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Hard Times 131
algebra until the last trumpet ever to be sounded shall blow even
algebra to wreck。 The barriers were too many and too high for
such a leap。 With his unbending； utilitarian； matter…of…fact face； he
hardened her again； and the moment shot away into the plumbless
depths of the past； to mingle with all the lost opportunities that are
drowned there。
Removing her eyes from him； she sat so long looking silently
towards the town； that he said； at length： “Are you consulting the
chimneys of the Coketown works； Louisa？”
“There seems to be nothing there but languid and monotonous
smoke。 Yet when the night comes； Fire bursts out； father！” she
answered； turning quickly。
“Of course I know that； Louisa。 I do not see the application of
the remark。” To do him justice； he did not； at all。
She passed it away with a slight motion of her hand； and
concentrating her attention upon him again； said “Father； I have
often thought that life is very short”—This was so distinctly one of
his subjects that he interposed：
“It is short； no doubt； my dear。 Still the average duration of
human life is proved to have increased of late years。 The
calculations of various life assurance and annuity offices； among
other figures which cannot go wrong； have established the fact。”
“I speak of my own life； father。”
“O indeed？ Still；” said Mr Gradgrind； “I need not point out to
you； Louisa； that it is governed by the laws which govern lives in
the aggregate。”
“While it lasts； I would wish to do the little I can； and the little I
am fit for。 What does it matter！”
Mr Gradgrind seemed rather at a loss to understand the last
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four words； replying； “How； matter？ What matter； my dear？”
“Mr Bounderby；” she went on in a steady； straight way； without
regarding this； “asks me to marry him。 The question I have to ask
myself is； Shall I marry him？ That is so； father； is it not？ You have
told me so； father。 Have you not？”
“Certainly； my dear。”
“Let it be so。 Since Mr Bounderby likes to take me thus； I am
satisfied to accept his proposal。 Tell him； father； as soon as you
please； that this was my answer。 Repeat it； word for word； if you
can； because I should wish him to know what I said。”
“It is quite right； my dear；” retorted her father approvingly； “to
be exact。 I will observe your very proper request。 Have you any
wish in reference to the period of your marriage； my child？”
“None； father。 What does it matter！”
Mr Gradgrind had drawn his chair a little nearer to her； and
taken her hand。 But； her repetition of these words seemed to
strike with some little discord on his ear。 He paused to look at her；
and； still holding her hand； said：
“Louisa； I have not considered it essential to ask you one
question； because the possibility implied in it appeared to me to be
too remote。 But perhaps； I ought to do so。 You have never
entertained in secret any other proposal？”
“Father；” she returned； almost scornfully； “what other proposal
can have been made to me？ Whom have I seen？ Where have I
been？ What are my heart’s experiences？”
“My dear Louisa；” returned Mr Gradgrind； reassured and
satisfied； “you correct me justly。 I merely wished to discharge my
duty。”
“What do I know father；” said Louisa in her quiet manner； “of
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tastes and fancies； of aspirations and affections； of all that part of
my nature in which such light things might have been nourished？
What escape have I had from problems that could be
demonstrated； and realities that could be grasped？” As she said it；
she unconsciously closed her hand； as if upon a solid object； and
slowly opened it as though she were releasing dust or ash。
“My dear；” assented her eminently practical parent； “quite true；
quite true。”
“Why； father；” she pursued； “what a strange question to ask me！
The baby…preference that even I have heard of as common among
children； has never had its innocent resting…place in my breast。
You have been so careful of me； that I never had a child’s heart。
You have trained me so well； that I never dreamed a child’s
dream。 You have dealt so wisely with me； father； from my cradle to
this hour； that I never had a child’s belief or a child’s fear。”
Mr Gradgrind was quite moved by his success； and by this
testimony to it。 “My dear Louisa；” said he； “you abundantly repay
my care。 Kiss me； my dear girl。”
So； his daughter kissed him。 Detaining her in his embrace； he
said； “I may assure you now； my favourite child； that I am made
happy by the sound decision at which you have arrived。 Mr
Bounderby is a very remarkable man； and what little disparity can
be said to exist between you—if any—is more than
counterbalanced by the tone your mind has acquired。 It has
always been my object so to educate you； as that you might； while
still in your early youth； be （if I may so express myself） almost any
age。 Kiss me once more； Louisa。 Now； let us go and find your
mother。”
Accordingly； they went down to the drawing…room； where the
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esteemed lady with no nonsense about her； was recumbent as
usual； while Sissy worked beside her。 She gave some feeble signs
of returning animation when they entered； and presently the faint
transparency was presented in a sitting attitude。
“Mrs Gradgrind；” said her husband； who had waited for the
achievement of this feat with some impatience； “allow me to
present to you Mrs Bounderby。”
“Oh！” said Mrs Gradgr