hard times(艰难时世)-第5章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
such rapturous plaudits from enthusiastic throngs it cannot be
withdrawn”。 The same Signor Jupe was to “enliven the varied
performances at frequent intervals with his chaste Shakespearean
quips and retorts”。 Lastly； he was to wind them up by appearing in
his favourite character of Mr William Button； of Tooley Street； in
“the highly novel and laughable hippocomedietta of The Tailor’s
Journey to Brentford”。
Thomas Gradgrind took no heed of these trivialities of course；
but passed on as a practical man ought to pass on； either brushing
the noisy insects from his thoughts； or consigning them to the
House of Correction。 But； the turning of the road took him by the
back of the booth； and at the back of the booth a number of
children were congregated in a number of stealthy attitudes；
striving to peep in at the hidden glories of the place。
This brought him to a stop。 “Now； to think of these vagabonds；”
said he； “attracting the young rabble from a model school。
“ A space of stunted grass and dry rubbish being between him
and the young rabble； he took his eyeglass out of his waistcoat to
look for any child he knew by name； and might order off。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 21…
Hard Times 21
Phenomenon almost incredible though distinctly seen； what did
he then behold but his own metallurgical Louisa peeping with all
her might through a hole in a deal board； and his own
mathematical Thomas abasing himself on the ground to catch but
a hoof of the graceful equestrian Tyrolean flower…act！
Dumb with amazement； Mr Gradgrind crossed to the spot
where his family was thus disgraced； laid his hand upon each
erring child； and said：
“Louisa！！ Thomas！！”
Both rose； red and disconcerted。 But； Louisa looked at her
father with more boldness than Thomas did。 Indeed； Thomas did
not look at him； but gave himself up to be taken home like a
machine。
“In the name of wonder； idleness； and folly！” said Mr
Gradgrind； leading each away by a hand； “what do you do here？”
“Wanted to see what it was like；” returned Louisa shortly。
“What it was like？”
“Yes； father。”
There was an air of jaded sullenness in them both； and
particularly in the girl： yet； struggling through the dissatisfaction
of her face； there was a light with nothing to rest upon； a fire with
nothing to burn； a starved imagination keeping life in itself
somehow； which brightened its expression。 Not with the
brightness natural to cheerful youth； but with uncertain； eager；
doubtful flashes； which had something painful in them； analogous
to the changes on a blind face groping its way。
She was a child now； of fifteen or sixteen； but at no distant day
would seem to become a woman all at once。 Her father thought so
as he looked at her。 She was pretty。 Would have been self…willed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 22…
Hard Times 22
（he thought in his eminently practical way）； but for her bringing…
up。
“Thomas； though I have the fact before me； I find it difficult to
believe that you； with your education and resources； should have
brought your sister to a scene like this。”
“I brought him； father；” said Louisa； quickly。 “I asked him to
come。”
“I am sorry to hear it。 I am very sorry indeed to hear it。 It makes
Thomas no better； and it makes you worse； Louisa。”
She looked at her father again； but no tear fell down her cheek。
“You！ Thomas and you； to whom the circle of the sciences is
open； Thomas and you； who may be said to be replete with facts；
Thomas and you； who have been trained to mathematical
exactness； Thomas and you； here！” cried Mr Gradgrind。 “In this
degraded position！ I am amazed。”
“I was tired。 I have been tired a long time；” said Louisa。
“Tired？ Of what？” asked the astonished father。
“I don’t know of what—of everything I think。”
“Say not another word；” returned Mr Gradgrind。 “You are
childish。 I will hear no more。” He did not speak again until they
had walked some half…a…mile in silence； when he gravely broke out
with： “What would your best friends say； Louisa？ Do you attach no
value to their good opinion？ What would Mr Bounderby say？”
At the mention of this name； his daughter stole a look at him；
remarkable for its intense and searching character。 He saw
nothing of it； for before he looked at her she had again cast down
her eyes！
“What；” he repeated presently； “would Mr Bounderby say！” All
the way to Stone Lodge； as with grave indignation he led the two
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 23…
Hard Times 23
delinquents home； he repeated at intervals “What would Mr
Bounderby say！”—as if Mr Bounderby had been Mrs Grundy。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 24…
Hard Times 24
Chapter 4
Mr Bounderby
ot being Mrs Grundy； who was Mr Bounderby？
N Why； Mr Bounderby was as near being Mr
Gradgrind’s bosom friend； as a man perfectly devoid of
sentiment can approach that spiritual relationship towards
another man perfectly devoid of sentiment。 So near was Mr
Bounderby—or； if the reader should prefer it； so far off。
He was a rich man： banker； merchant； manufacturer； and what
not。 A big； loud man； with a stare and a metallic laugh。 A man
made out of a coarse material； which seemed to have been
stretched to make so much of him。 A man with a great puffed head
and forehead； swelled veins in his temples； and such a strained
skin to his face that it seemed to hold his eyes open and lift his
eyebrows up。 A man with a pervading appearance on him of being
inflated like a balloon； and ready to start。 A man who could never
sufficiently vaunt himself a self…made man。 A man who was always
proclaiming； through that brassy speaking…trumpet of a voice of
his； his old ignorance and his old poverty。 A man who was the
Bully of humility。
A year or two younger than his eminently practical friend； Mr
Bounderby looked older； his seven or eight and forty might have
had the seven or eight added to it again； without surprising
anybody。 He had not much hair。 One might have fancied he had
talked it off； and that what was left； all standing up in disorder；
was in that condition from being constantly blown about by his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Pag
