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must use；” said the gentleman； “for all these purposes；
combinations and modifications （in primary colours） of
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Hard Times 15
mathematical figures which are susceptible of proof and
demonstration。 This is the new discovery。 This is fact。 This is
taste。”
The girl curtseyed； and sat down。 She was very young； and she
looked as if she were frightened by the matter…of…fact prospect the
world afforded。
“Now； if Mr M’Choakumchild；” said the gentleman； “will
proceed to give his first lesson here； Mr Gradgrind； I shall be
happy； at your request； to observe his mode of procedure。”
Mr Gradgrind was much obliged。 “Mr M’Choakumchild； we
only wait for you。”
So； Mr M’Choakumchild began in his best manner。 He and
some one hundred and forty other schoolmasters； had been lately
turned at the same time； in the same factory； on the same
principles； like so many pianoforte legs。 He had been put through
an immense variety of paces； and had answered volumes of head…
breaking questions。 Orthography； etymology； syntax； and prosody；
biography； astronomy； geography； and general cosmography； the
sciences of compound proportion； algebra； land…surveying and
levelling； vocal music； and drawing from models； were all at the
ends of his ten chilled fingers。 He had worked his stony way into
Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council’s Schedule B； and
had taken the bloom off the higher branches of mathematics and
physical science； French； German； Latin； and Greek。 He knew all
about all the Water Sheds of all the world （whatever they are）； and
all the histories of all the peoples； and all the names of all the
rivers and mountains； and all the productions； manners； and
customs of all the countries； and all their boundaries and bearings
on the two and thirty points of the compass。 Ah； rather overdone；
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Hard Times 16
M’Choakumchild。 If he had only learnt a little less； how infinitely
better he might have taught much more！
He went to work in this preparatory lesson； not unlike
Morgiana in the Forty Thieves： looking into all the vessels ranged
before him； one after another； to see what they contained。 Say；
good M’Choakumchild。 When from thy boiling store； thou shalt fill
each jar brim full by and by； dost thou think that thou wilt always
kill outright the robber Fancy lurking within—or sometimes only
maim him and distort him！
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Hard Times 17
Chapter 3
A Loophole
r Gradgrind walked homeward from the school； in a
state of considerable satisfaction。 It was his school； and
M
he intended it to be a model。 He intended every child in
it to be a model—just as the young Gradgrinds were all models。
There were five young Gradgrinds； and they were models every
one。 They had been lectured at； from their tenderest years；
coursed； like little hares。 Almost as soon as they could run alone；
they had been made to run to the lecture…room。 The first object
with which they had an association； or of which they had a
remembrance； was a large black board with a dry Ogre chalking
ghastly white figures on it。
Not that they knew； by name or nature； anything about an
Ogre。 Fact forbid！ I only use the word to express a monster in a
lecturing castle； with Heaven knows how many heads manipulated
into one； taking childhood captive； and dragging it into gloomy
statistical dens by the hair。
No little Gradgrind had ever seen a face in the moon； it was up
in the moon before it could speak distinctly。 No little Gradgrind
had ever learnt the silly jingle； Twinkle； twinkle； little star； how I
wonder what you are！ No little Gradgrind had ever known wonder
on the subject； each little Gradgrind having at five years old
dissected the Great Bear like a Professor Owen； and driven
Charles’s Wain like a locomotive engine…driver。 No little
Gradgrind had ever associated a cow in a field with that famous
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Hard Times 18
cow with the crumpled horn who tossed the dog who worried the
cat who killed the rat who ate the malt； or with that yet more
famous cow who swallowed Tom Thumb： it had never heard of
those celebrities； and had only been introduced to a cow as a
graminivorous ruminating quadruped with several stomachs。
To his matter…of…fact home； which was called Stone Lodge； Mr
Gradgrind directed his steps。 He had virtually retired from the
wholesale hardware trade before he built Stone Lodge； and was
now looking about for a suitable opportunity of making an
arithmetical figure in Parliament。 Stone Lodge was situated on a
moor within a mile or two of a great town—called Coketown in the
present faithful guide…book。
A very regular feature on the face of the country； Stone Lodge
was。 Not the least disguise toned down or shaded off that
uncompromising fact in the landscape。 A great square house； with
a heavy portico darkening the principal windows； as its master’s
heavy brows overshadowed his eyes。 A calculated； cast up；
balanced； and proved house。 Six windows on this side of the door；
six on that side； a total of twelve in this wing； a total of twelve in
the other wing： four and twenty carried over to the back wings。 A
lawn and garden and an infant avenue； all ruled straight like a
botanical account…book。 Gas and ventilation； d