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to get out of it； allowed。
Accompanied by the lightest of porters； fit colourless servitor at
Death’s door when Mrs Gradgrind knocked； Louisa rumbled to
Coketown； over the coal…pits past and present； and was whirled
into its smoky jaws。 She dismissed the messenger to his own
devices； and rode away to her old home。
She had seldom been there since her marriage。 Her father was
usually sifting and sifting at his parliamentary cinder…heap in
London （without being observed to turn up many precious articles
among the rubbish）； and was still hard at it in the national dust…
yard。 Her mother had taken it rather as a disturbance than
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Hard Times 251
otherwise； to be visited； as she reclined upon her sofa； young
people； Louisa felt herself all unfit for； Sissy she had never
softened to again； since the night when the stroller’s child had
raised her eyes to look at Mr Bounderby’s intended wife。 She had
no inducements to go back； and had rarely gone。
Neither； as she approached her old home now； did any of the
best influences of old home descend upon her。 The dreams of
childhood—its airy fables； its graceful； beautiful； humane；
impossible adornments of the world beyond： so good to be
believed in once； so good to be remembered when outgrown； for
then the least among them rises to the stature of a great Charity in
the heart； suffering little children to come into the midst of it； and
to keep with their pure hands a garden in the stony ways of this
world； wherein it were better for all the children of Adam that they
should oftener sun themselves； simple and trustful； and not
worldly…wise—what had she to do with these？ Remembrances of
how she had journeyed to the little that she knew； by the
enchanted roads of what she and millions of innocent creatures
had hoped and imagined； of how； first coming upon Reason
through the tender light of Fancy； she had seen it a beneficent
god； deferring to gods as great as itself： not a grim Idol； cruel and
cold； with its victims bound hand to foot； and its big dumb shape
set up with a sightless stare； never to be moved by anything but so
many calculated tons of leverage—what had she to do with these？
Her remembrances of home and childhood were remembrances of
the drying up of every spring and fountain in her young heart as it
gushed out。 The golden waters were not there。 They were flowing
for the fertilisation of the land where grapes are gathered from
thorns； and figs from thistles。
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Hard Times 252
She went； with a heavy； hardened kind of sorrow upon her； into
the house and into her mother’s room。 Since the time of her
leaving home； Sissy had lived with the rest of the family on equal
terms。 Sissy was at her mother’s side； and Jane； her sister； now
ten or twelve years old； was in the room。
There was great trouble before it could be made known to Mrs
Gradgrind that her eldest child was there。 She reclined； propped
up； from mere habit； on a couch： as nearly in her old usual
attitude； as anything so helpless could be kept in。 She had
positively refused to take to her bed； on the ground that if she did；
she would never hear the last of it。
Her feeble voice sounded so far away in her bundle of shawls；
and the sound of another voice addressing her seemed to take
such a long time in getting down to her ears； that she might have
been lying at the bottom of a well。 The old lady was nearer Truth
than she ever had been： which had much to do with it。
On being told that Mrs Bounderby was there； she replied； at
cross…purposes； that she had never called him by that name； since
he married Louisa； that pending her choice of an objectionable
name； she had called him J； and that she could not at present
depart from that regulation； not being yet provided with a
permanent substitute。 Louisa had sat by her for some minutes；
and had spoken to her often； before she arrived at a clear
understanding who it was。 She then seemed to come to it all at
once。
“Well； my dear；” said Mrs Gradgrind； “and I hope you are going
on satisfactorily to yourself。 It was all your father’s doing。 He set
his heart upon it。 And he ought to know。”
“I want to hear of you； mother； not of myself。”
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Hard Times 253
“You want to hear of me； my dear？ That’s something new； I am
sure； when anybody wants to hear of me。 Not at all well； Louisa。
Very faint and giddy。”
“Are you in pain； dear mother？”
“I think there’s a pain somewhere in the room；” said Mrs
Gradgrind； “but I couldn’t positively say that I have got it。”
After this strange speech； she lay silent for some time。 Louisa；
holding her hand； could feel no pulse； but kissing it； could see a
slight thin thread of life in fluttering motion。
“You very seldom see your sister；” said Mrs Gradgrind。 “She
grows like you。 I wish you would look at her。 Sissy； bring her
here。”
She was brought； and stood with her hand in her sister’s。
Louisa had observed her with her arm round Sissy’s neck； and she
felt the difference of this approach。
“Do you see the likeness； Louisa？”
“Yes； mother。 I should think her like me。 But—”
“Eh？ Yes； I always say so；” Mrs Gradgrind cried； with
unexpected quickness。 “And that reminds me。 I—I want to speak
to you； my dear。 Sissy my good girl； leave us alone a minute。”
Louisa had relinquished the hand： had thought that her sister’s
was a better and brighter face than hers had ever been； had seen
in it； not without