hard times(艰难时世)-第11章
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Hard Times 58
Chapter 7
Mrs Sparsit
r Bounderby being a bachelor； an elderly lady presided
over his establishment； in consideration of a certain
M
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 horseflesh； 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
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Hard Times 59
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 wagon…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
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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 （as 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；
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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 am 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。
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“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 it’s 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；” said 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；
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