Hard Times

red place by themselves. When Mr. Gradgrind was summoned to the couch, Sissy, attentive to all that happened, slipped behind that wicked shadow-a sight in the horror of his face, if there had been ey

on to come to him directly. The reply was, that Mr. Bounderby having missed him in

ll not come back to town to-night.' Mr.

To whom he said that, for reasons he would soon explain, but entreated not then to be asked for, he had found it necessary to employ his son at a distance for a little while. Also, that he was charged with the duty of vi

he said, without opening it, 'Not now, my dears; in the evening.' On their return in the evening, he said, 'I am not able

, and quite bowed down; and yet he looked a wiser man, and a better man, than in the days when in this life he wanted nothing-

ment, 'you have three young children left. They will be

Sissy, as if she me

d. 'Do you think he had planned this robbe

e had wanted money very much

e the town, it came into his evil

sat there, father. For I asked him to go there

ion with the poor man.

de a plausible excuse; but since last night, father, and when I remember the circum

your thoughts present your guilty br

-perhaps in my name, perhaps in his own-which induced him to do in good faith and honesty, what he h

turned the fath

ined silent for some moments

w hours that I can possibly allow to elapse before I publish the truth, how is

effected

ry in his house, and said in a tone of softened gratit

ur father is. Escape at once, for his sake and your own!" He was in a tremble before I whispered to him, and he started and trembled more then, and said, "Where can I go? I have very little money, and I don't know who will hide me!" I thought of father's old circus. I have not for

imed his father. 'He

ace in question, by a circuitous course, alone; and that the unhappy father, setting forth in an opposite direction, should get round to the same bourne by another and wider route. It was further agreed that he should not present himself to Mr. Sleary, lest his intentions should be mistrusted, or the intelligence of his arrival should cause his son to take flight anew; but, that the communication should be left to Sissy and Louisa to open; and that they should inform the cause of so much

rly in the morning, were turned out on a swamp, a mile or two from the town they sought. From this dismal spot they were rescued by a savage old postilion, who happened to be up early, kicking a horse i

nnection between the two places was by a hilly turnpike-road, and the travelling on that road was very slow. Though they took but a hasty breakfast, and no rest (which it would have been in va

mended that, to avoid making inquiries and attracting attention in the town, they should present themselves to pay at the door. If Mr. Sleary were taking the money, he would be sure t

be received by the wildest credulity as Cupid any more, had yielded to the invincible force of circumstances (and his beard), and, in the capacity of a man who made himself generally useful, presided on this occasion over the exchequer-having also a drum

arch to do. Sissy, though well acquainted with his Royal line, had no personal knowledge of the present Emperor, and his reign was peaceful. Miss Josephine Sleary, in h

long to Sissy and Louisa, particularly when it stopped to afford the Clown an opportunity of telling Mr. Sleary (who said 'Indeed, sir!' to all his observations in the calmest way, and with his eye on the house) about two legs sitting on three legs looking at one leg, when in came four legs, and laid hold of one leg, and up got two legs, caught hold of three legs, and threw 'em at four legs, who ran away with one

e'th only three yearth old, he thtickth on to any pony you can bring againtht him. He'th named The Little Wonder of Thcolathtic Equitation; and if you don't hear of that boy at Athley'th, you'll hear of him at Parith. And you recollect Kidderminthter, that wath thought to be rather thweet upon yourthelf? Well. He'th married too. Married a widder. Old enough to be hith mother. Thee wath Tightrope, thee wath, and now thee'th nothing-on accounth of fat. They've got two children, tho we're thtrong in the Fairy bithnith and the Nurthery dodge. If you wath to thee our Children in the Wood, with their father and mother both a dyin' on a horthe-their uncle a retheivi

he brought in Josephine, and E. W. B. Childers (rather deeply lined in the jaws by daylight), and the Little Wonder of Scholastic Equitation, and in a word, all the company. Amazing creatures they were in Louisa

ll the women, and thaken handth all round with all the men, cle

'Now, Thethilia, I don't athk to know any thecreth, but

his sis

what I mean. Hope I thee you well, m

id Louisa, anxious to bring him t

ake a peep at the Ring, mith, through here. Thethilia,

d through a chi

a thauthepan-lid and a thpit, for Jack'th thervant; there'th little Jack himthelf in a thplendid thoot of armour; there'th two comic black thervanth twithe ath

they bo

my opinionth, and the Thquire your father hath hith. I don't want to know what your brother'th been up to; ith better for me not to k

ation, partly of distres

performanth. I thant undreth him, nor yet wath hith paint off. Let the Thquire come here after the performanth, or come here yourthelf after the pe

ry no longer then. She left her love for her brother, with her eyes f

rpool in the night. As neither of the three could be his companion without almost identifying him under any disguise, he prepared a letter to a correspondent whom he could trus

but by the company and by the horses. After watching it a long time, they saw Mr. Sleary bring out

as they passed in. 'If you want me you'll find me here

e middle of the ring. On one of the back benches, remote in the subdued light and the strangeness

verything of coarse material, moth-eaten and full of holes; with seams in his black face, where fear and heat had started through the greasy composition daubed all over it; anything so grimly, detestably, rid

on so sullenly made can be called yielding, to the entreaties of Sissy-for Louisa he disowned altogether-he came down, bench by b

s done?' ask

one?' moodily a

the father, raising h

d, made long before. I dropped it that morning, that it might be supposed to have been used. I didn't take th

me,' said the father, 'it would

people, out of so many, will be dishonest. I have heard you talk, a hundred times, of its being

away inside, looking like the hands of a monkey. The evening was fast closing in; and from time to time, he turned the whites of his eyes restles

to Liverpool, a

where,' whimpered the whelp, 'than I have been h

with Sleary, to whom he submitted the quest

yeth or no. Ith over twenty mileth to the rail. There'th a coath in half an hour, that goeth

groaned Mr. Gradgri

,' said Sleary. 'Thay the word, and I'll make a Jot

rstand,' said

e. There'll be beer to feth. I've never met with not

frock, a felt hat, and other essentials; the whelp rapidly changed clothes behin

with you there, and they'll thuppothe you one of my people. Thay farewel

by repentance and better conduct, for the shocking action you have committed, and the dreadful co

these words and their pathetic tone. But, when

want to have anyth

we end so, aft

ouse off, and going home just when I was in the greatest danger. Pretty love that! Coming out with every word about our having gone

ord!' said Slea

day be sorry to have left her so, and glad to think of these her last words, far away: when some one ran against the

ourless face more colourless than ever, as if he ran himself into a white heat, when other people ran themselves into a glow. T

an't allow myself to be done by horse-riders. I must have young Mr. Tom; he mustn

t seemed. For, so he