hard times(艰难时世)-第24章
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The distant smoke very black and heavy。
“Father；” said Louisa； “do you think I love Mr Bounderby？”
Mr Gradgrind was extremely discomfited by this unexpected
question。 “Well； my child；” he returned； “I—really—cannot take
upon myself to say。”
“Father；” pursued Louisa in exactly the same voice as before；
“do you ask me to love Mr Bounderby？”
“My dear Louisa； no。 No。 I ask nothing。”
“Father；” she still pursued； “does Mr Bounderby ask me to love
him？”
“Really； my dear；” said Mr Gradgrind； “It is difficult to answer
your question—”
“Difficult to answer it； Yes or No； father？”
“Certainly； my dear。 Because；” here was something to
demonstrate； and it set him up again； “because the reply depends
so materially； Louisa； on the sense in which we use the expression。
Now； Mr Bounderby does not do you the injustice； and does not do
himself the injustice； of pretending to anything fanciful； fantastic；
or （I am using synonymous terms） sentimental。 Mr Bounderby
would have seen you grow up under his eyes； to very little
purpose； if he could so far forget what is due to your good sense；
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not to say to his； as to address you from any such ground。
Therefore； perhaps the expression itself—I merely suggest this to
you； my dear—may be a little misplaced。”
“What would you advise me to use in its stead； father？”
“Why； my dear Louisa；” said Mr Gradgrind； completely
recovered by this time； “I would advise you （since you ask me） to
consider this question； as you have been accustomed to consider
every other question； simply as one of tangible Fact。 The ignorant
and the giddy may embarrass such subjects with irrelevant
fancies； and other absurdities that have no existence； properly
viewed—really no existence—but it is no compliment to you to say；
that you know better。 Now； what are the Facts of this case？ You
are； we will say in round numbers； twenty years of age； Mr
Bounderby is； we will say in round numbers； fifty。 There is some
disparity in your respective years； but in your means and positions
there is none； on the contrary； there is a great suitability。 Then the
question arises； Is this one disparity sufficient to operate as a bar
to such a marriage？ In considering this question； it is not
unimportant to take into account the statistics of marriage； so far
as they have yet been obtained； in England and Wales。 I find； on
reference to the figures； that a large proportion of these marriages
are contracted between parties of very unequal ages； and that the
elder of these contracting parties； is； in rather more than three…
fourths of these instances； the bridegroom。 It is remarkable as
showing the wide prevalence of this law； that among the natives of
the British possessions in India； also in a considerable part of
China； and among the Calmucks of Tartary； the best means of
computation yet furnished us by travellers； yield similar results。
The disparity I have mentioned； therefore； almost ceases to be
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disparity； and （virtually） all but disappears。”
“What do you recommend； father；” asked Louisa； her reserved
composure not in the least affected by these gratifying results；
“that I should substitute for the term I used just now？ For the
misplaced expression？”
“Louisa；” returned her father； “it appears to me that nothing
can be plainer。 Confining yourself rigidly to Fact； the question of
Fact you state to yourself is： Does Mr Bounderby ask me to marry
him？ Yes； he does。 The sole remaining question then is： Shall I
marry him？ I think nothing can be plainer than that。”
“Shall I marry him？” repeated Louisa； with great deliberation。
“Precisely。 And it is satisfactory to me； as your father； my dear
Louisa； to know that you do not come to the consideration of that
question with the previous habits of mind； and habits of life； that
belong to many young women。”
“No； father；” she returned； “I do not。”
“I now leave you to judge for yourself；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “I
have stated the case； as such cases are usually stated among
practical minds； I have stated it； as the case of your mother and
myself was stated in its time。 The rest； my dear Louisa； is for you
to decide。”
From the beginning she had sat looking at him fixedly。 As he
now leaned back in his chair； and bent his deep…set eyes upon her
in his turn； perhaps he might have seen one wavering moment in
her； when she was impelled to throw herself upon his breast and
give him the pent…up confidences of her heart。 But； to see it； he
must have overleaped at a bound the artificial barriers he had for
many years been erecting； between himself and all those subtle
essences of humanity which will elude the utmost cunning of
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algebra until the last trumpet ever to be sounded shall blow even
algebra to wreck。 The barriers were too many and too high for
such a leap。 With his unbending； utilitarian； matter…of…fact face； he
hardened her again； and the moment shot away into the plumbless
depths of the past； to mingle with all the lost opportunities that are
drowned there。
Removing her eyes from him； she sat so long looking silently
towards the town； that he said； at length： “Are you consulting the
chimneys of the Coketown works； Louisa？”
“There seems to be nothing there but languid and monotonous
smoke。 Yet when the night comes； Fire bursts out； father！” she
answered； turning quickly。
“Of course I know that； Louisa。 I do not see the application of
the remark。” To do him justice； he did not； at all。
She passed it away with a slight motion of her hand； and
concentrating her attention upon him again； said “Father； I have
often thought that life is very short”—This was so distinctly one of
his subjects that he interposed：
“It is short； no doubt； my dear。 Still the average duration of
human life is proved to have increased of late years。 The
calculations of various life assurance and annuity offices； among
other figures which cannot go wrong； have established the fact。”
“I speak of my own life； father。”
“O indeed？ Still；” said Mr Gradgrind； “I need not point out to
you； Louisa； that it is governed by the laws which govern lives in
the aggregate。”
“While it lasts； I would wish to do the little I can； and the little I
am fit for。 What does it matter！”
Mr Gradgrind seemed rather at a loss to understand the last
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four words； replying； “How； matter？ What matter； my dear？”
“Mr Bounderby；” she went on in a steady； straight way； without
regarding this； “asks me to marry him。 The question I have to ask
myself is； Shall I marry him？ That is so； father； is it not？ You have
told me so； father。 Have you not？”
“Certainly； my dear。”
“Let it be so。 Since Mr Bounderby likes to take me thus； I am
satisfied to accept his proposal。 Tell him； father； as soon as you
please； that this was my answer。 Repeat it； word for word； if you
can； because I should wish him to know what I said。”
“It is quite right； my dear；” retorted her father approvingly； “to
be exact。 I will observe your very proper request。 Have you any
wish in reference to the period of your marriage； my child？”
“None； father。 What does it matter！”
Mr Gradgrind had drawn his chair a little nearer to her； and
taken her hand。 But； her repetition of these words seemed to
strike with some little discord on his ear。 He paused to look at her；
and； still holding her hand； said：
“Louisa； I have not considered it essential to ask you one
question； because the possibility implied in it appeared to me to be
too remote。 But perhaps； I ought to do so。 You have never
entertained in secret any other proposal？”
“Father；” she returned； almost scornfully； “what other proposal
can have been made to me？ Whom have I seen？ Where have I
been？ What are my heart’s experiences？”
“My dear Louisa；” returned Mr Gradgrind； reassured and
satisfied； “you correct me justly。 I merely wished to discharge my
duty。”
“What do I know father；” said Louisa in her quiet manner； “of
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tastes and fancies； of aspirations and affections； of all that part of
my nature in which such light things might have been nourished？
What escape have I had from problems that could be
demonstrated； and realities that could be grasped？” As she said it；
she unconsciously closed her hand； as if upon a solid object； and
slowly opened it as though she were releasing dust or ash。
“My dear；” assented her eminently practical parent； “quite true；
quite true。”
“Why； father；” she pursued； “what a strange question to ask me！
The baby…preference that even I have heard of as common among
children； has never had its innocent resting…place in m
