hard times(艰难时世)-第67章
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Hard Times 259
Sparsit； straining her hawk’s eyes to the utmost。 Mrs Sparsit was
too distant to hear a word of their discourse； or even to know that
they were speaking softly； otherwise than from the expression of
their figures； but what they said was this：
“You recollect the man； Mr Harthouse？”
“Oh； perfectly！”
“His face； and his manner； and what he said？”
“Perfectly。 And an infinitely dreary person he appeared to me
to be。 Lengthy and prosy in the extreme。 It was knowing to hold
forth； in the humble…virtue school of eloquence； but； I assure you I
thought at the time； ‘My good fellow； you are over…doing this！’”
“It has been very difficult to me to think ill of that man。”
“My dear Louisa—as Tom says。” Which he never did say。 “You
know no good of the fellow？”
“No； certainly。”
“Nor of any other such person？”
“How can I；” she returned； with more of her first manner on
her than he had lately seen； “when I know nothing of them； men
or women？”
“My dear Louisa； then consent to receive the submissive
representation of your devoted friend； who knows something of
several varieties of his excellent fellow…creatures—for excellent
they are； I am quite ready to believe； in spite of such little foibles
as always helping themselves to what they can get hold of。 This
fellow talks。 Well； every fellow talks。 He professes morality。 Well；
all sorts of humbugs profess morality。 From the House of
Commons to the House of Correction； there is a general profession
of morality； except among our people； it really is that exception
which makes our people quite reviving。 You saw and heard the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Hard Times 260
case。 Here was one of the fluffy classes pulled up extremely short
by my esteemed friend Mr Bounderby—who； as we know； is not
possessed of that delicacy which would soften so tight a hand。 The
member of the fluffy classes was injured； exasperated； left the
house grumbling； met somebody who proposed to him to go in for
some share in this Bank business； went in； put something in his
pocket which had nothing in it before； and relieved his mind
extremely。 Really he would have been an uncommon； instead of a
common； fellow； if he had not availed himself of such an
opportunity。 Or he may have originated it altogether； if he had the
cleverness。”
“I almost feel as though it must be bad in me；” returned Louisa；
after sitting thoughtful awhile； to be so ready to agree with you；
and to be so lightened in my heart by what you say。”
“I only say what is reasonable； nothing worse。 I have talked it
over with my friend Tom more than once—of course I remain on
terms of perfect confidence with Tom—and he is quite of my
opinion； and I am quite of his。 Will you walk？”
They strolled away； among the lanes beginning to be indistinct
in the twilight—she leaning on his arm—and she little thought
how she was going down； down； down； Mrs Sparsit’s staircase。
Night and day； Mrs Sparsit kept it standing。 When Louisa had
arrived at the bottom and disappeared in the gulf； it might fall in
upon her if it would； but； until then； there it was to be a Building；
before Mrs Sparsit’s eyes。 And there Louisa always was； upon it。
And always gliding down； down； down！
Mrs Sparsit saw James Harthouse come and go； she heard of
him here and there； she saw the changes of the face he had
studied； she； too； remarked to a nicety how and when it clouded；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Hard Times 261
how and when it cleared； she kept her black eyes wide open； with
no touch of pity； with no touch of compunction； all absorbed in
interest。 In the interest of seeing her； ever drawing； with no hand
to stay her； nearer and nearer to the bottom of this new Giant’s
Staircase。
With all her deference for Mr Bounderby as contra…
distinguished from his portrait； Mrs Sparsit had not the smallest
intention of interrupting the descent。 Eager to see it accomplished；
and yet patient； she waited for the last fall； as for the ripeness and
fulness of the harvest of her ropes。 Hushed in expectancy； she kept
her wary gaze upon the stairs； and seldom so much as darkly
shook her right mitten （with her fist in it）； at the figure coming
down。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Hard Times 262
Chapter 11
Lower And Lower
he figure descended the great stairs steadily； steadily；
always verging； like a weight in deep water； to the black
T
gulf at the bottom。
Mr Gradgrind； apprised of his wife’s decease； made an
expedition from London； and buried her in a businesslike manner。
He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder…heap；
and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted； and his
throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who
wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary
duties。
In the mean time； Mrs Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward。
Separated from her staircase； all the week； by the length of iron
road dividing Coketown from the country…house； she yet
maintained her cat…like observation of Louisa； through her
husband； through her brother； through James Harthouse； through
the outsides of letters and packets； through everything animate
and inanimate that at any time went near the stairs。 “Your foot is
on the last step； my lady；” said Mrs Sparsit； apostrophising the
descending figure； with the aid of her threatening mitten； “and all
your art shall never blind me。”
Art or nature though； the original stock of Louisa’s character or
the graft of circumstances upon it；—her curious reserve did baffle；
while it stimulated； one as sagacious as Mrs Sparsit。 There were
times when Mr James Harthouse was not sure of her。 There were
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Hard Times 263
times when he could not read the face he had studied so long； and
when this lonely girl was a greater mystery to him； than any
woman of the world with a ring of satellites to help her。
So the time went on； until it happened that Mr Bounderby was
called away from home by business which required his presence
elsewhere； for three or four days。 It was on a Friday that he
