 Section 17 of Hard Times, this is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Deborah Lynn. Hard Times by Charles Dickens. Book III. Garnering. Chapter I. Another Thing Needful. Louisa awoke from a torpor, and her eyes languidly opened on her old bed at home and her old room. It seemed at first as if all that had happened since the days when these objects were familiar to her were the shadows of a dream. But gradually, as the objects became more real to her sight, the events became more real to her mind. She could scarcely move her head for pain and heaviness. Her eyes were strained and sore and she was very weak. A curious passive inattention had such possession of her that the presence of her little sister in the room did not attract her notice for some time. Even when their eyes had met and her sister had approached the bed, Louisa lay for minutes looking at her in silence and suffering her timidly to hold her passive hand before she asked, When was I brought to this room? Last night, Louisa, who brought me here? Sissy, I believe. Why do you believe so? Because I found her here this morning. She didn't come to my bedside to wake me, as she always does, and I went to look for her. She was not in her own room either, and I went looking for her all over the house until I found her here, taking care of you and cooling your head. Will you see, Father? Sissy said I was to tell him when you woke. What a beaming face you have, Jane, said Louisa, as her young sister, timidly still, bent down to kiss her. Have I? I am very glad you think so. I am sure it must be Sissy's doing. The arm Louisa had begun to twine around her neck, unbent itself. You can tell, Father, if you will. Then, staying her for a moment, she said, It was you who made my room so cheerful and gave it this look of welcome. Oh, no, Louisa. It was done before I came. It was— Louisa turned upon her pillow and heard no more. When her sister had withdrawn, she turned her head back again and lay with her face towards the door until it opened, and her father entered. He had a jaded, anxious look upon him, and his hand, usually steady, trembled in hers. He sat down at the side of the bed, tenderly asking how she was, and dwelling on the necessity of her keeping very quiet after her agitation and exposure to the weather last night. He spoke in a subdued and troubled voice, very different from his usual dictatorial manner, and was often at a loss for words. My dear Louisa, my poor daughter, he was so much at a loss at that place that he stopped altogether. He tried again. My unfortunate child, the place was so difficult to get over that he tried again. It would be hopeless for me, Louisa, to endeavor to tell you how overwhelmed I have been and still am by what broke upon me last night. The ground on which I stand has ceased to be solid under my feet. The only support on which I leaned and the strength of which it seemed and still does seem impossible to question has given way in an instant. I am stunned by these discoveries. I have no selfish meaning in what I say, but I find the shock of what broke upon me last night to be very heavy indeed. She could give him no comfort herein. She had suffered the wreck of her whole life upon the rock. I will not say, Louisa, that if you had by any happy chance un-deceived me some time ago, it would have been better for us both. Better for your peace and better for mine. For I am sensible that it may not have been a part of my system to invite any confidence of that kind. I had proved my system to myself, and I have rigidly administered it, and I must bear the responsibility of its failures. I only entreat you to believe, my favorite child, that I have meant to do right. He said it earnestly, and to do him justice he had. Engaging fathomless deeps with his little mean excise rod, and in staggering over the universe with his rusty, stiff-legged compasses, he had meant to do great things. Within the limits of his short tether he had tumbled about, annihilating the flowers of existence with greater singleness of purpose than many of the blatant personages whose company he kept. I am well assured of what you say, Father. I know I have been your favorite child. I know you have intended to make me happy. I have never blamed you, and I never shall. He took her outstretched hand and retained it in his. My dear, I have remained all night at my table, pondering again and again on what has so painfully passed between us. When I consider your character, when I consider that what has been known to me for hours has been concealed by you for years, when I consider under what immediate pressure it has been forced from you at last, I come to the conclusion that I cannot but mistrust myself. He might have added more than all when he saw the face now looking at him. He did add it, in effect, perhaps, as he softly moved her scattered hair from her forehead with his hand. Such little actions, slight in another man, were very noticeable in him, and his daughter received them as if they had been words of contrition. But, said Mr. Grad, grind slowly and with hesitation, as well as with a wretched sense of happiness, if I see reason to mistrust myself for the past, Louisa, I should also mistrust myself for the present and the future. To speak unreservedly to you I do. I am far from feeling convinced now, however differently I might have felt only this time yesterday, that I am fit for the trust you repose in me, that I know how to respond to the appeal you have come home to make to me, that I have the right instinct, supposing it for the moment to be some quality of that nature, how to help you and to set you right, my child. She had turned upon her pillow and lay with her face upon her arm so that he could not see it. All her wildness and passion had subsided, but, though softened, she was not in tears. Her father was changed in nothing so much as in the respect that he would have been glad to see her in tears. Some persons hold, he pursued, still hesitating, that there is a wisdom of the head and that there is a wisdom of the heart. I have not supposed so, but, as I have said, I mistrust myself now. I have supposed the head to be all sufficient. It may not be all sufficient. How can I venture this morning to say it is, if that other kind of wisdom should be what I have neglected and should be the instinct that is wanted? Louisa. He suggested it very doubtfully, as if he were half unwilling to admit it even now. She made him no answer, lying before him on her bed, still half dressed, much as he had seen her lying on the floor of his room last night. Louisa and his hand rested on her hair again. I have been absent from here, my dear, a good deal of late, and though your sister's training has been pursued according to the system, he appeared to come to that word with great reluctance always. It has necessarily been modified by daily associations begun in her case at an early age. I ask you, ignorantly and humbly, my daughter, for the better do you think? Father, she replied without stirring. If any harmony has been awakened in her young breast that was mute in mind until it turned to discord, let her thank heaven for it and go upon her happier way, taking it as her greatest blessing that she has avoided my way. Oh, my child, my child, he said in a forlorn manner. I am an unhappy man to see you thus. What avails it to me that you did not reproach me if I so bitterly reproach myself? He bent his head and spoke low to her. Louisa, I have a misgiving that some change may have been slowly working about me in this house by mere love and gratitude that what the head had left undone and could not do the heart may have been doing silently. Can it be so? She made him no reply. I am not too proud to believe it, Louisa. How could I be arrogant and you before me? Can it be so? Is it so, my dear? He looked upon her once more, lying cast away there and without another word went out of the room. He had not been long gone when she heard a light tread near the door and knew that someone stood beside her. She did not raise her head, a dull anger that she should be seen in her distress and that the involuntary look she had so resented should come to this fulfillment, smoldered within her like an unwholesome fire. All closely imprisoned forces rend and destroy, the air that would be healthful to the earth, the water that would enrich it, the heat that would ripen it, tear it when caged up. So in her bosom, even now, the strongest qualities she possessed, long turned upon themselves, became a heap of obduracy that rose against a friend. It was well that soft touch came upon her neck and that she understood herself to be supposed to have fallen asleep. The sympathetic hand did not claim her resentment. Let it lie there, let it lie. It lay there, warming into life a crowd of gentler thoughts and she rested. As she softened with the quiet and the consciousness of being so watched, some tears made their way into her eyes. The face touched hers and she knew that there were tears upon it too and she the cause of them. As Louisa feigned to rouse herself and sat up, Sissy retired so that she stood placently near the bedside. I hope I have not disturbed you. I have come to ask if you would let me stay with you. Why should you stay with me? My sister will miss you. You are everything to her. Am I? returned Sissy, shaking her head. I would be something to you if I might. What? said Louisa almost sternly. Whatever you want most if I could be that. At all events I would like to try to be as near as I can and however far off that may be I will never tire of trying. Will you let me? My father sent you to ask me. No indeed replied Sissy. He told me that I might come in now but he sent me away from the room this morning or at least she hesitated and stopped. At least what? said Louisa with her searching eyes upon her. I thought it best myself that I should be sent away for I felt very uncertain whether you would like to find me here. Have I always hated you so much? I hope not. For I have always loved you and have always wished that you should know it but you changed to me a little shortly before you left home. Not that I wondered at it. You knew so much and I knew so little and it was so natural in many ways going as you were among other friends that I had nothing to complain of and was not at all hurt. Her color rose as she said it modestly and hurriedly. Louisa understood the loving pretense and her heart smote her. May I try? said Sissy and boldened to raise her hand to the neck that was insensibly drooping towards her. Louisa taking down the hand that would have embraced her in another moment held it in one of hers and answered. First, Sissy, do you know what I am? I am so proud and so hardened, so confused and troubled, so resentful and unjust to everyone and to myself that everything is stormy, dark and wicked to me. Does not that repel you? No. I am so unhappy and all that should have made me otherwise is so laid waste that if I had been bereft of sense to this hour and instead of being as learned as you think me had to begin to acquire the simplest truths I could not want a guide to peace, contentment, honor, all the good of which I am quite devoid more abjectly than I do. Does not that repel you? No. In the innocence of her brave affection and the brimming up of her old devoted spirit, the once deserted girl shone like a beautiful light upon the darkness of the other. Louisa raised the hand that it might clasp her neck and join its fellow there. She fell upon her knees and clinging to this stroller's child looked up at her almost with veneration. Forgive me, pity me, help me, have compassion on my great need and let me lay this head of mine upon a loving heart. Oh, lay it here, cried Sissy, lay it here, my dear. Chapter 2 Very Ridiculous Mr. James Harthouse passed a whole night and a day in a state of so much hurry that the world, with its best glass in his eye, would scarcely have recognized him during that insane interval as the brother gem of the honorable and jocular member. He was positively agitated. He several times spoke with an emphasis similar to the vulgar manner. He went in and went out in an unaccountable way like a man without an object. He rode like a highwayman. In a word he was so horribly bored by existing circumstances that he forgot to go in for boredom in the manner prescribed by the authorities. After putting his horse at Coke Town through the storm, as if it were a leap, he waited up all night, from time to time ringing his bell with the greatest fury, charging the porter who kept watch with delinquency and withholding letters or messages that could not fail to have been entrusted to him, and demanding restitution on the spot. The dawn coming, the morning coming, and the day coming, and neither message nor letter coming with either, he went down to the country house. There the report was, Mr. Boundary away and Mrs. Boundary in town, left for town suddenly last evening, not even known to be gone until receipt of message, importing that her return was not to be expected for the present. In these circumstances he had nothing for it but to follow her to town. He went to the house in town. Mrs. Boundary not there. He looked in at the bank. Mr. Boundary away and Mrs. Sparced away. Mrs. Sparced away? Who could have been reduced to sudden extremity for the company of that griffin? Well, I don't know, said Tom, who had his own reasons for being uneasy about it. She was off somewhere at daybreak this morning. She's always full of mystery. I hate her. I do that white chap. He's always got his blinking eyes upon a fellow. Where were you last night, Tom? Where was I last night, said Tom? Come, I like that. I was waiting for you, Mr. Hardhouse, till it came down as I never saw it come down before. Where was I too? Where were you, you mean? I was prevented from coming. Detained. Detained, murmured Tom. Two of us were detained. I was detained looking for you till I lost every train with the mail. It would have been a pleasant job to go down by that on such a night and have to walk home through a pond. I was obliged to sleep in town after all. Where? Where? Why in my own bed at Boundary Bees? Did you see your sister? How the deuce, returned Tom, staring, could I see my sister when she was 15 miles off? Cursing these quick retorts of the young gentleman to whom he was so true a friend, Mr. Hardhouse disembarrassed himself of that interview with the smallest conceivable amount of ceremony and debated for the hundredth time what all this could mean. He made only one thing clear. It was that whether she was in town or out of town, whether he had been premature with her who was so hard to comprehend or she had lost courage or they were discovered or some mischance or mistake at present incomprehensible had occurred, he must remain to confront his fortune, whatever it was. The hotel where he was known to live when condemned to that region of blackness was the state to which he was tied. As to all the rest, what will be will be. So whether I am waiting for a hostile message or an asignation or a penitent remonstrance or an impromptu wrestle with my friend Bounderby in the laden-cashier manner which would seem as likely as anything else in the present state of affairs, I'll dine, said Mr. James Hardhouse. Bounderby has the advantage and point of weight and if anything of a British nature is to come off between us, it may be as well to be in training. Therefore he rang the bell and tossing himself negligently on a sofa, ordered some dinner at six with a beef steak in it and got through the intervening time as well as he could. That was not particularly well for he remained in the greatest perplexity and as the hours went on and no kind of explanation offered itself, his perplexity augmented at compound interest. However, he took affairs as coolly as it was in human nature to do and entertained himself with a facetious idea of the training more than once. It wouldn't be bad, he yawned at one time to give the waiter five shillings and throw him. At another time it occurred to him or a fellow of about thirteen or fourteen stone might be hired by the hour but these jests did not tell materially on the afternoon or his suspense and soothed to say they both lagged fearfully. It was impossible, even before dinner, to avoid often walking about in the pattern of the carpet, looking out of the window, listening at the door for footsteps and occasionally becoming rather hot when any steps approached that room. But after dinner when the day turned to twilight and the twilight turned to night and still no communication was made to him it began to be as he expressed it like the holy office and slow torture. However still true to his conviction that indifference was the genuine high-breeding, the only conviction he had, he seized this crisis as the opportunity for ordering candles and the newspaper. He had been trying in vain for half an hour to read this newspaper when the waiter appeared and said at once mysteriously and apologetically, beg your pardon, sir, your wanted, sir, if you please. A general recollection that this was the kind of thing the police said to the swell mob caused Mr. Harthouse to ask the waiter in return with bristling indignation what the devil he meant by wanted. Beg your pardon, sir, young lady outside, sir, wishes to see you. Outside? Where? Outside this door, sir. Giving the waiter to the personage before mentioned as a blockhead duly qualified for that consignment Mr. Harthouse hurried into the gallery. A young woman whom he had never seen stood there, plainly dressed, very quiet, very pretty. As he conducted her into the room and placed a chair for her he observed by the light of the candles that she was even prettier than he had at first believed. Her face was innocent and youthful and its expression remarkably pleasant. She was not afraid of him or in any way disconcerted. She seemed to have her mind entirely preoccupied with the occasion of her visit and to have substituted that consideration for herself. I speak to Mr. Harthouse? She said when they were alone. To Mr. Harthouse. He added in his mind and you speak to him with the most confiding eyes I ever saw in the most earnest voice, though so quiet I ever heard. If I do not understand and I do not, sir, said Sissy, what your honor as a gentleman binds you to in other matters the blood really rose in his face as she began in these words. I am sure I may rely upon it to keep my visit secret and to keep secret what I am going to say. I will rely upon it if you will tell me I may so far trust. You may, I assure you. I am young as you see I am alone as you see in coming to you, sir, I have no advice or encouragement beyond my own hope. He thought, but that is very strong as he followed the momentary upward glance of her eyes. He thought besides this is a very odd beginning I don't see where we are going. I think, said Sissy, you have already guessed who I left just now. I have been in the greatest concern and uneasiness during the hours which have appeared as many years, he returned on a lady's account. The hopes I have been encouraged to form that you come to me from that lady do not deceive me, I trust. I left her within an hour at her father's. Mr. Hardhouse's face lengthened in spite of his coolness and his perplexity increased. Then I certainly, he thought, do not see where we are going. She arrived there last night. She arrived there in great agitation and was insensible all through the night. I live at her father's and was with her. You may be sure, sir, you will never see her again as long as you live. Mr. Hardhouse drew a long breath and if ever man found himself in the position of not knowing what to say made the discovery beyond all question that he was so circumcised. The childlike ingenuousness her truthfulness which put all artifice aside her entire forgetfulness of herself and her earnest, quiet holding to the object with which she had come. All this together with her reliance on his easily given promise which in itself shamed him presented something in which he was so inexperienced and against which he knew any of his usual weapons would fall so powerless that not a word could he rally at last he said, so startling an announcement so confidently made and by such lips is really disconcerting in the last degree. May I be permitted to inquire if you are charged to convey that information to me in those hopeless words by the lady of whom we speak? I have no charge from her. The drowning man catches at the straw with no disrespect for your judgment and with no doubt of your sincerity excused my saying that I cling to the belief that there is yet hope that I am not condemned to perpetual exile from that lady's presence. There is not the least hope. The first object of my coming here, sir, is to assure you that you must believe that there is no more hope of your ever speaking with her again than there would be if she had died when she came home last night. I believe, but if I can't or if I should by infirmity of nature be obstinate and won't it is still true there is no hope. James Harthaus looked at her with an incredulous smile upon his lips but her mind looked over and beyond him and the smile was quite thrown away. He bit his lip and took a little time for consideration. Well, if it should unhappily appear he said, after due pains and duty on my part that I am brought to a position so desolate as this banishment I shall not become the lady's persecutor but you said you had no commission from her. I have only the commission of my love for her and her love for me. I have no other trust than that I have been with her since she came home and that she has given me her confidence. I have no further trust than that I know something that I can trust too. He was touched in the cavity where his heart should have been in that nest of addled eggs where the birds of heaven would have lived if they had not been whistled away by the fervor of this reproach. I am not a moral sort of fellow he said and I never make any pretensions to the character of a moral sort of fellow. I am as immoral as need be at the same time as the subject of the present conversation or in unfortunately compromising her in any way or in committing myself by any expression of sentiments towards her not perfectly reconcilable with in fact with the domestic hearth or in taking any advantage of her father's being a machine or of her brother's being a whelp or of her husband's being a bear I beg to be allowed to assure you that I have had no particularly evil intentions but have glided on from one step to another with a smoothness so perfectly diabolical that I had not the slightest idea the catalog was half so long until I began to turn it over whereas I find said Mr. James heart house in conclusion that it is really in several volumes though he said all this in his frivolous way the way seemed for that once a conscious polishing but an ugly surface he was silent for a moment in the air though with traces of vexation and disappointment that would not be polished out after what has been just now represented to me in a manner I find it impossible to doubt I know of hardly any other source from which I could have accepted it so readily I feel bound to say to you in whom the confidence you have mentioned has been reposed that I cannot refuse to contemplate the possibility for the thing having come to this and I cannot say he added rather hard up for a general peroration that I have any sanguine expectation of ever becoming a moral sort of fellow or that I have any belief in any moral sort of fellow whatever Sissy's face sufficiently showed that her appeal to him was not finished you spoke he resumed as she raised her eyes to him again of your first object I may assume that there is a second to be mentioned yes will you oblige me by confiding it Mr. Harthouse returned Sissy with a blending of gentleness and steadiness that quite defeated him and with a simple confidence in his being bound to do what she required that held him at a singular disadvantage the only reparation that remains with you is to leave here immediately and finally mitigate and no other way the wrong and harm you have done I am quite sure that it is the only compensation you have left it in your power to make I did not say that it is much or that it is enough but it is something and it is necessary therefore though without any other authorities and I have given you and even without the knowledge of any other person than yourself and myself I ask you to depart from this place if she had asserted any influence over him beyond her plain faith in the truth and right of what she said if she had concealed the least doubt or irresolution or had harbored for the best purpose any reserve or pretense if she had shown or felt the lightest trace of any sensitiveness to his ridicule or his astonishment or any remonstrance he might offer he would have carried it against her at this point but he could as easily have changed and he added in surprise as effect her but do you know he asked quite at a loss the extent of what you ask you probably are not aware that I am here on a public kind of business preposterous enough in itself but which I have gone in for and sworn by and I am supposed to be devoted to in quite a desperate manner you probably are not aware of that but I assure you it is the fact it had no effect on Sissy besides which said Mr. Hart House taking a turn or two across the room dubiously is so alarmingly absurd it would make a man so ridiculous after going in for these fellows to back out in such an incomprehensible way I am quite sure repeated Sissy that it is the only reparation in your power sir I am quite sure or I would not have come here he glanced at her face so immensely absurd it fell to his lot now to stipulate for secrecy if I were to do such a very ridiculous thing he said stopping again presently and leaning against the chimney piece it could only be in the most inviolable confidence I will trust to you sir returned Sissy and you will trust to me his leaning against the chimney piece reminded him of the night with the welp it was the self same chimney piece and somehow he felt as if he were the welp tonight he could make no way at all I suppose a man never was placed in a more ridiculous position he said after looking down and looking up and laughing and frowning and walking off and walking back again but I see no way out of it what will be will be this will be I suppose I must take off myself I imagine in short Sissy rose she was not surprised by the result but she was happy in it and her face beamed brightly you will permit me to say continued Mr. James Hart House that I doubt if any other ambassador or ambassador dress could have addressed me with the same success I must not only regard myself as being in a very ridiculous position but as being vanquished at all points will you allow me the privilege of remembering my enemy's name my name said the ambassador the only name I could possibly care to know tonight Sissy jupe pardon my curiosity at parting related to the family I am only a poor girl returned Sissy I was separated from my father he was only a stroller and taken pity on by Mr. Gradgrand she was gone it wanted this to complete the defeat said Mr. James Hart House sinking with the resigned air on the sofa after standing transfixed a little while the defeat may now be considered perfectly accomplished only a poor girl only a stroller only James Hart House made nothing of only James Hart House a great pyramid of failure great pyramid he had a pen upon the instant and wrote the following note in appropriate hieroglyphics to his brother Dear Jack all up at Coke Town bored out of the place and going in for camels affectionately gem he rang the bell send my fellow here going to bed sir tell him to get up and pack up he wrote two more notes showing where he would be found for the next fortnight the other similar in effect to Mr. Gradgrand almost as soon as the ink was dry upon their superscriptions he had left the tall chimneys of Coke Town behind and was in a railway carriage tearing and glaring over the dark landscape the moral sort of fellows might suppose that Mr. James Hart House derived some comfortable reflections afterwards from this prompt retreat as one of his few actions that made any amends for anything and as a token to himself that he had escaped the climax of a very bad business but it was not so at all a secret sense of having failed and been ridiculous a dread of what other fellows who went in for similar sorts of things would say at his expense if they knew it so oppressed him that what was about the very best passage in his life would not have happened and the only one that made him ashamed of himself end of section 17 section 18 of Hard Times this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Deborah Lynn Hard Times by Charles Dickens chapter 3 very decided the indefatigable Mrs. Sparsit with a violent cold upon her her voice reduced to a whisper and her stately frame so wracked by continual sneezes that it seemed in danger of dismemberment gave chase to her patron until she found him in the metropolis and there majestically sweeping in upon him at his hotel in St. James's Street exploded the combustibles with which she was charged and blew up having executed her mission with infinite relish this high-minded woman then fainted away on Mr. Boundary's coat collar Mr. Boundary's first procedure was to shake Mrs. Sparsit off and leave her to progress as she might through various stages of suffering on the floor he next had recourse to the administration of potent restoratives such as screwing the patient's thumbs smiting her hands abundantly watering her face and inserting salt in her mouth when these attentions had recovered her which they speedily did he hustled her into a fast train without offering any other refreshment and carried her back to Coke Town more dead than alive regarded as a classical ruin Mrs. Sparsit was an interesting spectacle on her arrival at her journey's end but considered in any other light the amount of damage she had by that time sustained was excessive and impaired her claims to admiration utterly heedless of the wear and tear of her clothes and constitution and adamant to her pathetic sneezes Mr. Boundary immediately crammed her into a coach and bore her off to Stone Lodge now Tom Grad grind said Boundary bursting into his father in law's room late at night here's a lady here Mrs. Sparsit you know Mrs. Sparsit who has something to say to you that will strike you dumb you have missed my letter exclaimed Mr. Grad grind surprised by the apparition missed your letters sir Bald Boundary the present time is no time for letters no man shall talk to Josiah Boundary of Coke Town about letters with his mind in the state it's in now Boundary I speak of a very special letter I have written to you in reference to Louisa Tom Grad grind replied Boundary knocking the flat of his hand several times with great vehemence on the table I speak of a very special messenger that has come to me in reference to Louisa Mrs. Sparsit ma'am stand forward that unfortunate lady here upon a saying to offer testimony without any voice and with painful gestures aggressive of an inflamed throat became so aggravating and underwent so many facial contortions that Mr. Boundary unable to bear it seized her by the arm and shook her if you can't get it out ma'am said Boundary leave me to get it out this is not a time for a lady however highly connected to be totally inaudible and seemingly swallowing marbles Tom Grad grind Mrs. Sparsit laterly found herself in a situation out of doors between your daughter and your precious gentleman friend Mr. James Hart House indeed said Mr. Grad grind ah indeed cried Boundary and in that conversation it is not necessary to repeat its tenor Boundary I know what passed you do perhaps said Boundary steering with all his might at his so quiet is here here my dear Boundary let me beg you to restrain these loud outbreaks on all accounts Louisa is here the moment she can detach herself from that interview with the person of whom you speak and whom I deeply regret to have been the means of introducing to you Louisa hurried here for protection I myself had not been at home many hours when I received her here in this room and presented herself before me in a state of distraction of course she has remained here ever since let me entreat you for your own sake and for hers to be more quiet Mr. Boundary silently gazed about him for some moments in every direction except Mrs. Sparsit's direction and then abruptly turning upon the niece of Lady Scadgers said to that wretched woman now ma'am we shall be happy to hear any little apology you may think and express pace with no other luggage than a cock and a bull ma'am sir whispered Mrs. Sparsit my nerves are at present too much shaken and my health is at present too much impaired in your service to admit of my doing more than taking refuge in tears which she did well ma'am said Boundary without making any observation to you that may not be made with propriety to a woman of good family what I have got to add to that is in which it appears to me you may take refuge namely a coach and the coach in which we came here being at the door you'll allow me to hand you down to it and pack you home to the bank where the best course for you to pursue will be to put your feet into the hottest water you can bear and take a glass of scalding rum and butter after you get into bed with these words Mr. Boundary extended his right hand to the weeping lady he soon returned alone now as you showed me in your face Tom grad grind that you wanted to speak to me he resumed here I am but I am not in a very agreeable state I tell you plainly not relishing this business even as it is and not considering that I am at any time as dutifully and submissively treated by your daughter as Josiah Boundary of Coke Town ought to be treated by his wife you have your opinion I dare say if you mean to say anything to me tonight that goes against this candid remark you had better let it alone Mr. grad grind it will be observed being much softened Mr. Boundary took particular pains to harden himself at all points it was his amiable nature my dear Boundary Mr. grad grind began in reply now you'll excuse me said Boundary but I don't want to be too dear that to start with when I begin to be dear to a man I generally find that his intention is to come over me I am not speaking to you politely but as you are aware I am not polite if you like politeness you know where to get it you have your gentlemen friends you know and they'll serve you with as much of the article as you want I don't keep it myself Boundary urged Mr. grad grind we are all liable to mistakes I thought you couldn't make them interrupted Boundary perhaps I thought so but I say we are all liable to mistakes and I should feel sensible of your delicacy and grateful for it if you would spare me these references to heart house I shall not associate him in our conversation with your intimacy and encouragement pray do not persist in connecting him with mine I never mentioned his name said Boundary well well returned Mr. grad grind with a patient even a submissive air and he sat for a little while pondering I see reason to doubt whether we have ever quite understood Louisa who do you mean by we let me say I then he returned in answer to the coarsely blurted question I doubt whether I have understood Louisa I doubt whether I have been quite right in the manner of her education there you hit it returned Boundary there I agree with you you have found it out at last have you education is to be tumbled out of doors neck and crop and put upon the shortest allowance of everything except blows that's what I call education I think your good sense will perceive Mr. grad grind demonstrated in all humility that whatever the merits of such a system may be it would be difficult of general application to girls I don't see it at all sir return to the obstinate Boundary well side Mr. grad grind we will not enter into the question I assure you I have no desire to be controversial I seek to repair what is amiss if I possibly can and I hope you will assist me in a good spirit Boundary for I have been very much distressed I don't understand you yet said Boundary with determined obstinacy and therefore I won't make any promises in the course of a few hours my dear Boundary Mr. grad grind proceeded in the same depressed and propitiatory manner I appear to myself to have become better informed as to Louisa's character than in previous years the enlightenment has been painfully forced upon me and the discovery is not mine I think there are Boundary you will be surprised to hear me say this I think there are qualities in Louisa which have been harshly neglected and a little perverted and I would suggest to you that if you would kindly meet me in a timely endeavor to leave her to her better nature for a while and to encourage it to develop itself by tenderness and consideration it would be the better for the happiness of all of us Louisa said Mr. grad grind shading his face with his hand has always been my favorite child the blustrous Boundary crimson and swelled to such an extent on hearing these words and he seemed to be and probably was on the brink of a fit with his very ears a bright purple shot with crimson he pent up his indignation however and said you'd like to keep her here for a time I had intended to recommend my dear Boundary that you should allow Louisa to remain here on a visit and be attended by Sissy I mean of course Cecilia Jupe who understands her and in whom she trusts I mean said Boundary standing up with his hands in his pockets the juror of opinion that there's what people call some incompatibility between Lou Boundary and myself I fear there is at present a general incompatibility between Louisa and and almost all the relations in which I have placed her was her father's sorrowful reply now look you here Tom grad grind said Boundary the flushed him with his legs wide apart his hands deeper in his pockets and his hair like a hay field where in his windy anger was boisterous you have said your say I am going to say mine I am a coke town man I am Josiah Boundary of coke town I know the bricks of this town and I know the works of this town and I know the chimneys of this town and I know the smoke of this town and I know the hands of this town I know them all pretty well the man tells me anything about imaginative qualities I always tell that man whoever he is that I know what he means he means turtle soup and venison with a gold spoon and that he wants to be set up with a coach in six that's what your daughter wants since you are of opinion that she ought to have what she wants I recommend you to provide it for her because Tom grad grind she will never have it from me Boundary said Mr. grad grind she will never have it from me just wait a bit retorted Boundary you have said your say I believe I heard you out hear me out if you please don't make yourself a spectacle of unfairness as well as inconsistency because although I am sorry to see Tom grad grind reduced to his present position I should be doubly sorry to see him brought solo as that now there's an incompatibility of some sort or another I'll give you to understand and reply to that that there unquestionably is an incompatibility of the first magnitude to be summed up in this that your daughter don't properly know her husband's merits and is not impressed with such a sense as would become her by George of the honor of his alliance that's plain speaking I hope Boundary urged Mr. grad grind this is unreasonable is it said Boundary I am glad to hear you say so and Tom grad grind with his new lights tells me that what I say is unreasonable I am convinced that once it must be devilish sensible with your permission I am going on you know my origin and you know that for a good many years of my life I didn't want a shoeing horn in consequence of not having a shoe yet you may believe or not as you think proper that there are ladies born ladies belonging to families families who next to worship and walk on he discharged this like a rocket at his father-in-law's head whereas your daughter proceeded Boundary is far from being a born lady that you know yourself not that I care a pinch of candle snuff about such things for you are very well aware I don't but that such is the fact and you Tom grad grind can't change it why do I say this not a fear observed Mr. grad Boundary and refrain from cutting in till your turn comes round I say this because highly connected females have been astonished to see the way in which your daughter has conducted herself and to witness her insensibility they have wondered how I have suffered it and I wonder myself now and I won't suffer it Boundary returned Mr. grad grind rising the less we say tonight the better I think on the contrary Tom grad grind the more we say tonight that is the consideration checked him till I have said all I mean to say and then I don't care how soon we stop I come to a question that may shorten the business what do you mean by the proposal you made just now what do I mean Boundary by your visiting proposition said Boundary with an inflexible jerk of the hay field I mean that I hope you may be induced to arrange in a friendly manner for allowing Louisa a period of repose and reflection here which may tend to a gradual alteration for the better in many respects to a softening down of your ideas of the incompatibility said Boundary if you put it in those terms what made you think of this said Boundary I have already said I fear Louisa has not been understood is it asking too much Boundary that you so far her elder should aid in trying to set her right accepted a great charge of her for better for worse for Mr. Boundary may have been annoyed by the repetition of his own words to Steven Blackpool but he cut the quotation short with an angry start come said he I don't want to be told about that I know what I took her for as well as you do never you mind what I took her for that's my lookout I was merely going on to remark Boundary that we may all be more or less in the wrong not even accepting you and that some yielding on your part remembering the trust you have accepted may not only be an act of true kindness but perhaps a debt incurred towards Louisa I think differently blessed Boundary I am going to finish this business according to my own opinions now I don't want to make a quarrel of it with you Tom grad grind to tell you the truth I don't think it would be worthy of my reputation to quarrel on such a subject I will take myself off wherever he likes best if he falls in my way I shall tell him in my mind if he don't fall in my way I shan't for it won't be worth my while to do it as to your daughter whom I made Lou Boundary and might have done better by leaving Lou grad grind if she don't come home tomorrow by 12 o'clock at noon I shall understand that she prefers to stay away and I shall send her wearing apparel and so forth over here and you'll take charge of her for the future and the people in general of the incompatibility that led to my soul laying down the law will be this I am Josiah Boundary and I had my bringing up she is the daughter of Tom grad grind and she had her bringing up and the two horses wouldn't pull together I am pretty well known to be rather an uncommon man I believe and most people will understand fast enough that it must be a woman rather out of the common also who in the long run would seriously entreat you to reconsider this Boundary urged Mr. grad grind before you commit yourself to such a decision I always come to a decision said Boundary tossing his hat on and whatever I do I do at once I should be surprised that Tom grad grind is addressing such a remark to Josiah Boundary of Cote Town knowing what he knows of him if I could be surprised by anything Tom grad grind did after his making himself you my decision and I have got no more to say good night so Mr. Boundary went home to his townhouse to bed at five minutes past twelve o'clock next day he directed Mrs. Boundary's property to be carefully packed up and sent to Tom grad grind advertised his country retreat for sale by private contract and resumed a bachelor life chapter four lost chapter four and did not cease to occupy a front place in the attention of the principle of that establishment now in boastful proof of his promptitude and activity as a remarkable man and a self-made man and a commercial wonder more admirable than Venus who had risen out of the mud instead of the sea he liked to show how little his domestic affairs and his usual display of bustle and every day made such a route in renewing his investigations into the robbery that the officers who had it in hand almost wished it had never been committed they were at fault too and off the scent although they had been so quiet since the first outbreak of the matter that most people really did supposed to have been abandoned as hopeless more remarkable yet Steven Blackpool could not be heard of and the mysterious old woman remained a mystery things having come to this pass and showing no latent signs of stirring beyond it the upshot of Mr. Boundary's investigations was that he resolved to hazard a bold burst he drew up a placard offering twenty pounds reward for the apprehension of Steven Blackpool suspected of complicity in the town bank on such a night he described the said Steven Blackpool by dress, complexion, estimated height and manner as minutely as he could he recited how he had left the town and in what direction he had been last seen going he had the hole printed in great black letters on a staring broadsheet and he caused the walls to be posted with it in the dead of night the factory bells had need to ring their loudest that morning to disperse the groups of workers who stood in the tardy daybreak collected round the placards devouring them with eager eyes not the least eager of the eyes assembled were the eyes of those who could not read these people as they listened to the friendly voice that read aloud there was always some such ready to help them stared at the characters which meant so much with a vague awe and respect public ignorance could ever be otherwise than threatening and full of evil many ears and eyes were busy with the vision of the matter of these placards among turning spindles rattling looms and whirling wheels for hours afterwards and when the hands cleared out again into the streets there were still as many readers as before Slackbridge the delegate had to address his audience to that night and Slackbridge had obtained Bill from the printer and had brought it in his pocket oh my friends and fellow countrymen the downtrodden operatives of Coke Town oh my fellow brothers and fellow workmen and fellow citizens and fellow men what a to-do was there when Slackbridge unfolded what he called that damning document and held it up to the gaze and for the execration of the working man community oh my fellow men here in the camp of those great spirits who are enrolled upon the holy scroll of justice and of union is appropriately capable oh my prostrate friends with a galling yoke of tyrants on your necks and the iron foot of despotism treading down your fallen forms into the dust of the earth upon which right glad would your oppressors be to see you creeping on your bellies all the days of your lives like the serpent in the garden my sisters too what do you say now of Steven Blackpool with a slight stoop in his shoulders and about five foot seven in height as set forth in this degrading and disgusting document this blighting bill this pernicious placard this abominable advertisement and with what majesty of denouncement will you crush the viper who would bring this stain and shame upon the god-like race that happily has cast him out forever yes my compatriots have been sent him forth for you remember how he stood here before you on this platform you remember how face to face and foot to foot I pursued him through all his intricate windings you remember how he sneaked and slunk and sidled and splitted of straws until was not an inch of ground to which to cling I hurled him out from amongst us an object for the undying finger of scorn to point at and for the avenging fire of scar and now my friends my laboring friends for I rejoice in triumph in that stigma my friends whose hard but honest beds are made in toil and whose scanty but independent pots are boiled in hardship and now I say my friends what appellation has that dastard craven taken to himself when with the mask torn from his features he stands before us a plunderer a proscribed fugitive with a price upon his head a fester and a wound upon the noble character of the coat town operative therefore my band of brothers in a sacred bond to which your children and your children's children yet unborn have set their infant hands and seals I propose to you on the part of the united aggregate tribunal ever watchful for your welfare in black pool weaver referred to in this placard having been already solemnly disowned by the community of coat town hands the same are free from the shame of his misdeeds and cannot as a class be reproached with his dishonest actions thus slack bridge gnashing and perspiring after a prodigious sort a few stern voices called out no and a score or two hailed with the senting cries of men from one man slack bridge you're over header you're going too fast but these were pygmies against an army the general assemblage subscribed to the gospel according to slack bridge and gave three cheers for him as he sat demonstratively panting at them these men and women were yet in the streets passing quietly to their homes dearest louisa it is mister boundary said sissy timid of the name and your brother mr. tom and a young woman who says her name is Rachel and that you know her what do they want sissy dear they want to see you Rachel has been crying and seems angry father said louisa for he was present i cannot refuse to see them for a reason that will explain itself narrative, Sissy went away to bring them. She reappeared with them directly. Tom was last and remained standing in the obscure part of the room near the door. "'This is Boundary,' said her husband, entering with a cool nod. "'I don't disturb you, I hope. This is an unseasonable hour, but here is a young woman who has been making statements which render my visit necessary. Tom, grad-grind, as your son, young Tom, refuses for some obstinate reason or other, to say anything at all about those statements, good or bad, I am obliged to confront her with your daughter.' "'You have seen me once before,' young lady,' said Rachel, standing in front of Louisa. Tom coughed. "'You have seen me,' young lady,' repeated Rachel, as she did not answer, once before. Tom coughed again. "'I have,' Rachel cast her eyes proudly towards Mr. Boundary 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 Boundary me. I promised my sister I wouldn't, which Louisa hastily confirmed. "'And besides,' said the welp bitterly, she tells her 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 Rachel, why, in an evil hour, you ever came to Stephen's that night. "'I felt compassion for him,' said Louisa, her color deepening, and I wished to know what he was going to do and wished to offer him assistance. "'Thank you, ma'am,' said Boundary me, much flattered and obliged. "'Did you offer him?' asked Rachel, a bank note. "'Yes, but he refused it, and would only take two pounds in gold.' Rachel cast her eyes towards Mr. Boundary me again. "'Oh, certainly,' said Boundary me. "'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 Rachel, 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. "'Steven, the honestest lad, the truest lad, the best.' Her indignation failed her, and she broke off sobbing. "'I am very, very sorry,' said Louisa. "'Oh, young lady, young lady,' returned Rachel. "'I hope you may be, but I don't know. "'I can't say what you may have 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 have come that night. "'Can't tell but what you may have come was some aim of your own, "'not minding what trouble you brought such as the poor lad. "'I said then, bless you for coming, and I said it of my heart. "'You seem to take so pitifully to 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 Rachel through her sobs, "'that the poor lad was so grateful, thinking you so good to him, "'when I mind that he put his hand over his hard-working face "'to hide the tears that you brought up there. "'Oh, I hope you may be sorry and had no bad cause to be it, "'but I don't know. I don't know.' "'You're a pretty article,' growled the welp, "'moving uneasily in his dark corner. "'Come here with these precious imputations. "'You ought to be bundled out for not knowing "'how to behave yourself, and you would be by right.' "'She said nothing in reply, and her low weeping "'was the only sound that was heard "'until Mr. Boundary be 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 Rachel, 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 with Mr. Boundary then, "'and your brother sent me away, "'and I tried to find you, but she was not to be found. "'And I went back to work. "'Soon as I come out of the mill tonight, "'I hasten to hear what was said of Stephen, "'for I know where pride he will come back to shame it. "'And then I went again to seek Mr. Boundary, "'and I found him, and I told him every word I knew, "'and he believed no word I said and brought me here.' "'So far, that's true enough,' "'ascented Mr. Boundary, "'with his hands in his pockets and his hat on. "'But I have known new people before today, "'you'll observe, "'and I know you never died 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, "'since he went away,' said Rachel, "'and he will be here at furthest in two days. "'Then I'll tell you something. "'You are not aware perhaps,' retorted Mr. Boundary, "'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 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 Rachel, 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 Boundary, "'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 Rachel, with the tears in her eyes again. "'What, young lady, in the name of mercy, "'was left the poor lad to do? "'The master's against him on one hand, "'the man against him on the other. "'He only wanted to work hard in peace "'and do what he felt right. "'Can a man have no soul of his own, no mind of his own? "'Must he go wrong all through with this side, "'or must he go wrong all through with that, "'or else be hunted like a hare?' "'Indeed, indeed, I pity him from my heart,' "'returned Louisa, and I hope "'that he will clear himself. "'You need have no fear of that, young lady. "'He is sure.' "'All the sureer, I suppose,' said Mr. Boundery, "'for you're refusing to tell where he is, eh? "'He shall not, through any act of mind, "'come back with the unmerited reproach "'of being brought back. "'He shall come back of his own cord to clear himself "'and put all those that have injured his good character, "'and he not here for its defense, to shame. "'I have told him what has been done against him,' "'said Rachel, throwing off all distrust "'as a rock throws off the sea, "'and he will be here at furthest in two days. "'Notwithstanding which,' added Mr. Boundery, "'if he can be laid hold of any sooner, "'he shall have an earlier opportunity "'of clearing himself. "'As to you, I have nothing against you. "'What you came and told me turns out to be true, "'and I have given you the means of proving it "'to be true, and there is an end of it. "'I wish you good night, all. "'I must be off to look a little further into this.' "'Tom came out of his corner when Mr. Boundery moved, "'moved with him, kept close to him, and went away with him. "'The only parting salutation of which he delivered himself "'was a sulky, good night, father. "'Was a brief speech and a skull at his sister "'he left the house. "'Since his sheet anchor had come home, "'Mr. Gradgrind had been sparing of speech. "'He still sat silent when Louisa mildly said, "'Rachel, you will not distrust me one day "'when you know me better.' "'It goes against me,' Rachel answered in a gentler manner, "'to mistrust anyone. "'But when I am so mistrusted, when we all are, "'I cannot keep such things quite out of my mind. "'I ask your pardon for having done you an injury. "'I don't think what I said now. "'Yet I might come to think it again "'with a poor lad so wronged. "'Did you tell him in your letter, inquired Sissy, "'that suspicions seemed to have fallen upon him "'because he had been seen about the bank at night? "'He would then know what he would have to explain "'on coming back and would be ready.' "'Yes, dear,' she returned, "'but I can't guess what can have ever taken him there. "'He never used to go there, it was never in his way. "'His way was the same as mine and not near it.' "'Sissy had already been at her side, "'asking her where she lived "'and whether she might come tomorrow night "'to inquire if there were news of him. "'I doubt,' said Rachel, "'if he can be here till next day. "'Then I will come next night, too,' said Sissy. "'When Rachel, assenting to this, was gone, "'Mr. Gradgrind lifted up his head and said to his daughter, "'Louise of my dear, I have never that I know of seen this man. "'Do you believe him to be implicated? "'I think I have believed it, Father, "'though with great difficulty. "'I do not believe it now.' "'That is to say, you once persuaded yourself to believe it "'from knowing him to be suspected. "'His appearance and manner, are they so honest? "'Very honest. "'And her confidence not to be shaken. "'I asked myself,' said Mr. Gradgrind, musing, "'does the real culprit know of these accusations? "'Where is he? Who is he?' "'His hair had laterally began to change its color. "'As he leaned upon his hand again, looking gray and old, "'Louise was the face of fear and pity, "'hurriedly went over to him "'and sat close at his side. "'Her eyes, by accident, met Sissi's at the moment. "'Sissi flushed and started, "'and Louisa put her finger on her lip. "'Next night, when Sissi returned home "'and told Louisa that Stephen was not come, "'she told it in a whisper. "'Next night again, when she came home with the same account "'and added that he had not been heard of, "'she spoke in the same low, frightened tone. "'From the moment of that interchange of looks, "'they never uttered his name or any reference to him, "'allowed, nor ever pursued the subject of the robbery "'when Mr. Gradgrind spoke of it. "'The two appointed days ran out, "'three days and nights ran out, "'and Stephen Blackpool was not come "'and remained unheard of. "'On the fourth day, Rachel was unabated confidence, "'but considering her dispatch to have miscarried, "'went up to the bank and showed her letter from him "'with his address at a working colony, one of many, "'not upon the main road, sixty miles away. "'Messengers were sent to that place "'and the whole town looked for Stephen "'to be brought in next day. "'During this whole time, the welp moved about "'with Mr. Boundary like his shadow, "'assisting in all the proceedings. "'He was greatly excited, horribly fevered, "'but his nails down to the quick "'spoke in a hard rattling voice "'and with lips that were black and burnt up. "'At the hour when the suspected man was looked for, "'the welp was at the station offering to wager "'that he had made off before the arrival "'of those who were sent in quest of him "'and that he would not appear. "'The welp was right. "'The messengers returned alone. "'Rachel's letter had gone, "'Rachel's letter had been delivered. "'Steven Blackpool had decamped in that same hour "'and no soul knew more of him. "'The only doubt in Cote Town was "'whether Rachel had written in good faith "'believing that he really would come back "'or warning him to fly. "'On this point, opinion was divided. "'Six days, seven days, far on into another week, "'the wretched welp plucked up a ghastly courage "'and began to grow defiant. "'Was the suspected fellow the thief? "'A pretty question. "'If not, where was the man "'and why did he not come back? "'Where was the man and why did he not come back? "'In the dead of night the echoes of his own words, "'which had rolled heaven knows how far away "'in the daytime, came back instead "'and divided by him until morning. "'End of Section 18. "'Section 19 of Hard Times. "'This is a LibriVox recording. "'All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. "'For more information, or to volunteer, "'please visit LibriVox.org, "'recording by Graham Thompson. "'Hard Times by Charles Dickens. "'Section 19, Book 3, Chapter 5. "'Found day and night again. "'Day and night again. "'No, Stephen Blackpool. "'Where was the man and why did he not come back? "'Every night Sissy went to Rachel's lodging "'and sat with her in her small neat room. "'All day Rachel toiled, "'as such people must toil whatever their anxieties. "'The smoke serpents were indifferent "'who was lost or found, who turned out bad or good. "'The melancholy mad elephants, like the hard-facked men, "'abated nothing of their set routine whatever happened. "'Day and night again. "'Day and night again. "'The monotony was unbroken. "'Even Stephen Blackpool's disappearance "'was falling into the general way "'and becoming as monotonous a wonder "'as any piece of machinery in Coketown. "'I missed out,' said Rachel, "'if there is as many as twenty left in all this place "'who have any trust in the poor dear Lat Nau.' "'She said it to Sissy as they sat in her lodging, "'lighted only by the lamp at the street corner. "'Sissy had come there when it was already dark "'to await her return from work, "'and they had since sat at the window "'where Rachel had found her, "'wanting no brighter light to shine on their sorrowful talk. "'If it hadn't been mercifully brought about "'that I was to have you to speak to,' pursued Rachel, "'times are when I think my mind would not have kept right, "'but I get hope and strength through you, "'and you believe that though appearances may rise against him, "'he'll be proof clear.' "'I do believe so,' returned Sissy, "'with my whole heart. "'I feel so certain, Rachel, "'that the confidence you hold in yours "'against all discouragement is not like to be wrong, "'that I have no more doubt of him "'than if I had known him through as many years of trial "'as you have. "'And I, my dear,' said Rachel, "'with a tremble in her voice, "'have known him through them all "'to be, according to his quiet ways, "'so faithful to everything honest and good, "'that if he was never to be heard of more, "'and I was to live to be a hundred years old, "'I could say with my last breath, "'God knows my heart. "'I've never once left trusting Stephen Blackpool.' "'We all believe, up at the lodge, Rachel, "'that he'll be freed from suspicion sooner or later. "'The better I know it to be so, believe there, my dear,' "'said Rachel, "'and the kinder I feel it, "'that you come away from there purposely to comfort me "'and keep me company and be seen with me "'when I'm not yet free from all suspicion myself, "'the more grieved I am "'that I should ever have spoken "'those mistrusting words to the young lady. "'And yet, you don't mistrust her now, Rachel. "'Now that you've brought us more together, no, "'but I can't at all times keep out of my mind, "'her voice so sunk into a low "'and slow communing with herself, "'that Sissy, sitting by her side, "'was obliged to listen with attention. "'I can't at all times keep out of my mind "'mistrustings of someone. "'I can't think who it is, "'I can't think how or why it may be done, "'but I mistrust that someone "'has put Stephen out of the way. "'I mistrust that by his coming back of his own accord "'and showing himself, innocent before them all, "'someone would be confounded, "'who, to prevent that, has stopped him "'and put him out of the way. "'That is a dreadful thought,' said Sissy, turning pale. "'It is a dreadful thought to think he may be murdered,' Sissy shuddered and turned paler yet. "'When it makes its way into my mind, dear,' said Rachel, "'and it will come sometimes, "'though I do all I can to keep it out, "'we're counting on to high numbers as I work "'and saying over and over again pieces "'that I knew when I were a child. "'I fall into such a wild, hot hurry "'that, however tired I am, "'I want to walk fast, miles and miles. "'I must get the better of this before bedtime. "'I'll walk home with you.' "'He might fall ill upon the journey back,' said Sissy faintly, "'offering a worn-out scrap of hope, "'and in such a case there are many places on the road "'where he might stop. "'But he is in none of them. "'He has been sought for in all, and he's not there.' "'True,' was Sissy's reluctant admission. "'It walked the journey in two days. "'If he was foot sore and couldn't walk, "'I sent him in the letter he got, the money to ride, "'lest he should have none of his own to spare. "'Let us hope that tomorrow will bring something better, Rachel. "'Come into the air.' Her gentle hand adjusted Rachel's shawl upon her shining black hair in the usual manner of her wearing it, and they went out. "'The night being fine, little knots of hands "'were here and there lingering at street corners, "'but it was suppertime with the greater part of them, "'and there were but few people in the streets.' "'You're not so hurried now, Rachel, and your hand is cooler. "'I get better, dear, if I can only walk and breathe a little fresh. "'Dimes when I can't, I turn weak and confused. "'But you must not begin to fear, Rachel, "'for you may be wanted at any time to stand by Stephen. "'Tomorrow is Saturday. "'If no news comes tomorrow, let us walk in the country "'on Sunday morning and strengthen you for another week. "'Will you go?' "'Yes, dear.' "'They were by this time in the street "'where Mr. Boundaby's house stood. "'The way to Sissy's destination led them past the door, "'and they were going straight towards it. "'Some train had newly arrived in Coketown, "'which had put a number of vehicles in motion, "'and scattered a considerable bustle about the town. "'Several coaches were rattling before them "'and behind them as they approached Mr. Boundaby's, "'and one of the latter drew up with such briskness "'as they were in the act of passing the house "'that they looked round involuntarily. "'The bright gaslight of Mr. Boundaby's steps "'showed them Mrs. Sparsit in the coach "'in an ecstasy of excitement, struggling to open the door. "'Mrs. Sparsit, seeing them at the same moment, "'called them to stop. "'It's a coincidence!' exclaimed Mrs. Sparsit "'as she was released by the coachman. "'It's a providence! "'Come out, ma'am!' then said Mrs. Sparsit to someone inside. "'Come out, or we'll have you dragged out!' "'Hereupon, no other than the mysterious old woman "'descended, whom Mrs. Sparsit incontinently collared. "'Leave her alone, everybody!' cried Mrs. Sparsit "'with great energy. "'Let nobody touch her! "'She belongs to me. "'Come in, ma'am!' then said Mrs. Sparsit, "'reversing her former word of command. "'Come in, ma'am, or we'll have you dragged in!' "'The spectacle of a matron of classical deportment, "'seizing an ancient woman by the throat, "'and hailing her into a dwelling-house, "'would have been under any circumstances "'sufficient temptation to all true English stragglers, "'so blessed as to witness it, "'to force away into that dwelling-house "'and see the matter out. "'But when the phenomenon was enhanced by the notoriety "'and mystery by this time associated all over the town "'with the bank robbery, "'it would have lured the stragglers in "'with an irresistible attraction, "'though the roof had been expected to fall upon their heads. "'Accordingly, the chance-witnesses on the ground, "'consisting of the busiest of the neighbours "'in the number of some five and twenty, "'closed in after Sissy and Rachel, "'as they closed in after Mrs. Sparsit and her prize. "'And the whole body made a disorderly eruption "'into Mr. Boundary's dining-room, "'where the people behind lost not a moment's time "'in mounting on the chairs "'to get the better of the people in front.' "'Fetch, Mr. Boundary down!' cried Mrs. Sparsit. "'Rachel, young woman, you know who this is!' "'It's Mrs. Petler,' said Rachel. "'I should think it is!' cried Mrs. Sparsit, exulting. "'Fetch, Mr. Boundary! "'Stand away, everybody!' "'Here old Mrs. Petler, "'muffling herself up and shrinking from observation, "'whispered a word of entreaty. "'Don't tell me!' said Mrs. Sparsit aloud. "'I have told you twenty times, "'coming along, that I will not leave you "'till I have handed you over to him myself.' "'Mr. Boundary now appeared, "'accompanied by Mr. Gradgrind and the Welp, "'with whom he had been holding conference upstairs. "'Mr. Boundary looked more astonished than hospitable "'at sight of this uninvited party in his dining-room. "'Why, what's the matter now?' said he. "'Mrs. Sparsit, ma'am.' "'Sir,' explained that worthy woman, "'I trust it is my good fortune "'to produce a person you have much desire to find. "'Stimulated by my wish to relieve your mind, sir, "'and connecting together such imperfect clues "'to the part of the country "'in which that person might be supposed to reside, "'as have been afforded by the young woman Rachel, "'fortunately now present to identify. "'I've had the happiness to succeed "'and to bring that person with me. "'I need not say most unwillingly on her part. "'It has not been, sir, "'without some trouble that I have affected this, "'but trouble in your service is to me a pleasure, "'and hunger thirst and cold a real gratification.' "'Here,' Mrs. Sparsit ceased, "'for Mr. Boundaby's visage exhibited "'an extraordinary combination "'of all possible colours and expressions of discomforture, "'as old Mrs. Pegler was disclosed to his view. "'Why, what do you mean by this?' "'Was his highly unexpected demand in great warmth. "'I ask you, what do you mean by this, Mrs. Sparsit, ma'am?' "'Sir,' exclaimed Mrs. Sparsit, faintly, "'why don't you mind your own business, ma'am,' roared Boundaby, "'how dare you go and poke your officious nose "'into my family affairs!' "'This allusion to her favourite feature "'overpowered Mrs. Sparsit. "'She sat down stiffly in a chair, "'as if she were frozen, "'and with a fixed stare at Mr. Boundaby, "'slowly grated her mittens against one another "'as if they were frozen too.' "'My dear Josiah,' cried Mrs. Pegler, trembling, "'my darling boy, I'm not to blame. "'It's not my fault, Josiah. "'I told this lady over and over again, "'and I knew she was doing what would not be agreeable to you, "'but she would do it. "'What did you let her bring you for? "'Couldn't you knock her cap off, or her tooth out, "'or scratch her, or do something or other to her?' asked Boundaby. "'My own boy, she threatened me that if I resisted her, "'I should be brought by constables, "'and it was better to come quietly "'than make that stir in such a—' "'Mrs. Pegler glanced timidly, "'but proudly round the walls. "'Such a fine house is this. "'Indeed, indeed, it is not my fault. "'My dear noble, stately boy, "'I've always lived quiet and secret as I am, a dear. "'I've never broken the condition once. "'I've never said that I was your mother. "'I've admired you to distance, "'and if I've come to town sometimes, "'with long times between to take a proud peep at you, "'I've done it unbeknown, my love, and gone away again.' "'Mr. Boundaby, with his hands in his pockets, "'walked in impatient mortification, "'up and down at the side of the long dining-table, "'while the spectators greedily took in every syllable "'of Mrs. Pegler's appeal, "'and at each succeeding syllable "'became more and more round-eyed. "'Mr. Boundaby, still walking up and down "'when Mrs. Pegler had done, "'Mr. Gratgrind addressed that malign, "'that maligned old lady. "'I'm surprised, madam,' he observed with severity, "'that in your old age you have the face to claim, "'Mr. Boundaby, for your son, "'after your unnatural and inhuman treatment of him. "'Me unnatural?' cried poor old Mrs. Pegler, "'me inhuman to my dear boy.' "'Dear,' repeated Mr. Gratgrind, "'yes, dear in his self-made prosperity, madam, I dare say. "'Not very dear, however, when you deserted him in his infancy, "'and left him to the brutality of a drunken grandmother. "'I deserted my Josiah,' cried Mrs. Pegler, "'clasping her hands. "'Now, Lord, forgive you, sir, for your wicked imaginations, "'and for your scandal against the memory of my poor mother, "'who died in my arms before Josiah was born. "'May you repent of it, sir, and live to know better.' She was so very earnest and injured that Mr. Gratgrind shocked by the possibility which dawned upon him, said in a gentler tone, "'Do you deny, then, madam, that you left your son "'to be brought up in the gutter?' "'Josiah in the gutter,' exclaimed Mrs. Pegler, "'no such a thing, sir, never for shame on you. "'My dear boy knows, and will give you to know, "'that though he come of humble parents, "'he come of parents that loved him as dear as the best could, "'and never thought it hardship on themselves to pinch a bit, "'that he might write and cite for beautiful, "'and have his books at home to show it. "'I have, I,' said Mrs. Pegler, with indignant pride, "'and my dear boy knows, and will give you to know, sir, "'that after his beloved father died when he was eight years old, "'his mother too could pinch a bit, "'as it was her duty and her pleasure and her pride to do, "'to help him out in life, and put in prentice.' And a steady lad he was, and a kind master he had to lend him a hand, "'and well he worked his own way forward to be rich and thriving. "'And I'll give you to know, sir, "'for this, my dear boy, I want, "'that though his mother kept but a little village shop, "'he never forgot her, "'but pensioned me on thirty bound a year, "'more than I want, for I put by out of it, "'only making the condition that I was to keep down in my own part, "'and make no boasts about him, and not trouble him. "'And I never have, except with looking at him once a year, "'when he's never known it. "'And it's right,' said poor old Mrs. Pegler, "'in affectionate championship, "'that I should keep down in my own part, "'and I have no doubts that if I was here, "'I should do a many unbefitting things, "'and I'm well contented, "'and I can keep my pride in my joyous desire to myself, "'and I can love for love's own sake. "'And I'm ashamed of you, sir,' said Mrs. Pegler, "'lastly, for your slanders and suspicions, "'and for I never stood here before, "'nor never wanted to stand here where my dear son said no, "'and I shouldn't be here now if I hadn't been for being brought here, "'and for shame upon you, "'or for shame to accuse me of being a bad mother to my son, "'with my son standing here to tell you it's all different.'" The bystanders, on and off the dining-room chairs, raised a murmur of sympathy with Mrs. Pegler, and Mr. Gradgrine felt himself innocently placed in a very distressing predicament, when Mr. Boundaby, who had never ceased walking up and down, and had every moment swelled larger and larger, and grown redder and redder, stopped short, "'I don't exactly know,' said Mr. Boundaby, "'how I come to be favoured with the attendance "'of the present company, but I don't inquire. "'When they are quite satisfied, "'perhaps they'll be so good as to disperse. "'Whether they're satisfied or not, "'perhaps they'll be so good as to disperse. "'I'm not bound to deliver a lecture on my family affairs, "'I've not undertaken to do it, "'and I'm not a-going to do it. "'Therefore, those who expect any explanation "'whatever upon that branch of the subject will be disappointed.'" Particularly Tom Gradgrine, and he can't know it too soon. In reference to the bank robbery, there has been a mistake made concerning my mother. If there hadn't been over a viciousness, it wouldn't have been made. And I hate over a viciousness at all times, whether or no. Good evening! Although Mr. Boundaby carried it off in these terms, holding the door open for the company to depart, there was a blustering sheepishness upon him, at once extremely crestfallen, and superlatively absurd. Detected as the bully of humility who had built his windy reputation upon lies, and in his boastfulness had put the honest truth as far away from him as if he had advanced the mean claim, there is no meaner, to tack himself onto a pedigree, he cut a most ridiculous figure. With the people filing off at the door he held, who he knew would carry what had passed to the whole town to be given to the Four Winds, he could not have looked a bully, more shorn, and forlorn if he had had his ears cropped. Even that unlucky female Mrs. Sparsit, fallen from her pinnacle of exultation into the slough of despond, was not in so bad a plight as that remarkable man and self-made humbug Josiah Boundaby of Coketown. Rachel and Sissy, leaving Mrs. Pegler to occupy a bed at her son's for that night, walked together to the gate of Stone Lodge, and they aparted. Mr. Gradgrind joined them before they had gone very far and spoke with much interest of Stephen Blackpool, for whom he thought this signal failure of the suspicions against Mrs. Pegler was likely to work well. As to the Welp, throughout this scene, as on all other late occasions, he had stuck close to Boundaby, he seemed to feel that as long as Boundaby could make no discovery without his knowledge, he was so far safe. He never visited his sister, and had only seen her once since she went home, that is to say, on the night when he still stuck close to Boundaby as already related. There was one dim, unformed fear lingering about his sister's mind, to which she never gave utterance, which surrounded the graceless and ungrateful boy with a dreadful mystery. The same dark possibility had presented itself in the same shapeless guise this very day to Sissy. When Rachel spoke of someone who would be confounded by Stephen's return, having put him out of the way. Louisa had never spoken of harbouring any suspicion of her brother in connection with the robbery. She and Sissy had held no confidence on the subject, save in that one interchange of looks when the unconscious father rested his grey head on his hand. But it was understood between them, and they both knew it. This other fear was so awful that it hovered about each of them like a ghostly shadow, neither daring to think of its being near herself, far less of its being near the other. And still the force spirit, which the welp had plucked up, throve with him. If Stephen Blackpool was not the thief, let him show himself. Why didn't he? Another night. Another day and night. No, Stephen Blackpool. Where was the man? And why did he not come back? Chapter 6 The Starlight The Sunday was a bright Sunday in autumn, clear and cool, when early in the morning Sissy and Rachel met to walk in the country. As Coketown cast ashes not only on its own head, but on the neighbourhoods, too, after the manner of those pious persons who do penance for their own sins by putting other people into sackcloth, it was customary for those who now and then thirsted for a draft of pure air, which is not absolutely the most wicked among the vanities of life, to get a few miles away by the railroad and then begin their walk, or their lounge in the fields. Sissy and Rachel helped themselves out of the smoke by the usual means and were put down at a station about midway between the town and Mr. Bounderby's retreat. Though the green landscape was blotted here and there with heaps of coal, it was green elsewhere, and there were trees to see, and there were larks singing, though it was Sunday, and there were pleasant scents in the air all was over arched by a bright blue sky. In the distance, one way, Cogetown showed as a black mist. In another distance, hills began to rise. In a third, there was a faint change in the light of the horizon where it shone upon the far off sea. Under their feet, the grass was fresh, beautiful shadows of branches flickered upon it and speckled it. Hedgerows were luxuriant, everything was at peace. Engines at Pitt's mouths and lean old horses that had worn the circle of their daily labor into the ground were alike quiet. Wheels had ceased for a short space to turn and the great wheel of earth seemed to revolve without the shocks and noises of another time. They walked on across the fields and down the shady lanes, sometimes getting over a fragment of a fence so rotten that it dropped at a touch of a foot, sometimes passing near a wreck of bricks and beams overgrown with grass, marking the sight of deserted works. They followed paths and tracks, however slight. Mounds where the grass was rank and high and where brambles, dockweed, and such-like vegetation were confusedly heaped together they always avoided, for dismal stories were told in that country of the old pits hidden beneath such indications. The sun was high when they sat down to rest. They had seen no one, near or distant for a long time, and the solitude remained unbroken. It is so still here, Rachel, and the way is so untrodden that I think we must be the first to have been here all the summer. As Sissy said it, her eyes were attracted by another of those rotten fragments of fence upon the ground. She got up to look at it, and yet I don't know. This has not been broken very long. The wood is quite fresh where it gave way. Here are footsteps, too. Oh, Rachel! She ran back and caught her on the neck. Rachel had already started up. What is the matter? I don't know. There's a hat lying in the grass. They went forward together. Rachel took it up, shaking from head to foot. She broke into a passion of tears and lamentations. Stephen Blackpool was written, in his own hand, on the inside. Oh, the poor lad! The poor lad! He's been made away with! He's lying murdered here! Is there— has there had any blood upon it? Sissy faltered. They were afraid to look, but they did examine it, and found no marks of violence inside or out. It had been lying there some days, for rain and dew had stained it, and the mark of its shape was on the grass where it had fallen. They looked fearfully about them, without moving, but could see nothing more. Rachel, Sissy whispered, I will go on a little by myself. She had unclasped her hand, and was in the act of stepping forward when Rachel caught her in both arms with a scream that resounded over the wide landscape. Before them, at their very feet, was the brink of a black ragged chasm hidden by the thick grass. They sprang back and fell upon their knees, each hiding her face upon the other's neck. Oh, my good lord! He's down there! Down there! At first this and her terrific screams were all that could be got from Rachel, by any tears, by any prayers, by any representations, by any means. It was impossible to hush her, and it was deadly necessary to hold her, or she would have flung herself down the shaft. Rachel, dear Rachel, good Rachel, for the love of heaven, not these dreadful cries! Think of Stephen, think of Stephen, think of Stephen! By an earnest repetition of this entreaty, poured out in all the agony of such a moment, Sissy at last brought her to be silent, and to look at her with a tearless face of stone. Rachel, Stephen may be living. You wouldn't leave him lying maimed at the bottom of this dreadful place a moment if you could bring help to him? No, no, no! No, no, no! Don't stir from here, for his sake! Let me go and listen. She shuddered to approach the pit, but she crept towards it on her hands and knees, and called to him as loud as she could call. She listened, but no sound replied. She called again and listened, still no answering sound. She did this twenty, thirty times. She took a little clot of earth from the broken ground where he had stumbled and threw it in. She could not hear it fall. The wide prospect so beautiful in its stillness, but a few minutes ago, almost carried despair to her brave heart, as she rose and looked all round her, seeing no help. Rachel, we must lose not a moment. We must go in different directions seeking aid. You shall go by the way we have come, and I will go forward by the path. Tell anyone you see and everyone what has happened. Think of Stephen, think of Stephen! She knew by Rachel's face that she might trust her now, and after standing for a moment to see her running, ringing her hands as she ran, she turned and went upon her own search. She stopped at the hedge to tie her shawl there as the guide to the place, then threw her bonnet aside and ran as she had never run before. Run, sissy, run! In heaven's name! Don't stop for breath! Run! Run! Quickening herself by carrying such entreaties in her thoughts, she ran from field to field and lane to lane and place to place as she had never run before, until she came to a shed by an engine house, where two men lay in the shade asleep on straw. First to wake them, and next to tell them, also wild and breathless as she was, what had brought her there were difficulties, but they no sooner understood her than their spirits were on fire like hers. One of the men was in a drunken slumber, but on his comrade shouting to him that a man had fallen down the old hell shaft, he started out to a pool of dirty water, put his head in it, and came back sober. With these two men she ran to another, half a mile further, and with that one to another, while they ran elsewhere. Then a horse was found, and she got another man to ride for life or death to the railroad, and send a message to Louisa, which she wrote and gave him. By this time a whole village was up, and windlesses, ropes, poles, candles, lanterns, all things necessary were fast collecting and being brought into one place to be carried to the old hell shaft. It seemed now hours and hours since she had left the lost man lying in the grave where he had been buried alive. She could not bear to remain away from it any longer, and was like deserting him, and she hurried swiftly back, accompanied by half a dozen laborers, including the drunken man whom the news had sobered, and who was the best man of all. When they came to the old hell shaft, they found it as lonely as she had left it. The men called and listened as she had done, and examined the edge of the chasm, and settled how it had happened, and then sat down to wait until the implements they wanted should come up. Every sound of insects in the air, every stirring of the leaves, every whisper among these men made sissy tremble, for she thought it was a cry at the bottom of the pit. But the wind blew idly over it, and no sound arose to the surface, and they sat upon the grass, waiting, waiting. After they had waited some time, straggling people who had heard of the accident began to come up, then the real help of implements began to arrive. In the midst of this, Rachel returned, and with her party there was a surgeon who brought some wine and medicines. But the expectation among the people that the man would be found alive was very slight indeed. There being now people enough present to impede the work, the sobered man put himself at the head of the rest, or was put there by the general consent, and made a large ring round the old hell-shaft, and appointed men to keep it. Besides such volunteers as were accepted to work, only sissy and Rachel were at first permitted within this ring. But later in the day, when the message brought and expressed from Coke Town, Mr. Gradgrind and Louisa, and Mr. Bounderby and the Welp were also there. The sun was four hours lower than when sissy and Rachel had first sat down upon the grass, before a means of enabling two men to descend securely was rigged with poles and ropes. Difficulties had arisen in the construction of this machine, simple as it was, requisites had been found wanting, and messages had had to go to and to return. It was five o'clock in the afternoon of the bright autumnal Sunday, before a candle was sent down to try the air, while three or four rough faces stood crowded close together, attentively watching it, the man at the windlass lowering as they were told. The candle was brought up again, feebly burning, and then some water was cast in, then the bucket was hooked on, and the sobered man and another got in with lights, giving the word, lower away. As the rope went out, tight and strained, and the windlass creaked, there was not a breath among the one or two hundred men and women looking on, that came as it was won't to come. The signal was given, and the windlass stopped with abundant rope to spare. Apparently so long an interval ensued with the men at the windlass standing idle that some women shrieked that another accident had happened, but the surgeon, who held the watch, declared five minutes not to have elapsed yet, and sternly admonished them to keep silence. He had not well done speaking when the windlass was reversed and worked again. Practiced eyes knew that it did not go as heavily as it would if both workmen had been coming up, and that only one was returning. The rope came in, tight and strained, and ring after ring was coiled upon the barrel of the windlass, and all eyes were fastened on the pit. The sobered man was brought up and leaped out briskly on the grass. There was a universal cry of alive or dead, and then a deep, profound hush. When he said, Alive! A great shout arose, and many eyes had tears in them. But he's hurt very bad, he added, as soon as he could make himself hurt again. Where's doctor? He's hurt so very bad, sir, that we don't know how to get him up. They all consulted together, and looked anxiously at the surgeon as he asked some questions, and shook his head on receiving the replies. The sun was setting now, and the red light in the evening sky touched every face there, and caused it to be distinctly seen in all its wrapped suspense. The consultation ended, and the men returning to the windlass, and the pit men going down again, carrying the wine and some other small matters with him. Then the other man came up. In the meantime, under the surgeon's direction, some men brought a hurdle, on which others made a thick bed of spare clothes covered with loose straw, while he himself contrived some bandages and slings from shawls and handkerchiefs. As these were made, they were hung upon an arm of the pit man, who had last come up, with instructions how to use them. And as he stood, shown by the light he carried, leaning his powerful loose hand upon one of the poles, and sometimes glancing down the pit, and sometimes glancing round upon the people, he was not the least conspicuous figure in the scene. It was dark now, and torches were kindled. It appeared from the little this man said to those about him, which was quickly repeated all over the circle, that the lost man had fallen upon a massive crumbled rubbish, with which the pit was half choked up, and that his fall had been further broken by some jagged earth at the side. He lay upon his back, with one arm doubled under him, and according to his own belief, had hardly stirred since he fell, except that he had moved his free hand to his side pocket, in which he remembered to have some bread and meat, of which he had swallowed crumbs, and had likewise scooped up a little water in it now and then. He had come straight away from his work on being written to, and had walked the whole journey, and was on his way to Mr. Boundary's country house after dark when he fell. He was crossing that dangerous country at such a dangerous time, because he was innocent of what was laid to his charge, and couldn't rest from coming the nearest way to deliver himself up. The old hell-shaft, the pit man said, with a curse upon it, was worthy of its bad name to the last, for though Stephen could speak now, he believed it would soon be found to have mangled the life out of him. When all was ready, this man, still taking his last hurried charges from his comrades and the surgeon, after the windlass had begun to lower him, disappeared into the pit. The rope went out as before, the signal was made as before, and the windlass stopped. No man removed his hand from it now, everyone waited with his grasp set, and his body bent down to the work, ready to reverse and wind in. At length the signal was given, and all the ring leaned forward. For now the rope came in, tightened and strained to its utmost as it appeared, and the men turned heavily and the windlass complained. It was scarcely indurable to look at the rope and think of its giving way, but ring after ring was coiled upon the barrel of the windlass safely, and the connecting chains appeared, and finally the bucket, with the two men holding on at the sides, a sight to make the head swim, and a press the heart, and tenderly supporting between them, slung and tied within, the figure of a poor, crushed human creature. A low murmur of pity went round the throng, and the women wept aloud, as this form, almost without form, was moved very slowly from its iron deliverance and laid upon the bed of straw. At first none but the surgeon went close to it, he did what he could in its adjustment on the couch, but the best that he could do was to cover it. That gently done he called to him Rachel and Sissy, and at that time the pale, worn, patient face was seen looking up at the sky, with the broken right hand lying bare on the outside of the covering garments, as if waiting to be taken by another hand. They gave him drink, moistened his face with water, and administered some drops of cordial and wine. Though he lay quite motionless looking up at the sky, he smiled, and said, Rachel. She stooped down on the grass at his side, and bent over him until her eyes were between his and the sky, for he could not so much as turn them to look at her. Rachel, my dear! She took his hand. He smiled again, and said, Don't let it go. Thou art in great pain, my own dear Stephen. I have been, but not now. I have been dreadful and dreary and long, my dear, but tis I were now, while Rachel, while I am muddle, for first to last a muddle. The specter of his old look seemed to pass, as he said the word. I have fell into the pit, my dear, as have cost within the knowledge of old folk now living hundreds and hundreds of men's lives, fathers, sons, brothers, dear to thousands and thousands, and keeping them for a want and hunger. I have fell into a pit that have been with a fire-damped crueler than battle. I have read on it, in the public petition, as only one may read, for all the men that works in pits, in which they are praying and praying the law-makers for Christ's sake, not to let their work be murdered to them, but to spare them for the wives and children, that they loves as well as gentle folk loves theirs, when it were in work it killed without need, when tis let alone it kills without need. See how we die in no need, one way and another, in a muddle every day. He faintly said it, without any anger, against any one, merely as the truth. Thy little sister, Rachel, thou hast not forgot her, thou art not like to forget her now and me so nigh her, thou know'st poor, patient, suffering dear, how thou didst work for her, sitting all day long in her little chair at thy window, and how she died young and misshapen, along a sickly air as had no need to be, and along a working people's miserable homes, a muddle, all muddle. Louisa approached him, but he could not see her lying with his face turned up to the night sky. If all the things that tutors us, my dear, was not so muddled, I shouldn't needin' to comb here. If we was not in a muddle among our sound, I shouldn't have been, by my own fellow weavers and working brothers, so mistook. If Mr. Bounderby had ever knowed me right, if he'd ever knowed me at all, he wouldn't have took an offence with me, he wouldn't have suspected me. But look up yonder, Rachel, look above. Following his eyes, she saw that he was gazing at a star. It has shined upon me, he said reverently, in my pain and trouble down below, it has shined into my mind. I had lookin' at it, and thought of thee, Rachel, till the muddle in my mind have cleared a why, above a bit, I hope. If Suma been wantin' and understandin' me better, I, too, had been wantin' and understandin' to them better. When I got thy letter, I easily believin' that what the young lady said and done to me, and what her brother said and done to me was won, and that there was a wicked plot betwixt them. When I fell, I were in anger with her, and her in on, to be as unjust to her as others was to me. But in our judgments, like as in our doings, we must bear and forbear. In my pain and trouble lookin' up yonder, which shinin' on me, I has seen more clear, and have made it my dying prayer that all the world may only come together more, and get a better understandin' of one another, than when I were in, to my own weak self. Louisa, herein' what he said, bent over him on the opposite side to Rachel so that he could see her. You have heard, he said, after a few moments' silence. I have not forgot you, lady. Yes, Stephen, I have heard you, and your prayer is mine. You have, Father, will you take a message to him? He is here, said Louisa, with dread. Shall I bring him to you? If you please. Louisa returned with her father. Standing hand in hand, they both looked down upon the solemn countenance. Sir, you will clear me, and make my name good, with all men, this I leave to you. Mr. Gradgrind was troubled, and asked how? Sir, was the reply. Your son will tell you how, ask him. I make no charges. I leave none behind me, not a single word I have seen and spoken with your son one night. I ask no more of you than that you clear me, and I trust to you to do it. The bearer is now ready to carry him away, and the surgeon, being anxious for his removal, those who had torches or lanterns prepared to go in front of the litter. Before it was raised, and while they were arranging how to go, he said to Rachel, looking upward at the star. Often as I combed to my son, and found it shining on me down there in my trouble, I thought it were the stars guided to our Savior's home. I almost think it be the very star. They lifted him up, and he was overjoyed to find that they were about to take him in the direction whether the star seemed to him to lead. Rachel, beloved lass, don't let go of my hand. We may walk together tonight, my dear. I will hold thy hand, and keep beside these devins all the way. Bless thee. Will somebody be pleased to cove in my face? They carried him very gently along the fields. And down the lanes and over the wide landscape, Rachel always holding the hand in hers. Very few whispers broke the mournful silence. It was soon a funeral procession. The star had shown him where to find the God of the poor. And through humility and sorrow and forgiveness he had gone to his Redeemer's rest. End of Chapter 6 End of Section 20 Recording by Joseph Fugarets Brooklyn, New York