risenout
of
the
mud
instead
of
the
sea
,
he
liked
to
show
how
little
his
domestic
affairs
abated
his
business
ardour
.
Consequently
,
in
the
first
few
weeks
of
his
resumed
bachelorhood
,
he
even
advanced
upon
his
usual
display
of
bustle
,
and
every
day
made
such
a
rout
in
renewing
his
investigations
into
the
robbery
,
that
the
officers
who
had
it
in
hand
almost
wished
it
had
never
been
committed
.
They
were
at
fault
too
,
and
off
the
scent
.
Although
they
had
been
so
quiet
since
the
first
outbreak
of
the
matter
,
that
most
people
really
did
suppose
it
to
have
been
abandoned
as
hopeless
,
nothing
new
occurred
.
No
implicated
man
or
woman
took
untimely
courage
,
or
made
a
self-betraying
step
.
More
remarkable
yet
,
Stephen
Blackpool
could
not
be
heard
of
,
and
the
mysterious
old
woman
remained
a
mystery
.
Things
having
come
to
this
pass
,
and
showing
no
latent
signs
of
stirring
beyond
it
,
the
upshot
of
Mr.
Bounderby’s
investigations
was
,
that
he
resolved
to
hazard
a
bold
burst
.
He
drew
up
a
placard
,
offering
Twenty
Pounds
reward
for
the
apprehension
of
Stephen
Blackpool
,
suspected
of
complicity
in
the
robbery
of
Coketown
Bank
on
such
a
night
;
he
described
the
said
Stephen
Blackpool
by
dress
,
complexion
,
estimated
height
,
and
manner
,
as
minutely
as
he
could
;
he
recited
how
he
had
left
the
town
,
and
in
what
direction
he
had
been
last
seen
going
;
he
had
the
whole
printed
in
great
black
letters
on
a
staring
broadsheet
;
and
he
caused
the
walls
to
be
posted
with
it
in
the
dead
of
night
,
so
that
it
should
strike
upon
the
sight
of
the
whole
population
at
one
blow
.
The
factory-bells
had
need
to
ring
their
loudest
that
morning
to
disperse
the
groups
of
workers
who
stood
in
the
tardy
daybreak
,
collected
round
the
placards
,
devouring
them
with
eager
eyes
.
Not
the
least
eager
of
the
eyes
assembled
,
were
the
eyes
of
those
who
could
not
read
.
These
people
,
as
they
listened
to
the
friendly
voice
that
read
aloud
—
there
was
always
some
such
ready
to
help
them
—
stared
at
the
characters
which
meant
so
much
with
a
vague
awe
and
respect
that
would
have
been
half
ludicrous
,
if
any
aspect
of
public
ignorance
could
ever
be
otherwise
than
threatening
and
full
of
evil
.
Many
ears
and
eyes
were
busy
with
a
vision
of
the
matter
of
these
placards
,
among
turning
spindles
,
rattling
looms
,
and
whirling
wheels
,
for
hours
afterwards
;
and
when
the
Hands
cleared
out
again
into
the
streets
,
there
were
still
as
many
readers
as
before
.
Slackbridge
,
the
delegate
,
had
to
address
his
audience
too
that
night
;
and
Slackbridge
had
obtained
a
clean
bill
from
the
printer
,
and
had
brought
it
in
his
pocket
.
Oh
,
my
friends
and
fellow-countrymen
,
the
down-trodden
operatives
of
Coketown
,
oh
,
my
fellow-brothers
and
fellow-workmen
and
fellow-citizens
and
fellow-men
,
what
a
to-do
was
there
,
when
Slackbridge
unfolded
what
he
called
‘that
damning
document
,
’
and
held
it
up
to
the
gaze
,
and
for
the
execration
of
the
working-man
community
!
‘Oh
,
my
fellow-men
,
behold
of
what
a
traitor
in
the
camp
of
those
great
spirits
who
are
enrolled
upon
the
holy
scroll
of
Justice
and
of
Union
,
is
appropriately
capable
!
Oh
,
my
prostrate
friends
,
with
the
galling
yoke
of
tyrants
on
your
necks
and
the
iron
foot
of
despotism
treading
down
your
fallen
forms
into
the
dust
of
the
earth
,
upon
which
right
glad
would
your
oppressors
be
to
see
you
creeping
on
your
bellies
all
the
days
of
your
lives
,
like
the
serpent
in
the
garden
—
oh
,
my
brothers
,
and
shall
I
as
a
man
not
add
,
my
sisters
too
,
what
do
you
say
,
now
,
of
Stephen
Blackpool
,
with
a
slight
stoop
in
his
shoulders
and
about
five
foot
seven
in
height
,
as
set
forth
in
this
degrading
and
disgusting
document
,
this
blighting
bill
,
this
pernicious
placard
,
this
abominable
advertisement
;
and
with
what
majesty
of
denouncement
will
you
crush
the
viper
,
who
would
bring
this
stain
and
shame
upon
the
God-like
race
that
happily
has
cast
him
out
for
ever
!
Yes
,
my
compatriots
,
happily
cast
him
out
and
sent
him
forth
!
For
you
remember
how
he
stood
here
before
you
on
this
platform
;
you
remember
how
,
face
to
face
and
foot
to
foot
,
I
pursued
him
through
all
his
intricate
windings
;
you
remember
how
he
sneaked
and
slunk
,
and
sidled
,
and
splitted
of
straws
,
until
,
with
not
an
inch
of
ground
to
which
to
cling
,
I
hurled
him
out
from
amongst
us
:
an
object
for
the
undying
finger
of
scorn
to
point
at
,
and
for
the
avenging
fire
of
every
free
and
thinking
mind
to
scorch
and
scar
!
And
now
,
my
friends
—
my
labouring
friends
,
for
I
rejoice
and
triumph
in
that
stigma
—
my
friends
whose
hard
but
honest
beds
are
made
in
toil
,
and
whose
scanty
but
independent
pots
are
boiled
in
hardship
;
and
now
,
I
say
,
my
friends
,
what
appellation
has
that
dastard
craven
taken
to
himself
,
when
,
with
the
mask
torn
from
his
features
,
he
stands
before
us
in
all
his
native
deformity
,
a
What
?
A
thief
!
A
plunderer
!
A
proscribed
fugitive
,
with
a
price
upon
his
head
;
a
fester
and
a
wound
upon
the
noble
character
of
the
Coketown
operative
!
Therefore
,
my
band
of
brothers
in
a
sacred
bond
,
to
which
your
children
and
your
children’s
children
yet
unborn
have
set
their
infant
hands
and
seals
,
I
propose
to
you
on
the
part
of
the
United
Aggregate
Tribunal
,
ever
watchful
for
your
welfare
,
ever
zealous
for
your
benefit
,
that
this
meeting
does
Resolve
:
That
Stephen
Blackpool
,
weaver
,
referred
to
in
this
placard
,
having
been
already
solemnly
disowned
by
the
community
of
Coketown
Hands
,
the
same
are
free
from
the
shame
of
his
misdeeds
,
and
cannot
as
a
class
be
reproached
with
his
dishonest
actions
!
’
Thus
Slackbridge
;
gnashing
and
perspiring
after
a
prodigious
sort
.
A
few
stern
voices
called
out
‘No
!
’
and
a
score
or
two
hailed
,
with
assenting
cries
of
‘Hear
,
hear
!
’
the
caution
from
one
man
,
‘Slackbridge
,
y’or
over
hetter
in’t
;
y’or
a
goen
too
fast
!
’
But
these
were
pigmies
against
an
army
;
the
general
assemblage
subscribed
to
the
gospel
according
to
Slackbridge
,
and
gave
three
cheers
for
him
,
as
he
sat
demonstratively
panting
at
them
.
These
men
and
women
were
yet
in
the
streets
,
passing
quietly
to
their
homes
,
when
Sissy
,
who
had
been
called
away
from
Louisa
some
minutes
before
,
returned
.
‘Who
is
it
?
’
asked
Louisa
.
‘It
is
Mr.
Bounderby
,
’
said
Sissy
,
timid
of
the
name
,
‘and
your
brother
Mr.
Tom
,
and
a
young
woman
who
says
her
name
is
Rachael
,
and
that
you
know
her.’
‘What
do
they
want
,
Sissy
dear
?
’
‘They
want
to
see
you
.
Rachael
has
been
crying
,
and
seems
angry.’
‘Father
,
’
said
Louisa
,
for
he
was
present
,
‘I
cannot
refuse
to
see
them
,
for
a
reason
that
will
explain
itself
.
Shall
they
come
in
here
?
’
As
he
answered
in
the
affirmative
,
Sissy
went
away
to
bring
them
.
She
reappeared
with
them
directly
.
Tom
was
last
;
and
remained
standing
in
the
obscurest
part
of
the
room
,
near
the
door
.
‘Mrs
.
Bounderby
,
’
said
her
husband
,
entering
with
a
cool
nod
,
‘I
don’t
disturb
you
,
I
hope
.
This
is
an
unseasonable
hour
,
but
here
is
a
young
woman
who
has
been
making
statements
which
render
my
visit
necessary
.
Tom
Gradgrind
,
as
your
son
,
young
Tom
,
refuses
for
some
obstinate
reason
or
other
to
say
anything
at
all
about
those
statements
,
good
or
bad
,
I
am
obliged
to
confront
her
with
your
daughter.’
‘You
have
seen
me
once
before
,
young
lady
,
’
said
Rachael
,
standing
in
front
of
Louisa
.
Tom
coughed
.
‘You
have
seen
me
,
young
lady
,
’
repeated
Rachael
,
as
she
did
not
answer
,
‘once
before.’
Tom
coughed
again
.
‘I
have.’
Rachael
cast
her
eyes
proudly
towards
Mr.
Bounderby
,
and
said
,
‘Will
you
make
it
known
,
young
lady
,
where
,
and
who
was
there
?
’
‘I
went
to
the
house
where
Stephen
Blackpool
lodged
,
on
the
night
of
his
discharge
from
his
work
,
and
I
saw
you
there
.
He
was
there
too
;
and
an
old
woman
who
did
not
speak
,
and
whom
I
could
scarcely
see
,
stood
in
a
dark
corner
.
My
brother
was
with
me.’
‘Why
couldn’t
you
say
so
,
young
Tom
?
’
demanded
Bounderby
.
‘I
promised
my
sister
I
wouldn’t.’
Which
Louisa
hastily
confirmed
.
‘And
besides
,
’
said
the
whelp
bitterly
,
‘she
tells
her
own
story
so
precious
well
—
and
so
full
—
that
what
business
had
I
to
take
it
out
of
her
mouth
!
’
‘Say
,
young
lady
,
if
you
please
,
’
pursued
Rachael
,
‘why
,
in
an
evil
hour
,
you
ever
came
to
Stephen’s
that
night.’
‘I
felt
compassion
for
him
,
’
said
Louisa
,
her
colour
deepening
,
‘and
I
wished
to
know
what
he
was
going
to
do
,
and
wished
to
offer
him
assistance.’
‘Thank
you
,
ma’am
,
’
said
Bounderby
.
‘Much
flattered
and
obliged.’
‘Did
you
offer
him
,
’
asked
Rachael
,
‘a
bank-note
?
’
‘Yes
;
but
he
refused
it
,
and
would
only
take
two
pounds
in
gold.’
Rachael
cast
her
eyes
towards
Mr.
Bounderby
again
.
‘Oh
,
certainly
!
’
said
Bounderby
.
‘If
you
put
the
question
whether
your
ridiculous
and
improbable
account
was
true
or
not
,
I
am
bound
to
say
it’s
confirmed.’
‘Young
lady
,
’
said
Rachael
,
‘Stephen
Blackpool
is
now
named
as
a
thief
in
public
print
all
over
this
town
,
and
where
else
!
There
have
been
a
meeting
to-night
where
he
have
been
spoken
of
in
the
same
shameful
way
.
Stephen
!
The
honestest
lad
,
the
truest
lad
,
the
best
!
’
Her
indignation
failed
her
,
and
she
broke
off
sobbing
.
‘I
am
very
,
very
sorry
,
’
said
Louisa
.
‘Oh
,
young
lady
,
young
lady
,
’
returned
Rachael
,
‘I
hope
you
may
be
,
but
I
don’t
know
!
I
can’t
say
what
you
may
ha’
done
!
The
like
of
you
don’t
know
us
,
don’t
care
for
us
,
don’t
belong
to
us
.
I
am
not
sure
why
you
may
ha’
come
that
night
.
I
can’t
tell
but
what
you
may
ha’
come
wi’
some
aim
of
your
own
,
not
mindin
to
what
trouble
you
brought
such
as
the
poor
lad
.
I
said
then
,
Bless
you
for
coming
;
and
I
said
it
of
my
heart
,
you
seemed
to
take
so
pitifully
to
him
;
but
I
don’t
know
now
,
I
don’t
know
!
’
Louisa
could
not
reproach
her
for
her
unjust
suspicions
;
she
was
so
faithful
to
her
idea
of
the
man
,
and
so
afflicted
.
‘And
when
I
think
,
’
said
Rachael
through
her
sobs
,
‘that
the
poor
lad
was
so
grateful
,
thinkin
you
so
good
to
him
—
when
I
mind
that
he
put
his
hand
over
his
hard-worken
face
to
hide
the
tears
that
you
brought
up
there
—
Oh
,
I
hope
you
may
be
sorry
,
and
ha’
no
bad
cause
to
be
it
;
but
I
don’t
know
,
I
don’t
know
!
’
‘You’re
a
pretty
article
,
’
growled
the
whelp
,
moving
uneasily
in
his
dark
corner
,
‘to
come
here
with
these
precious
imputations
!
You
ought
to
be
bundled
out
for
not
knowing
how
to
behave
yourself
,
and
you
would
be
by
rights.’
She
said
nothing
in
reply
;
and
her
low
weeping
was
the
only
sound
that
was
heard
,
until
Mr.
Bounderby
spoke
.
‘Come
!
’
said
he
,
‘you
know
what
you
have
engaged
to
do
.
You
had
better
give
your
mind
to
that
;
not
this.’
‘’Deed
,
I
am
loath
,
’
returned
Rachael
,
drying
her
eyes
,
‘that
any
here
should
see
me
like
this
;
but
I
won’t
be
seen
so
again
.
Young
lady
,
when
I
had
read
what’s
put
in
print
of
Stephen
—
and
what
has
just
as
much
truth
in
it
as
if
it
had
been
put
in
print
of
you
—
I
went
straight
to
the
Bank
to
say
I
knew
where
Stephen
was
,
and
to
give
a
sure
and
certain
promise
that
he
should
be
here
in
two
days
.
I
couldn’t
meet
wi’
Mr.
Bounderby
then
,
and
your
brother
sent
me
away
,
and
I
tried
to
find
you
,
but
you
was
not
to
be
found
,
and
I
went
back
to
work
.
Soon
as
I
come
out
of
the
Mill
to-night
,
I
hastened
to
hear
what
was
said
of
Stephen
—
for
I
know
wi’
pride
he
will
come
back
to
shame
it
!
—
and
then
I
went
again
to
seek
Mr.
Bounderby
,
and
I
found
him
,
and
I
told
him
every
word
I
knew
;
and
he
believed
no
word
I
said
,
and
brought
me
here.’
‘So
far
,
that’s
true
enough
,
’
assented
Mr.
Bounderby
,
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
and
his
hat
on
.
‘But
I
have
known
you
people
before
to-day
,
you’ll
observe
,
and
I
know
you
never
die
for
want
of
talking
.
Now
,
I
recommend
you
not
so
much
to
mind
talking
just
now
,
as
doing
.
You
have
undertaken
to
do
something
;
all
I
remark
upon
that
at
present
is
,
do
it
!
’
‘I
have
written
to
Stephen
by
the
post
that
went
out
this
afternoon
,
as
I
have
written
to
him
once
before
sin’
he
went
away
,
’
said
Rachael
;
‘and
he
will
be
here
,
at
furthest
,
in
two
days.’
‘Then
,
I’ll
tell
you
something
.
You
are
not
aware
perhaps
,
’
retorted
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘that
you
yourself
have
been
looked
after
now
and
then
,
not
being
considered
quite
free
from
suspicion
in
this
business
,
on
account
of
most
people
being
judged
according
to
the
company
they
keep
.
The
post-office
hasn’t
been
forgotten
either
.
What
I’ll
tell
you
is
,
that
no
letter
to
Stephen
Blackpool
has
ever
got
into
it
.
Therefore
,
what
has
become
of
yours
,
I
leave
you
to
guess
.
Perhaps
you’re
mistaken
,
and
never
wrote
any.’
‘He
hadn’t
been
gone
from
here
,
young
lady
,
’
said
Rachael
,
turning
appealingly
to
Louisa
,
‘as
much
as
a
week
,
when
he
sent
me
the
only
letter
I
have
had
from
him
,
saying
that
he
was
forced
to
seek
work
in
another
name.’
‘Oh
,
by
George
!
’
cried
Bounderby
,
shaking
his
head
,
with
a
whistle
,
‘he
changes
his
name
,
does
he
!
That’s
rather
unlucky
,
too
,
for
such
an
immaculate
chap
.
It’s
considered
a
little
suspicious
in
Courts
of
Justice
,
I
believe
,
when
an
Innocent
happens
to
have
many
names.’
‘What
,
’
said
Rachael
,
with
the
tears
in
her
eyes
again
,
‘what
,
young
lady
,
in
the
name
of
Mercy
,
was
left
the
poor
lad
to
do
!
The
masters
against
him
on
one
hand
,
the
men
against
him
on
the
other
,
he
only
wantin
to
work
hard
in
peace
,
and
do
what
he
felt
right
.
Can
a
man
have
no
soul
of
his
own
,
no
mind
of
his
own
?
Must
he
go
wrong
all
through
wi’
this
side
,
or
must
he
go
wrong
all
through
wi’
that
,
or
else
be
hunted
like
a
hare
?
’
‘Indeed
,
indeed
,
I
pity
him
from
my
heart
,
’
returned
Louisa
;
‘and
I
hope
that
he
will
clear
himself.’
‘You
need
have
no
fear
of
that
,
young
lady
.
He
is
sure
!
’
‘All
the
surer
,
I
suppose
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘for
your
refusing
to
tell
where
he
is
?
Eh
?
’
‘He
shall
not
,
through
any
act
of
mine
,
come
back
wi’
the
unmerited
reproach
of
being
brought
back
.
He
shall
come
back
of
his
own
accord
to
clear
himself
,
and
put
all
those
that
have
injured
his
good
character
,
and
he
not
here
for
its
defence
,
to
shame
.
I
have
told
him
what
has
been
done
against
him
,
’
said
Rachael
,
throwing
off
all
distrust
as
a
rock
throws
of
the
sea
,
‘and
he
will
be
here
,
at
furthest
,
in
two
days.’
‘Notwithstanding
which
,
’
added
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘if
he
can
be
laid
hold
of
any
sooner
,
he
shall
have
an
earlier
opportunity
of
clearing
himself
.
As
to
you
,
I
have
nothing
against
you
;
what
you
came
and
told
me
turns
out
to
be
true
,
and
I
have
given
you
the
means
of
proving
it
to
be
true
,
and
there’s
an
end
of
it
.
I
wish
you
good
night
all
!
I
must
be
off
to
look
a
little
further
into
this.’
Tom
came
out
of
his
corner
when
Mr.
Bounderby
moved
,
moved
with
him
,
kept
close
to
him
,
and
went
away
with
him
.
The
only
parting
salutation
of
which
he
delivered
himself
was
a
sulky
‘Good
night
,
father
!
’
With
a
brief
speech
,
and
a
scowl
at
his
sister
,
he
left
the
house
.
Since
his
sheet-anchor
had
come
home
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
had
been
sparing
of
speech
.
He
still
sat
silent
,
when
Louisa
mildly
said
:
‘Rachael
,
you
will
not
distrust
me
one
day
,
when
you
know
me
better.’
‘It
goes
against
me
,
’
Rachael
answered
,
in
a
gentler
manner
,
‘to
mistrust
any
one
;
but
when
I
am
so
mistrusted
—
when
we
all
are
—
I
cannot
keep
such
things
quite
out
of
my
mind
.
I
ask
your
pardon
for
having
done
you
an
injury
.
I
don’t
think
what
I
said
now
.
Yet
I
might
come
to
think
it
again
,
wi’
the
poor
lad
so
wronged.’
‘Did
you
tell
him
in
your
letter
,
’
inquired
Sissy
,
‘that
suspicion
seemed
to
have
fallen
upon
him
,
because
he
had
been
seen
about
the
Bank
at
night
?
He
would
then
know
what
he
would
have
to
explain
on
coming
back
,
and
would
be
ready.’
‘Yes
,
dear
,
’
she
returned
;
‘but
I
can’t
guess
what
can
have
ever
taken
him
there
.
He
never
used
to
go
there
.
It
was
never
in
his
way
.
His
way
was
the
same
as
mine
,
and
not
near
it.’
Sissy
had
already
been
at
her
side
asking
her
where
she
lived
,
and
whether
she
might
come
to-morrow
night
,
to
inquire
if
there
were
news
of
him
.
‘I
doubt
,
’
said
Rachael
,
‘if
he
can
be
here
till
next
day.’
‘Then
I
will
come
next
night
too
,
’
said
Sissy
.
When
Rachael
,
assenting
to
this
,
was
gone
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
lifted
up
his
head
,
and
said
to
his
daughter
:
‘Louisa
,
my
dear
,
I
have
never
,
that
I
know
of
,
seen
this
man
.
Do
you
believe
him
to
be
implicated
?
’
‘I
think
I
have
believed
it
,
father
,
though
with
great
difficulty
.
I
do
not
believe
it
now.’
‘That
is
to
say
,
you
once
persuaded
yourself
to
believe
it
,
from
knowing
him
to
be
suspected
.
His
appearance
and
manner
;
are
they
so
honest
?
’
‘Very
honest.’
‘And
her
confidence
not
to
be
shaken
!
I
ask
myself
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
musing
,
‘does
the
real
culprit
know
of
these
accusations
?
Where
is
he
?
Who
is
he
?
’
His
hair
had
latterly
began
to
change
its
colour
.
As
he
leaned
upon
his
hand
again
,
looking
gray
and
old
,
Louisa
,
with
a
face
of
fear
and
pity
,
hurriedly
went
over
to
him
,
and
sat
close
at
his
side
.
Her
eyes
by
accident
met
Sissy’s
at
the
moment
.
Sissy
flushed
and
started
,
and
Louisa
put
her
finger
on
her
lip
.
Next
night
,
when
Sissy
returned
home
and
told
Louisa
that
Stephen
was
not
come
,
she
told
it
in
a
whisper
.
Next
night
again
,
when
she
came
home
with
the
same
account
,
and
added
that
he
had
not
been
heard
of
,
she
spoke
in
the
same
low
frightened
tone
.
From
the
moment
of
that
interchange
of
looks
,
they
never
uttered
his
name
,
or
any
reference
to
him
,
aloud
;
nor
ever
pursued
the
subject
of
the
robbery
,
when
Mr.
Gradgrind
spoke
of
it
.
The
two
appointed
days
ran
out
,
three
days
and
nights
ran
out
,
and
Stephen
Blackpool
was
not
come
,
and
remained
unheard
of
.
On
the
fourth
day
,
Rachael
,
with
unabated
confidence
,
but
considering
her
despatch
to
have
miscarried
,
went
up
to
the
Bank
,
and
showed
her
letter
from
him
with
his
address
,
at
a
working
colony
,
one
of
many
,
not
upon
the
main
road
,
sixty
miles
away
.
Messengers
were
sent
to
that
place
,
and
the
whole
town
looked
for
Stephen
to
be
brought
in
next
day
.
During
this
whole
time
the
whelp
moved
about
with
Mr.
Bounderby
like
his
shadow
,
assisting
in
all
the
proceedings
.
He
was
greatly
excited
,
horribly
fevered
,
bit
his
nails
down
to
the
quick
,
spoke
in
a
hard
rattling
voice
,
and
with
lips
that
were
black
and
burnt
up
.
At
the
hour
when
the
suspected
man
was
looked
for
,
the
whelp
was
at
the
station
;
offering
to
wager
that
he
had
made
off
before
the
arrival
of
those
who
were
sent
in
quest
of
him
,
and
that
he
would
not
appear
.
The
whelp
was
right
.
The
messengers
returned
alone
.
Rachael’s
letter
had
gone
,
Rachael’s
letter
had
been
delivered
.
Stephen
Blackpool
had
decamped
in
that
same
hour
;
and
no
soul
knew
more
of
him
.
The
only
doubt
in
Coketown
was
,
whether
Rachael
had
written
in
good
faith
,
believing
that
he
really
would
come
back
,
or
warning
him
to
fly
.
On
this
point
opinion
was
divided
.
Six
days
,
seven
days
,
far
on
into
another
week
.
The
wretched
whelp
plucked
up
a
ghastly
courage
,
and
began
to
grow
defiant
.
‘
Was
the
suspected
fellow
the
thief
?
A
pretty
question
!
If
not
,
where
was
the
man
,
and
why
did
he
not
come
back
?
’
Where
was
the
man
,
and
why
did
he
not
come
back
?
In
the
dead
of
night
the
echoes
of
his
own
words
,
which
had
rolled
Heaven
knows
how
far
away
in
the
daytime
,
came
back
instead
,
and
abided
by
him
until
morning
.
CHAPTER
V
FOUND
Day
and
night
again
,
day
and
night
again
.
No
Stephen
Blackpool
.
Where
was
the
man
,
and
why
did
he
not
come
back
?
Every
night
,
Sissy
went
to
Rachael’s
lodging
,
and
sat
with
her
in
her
small
neat
room
.
All
day
,
Rachael
toiled
as
such
people
must
toil
,
whatever
their
anxieties
.
The
smoke-serpents
were
indifferent
who
was
lost
or
found
,
who
turned
out
bad
or
good
;
the
melancholy
mad
elephants
,
like
the
Hard
Fact
men
,
abated
nothing
of
their
set
routine
,
whatever
happened
.
Day
and
night
again
,
day
and
night
again
.
The
monotony
was
unbroken
.
Even
Stephen
Blackpool’s
disappearance
was
falling
into
the
general
way
,
and
becoming
as
monotonous
a
wonder
as
any
piece
of
machinery
in
Coketown
.
‘I
misdoubt
,
’
said
Rachael
,
‘if
there
is
as
many
as
twenty
left
in
all
this
place
,
who
have
any
trust
in
the
poor
dear
lad
now.’
She
said
it
to
Sissy
,
as
they
sat
in
her
lodging
,
lighted
only
by
the
lamp
at
the
street
corner
.
Sissy
had
come
there
when
it
was
already
dark
,
to
await
her
return
from
work
;
and
they
had
since
sat
at
the
window
where
Rachael
had
found
her
,
wanting
no
brighter
light
to
shine
on
their
sorrowful
talk
.
‘If
it
hadn’t
been
mercifully
brought
about
,
that
I
was
to
have
you
to
speak
to
,
’
pursued
Rachael
,
‘times
are
,
when
I
think
my
mind
would
not
have
kept
right
.
But
I
get
hope
and
strength
through
you
;
and
you
believe
that
though
appearances
may
rise
against
him
,
he
will
be
proved
clear
?
’
‘I
do
believe
so
,
’
returned
Sissy
,
‘with
my
whole
heart
.
I
feel
so
certain
,
Rachael
,
that
the
confidence
you
hold
in
yours
against
all
discouragement
,
is
not
like
to
be
wrong
,
that
I
have
no
more
doubt
of
him
than
if
I
had
known
him
through
as
many
years
of
trial
as
you
have.’
‘And
I
,
my
dear
,
’
said
Rachel
,
with
a
tremble
in
her
voice
,
‘have
known
him
through
them
all
,
to
be
,
according
to
his
quiet
ways
,
so
faithful
to
everything
honest
and
good
,
that
if
he
was
never
to
be
heard
of
more
,
and
I
was
to
live
to
be
a
hundred
years
old
,
I
could
say
with
my
last
breath
,
God
knows
my
heart
.
I
have
never
once
left
trusting
Stephen
Blackpool
!
’
‘We
all
believe
,
up
at
the
Lodge
,
Rachael
,
that
he
will
be
freed
from
suspicion
,
sooner
or
later.’
‘The
better
I
know
it
to
be
so
believed
there
,
my
dear
,
’
said
Rachael
,
‘and
the
kinder
I
feel
it
that
you
come
away
from
there
,
purposely
to
comfort
me
,
and
keep
me
company
,
and
be
seen
wi’
me
when
I
am
not
yet
free
from
all
suspicion
myself
,
the
more
grieved
I
am
that
I
should
ever
have
spoken
those
mistrusting
words
to
the
young
lady
.
And
yet
I
—
’
‘You
don’t
mistrust
her
now
,
Rachael
?
’
‘Now
that
you
have
brought
us
more
together
,
no.
But
I
can’t
at
all
times
keep
out
of
my
mind
—
’
Her
voice
so
sunk
into
a
low
and
slow
communing
with
herself
,
that
Sissy
,
sitting
by
her
side
,
was
obliged
to
listen
with
attention
.
‘I
can’t
at
all
times
keep
out
of
my
mind
,
mistrustings
of
some
one
.
I
can’t
think
who
’tis
,
I
can’t
think
how
or
why
it
may
be
done
,
but
I
mistrust
that
some
one
has
put
Stephen
out
of
the
way
.
I
mistrust
that
by
his
coming
back
of
his
own
accord
,
and
showing
himself
innocent
before
them
all
,
some
one
would
be
confounded
,
who
—
to
prevent
that
—
has
stopped
him
,
and
put
him
out
of
the
way.’
‘That
is
a
dreadful
thought
,
’
said
Sissy
,
turning
pale
.
‘It
is
a
dreadful
thought
to
think
he
may
be
murdered.’
Sissy
shuddered
,
and
turned
paler
yet
.
‘When
it
makes
its
way
into
my
mind
,
dear
,
’
said
Rachael
,
‘and
it
will
come
sometimes
,
though
I
do
all
I
can
to
keep
it
out
,
wi’
counting
on
to
high
numbers
as
I
work
,
and
saying
over
and
over
again
pieces
that
I
knew
when
I
were
a
child
—
I
fall
into
such
a
wild
,
hot
hurry
,
that
,
however
tired
I
am
,
I
want
to
walk
fast
,
miles
and
miles
.
I
must
get
the
better
of
this
before
bed-time
.
I’ll
walk
home
wi’
you.’
‘He
might
fall
ill
upon
the
journey
back
,
’
said
Sissy
,
faintly
offering
a
worn-out
scrap
of
hope
;
‘and
in
such
a
case
,
there
are
many
places
on
the
road
where
he
might
stop.’
‘But
he
is
in
none
of
them
.
He
has
been
sought
for
in
all
,
and
he’s
not
there.’
‘True
,
’
was
Sissy’s
reluctant
admission
.
‘He’d
walk
the
journey
in
two
days
.
If
he
was
footsore
and
couldn’t
walk
,
I
sent
him
,
in
the
letter
he
got
,
the
money
to
ride
,
lest
he
should
have
none
of
his
own
to
spare.’
‘Let
us
hope
that
to-morrow
will
bring
something
better
,
Rachael
.
Come
into
the
air
!
’
Her
gentle
hand
adjusted
Rachael’s
shawl
upon
her
shining
black
hair
in
the
usual
manner
of
her
wearing
it
,
and
they
went
out
.
The
night
being
fine
,
little
knots
of
Hands
were
here
and
there
lingering
at
street
corners
;
but
it
was
supper-time
with
the
greater
part
of
them
,
and
there
were
but
few
people
in
the
streets
.
‘You’re
not
so
hurried
now
,
Rachael
,
and
your
hand
is
cooler.’
‘I
get
better
,
dear
,
if
I
can
only
walk
,
and
breathe
a
little
fresh
.
‘Times
when
I
can’t
,
I
turn
weak
and
confused.’
‘But
you
must
not
begin
to
fail
,
Rachael
,
for
you
may
be
wanted
at
any
time
to
stand
by
Stephen
.
To-morrow
is
Saturday
.
If
no
news
comes
to-morrow
,
let
us
walk
in
the
country
on
Sunday
morning
,
and
strengthen
you
for
another
week
.
Will
you
go
?
’
‘Yes
,
dear.’
They
were
by
this
time
in
the
street
where
Mr.
Bounderby’s
house
stood
.
The
way
to
Sissy’s
destination
led
them
past
the
door
,
and
they
were
going
straight
towards
it
.
Some
train
had
newly
arrived
in
Coketown
,
which
had
put
a
number
of
vehicles
in
motion
,
and
scattered
a
considerable
bustle
about
the
town
.
Several
coaches
were
rattling
before
them
and
behind
them
as
they
approached
Mr.
Bounderby’s
,
and
one
of
the
latter
drew
up
with
such
briskness
as
they
were
in
the
act
of
passing
the
house
,
that
they
looked
round
involuntarily
.
The
bright
gaslight
over
Mr.
Bounderby’s
steps
showed
them
Mrs.
Sparsit
in
the
coach
,
in
an
ecstasy
of
excitement
,
struggling
to
open
the
door
;
Mrs.
Sparsit
seeing
them
at
the
same
moment
,
called
to
them
to
stop
.
‘It’s
a
coincidence
,
’
exclaimed
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
as
she
was
released
by
the
coachman
.
‘It’s
a
Providence
!
Come
out
,
ma’am
!
’
then
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
to
some
one
inside
,
‘come
out
,
or
we’ll
have
you
dragged
out
!
’
Hereupon
,
no
other
than
the
mysterious
old
woman
descended
.
Whom
Mrs.
Sparsit
incontinently
collared
.
‘Leave
her
alone
,
everybody
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
great
energy
.
‘Let
nobody
touch
her
.
She
belongs
to
me
.
Come
in
,
ma’am
!
’
then
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
reversing
her
former
word
of
command
.
‘Come
in
,
ma’am
,
or
we’ll
have
you
dragged
in
!
’
The
spectacle
of
a
matron
of
classical
deportment
,
seizing
an
ancient
woman
by
the
throat
,
and
hauling
her
into
a
dwelling-house
,
would
have
been
under
any
circumstances
,
sufficient
temptation
to
all
true
English
stragglers
so
blest
as
to
witness
it
,
to
force
a
way
into
that
dwelling-house
and
see
the
matter
out
.
But
when
the
phenomenon
was
enhanced
by
the
notoriety
and
mystery
by
this
time
associated
all
over
the
town
with
the
Bank
robbery
,
it
would
have
lured
the
stragglers
in
,
with
an
irresistible
attraction
,
though
the
roof
had
been
expected
to
fall
upon
their
heads
.
Accordingly
,
the
chance
witnesses
on
the
ground
,
consisting
of
the
busiest
of
the
neighbours
to
the
number
of
some
five-and-twenty
,
closed
in
after
Sissy
and
Rachael
,
as
they
closed
in
after
Mrs.
Sparsit
and
her
prize
;
and
the
whole
body
made
a
disorderly
irruption
into
Mr.
Bounderby’s
dining-room
,
where
the
people
behind
lost
not
a
moment’s
time
in
mounting
on
the
chairs
,
to
get
the
better
of
the
people
in
front
.
‘Fetch
Mr.
Bounderby
down
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘Rachael
,
young
woman
;
you
know
who
this
is
?
’
‘It’s
Mrs.
Pegler
,
’
said
Rachael
.
‘I
should
think
it
is
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
exulting
.
‘Fetch
Mr.
Bounderby
.
Stand
away
,
everybody
!
’
Here
old
Mrs.
Pegler
,
muffling
herself
up
,
and
shrinking
from
observation
,
whispered
a
word
of
entreaty
.
‘Don’t
tell
me
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
aloud
.
‘I
have
told
you
twenty
times
,
coming
along
,
that
I
will
not
leave
you
till
I
have
handed
you
over
to
him
myself.’
Mr.
Bounderby
now
appeared
,
accompanied
by
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
the
whelp
,
with
whom
he
had
been
holding
conference
up-stairs
.
Mr.
Bounderby
looked
more
astonished
than
hospitable
,
at
sight
of
this
uninvited
party
in
his
dining-room
.
‘Why
,
what’s
the
matter
now
!
’
said
he
.
‘Mrs
.
Sparsit
,
ma’am
?
’
‘Sir
,
’
explained
that
worthy
woman
,
‘I
trust
it
is
my
good
fortune
to
produce
a
person
you
have
much
desired
to
find
.
Stimulated
by
my
wish
to
relieve
your
mind
,
sir
,
and
connecting
together
such
imperfect
clues
to
the
part
of
the
country
in
which
that
person
might
be
supposed
to
reside
,
as
have
been
afforded
by
the
young
woman
,
Rachael
,
fortunately
now
present
to
identify
,
I
have
had
the
happiness
to
succeed
,
and
to
bring
that
person
with
me
—
I
need
not
say
most
unwillingly
on
her
part
.
It
has
not
been
,
sir
,
without
some
trouble
that
I
have
effected
this
;
but
trouble
in
your
service
is
to
me
a
pleasure
,
and
hunger
,
thirst
,
and
cold
a
real
gratification.’
Here
Mrs.
Sparsit
ceased
;
for
Mr.
Bounderby’s
visage
exhibited
an
extraordinary
combination
of
all
possible
colours
and
expressions
of
discomfiture
,
as
old
Mrs.
Pegler
was
disclosed
to
his
view
.
‘Why
,
what
do
you
mean
by
this
?
’
was
his
highly
unexpected
demand
,
in
great
warmth
.
‘I
ask
you
,
what
do
you
mean
by
this
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
ma’am
?
’
‘Sir
!
’
exclaimed
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
faintly
.
‘Why
don’t
you
mind
your
own
business
,
ma’am
?
’
roared
Bounderby
.
‘How
dare
you
go
and
poke
your
officious
nose
into
my
family
affairs
?
’
This
allusion
to
her
favourite
feature
overpowered
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
She
sat
down
stiffly
in
a
chair
,
as
if
she
were
frozen
;
and
with
a
fixed
stare
at
Mr.
Bounderby
,
slowly
grated
her
mittens
against
one
another
,
as
if
they
were
frozen
too
.
‘My
dear
Josiah
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Pegler
,
trembling
.
‘My
darling
boy
!
I
am
not
to
blame
.
It’s
not
my
fault
,
Josiah
.
I
told
this
lady
over
and
over
again
,
that
I
knew
she
was
doing
what
would
not
be
agreeable
to
you
,
but
she
would
do
it.’
‘What
did
you
let
her
bring
you
for
?
Couldn’t
you
knock
her
cap
off
,
or
her
tooth
out
,
or
scratch
her
,
or
do
something
or
other
to
her
?
’
asked
Bounderby
.
‘My
own
boy
!
She
threatened
me
that
if
I
resisted
her
,
I
should
be
brought
by
constables
,
and
it
was
better
to
come
quietly
than
make
that
stir
in
such
a’
—
Mrs.
Pegler
glanced
timidly
but
proudly
round
the
walls
—
‘such
a
fine
house
as
this
.
Indeed
,
indeed
,
it
is
not
my
fault
!
My
dear
,
noble
,
stately
boy
!
I
have
always
lived
quiet
,
and
secret
,
Josiah
,
my
dear
.
I
have
never
broken
the
condition
once
.
I
have
never
said
I
was
your
mother
.
I
have
admired
you
at
a
distance
;
and
if
I
have
come
to
town
sometimes
,
with
long
times
between
,
to
take
a
proud
peep
at
you
,
I
have
done
it
unbeknown
,
my
love
,
and
gone
away
again.’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
,
walked
in
impatient
mortification
up
and
down
at
the
side
of
the
long
dining-table
,
while
the
spectators
greedily
took
in
every
syllable
of
Mrs.
Pegler’s
appeal
,
and
at
each
succeeding
syllable
became
more
and
more
round-eyed
.
Mr.
Bounderby
still
walking
up
and
down
when
Mrs.
Pegler
had
done
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
addressed
that
maligned
old
lady
:
‘I
am
surprised
,
madam
,
’
he
observed
with
severity
,
‘that
in
your
old
age
you
have
the
face
to
claim
Mr.
Bounderby
for
your
son
,
after
your
unnatural
and
inhuman
treatment
of
him.’
‘
Me
unnatural
!
’
cried
poor
old
Mrs.
Pegler
.
‘
Me
inhuman
!
To
my
dear
boy
?
’
‘Dear
!
’
repeated
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘Yes
;
dear
in
his
self-made
prosperity
,
madam
,
I
dare
say
.
Not
very
dear
,
however
,
when
you
deserted
him
in
his
infancy
,
and
left
him
to
the
brutality
of
a
drunken
grandmother.’
‘
I
deserted
my
Josiah
!
’
cried
Mrs.
Pegler
,
clasping
her
hands
.
‘Now
,
Lord
forgive
you
,
sir
,
for
your
wicked
imaginations
,
and
for
your
scandal
against
the
memory
of
my
poor
mother
,
who
died
in
my
arms
before
Josiah
was
born
.
May
you
repent
of
it
,
sir
,
and
live
to
know
better
!
’
She
was
so
very
earnest
and
injured
,
that
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
shocked
by
the
possibility
which
dawned
upon
him
,
said
in
a
gentler
tone
:
‘Do
you
deny
,
then
,
madam
,
that
you
left
your
son
to
—
to
be
brought
up
in
the
gutter
?
’
‘Josiah
in
the
gutter
!
’
exclaimed
Mrs.
Pegler
.
‘No
such
a
thing
,
sir
.
Never
!
For
shame
on
you
!
My
dear
boy
knows
,
and
will
give
you
to
know
,
that
though
he
come
of
humble
parents
,
he
come
of
parents
that
loved
him
as
dear
as
the
best
could
,
and
never
thought
it
hardship
on
themselves
to
pinch
a
bit
that
he
might
write
and
cipher
beautiful
,
and
I’ve
his
books
at
home
to
show
it
!
Aye
,
have
I
!
’
said
Mrs.
Pegler
,
with
indignant
pride
.
‘And
my
dear
boy
knows
,
and
will
give
you
to
know
,
sir
,
that
after
his
beloved
father
died
,
when
he
was
eight
years
old
,
his
mother
,
too
,
could
pinch
a
bit
,
as
it
was
her
duty
and
her
pleasure
and
her
pride
to
do
it
,
to
help
him
out
in
life
,
and
put
him
’prentice
.
And
a
steady
lad
he
was
,
and
a
kind
master
he
had
to
lend
him
a
hand
,
and
well
he
worked
his
own
way
forward
to
be
rich
and
thriving
.
And
I
’ll
give
you
to
know
,
sir
—
for
this
my
dear
boy
won’t
—
that
though
his
mother
kept
but
a
little
village
shop
,
he
never
forgot
her
,
but
pensioned
me
on
thirty
pound
a
year
—
more
than
I
want
,
for
I
put
by
out
of
it
—
only
making
the
condition
that
I
was
to
keep
down
in
my
own
part
,
and
make
no
boasts
about
him
,
and
not
trouble
him
.
And
I
never
have
,
except
with
looking
at
him
once
a
year
,
when
he
has
never
knowed
it
.
And
it’s
right
,
’
said
poor
old
Mrs.
Pegler
,
in
affectionate
championship
,
‘that
I
should
keep
down
in
my
own
part
,
and
I
have
no
doubts
that
if
I
was
here
I
should
do
a
many
unbefitting
things
,
and
I
am
well
contented
,
and
I
can
keep
my
pride
in
my
Josiah
to
myself
,
and
I
can
love
for
love’s
own
sake
!
And
I
am
ashamed
of
you
,
sir
,
’
said
Mrs.
Pegler
,
lastly
,
‘for
your
slanders
and
suspicions
.
And
I
never
stood
here
before
,
nor
never
wanted
to
stand
here
when
my
dear
son
said
no.
And
I
shouldn’t
be
here
now
,
if
it
hadn’t
been
for
being
brought
here
.
And
for
shame
upon
you
,
Oh
,
for
shame
,
to
accuse
me
of
being
a
bad
mother
to
my
son
,
with
my
son
standing
here
to
tell
you
so
different
!
’
The
bystanders
,
on
and
off
the
dining-room
chairs
,
raised
a
murmur
of
sympathy
with
Mrs.
Pegler
,
and
Mr.
Gradgrind
felt
himself
innocently
placed
in
a
very
distressing
predicament
,
when
Mr.
Bounderby
,
who
had
never
ceased
walking
up
and
down
,
and
had
every
moment
swelled
larger
and
larger
,
and
grown
redder
and
redder
,
stopped
short
.
‘I
don’t
exactly
know
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘how
I
come
to
be
favoured
with
the
attendance
of
the
present
company
,
but
I
don’t
inquire
.
When
they’re
quite
satisfied
,
perhaps
they’ll
be
so
good
as
to
disperse
;
whether
they’re
satisfied
or
not
,
perhaps
they’ll
be
so
good
as
to
disperse
.
I’m
not
bound
to
deliver
a
lecture
on
my
family
affairs
,
I
have
not
undertaken
to
do
it
,
and
I’m
not
a
going
to
do
it
.
Therefore
those
who
expect
any
explanation
whatever
upon
that
branch
of
the
subject
,
will
be
disappointed
—
particularly
Tom
Gradgrind
,
and
he
can’t
know
it
too
soon
.
In
reference
to
the
Bank
robbery
,
there
has
been
a
mistake
made
,
concerning
my
mother
.
If
there
hadn’t
been
over-officiousness
it
wouldn’t
have
been
made
,
and
I
hate
over-officiousness
at
all
times
,
whether
or
no.
Good
evening
!
’
Although
Mr.
Bounderby
carried
it
off
in
these
terms
,
holding
the
door
open
for
the
company
to
depart
,
there
was
a
blustering
sheepishness
upon
him
,
at
once
extremely
crestfallen
and
superlatively
absurd
.
Detected
as
the
Bully
of
humility
,
who
had
built
his
windy
reputation
upon
lies
,
and
in
his
boastfulness
had
put
the
honest
truth
as
far
away
from
him
as
if
he
had
advanced
the
mean
claim
(
there
is
no
meaner
)
to
tack
himself
on
to
a
pedigree
,
he
cut
a
most
ridiculous
figure
.
With
the
people
filing
off
at
the
door
he
held
,
who
he
knew
would
carry
what
had
passed
to
the
whole
town
,
to
be
given
to
the
four
winds
,
he
could
not
have
looked
a
Bully
more
shorn
and
forlorn
,
if
he
had
had
his
ears
cropped
.
Even
that
unlucky
female
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
fallen
from
her
pinnacle
of
exultation
into
the
Slough
of
Despond
,
was
not
in
so
bad
a
plight
as
that
remarkable
man
and
self-made
Humbug
,
Josiah
Bounderby
of
Coketown
.
Rachael
and
Sissy
,
leaving
Mrs.
Pegler
to
occupy
a
bed
at
her
son’s
for
that
night
,
walked
together
to
the
gate
of
Stone
Lodge
and
there
parted
.
Mr.
Gradgrind
joined
them
before
they
had
gone
very
far
,
and
spoke
with
much
interest
of
Stephen
Blackpool
;
for
whom
he
thought
this
signal
failure
of
the
suspicions
against
Mrs.
Pegler
was
likely
to
work
well
.
As
to
the
whelp
;
throughout
this
scene
as
on
all
other
late
occasions
,
he
had
stuck
close
to
Bounderby
.
He
seemed
to
feel
that
as
long
as
Bounderby
could
make
no
discovery
without
his
knowledge
,
he
was
so
far
safe
.
He
never
visited
his
sister
,
and
had
only
seen
her
once
since
she
went
home
:
that
is
to
say
on
the
night
when
he
still
stuck
close
to
Bounderby
,
as
already
related
.
There
was
one
dim
unformed
fear
lingering
about
his
sister’s
mind
,
to
which
she
never
gave
utterance
,
which
surrounded
the
graceless
and
ungrateful
boy
with
a
dreadful
mystery
.
The
same
dark
possibility
had
presented
itself
in
the
same
shapeless
guise
,
this
very
day
,
to
Sissy
,
when
Rachael
spoke
of
some
one
who
would
be
confounded
by
Stephen’s
return
,
having
put
him
out
of
the
way
.
Louisa
had
never
spoken
of
harbouring
any
suspicion
of
her
brother
in
connexion
with
the
robbery
,
she
and
Sissy
had
held
no
confidence
on
the
subject
,
save
in
that
one
interchange
of
looks
when
the
unconscious
father
rested
his
gray
head
on
his
hand
;
but
it
was
understood
between
them
,
and
they
both
knew
it
.
This
other
fear
was
so
awful
,
that
it
hovered
about
each
of
them
like
a
ghostly
shadow
;
neither
daring
to
think
of
its
being
near
herself
,
far
less
of
its
being
near
the
other
.
And
still
the
forced
spirit
which
the
whelp
had
plucked
up
,
throve
with
him
.
If
Stephen
Blackpool
was
not
the
thief
,
let
him
show
himself
.
Why
didn’t
he
?
Another
night
.
Another
day
and
night
.
No
Stephen
Blackpool
.
Where
was
the
man
,
and
why
did
he
not
come
back
?
CHAPTER
VI
THE
STARLIGHT
The
Sunday
was
a
bright
Sunday
in
autumn
,
clear
and
cool
,
when
early
in
the
morning
Sissy
and
Rachael
met
,
to
walk
in
the
country
.
As
Coketown
cast
ashes
not
only
on
its
own
head
but
on
the
neighbourhood’s
too
—
after
the
manner
of
those
pious
persons
who
do
penance
for
their
own
sins
by
putting
other
people
into
sackcloth
—
it
was
customary
for
those
who
now
and
then
thirsted
for
a
draught
of
pure
air
,
which
is
not
absolutely
the
most
wicked
among
the
vanities
of
life
,
to
get
a
few
miles
away
by
the
railroad
,
and
then
begin
their
walk
,
or
their
lounge
in
the
fields
.
Sissy
and
Rachael
helped
themselves
out
of
the
smoke
by
the
usual
means
,
and
were
put
down
at
a
station
about
midway
between
the
town
and
Mr.
Bounderby’s
retreat
.
Though
the
green
landscape
was
blotted
here
and
there
with
heaps
of
coal
,
it
was
green
elsewhere
,
and
there
were
trees
to
see
,
and
there
were
larks
singing
(
though
it
was
Sunday
)
,
and
there
were
pleasant
scents
in
the
air
,
and
all
was
over-arched
by
a
bright
blue
sky
.
In
the
distance
one
way
,
Coketown
showed
as
a
black
mist
;
in
another
distance
hills
began
to
rise
;
in
a
third
,
there
was
a
faint
change
in
the
light
of
the
horizon
where
it
shone
upon
the
far-off
sea
.
Under
their
feet
,
the
grass
was
fresh
;
beautiful
shadows
of
branches
flickered
upon
it
,
and
speckled
it
;
hedgerows
were
luxuriant
;
everything
was
at
peace
.
Engines
at
pits’
mouths
,
and
lean
old
horses
that
had
worn
the
circle
of
their
daily
labour
into
the
ground
,
were
alike
quiet
;
wheels
had
ceased
for
a
short
space
to
turn
;
and
the
great
wheel
of
earth
seemed
to
revolve
without
the
shocks
and
noises
of
another
time
.
They
walked
on
across
the
fields
and
down
the
shady
lanes
,
sometimes
getting
over
a
fragment
of
a
fence
so
rotten
that
it
dropped
at
a
touch
of
the
foot
,
sometimes
passing
near
a
wreck
of
bricks
and
beams
overgrown
with
grass
,
marking
the
site
of
deserted
works
.
They
followed
paths
and
tracks
,
however
slight
.
Mounds
where
the
grass
was
rank
and
high
,
and
where
brambles
,
dock-weed
,
and
such-like
vegetation
,
were
confusedly
heaped
together
,
they
always
avoided
;
for
dismal
stories
were
told
in
that
country
of
the
old
pits
hidden
beneath
such
indications
.
The
sun
was
high
when
they
sat
down
to
rest
.
They
had
seen
no
one
,
near
or
distant
,
for
a
long
time
;
and
the
solitude
remained
unbroken
.
‘It
is
so
still
here
,
Rachael
,
and
the
way
is
so
untrodden
,
that
I
think
we
must
be
the
first
who
have
been
here
all
the
summer.’
As
Sissy
said
it
,
her
eyes
were
attracted
by
another
of
those
rotten
fragments
of
fence
upon
the
ground
.
She
got
up
to
look
at
it
.
‘And
yet
I
don’t
know
.
This
has
not
been
broken
very
long
.
The
wood
is
quite
fresh
where
it
gave
way
.
Here
are
footsteps
too
.
—
O
Rachael
!
’
She
ran
back
,
and
caught
her
round
the
neck
.
Rachael
had
already
started
up
.
‘What
is
the
matter
?
’
‘I
don’t
know
.
There
is
a
hat
lying
in
the
grass.’
They
went
forward
together
.
Rachael
took
it
up
,
shaking
from
head
to
foot
.
She
broke
into
a
passion
of
tears
and
lamentations
:
Stephen
Blackpool
was
written
in
his
own
hand
on
the
inside
.
‘O
the
poor
lad
,
the
poor
lad
!
He
has
been
made
away
with
.
He
is
lying
murdered
here
!
’
‘Is
there
—
has
the
hat
any
blood
upon
it
?
’
Sissy
faltered
.
They
were
afraid
to
look
;
but
they
did
examine
it
,
and
found
no
mark
of
violence
,
inside
or
out
.
It
had
been
lying
there
some
days
,
for
rain
and
dew
had
stained
it
,
and
the
mark
of
its
shape
was
on
the
grass
where
it
had
fallen
.
They
looked
fearfully
about
them
,
without
moving
,
but
could
see
nothing
more
.
‘Rachael
,
’
Sissy
whispered
,
‘I
will
go
on
a
little
by
myself.’
She
had
unclasped
her
hand
,
and
was
in
the
act
of
stepping
forward
,
when
Rachael
caught
her
in
both
arms
with
a
scream
that
resounded
over
the
wide
landscape
.
Before
them
,
at
their
very
feet
,
was
the
brink
of
a
black
ragged
chasm
hidden
by
the
thick
grass
.
They
sprang
back
,
and
fell
upon
their
knees
,
each
hiding
her
face
upon
the
other’s
neck
.
‘O
,
my
good
Lord
!
He’s
down
there
!
Down
there
!
’
At
first
this
,
and
her
terrific
screams
,
were
all
that
could
be
got
from
Rachael
,
by
any
tears
,
by
any
prayers
,
by
any
representations
,
by
any
means
.
It
was
impossible
to
hush
her
;
and
it
was
deadly
necessary
to
hold
her
,
or
she
would
have
flung
herself
down
the
shaft
.
‘Rachael
,
dear
Rachael
,
good
Rachael
,
for
the
love
of
Heaven
,
not
these
dreadful
cries
!
Think
of
Stephen
,
think
of
Stephen
,
think
of
Stephen
!
’
By
an
earnest
repetition
of
this
entreaty
,
poured
out
in
all
the
agony
of
such
a
moment
,
Sissy
at
last
brought
her
to
be
silent
,
and
to
look
at
her
with
a
tearless
face
of
stone
.
‘Rachael
,
Stephen
may
be
living
.
You
wouldn’t
leave
him
lying
maimed
at
the
bottom
of
this
dreadful
place
,
a
moment
,
if
you
could
bring
help
to
him
?
’
‘No
,
no
,
no
!
’
‘Don’t
stir
from
here
,
for
his
sake
!
Let
me
go
and
listen.’
She
shuddered
to
approach
the
pit
;
but
she
crept
towards
it
on
her
hands
and
knees
,
and
called
to
him
as
loud
as
she
could
call
.
She
listened
,
but
no
sound
replied
.
She
called
again
and
listened
;
still
no
answering
sound
.
She
did
this
,
twenty
,
thirty
times
.
She
took
a
little
clod
of
earth
from
the
broken
ground
where
he
had
stumbled
,
and
threw
it
in
.
She
could
not
hear
it
fall
.
The
wide
prospect
,
so
beautiful
in
its
stillness
but
a
few
minutes
ago
,
almost
carried
despair
to
her
brave
heart
,
as
she
rose
and
looked
all
round
her
,
seeing
no
help
.
‘Rachael
,
we
must
lose
not
a
moment
.
We
must
go
in
different
directions
,
seeking
aid
.
You
shall
go
by
the
way
we
have
come
,
and
I
will
go
forward
by
the
path
.
Tell
any
one
you
see
,
and
every
one
what
has
happened
.
Think
of
Stephen
,
think
of
Stephen
!
’
She
knew
by
Rachael’s
face
that
she
might
trust
her
now
.
And
after
standing
for
a
moment
to
see
her
running
,
wringing
her
hands
as
she
ran
,
she
turned
and
went
upon
her
own
search
;
she
stopped
at
the
hedge
to
tie
her
shawl
there
as
a
guide
to
the
place
,
then
threw
her
bonnet
aside
,
and
ran
as
she
had
never
run
before
.
Run
,
Sissy
,
run
,
in
Heaven’s
name
!
Don’t
stop
for
breath
.
Run
,
run
!
Quickening
herself
by
carrying
such
entreaties
in
her
thoughts
,
she
ran
from
field
to
field
,
and
lane
to
lane
,
and
place
to
place
,
as
she
had
never
run
before
;
until
she
came
to
a
shed
by
an
engine-house
,
where
two
men
lay
in
the
shade
,
asleep
on
straw
.
First
to
wake
them
,
and
next
to
tell
them
,
all
so
wild
and
breathless
as
she
was
,
what
had
brought
her
there
,
were
difficulties
;
but
they
no
sooner
understood
her
than
their
spirits
were
on
fire
like
hers
.
One
of
the
men
was
in
a
drunken
slumber
,
but
on
his
comrade’s
shouting
to
him
that
a
man
had
fallen
down
the
Old
Hell
Shaft
,
he
started
out
to
a
pool
of
dirty
water
,
put
his
head
in
it
,
and
came
back
sober
.
With
these
two
men
she
ran
to
another
half-a-mile
further
,
and
with
that
one
to
another
,
while
they
ran
elsewhere
.
Then
a
horse
was
found
;
and
she
got
another
man
to
ride
for
life
or
death
to
the
railroad
,
and
send
a
message
to
Louisa
,
which
she
wrote
and
gave
him
.
By
this
time
a
whole
village
was
up
:
and
windlasses
,
ropes
,
poles
,
candles
,
lanterns
,
all
things
necessary
,
were
fast
collecting
and
being
brought
into
one
place
,
to
be
carried
to
the
Old
Hell
Shaft
.
It
seemed
now
hours
and
hours
since
she
had
left
the
lost
man
lying
in
the
grave
where
he
had
been
buried
alive
.
She
could
not
bear
to
remain
away
from
it
any
longer
—
it
was
like
deserting
him
—
and
she
hurried
swiftly
back
,
accompanied
by
half-a-dozen
labourers
,
including
the
drunken
man
whom
the
news
had
sobered
,
and
who
was
the
best
man
of
all
.
When
they
came
to
the
Old
Hell
Shaft
,
they
found
it
as
lonely
as
she
had
left
it
.
The
men
called
and
listened
as
she
had
done
,
and
examined
the
edge
of
the
chasm
,
and
settled
how
it
had
happened
,
and
then
sat
down
to
wait
until
the
implements
they
wanted
should
come
up
.
Every
sound
of
insects
in
the
air
,
every
stirring
of
the
leaves
,
every
whisper
among
these
men
,
made
Sissy
tremble
,
for
she
thought
it
was
a
cry
at
the
bottom
of
the
pit
.
But
the
wind
blew
idly
over
it
,
and
no
sound
arose
to
the
surface
,
and
they
sat
upon
the
grass
,
waiting
and
waiting
.
After
they
had
waited
some
time
,
straggling
people
who
had
heard
of
the
accident
began
to
come
up
;
then
the
real
help
of
implements
began
to
arrive
.
In
the
midst
of
this
,
Rachael
returned
;
and
with
her
party
there
was
a
surgeon
,
who
brought
some
wine
and
medicines
.
But
,
the
expectation
among
the
people
that
the
man
would
be
found
alive
was
very
slight
indeed
.
There
being
now
people
enough
present
to
impede
the
work
,
the
sobered
man
put
himself
at
the
head
of
the
rest
,
or
was
put
there
by
the
general
consent
,
and
made
a
large
ring
round
the
Old
Hell
Shaft
,
and
appointed
men
to
keep
it
.
Besides
such
volunteers
as
were
accepted
to
work
,
only
Sissy
and
Rachael
were
at
first
permitted
within
this
ring
;
but
,
later
in
the
day
,
when
the
message
brought
an
express
from
Coketown
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
Louisa
,
and
Mr.
Bounderby
,
and
the
whelp
,
were
also
there
.
The
sun
was
four
hours
lower
than
when
Sissy
and
Rachael
had
first
sat
down
upon
the
grass
,
before
a
means
of
enabling
two
men
to
descend
securely
was
rigged
with
poles
and
ropes
.
Difficulties
had
arisen
in
the
construction
of
this
machine
,
simple
as
it
was
;
requisites
had
been
found
wanting
,
and
messages
had
had
to
go
and
return
.
It
was
five
o’clock
in
the
afternoon
of
the
bright
autumnal
Sunday
,
before
a
candle
was
sent
down
to
try
the
air
,
while
three
or
four
rough
faces
stood
crowded
close
together
,
attentively
watching
it
:
the
man
at
the
windlass
lowering
as
they
were
told
.
The
candle
was
brought
up
again
,
feebly
burning
,
and
then
some
water
was
cast
in
.
Then
the
bucket
was
hooked
on
;
and
the
sobered
man
and
another
got
in
with
lights
,
giving
the
word
‘Lower
away
!
’
As
the
rope
went
