按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and there is no more to be said about it。 I can only suppose that
the circumstances of your early life were too unfavourable to the
development of your reasoning powers； and that we began too
late。 Still； as I have said already； I am disappointed。”
“I wish I could have a better acknowledgment； sir； of your
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 121…
Hard Times 121
kindness to a poor forlorn girl who had no claim upon you； and of
your protection of her。”
“Don’t shed tears；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “Don’t shed tears。 I
don’t complain of you。 You are an affectionate； earnest； good
young woman； and—and we must make that do。”
“Thank you； sir； very much；” said Sissy； with a grateful
curtsey。”
“You are useful to Mrs Gradgrind； and （in a generally
pervading way） you are serviceable in the family also； so I
understand from Miss Louisa； and； indeed； so I have observed
myself。 I therefore hope；” said Mr Gradgrind； “that you can make
yourself happy in those relations。”
“I should have nothing to wish； sir； if—”
“I understand you；” said Mr Gradgrind； “you still refer to your
father。 I have heard from Miss Louisa that you still preserve that
bottle。 Well！ If your training in the science of arriving at exact
results had been more successful； you would have been wiser on
these points。 I will say no more。”
He really liked Sissy too well to have contempt for her；
otherwise he held her calculating powers in such very slight
estimation that he must have fallen upon that conclusion。
Somehow or other； he had become possessed by an idea that there
was something in this girl which could hardly be set forth in a
tabular form。 Her capacity of definition might be easily stated at a
very low figure； her mathematical knowledge at nothing； yet he
was not sure that if he had been required； for example； to kick her
off into columns in a parliamentary return； he would have quite
known how to divide her。
In some stages of his manufacture of the human fabric； the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 122…
Hard Times 122
processes of Time are very rapid。 Young Thomas and Sissy being
both at such a stage of their working up； these changes were
effected in a year or two； while Mr Gradgrind himself seemed
stationary in his course； and underwent no alteration。 Except one；
which was apart from his necessary progress through the mill。
Time hustled him into a little noisy and rather dirty machinery； in
a by…corner； and made him Member of Parliament for Coketown：
one of the respected members for ounce weights and measures；
one of the representatives of the multiplication table； one of the
deaf honourable gentlemen； dumb honourable gentlemen； blind
honourable gentlemen； lame honourable gentlemen； dead
honourable gentlemen； to every other consideration。 Else
wherefore live we in a Christian land； eighteen hundred and odd
years after our Master？
All this while； Louisa had been passing on； so quiet and
reserved； and so much given to watching the bright ashes at
twilight as they fell into the grate and became extinct； that from
the period when her father had said she was almost a young
woman—which seemed but yesterday—she had scarcely attracted
his notice again； when he found her quite a young woman。
“Quite a young woman；” said Mr Gradgrind； musing。 “Dear
me！”
Soon after this discovery he became more thoughtful than
usual for several days； and seemed much engrossed by one
subject。 On a certain night； when he was going out； and Louisa
came to bid him good…bye before his departure—as he was not to
be home until late and she would not see him again until the
morning—he held her in his arms； looking at her in his kindest
manner； and said：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 123…
Hard Times 123
“My dear Louisa； you are a woman！”
She answered him with the old； quick； searching look of the
night when she was found at the Circus； then cast down her eyes。
“Yes； father。”
“My dear；” said Mr Gradgrind； “I must speak with you alone
and seriously。 Come to me in my room after breakfast tomorrow；
will you？”
“Yes； father。”
“Your hands are rather cold； Louisa。 Are you not well？”
“Quite well； father “And cheerful？”
She looked at him again； and smiled in her peculiar manner。 “I
am as cheerful； father； as I usually am； or usually have been。”
“That’s well；” said Mr Gradgrind。 So； he kissed her and went
away； and Louisa returned to the serene apartment of the hair…
cutting character； and leaning her elbow on her hand； looked
again at the short…lived sparks that soon subsided into ashes。
“Are you there； Loo？” said her brother； looking in at the door。
He was quite a young gentleman of pleasure now； and not quite a
prepossessing one。
“Dear Tom；” she answered； rising and embracing him； “how
long it is since you have been to see me！”
“Why； I have been otherwise engaged； Loo； in the evenings； and
in the daytime old Bounderby has been keeping me at it rather。
But I touch him up with you； when he comes it too strong； and so
we preserve an understanding。 I say！ Has father said anything
particular to you； today or yesterday； Loo？”
“No； Tom。 But he told me tonight that he wished to do so in the
morning。”
“Ah！ that’s what I mean；” said Tom。 “Do you know where he is
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 124…
Hard Times