hard times(艰难时世)-第28章
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“I do not pretend to understand these things；” said Mrs Sparsit；
with dignity； “my lot having been originally cast in a widely
different sphere； and Mr Sparsit； as a Powler； being also quite out
of the pale of any such dissensions。 I only know that these people
must be conquered； and that it’s high time it was done； once for
all。”
“Yes； ma’am；” returned Bitzer； with a demonstration of great
respect for Mrs Sparsit’s oracular authority。 “You couldn’t put it
clearer； I am sure； ma’am。”
As this was his usual hour for having a little confidential chat
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with Mrs Sparsit； and as he had already caught her eye and seen
that she was going to ask him something； he made a pretence of
arranging the rulers； inkstands； and so forth； while that lady went
on with her tea； glancing through the open window down into the
street。
“Has it been a busy day； Bitzer？” asked Mrs Sparsit。
“Not a very busy day； my lady。 About an average day。” He now
and then slided into my lady； instead of ma’am； as an involuntary
acknowledgement of Mrs Sparsit’s personal dignity and claims to
reverence。
“The clerks；” said Mrs Sparsit； carefully brushing an
imperceptible crumb of bread and butter from her left…hand
mitten； “are trustworthy； punctual； and industrious； of course？”
“Yes； ma’am； pretty fair； ma’am。 With the usual exception。”
He held the respectable office of general spy and informer in
the establishment； for which volunteer service he received a
present at Christmas； over and above his weekly wage。 He had
grown into an extremely clear…headed； cautious； prudent young
man； who was safe to rise in the world。 His mind was so exactly
regulated； that he had no affections or passions。 All his
proceedings were the result of the nicest and coldest calculation；
and it was not without cause that Mrs Sparsit habitually observed
of him； that he was a young man of the steadiest principle she had
ever known。 Having satisfied himself； on his father’s death； that
his mother had a right of settlement in Coketown； this excellent
young economist had asserted that right for her with such a
steadfast adherence to the principle of the case； that she had been
shut up in the workhouse ever since。 It must be admitted that he
allowed her half a pound of tea a year； which was weak in him：
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first； because all gifts have an inevitable tendency to pauperise the
recipient； and secondly； because his only reasonable transaction in
that commodity would have been to buy it for as little as he could
possibly give； and sell it for as much as he could possibly get； it
having been clearly ascertained by philosophers that in this is
comprised the whole duty of man—not a part of man’s duty； but
the whole。
“Pretty fair； ma’am。 With the usual exception； ma’am；”
repeated Bitzer。
“Ah—h！” said Mrs Sparsit； shaking her head over her teacup；
and taking a long gulp。
“Mr Thomas； ma’am； I doubt Mr Thomas very much； ma’am； I
don’t like his ways at all。”
“Bitzer；” said Mrs Sparsit； in a very impressive manner； “do
you recollect my having said anything to you respecting names？”
“I beg your pardon； ma’am。 It’s quite true that you did object to
names being used； and they’re always best avoided。”
“Please to remember that I have a charge here；” said Mrs
Sparsit； with her air of state。 “I hold a trust here； Bitzer； under Mr
Bounderby。 However improbable both Mr Bounderby and myself
might have deemed it years ago； that he would ever become my
patron； making me an annual compliment； I cannot but regard
him in that light。 From Mr Bounderby I have received every
acknowledgement of my social station； and every recognition of
my family descent； that I could possibly expect。 More； far more。
Therefore； to my patron I will be scrupulously true。 And I do not
consider； I will not consider； I cannot consider；” said Mrs Sparsit；
with a most extensive stock on hand of honour and morality； “that
I should be scrupulously true； if I allowed names to be mentioned
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under this roof； that are unfortunately—most unfortunately—no
doubt of that connected with his。”
Bitzer knuckled his forehead again； and again begged pardon。
“No； Bitzer；” continued Mrs Sparsit； “say an individual； and I
will hear you； say Mr Thomas； and you must excuse me。”
“With the usual exception； ma’am；” said Bitzer； trying back； “of
an individual。”
“Ah—h！” Mrs Sparsit repeated the ejaculation； the shake of the
head over her teacup； and the long gulp； as taking up the
conversation again at the point where it had been interrupted。
“An individual； ma’am；” said Bitzer； “has never been what he
ought to have been； since he first came into the place。 He is a
dissipated； extravagant idler。 He is not worth his salt； ma’am。 He
wouldn’t get it either； if he hadn’t a friend and relation at court；
ma’am！”
“Ah—h！” said Mrs Sparsit； with another melancholy shake of
her head。
“I only hope； ma’am；” pursued Bitzer； “that his friend and
relation may not supply him with the means of carrying on。
Otherwise； ma’am； we know out of whose pocket that money
comes 。 “
“Ah—h！” sighed Mrs Sparsit again； with another melancholy
shake of her head。
“He is to be pitied； ma’am。 The last party I have alluded to； is to
be pitied； ma’am”； said Bitzer。
“Yes； Bitzer；” said Mrs Sparsit。 “I have always pitied the
delusion； always。”
“As to an individual； ma’am；” said Bitzer； dropping his voice
and drawing nearer； “he is as improvident as any of the people in
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this town。 And you know what their improvidence is； ma’am。 No
one could wish to know it better than a lady of your eminence
does。”
“They would do well；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “to take example
by you； Bitzer。”
“Thank you； ma’am。 But； since you do refer to me； now look at
me； ma’am。 I have put by a little； ma’am； already。 That gratuity
which I receive at Christmas； ma’am： I never touch it。 I don’t even
go the length of my wages； though they’re not high； ma’am。 Why
can’t they do as I have done； ma’am？ What one person can do；
another can do。”
This； again； was among the fictions of Coketown。 Any capitalist
there； who had made sixty thousand pounds out of sixpence；
always professed to wonder why the sixty thousand nearest Hands
didn’t each make sixty thousand pounds out of sixpence； and more
or less reproached them every one for not accomplishing the little
feat。 What I did you can do。 Why don’t you go and do it？
“As to their wanting recreations； ma’am；” said Bitzer； “it’s stuff
and nonsense。 I don’t want recreations。 I never did； and I never
shall； I don’t like ’em。 As to their combining together； there are
many of them； I have no doubt； that by watching and informing
upon one another could earn a trifle now and then； whether in
money or good will； and improve their livelihood。 Then； why don’t
they improve it； ma’am？ It’s the first consideration of a rational
creature； and it’s what they pretend to want。”
“Pretend indeed！” said Mrs Sparsit。
“I am sure we are constantly hearing ma’am； till it becomes
quite nauseous； concerning their wives and families；” said Bitzer。
“Why； look at me； ma’am！ I don’t want a wife and family。 Why
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should they？”
“Because they are improvident；” said Mrs Sparsit。
“Yes； ma’am；” returned Bitzer； “that’s where it is。 If they were
more provident； and less perverse； ma’am； what would they do？
They would say； “While my hat covers my family；” or； “While my
bonnet covers my family”—as the case might be； ma’am—”I have
only one to feed； and that’s the person I most like to feed。”
“To be sure；” assented Mrs Sparsit； eating muffin。
“Thank you； ma’am；” said Bitzer； knuckling his forehead again
in return for the favour of Mrs Sparsit’s improving conversation。
“Would you wish a little more hot water； ma’am； or is there
anything else that I could fetch you？”
“Nothing just now； Bitzer。”
“Thank you； ma’am。 I shouldn’t wish to disturb you at your
meals； ma’am； particularly tea； knowing your partiality for it；” said
Bitzer； craning a little to look over into the street from where he
stood； “but there’s a gentleman been looking up here for a minute
or so； ma’am； and he has come across as if he was going to knock。
That is his knock； ma’am； no doubt。”
He stepped to the window； and looking out； and drawing in his
head again； confirmed himself with； “Yes； ma’am。 Would you wish
the gentleman to be shown in； ma’am？”
“I don’t kn
