hard times(艰难时世)-第58章
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when Tom Gradgrind with his new lights； tells me that what I say
is unreasonable； I am convinced at once 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 didn’t
want a shoeing…horn； in consequence of not having a shoe。 Yet you
may believe or not； as you think proper； that there are ladies—
born ladies—belonging to families—Families！—who next to
worship the ground I walk on。”
He discharged this； like a Rocket； at his father…in…law’s head。
“Whereas your daughter；” proceeded 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？”
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“Not； I fear；” observed Mr Gradgrind； in a low voice； “to spare
me。”
“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
tonight the better； I think。”
“On the contrary； Tom Gradgrind； the more we say tonight； the
better； I think。 That is；” the consideration checked him； “till I have
said all I mean to say； and then I don’t care how soon we stop。 I
come to a question that may shorten the business。 What do you
mean by the proposal you made just now？”
“What do I mean； Bounderby？”
“By your visiting proposition；” said Bounderby； with an
inflexible jerk of the hayfield。
“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。”
“To a softening down of your ideas of the incompatibility？” said
Bounderby。
“If you put it in those terms。”
“What made you think of this？” 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；
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for better for worse； for—” 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！” said he； “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 on your part； remembering the trust you have
accepted； may not only be an act of true kindness； but perhaps a
debt incurred towards Louisa。”
“I think differently；” blustered Bounderby。 “I am going to finish
this business according to my own opinions。 Now； 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 subject。 As to 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 it won’t be
worth my while to do it。 As to your daughter； whom I made Loo
Bounderby； and might have done better by leaving Loo
Gradgrind； if she don’t come home tomorrow 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 incompatibility that led to my so laying down the law； will be
this。 I am Josiah Bounderby； and I had my bringing…up； she’s the
daughter of Tom Gradgrind； and she had her bringing…up； and the
two horses wouldn’t pull together。 I am pretty well known to be
rather an uncommon man； I believe； and most people will
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understand fast enough that it must be a woman rather out of the
common； also； who； in the long run； would come up to my mark。”
“Let me seriously entreat you to re…consider this； Bounderby；”
urged Mr Gradgrind； “before you commit yourself to such a
decision。”
“I always come to a decision；” said Bounderby； tossing his hat
on： “and whatever I do； I do at once。 I should be surprised at Tom
Gradgrind’s addressing such a remark to Josiah Bounderby of
Coketown； knowing what he knows of him； if I could be surprised
by anything 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 his country retreat for sale by private
contract； and resumed a bachelor life。
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Chapter 4
Lost
he robbery at the Bank had not languished before； and did
not cease to occupy a front place in the attention of the
T
principal of that establishment now。 In boastful 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 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 the Coketown
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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 whirring 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。 O 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 workingman community！ “Oh my fellow
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Hard
