Hard Times

dismemberment, gave chase to her patron until she found him in the metropolis; and there, majestically sweeping in upon him at his hotel in St. James's Street, exploded the

e administration of potent restoratives, such as screwing the patient's thumbs, smiting her hands, abundantly watering her face, and inserting salt in her mouth. When these atten

amount of damage she had by that time sustained was excessive, and impaired her claims to admiration. Utterly heedless of the wear and tear of her

w's room late at night; 'here's a lady here-Mrs. Sparsit-you know Mr

' exclaimed Mr. Gradgrind,

s no time for letters. No man shall talk to Josiah Bounderby of

erate remonstrance, 'I speak of a very special let

es with great vehemence on the table, 'I speak of a very special messenger th

ul gestures expressive of an inflamed throat, became so aggravating and underwent so many fa

, to be totally inaudible, and seemingly swallowing marbles. Tom Gradgrind, Mrs. Sparsit latterly found herself, by accident, in a

said Mr.

Bounderby. 'And in

repeat its tenor, Bounde

is might at his so quiet and assuasive father-in-law,

dly. She

er

et to have been the means of introducing to you, Louisa hurried here, for protection. I myself had not been at home many hours, when I received her-here, in this room. She hurried by the train to town, she ran from t

direction except Mrs. Sparsit's direction; and then, abruptly tu

may think proper to offer, for going about the country at expr

en, and my health is at present too much impaired, in your service, to

, a coach. And the coach in which we came here being at the door, you'll allow me to hand you down to it, and pack you home to the Bank: where the best course for you to pursue, will be to put your feet into the hottest water you can bear, and take a

g this business, even as it is, and not considering that I am at any time as dutifully and submissively treated by your daughter, as Josiah Bounderby of Coketown ought to be treated

tened, Mr. Bounderby took particular pains to hard

by,' Mr. Gradgri

that his intention is to come over me. I am not speaking to you politely; but, as you are aware, I am not polite. If you like politeness, you know

Gradgrind, 'we are al

dn't make 'em,' int

cy, and grateful for it, if you would spare me these references to Harthouse. I shall not associate him i

ned his name!'

ssive, air. And he sat for a little while pondering. 'Bounderby, I

you mean

rted question; 'I doubt whether I have understood Louisa. I doub

have you? Education! I'll tell you what education is-To be tumbled out of doors, neck and crop

ated in all humility, 'that whatever the merits of such a syste

l, sir,' returned the

o desire to be controversial. I seek to repair what is amiss, if I possibly can; and I ho

underby, with determined obstinacy, 'a

e discovery is not mine. I think there are-Bounderby, you will be surprised to hear me say this-I think there are qualities in Louisa, which-which have been harshly neglected, and-and a little perverted. And-and I would suggest to you, that-that if you would kindly meet me in a time

rds, that he seemed to be, and probably was, on the brink of a fit. With his very e

o keep her he

ow Louisa to remain here on a visit, and be attended by Sissy (I mean

ith his hands in his pockets, 'that you are of opinion that there's wh

tween Louisa, and-and-and almost all the relations in wh

now the bricks of this town, and I know the works of this town, and I know the chimneys of this town, and I know the smoke of this town, and I know the Hands of this town. I know 'em all pretty well. They're real. When a man tells me anything about imaginative qualities, I always tell that man, whoever he is, that I

'I hoped, after my entreaty, you

t position, I should be doubly sorry to see him brought so low as that. Now, there's an incompatibility of some sort or another, I am given to understand by you, between your daughter and me. I'll give you to understand, in reply to that, that there unquestionabl

Mr. Gradgrind, 'thi

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

ike a Rocket, at his

urself. Not that I care a pinch of candle-snuff about such things, for you are very well aware

Mr. Gradgrind, in a lo

y connected females have been astonished to see the way in which your daughter has conducted herself, and to witn

grind, rising, 'the less we sa

eration checked him, 'till I have said all I mean to say, and then I don't care how soon we stop. I

I mean, B

,' said Bounderby, with an in

er, for allowing Louisa a period of repose and reflection here, whic

our ideas of the incompat

t it in th

think of this?'

o much, Bounderby, that you, so far her elder, should aid in trying to set h

ition of his own words to Stephen Blackpool, but

. I know what I took her for, as well as you do. Nev

ot even excepting you; and that some yielding on your part, remembering the trust you have a

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 to-morrow, 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 incompati

this, Bounderby,' urged Mr. Gradgrind, 'be

d's addressing such a remark to Josiah Bounderby of Coketown, knowing what he knows of him, if I could be surprised by anything Tom Gradgr

day, he directed Mrs. Bounderby's property to be carefully packed up and sent to Tom Gradgri