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at the door； “to leave me alone wi’ her！”
As she looked at him； saying “Stephen？” he went down on his
knee before her； on the poor mean stairs； and put an end of her
shawl to his lips。
“Thou art an Angel。 Bless thee； bless thee！”
“I am； as I have told thee； Stephen； thy poor friend。 Angels are
not like me。 Between them； and a working woman fu’ of faults；
there is a deep gulf set。 My little sister is among them； but she is
changed。”
She raised her eyes for a moment as she said the words： and
then they fell again； in all their gentleness and mildness； on his
face。
“Thou changest me from bad to good。 Thou mak’st me humbly
wishfo’ to be more like thee； and fearfo’ to lose thee when this life
is ower； and a’ the muddle cleared awa’。 Thou’rt an Angel； it may
be； thou hast saved my soul alive！”
She looked at him on his knee at her feet； with her shawl still in
his hand； and the reproof on her lips died away when she saw the
working of his face。
“I coom home desp’rate。 I coom home wi’out a hope； and mad
wi’ thinking that when I said a word o’ complaint I was reckoned a
onreasonable Hand。 I told thee I had had a fright。 It were the
Poison…bottle on table。 I never hurt a livin’ creatur； but happenin’
so suddenly upon’t； I thowt； ‘How can I say； what I may ha’ done to
myseln； or her； or both！’”
She put her two hands on his mouth； with a face of terror； to
stop him from saying more。 He caught them in his unoccupied
hand； and holding them； and still clasping the border of her shawl；
said hurriedly：
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Hard Times 118
“But I see thee； Rachael； setten by the bed。 I ha’ seen thee； aw
this night。 In my troublous sleep I ha’ known thee still to be there。
Evermore I will see there。 I nevermore will see her or think o’ her；
but thou shalt be beside her。 I nevermore will see or think o’
anything that angers me； but thou； so much better than me； shalt
be by th’ side on’t。 And so I will try t’ look t’ th’ time； and so I will
try t’ trust t’ th’ time； when thou and me at last shall walk together
far awa’； beyond the deep gulf； in th’ country where thy little sister
is。”
He kissed the border of her shawl again； and let her go。 She
bade him good…night in a broken voice； and went out into the
street。
The wind blew from the quarter where the day would soon
appear； and still blew strongly。 It had cleared the sky before it； and
the rain had spent itself or travelled elsewhere； and the stars were
bright。 He stood bareheaded in the road； watching her quick
disappearance。 As the shining stars were to the heavy candle in
the window； so was Rachael； in the rugged fancy of this man； to
the common experiences of his life。
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Hard Times 119
Chapter 14
The Great Manufacturer
ime went on in Coketown like its own machinery： so much
material wrought up； so much fuel consumed； so many
T
powers worn out； so much money made。 But； less
inexorable than iron； steel； and brass； it brought its varying
seasons even into that wilderness of smoke and brick； and made
the only stand that ever was made in the place against its direful
uniformity。
“Louisa is becoming；” said Mr Gradgrind； “almost a young
woman。”
Time； with his innumerable horse…power； worked away； not
minding what anybody said； and presently turned out young
Thomas a foot taller than when his father had last taken particular
notice of him。
“Thomas is becoming；” said Mr Gradgrind； “almost a young
man。”
Time passed Thomas on in the mill； while his father was
thinking about it； and there he stood in a long…tailed coat and a
stiff shirt…collar。
“Really；” said Mr Gradgrind； “the period has arrived when
Thomas ought to go to Bounderby。”
Time； sticking to him； passed him on into Bounderby’s Bank；
made him an inmate of Bounderby’s house； necessitated the
purchase of his first razor； and exercised him diligently in his
calculations relative to number one。
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Hard Times 120
The same great manufacturer； always with an immense variety
of work on hand； in every stage of development； passed Sissy
onward in his mill； and worked her up into a very pretty article
indeed。
“I fear； Jupe；” said Mr Gradgrind； “that your continuance at the
school any longer； would be useless。”
“I am afraid it would； sir；” Sissy answered with a curtsey。
“I cannot disguise from you； Jupe；” said Mr Gradgrind； knitting
his brow； “that the result of your probation there has disappointed
me； has greatly disappointed me。 You have not acquired； under
Mr and Mrs M’Choakumchild； anything like that amount of exact
knowledge which I looked for。 You are extremely deficient in your
facts。 Your acquaintance with figures is very limited。 You are
altogether backward； and below the mark。”
“I am sorry sir；” she returned； “but I know it is quite true。 Yet I
have tried hard； sir。”
“Yes；” said Mr Gradgrind； “yes； I believe you have tried hard； I
have observed you； and I can find no fault in that respect。”
“Thank you； sir。 I have thought sometimes；” Sissy very timid
here； “that perhaps I tried to learn too much； and that if I had
asked to be allowed to try a little less； I might have—”
“No； Jupe； no；” said Mr Gradgrind； shaking his head in his
profoundest and most eminently practical way。 “No。 The course
you pursued； you pursued according to the system—the system—
and there is no more to be said about it。 I can only suppose that
the circumstances of