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Tom coughed again。
“I have。”
Rachael cast her eyes proudly towards Mr Bounderby； and said；
“Will you make it known； young lady； where； and who was there？”
“I went to the house where Stephen Blackpool lodged； on the
night of his discharge from his work； and I saw you there。 He was
there too： and an old woman who did not speak； and whom I could
scarcely see； stood in a dark corner。 My brother was with me。”
“Why couldn’t you say so； young Tom？” demanded Bounderby。
“I promised my sister I wouldn’t。” Which Louisa hastily
confirmed。 “And besides；” said the whelp bitterly； “she tells her
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own story so precious well—and so full—that what business had I
to take it out of her mouth！”
“Say； young lady； if you please；” pursued Rachael； “why in an
evil hour； you ever came to Stephen’s that night。
“I felt compassion for him；” said Louisa； her colour deepening；
“and I wished to know what he was going to do； and wished to
offer him assistance。”
“Thank you； ma’am；” said Mr Bounderby。 “Much flattered and
obliged。”
“Did you offer him；” asked Rachael； “a banknote？”
“Yes； but he refused it； and would only take two pounds in
gold。”
Rachael cast her eyes towards Mr Bounderby again。
“Oh certainly！” said Bounderby。 “If you put the question
whether your ridiculous and improbable account was true or not； I
am bound to say it’s confirmed。”
“Young lady；” said Rachael； “Stephen Blackpool is now named
as a thief in public print all over this town； and where else！ There
have been a meeting tonight where he have been spoken of in the
same shameful way。 Stephen！ The honestest lad； the truest lad；
the best！” Her indignation failed her； and she broke off； sobbing。
“I am very； very sorry；” said Louisa。
“O young lady； young lady；” returned Rachael； “I hope you may
be； but I don’t know！ I can’t say what you may ha’ done！ The like
of you don’t know us； don’t care for us； don’t belong to us。 I am not
sure why you may ha’ come that night。 I can’t tell but what you
may ha’ come wi’ some aim of your own； not mindin’ to what
trouble you brought such as the poor lad。 I said then； Bless you for
coming； and I said it of my heart； you seemed to take so pitifully to
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him； but I don’t know now； I don’t know！”
Louisa could not reproach her for her unjust suspicions； she
was so faithful to her idea of the man； and so afflicted。
“And when I think；” said Rachael through her sobs； “that the
poor lad was so grateful； thinkin you so good to him—when I mind
that he put his hand over his hard…worken face to hide the tears
that you brought up there—O； I hope you may be sorry； and ha’ no
bad cause to be it； but I don’t know； I don’t know！”
“You’re a pretty article；” growled the whelp； moving uneasily in
his dark corner； “to come here with these precious imputations！
You ought to be bundled out for not knowing how to behave
yourself； and you would be by rights。”
She said nothing in reply； and her low weeping was the only
sound that was heard； until Mr Bounderby spoke。
“Come！” said he； “you know what you have engaged to do。 You
had better give your mind to that； not this。”
“’Deed； I am loath；” returned Rachael； drying her eyes； “that
any here should see me like this； but I won’t be seen so again。
Young lady； when I had read what’s put in print of Stephen—and
what has just as much truth in it as if it had been put in print of
you—I went straight to the Bank to say I knew where Stephen
was； and to give a sure and certain promise that he should be here
in two days。 I couldn’t meet wi’ Mr Bounderby then； and your
brother sent me away； and I tried to find you； but you was not to
be found； and I went back to work。 Soon as I come out of the Mill
tonight； I hastened to hear what was said of Stephen—for I know
wi’ pride he will come back to shame it！—and then I went again to
seek Mr Bounderby； and I found him； and I told him every word I
knew； and he believed no word I said； and brought me here。”
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“So far； that’s true enough；” assented Mr Bounderby； with his
hands in his pockets and his hat on。 “But I have known you people
before today； you’ll observe； and I know you never die for want of
talking。 Now； I recommend you not so much to mind talking just
now； as doing。 You have undertaken to do something； all I remark
upon that at present is； do it！”
“I have written to Stephen by the post that went out this
afternoon； as I have written to him once before sin’ he went away；”
said Rachael； “and he will be here； at furthest； in two days。”
“Then； I’ll tell you something。 You are not aware perhaps；”
retorted Mr Bounderby； “that you yourself have been looked after
now and then； not being considered quite free from suspicion in
this business； on account of most people being judged according to
the company they keep。 The post…office hasn’t been forgotten
either。 What I’ll tell you is； that no letter to Stephen Blackpool has
ever got into it。 Therefore； what has become of yours； I leave you
to guess。 Perhaps you’re mistaken； and never wrote any。”
“He hadn’t been gone from here； young lady；” said Rachael；
turning appealingly to Louisa； “as much as a week； when he sent
me the only letter I have had from him； saying that he was forced
to seek work in another name。”
“Oh； by George！” cried Bounderby； shaking his head； with a
whistle； “he changes his name； does he！ That’s rather unlucky； too；
for such an immaculate chap。 It’s considered a little suspicious in
Courts of Justice； I believe； when an Innocent happens to have
many names。”
“What；” said Rachael； with tears in her eyes again； “what young