hard times(艰难时世)-第4章
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each jar brim full by and by； dost thou think that thou wilt always
kill outright the robber Fancy lurking within—or sometimes only
maim him and distort him！
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Hard Times 17
Chapter 3
A Loophole
r Gradgrind walked homeward from the school； in a
state of considerable satisfaction。 It was his school； and
M
he intended it to be a model。 He intended every child in
it to be a model—just as the young Gradgrinds were all models。
There were five young Gradgrinds； and they were models every
one。 They had been lectured at； from their tenderest years；
coursed； like little hares。 Almost as soon as they could run alone；
they had been made to run to the lecture…room。 The first object
with which they had an association； or of which they had a
remembrance； was a large black board with a dry Ogre chalking
ghastly white figures on it。
Not that they knew； by name or nature； anything about an
Ogre。 Fact forbid！ I only use the word to express a monster in a
lecturing castle； with Heaven knows how many heads manipulated
into one； taking childhood captive； and dragging it into gloomy
statistical dens by the hair。
No little Gradgrind had ever seen a face in the moon； it was up
in the moon before it could speak distinctly。 No little Gradgrind
had ever learnt the silly jingle； Twinkle； twinkle； little star； how I
wonder what you are！ No little Gradgrind had ever known wonder
on the subject； each little Gradgrind having at five years old
dissected the Great Bear like a Professor Owen； and driven
Charles’s Wain like a locomotive engine…driver。 No little
Gradgrind had ever associated a cow in a field with that famous
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Hard Times 18
cow with the crumpled horn who tossed the dog who worried the
cat who killed the rat who ate the malt； or with that yet more
famous cow who swallowed Tom Thumb： it had never heard of
those celebrities； and had only been introduced to a cow as a
graminivorous ruminating quadruped with several stomachs。
To his matter…of…fact home； which was called Stone Lodge； Mr
Gradgrind directed his steps。 He had virtually retired from the
wholesale hardware trade before he built Stone Lodge； and was
now looking about for a suitable opportunity of making an
arithmetical figure in Parliament。 Stone Lodge was situated on a
moor within a mile or two of a great town—called Coketown in the
present faithful guide…book。
A very regular feature on the face of the country； Stone Lodge
was。 Not the least disguise toned down or shaded off that
uncompromising fact in the landscape。 A great square house； with
a heavy portico darkening the principal windows； as its master’s
heavy brows overshadowed his eyes。 A calculated； cast up；
balanced； and proved house。 Six windows on this side of the door；
six on that side； a total of twelve in this wing； a total of twelve in
the other wing： four and twenty carried over to the back wings。 A
lawn and garden and an infant avenue； all ruled straight like a
botanical account…book。 Gas and ventilation； drainage and water…
service； all of the primest quality。 Iron clamps and girders；
fireproof from top to bottom； mechanical lifts for the housemaids；
with all their brushes and brooms； everything that heart could
desire。
Everything？ Well； I suppose so。 The little Gradgrinds had
cabinets in various departments of science too。 They had a little
conchological cabinet； and a little metallurgical cabinet； and a
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Hard Times 19
little mineralogical cabinet； and the specimens were all arranged
and labelled； and the bits of stone and ore looked as though they
might have been broken from the parent substances by those
tremendously hard instruments their own names； and； to
paraphrase the idle legend of Peter Piper； who had never found
his way into their nursery； if the greedy little Gradgrinds grasped
at more than this； what was it for good gracious goodness sake；
that the greedy little Gradgrinds grasped at！
Their father walked on in a hopeful and satisfied frame of mind。
He was an affectionate father； after his manner； but he would
probably have described himself （if he had been put； like Sissy
Jupe； upon a definition） as “an eminently practical” father。 He had
a particular pride in the phrase eminently practical； which was
considered to have a special application to him。 Whatsoever the
public meeting held in Coketown； and whatsoever the subject of
such meeting； some Coketowner was sure to seize the occasion of
alluding to his eminently practical friend Gradgrind。 This always
pleased the eminently practical friend。 He knew it to be his due；
but his due was acceptable。
He had reached the neutral ground upon the outskirts of the
town； which was neither town nor country； and yet was neither
spoiled； when his ears were invaded by the sound of music。 The
clashing and banging band attached to the horse…riding
establishment which had there set up its rest in a wooden pavilion；
was in full bray。 A flag； floating from the summit of the temple；
proclaimed to mankind that it was “Sleary’s Horseriding” which
claimed their suffrages。 Sleary himself； a stout modern statue with
a moneybox at its elbow； in an ecclesiastical niche of early Gothic
architecture； took the money。 Miss Josephine Sleary； as some very
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Hard Times 20
long and very narrow strips of printed bill announced； was then
inaugurating the entertainments with her graceful equestrian
Tyrolean flower…act。 Among the other pleasing but always strictly
moral wonders which must be seen to be believed； Signor Jupe
was that afternoon to “elucidate the diverting accomplishments of
his highly trained performing dog Merrylegs”。 He was also to
exhibit “his astounding feat of throwing seventy…five
hundredweight in rapid succession backhanded over his head
thus forming a fountain of solid iron in mid…air； a feat never before
attempted in this or any other country and which having elicited
such rapturous plaudits from enthusiastic throngs it cannot be
withd
