hard times(艰难时世)-第23章
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twilight as they fell into the grate and became extinct； that from
the period when her father had said she was almost a young
woman—which seemed but yesterday—she had scarcely attracted
his notice again； when he found her quite a young woman。
“Quite a young woman；” said Mr Gradgrind； musing。 “Dear
me！”
Soon after this discovery he became more thoughtful than
usual for several days； and seemed much engrossed by one
subject。 On a certain night； when he was going out； and Louisa
came to bid him good…bye before his departure—as he was not to
be home until late and she would not see him again until the
morning—he held her in his arms； looking at her in his kindest
manner； and said：
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“My dear Louisa； you are a woman！”
She answered him with the old； quick； searching look of the
night when she was found at the Circus； then cast down her eyes。
“Yes； father。”
“My dear；” said Mr Gradgrind； “I must speak with you alone
and seriously。 Come to me in my room after breakfast tomorrow；
will you？”
“Yes； father。”
“Your hands are rather cold； Louisa。 Are you not well？”
“Quite well； father “And cheerful？”
She looked at him again； and smiled in her peculiar manner。 “I
am as cheerful； father； as I usually am； or usually have been。”
“That’s well；” said Mr Gradgrind。 So； he kissed her and went
away； and Louisa returned to the serene apartment of the hair…
cutting character； and leaning her elbow on her hand； looked
again at the short…lived sparks that soon subsided into ashes。
“Are you there； Loo？” said her brother； looking in at the door。
He was quite a young gentleman of pleasure now； and not quite a
prepossessing one。
“Dear Tom；” she answered； rising and embracing him； “how
long it is since you have been to see me！”
“Why； I have been otherwise engaged； Loo； in the evenings； and
in the daytime old Bounderby has been keeping me at it rather。
But I touch him up with you； when he comes it too strong； and so
we preserve an understanding。 I say！ Has father said anything
particular to you； today or yesterday； Loo？”
“No； Tom。 But he told me tonight that he wished to do so in the
morning。”
“Ah！ that’s what I mean；” said Tom。 “Do you know where he is
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tonight？”—with a deep expression。
“No。”
“Then I’ll tell you。 He’s with old Bounderby。 They are having a
regular confab together； up at the Bank。 Why at the Bank； do you
think？ Well； I’ll tell you again。 To keep Mrs Sparsit’s ears as far off
as possible； I expect。”
With her hand upon her brother’s shoulder； Louisa still stood
looking at the fire。 Her brother glanced at her face with greater
interest than usual； and encircling her waist with his arm； drew
her coaxingly to him。
“You are very fond of me； an’t you； Loo？”
“Indeed I am； Tom； though you do let such long intervals go by
without coming to see me。”
“Well； sister of mine；” said Tom； “when you say that； you are
near my thoughts。 We might be so much oftener together—
mightn’t we？ Always together； almost—mightn’t we？ It would do
me a great deal of good if you were to make up your mind to I
know what； Loo。 It would be a splendid thing for me。 It would be
uncommonly jolly！”
Her thoughtfulness baffled his cunning scrutiny。 He could
make nothing of her face。 He pressed her in his arm； and kissed
her cheek。 She returned the kiss； but still looked at the fire。
“I say； Loo！ I thought I’d come； and just hint to you what was
going on： though I supposed you’d most likely guess； even if you
didn’t know。 I can’t stay； because I’m engaged to some fellows
tonight。 You won’t forget how fond you are of me？”
“No； dear Tom； I won’t forget。”
“That’s a capital girl；” said Tom。 “Good…bye； Loo。”
She gave him an affectionate good…night； and went out with
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him to the door； whence the fires of Coketown could be seen；
making the distance lurid。 She stood there looking steadfastly
towards them； and listening to his departing steps。 They retreated
quickly； as glad to get away from Stone Lodge； and she stood there
yet； when he was gone and all was quiet。 It seemed as if； first in
her own fire within the house； and then in the fiery haze without；
she tried to discover what kind of woof Old Time； that greatest and
longest…established Spinner of all； would weave from the threads
he had already spun into a woman。 But his factory is a secret
place； his work is noiseless； and his Hands are mutes。
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Chapter 15
Father And Daughter
lthough Mr Gradgrind did not take after Blue Beard； his
Aroom was quite a blue chamber in its abundance of blue
books。 Whatever they could prove （which is usually
anything you like）； they proved there； in an army constantly
strengthening by the arrival of new recruits。 In that charmed
apartment； the most complicated social questions were cast up；
got into the exact totals； and finally settled—if those concerned
could only have been brought to know it。 As if an astronomical
observatory should be made without any windows； and the
astronomer within should arrange the starry universe solely by
pen； ink； and paper； so Mr Gradgrind in his Observatory （and
there are many like it）； had no need to cast an eye upon the
teeming myriads of human beings around him； but could settle all
their destinies on a slate； and wipe out all their tears with one
dirty little bit of sponge。
To this Observatory； then： a stern room； with a deadly
statistical clock in it； which measured every second with a beat
like a rap upon a coffin…lid： Louisa repaired on the appointed
morning。 A window looked towards Coketown； and when she sat
down near her father’s table； she saw the high chimneys and the
long tracts of smoke looming in the heavy distance gloomily。
“My dear Louisa；” said her father； “I prepared you last night to
give me your serious attention in the conversation we are now
going to have together。 You have been so well trained； and you do；
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I am happy to say； so much justice to the education you have
received； that I have perfect confidence in your good sense。 You
are not impulsive； you are not romantic； you are accustomed to
view everything from the strong dispassionate ground of reason
and calculation。 From that ground alone； I know you will view and
consider what I am going to communicate。”
He waited； as if he would have been glad that she said
something。 But she said never a word。
“Louisa； my dear； you are the subject of a proposal of marriage
that has been made to me。”
Again he waited； and again she answered not one word。 This so
far surprised him； as to induce him gently to repeat； “a proposal of
marriage； my dear。” To which she returned； without any visible
emotion whatever：
“I hear you； father。 I am attending； I assure you。”
“Well！” said Mr Gradgrind； breaking into a smile； after being
for the moment at a loss； “you are even more dispassionate than I
expected； Louisa。 Or； perhaps； you are not unprepared for the
announcement I have in charge to make？”
“I cannot say that； father； until I hear it。 Prepared or
unprepared； I wish to hear it all from you。 I wish to hear you state
it to me； father。”
Strange to relate； Mr Gradgrind was not so collected at this
moment as his daughter was。 He took a paper…knife in his hand；
turned it over； laid it down； took it up again； and even then had to
look along the blade of it； considering how to go on。
“What you say； my dear Louisa； is perfectly reasonable。 I have
undertaken then to let you know that—in short； that Mr
Bounderby has informed me that he has long watched your
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progress with particular interest and pleasure； and has long hoped
that the time might ultimately arrive when he should offer you his
hand in marriage。 That time to which he has so long； and certainly
with great constancy； looked forward； is now come。 Mr Bounderby
has made his proposal of marriage to me； and has entreated me to
make it known to you； and to express his hope that you will take it
into your favourable consideration。”
Silence between them。 The deadly statistical clock very hollow。
The distant smoke very black and heavy。
“Father；” said Louisa； “do you think I l
