Hard Times

ain. No Stephen Blackpool. Where was

ferent who was lost or found, who turned out bad or good; the melancholy mad elephants, like the Hard Fact men, abated nothing of their set routine, whatever happened. Day and night again, day

s many as twenty left in all this place, w

sy had come there when it was already dark, to await her return from work; and they had since sat at

el, 'times are, when I think my mind would not have kept right. But I get hope and strength thr

e confidence you hold in yours against all discouragement, is not like to be wrong, that I h

et ways, so faithful to everything honest and good, that if he was never to be heard of more, and I was to live to be a h

, Rachael, that he will be freed

from there, purposely to comfort me, and keep me company, and be seen wi' me when I am not yet free from all suspici

istrust her

ore together, no. But I can't a

ing with herself, that Sissy, sitting by her

ne, but I mistrust that some one has put Stephen out of the way. I mistrust that by his coming back of his own accord, and showing

l thought,' said S

thought to think h

red, and tur

g on to high numbers as I work, and saying over and over again pieces that I knew when I were a child-I fall into such a wild, hot hurry

ntly offering a worn-out scrap of hope; 'and in such a cas

. He has been sought for i

issy's reluct

d couldn't walk, I sent him, in the letter he got, the mo

will bring something better,

, and they went out. The night being fine, little knots of Hands were here and there lingering at street c

ed now, Rachael, and

k, and breathe a little fresh. 'Times

and by Stephen. To-morrow is Saturday. If no news comes to-morrow, let us walk in

, de

otion, and scattered a considerable bustle about the town. Several coaches were rattling before them and behind them as they approached Mr. Bounderby's, and one of the latter drew up with such briskness as they were in the act of passing the house,

the coachman. 'It's a Providence! Come out, ma'am!' then said Mrs. Sp

rious old woman descended. Whom M

y touch her. She belongs to me. Come in, ma'am!' then said Mrs. Sparsit, revers

nomenon was enhanced by the notoriety and mystery by this time associated all over the town with the Bank robbery, it would have lured the stragglers in, with an irresistible attraction, though the roof had been expected to fall upon their heads. Accordingly, the chance witnesses on the ground, consisting of the busiest of the ne

ed Mrs. Sparsit. 'Rachael, youn

Pegler,' sa

, muffling herself up, and shrinking from observation, whispered a word of entreaty. 'Don't tell me,' said Mrs. Sparsit,

whom he had been holding conference up-stairs. Mr. Bounderby looked more as

ter now!' said he. '

art of the country in which that person might be supposed to reside, as have been afforded by the young woman, Rachael, fortunately now present to identify, I have had the happiness to succeed, and to bring that person w

n extraordinary combination of all possible colours and expressi

unexpected demand, in great warmth. 'I ask you

med Mrs. Spar

' roared Bounderby. 'How dare you go and poke

stiffly in a chair, as if she were frozen; and with a fixed stare at Mr. Bound

blame. It's not my fault, Josiah. I told this lady over and over again, that

nock her cap off, or her tooth out, or scratch her,

alls-'such a fine house as this. Indeed, indeed, it is not my fault! My dear, noble, stately boy! I have always lived quiet, and secret, Josiah, my dear. I have never broken the condition once. I have never

while the spectators greedily took in every syllable of Mrs. Pegler's appeal, and at each succeeding syllable became more and mo

your old age you have the face to claim Mr. Bounderby for y

or old Mrs. Pegler. 'Me

y, madam, I dare say. Not very dear, however, when you deserted him i

for your wicked imaginations, and for your scandal against the memory of my poor mother, who

r. Gradgrind, shocked by the possibility wh

hat you left your son to-to

it, to help him out in life, and put him 'prentice. And a steady lad he was, and a kind master he had to lend him a hand, and well he worked his own way forward to be rich and thriving. And I'll give you to know, sir-for this my dear boy won't-that though his mother kept but a little village shop, he never forgot her, but pensioned me on thirty pound a year-more than I want, for I put by out of it-only making the condition that I was to keep down in my own part, and make no boasts about him, and not trouble him. And I never have, except with looking at him once a year, when he has never knowed it. And it's right,' said poor old Mrs. Pegler,

ind felt himself innocently placed in a very distressing predicament, when Mr. Bounderby, who had never ceased

ood as to disperse. I'm not bound to deliver a lecture on my family affairs, I have not undertaken to do it, and I'm not a going to do it. Therefore those who expect any explanation whatever upon that branch of the subject, will be disappointed-particularly Tom Grad

ness had put the honest truth as far away from him as if he had advanced the mean claim (there is no meaner) to tack himself on to a pedigree, he cut a most ridiculous figure. With the people filing off at the door he held, who he knew would carry what had passed to the whole town, to be given to the fou

ne Lodge and there parted. Mr. Gradgrind joined them before they had gone very far, and spoke with much interest of St

as long as Bounderby could make no discovery without his knowledge, he was so far safe. He never visited his sister, and had

spoke of some one who would be confounded by Stephen's return, having put him out of the way. Louisa had never spoken of harbouring any suspicion of her brother in connexion with the robbery, she and Sissy had held no confidence on the subject, save in that one interchange of looks when t

cked up, throve with him. If Stephen Blackpool was

. No Stephen Blackpool. Where was th