whatour
people
aways
use
,
sir
,
when
they
get
any
hurts
in
the
ring
,
’
replied
the
girl
,
looking
over
her
shoulder
,
to
assure
herself
that
her
pursuer
was
gone
.
‘They
bruise
themselves
very
bad
sometimes.’
‘Serve
’em
right
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘for
being
idle.’
She
glanced
up
at
his
face
,
with
mingled
astonishment
and
dread
.
‘By
George
!
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘when
I
was
four
or
five
years
younger
than
you
,
I
had
worse
bruises
upon
me
than
ten
oils
,
twenty
oils
,
forty
oils
,
would
have
rubbed
off
.
I
didn’t
get
’em
by
posture-making
,
but
by
being
banged
about
.
There
was
no
rope-dancing
for
me
;
I
danced
on
the
bare
ground
and
was
larruped
with
the
rope.’
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
though
hard
enough
,
was
by
no
means
so
rough
a
man
as
Mr.
Bounderby
.
His
character
was
not
unkind
,
all
things
considered
;
it
might
have
been
a
very
kind
one
indeed
,
if
he
had
only
made
some
round
mistake
in
the
arithmetic
that
balanced
it
,
years
ago
.
He
said
,
in
what
he
meant
for
a
reassuring
tone
,
as
they
turned
down
a
narrow
road
,
‘And
this
is
Pod’s
End
;
is
it
,
Jupe
?
’
‘This
is
it
,
sir
,
and
—
if
you
wouldn’t
mind
,
sir
—
this
is
the
house.’
She
stopped
,
at
twilight
,
at
the
door
of
a
mean
little
public-house
,
with
dim
red
lights
in
it
.
As
haggard
and
as
shabby
,
as
if
,
for
want
of
custom
,
it
had
itself
taken
to
drinking
,
and
had
gone
the
way
all
drunkards
go
,
and
was
very
near
the
end
of
it
.
‘It’s
only
crossing
the
bar
,
sir
,
and
up
the
stairs
,
if
you
wouldn’t
mind
,
and
waiting
there
for
a
moment
till
I
get
a
candle
.
If
you
should
hear
a
dog
,
sir
,
it’s
only
Merrylegs
,
and
he
only
barks.’
‘Merrylegs
and
nine
oils
,
eh
!
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
,
entering
last
with
his
metallic
laugh
.
‘Pretty
well
this
,
for
a
self-made
man
!
’
CHAPTER
VI
SLEARY’S
HORSEMANSHIP
The
name
of
the
public-house
was
the
Pegasus’s
Arms
.
The
Pegasus’s
legs
might
have
been
more
to
the
purpose
;
but
,
underneath
the
winged
horse
upon
the
sign-board
,
the
Pegasus’s
Arms
was
inscribed
in
Roman
letters
.
Beneath
that
inscription
again
,
in
a
flowing
scroll
,
the
painter
had
touched
off
the
lines
:
Good
malt
makes
good
beer
,
Walk
in
,
and
they’ll
draw
it
here
;
Good
wine
makes
good
brandy
,
Give
us
a
call
,
and
you’ll
find
it
handy
.
Framed
and
glazed
upon
the
wall
behind
the
dingy
little
bar
,
was
another
Pegasus
—
a
theatrical
one
—
with
real
gauze
let
in
for
his
wings
,
golden
stars
stuck
on
all
over
him
,
and
his
ethereal
harness
made
of
red
silk
.
As
it
had
grown
too
dusky
without
,
to
see
the
sign
,
and
as
it
had
not
grown
light
enough
within
to
see
the
picture
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
Mr.
Bounderby
received
no
offence
from
these
idealities
.
They
followed
the
girl
up
some
steep
corner-stairs
without
meeting
any
one
,
and
stopped
in
the
dark
while
she
went
on
for
a
candle
.
They
expected
every
moment
to
hear
Merrylegs
give
tongue
,
but
the
highly
trained
performing
dog
had
not
barked
when
the
girl
and
the
candle
appeared
together
.
‘Father
is
not
in
our
room
,
sir
,
’
she
said
,
with
a
face
of
great
surprise
.
‘If
you
wouldn’t
mind
walking
in
,
I’ll
find
him
directly.’
They
walked
in
;
and
Sissy
,
having
set
two
chairs
for
them
,
sped
away
with
a
quick
light
step
.
It
was
a
mean
,
shabbily
furnished
room
,
with
a
bed
in
it
.
The
white
night-cap
,
embellished
with
two
peacock’s
feathers
and
a
pigtail
bolt
upright
,
in
which
Signor
Jupe
had
that
very
afternoon
enlivened
the
varied
performances
with
his
chaste
Shaksperean
quips
and
retorts
,
hung
upon
a
nail
;
but
no
other
portion
of
his
wardrobe
,
or
other
token
of
himself
or
his
pursuits
,
was
to
be
seen
anywhere
.
As
to
Merrylegs
,
that
respectable
ancestor
of
the
highly
trained
animal
who
went
aboard
the
ark
,
might
have
been
accidentally
shut
out
of
it
,
for
any
sign
of
a
dog
that
was
manifest
to
eye
or
ear
in
the
Pegasus’s
Arms
.
They
heard
the
doors
of
rooms
above
,
opening
and
shutting
as
Sissy
went
from
one
to
another
in
quest
of
her
father
;
and
presently
they
heard
voices
expressing
surprise
.
She
came
bounding
down
again
in
a
great
hurry
,
opened
a
battered
and
mangy
old
hair
trunk
,
found
it
empty
,
and
looked
round
with
her
hands
clasped
and
her
face
full
of
terror
.
‘Father
must
have
gone
down
to
the
Booth
,
sir
.
I
don’t
know
why
he
should
go
there
,
but
he
must
be
there
;
I’ll
bring
him
in
a
minute
!
’
She
was
gone
directly
,
without
her
bonnet
;
with
her
long
,
dark
,
childish
hair
streaming
behind
her
.
‘What
does
she
mean
!
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘Back
in
a
minute
?
It’s
more
than
a
mile
off.’
Before
Mr.
Bounderby
could
reply
,
a
young
man
appeared
at
the
door
,
and
introducing
himself
with
the
words
,
‘By
your
leaves
,
gentlemen
!
’
walked
in
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
.
His
face
,
close-shaven
,
thin
,
and
sallow
,
was
shaded
by
a
great
quantity
of
dark
hair
,
brushed
into
a
roll
all
round
his
head
,
and
parted
up
the
centre
.
His
legs
were
very
robust
,
but
shorter
than
legs
of
good
proportions
should
have
been
.
His
chest
and
back
were
as
much
too
broad
,
as
his
legs
were
too
short
.
He
was
dressed
in
a
Newmarket
coat
and
tight-fitting
trousers
;
wore
a
shawl
round
his
neck
;
smelt
of
lamp-oil
,
straw
,
orange-peel
,
horses’
provender
,
and
sawdust
;
and
looked
a
most
remarkable
sort
of
Centaur
,
compounded
of
the
stable
and
the
play-house
.
Where
the
one
began
,
and
the
other
ended
,
nobody
could
have
told
with
any
precision
.
This
gentleman
was
mentioned
in
the
bills
of
the
day
as
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
,
so
justly
celebrated
for
his
daring
vaulting
act
as
the
Wild
Huntsman
of
the
North
American
Prairies
;
in
which
popular
performance
,
a
diminutive
boy
with
an
old
face
,
who
now
accompanied
him
,
assisted
as
his
infant
son
:
being
carried
upside
down
over
his
father’s
shoulder
,
by
one
foot
,
and
held
by
the
crown
of
his
head
,
heels
upwards
,
in
the
palm
of
his
father’s
hand
,
according
to
the
violent
paternal
manner
in
which
wild
huntsmen
may
be
observed
to
fondle
their
offspring
.
Made
up
with
curls
,
wreaths
,
wings
,
white
bismuth
,
and
carmine
,
this
hopeful
young
person
soared
into
so
pleasing
a
Cupid
as
to
constitute
the
chief
delight
of
the
maternal
part
of
the
spectators
;
but
in
private
,
where
his
characteristics
were
a
precocious
cutaway
coat
and
an
extremely
gruff
voice
,
he
became
of
the
Turf
,
turfy
.
‘By
your
leaves
,
gentlemen
,
’
said
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
,
glancing
round
the
room
.
‘It
was
you
,
I
believe
,
that
were
wishing
to
see
Jupe
!
’
‘It
was
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘His
daughter
has
gone
to
fetch
him
,
but
I
can’t
wait
;
therefore
,
if
you
please
,
I
will
leave
a
message
for
him
with
you.’
‘You
see
,
my
friend
,
’
Mr.
Bounderby
put
in
,
‘we
are
the
kind
of
people
who
know
the
value
of
time
,
and
you
are
the
kind
of
people
who
don’t
know
the
value
of
time.’
‘I
have
not
,
’
retorted
Mr.
Childers
,
after
surveying
him
from
head
to
foot
,
‘the
honour
of
knowing
you
,
—
but
if
you
mean
that
you
can
make
more
money
of
your
time
than
I
can
of
mine
,
I
should
judge
from
your
appearance
,
that
you
are
about
right.’
‘And
when
you
have
made
it
,
you
can
keep
it
too
,
I
should
think
,
’
said
Cupid
.
‘Kidderminster
,
stow
that
!
’
said
Mr.
Childers
.
(
Master
Kidderminster
was
Cupid’s
mortal
name
.
)
‘What
does
he
come
here
cheeking
us
for
,
then
?
’
cried
Master
Kidderminster
,
showing
a
very
irascible
temperament
.
‘If
you
want
to
cheek
us
,
pay
your
ochre
at
the
doors
and
take
it
out.’
‘Kidderminster
,
’
said
Mr.
Childers
,
raising
his
voice
,
‘stow
that
!
—
Sir
,
’
to
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
‘I
was
addressing
myself
to
you
.
You
may
or
you
may
not
be
aware
(
for
perhaps
you
have
not
been
much
in
the
audience
)
,
that
Jupe
has
missed
his
tip
very
often
,
lately.’
‘Has
—
what
has
he
missed
?
’
asked
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
glancing
at
the
potent
Bounderby
for
assistance
.
‘Missed
his
tip.’
‘Offered
at
the
Garters
four
times
last
night
,
and
never
done
’em
once
,
’
said
Master
Kidderminster
.
‘Missed
his
tip
at
the
banners
,
too
,
and
was
loose
in
his
ponging.’
‘Didn’t
do
what
he
ought
to
do
.
Was
short
in
his
leaps
and
bad
in
his
tumbling
,
’
Mr.
Childers
interpreted
.
‘Oh
!
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
‘that
is
tip
,
is
it
?
’
‘In
a
general
way
that’s
missing
his
tip
,
’
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
answered
.
‘Nine
oils
,
Merrylegs
,
missing
tips
,
garters
,
banners
,
and
Ponging
,
eh
!
’
ejaculated
Bounderby
,
with
his
laugh
of
laughs
.
‘Queer
sort
of
company
,
too
,
for
a
man
who
has
raised
himself
!
’
‘Lower
yourself
,
then
,
’
retorted
Cupid
.
‘Oh
Lord
!
if
you’ve
raised
yourself
so
high
as
all
that
comes
to
,
let
yourself
down
a
bit.’
‘This
is
a
very
obtrusive
lad
!
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
turning
,
and
knitting
his
brows
on
him
.
‘We’d
have
had
a
young
gentleman
to
meet
you
,
if
we
had
known
you
were
coming
,
’
retorted
Master
Kidderminster
,
nothing
abashed
.
‘It’s
a
pity
you
don’t
have
a
bespeak
,
being
so
particular
.
You’re
on
the
Tight-Jeff
,
ain’t
you
?
’
‘What
does
this
unmannerly
boy
mean
,
’
asked
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
eyeing
him
in
a
sort
of
desperation
,
‘by
Tight-Jeff
?
’
‘There
!
Get
out
,
get
out
!
’
said
Mr.
Childers
,
thrusting
his
young
friend
from
the
room
,
rather
in
the
prairie
manner
.
‘Tight-Jeff
or
Slack-Jeff
,
it
don’t
much
signify
:
it’s
only
tight-rope
and
slack-rope
.
You
were
going
to
give
me
a
message
for
Jupe
?
’
‘Yes
,
I
was.’
‘Then
,
’
continued
Mr.
Childers
,
quickly
,
‘my
opinion
is
,
he
will
never
receive
it
.
Do
you
know
much
of
him
?
’
‘I
never
saw
the
man
in
my
life.’
‘I
doubt
if
you
ever
will
see
him
now
.
It’s
pretty
plain
to
me
,
he’s
off.’
‘Do
you
mean
that
he
has
deserted
his
daughter
?
’
‘Ay
!
I
mean
,
’
said
Mr.
Childers
,
with
a
nod
,
‘that
he
has
cut
.
He
was
goosed
last
night
,
he
was
goosed
the
night
before
last
,
he
was
goosed
to-day
.
He
has
lately
got
in
the
way
of
being
always
goosed
,
and
he
can’t
stand
it.’
‘Why
has
he
been
—
so
very
much
—
Goosed
?
’
asked
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
forcing
the
word
out
of
himself
,
with
great
solemnity
and
reluctance
.
‘His
joints
are
turning
stiff
,
and
he
is
getting
used
up
,
’
said
Childers
.
‘He
has
his
points
as
a
Cackler
still
,
but
he
can’t
get
a
living
out
of
them
.’
‘A
Cackler
!
’
Bounderby
repeated
.
‘Here
we
go
again
!
’
‘A
speaker
,
if
the
gentleman
likes
it
better
,
’
said
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
,
superciliously
throwing
the
interpretation
over
his
shoulder
,
and
accompanying
it
with
a
shake
of
his
long
hair
—
which
all
shook
at
once
.
‘Now
,
it’s
a
remarkable
fact
,
sir
,
that
it
cut
that
man
deeper
,
to
know
that
his
daughter
knew
of
his
being
goosed
,
than
to
go
through
with
it.’
‘Good
!
’
interrupted
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘This
is
good
,
Gradgrind
!
A
man
so
fond
of
his
daughter
,
that
he
runs
away
from
her
!
This
is
devilish
good
!
Ha
!
ha
!
Now
,
I’ll
tell
you
what
,
young
man
.
I
haven’t
always
occupied
my
present
station
of
life
.
I
know
what
these
things
are
.
You
may
be
astonished
to
hear
it
,
but
my
mother
—
ran
away
from
me
.’
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
replied
pointedly
,
that
he
was
not
at
all
astonished
to
hear
it
.
‘Very
well
,
’
said
Bounderby
.
‘I
was
born
in
a
ditch
,
and
my
mother
ran
away
from
me
.
Do
I
excuse
her
for
it
?
No.
Have
I
ever
excused
her
for
it
?
Not
I
.
What
do
I
call
her
for
it
?
I
call
her
probably
the
very
worst
woman
that
ever
lived
in
the
world
,
except
my
drunken
grandmother
.
There’s
no
family
pride
about
me
,
there’s
no
imaginative
sentimental
humbug
about
me
.
I
call
a
spade
a
spade
;
and
I
call
the
mother
of
Josiah
Bounderby
of
Coketown
,
without
any
fear
or
any
favour
,
what
I
should
call
her
if
she
had
been
the
mother
of
Dick
Jones
of
Wapping
.
So
,
with
this
man
.
He
is
a
runaway
rogue
and
a
vagabond
,
that’s
what
he
is
,
in
English.’
‘It’s
all
the
same
to
me
what
he
is
or
what
he
is
not
,
whether
in
English
or
whether
in
French
,
’
retorted
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
,
facing
about
.
‘I
am
telling
your
friend
what’s
the
fact
;
if
you
don’t
like
to
hear
it
,
you
can
avail
yourself
of
the
open
air
.
You
give
it
mouth
enough
,
you
do
;
but
give
it
mouth
in
your
own
building
at
least
,
’
remonstrated
E
.
W
.
B
.
with
stern
irony
.
‘Don’t
give
it
mouth
in
this
building
,
till
you’re
called
upon
.
You
have
got
some
building
of
your
own
I
dare
say
,
now
?
’
‘Perhaps
so
,
’
replied
Mr.
Bounderby
,
rattling
his
money
and
laughing
.
‘Then
give
it
mouth
in
your
own
building
,
will
you
,
if
you
please
?
’
said
Childers
.
‘Because
this
isn’t
a
strong
building
,
and
too
much
of
you
might
bring
it
down
!
’
Eyeing
Mr.
Bounderby
from
head
to
foot
again
,
he
turned
from
him
,
as
from
a
man
finally
disposed
of
,
to
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘Jupe
sent
his
daughter
out
on
an
errand
not
an
hour
ago
,
and
then
was
seen
to
slip
out
himself
,
with
his
hat
over
his
eyes
,
and
a
bundle
tied
up
in
a
handkerchief
under
his
arm
.
She
will
never
believe
it
of
him
,
but
he
has
cut
away
and
left
her.’
‘Pray
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
‘why
will
she
never
believe
it
of
him
?
’
‘Because
those
two
were
one
.
Because
they
were
never
asunder
.
Because
,
up
to
this
time
,
he
seemed
to
dote
upon
her
,
’
said
Childers
,
taking
a
step
or
two
to
look
into
the
empty
trunk
.
Both
Mr.
Childers
and
Master
Kidderminster
walked
in
a
curious
manner
;
with
their
legs
wider
apart
than
the
general
run
of
men
,
and
with
a
very
knowing
assumption
of
being
stiff
in
the
knees
.
This
walk
was
common
to
all
the
male
members
of
Sleary’s
company
,
and
was
understood
to
express
,
that
they
were
always
on
horseback
.
‘Poor
Sissy
!
He
had
better
have
apprenticed
her
,
’
said
Childers
,
giving
his
hair
another
shake
,
as
he
looked
up
from
the
empty
box
.
‘Now
,
he
leaves
her
without
anything
to
take
to.’
‘It
is
creditable
to
you
,
who
have
never
been
apprenticed
,
to
express
that
opinion
,
’
returned
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
approvingly
.
‘
I
never
apprenticed
?
I
was
apprenticed
when
I
was
seven
year
old.’
‘Oh
!
Indeed
?
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
rather
resentfully
,
as
having
been
defrauded
of
his
good
opinion
.
‘I
was
not
aware
of
its
being
the
custom
to
apprentice
young
persons
to
—
’
‘Idleness
,
’
Mr.
Bounderby
put
in
with
a
loud
laugh
.
‘No
,
by
the
Lord
Harry
!
Nor
I
!
’
‘Her
father
always
had
it
in
his
head
,
’
resumed
Childers
,
feigning
unconsciousness
of
Mr.
Bounderby’s
existence
,
‘that
she
was
to
be
taught
the
deuce-and-all
of
education
.
How
it
got
into
his
head
,
I
can’t
say
;
I
can
only
say
that
it
never
got
out
.
He
has
been
picking
up
a
bit
of
reading
for
her
,
here
—
and
a
bit
of
writing
for
her
,
there
—
and
a
bit
of
ciphering
for
her
,
somewhere
else
—
these
seven
years.’
Mr.
E
.
W
.
B
.
Childers
took
one
of
his
hands
out
of
his
pockets
,
stroked
his
face
and
chin
,
and
looked
,
with
a
good
deal
of
doubt
and
a
little
hope
,
at
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
From
the
first
he
had
sought
to
conciliate
that
gentleman
,
for
the
sake
of
the
deserted
girl
.
‘When
Sissy
got
into
the
school
here
,
’
he
pursued
,
‘her
father
was
as
pleased
as
Punch
.
I
couldn’t
altogether
make
out
why
,
myself
,
as
we
were
not
stationary
here
,
being
but
comers
and
goers
anywhere
.
I
suppose
,
however
,
he
had
this
move
in
his
mind
—
he
was
always
half-cracked
—
and
then
considered
her
provided
for
.
If
you
should
happen
to
have
looked
in
to-night
,
for
the
purpose
of
telling
him
that
you
were
going
to
do
her
any
little
service
,
’
said
Mr.
Childers
,
stroking
his
face
again
,
and
repeating
his
look
,
‘it
would
be
very
fortunate
and
well-timed
;
very
fortunate
and
well-timed.’
‘On
the
contrary
,
’
returned
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘I
came
to
tell
him
that
her
connections
made
her
not
an
object
for
the
school
,
and
that
she
must
not
attend
any
more
.
Still
,
if
her
father
really
has
left
her
,
without
any
connivance
on
her
part
—
Bounderby
,
let
me
have
a
word
with
you.’
Upon
this
,
Mr.
Childers
politely
betook
himself
,
with
his
equestrian
walk
,
to
the
landing
outside
the
door
,
and
there
stood
stroking
his
face
,
and
softly
whistling
.
While
thus
engaged
,
he
overheard
such
phrases
in
Mr.
Bounderby’s
voice
as
‘No
.
I
say
no.
I
advise
you
not
.
I
say
by
no
means.’
While
,
from
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
he
heard
in
his
much
lower
tone
the
words
,
‘But
even
as
an
example
to
Louisa
,
of
what
this
pursuit
which
has
been
the
subject
of
a
vulgar
curiosity
,
leads
to
and
ends
in
.
Think
of
it
,
Bounderby
,
in
that
point
of
view.’
Meanwhile
,
the
various
members
of
Sleary’s
company
gradually
gathered
together
from
the
upper
regions
,
where
they
were
quartered
,
and
,
from
standing
about
,
talking
in
low
voices
to
one
another
and
to
Mr.
Childers
,
gradually
insinuated
themselves
and
him
into
the
room
.
There
were
two
or
three
handsome
young
women
among
them
,
with
their
two
or
three
husbands
,
and
their
two
or
three
mothers
,
and
their
eight
or
nine
little
children
,
who
did
the
fairy
business
when
required
.
The
father
of
one
of
the
families
was
in
the
habit
of
balancing
the
father
of
another
of
the
families
on
the
top
of
a
great
pole
;
the
father
of
a
third
family
often
made
a
pyramid
of
both
those
fathers
,
with
Master
Kidderminster
for
the
apex
,
and
himself
for
the
base
;
all
the
fathers
could
dance
upon
rolling
casks
,
stand
upon
bottles
,
catch
knives
and
balls
,
twirl
hand-basins
,
ride
upon
anything
,
jump
over
everything
,
and
stick
at
nothing
.
All
the
mothers
could
(
and
did
)
dance
,
upon
the
slack
wire
and
the
tight-rope
,
and
perform
rapid
acts
on
bare-backed
steeds
;
none
of
them
were
at
all
particular
in
respect
of
showing
their
legs
;
and
one
of
them
,
alone
in
a
Greek
chariot
,
drove
six
in
hand
into
every
town
they
came
to
.
They
all
assumed
to
be
mighty
rakish
and
knowing
,
they
were
not
very
tidy
in
their
private
dresses
,
they
were
not
at
all
orderly
in
their
domestic
arrangements
,
and
the
combined
literature
of
the
whole
company
would
have
produced
but
a
poor
letter
on
any
subject
.
Yet
there
was
a
remarkable
gentleness
and
childishness
about
these
people
,
a
special
inaptitude
for
any
kind
of
sharp
practice
,
and
an
untiring
readiness
to
help
and
pity
one
another
,
deserving
often
of
as
much
respect
,
and
always
of
as
much
generous
construction
,
as
the
every-day
virtues
of
any
class
of
people
in
the
world
.
Last
of
all
appeared
Mr.
Sleary
:
a
stout
man
as
already
mentioned
,
with
one
fixed
eye
,
and
one
loose
eye
,
a
voice
(
if
it
can
be
called
so
)
like
the
efforts
of
a
broken
old
pair
of
bellows
,
a
flabby
surface
,
and
a
muddled
head
which
was
never
sober
and
never
drunk
.
‘Thquire
!
’
said
Mr.
Sleary
,
who
was
troubled
with
asthma
,
and
whose
breath
came
far
too
thick
and
heavy
for
the
letter
s
,
‘Your
thervant
!
Thith
ith
a
bad
piethe
of
bithnith
,
thith
ith
.
You’ve
heard
of
my
Clown
and
hith
dog
being
thuppothed
to
have
morrithed
?
’
He
addressed
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
who
answered
‘Yes.’
‘Well
,
Thquire
,
’
he
returned
,
taking
off
his
hat
,
and
rubbing
the
lining
with
his
pocket-handkerchief
,
which
he
kept
inside
for
the
purpose
.
‘Ith
it
your
intenthion
to
do
anything
for
the
poor
girl
,
Thquire
?
’
‘I
shall
have
something
to
propose
to
her
when
she
comes
back
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘Glad
to
hear
it
,
Thquire
.
Not
that
I
want
to
get
rid
of
the
child
,
any
more
than
I
want
to
thtand
in
her
way
.
I’m
willing
to
take
her
prentith
,
though
at
her
age
ith
late
.
My
voithe
ith
a
little
huthky
,
Thquire
,
and
not
eathy
heard
by
them
ath
don’t
know
me
;
but
if
you’d
been
chilled
and
heated
,
heated
and
chilled
,
chilled
and
heated
in
the
ring
when
you
wath
young
,
ath
often
ath
I
have
been
,
your
voithe
wouldn’t
have
lathted
out
,
Thquire
,
no
more
than
mine.’
‘I
dare
say
not
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘What
thall
it
be
,
Thquire
,
while
you
wait
?
Thall
it
be
Therry
?
Give
it
a
name
,
Thquire
!
’
said
Mr.
Sleary
,
with
hospitable
ease
.
‘Nothing
for
me
,
I
thank
you
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘Don’t
thay
nothing
,
Thquire
.
What
doth
your
friend
thay
?
If
you
haven’t
took
your
feed
yet
,
have
a
glath
of
bitterth.’
Here
his
daughter
Josephine
—
a
pretty
fair-haired
girl
of
eighteen
,
who
had
been
tied
on
a
horse
at
two
years
old
,
and
had
made
a
will
at
twelve
,
which
she
always
carried
about
with
her
,
expressive
of
her
dying
desire
to
be
drawn
to
the
grave
by
the
two
piebald
ponies
—
cried
,
‘Father
,
hush
!
she
has
come
back
!
’
Then
came
Sissy
Jupe
,
running
into
the
room
as
she
had
run
out
of
it
.
And
when
she
saw
them
all
assembled
,
and
saw
their
looks
,
and
saw
no
father
there
,
she
broke
into
a
most
deplorable
cry
,
and
took
refuge
on
the
bosom
of
the
most
accomplished
tight-rope
lady
(
herself
in
the
family-way
)
,
who
knelt
down
on
the
floor
to
nurse
her
,
and
to
weep
over
her
.
‘Ith
an
internal
thame
,
upon
my
thoul
it
ith
,
’
said
Sleary
.
‘O
my
dear
father
,
my
good
kind
father
,
where
are
you
gone
?
You
are
gone
to
try
to
do
me
some
good
,
I
know
!
You
are
gone
away
for
my
sake
,
I
am
sure
!
And
how
miserable
and
helpless
you
will
be
without
me
,
poor
,
poor
father
,
until
you
come
back
!
’
It
was
so
pathetic
to
hear
her
saying
many
things
of
this
kind
,
with
her
face
turned
upward
,
and
her
arms
stretched
out
as
if
she
were
trying
to
stop
his
departing
shadow
and
embrace
it
,
that
no
one
spoke
a
word
until
Mr.
Bounderby
(
growing
impatient
)
took
the
case
in
hand
.
‘Now
,
good
people
all
,
’
said
he
,
‘this
is
wanton
waste
of
time
.
Let
the
girl
understand
the
fact
.
Let
her
take
it
from
me
,
if
you
like
,
who
have
been
run
away
from
,
myself
.
Here
,
what’s
your
name
!
Your
father
has
absconded
—
deserted
you
—
and
you
mustn’t
expect
to
see
him
again
as
long
as
you
live.’
They
cared
so
little
for
plain
Fact
,
these
people
,
and
were
in
that
advanced
state
of
degeneracy
on
the
subject
,
that
instead
of
being
impressed
by
the
speaker’s
strong
common
sense
,
they
took
it
in
extraordinary
dudgeon
.
The
men
muttered
‘Shame
!
’
and
the
women
‘Brute
!
’
and
Sleary
,
in
some
haste
,
communicated
the
following
hint
,
apart
to
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘I
tell
you
what
,
Thquire
.
To
thpeak
plain
to
you
,
my
opinion
ith
that
you
had
better
cut
it
thort
,
and
drop
it
.
They’re
a
very
good
natur’d
people
,
my
people
,
but
they’re
accuthtomed
to
be
quick
in
their
movementh
;
and
if
you
don’t
act
upon
my
advithe
,
I’m
damned
if
I
don’t
believe
they’ll
pith
you
out
o’
winder.’
Mr.
Bounderby
being
restrained
by
this
mild
suggestion
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
found
an
opening
for
his
eminently
practical
exposition
of
the
subject
.
‘It
is
of
no
moment
,
’
said
he
,
‘whether
this
person
is
to
be
expected
back
at
any
time
,
or
the
contrary
.
He
is
gone
away
,
and
there
is
no
present
expectation
of
his
return
.
That
,
I
believe
,
is
agreed
on
all
hands.’
‘Thath
agreed
,
Thquire
.
Thick
to
that
!
’
From
Sleary
.
‘Well
then
.
I
,
who
came
here
to
inform
the
father
of
the
poor
girl
,
Jupe
,
that
she
could
not
be
received
at
the
school
any
more
,
in
consequence
of
there
being
practical
objections
,
into
which
I
need
not
enter
,
to
the
reception
there
of
the
children
of
persons
so
employed
,
am
prepared
in
these
altered
circumstances
to
make
a
proposal
.
I
am
willing
to
take
charge
of
you
,
Jupe
,
and
to
educate
you
,
and
provide
for
you
.
The
only
condition
(
over
and
above
your
good
behaviour
)
I
make
is
,
that
you
decide
now
,
at
once
,
whether
to
accompany
me
or
remain
here
.
Also
,
that
if
you
accompany
me
now
,
it
is
understood
that
you
communicate
no
more
with
any
of
your
friends
who
are
here
present
.
These
observations
comprise
the
whole
of
the
case.’
‘At
the
thame
time
,
’
said
Sleary
,
‘I
mutht
put
in
my
word
,
Thquire
,
tho
that
both
thides
of
the
banner
may
be
equally
theen
.
If
you
like
,
Thethilia
,
to
be
prentitht
,
you
know
the
natur
of
the
work
and
you
know
your
companionth
.
Emma
Gordon
,
in
whothe
lap
you’re
a
lying
at
prethent
,
would
be
a
mother
to
you
,
and
Joth’phine
would
be
a
thithter
to
you
.
I
don’t
pretend
to
be
of
the
angel
breed
myself
,
and
I
don’t
thay
but
what
,
when
you
mith’d
your
tip
,
you’d
find
me
cut
up
rough
,
and
thwear
an
oath
or
two
at
you
.
But
what
I
thay
,
Thquire
,
ith
,
that
good
tempered
or
bad
tempered
,
I
never
did
a
horthe
a
injury
yet
,
no
more
than
thwearing
at
him
went
,
and
that
I
don’t
expect
I
thall
begin
otherwithe
at
my
time
of
life
,
with
a
rider
.
I
never
wath
much
of
a
Cackler
,
Thquire
,
and
I
have
thed
my
thay.’
The
latter
part
of
this
speech
was
addressed
to
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
who
received
it
with
a
grave
inclination
of
his
head
,
and
then
remarked
:
‘The
only
observation
I
will
make
to
you
,
Jupe
,
in
the
way
of
influencing
your
decision
,
is
,
that
it
is
highly
desirable
to
have
a
sound
practical
education
,
and
that
even
your
father
himself
(
from
what
I
understand
)
appears
,
on
your
behalf
,
to
have
known
and
felt
that
much.’
The
last
words
had
a
visible
effect
upon
her
.
She
stopped
in
her
wild
crying
,
a
little
detached
herself
from
Emma
Gordon
,
and
turned
her
face
full
upon
her
patron
.
The
whole
company
perceived
the
force
of
the
change
,
and
drew
a
long
breath
together
,
that
plainly
said
,
‘she
will
go
!
’
‘Be
sure
you
know
your
own
mind
,
Jupe
,
’
Mr.
Gradgrind
cautioned
her
;
‘I
say
no
more
.
Be
sure
you
know
your
own
mind
!
’
‘When
father
comes
back
,
’
cried
the
girl
,
bursting
into
tears
again
after
a
minute’s
silence
,
‘how
will
he
ever
find
me
if
I
go
away
!
’
‘You
may
be
quite
at
ease
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
calmly
;
he
worked
out
the
whole
matter
like
a
sum
:
‘you
may
be
quite
at
ease
,
Jupe
,
on
that
score
.
In
such
a
case
,
your
father
,
I
apprehend
,
must
find
out
Mr.
—
’
‘Thleary
.
Thath
my
name
,
Thquire
.
Not
athamed
of
it
.
Known
all
over
England
,
and
alwayth
paythe
ith
way.’
‘Must
find
out
Mr.
Sleary
,
who
would
then
let
him
know
where
you
went
.
I
should
have
no
power
of
keeping
you
against
his
wish
,
and
he
would
have
no
difficulty
,
at
any
time
,
in
finding
Mr.
Thomas
Gradgrind
of
Coketown
.
I
am
well
known.’
‘Well
known
,
’
assented
Mr.
Sleary
,
rolling
his
loose
eye
.
‘You’re
one
of
the
thort
,
Thquire
,
that
keepth
a
prethiouth
thight
of
money
out
of
the
houthe
.
But
never
mind
that
at
prethent.’
There
was
another
silence
;
and
then
she
exclaimed
,
sobbing
with
her
hands
before
her
face
,
‘Oh
,
give
me
my
clothes
,
give
me
my
clothes
,
and
let
me
go
away
before
I
break
my
heart
!
’
The
women
sadly
bestirred
themselves
to
get
the
clothes
together
—
it
was
soon
done
,
for
they
were
not
many
—
and
to
pack
them
in
a
basket
which
had
often
travelled
with
them
.
Sissy
sat
all
the
time
upon
the
ground
,
still
sobbing
,
and
covering
her
eyes
.
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
his
friend
Bounderby
stood
near
the
door
,
ready
to
take
her
away
.
Mr.
Sleary
stood
in
the
middle
of
the
room
,
with
the
male
members
of
the
company
about
him
,
exactly
as
he
would
have
stood
in
the
centre
of
the
ring
during
his
daughter
Josephine’s
performance
.
He
wanted
nothing
but
his
whip
.
The
basket
packed
in
silence
,
they
brought
her
bonnet
to
her
,
and
smoothed
her
disordered
hair
,
and
put
it
on
.
Then
they
pressed
about
her
,
and
bent
over
her
in
very
natural
attitudes
,
kissing
and
embracing
her
:
and
brought
the
children
to
take
leave
of
her
;
and
were
a
tender-hearted
,
simple
,
foolish
set
of
women
altogether
.
‘Now
,
Jupe
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
‘If
you
are
quite
determined
,
come
!
’
But
she
had
to
take
her
farewell
of
the
male
part
of
the
company
yet
,
and
every
one
of
them
had
to
unfold
his
arms
(
for
they
all
assumed
the
professional
attitude
when
they
found
themselves
near
Sleary
)
,
and
give
her
a
parting
kiss
—
Master
Kidderminster
excepted
,
in
whose
young
nature
there
was
an
original
flavour
of
the
misanthrope
,
who
was
also
known
to
have
harboured
matrimonial
views
,
and
who
moodily
withdrew
.
Mr.
Sleary
was
reserved
until
the
last
.
Opening
his
arms
wide
he
took
her
by
both
her
hands
,
and
would
have
sprung
her
up
and
down
,
after
the
riding-master
manner
of
congratulating
young
ladies
on
their
dismounting
from
a
rapid
act
;
but
there
was
no
rebound
in
Sissy
,
and
she
only
stood
before
him
crying
.
‘Good-bye
,
my
dear
!
’
said
Sleary
.
‘You’ll
make
your
fortun
,
I
hope
,
and
none
of
our
poor
folkth
will
ever
trouble
you
,
I’ll
pound
it
.
I
with
your
father
hadn’t
taken
hith
dog
with
him
;
ith
a
ill-conwenienth
to
have
the
dog
out
of
the
billth
.
But
on
thecond
thoughth
,
he
wouldn’t
have
performed
without
hith
mathter
,
tho
ith
ath
broad
ath
ith
long
!
’
With
that
he
regarded
her
attentively
with
his
fixed
eye
,
surveyed
his
company
with
his
loose
one
,
kissed
her
,
shook
his
head
,
and
handed
her
to
Mr.
Gradgrind
as
to
a
horse
.
‘There
the
ith
,
Thquire
,
’
he
said
,
sweeping
her
with
a
professional
glance
as
if
she
were
being
adjusted
in
her
seat
,
‘and
the’ll
do
you
juthtithe
.
Good-bye
,
Thethilia
!
’
‘Good-bye
,
Cecilia
!
’
‘Good-bye
,
Sissy
!
’
‘God
bless
you
,
dear
!
’
In
a
variety
of
voices
from
all
the
room
.
But
the
riding-master
eye
had
observed
the
bottle
of
the
nine
oils
in
her
bosom
,
and
he
now
interposed
with
‘Leave
the
bottle
,
my
dear
;
ith
large
to
carry
;
it
will
be
of
no
uthe
to
you
now
.
Give
it
to
me
!
’
‘No
,
no
!
’
she
said
,
in
another
burst
of
tears
.
‘Oh
,
no
!
Pray
let
me
keep
it
for
father
till
he
comes
back
!
He
will
want
it
when
he
comes
back
.
He
had
never
thought
of
going
away
,
when
he
sent
me
for
it
.
I
must
keep
it
for
him
,
if
you
please
!
’
‘Tho
be
it
,
my
dear
.
(
You
thee
how
it
ith
,
Thquire
!
)
Farewell
,
Thethilia
!
My
latht
wordth
to
you
ith
thith
,
Thtick
to
the
termth
of
your
engagement
,
be
obedient
to
the
Thquire
,
and
forget
uth
.
But
if
,
when
you’re
grown
up
and
married
and
well
off
,
you
come
upon
any
horthe-riding
ever
,
don’t
be
hard
upon
it
,
don’t
be
croth
with
it
,
give
it
a
Bethpeak
if
you
can
,
and
think
you
might
do
wurth
.
People
mutht
be
amuthed
,
Thquire
,
thomehow
,
’
continued
Sleary
,
rendered
more
pursy
than
ever
,
by
so
much
talking
;
‘they
can’t
be
alwayth
a
working
,
nor
yet
they
can’t
be
alwayth
a
learning
.
Make
the
betht
of
uth
;
not
the
wurtht
.
I’ve
got
my
living
out
of
the
horthe-riding
all
my
life
,
I
know
;
but
I
conthider
that
I
lay
down
the
philothophy
of
the
thubject
when
I
thay
to
you
,
Thquire
,
make
the
betht
of
uth
:
not
the
wurtht
!
’
The
Sleary
philosophy
was
propounded
as
they
went
downstairs
and
the
fixed
eye
of
Philosophy
—
and
its
rolling
eye
,
too
—
soon
lost
the
three
figures
and
the
basket
in
the
darkness
of
the
street
.
p.
33CHAPTER
VII
MRS.
SPARSIT
Mr.
Bounderby
being
a
bachelor
,
an
elderly
lady
presided
over
his
establishment
,
in
consideration
of
a
certain
annual
stipend
.
Mrs.
Sparsit
was
this
lady’s
name
;
and
she
was
a
prominent
figure
in
attendance
on
Mr.
Bounderby’s
car
,
as
it
rolled
along
in
triumph
with
the
Bully
of
humility
inside
.
For
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
had
not
only
seen
different
days
,
but
was
highly
connected
.
She
had
a
great
aunt
living
in
these
very
times
called
Lady
Scadgers
.
Mr.
Sparsit
,
deceased
,
of
whom
she
was
the
relict
,
had
been
by
the
mother’s
side
what
Mrs.
Sparsit
still
called
‘a
Powler.’
Strangers
of
limited
information
and
dull
apprehension
were
sometimes
observed
not
to
know
what
a
Powler
was
,
and
even
to
appear
uncertain
whether
it
might
be
a
business
,
or
a
political
party
,
or
a
profession
of
faith
.
The
better
class
of
minds
,
however
,
did
not
need
to
be
informed
that
the
Powlers
were
an
ancient
stock
,
who
could
trace
themselves
so
exceedingly
far
back
that
it
was
not
surprising
if
they
sometimes
lost
themselves
—
which
they
had
rather
frequently
done
,
as
respected
horse-flesh
,
blind-hookey
,
Hebrew
monetary
transactions
,
and
the
Insolvent
Debtors’
Court
.
The
late
Mr.
Sparsit
,
being
by
the
mother’s
side
a
Powler
,
married
this
lady
,
being
by
the
father’s
side
a
Scadgers
.
Lady
Scadgers
(
an
immensely
fat
old
woman
,
with
an
inordinate
appetite
for
butcher’s
meat
,
and
a
mysterious
leg
which
had
now
refused
to
get
out
of
bed
for
fourteen
years
)
contrived
the
marriage
,
at
a
period
when
Sparsit
was
just
of
age
,
and
chiefly
noticeable
for
a
slender
body
,
weakly
supported
on
two
long
slim
props
,
and
surmounted
by
no
head
worth
mentioning
.
He
inherited
a
fair
fortune
from
his
uncle
,
but
owed
it
all
before
he
came
into
it
,
and
spent
it
twice
over
immediately
afterwards
.
Thus
,
when
he
died
,
at
twenty-four
(
the
scene
of
his
decease
,
Calais
,
and
the
cause
,
brandy
)
,
he
did
not
leave
his
widow
,
from
whom
he
had
been
separated
soon
after
the
honeymoon
,
in
affluent
circumstances
.
That
bereaved
lady
,
fifteen
years
older
than
he
,
fell
presently
at
deadly
feud
with
her
only
relative
,
Lady
Scadgers
;
and
,
partly
to
spite
her
ladyship
,
and
partly
to
maintain
herself
,
went
out
at
a
salary
.
And
here
she
was
now
,
in
her
elderly
days
,
with
the
Coriolanian
style
of
nose
and
the
dense
black
eyebrows
which
had
captivated
Sparsit
,
making
Mr.
Bounderby’s
tea
as
he
took
his
breakfast
.
If
Bounderby
had
been
a
Conqueror
,
and
Mrs.
Sparsit
a
captive
Princess
whom
he
took
about
as
a
feature
in
his
state-processions
,
he
could
not
have
made
a
greater
flourish
with
her
than
he
habitually
did
.
Just
as
it
belonged
to
his
boastfulness
to
depreciate
his
own
extraction
,
so
it
belonged
to
it
to
exalt
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
.
In
the
measure
that
he
would
not
allow
his
own
youth
to
have
been
attended
by
a
single
favourable
circumstance
,
he
brightened
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
juvenile
career
with
every
possible
advantage
,
and
showered
waggon-loads
of
early
roses
all
over
that
lady’s
path
.
‘And
yet
,
sir
,
’
he
would
say
,
‘how
does
it
turn
out
after
all
?
Why
here
she
is
at
a
hundred
a
year
(
I
give
her
a
hundred
,
which
she
is
pleased
to
term
handsome
)
,
keeping
the
house
of
Josiah
Bounderby
of
Coketown
!
’
Nay
,
he
made
this
foil
of
his
so
very
widely
known
,
that
third
parties
took
it
up
,
and
handled
it
on
some
occasions
with
considerable
briskness
.
It
was
one
of
the
most
exasperating
attributes
of
Bounderby
,
that
he
not
only
sang
his
own
praises
but
stimulated
other
men
to
sing
them
.
There
was
a
moral
infection
of
clap-trap
in
him
.
Strangers
,
modest
enough
elsewhere
,
started
up
at
dinners
in
Coketown
,
and
boasted
,
in
quite
a
rampant
way
,
of
Bounderby
.
They
made
him
out
to
be
the
Royal
arms
,
the
Union-Jack
,
Magna
Charta
,
John
Bull
,
Habeas
Corpus
,
the
Bill
of
Rights
,
An
Englishman’s
house
is
his
castle
,
Church
and
State
,
and
God
save
the
Queen
,
all
put
together
.
And
as
often
(
and
it
was
very
often
)
as
an
orator
of
this
kind
brought
into
his
peroration
,
‘Princes
and
lords
may
flourish
or
may
fade
,
A
breath
can
make
them
,
as
a
breath
has
made
,
’
—
it
was
,
for
certain
,
more
or
less
understood
among
the
company
that
he
had
heard
of
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
‘Mr
.
Bounderby
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘you
are
unusually
slow
,
sir
,
with
your
breakfast
this
morning.’
‘Why
,
ma’am
,
’
he
returned
,
‘I
am
thinking
about
Tom
Gradgrind’s
whim
;
’
Tom
Gradgrind
,
for
a
bluff
independent
manner
of
speaking
—
as
if
somebody
were
always
endeavouring
to
bribe
him
with
immense
sums
to
say
Thomas
,
and
he
wouldn’t
;
‘Tom
Gradgrind’s
whim
,
ma’am
,
of
bringing
up
the
tumbling-girl.’
‘The
girl
is
now
waiting
to
know
,
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘whether
she
is
to
go
straight
to
the
school
,
or
up
to
the
Lodge.’
‘She
must
wait
,
ma’am
,
’
answered
Bounderby
,
‘till
I
know
myself
.
We
shall
have
Tom
Gradgrind
down
here
presently
,
I
suppose
.
If
he
should
wish
her
to
remain
here
a
day
or
two
longer
,
of
course
she
can
,
ma’am.’
‘Of
course
she
can
if
you
wish
it
,
Mr.
Bounderby.’
‘I
told
him
I
would
give
her
a
shake-down
here
,
last
night
,
in
order
that
he
might
sleep
on
it
before
he
decided
to
let
her
have
any
association
with
Louisa.’
‘Indeed
,
Mr.
Bounderby
?
Very
thoughtful
of
you
!
’
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
Coriolanian
nose
underwent
a
slight
expansion
of
the
nostrils
,
and
her
black
eyebrows
contracted
as
she
took
a
sip
of
tea
.
‘It’s
tolerably
clear
to
me
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
‘that
the
little
puss
can
get
small
good
out
of
such
companionship.’
‘Are
you
speaking
of
young
Miss
Gradgrind
,
Mr.
Bounderby
?
’
‘Yes
,
ma’am
,
I’m
speaking
of
Louisa.’
‘Your
observation
being
limited
to
“
little
puss
,
”
’
said
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
‘and
there
being
two
little
girls
in
question
,
I
did
not
know
which
might
be
indicated
by
that
expression.’
‘Louisa
,
’
repeated
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘Louisa
,
Louisa.’
‘You
are
quite
another
father
to
Louisa
,
sir.’
Mrs.
Sparsit
took
a
little
more
tea
;
and
,
as
she
bent
her
again
contracted
eyebrows
over
her
steaming
cup
,
rather
looked
as
if
her
classical
countenance
were
invoking
the
infernal
gods
.
‘If
you
had
said
I
was
another
father
to
Tom
—
young
Tom
,
I
mean
,
not
my
friend
Tom
Gradgrind
—
you
might
have
been
nearer
the
mark
.
I
am
going
to
take
young
Tom
into
my
office
.
Going
to
have
him
under
my
wing
,
ma’am.’
‘Indeed
?
Rather
young
for
that
,
is
he
not
,
sir
?
’
Mrs.
Sparsit’s
‘sir
,
’
in
addressing
Mr.
Bounderby
,
was
a
word
of
ceremony
,
rather
exacting
consideration
for
herself
in
the
use
,
than
honouring
him
.
‘I’m
not
going
to
take
him
at
once
;
he
is
to
finish
his
educational
cramming
before
then
,
’
said
Bounderby
.
‘By
the
Lord
Harry
,
he’ll
have
enough
of
it
,
first
and
last
!
He’d
open
his
eyes
,
that
boy
would
,
if
he
knew
how
empty
of
learning
my
young
maw
was
,
at
his
time
of
life.’
Which
,
by
the
by
,
he
probably
did
know
,
for
he
had
heard
of
it
often
enough
.
‘But
it’s
extraordinary
the
difficulty
I
have
on
scores
of
such
subjects
,
in
speaking
to
any
one
on
equal
terms
.
Here
,
for
example
,
I
have
been
speaking
to
you
this
morning
about
tumblers
.
Why
,
what
do
you
know
about
tumblers
?
At
the
time
when
,
to
have
been
a
tumbler
in
the
mud
of
the
streets
,
would
have
been
a
godsend
to
me
,
a
prize
in
the
lottery
to
me
,
you
were
at
the
Italian
Opera
.
You
were
coming
out
of
the
Italian
Opera
,
ma’am
,
in
white
satin
and
jewels
,
a
blaze
of
splendour
,
when
I
hadn’t
a
penny
to
buy
a
link
to
light
you.’
‘I
certainly
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
a
dignity
serenely
mournful
,
‘was
familiar
with
the
Italian
Opera
at
a
very
early
age.’
‘Egad
,
ma’am
,
so
was
I
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
‘
—
with
the
wrong
side
of
it
.
A
hard
bed
the
pavement
of
its
Arcade
used
to
make
,
I
assure
you
.
People
like
you
,
ma’am
,
accustomed
from
infancy
to
lie
on
Down
feathers
,
have
no
idea
how
hard
a
paving-stone
is
,
without
trying
it
.
No
,
no
,
it’s
of
no
use
my
talking
to
you
about
tumblers
.
I
should
speak
of
foreign
dancers
,
and
the
West
End
of
London
,
and
May
Fair
,
and
lords
and
ladies
and
honourables.’
‘I
trust
,
sir
,
’
rejoined
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
decent
resignation
,
‘it
is
not
necessary
that
you
should
do
anything
of
that
kind
.
I
hope
I
have
learnt
how
to
accommodate
myself
to
the
changes
of
life
.
If
I
have
acquired
an
interest
in
hearing
of
your
instructive
experiences
,
and
can
scarcely
hear
enough
of
them
,
I
claim
no
merit
for
that
,
since
I
believe
it
is
a
general
sentiment.’
‘Well
,
ma’am
,
’
said
her
patron
,
‘perhaps
some
people
may
be
pleased
to
say
that
they
do
like
to
hear
,
in
his
own
unpolished
way
,
what
Josiah
Bounderby
,
of
Coketown
,
has
gone
through
.
But
you
must
confess
that
you
were
born
in
the
lap
of
luxury
,
yourself
.
Come
,
ma’am
,
you
know
you
were
born
in
the
lap
of
luxury.’
‘I
do
not
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
with
a
shake
of
her
head
,
‘deny
it.’
Mr.
Bounderby
was
obliged
to
get
up
from
table
,
and
stand
with
his
back
to
the
fire
,
looking
at
her
;
she
was
such
an
enhancement
of
his
position
.
‘And
you
were
in
crack
society
.
Devilish
high
society
,
’
he
said
,
warming
his
legs
.
‘It
is
true
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
an
affectation
of
humility
the
very
opposite
of
his
,
and
therefore
in
no
danger
of
jostling
it
.
‘You
were
in
the
tiptop
fashion
,
and
all
the
rest
of
it
,
’
said
Mr.
Bounderby
.
‘Yes
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
with
a
kind
of
social
widowhood
upon
her
.
‘It
is
unquestionably
true.’
Mr.
Bounderby
,
bending
himself
at
the
knees
,
literally
embraced
his
legs
in
his
great
satisfaction
and
laughed
aloud
.
Mr.
and
Miss
Gradgrind
being
then
announced
,
he
received
the
former
with
a
shake
of
the
hand
,
and
the
latter
with
a
kiss
.
‘Can
Jupe
be
sent
here
,
Bounderby
?
’
asked
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
Certainly
.
So
Jupe
was
sent
there
.
On
coming
in
,
she
curtseyed
to
Mr.
Bounderby
,
and
to
his
friend
Tom
Gradgrind
,
and
also
to
Louisa
;
but
in
her
confusion
unluckily
omitted
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
Observing
this
,
the
blustrous
Bounderby
had
the
following
remarks
to
make
:
‘Now
,
I
tell
you
what
,
my
girl
.
The
name
of
that
lady
by
the
teapot
,
is
Mrs.
Sparsit
.
That
lady
acts
as
mistress
of
this
house
,
and
she
is
a
highly
connected
lady
.
Consequently
,
if
ever
you
come
again
into
any
room
in
this
house
,
you
will
make
a
short
stay
in
it
if
you
don’t
behave
towards
that
lady
in
your
most
respectful
manner
.
Now
,
I
don’t
care
a
button
what
you
do
to
me
,
because
I
don’t
affect
to
be
anybody
.
So
far
from
having
high
connections
I
have
no
connections
at
all
,
and
I
come
of
the
scum
of
the
earth
.
But
towards
that
lady
,
I
do
care
what
you
do
;
and
you
shall
do
what
is
deferential
and
respectful
,
or
you
shall
not
come
here.’
‘I
hope
,
Bounderby
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
in
a
conciliatory
voice
,
‘that
this
was
merely
an
oversight.’
‘My
friend
Tom
Gradgrind
suggests
,
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
’
said
Bounderby
,
‘that
this
was
merely
an
oversight
.
Very
likely
.
However
,
as
you
are
aware
,
ma’am
,
I
don’t
allow
of
even
oversights
towards
you.’
‘You
are
very
good
indeed
,
sir
,
’
returned
Mrs.
Sparsit
,
shaking
her
head
with
her
State
humility
.
‘It
is
not
worth
speaking
of.’
Sissy
,
who
all
this
time
had
been
faintly
excusing
herself
with
tears
in
her
eyes
,
was
now
waved
over
by
the
master
of
the
house
to
Mr.
Gradgrind
.
She
stood
looking
intently
at
him
,
and
Louisa
stood
coldly
by
,
with
her
eyes
upon
the
ground
,
while
he
proceeded
thus
:
‘Jupe
,
I
have
made
up
my
mind
to
take
you
into
my
house
;
and
,
when
you
are
not
in
attendance
at
the
school
,
to
employ
you
about
Mrs.
Gradgrind
,
who
is
rather
an
invalid
.
I
have
explained
to
Miss
Louisa
—
this
is
Miss
Louisa
—
the
miserable
but
natural
end
of
your
late
career
;
and
you
are
to
expressly
understand
that
the
whole
of
that
subject
is
past
,
and
is
not
to
be
referred
to
any
more
.
From
this
time
you
begin
your
history
.
You
are
,
at
present
,
ignorant
,
I
know.’
‘Yes
,
sir
,
very
,
’
she
answered
,
curtseying
.
‘I
shall
have
the
satisfaction
of
causing
you
to
be
strictly
educated
;
and
you
will
be
a
living
proof
to
all
who
come
into
communication
with
you
,
of
the
advantages
of
the
training
you
will
receive
.
You
will
be
reclaimed
and
formed
.
You
have
been
in
the
habit
now
of
reading
to
your
father
,
and
those
people
I
found
you
among
,
I
dare
say
?
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
beckoning
her
nearer
to
him
before
he
said
so
,
and
dropping
his
voice
.
‘Only
to
father
and
Merrylegs
,
sir
.
At
least
I
mean
to
father
,
when
Merrylegs
was
always
there.’
‘Never
mind
Merrylegs
,
Jupe
,
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
with
a
passing
frown
.
‘I
don’t
ask
about
him
.
I
understand
you
to
have
been
in
the
habit
of
reading
to
your
father
?
’
‘O
,
yes
,
sir
,
thousands
of
times
.
They
were
the
happiest
—
O
,
of
all
the
happy
times
we
had
together
,
sir
!
’
It
was
only
now
when
her
sorrow
broke
out
,
that
Louisa
looked
at
her
.
‘And
what
,
’
asked
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
in
a
still
lower
voice
,
‘did
you
read
to
your
father
,
Jupe
?
’
‘About
the
Fairies
,
sir
,
and
the
Dwarf
,
and
the
Hunchback
,
and
the
Genies
,
’
she
sobbed
out
;
‘and
about
—
’
‘Hush
!
’
said
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
‘that
is
enough
.
Never
breathe
a
word
of
such
destructive
nonsense
any
more
.
Bounderby
,
this
is
a
case
for
rigid
training
,
and
I
shall
observe
it
with
interest.’
‘Well
,
’
returned
Mr.
Bounderby
,
‘I
have
given
you
my
opinion
already
,
and
I
shouldn’t
do
as
you
do
.
But
,
very
well
,
very
well
.
Since
you
are
bent
upon
it
,
very
well
!
’
So
,
Mr.
Gradgrind
and
his
daughter
took
Cecilia
Jupe
off
with
them
to
Stone
Lodge
,
and
on
the
way
Louisa
never
spoke
one
word
,
good
or
bad
.
And
Mr.
Bounderby
went
about
his
daily
pursuits
.
And
Mrs.
Sparsit
got
behind
her
eyebrows
and
meditated
in
the
gloom
of
that
retreat
,
all
the
evening
.
CHAPTER
VIII
NEVER
WONDER
Let
us
strike
the
key-note
again
,
before
pursuing
the
tune
.
When
she
was
half
a
dozen
years
younger
,
Louisa
had
been
overheard
to
begin
a
conversation
with
her
brother
one
day
,
by
saying
‘Tom
,
I
wonder’
—
upon
which
Mr.
Gradgrind
,
who
was
the
person
overhearing
,
stepped
forth
into
the
light
and
said
,
‘Louisa
,
never
wonder
!
’
Herein
lay
the
spring
of
the
mechanical
art
and
mystery
of
educating
the
reason
without
stooping
to
the
cultivation
of
the
sentiments
and
affections
.
Never
wonder
.
By
means
of
addition
,
subtraction
,
multiplication
,
and
division
,
settle
everything
somehow
,
and
never
wonder
.
Bring
to
me
,
says
M’Choakumchild
,
yonder
baby
just
able
to
walk
,
and
I
will
engage
that
it
shall
never
wonder
.
Now
,
besides
very
many
babies
just
able
to
walk
,
there
happened
to
be
in
Coketown
a
considerable
population
of
babies
who
had
been
walking
against
time
towards
the
infinite
world
,
twenty
,
thirty
,
forty
,
fifty
years
and
more
.
These
portentous
infants
being
alarming
creatures
to
stalk
about
in
any
human
society
,
the
eighteen
denominations
incessantly
scratched
one
another’s
faces
and
pulled
one
another’s
hair
by
way
of
agreeing
on
the
steps
to
be
taken
for
their
improvement
—
which
they
never
did
;
a
surprising
circumstance
,
when
the
happy
adaptation
of
the
means
to
the
end
is
considered
.
Still
,
although
they
differed
in
every
other
particular
,
conceivable
and
inconceivable
(
especially
inconceivable
)
,
they
were
pretty
well
united
on
the
point
that
these
unlucky
infants
were
never
to
wonder
.
Body
number
one
,
said
they
must
take
everything
on
trust
.
Body
number
two
,
said
they
must
take
everything
on
political
economy
.
Body
number
three
,
wrote
leaden
little
books
for
them
,
showing
how
the
good
grown-up
baby
invariably
got
to
the
Savings-bank
,
and
the
bad
grown-up
baby
invariably
got
transported
.
Body
number
four
,
under
dreary
pretences
of
being
droll
(
when
it
was
very
melancholy
indeed
)
,
made
the
shallowest
pretences
of
concealing
pitfalls
of
knowledge
,
into
which
it
was
the
duty
of
these
babies
to
be
smuggled
and
inveigled
.
But
,
all
the
bodies
agreed
that
they
were
never
to
wonder
.
There
was
a
library
in
Coketown
,
to
which
general
access
was
easy
.
Mr.
Gradgrind
greatly
tormented
his
mind
about
what
the
people
read
in
this
library
:
a
point
whereon
little
rivers
of
tabular
statements
periodically
flowed
into
the
howling
ocean
of
tabular
statements
,
which
no
diver
ever
got
to
any
depth
in
and
came
up
sane
.
It
was
a
disheartening
circumstance
,
but
a
melancholy
fact
,
that
even
these
readers
persisted
in
wondering
.
They
wondered
about
human
nature
,
human
passions
,
human
hopes
and
fears
,
the
struggles
,
triumphs
and
defeats
,
the
cares
and
joys
and
sorrows
,
the
lives
and
deaths
of
common
men
and
women
!
They
sometimes
,
after
fifteen
hours’
work
,
sat
down
to
read
mere
fables
about
men
and
women
,
more
or
less
like
themselves
,
and
about
children
,
more
or
less
like
their
own
.
They
took
De
Foe
to
their
bosoms
,
instead
of
Euclid
,
and
seemed
to
be
on
the
whole
more
comforted
by
Goldsmith
than
by
Cocker
.
Mr.
Gradgrind
was
for
ever
working
,
in
print
and
out
of
print
,
at
this
eccentric
sum
,
and
he
never
could
make
out
how
it
yielded
this
unaccountable
product
.
‘I
am
sick
of
my
life
,
Loo
.
I
,
hate
it
altogether
,
and
I
hate
everybody
except
you
,
’
said
the
unnatural
young
Thomas
Gradgrind
in
the
hair-cutting
chamber
at
twilight
.
‘You
don’t
hate
Sissy
,
Tom
?
’
‘I
hate
to
be
obliged
to
call
her
Jupe
.
And
she
hates
me
,
’
said
Tom
,
moodily
.
‘No
,
she
does
not
,
Tom
,
I
am
sure
!
’
‘She
must
,
’
said
Tom
.
‘She
must
just
hate
and
detest
the
whole
set-out
of
us
.
They’ll
bother
her
head
off
,
I
think
,
before
they
have
done
with
her
.
Already
she’s
getting
as
pale
as
wax
,
and
as
heavy
as
—
I
am.’
Young
Thomas
expressed
these
sentiments
sitting
astride
of
a
chair
before
the
fire
,
with
his
arms
on
the
back
,
and
his
sulky
face
on
his
arms
.
His
sister
sat
in
the
darker
corner
by
the
fireside
,
now
looking
at
him
,
now
looking
at
the
bright
sparks
as
they
dropped
upon
the
hearth
.
‘As
to
me
,
’
said
Tom
,
tumbling
his
hair
all
manner
of
ways
with
his
sulky
hands
