"After what has been just now represented to me, in a manner I find it impossible to doubt-I know of hardly any other source from which I could have accepted it so readily-I feel bound to say to you, in whom the confidence you have mentioned has been reposed, that I can not refuse to contemplate the possibility (however unexpected) of my seeing the lady no more. I am solely to blame for the thing having come to this-and-and, I cannot say," he added, rather hard up for a general peroration, "that I have any sanguine expectation of ever becoming a moral sort of fellow, or that I have any "I suppose a man never was placed in a more belief in any moral sort of fellow whatever." ridiculous position," he said, after looking down, Sissy's face sufficiently showed that her appeal to and looking up, and laughing, and frowning, and

who has something to make known to you that will strike you dumb."

Which she did.

66

I

agree with you. You have found it out at last, Well, ma'am,' said Bounderby, "without have you? Education! I'll tell you what educa"You have missed my letter!" exclaimed Mr. making any observation to you that may not be tion is-To be tumbled out of doors, neck and crop, Gradgrind, surprised by the apparition. made with propriety to a woman of good family, and put upon the shortest allowance of everthing "Missed your letter, sir!" bawled Bounderby. what I have got to add to that, is, that there's some- except blows. That's what I call education." "The present time is no time for letters. No man thing else in which it appears to me you may take "I think your good sense will perceive." Mr. shall talk to Josiah Bounderby of Coketown about refuge, namely, a coach. And the coach in which | Gradgrind remonstrated in all humility, “that whatletters with his mind in the state it's in now." we came here, being at the door, you'll allow me to "Bounderby," said Mr. Gradgrind, in a tone of hand you down to it, and pack you home to the temperate remonstrance. "I speak of a special Bank: where the best course for you to pursue, letter I have written to you in reference to Louisa." will be to put your feet into the hottest water you can "Tom Gradgrind," replied Bounderby, knocking bear, and take a glass of scalding rum and butter the flat of his hand several times with great vehem- after you get into bed." With these words, Mr. ence on the table. "I speak of a very special mes-Bounderby extended his right hand to the weeping senger that has come to me in reference to Louisa. | lady and escorted her to the conveyance in question, Mrs. Sparsit, ma'am, stand forward." shedding many plaintive sneezes by the way. soon returned alone.

That unfortunate lady hereupon essaying to offer testimony without any voice, and with painful ges tures expressive of an inflamed throat, became so aggravating, and underwent so many facial contor-sumed, "here I am. tions, that Mr. Bounderby, unable to bear it, seized her by the arm, and shook her.

"If you can't get it out, ma'am," said Bounderby, "leave me to get it out. This is not a time for a lady, however highly connected, to be totally inaudible, and seemingly swallowing marbles. Tom Gradgrind, Mrs. Sparsit latterly found herself, by accident in a situation to overhear a conversation out of doors between your daughter and your precious gentleman-friend, Mr. James Harthouse." "Indeed!" said Mr. Gradgrind.

"Ah! Indeed!" cried Bounderby. conversation—”

He

Now, as you showed me in your face, Tom Gradgrind, that you wanted to speak to me," he reBut I am not in a very agreeable state, I tell you plainly, not relishing this business even as it is, and not considering that I am at any time as dutifully and submissively treated by your daughter as Josiah Bounderby of Coketown ought to be treated by his wife. You have your opinion, I dare say; and I have mine, I know. If you mean to say any thing to me to-night, that goes against this candid remark, you had better leave it

alone."

Mr. Gradgrind, it will be observed, being much softened, Mr. Bounderby took particular pains to "And in that harden himself at all points. It was his amiable

'It is not necessary to repeat its tenor, Bounderby. I know what passed."

She is here."

'My dear Bounderby, let me beg you to restrain these loud outbreaks on all accounts. Louisa is here. The moment she could detach herself from that interview with the person of whom you speak, and whom I deeply regret to have been the means of introducing to you, Louisa hurried here for protection. I myself had not been at home many hours, when I received her-here in this room. She hur

ried by the train to town, she ran from town to this
house through a raging storm, and presented her-
self before me in a state of distraction.
she has remained here ever since.

Of course,
Let me en-

nature.

ever the merits of such a system may be, it would
be difficult of general application to girls."
"I don't see it at all, Sir," returned the obstinate
Bounderby.

"Well," sighed Mr. Gradgrind, "we will not enter into the question. I assure you I have no desire to be controversial. I seek to repair what is amiss, if I possibly can, and I hope you will assist me in a good spirit, Bounderby, for I have been very much distressed."

I don't understand you, yet," said Bounderby, with determined obstinacy, "and therefore I won't make any promises."

"In the course of a few hours, my dear Bounderby," Mr. Gradgrind proceeded, in the same depressed and propitiatory manner, "I appear to myself to have become better informed as to Louisa's character than in all previous years. The enlightenment has been painfully forced upon me, and the discovery is not mine. I think there are-Bounderby, you will be surprised to hear me say this-I think there are imaginative qualities in Louisa, which--which have been hardly dealt with, and— and a little perverted. And—and I would suggest to you, that—that if you would kindly meet me in a timely endeavor to leave her to her better nature

"My dear Bounderby," Mr. Gradgrind began in for a while-and to encourage it to develop itself by reply.

"Now, you'll excuse me," said Bounderby, "but
I don't want to be too dear. That to start with.
When I begin to be dear to a man, I generally find
that his intention is to come over me. I am not
speaking to you politely; but, as you are aware, I
am not polite. If you like politeness, you know
where to get it. You have your gentleman friends,
you know, and they'll serve you with as much of
the article as you want. I don't keep it myself."
'Bounderby," urged Mr. Gradgrind, we are all
liable to mistakes—”

66

46

"I thought you couldn't make 'em," interrupted
Bounderby.

liable to mistakes; and I should feel insensible of
"Perhaps I thought so. But, I say we are all
your delicacy, and really grateful for it, if you would
spare me these references to Harthouse. I shall not

tenderness and consideration-it-it would be better

for the happiness of all of us. Louisa," said Mr. Gradgrind, shading his face with his hand, "has always been my favorite child.”

The blustrous Bounderby crimsoned and swelled to such an extent on hearing these words, that he seemed to be, and probably was on the brink of a fit. With his very ears a bright purple shot with crimson, he put up his indignation, however, and said: "You'd like to keep her here for a time?"

"I-I had intended to recommend, my dear Bounderby, that you should allow Louisa to remain here on a visit, and be attended by Sissy (I mean, of Cecilia Jupe), who understands her, and in whom she trusts."

course,

Bounderby, standing up with his hands in his "I gather from all this, Tom Gradgrind," said pockets, "that you are of opinion there's what people call some incompatibility between Loo Boun

treat you, for your own sake and for hers too, to be associate him in our conversation with your intimacy derby and myself."

"I fear there is at present a general incompatibility between Louisa, and-and-and almost all the relations in which I have placed her," was her father's sorrowful reply.

"Now, look you here, Tom Gradgrind," said Bounderby the flushed, confronting him with his legs wide apart, his hands deeper in his pockets, his hair like a hay field, wherein his windy anger was boisterous. "You have said your say; I am going to say mine. I am a Coketown man. I am Josiah I know the bricks of. Bounderby, of Coketown. this town, and I know the works of this town, and I know the chimneys of this town, and I know the smoke of this town, and I know the

Hands of this town. I know 'em all pretty well. They're real. When a man tells me anything about imaginative qualities, I always tell that man, whoever he is, that I know what he means. He means turtle-soup and venison, with a gold spoon, and that he wants to be set up with a coach and six. That's what your daughter wants. Since you are of opinion that she ought to have what she wants, I recommend you to provide it for her. Because, Tom Grad grind, she will never have it from me."

"Bounderby," said Mr. Gradgrind, "I hoped, after my entreaty, you would have taken a different

tone."

"Just wait a bit," retorted Bounderby, "you have said your say, I believe. I heard you out; hear me out, i. you please. Don't make yourself a spectacle of unfairness as well as inconsistency, because, although I am sorry to see Tom Gradgrind reduced to his present position, I should be doubly sorry to see him brought so low as that. Now, there's an incompatibility of some sort or another, I am given to understand by you, between your daughter and me. I'll give you to understand, in reply to that, that there unquestionably is an incompatibility of the first magnitude to be summed up in this-that your daughter don't properly know her husband's merits, and is not impressed with such a sense as would become her, by George! of the honor of his alliance. That's plain speaking, I hope."

Bounderby," urged Mr. Gradgrind, "this is

unreasonable."

say so.

"Is it?" said Bounderby. "I am glad to hear you Because when Tom Gradgrind, with his new lights, tells me that what I say is unreasonable, I am convinced at once that it must be devilish sensible. With your permission I am going on. You know my origin, and you know that for a good many years of my life I did'nt want a shoeing-horn in consequence of not having a shoe. Yet you may believe me or not, as you think proper, that there are ladies-born ladies-belonging to familiesfamilies!—who next to worship the ground I walk

on."

What do you mean by the proposal you made just of Coketown, knowing what he knows of him, if I now?"

"What do I mean, Bounderby?"

By your visiting proposition," said Bounderby, with an inflexible jerk of the hay field.

"I mean that I hope you may be induced to arrange, in a friendly manner, for allowing Louisa a period of repose and reflection here, which may tend to a gradual alteration for the better in many respects."

could be surprised by any thing Tom Gradgrind did, after his making himself a party to sentimental humbug. I have given you my decision and I have got no more to say. Good-night!"

So Mr. Bounderby went home to his town-house to bed. At five minutes past twelve o'clock next day, he directed Mrs. Bounderby's property to be carefully packed up and sent to Tom Gradgrind's, advertised Nickits's retreat for sale by private con

"To a softening down of your ideas of the tract; and resumed a bachelor's life. incompatability," said Bounderby.

"I have already said, I fear Louisa has not been understood. Is it asking too much, Bounderby, that you, so far her elder, should aid in trying to set her right? You have accepted a great charge of her; you took her for better for worse."

Mr. Bounderby may have been annoyed by the repetition of his own words to Stephen Blackpool, but he cut the quotation short with an angry start.

"Come!" he said, "I don't want to be told about that, I know what I took her for, as well as you do. Never you mind what I took her for; that's my look-out."

"I was merely going on to remark, Bounderby, that we may all be more or less in the wrong, not even excepting you; and that some yielding consideration on your part, remembering the trust you have accepted, may not only be an act of true kindness, but perhaps a debt incurred toward Louisa."

“I think differently," blustered Bounderby; "I am going to finish this business according to my own opinions. I don't want to make a quarrel of it with you, Tom Gradgrind. To tell you the truth, I don't think it would be worthy of my reputation to quarrel on such a poor subject. Your gentleman friend, he may take himself off, wherever he likes best. If he falls in my way I shall tell him my mind; if he don't fall in my way, I shan't, for

He discharged this, like a rocket, at his father-in- it won't be worth my while to do it. As to your

law's head.

"Whereas your daughter," procceded Bounderby, "is far from being a born lady. That you know, yourself. Not that I care a pinch of candle-snuff about such things, for you are very well aware I don't; but that such is the fact, and you, Tom Gradgrind, can't change it. Why do I say this?" “Not, I fear,” observed Mr. Gradgrind, in a low

voice, "to spare me."

XXXII.
CHAPTER

THE robbery at the bank had not languished be

fore, and did not cease to occupy a front place in the attention of the principal of that establishment now. In trustful proof of his promptitude and activity, as a remarkable man, and a self-made man, and a commercial wonder, more admirable than Venus, who had risen out of the mud instead of the sea, he liked to show how little his domestic affairs abated his business ardor. Consequently in the first few weeks of his resumed bachelorhood, he even advanced upon his usual display of lustre, and every day made such a rout in renewing his investigations into the robbery, that the professional persons 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 was not found, 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 the 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 caused the walls to be posted with it in the dead of the night, so that tion at one blow. it should strike upon the sight of the whole popula

daughter, whom I made Loo Bounderby, and might have done better by leaving Loo Gradgrind, if she don't come home to-morrow, by twelve o'clock at noon, I shall understand that she prefers to stay away, and I shall send her wearing apparel and so forth over here, and you'll take charge of her for the future. What I shall say to people in general, of the law, will be this. I am Josiah Bounderby, and the incompatibility that led to my so laying down I had my bringing-up. She's the daughter of Tom The factory-bells had need to ring their loudest Gradgrind, and she had her bringing-up; and the that mornng to disperse the groups of workers who two horses wouldn't pull together! I am pretty stood in the tardy daybreak, collected round the plawell known to be rather an uncommon man, I cards, devouring them with eager eyes. Not the least believe; and most people well understand fast eager of the eyes assembled were the eyes of those enough that it must be a woman rather out of the who could not read. These people, as they listened common also, who, in the long run, would come up to the friendly voice that read aloud-there was alto my mark." ways some such ready to help them—started at the characters which meant so much with a vague awe and respect that would have been half ludicrous if "On the contrary, Tom Gradgrind, the more we such a picture of a Country as a suicidal Idiot with say to-night, the better, I think. That is," the con- "I always come to a decision," said Bounderby, its sword of state at its own heart could ever be sideration checked him, "till I have said all I mean tossing his hat on, "and whatever I do, I do at otherwise than wholly shocking. Many ears and to say, and then I don't care how soon we stop. I once. I should be surprised at Tom Gradgrind's eyes were busy with a vision of the matter of these come to a question that may shorten the business. addressing such a remark to Josiah Bounderby placards, among turning spindles, rattling looms,

"Hear me out," said Bounderby, "and refrain from cutting in till your turn comes round. I say this, because highly-connected females have been astonished to see the way in which your daughter has conducted herself, and to witness her insensibility. They have wondered how I have suffered it. And I wonder myself now, and I won't suffer it." "Bounderby," returned Mr. Gradgrind, rising, "the less we say to-night the better, I think."

"Let me seriously entreat you to re-consider this, Bounderby," urged Mr. Gradgrind, “before you commit yourself to a decision."

and whirring wheels, for hours afterward; and when the Hands cleared out again into the streets, there were as many readers as before.

"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 demonstrately 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."

Rachael has been

"What do they want. Sissy dear ?”
"They want to see you.
crying and seems angry."

"Father," said Louisa, for he was present, "I
can not refuse to see them, for a reason you will
Shall they come in here?"
soon understand.

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."

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 fiiends and fellow-countrymen, the down-trodden operatives of Coketown, oh my fellow-brothers and fellow-workmen and fellowcitizens and fellow-men, what a stir 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 gal.ing 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 Blackpco', 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 Godlike race that happily has cast him out forever! Yes, my compatriots, happily cast him out and sent him forth! For you re member 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 wind-sa'd ings; you remember how he sneaked, and shunked, and sidled, and splitted straws, until with not an inch of ground to which to cling, I hurled him out from among 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 slur! And now my friends, my laboring friends, for I rejoice and triumph in that stigma, my friends; whose hard but honest beds are made in toil, and whose "I went to the house where Stephen Blackpool scanty but independent pots are boiled in hardship; | lodged, on the night of his discharge from his work, and now, I say, my friends, what appellation has and I saw you there. He was there too; and an that dastard craven taken to himself, when, with the old woman who did not speak, and whom I could mask torn from his features, he stands before us scarcely see, stood in a dark corner. My brother in al his native deformity, a What? a thief! a went with me." plunderer! a proscribed fugitive, with a price upon his head; a fester and a wound upon the noble cha-manded Bounderby. ractor 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

"You have seen me once before, young lady,"
Rachel, standing in front of Louisa.
Tom coughed.

"O, 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' feel for 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 yoa 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 sus picions; she was so faithful to her idea of the man, and so unhappy.

"And when I think," said Rachael, through her sobs, "that the poor lad was so grateful, thankin' 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-O I hope you may be sorry, and ha' no bad cause to be it, but I don't

"You have seen me, young lady," repeated Ra- know, I don't know!” chael, as she did not answer,

Tom coughed again.
"I have."

once before."

Rachael cast her eyes proudly toward Mr. Bounderby, and said, "Will you make it known where, and who was there?"

"Why couldn't you say so, young Tom?" de

"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!"

"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 greet; 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, and no more-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 "I felt compassion for him," said Louisa, her back to work. Soon as I come out of the Mill tocolor deepening, "and I wished to know what he night, I hastened to hear what was said of Stephen was going to do, and wished to offer him assist--for I know, wi' pride, he will come back to shame it!-and then I went again to seek Mr. Bounderby, "Muchaud I found him, and I told him every word I knew, and he believed no word I said, and brought me

“Say, young lady, if you please," pursued Rachael, "why, in an evil hour, you ever come to Stephen's that night."

ance."

free from the shame of his misdeeds, and can not 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, note?"

"Thank you, ma'am," said Bounderby. flattered and obliged."

Did you offer him," asked Rachael, "

a bank here."

(Continued on page 240).

since the throne was conveyed through the female | Consort, he has devoted himself to the encourage- | he was in 1814 transferred with the same rank to line.