hard times(艰难时世)-第16章
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mournful； “was familiar with the Italian Opera at a very early
age。”
“Egad； ma’am； so was I；” said Bounderby； “—with the wrong
side of it。 A hard bed the pavement of it’s Arcade used to make； I
assure you。 People like you； ma’am； accustomed from infancy to
lie on Down feathers； have no idea how hard a paving…stone is；
without trying it。 No； no； it’s of no use my talking to you about
tumblers。 I should speak of foreign dancers； and the West End of
London； and May Fair； and lords and ladies and honourables。”
“I trust； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； with decent resignation； “it is not
necessary that you should do anything of that kind。 I hope I have
learnt how to accommodate myself to the changes of life。 If I have
acquired an interest in hearing of your instructive experiences；
and can scarcely hear enough of them； I claim no merit for that；
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since I believe it is a general sentiment。”
“Well； ma’am；” said her patron； “perhaps some people may be
pleased to say that they do like to hear； in his own unpolished way；
what Josiah Bounderby of Coketown； has gone through。 But you
must confess that you were born in the lap of luxury； yourself。
Come； ma’am； you know you were born in the lap of luxury。”
“I do not； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit with a shake of her head；
“deny it。”
Mr Bounderby was obliged to get up from the table； and stand
with his back to the fire； looking at her； she was such an
enhancement of his position。
“And you were in crack society。 Devilish high society；” he said；
warming his legs。
“It is true； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with an affectation of
humility the very opposite of his； and therefore in no danger of
jostling it。
“You were in the tiptop fashion； and all the rest of it；” said Mr
Bounderby。
“Yes； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with a kind of social
widowhood upon her。 “It is unquestionably true。”
Mr Bounderby； bending himself at the knees； literally
embraced his legs in his great satisfaction and laughed aloud。 Mr
and Miss Gradgrind being then announced； he received the
former with a shake of the hand； and the latter with a kiss。
“Can Jupe be sent here； Bounderby？” asked Mr Gradgrind。
Certainly。 So Jupe was sent there。 On coming in； she curtseyed
to Mr Bounderby； and to his friend Tom Gradgrind； and also to
Louisa； but in her confusion unluckily omitted Mrs Sparsit。
Observing this； the blustrous Bounderby had the following
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remarks to make：
“Now； I tell you what； my girl。 The name of that lady by the
teapot； is Mrs Sparsit。 That lady acts as mistress of this house； and
she is a highly connected lady。 Consequently； if ever you come
again into any room in this house； you will make a short stay in it if
you don’t behave towards that lady in your most respectful
manner。 Now； I don’t care a button what you do to me； because I
don’t affect to be anybody。 So far from having high connections； I
have no connections at all； and I come of the scum of the earth。
But towards that lady； I do care what you do； and you shall do
what is deferential and respectful； or you shall not come here。”
“I hope； Bounderby；” said Mr Gradgrind； in a conciliatory
voice； “that this was merely an oversight。”
“My friend Tom Gradgrind suggests； Mrs Sparsit；” said
Bounderby； “that this was merely an oversight。 Very likely。
However； as you are aware； ma’am； I don’t allow of even
oversights towards you。”
“You are very good indeed； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； shaking
her head with her State humility。 “It is not worth speaking of。”
Sissy； who all this time had been faintly excusing herself with
tears in her eyes； was now waved over by the master of the house
to Mr Gradgrind。 She stood； looking intently at him； and Louisa
stood coldly by； with her eyes upon the ground； while he
proceeded thus：
“Jupe； I have made up my mind to take you into my house； and；
when you are not in attendance at the school； to employ you about
Mrs Gradgrind； who is rather an invalid。 I have explained to Miss
Louisa—this is Miss Louisa—the miserable but natural end of
your late career； and you are to expressly understand that the
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whole of that subject is past； and is not to be referred to any more。
From this time you begin your history。 You are； at present；
ignorant； I know。”
“Yes； sir； very；” she answered； curtseying。
“I shall have the satisfaction of causing you to be strictly
educated； and you will be a living proof to all who come into
communication with you； of the advantages of the training you will
receive。 You will be reclaimed and formed。 You have been in the
habit now of reading to your father； and those people I found you
among； I dare say？” said Mr Gradgrind； beckoning her nearer to
him before he said so； and dropping his voice。
“Only to father and Merrylegs； sir。 At least I mean to father；
when Merrylegs was always there。”
“Never mind Merrylegs； Jupe；” said Mr Gradgrind； with a
passing frown。 “I don’t ask about him。 I understand you to have
been in the habit of reading to your father？”
“O yes； sir； thousands of times。 They were the happiest—O； of
all the happy times we had together； sir！”
It was only now when her sorrow broke out； that Louisa looked
at her。
“And what；” asked Mr Gradgrind； in a still lower voice； “did you
read to your father； Jupe？”
“About the Fairies； sir； and the Dwarf； and the Hunchback； and
the Genies；” she sobbed out； “and about—”
“Hush！” said Mr Gradgrind； “that is enough。 Never breathe a
word of such destructive nonsense any more。 Bounderby； this a
case of rigid training； and I shall observe it with interest。”
“Well；” returned Mr Bounderby； “I have given you my opinion
already； and I shouldn’t do as you do。 But； very well； very well。
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Since you are bent upon it； very well！”
So； Mr Gradgrind and his daughter took Cecilia Jupe off with
them to Stone Lodge； and on the way Louisa never spoke one
word； good or bad。 And Mr Bounderby went about his daily
pursuits。 And Mrs Sparsit got behind her eyebrows and medita
