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more and get a better unnerstan’in’ o’ one another； than when I
were in’t my own weak seln。”
Louisa hearing what he said； bent over him on the opposite side
to Rachael； so that he could see her。
“You ha’ heard？” he said after a few moments’ silence。 “I ha’
not forgot you； ledy。”
“Yes； Stephen； I have heard you。 And your prayer is mine。”
“You ha’ a father。 Will yo tak’ a message to him？”
“He is here；” said Louisa； with dread。 “Shall I bring him to
you？”
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“If you please。”
Louisa returned with her father。 Standing hand…in…hand； they
both looked down upon the solemn countenance。
“Sir； yo will clear me and mak my name good wi’ aw men。 This
I leave to yo。”
Mr Gradgrind was troubled and asked how？
“Sir；” was the reply： “yor son will tell yo how。 Ask him。 I make
no charges： I leave none ahint me： not a single word。 I ha’ seen
and spok’n wi’ yor son； one night。 I ask no more o’ yo than that yo
clear me—an I trust to yo to do’t。”
The bearers being now ready to carry him away； and the
surgeon being anxious for his removal； those who had torches or
lanterns prepared to go in front of the litter。 Before it was raised；
and while they were arranging how to go； he said to Rachael；
looking upward at the star：
“Often as I coom to myseln； and found it shinin’ on me down
there in my trouble； I thowt it were the star as guided to Our
Saviour’s home。 I awmust think it be the very star！”
They lifted him up and he was overjoyed to find that they were
about to take him in the direction whither the star seemed to him
to lead。
“Rachael； beloved lass！ Don’t let go my hand。 We may walk
toogether t’night； my dear！”
“I will hold thy hand； and keep beside thee； Stephen； all the
way。”
“Bless thee！ Will soombody be pleased to coover my face！”
They carried him very gently along the fields； and down the
lanes； and over the wide landscape； Rachael always holding the
hand in hers。 Very few whispers broke the mournful silence。 It
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was soon a funeral procession。 The star had shown him where to
find the God of the poor； and through humility； and sorrow； and
forgiveness； he had gone to his Redeemer’s rest。
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Chapter 7
Whelp…Hunting
efore the ring formed round the Old Hell Shaft was
broken； one figure had disappeared from within it。 Mr
BBounderby and his shadow had not stood near Louisa；
who held her father’s arm； but in a retired 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 eyes there for any sight
but one—and whispered in his ear。 Without turning his head； he
conferred with her a few moments； and vanished。 Thus the whelp
had gone out of the circle before the people moved。
When the father reached home； he sent a message to Mr
Bounderby’s； desiring his son to come to him directly。 The reply
was； that Mr Bounderby having missed him in the crowd； and
seeing nothing of him since； had supposed him to be at Stone
Lodge。
“I believe； father；” said Louisa； “he will not come back to town
tonight。” Mr Gradgrind turned away and said no more。
In the morning he went down to the Bank himself as soon as it
was opened； and seeing his son’s place empty （he had not the
courage to look in at first）； went back along the street to meet Mr
Bounderby on his way there。 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 vindicating Stephen
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Blackpool’s memory； and declaring the thief。 Mr Bounderby quite
confounded； stood stock…still in the street after his father…in…law
had left him； swelling like an immense soap…bubble； without its
beauty。
Mr Gradgrind went home； locked himself in his room； and kept
it all that day。 When Sissy and Louisa tapped at his door； he said；
without opening it； “Not now； my dears； in the evening。” On their
return in the evening； he said； “I am not able yet—tomorrow。” He
ate nothing all day； and had no candle after dark： and they heard
him walking to and fro late at night。
But in the morning he appeared at breakfast at the usual hour；
and took his usual place at the table。 Aged and bent he looked； 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 but
Facts。 Before he left the room； he appointed a time for them to
come to him； and so with his grey head drooping went away。
“Dear father；” said Louisa； when they kept their appointment；
“you have three young children left。 They will be different； I will
be different yet； with Heaven’s help。”
She gave her hand to Sissy； as if she meant with her help too。
“Your wretched brother；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “Do you think he
had planned this robbery； when he went with you to the
lodgings？”
“I fear so； father。 I know he had wanted money very much； and
had spent a great deal。”
“The poor man being about to leave the town； it came into his
evil brain to cast suspicion on him？”
“I think it must have flashed upon him while he sat there；
father。 For I asked