hard times(艰难时世)-第31章
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Somehow or other； he had become possessed by an idea that there
was something in this girl which could hardly be set forth in a
tabular form。 Her capacity of definition might be easily stated at a
very low figure； her mathematical knowledge at nothing； yet he
was not sure that if he had been required； for example； to kick her
off into columns in a parliamentary return； he would have quite
known how to divide her。
In some stages of his manufacture of the human fabric； the
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processes of Time are very rapid。 Young Thomas and Sissy being
both at such a stage of their working up； these changes were
effected in a year or two； while Mr Gradgrind himself seemed
stationary in his course； and underwent no alteration。 Except one；
which was apart from his necessary progress through the mill。
Time hustled him into a little noisy and rather dirty machinery； in
a by…corner； and made him Member of Parliament for Coketown：
one of the respected members for ounce weights and measures；
one of the representatives of the multiplication table； one of the
deaf honourable gentlemen； dumb honourable gentlemen； blind
honourable gentlemen； lame honourable gentlemen； dead
honourable gentlemen； to every other consideration。 Else
wherefore live we in a Christian land； eighteen hundred and odd
years after our Master？
All this while； Louisa had been passing on； so quiet and
reserved； and so much given to watching the bright ashes at
twilight as they fell into the grate and became extinct； that from
the period when her father had said she was almost a young
woman—which seemed but yesterday—she had scarcely attracted
his notice again； when he found her quite a young woman。
“Quite a young woman；” said Mr Gradgrind； musing。 “Dear
me！”
Soon after this discovery he became more thoughtful than
usual for several days； and seemed much engrossed by one
subject。 On a certain night； when he was going out； and Louisa
came to bid him good…bye before his departure—as he was not to
be home until late and she would not see him again until the
morning—he held her in his arms； looking at her in his kindest
manner； and said：
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“My dear Louisa； you are a woman！”
She answered him with the old； quick； searching look of the
night when she was found at the Circus； then cast down her eyes。
“Yes； father。”
“My dear；” said Mr Gradgrind； “I must speak with you alone
and seriously。 Come to me in my room after breakfast tomorrow；
will you？”
“Yes； father。”
“Your hands are rather cold； Louisa。 Are you not well？”
“Quite well； father “And cheerful？”
She looked at him again； and smiled in her peculiar manner。 “I
am as cheerful； father； as I usually am； or usually have been。”
“That’s well；” said Mr Gradgrind。 So； he kissed her and went
away； and Louisa returned to the serene apartment of the hair…
cutting character； and leaning her elbow on her hand； looked
again at the short…lived sparks that soon subsided into ashes。
“Are you there； Loo？” said her brother； looking in at the door。
He was quite a young gentleman of pleasure now； and not quite a
prepossessing one。
“Dear Tom；” she answered； rising and embracing him； “how
long it is since you have been to see me！”
“Why； I have been otherwise engaged； Loo； in the evenings； and
in the daytime old Bounderby has been keeping me at it rather。
But I touch him up with you； when he comes it too strong； and so
we preserve an understanding。 I say！ Has father said anything
particular to you； today or yesterday； Loo？”
“No； Tom。 But he told me tonight that he wished to do so in the
morning。”
“Ah！ that’s what I mean；” said Tom。 “Do you know where he is
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tonight？”—with a deep expression。
“No。”
“Then I’ll tell you。 He’s with old Bounderby。 They are having a
regular confab together； up at the Bank。 Why at the Bank； do you
think？ Well； I’ll tell you again。 To keep Mrs Sparsit’s ears as far off
as possible； I expect。”
With her hand upon her brother’s shoulder； Louisa still stood
looking at the fire。 Her brother glanced at her face with greater
interest than usual； and encircling her waist with his arm； drew
her coaxingly to him。
“You are very fond of me； an’t you； Loo？”
“Indeed I am； Tom； though you do let such long intervals go by
without coming to see me。”
“Well； sister of mine；” said Tom； “when you say that； you are
near my thoughts。 We might be so much oftener together—
mightn’t we？ Always together； almost—mightn’t we？ It would do
me a great deal of good if you were to make up your mind to I
know what； Loo。 It would be a splendid thing for me。 It would be
uncommonly jolly！”
Her thoughtfulness baffled his cunning scrutiny。 He could
make nothing of her face。 He pressed her in his arm； and kissed
her cheek。 She returned the kiss； but still looked at the fire。
“I say； Loo！ I thought I’d come； and just hint to you what was
going on： though I supposed you’d most likely guess； even if you
didn’t know。 I can’t stay； because I’m engaged to some fellows
tonight。 You won’t forget how fond you are of me？”
“No； dear Tom； I won’t forget。”
“That’s a capital girl；” said Tom。 “Good…bye； Loo。”
She gave him an affectionate good…night； and went out with
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him to the door； whence the fires of Coketown could be seen；
making the distance lurid。 She stood there looking steadfastly
towards them； and listening to his departing steps。 They retreated
quickly； as glad to get away from Stone Lodge； and she stood there
yet； when he was gone and all was quiet。 It seemed as if； first in
her own fire within the house； and then in the fiery haze without；
she tried to discover what kind of woof Old Time； that greatest and
longest…established Spinner of all； would weave from the threads
he had already spun into a woman。 But his factory is a secret
place； his work is noiseless； and his Hands are mutes。
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