hard times(艰难时世)-第26章
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Sparsit shook her head； still in her highly superior manner； and a
little changed the small cough—coughing now； as if the spirit of
prophecy rose within her； but had better be coughed down。
“However； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “there are apartments at
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the Bank； where a born and bred lady； as keeper of the place；
would be rather a catch than otherwise； and if the same terms—”
“I beg your pardon； sir。 You were so good as to promise that
you would always substitute the phrase； annual compliment。”
“Well； ma’am； annual compliment。 If the same annual
compliment would be acceptable there； why； I see nothing to part
us unless you do。”
“Sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “the proposal is like yourself； and if
the position I shall assume at the Bank is one that I could occupy
without descending lower in the social scale—”
“Why； of course it is；” said Bounderby。 “If it was not； ma’am；
you don’t suppose that I should offer it to a lady who has moved in
the society you have moved in。 Not that I care for such society； you
know！ But you do。”
“Mr Bounderby； you are very considerate。”
“You’ll have your own private apartments； and you’ll have your
coals and your candles and all the rest of it； and you’ll have your
maid to attend upon you； and you’ll have your light porter to
protect you； and you’ll be what I take the liberty of considering
precious comfortable；” said Bounderby。
“Sir；” rejoined Mrs Sparsit； “say no more。 In yielding up my
trust here； I shall not be freed from the necessity of eating the
bread of dependence；” she might have said the sweet…bread； for
that delicate article in a savoury brown sauce was her favourite
supper； “and I would rather receive it from your hand； than from
any other。 Therefore； sir； I accept your offer gratefully； and with
many sincere acknowledgments for past favours。 And I hope sir；”
said Mrs Sparsit； concluding in an impressively compassionate
manner； “I fondly hope that Miss Gradgrind may be all you desire；
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and deserve！”
Nothing moved Mrs Sparsit from that position any more。 It was
in vain for Bounderby to bluster； or to assert himself in any of his
explosive ways； Mrs Sparsit was resolved to have compassion on
him； as a Victim。 She was polite； obliging； cheerful； hopeful； but；
the more polite； the more obliging； the more cheerful； the more
hopeful； the more exemplary altogether； she； the forlorner
Sacrifice and the Victim； he。 She had that tenderness for his
melancholy fate； that his great red countenance used to break out
into cold perspirations when she looked at him。
Meanwhile the marriage was appointed to be solemnised in
eight weeks time； and Mr Bounderby went every evening to Stone
Lodge as an accepted wooer。 Love was made on these occasions in
the form of bracelets； and； on all occasions during the period of
betrothal； took a manufacturing aspect。 Dresses were made；
jewellery was made； cakes and gloves were made； settlements
were made； and an extensive assortment of Facts did appropriate
honour to the contract。 The business was all Fact； from first to
last。 The Hours did not go through any of those rosy
performances； which foolish poets have ascribed to them at such
times； neither did the clocks go any faster； or any slower； than at
any other seasons。 The deadly statistical recorder in the
Gradgrind observatory knocked every second on the head as it
was born； and buried it with his accustomed regularity。
So the day came； as all other days come to people who will only
stick to reason； and when it came； there were married in the
church of the florid wooden legs—that popular order of
architecture—Josiah Bounderby Esquire of Coketown； to Louisa
eldest daughter of Thomas Gradgrind Esquire of Stone Lodge； M。
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P。 for that borough。 And when they were united in holy
matrimony； they went home to breakfast at Stone Lodge aforesaid。
There was an improving party assembled on the auspicious
occasion； who knew what everything they had to eat and drink
was made of； and how it was imported or exported； and in what
quantities； and in what bottoms； whether native or foreign； and all
about it。 The bridesmaids； down to little Jane Gradgrind； were； in
an intellectual point of view； fit helpmates for the calculating boy；
and there was no nonsense about any of the company。
After breakfast； the bridegroom addressed them in the
following terms。
“Ladies and gentlemen； I am Josiah Bounderby of Coketown。
Since you have done my wife and myself the honour of drinking
our healths and happiness； I suppose I must acknowledge the
same； though； as you all know me； and know what I am； and what
my extraction was； you won’t expect a speech from a man who；
when he sees a Post； says ‘that’s a Post；’ and when he sees a Pump
says ‘that’s a Pump；’ and is not to be got to call a Post a Pump； or a
Pump a Post； or either of them a Toothpick。 If you want a speech
this morning； my friend and father…in…law； Tom Gradgrind； is a
Member of Parliament； and you know where to get it。 I am not
your man。 However； if I feel a little independent when I look
around this table today； and reflect how little I thought of
marrying Tom Gradgrind’s daughter when I was a ragged street…
boy； who never washed his face unless it was at a pump； and that
not oftener than once a fort…night； I hope I may be excused。 So； I
hope you like my feeling independent； if you don’t I can’t help it。 I
do feel independent。 Now I have mentioned； and you have
mentioned； that I am this day married to Tom Gradgrind’s
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daughter。 I am very glad to be so。 It has long been my wish to be
so。 I have watched her bringing up； and I believe she is worthy of
me。 At the same time—not to deceive you—I believe I am worthy
of her。 So； I thank you； on both our parts； for the good…will you
have shown towards us； and the best wish I can give the
unmarried part of the present company； is this： I hope every
bachelor may find as good a wife as I have found。 And I hope every
spinster may find as good a husband as my wife has found。”
Shortly after which oration； as they were going on a nuptial trip
to Lyons； in order that Mr Bounderby might take the opportunity
of seeing how the Hands got on in those parts； and whether they；
too； required to be fed with gold spoons； the happy pair departed
for the railroad。 The bride； in passing downstairs； dressed for her
journey； found Tom waiting for her—flushed； either with his
feelings or the vinous part of the breakfast。
“What a game girl you are； to be such a first…rate sister； Loo！”
whispered Tom。
She clung to him as she should have clung to some far better
nature that day； and was a little shaken in her reserved composure
for the first time。
“Old Bounderby’s quite ready；” said Tom。 “Time’s up。 Good…
bye！ I shall be on the look…out for you； when you come back。 I say；
my dear Loo！ An’t it uncommonly jolly now！”
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Book the Second：
Reaping
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Chapter 1
Effects In The Bank
sunny midsummer day。 There was such a thing
Asometimes； even in Coketown。
Seen from a distance in such weather； Coketown lay
shrouded in a haze of its own； which appeared impervious to the
sun’s rays。 You only knew the town was there； because you knew
there would have been no such sulky blotch upon the prospect
without a town。 A blur of soot and smoke； now confusedly tending
this way； now that way； now aspiring to the vault of Heaven； now
murkily creeping along the earth； as the wind rose and fell； or
changed its quarter： a dense formless jumble； with sheets of cross
light in it； that showed nothing but masses of darkness：—
Coketown in the distance was suggestive of itself； though not a
brick of it could be seen。
The wonder was； it was there at all。 It had been ruined so often；
that it was amazing how it had borne so many shocks。 Surely there
never was such fragile china…ware as that of which the millers of
Coketown were made。 Handle them never so lightly； and they fell
to pieces with such ease that you might suspect them of having
been flawed before。 They were ruined； when they were required to
send labouring children to school； they were ruined； when
inspectors were a
