
white
he
looked
,
in
contrast
with
the
roses
.
Very
white
.
Mr.
Harthouse
,
as
a
thoroughly
well-bred
man
,
accustomed
to
the
best
society
,
was
not
to
be
surprised
—
he
could
as
soon
have
been
affected
—
but
he
raised
his
eyelids
a
little
more
,
as
if
they
were
lifted
by
a
feeble
touch
of
wonder
.
Albeit
it
was
as
much
against
the
precepts
of
his
school
to
wonder
,
as
it
was
against
the
doctrines
of
the
Gradgrind
College
.
‘What
is
the
present
need
,
Tom
?
Three
figures
?
Out
with
them
.
Say
what
they
are.’
‘Mr
.
Harthouse
,
’
returned
Tom
,
now
actually
crying
;
and
his
tears
were
better
than
his
injuries
,
however
pitiful
a
figure
he
made
:
‘it’s
too
late
;
the
money
is
of
no
use
to
me
at
present
.
I
should
have
had
it
before
to
be
of
use
to
me
.
But
I
am
very
much
obliged
to
you
;
you’re
a
true
friend.’
A
true
friend
!
‘Whelp
,
whelp
!
’
thought
Mr.
Harthouse
,
lazily
;
‘what
an
Ass
you
are
!
’
‘And
I
take
your
offer
as
a
great
kindness
,
’
said
Tom
,
grasping
his
hand
.
‘As
a
great
kindness
,
Mr.
Harthouse.’
‘Well
,
’
returned
the
other
,
‘it
may
be
of
more
use
by
and
by
.
And
,
my
good
fellow
,
if
you
will
open
your
bedevilments
to
me
when
they
come
thick
upon
you
,
I
may
show
you
better
ways
out
of
them
than
you
can
find
for
yourself.’
‘Thank
you
,
’
said
Tom
,
shaking
his
head
dismally
,
and
chewing
rosebuds
.
‘I
wish
I
had
known
you
sooner
,
Mr.
Harthouse.’
‘Now
,
you
see
,
Tom
,
’
said
Mr.
Harthouse
in
conclusion
,
himself
tossing
over
a
rose
or
two
,
as
a
contribution
to
the
island
,
which
was
always
drifting
to
the
wall
as
if
it
wanted
to
become
a
part
of
the
mainland
:
‘every
man
is
selfish
in
everything
he
does
,
and
I
am
exactly
like
the
rest
of
my
fellow-creatures
.
I
am
desperately
intent
;
’
the
languor
of
his
desperation
being
quite
tropical
;
‘on
your
softening
towards
your
sister
—
which
you
ought
to
do
;
and
on
your
being
a
more
loving
and
agreeable
sort
of
brother
—
which
you
ought
to
be.’
‘I
will
be
,
Mr.
Harthouse.’
‘No
time
like
the
present
,
Tom
.
Begin
at
once.’
‘Certainly
I
will
.
And
my
sister
Loo
shall
say
so.’
‘Having
made
which
bargain
,
Tom
,
’
said
Harthouse
,
clapping
him
on
the
shoulder
again
,
with
an
air
which
left
him
at
liberty
to
infer
—
as
he
did
,
poor
fool
—
that
this
condition
was
imposed
upon
him
in
mere
careless
good
nature
to
lessen
his
sense
of
obligation
,
‘we
will
tear
ourselves
asunder
until
dinner-time.’
When
Tom
appeared
before
dinner
,
though
his
mind
seemed
heavy
enough
,
his
body
was
on
the
alert
;
and
he
appeared
before
Mr.
Bounderby
came
in
.
‘I
didn’t
mean
to
be
cross
,
Loo
,
’
he
said
,
giving
her
his
hand
,
and
kissing
her
.
‘I
know
you
are
fond
of
me
,
and
you
know
I
am
fond
of
you.’
After
this
,
there
was
a
smile
upon
Louisa’s
face
that
day
,
for
some
one
else
.
Alas
,
for
some
one
else
!
‘So
much
the
less
is
the
whelp
the
only
creature
that
she
cares
for
,
’
thought
James
Harthouse
,
reversing
the
reflection
of
his
first
day’s
knowledge
of
her
pretty
face
.
‘So
much
the
less
,
so
much
the
less.’
CHAPTER
VIII
EXPLOSION
The
next
morning
was
too
bright
a
morning
for
sleep
,
and
James
Harthouse
rose
early
,
and
sat
in
the
pleasant
bay
window
of
his
dressing-room
,
smoking
the
rare
tobacco
that
had
had
so
wholesome
an
influence
on
his
young
friend
.
Reposing
in
the
sunlight
,
with
the
fragrance
of
his
eastern
pipe
about
him
,
and
the
dreamy
smoke
vanishing
into
the
air
,
so
rich
and
soft
with
summer
odours
,
he
reckoned
up
his
advantages
as
an
idle
winner
might
count
his
gains
.
He
was
not
at
all
bored
for
the
time
,
and
could
give
his
mind
to
it
.
He
had
established
a
confidence
with
her
,
from
which
her
husband
was
excluded
.
He
had
established
a
confidence
with
her
,
that
absolutely
turned
upon
her
indifference
towards
her
husband
,
and
the
absence
,
now
and
at
all
times
,
of
any
congeniality
between
them
.
He
had
artfully
,
but
plainly
,
assured
her
that
he
knew
her
heart
in
its
last
most
delicate
recesses
;
he
had
come
so
near
to
her
through
its
tenderest
sentiment
;
he
had
associated
himself
with
that
feeling
;
and
the
barrier
behind
which
she
lived
,
had
melted
away
.
All
very
odd
,
and
very
satisfactory
!
And
yet
he
had
not
,
even
now
,
any
earnest
wickedness
of
purpose
in
him
.
Publicly
and
privately
,
it
were
much
better
for
the
age
in
which
he
lived
,
that
he
and
the
legion
of
whom
he
was
one
were
designedly
bad
,
than
indifferent
and
purposeless
.
It
is
the
drifting
icebergs
setting
with
any
current
anywhere
,
that
wreck
the
ships
.
When
the
Devil
goeth
about
like
a
roaring
lion
,
he
goeth
about
in
a
shape
by
which
few
but
savages
and
hunters
are
attracted
.
But
,
when
he
is
trimmed
,
smoothed
,
and
varnished
,
according
to
the
mode
;
when
he
is
aweary
of
vice
,
and
aweary
of
virtue
,
used
up
as
to
brimstone
,
and
used
up
as
to
bliss
;
then
,
whether
he
take
to
the
serving
out
of
red
tape
,
or
to
the
kindling
of
red
fire
,
he
is
the
very
Devil
.
So
James
Harthouse
reclined
in
the
window
,
indolently
smoking
,
and
reckoning
up
the
steps
he
had
taken
on
the
road
by
which
he
happened
to
be
travelling
.
The
end
to
which
it
led
was
before
him
,
pretty
plainly
;
but
he
troubled
himself
with
no
calculations
about
it
.
What
will
be
,
will
be
.
As
he
had
rather
a
long
ride
to
take
that
day
—
for
there
was
a
public
occasion
‘to
do’
at
some
distance
,
which
afforded
a
tolerable
opportunity
of
going
in
for
the
Gradgrind
men
—
he
dressed
early
and
went
down
to
breakfast
.
He
was
anxious
to
see
if
she
had
relapsed
since
the
previous
evening
.
No.
He
resumed
where
he
had
left
off
.
There
was
a
look
of
interest
for
him
again
.
He
got
through
the
day
as
much
(
or
as
little
)
to
his
own
satisfaction
,
as
was
to
be
expected
under
the
fatiguing
circumstances
;
and
came
riding
back
at
six
o’clock
.
There
was
a
sweep
of
some
half-mile
between
the
lodge
and
the
house
,
and
he
was
riding
along
at
a
foot
pace
over
the
smooth
gravel
,
once
Nickits’s
,
when
Mr.
Bounderby
burst
out
of
the
shrubbery
,
with
such
violence
as
to
make
his
horse
shy
across
the
road
.
‘Harthouse
!
’
cried
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘Have
you
heard
?
’
‘Heard
what
?
’
said
Harthouse
,
soothing
his
horse
,
and
inwardly
favouring
Mr.
Bounderby
with
no
good
wishes
.
‘Then
you
haven’t
heard
!
’
‘I
have
heard
you
,
and
so
has
this
brute
.
I
have
heard
nothing
else.’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
red
and
hot
,
planted
himself
in
the
centre
of
the
path
before
the
horse’s
head
,
to
explode
his
bombshell
with
more
effect
.
‘The
Bank’s
robbed
!
’
‘You
don’t
mean
it
!
’
‘Robbed
last
night
,
sir
.
Robbed
in
an
extraordinary
manner
.
Robbed
with
a
false
key.’
‘Of
much
?
’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
in
his
desire
to
make
the
most
of
it
,
really
seemed
mortified
by
being
obliged
to
reply
,
‘Why
,
no
;
not
of
very
much
.
But
it
might
have
been.’
‘Of
how
much
?
’
‘Oh
!
as
a
sum
—
if
you
stick
to
a
sum
—
of
not
more
than
a
hundred
and
fifty
pound
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
with
impatience
.
‘But
it’s
not
the
sum
;
it’s
the
fact
.
It’s
the
fact
of
the
Bank
being
robbed
,
that’s
the
important
circumstance
.
I
am
surprised
you
don’t
see
it.’
‘My
dear
Bounderby
,
’
said
James
,
dismounting
,
and
giving
his
bridle
to
his
servant
,
‘I
do
see
it
;
and
am
as
overcome
as
you
can
possibly
desire
me
to
be
,
by
the
spectacle
afforded
to
my
mental
view
.
Nevertheless
,
I
may
be
allowed
,
I
hope
,
to
congratulate
you
—
which
I
do
with
all
my
soul
,
I
assure
you
—
on
your
not
having
sustained
a
greater
loss.’
‘Thank’ee
,
’
replied
Bounderby
,
in
a
short
,
ungracious
manner
.
‘But
I
tell
you
what
.
It
might
have
been
twenty
thousand
pound.’
‘I
suppose
it
might.’
‘Suppose
it
might
!
By
the
Lord
,
you
may
suppose
so
.
By
George
!
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
with
sundry
menacing
nods
and
shakes
of
his
head
.
‘It
might
have
been
twice
twenty
.
There’s
no
knowing
what
it
would
have
been
,
or
wouldn’t
have
been
,
as
it
was
,
but
for
the
fellows’
being
disturbed.’
Louisa
had
come
up
now
,
and
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
and
Bitzer
.
‘Here’s
Tom
Gradgrind’s
daughter
knows
pretty
well
what
it
might
have
been
,
if
you
don’t
,
’
blustered
Bounderby
.
‘Dropped
,
sir
,
as
if
she
was
shot
when
I
told
her
!
Never
knew
her
do
such
a
thing
before
.
Does
her
credit
,
under
the
circumstances
,
in
my
opinion
!
’
She
still
looked
faint
and
pale
.
James
Harthouse
begged
her
to
take
his
arm
;
and
as
they
moved
on
very
slowly
,
asked
her
how
the
robbery
had
been
committed
.
‘Why
,
I
am
going
to
tell
you
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
irritably
giving
his
arm
to
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘If
you
hadn’t
been
so
mighty
particular
about
the
sum
,
I
should
have
begun
to
tell
you
before
.
You
know
this
lady
(
for
she
is
a
lady
)
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
?
’
‘I
have
already
had
the
honour
—
’
‘Very
well
.
And
this
young
man
,
Bitzer
,
you
saw
him
too
on
the
same
occasion
?
’
Mr.
Harthouse
inclined
his
head
in
assent
,
and
Bitzer
knuckled
his
forehead
.
‘Very
well
.
They
live
at
the
Bank
.
You
know
they
live
at
the
Bank
,
perhaps
?
Very
well
.
Yesterday
afternoon
,
at
the
close
of
business
hours
,
everything
was
put
away
as
usual
.
In
the
iron
room
that
this
young
fellow
sleeps
outside
of
,
there
was
never
mind
how
much
.
In
the
little
safe
in
young
Tom’s
closet
,
the
safe
used
for
petty
purposes
,
there
was
a
hundred
and
fifty
odd
pound.’
‘A
hundred
and
fifty-four
,
seven
,
one
,
’
said
Bitzer
.
‘Come
!
’
retorted
Bounderby
,
stopping
to
wheel
round
upon
him
,
‘let’s
have
none
of
your
interruptions
.
It’s
enough
to
be
robbed
while
you’re
snoring
because
you’re
too
comfortable
,
without
being
put
right
with
your
four
seven
ones
.
I
didn’t
snore
,
myself
,
when
I
was
your
age
,
let
me
tell
you
.
I
hadn’t
victuals
enough
to
snore
.
And
I
didn’t
four
seven
one
.
Not
if
I
knew
it.’
Bitzer
knuckled
his
forehead
again
,
in
a
sneaking
manner
,
and
seemed
at
once
particularly
impressed
and
depressed
by
the
instance
last
given
of
Mr.
Bounderby’s
moral
abstinence
.
‘A
hundred
and
fifty
odd
pound
,
’
resumed
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘That
sum
of
money
,
young
Tom
locked
in
his
safe
,
not
a
very
strong
safe
,
but
that’s
no
matter
now
.
Everything
was
left
,
all
right
.
Some
time
in
the
night
,
while
this
young
fellow
snored
—
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
ma’am
,
you
say
you
have
heard
him
snore
?
’
‘Sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘I
cannot
say
that
I
have
heard
him
precisely
snore
,
and
therefore
must
not
make
that
statement
.
But
on
winter
evenings
,
when
he
has
fallen
asleep
at
his
table
,
I
have
heard
him
,
what
I
should
prefer
to
describe
as
partially
choke
.
I
have
heard
him
on
such
occasions
produce
sounds
of
a
nature
similar
to
what
may
be
sometimes
heard
in
Dutch
clocks
.
Not
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
a
lofty
sense
of
giving
strict
evidence
,
‘that
I
would
convey
any
imputation
on
his
moral
character
.
Far
from
it
.
I
have
always
considered
Bitzer
a
young
man
of
the
most
upright
principle
;
and
to
that
I
beg
to
bear
my
testimony.’
‘Well
!
’
said
the
exasperated
Bounderby
,
‘while
he
was
snoring
,
or
choking
,
or
Dutch-clocking
,
or
something
or
other
—
being
asleep
—
some
fellows
,
somehow
,
whether
previously
concealed
in
the
house
or
not
remains
to
be
seen
,
got
to
young
Tom’s
safe
,
forced
it
,
and
abstracted
the
contents
.
Being
then
disturbed
,
they
made
off
;
letting
themselves
out
at
the
main
door
,
and
double-locking
it
again
(
it
was
double-locked
,
and
the
key
under
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
pillow
)
with
a
false
key
,
which
was
picked
up
in
the
street
near
the
Bank
,
about
twelve
o’clock
to-day
.
No
alarm
takes
place
,
till
this
chap
,
Bitzer
,
turns
out
this
morning
,
and
begins
to
open
and
prepare
the
offices
for
business
.
Then
,
looking
at
Tom’s
safe
,
he
sees
the
door
ajar
,
and
finds
the
lock
forced
,
and
the
money
gone.’
‘Where
is
Tom
,
by
the
by
?
’
asked
Harthouse
,
glancing
round
.
‘He
has
been
helping
the
police
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
‘and
stays
behind
at
the
Bank
.
I
wish
these
fellows
had
tried
to
rob
me
when
I
was
at
his
time
of
life
.
They
would
have
been
out
of
pocket
if
they
had
invested
eighteenpence
in
the
job
;
I
can
tell
’em
that.’
‘Is
anybody
suspected
?
’
‘Suspected
?
I
should
think
there
was
somebody
suspected
.
Egod
!
’
said
Bounderby
,
relinquishing
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
arm
to
wipe
his
heated
head
.
‘Josiah
Bounderby
of
Coketown
is
not
to
be
plundered
and
nobody
suspected
.
No
,
thank
you
!
’
Might
Mr.
Harthouse
inquire
Who
was
suspected
?
‘Well
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
stopping
and
facing
about
to
confront
them
all
,
‘I’ll
tell
you
.
It’s
not
to
be
mentioned
everywhere
;
it’s
not
to
be
mentioned
anywhere
:
in
order
that
the
scoundrels
concerned
(
there’s
a
gang
of
’em
)
may
be
thrown
off
their
guard
.
So
take
this
in
confidence
.
Now
wait
a
bit.’
Mr.
Bounderby
wiped
his
head
again
.
‘What
should
you
say
to
;
’
here
he
violently
exploded
:
‘to
a
Hand
being
in
it
?
’
‘I
hope
,
’
said
Harthouse
,
lazily
,
‘not
our
friend
Blackpot
?
’
‘Say
Pool
instead
of
Pot
,
sir
,
’
returned
Bounderby
,
‘and
that’s
the
man.’
Louisa
faintly
uttered
some
word
of
incredulity
and
surprise
.
‘O
yes
!
I
know
!
’
said
Bounderby
,
immediately
catching
at
the
sound
.
‘I
know
!
I
am
used
to
that
.
I
know
all
about
it
.
They
are
the
finest
people
in
the
world
,
these
fellows
are
.
They
have
got
the
gift
of
the
gab
,
they
have
.
They
only
want
to
have
their
rights
explained
to
them
,
they
do
.
But
I
tell
you
what
.
Show
me
a
dissatisfied
Hand
,
and
I’ll
show
you
a
man
that’s
fit
for
anything
bad
,
I
don’t
care
what
it
is.’
Another
of
the
popular
fictions
of
Coketown
,
which
some
pains
had
been
taken
to
disseminate
—
and
which
some
people
really
believed
.
‘But
I
am
acquainted
with
these
chaps
,
’
said
Bounderby
.
‘I
can
read
’em
off
,
like
books
.
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
ma’am
,
I
appeal
to
you
.
What
warning
did
I
give
that
fellow
,
the
first
time
he
set
foot
in
the
house
,
when
the
express
object
of
his
visit
was
to
know
how
he
could
knock
Religion
over
,
and
floor
the
Established
Church
?
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
in
point
of
high
connexions
,
you
are
on
a
level
with
the
aristocracy
,
—
did
I
say
,
or
did
I
not
say
,
to
that
fellow
,
“
you
can’t
hide
the
truth
from
me
:
you
are
not
the
kind
of
fellow
I
like
;
you’ll
come
to
no
good
”
?
’
‘Assuredly
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘you
did
,
in
a
highly
impressive
manner
,
give
him
such
an
admonition.’
‘When
he
shocked
you
,
ma’am
,
’
said
Bounderby
;
‘when
he
shocked
your
feelings
?
’
‘Yes
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
a
meek
shake
of
her
head
,
‘he
certainly
did
so
.
Though
I
do
not
mean
to
say
but
that
my
feelings
may
be
weaker
on
such
points
—
more
foolish
if
the
term
is
preferred
—
than
they
might
have
been
,
if
I
had
always
occupied
my
present
position.’
Mr.
Bounderby
stared
with
a
bursting
pride
at
Mr.
Harthouse
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
‘I
am
the
proprietor
of
this
female
,
and
she’s
worth
your
attention
,
I
think.’
Then
,
resumed
his
discourse
.
‘You
can
recall
for
yourself
,
Harthouse
,
what
I
said
to
him
when
you
saw
him
.
I
didn’t
mince
the
matter
with
him
.
I
am
never
mealy
with
’em
.
I
KNOW
’em
.
Very
well
,
sir
.
Three
days
after
that
,
he
bolted
.
Went
off
,
nobody
knows
where
:
as
my
mother
did
in
my
infancy
—
only
with
this
difference
,
that
he
is
a
worse
subject
than
my
mother
,
if
possible
.
What
did
he
do
before
he
went
?
What
do
you
say
;
’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
with
his
hat
in
his
hand
,
gave
a
beat
upon
the
crown
at
every
little
division
of
his
sentences
,
as
if
it
were
a
tambourine
;
‘to
his
being
seen
—
night
after
night
—
watching
the
Bank
?
—
to
his
lurking
about
there
—
after
dark
?
—
To
its
striking
Mrs.
Sparsit
—
that
he
could
be
lurking
for
no
good
—
To
her
calling
Bitzer’s
attention
to
him
,
and
their
both
taking
notice
of
him
—
And
to
its
appearing
on
inquiry
to-day
—
that
he
was
also
noticed
by
the
neighbours
?
’
Having
come
to
the
climax
,
Mr.
Bounderby
,
like
an
oriental
dancer
,
put
his
tambourine
on
his
head
.
‘Suspicious
,
’
said
James
Harthouse
,
‘certainly.’
‘I
think
so
,
sir
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
with
a
defiant
nod
.
‘I
think
so
.
But
there
are
more
of
’em
in
it
.
There’s
an
old
woman
.
One
never
hears
of
these
things
till
the
mischief’s
done
;
all
sorts
of
defects
are
found
out
in
the
stable
door
after
the
horse
is
stolen
;
there’s
an
old
woman
turns
up
now
.
An
old
woman
who
seems
to
have
been
flying
into
town
on
a
broomstick
,
every
now
and
then
.
She
watches
the
place
a
whole
day
before
this
fellow
begins
,
and
on
the
night
when
you
saw
him
,
she
steals
away
with
him
and
holds
a
council
with
him
—
I
suppose
,
to
make
her
report
on
going
off
duty
,
and
be
damned
to
her.’
There
was
such
a
person
in
the
room
that
night
,
and
she
shrunk
from
observation
,
thought
Louisa
.
‘This
is
not
all
of
’em
,
even
as
we
already
know
’em
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
with
many
nods
of
hidden
meaning
.
‘But
I
have
said
enough
for
the
present
.
You’ll
have
the
goodness
to
keep
it
quiet
,
and
mention
it
to
no
one
.
It
may
take
time
,
but
we
shall
have
’em
.
It’s
policy
to
give
’em
line
enough
,
and
there’s
no
objection
to
that.’
‘Of
course
,
they
will
be
punished
with
the
utmost
rigour
of
the
law
,
as
notice-boards
observe
,
’
replied
James
Harthouse
,
‘and
serve
them
right
.
Fellows
who
go
in
for
Banks
must
take
the
consequences
.
If
there
were
no
consequences
,
we
should
all
go
in
for
Banks.’
He
had
gently
taken
Louisa’s
parasol
from
her
hand
,
and
had
put
it
up
for
her
;
and
she
walked
under
its
shade
,
though
the
sun
did
not
shine
there
.
‘For
the
present
,
Loo
Bounderby
,
’
said
her
husband
,
‘here’s
Mrs.
Sparsit
to
look
after
.
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
nerves
have
been
acted
upon
by
this
business
,
and
she’ll
stay
here
a
day
or
two
.
So
make
her
comfortable.’
‘Thank
you
very
much
,
sir
,
’
that
discreet
lady
observed
,
‘but
pray
do
not
let
My
comfort
be
a
consideration
.
Anything
will
do
for
Me.’
It
soon
appeared
that
if
Mrs.
Sparsit
had
a
failing
in
her
association
with
that
domestic
establishment
,
it
was
that
she
was
so
excessively
regardless
of
herself
and
regardful
of
others
,
as
to
be
a
nuisance
.
On
being
shown
her
chamber
,
she
was
so
dreadfully
sensible
of
its
comforts
as
to
suggest
the
inference
that
she
would
have
preferred
to
pass
the
night
on
the
mangle
in
the
laundry
.
True
,
the
Powlers
and
the
Scadgerses
were
accustomed
to
splendour
,
‘but
it
is
my
duty
to
remember
,
’
Mrs.
Sparsit
was
fond
of
observing
with
a
lofty
grace
:
particularly
when
any
of
the
domestics
were
present
,
‘that
what
I
was
,
I
am
no
longer
.
Indeed
,
’
said
she
,
‘if
I
could
altogether
cancel
the
remembrance
that
Mr.
Sparsit
was
a
Powler
,
or
that
I
myself
am
related
to
the
Scadgers
family
;
or
if
I
could
even
revoke
the
fact
,
and
make
myself
a
person
of
common
descent
and
ordinary
connexions
;
I
would
gladly
do
so
.
I
should
think
it
,
under
existing
circumstances
,
right
to
do
so.’
The
same
Hermitical
state
of
mind
led
to
her
renunciation
of
made
dishes
and
wines
at
dinner
,
until
fairly
commanded
by
Mr.
Bounderby
to
take
them
;
when
she
said
,
‘Indeed
you
are
very
good
,
sir
;
’
and
departed
from
a
resolution
of
which
she
had
made
rather
formal
and
public
announcement
,
to
‘wait
for
the
simple
mutton.’
She
was
likewise
deeply
apologetic
for
wanting
the
salt
;
and
,
feeling
amiably
bound
to
bear
out
Mr.
Bounderby
to
the
fullest
extent
in
the
testimony
he
had
borne
to
her
nerves
,
occasionally
sat
back
in
her
chair
and
silently
wept
;
at
which
periods
a
tear
of
large
dimensions
,
like
a
crystal
ear-ring
,
might
be
observed
(
or
rather
,
must
be
,
for
it
insisted
on
public
notice
)
sliding
down
her
Roman
nose
.
But
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
greatest
point
,
first
and
last
,
was
her
determination
to
pity
Mr.
Bounderby
.
There
were
occasions
when
in
looking
at
him
she
was
involuntarily
moved
to
shake
her
head
,
as
who
would
say
,
‘Alas
,
poor
Yorick
!
’
After
allowing
herself
to
be
betrayed
into
these
evidences
of
emotion
,
she
would
force
a
lambent
brightness
,
and
would
be
fitfully
cheerful
,
and
would
say
,
‘You
have
still
good
spirits
,
sir
,
I
am
thankful
to
find
;
’
and
would
appear
to
hail
it
as
a
blessed
dispensation
that
Mr.
Bounderby
bore
up
as
he
did
.
One
idiosyncrasy
for
which
she
often
apologized
,
she
found
it
excessively
difficult
to
conquer
.
She
had
a
curious
propensity
to
call
Mrs.
Bounderby
‘Miss
Gradgrind
,
’
and
yielded
to
it
some
three
or
four
score
times
in
the
course
of
the
evening
.
Her
repetition
of
this
mistake
covered
Mrs.
Sparsit
with
modest
confusion
;
but
indeed
,
she
said
,
it
seemed
so
natural
to
say
Miss
Gradgrind
:
whereas
,
to
persuade
herself
that
the
young
lady
whom
she
had
had
the
happiness
of
knowing
from
a
child
could
be
really
and
truly
Mrs.
Bounderby
,
she
found
almost
impossible
.
It
was
a
further
singularity
of
this
remarkable
case
,
that
the
more
she
thought
about
it
,
the
more
impossible
it
appeared
;
‘the
differences
,
’
she
observed
,
‘being
such.’
In
the
drawing-room
after
dinner
,
Mr.
Bounderby
tried
the
case
of
the
robbery
,
examined
the
witnesses
,
made
notes
of
the
evidence
,
found
the
suspected
persons
guilty
,
and
sentenced
them
to
the
extreme
punishment
of
the
law
.
That
done
,
Bitzer
was
dismissed
to
town
with
instructions
to
recommend
Tom
to
come
home
by
the
mail-train
.
When
candles
were
brought
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
murmured
,
‘Don’t
be
low
,
sir
.
Pray
let
me
see
you
cheerful
,
sir
,
as
I
used
to
do.’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
upon
whom
these
consolations
had
begun
to
produce
the
effect
of
making
him
,
in
a
bull-headed
blundering
way
,
sentimental
,
sighed
like
some
large
sea-animal
.
‘I
cannot
bear
to
see
you
so
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘Try
a
hand
at
backgammon
,
sir
,
as
you
used
to
do
when
I
had
the
honour
of
living
under
your
roof.’
‘I
haven’t
played
backgammon
,
ma’am
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘since
that
time.’
‘No
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
soothingly
,
‘I
am
aware
that
you
have
not
.
I
remember
that
Miss
Gradgrind
takes
no
interest
in
the
game
.
But
I
shall
be
happy
,
sir
,
if
you
will
condescend.’
They
played
near
a
window
,
opening
on
the
garden
.
It
was
a
fine
night
:
not
moonlight
,
but
sultry
and
fragrant
.
Louisa
and
Mr.
Harthouse
strolled
out
into
the
garden
,
where
their
voices
could
be
heard
in
the
stillness
,
though
not
what
they
said
.
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
from
her
place
at
the
backgammon
board
,
was
constantly
straining
her
eyes
to
pierce
the
shadows
without
.
‘What’s
the
matter
,
ma’am
?
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
;
‘you
don’t
see
a
Fire
,
do
you
?
’
‘Oh
dear
no
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘I
was
thinking
of
the
dew.’
‘What
have
you
got
to
do
with
the
dew
,
ma’am
?
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘It’s
not
myself
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘I
am
fearful
of
Miss
Gradgrind’s
taking
cold.’
‘She
never
takes
cold
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘Really
,
sir
?
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
And
was
affected
with
a
cough
in
her
throat
.
When
the
time
drew
near
for
retiring
,
Mr.
Bounderby
took
a
glass
of
water
.
‘Oh
,
sir
?
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘Not
your
sherry
warm
,
with
lemon-peel
and
nutmeg
?
’
‘Why
,
I
have
got
out
of
the
habit
of
taking
it
now
,
ma’am
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘The
more’s
the
pity
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
;
‘you
are
losing
all
your
good
old
habits
.
Cheer
up
,
sir
!
If
Miss
Gradgrind
will
permit
me
,
I
will
offer
to
make
it
for
you
,
as
I
have
often
done.’
Miss
Gradgrind
readily
permitting
Mrs.
Sparsit
to
do
anything
she
pleased
,
that
considerate
lady
made
the
beverage
,
and
handed
it
to
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘It
will
do
you
good
,
sir
.
It
will
warm
your
heart
.
It
is
the
sort
of
thing
you
want
,
and
ought
to
take
,
sir.’
And
when
Mr.
Bounderby
said
,
‘Your
health
,
ma’am
!
’
she
answered
with
great
feeling
,
‘Thank
you
,
sir
.
The
same
to
you
,
and
happiness
also.’
Finally
,
she
wished
him
good
night
,
with
great
pathos
;
and
Mr.
Bounderby
went
to
bed
,
with
a
maudlin
persuasion
that
he
had
been
crossed
in
something
tender
,
though
he
could
not
,
for
his
life
,
have
mentioned
what
it
was
.
Long
after
Louisa
had
undressed
and
lain
down
,
she
watched
and
waited
for
her
brother’s
coming
home
.
That
could
hardly
be
,
she
knew
,
until
an
hour
past
midnight
;
but
in
the
country
silence
,
which
did
anything
but
calm
the
trouble
of
her
thoughts
,
time
lagged
wearily
.
At
last
,
when
the
darkness
and
stillness
had
seemed
for
hours
to
thicken
one
another
,
she
heard
the
bell
at
the
gate
.
She
felt
as
though
she
would
have
been
glad
that
it
rang
on
until
daylight
;
but
it
ceased
,
and
the
circles
of
its
last
sound
spread
out
fainter
and
wider
in
the
air
,
and
all
was
dead
again
.
She
waited
yet
some
quarter
of
an
hour
,
as
she
judged
.
Then
she
arose
,
put
on
a
loose
robe
,
and
went
out
of
her
room
in
the
dark
,
and
up
the
staircase
to
her
brother’s
room
.
His
door
being
shut
,
she
softly
opened
it
and
spoke
to
him
,
approaching
his
bed
with
a
noiseless
step
.
She
kneeled
down
beside
it
,
passed
her
arm
over
his
neck
,
and
drew
his
face
to
hers
.
She
knew
that
he
only
feigned
to
be
asleep
,
but
she
said
nothing
to
him
.
He
started
by
and
by
as
if
he
were
just
then
awakened
,
and
asked
who
that
was
,
and
what
was
the
matter
?
‘Tom
,
have
you
anything
to
tell
me
?
If
ever
you
loved
me
in
your
life
,
and
have
anything
concealed
from
every
one
besides
,
tell
it
to
me.’
‘I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
,
Loo
.
You
have
been
dreaming.’
‘My
dear
brother
:
’
she
laid
her
head
down
on
his
pillow
,
and
her
hair
flowed
over
him
as
if
she
would
hide
him
from
every
one
but
herself
:
‘is
there
nothing
that
you
have
to
tell
me
?
Is
there
nothing
you
can
tell
me
if
you
will
?
You
can
tell
me
nothing
that
will
change
me
.
O
Tom
,
tell
me
the
truth
!
’
‘I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
,
Loo
!
’
‘As
you
lie
here
alone
,
my
dear
,
in
the
melancholy
night
,
so
you
must
lie
somewhere
one
night
,
when
even
I
,
if
I
am
living
then
,
shall
have
left
you
.
As
I
am
here
beside
you
,
barefoot
,
unclothed
,
undistinguishable
in
darkness
,
so
must
I
lie
through
all
the
night
of
my
decay
,
until
I
am
dust
.
In
the
name
of
that
time
,
Tom
,
tell
me
the
truth
now
!
’
‘What
is
it
you
want
to
know
?
’
‘You
may
be
certain
;
’
in
the
energy
of
her
love
she
took
him
to
her
bosom
as
if
he
were
a
child
;
‘that
I
will
not
reproach
you
.
You
may
be
certain
that
I
will
be
compassionate
and
true
to
you
.
You
may
be
certain
that
I
will
save
you
at
whatever
cost
.
O
Tom
,
have
you
nothing
to
tell
me
?
Whisper
very
softly
.
Say
only
“
yes
,
”
and
I
shall
understand
you
!
’
She
turned
her
ear
to
his
lips
,
but
he
remained
doggedly
silent
.
‘Not
a
word
,
Tom
?
’
‘How
can
I
say
Yes
,
or
how
can
I
say
No
,
when
I
don’t
know
what
you
mean
?
Loo
,
you
are
a
brave
,
kind
girl
,
worthy
I
begin
to
think
of
a
better
brother
than
I
am
.
But
I
have
nothing
more
to
say
.
Go
to
bed
,
go
to
bed.’
‘You
are
tired
,
’
she
whispered
presently
,
more
in
her
usual
way
.
‘Yes
,
I
am
quite
tired
out.’
‘You
have
been
so
hurried
and
disturbed
to-day
.
Have
any
fresh
discoveries
been
made
?
’
‘Only
those
you
have
heard
of
,
from
—
him.’
‘Tom
,
have
you
said
to
any
one
that
we
made
a
visit
to
those
people
,
and
that
we
saw
those
three
together
?
’
‘No
.
Didn’t
you
yourself
particularly
ask
me
to
keep
it
quiet
when
you
asked
me
to
go
there
with
you
?
’
‘Yes
.
But
I
did
not
know
then
what
was
going
to
happen.’
‘Nor
I
neither
.
How
could
I
?
’
He
was
very
quick
upon
her
with
this
retort
.
‘Ought
I
to
say
,
after
what
has
happened
,
’
said
his
sister
,
standing
by
the
bed
—
she
had
gradually
withdrawn
herself
and
risen
,
‘that
I
made
that
visit
?
Should
I
say
so
?
Must
I
say
so
?
’
‘Good
Heavens
,
Loo
,
’
returned
her
brother
,
‘you
are
not
in
the
habit
of
asking
my
advice
.
Say
what
you
like
.
If
you
keep
it
to
yourself
,
I
shall
keep
it
to
my
self
.
If
you
disclose
it
,
there’s
an
end
of
it.’
It
was
too
dark
for
either
to
see
the
other’s
face
;
but
each
seemed
very
attentive
,
and
to
consider
before
speaking
.
‘Tom
,
do
you
believe
the
man
I
gave
the
money
to
,
is
really
implicated
in
this
crime
?
’
‘I
don’t
know
.
I
don’t
see
why
he
shouldn’t
be.’
‘He
seemed
to
me
an
honest
man.’
‘Another
person
may
seem
to
you
dishonest
,
and
yet
not
be
so.’
There
was
a
pause
,
for
he
had
hesitated
and
stopped
.
‘In
short
,
’
resumed
Tom
,
as
if
he
had
made
up
his
mind
,
‘if
you
come
to
that
,
perhaps
I
was
so
far
from
being
altogether
in
his
favour
,
that
I
took
him
outside
the
door
to
tell
him
quietly
,
that
I
thought
he
might
consider
himself
very
well
off
to
get
such
a
windfall
as
he
had
got
from
my
sister
,
and
that
I
hoped
he
would
make
good
use
of
it
.
You
remember
whether
I
took
him
out
or
not
.
I
say
nothing
against
the
man
;
he
may
be
a
very
good
fellow
,
for
anything
I
know
;
I
hope
he
is.’
‘Was
he
offended
by
what
you
said
?
’
‘No
,
he
took
it
pretty
well
;
he
was
civil
enough
.
Where
are
you
,
Loo
?
’
He
sat
up
in
bed
and
kissed
her
.
‘Good
night
,
my
dear
,
good
night.’
‘You
have
nothing
more
to
tell
me
?
’
‘No
.
What
should
I
have
?
You
wouldn’t
have
me
tell
you
a
lie
!
’
‘I
wouldn’t
have
you
do
that
to-night
,
Tom
,
of
all
the
nights
in
your
life
;
many
and
much
happier
as
I
hope
they
will
be.’
‘Thank
you
,
my
dear
Loo
.
I
am
so
tired
,
that
I
am
sure
I
wonder
I
don’t
say
anything
to
get
to
sleep
.
Go
to
bed
,
go
to
bed.’
Kissing
her
again
,
he
turned
round
,
drew
the
coverlet
over
his
head
,
and
lay
as
still
as
if
that
time
had
come
by
which
she
had
adjured
him
.
She
stood
for
some
time
at
the
bedside
before
she
slowly
moved
away
.
She
stopped
at
the
door
,
looked
back
when
she
had
opened
it
,
and
asked
him
if
he
had
called
her
?
But
he
lay
still
,
and
she
softly
closed
the
door
and
returned
to
her
room
.
Then
the
wretched
boy
looked
cautiously
up
and
found
her
gone
,
crept
out
of
bed
,
fastened
his
door
,
and
threw
himself
upon
his
pillow
again
:
tearing
his
hair
,
morosely
crying
,
grudgingly
loving
her
,
hatefully
but
impenitently
spurning
himself
,
and
no
less
hatefully
and
unprofitably
spurning
all
the
good
in
the
world
.
CHAPTER
IX
HEARING
THE
LAST
OF
IT
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
lying
by
to
recover
the
tone
of
her
nerves
in
Mr.
Bounderby’s
retreat
,
kept
such
a
sharp
look-out
,
night
and
day
,
under
her
Coriolanian
eyebrows
,
that
her
eyes
,
like
a
couple
of
lighthouses
on
an
iron-bound
coast
,
might
have
warned
all
prudent
mariners
from
that
bold
rock
her
Roman
nose
and
the
dark
and
craggy
region
in
its
neighbourhood
,
but
for
the
placidity
of
her
manner
.
Although
it
was
hard
to
believe
that
her
retiring
for
the
night
could
be
anything
but
a
form
,
so
severely
wide
awake
were
those
classical
eyes
of
hers
,
and
so
impossible
did
it
seem
that
her
rigid
nose
could
yield
to
any
relaxing
influence
,
yet
her
manner
of
sitting
,
smoothing
her
uncomfortable
,
not
to
say
,
gritty
mittens
(
they
were
constructed
of
a
cool
fabric
like
a
meat-safe
)
,
or
of
ambling
to
unknown
places
of
destination
with
her
foot
in
her
cotton
stirrup
,
was
so
perfectly
serene
,
that
most
observers
would
have
been
constrained
to
suppose
her
a
dove
,
embodied
by
some
freak
of
nature
,
in
the
earthly
tabernacle
of
a
bird
of
the
hook-beaked
order
.
She
was
a
most
wonderful
woman
for
prowling
about
the
house
.
How
she
got
from
story
to
story
was
a
mystery
beyond
solution
.
A
lady
so
decorous
in
herself
,
and
so
highly
connected
,
was
not
to
be
suspected
of
dropping
over
the
banisters
or
sliding
down
them
,
yet
her
extraordinary
facility
of
locomotion
suggested
the
wild
idea
.
Another
noticeable
circumstance
in
Mrs.
Sparsit
was
,
that
she
was
never
hurried
.
She
would
shoot
with
consummate
velocity
from
the
roof
to
the
hall
,
yet
would
be
in
full
possession
of
her
breath
and
dignity
on
the
moment
of
her
arrival
there
.
Neither
was
she
ever
seen
by
human
vision
to
go
at
a
great
pace
.
She
took
very
kindly
to
Mr.
Harthouse
,
and
had
some
pleasant
conversation
with
him
soon
after
her
arrival
.
She
made
him
her
stately
curtsey
in
the
garden
,
one
morning
before
breakfast
.
‘It
appears
but
yesterday
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘that
I
had
the
honour
of
receiving
you
at
the
Bank
,
when
you
were
so
good
as
to
wish
to
be
made
acquainted
with
Mr.
Bounderby’s
address.’
‘An
occasion
,
I
am
sure
,
not
to
be
forgotten
by
myself
in
the
course
of
Ages
,
’
said
Mr.
Harthouse
,
inclining
his
head
to
Mrs.
Sparsit
with
the
most
indolent
of
all
possible
airs
.
‘We
live
in
a
singular
world
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘I
have
had
the
honour
,
by
a
coincidence
of
which
I
am
proud
,
to
have
made
a
remark
,
similar
in
effect
,
though
not
so
epigrammatically
expressed.’
‘A
singular
world
,
I
would
say
,
sir
,
’
pursued
Mrs.
Sparsit
;
after
acknowledging
the
compliment
with
a
drooping
of
her
dark
eyebrows
,
not
altogether
so
mild
in
its
expression
as
her
voice
was
in
its
dulcet
tones
;
‘as
regards
the
intimacies
we
form
at
one
time
,
with
individuals
we
were
quite
ignorant
of
,
at
another
.
I
recall
,
sir
,
that
on
that
occasion
you
went
so
far
as
to
say
you
were
actually
apprehensive
of
Miss
Gradgrind.’
‘Your
memory
does
me
more
honour
than
my
insignificance
deserves
.
I
availed
myself
of
your
obliging
hints
to
correct
my
timidity
,
and
it
is
unnecessary
to
add
that
they
were
perfectly
accurate
.
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
talent
for
—
in
fact
for
anything
requiring
accuracy
—
with
a
combination
of
strength
of
mind
—
and
Family
—
is
too
habitually
developed
to
admit
of
any
question.’
He
was
almost
falling
asleep
over
this
compliment
;
it
took
him
so
long
to
get
through
,
and
his
mind
wandered
so
much
in
the
course
of
its
execution
.
‘You
found
Miss
Gradgrind
—
I
really
cannot
call
her
Mrs.
Bounderby
;
it’s
very
absurd
of
me
—
as
youthful
as
I
described
her
?
’
asked
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
sweetly
.
‘You
drew
her
portrait
perfectly
,
’
said
Mr.
Harthouse
.
‘Presented
her
dead
image.’
‘Very
engaging
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
causing
her
mittens
slowly
to
revolve
over
one
another
.
‘Highly
so.’
‘It
used
to
be
considered
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘that
Miss
Gradgrind
was
wanting
in
animation
,
but
I
confess
she
appears
to
me
considerably
and
strikingly
improved
in
that
respect
.
Ay
,
and
indeed
here
is
Mr.
Bounderby
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
nodding
her
head
a
great
many
times
,
as
if
she
had
been
talking
and
thinking
of
no
one
else
.
‘How
do
you
find
yourself
this
morning
,
sir
?
Pray
let
us
see
you
cheerful
,
sir.’
Now
,
these
persistent
assuagements
of
his
misery
,
and
lightenings
of
his
load
,
had
by
this
time
begun
to
have
the
effect
of
making
Mr.
Bounderby
softer
than
usual
towards
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
and
harder
than
usual
to
most
other
people
from
his
wife
downward
.
So
,
when
Mrs.
Sparsit
said
with
forced
lightness
of
heart
,
‘You
want
your
breakfast
,
sir
,
but
I
dare
say
Miss
Gradgrind
will
soon
be
here
to
preside
at
the
table
,
’
Mr.
Bounderby
replied
,
‘If
I
waited
to
be
taken
care
of
by
my
wife
,
ma’am
,
I
believe
you
know
pretty
well
I
should
wait
till
Doomsday
,
so
I’ll
trouble
you
to
take
charge
of
the
teapot.’
Mrs.
Sparsit
complied
,
and
assumed
her
old
position
at
table
.
This
again
made
the
excellent
woman
vastly
sentimental
.
She
was
so
humble
withal
,
that
when
Louisa
appeared
,
she
rose
,
protesting
she
never
could
think
of
sitting
in
that
place
under
existing
circumstances
,
often
as
she
had
had
the
honour
of
making
Mr.
Bounderby’s
breakfast
,
before
Mrs.
Gradgrind
—
she
begged
pardon
,
she
meant
to
say
Miss
Bounderby
—
she
hoped
to
be
excused
,
but
she
really
could
not
get
it
right
yet
,
though
she
trusted
to
become
familiar
with
it
by
and
by
—
had
assumed
her
present
position
.
It
was
only
(
she
observed
)
because
Miss
Gradgrind
happened
to
be
a
little
late
,
and
Mr.
Bounderby’s
time
was
so
very
precious
,
and
she
knew
it
of
old
to
be
so
essential
that
he
should
breakfast
to
the
moment
,
that
she
had
taken
the
liberty
of
complying
with
his
request
;
long
as
his
will
had
been
a
law
to
her
.
‘There
!
Stop
where
you
are
,
ma’am
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘stop
where
you
are
!
Mrs.
Bounderby
will
be
very
glad
to
be
relieved
of
the
trouble
,
I
believe.’
‘Don’t
say
that
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
almost
with
severity
,
‘because
that
is
very
unkind
to
Mrs.
Bounderby
.
And
to
be
unkind
is
not
to
be
you
,
sir.’
‘You
may
set
your
mind
at
rest
,
ma’am
.
—
You
can
take
it
very
quietly
,
can’t
you
,
Loo
?
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
in
a
blustering
way
to
his
wife
.
‘Of
course
.
It
is
of
no
moment
.
Why
should
it
be
of
any
importance
to
me
?
’
‘Why
should
it
be
of
any
importance
to
any
one
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
ma’am
?
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
swelling
with
a
sense
of
slight
.
‘You
attach
too
much
importance
to
these
things
,
ma’am
.
By
George
,
you’ll
be
corrupted
in
some
of
your
notions
here
.
You
are
old-fashioned
,
ma’am
.
You
are
behind
Tom
Gradgrind’s
children’s
time.’
‘What
is
the
matter
with
you
?
’
asked
Louisa
,
coldly
surprised
.
‘What
has
given
you
offence
?
’
‘Offence
!
’
repeated
Bounderby
.
‘Do
you
suppose
if
there
was
any
offence
given
me
,
I
shouldn’t
name
it
,
and
request
to
have
it
corrected
?
I
am
a
straightforward
man
,
I
believe
.
I
don’t
go
beating
about
for
side-winds.’
‘I
suppose
no
one
ever
had
occasion
to
think
you
too
diffident
,
or
too
delicate
,
’
Louisa
answered
him
composedly
:
‘I
have
never
made
that
objection
to
you
,
either
as
a
child
or
as
a
woman
.
I
don’t
understand
what
you
would
have.’
‘Have
?
’
returned
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘Nothing
.
Otherwise
,
don’t
