hard times(艰难时世)-第78章
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me in a state of distraction。 Of course； she has remained here ever
since。 Let me entreat you； for your own sake and for hers； to be
more quiet。”
Mr Bounderby silently gazed about him for some moments； in
every direction except Mrs Sparsit’s direction； and then； abruptly
turning upon the niece of Lady Scadgers； said to that wretched
woman：
“Now； ma’am！ We shall be happy to hear any little apology you
may think proper to offer； for going about the country at express
pace； with no other luggage than a Cock…and…a…Bull； ma’am！”
“Sir；” whispered Mrs Sparsit； “my nerves are at present too
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much shaken； and my health is at present too much impaired； in
your service； to admit of my doing more than taking refuge in
tears。”
（Which she did。） “Well； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “without
making any observation to you that may not be made with
propriety to a woman of good family； what I have got to add to
that； is； that there’s something else in which it appears to me you
may take refuge； namely a coach。 And the coach in which we came
here； being at the door； you’ll allow me to hand you down to it； and
pack you home to the Bank： where the best course for you to
pursue； will be to put your feet into the hottest water you can bear；
and take a glass of scalding rum and butter after you get into bed。”
With these words； Mr Bounderby extended his right hand to the
weeping lady and escorted her to the conveyance in question；
shedding many plaintive sneezes by the way。 He soon returned
alone。
“Now； as you showed me in your face； Tom Gradgrind； that you
wanted to speak to me；” he resumed； “here I am。 But； I am not in a
very agreeable state； I tell you plainly； not relishing this business
even as it is； and not considering that I am at any time as dutifully
and submissively treated by your daughter； as Josiah Bounderby
of Coketown ought to be treated by his wife。 You have your
opinion； I dare say； and I have mine； I know。 If you mean to say
anything to me tonight； that goes against this candid remark； you
had better let it alone。”
Mr Gradgrind； it will be observed； being much softened； Mr
Bounderby took particular pains to harden himself at all points。 It
was his amiable nature。
“My dear Bounderby；” Mr Gradgrind began in reply。
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“Now； you’ll excuse me；” said Bounderby； “but I don’t want to
be too dear。 That； to start with。 When I begin to be dear to a man； I
generally find that his intention is to come over me。 I am not
speaking to you politely； but； as you are aware； I am not polite。 If
you like politeness； you know where to get it。 You have your
gentleman…friends you know； and they’ll serve you with as much of
the article as you want。 I don’t keep it myself。”
“Bounderby；” urged Mr Gradgrind； “we are all liable to
mistakes—”
“I thought you couldn’t make ’em；” interrupted Bounderby。
“Perhaps I thought so。 But； I say we are all liable to mistakes；
and I should feel sensible of your delicacy； and grateful for it； if
you would spare me these references to Harthouse。 I shall not
associate him in our conversation with your intimacy and
encouragement； pray do not persist in connecting him with mine。”
“I never mentioned his name！” said Bounderby。
“Well； well！” returned Mr Gradgrind； with a patient； even a
submissive； air。 And he sat for a little while pondering。
“Bounderby； I see reason to doubt whether we have ever quite
understood Louisa。”
“Who do you mean by We？”
“Let me say I； then；” he returned； in answer to the coarsely
blurted question； “I doubt whether I have understood Louisa。 I
doubt whether I have been quite right in the manner of her
education。”
“There you hit it；” returned Bounderby。 “There I agree with
you。 You have found it out at last； have you？ Education！ I’ll tell
you what education is—To be tumbled out of doors； neck and
crop； and put upon the shortest allowance of everything except
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blows。 That’s what I call education。”
“I think your good sense will perceive；” Mr Gradgrind
remonstrated in all humility； “that whatever the merits of such a
system may be； it would be difficult of general application to girls。
“I don’t see it at all； sir；” returned the obstinate Bounderby。
“Well；” sighed Mr Gradgrind； “we will not enter into the question。
I assure you I have no desire to be controversial。 I seek to repair
what is amiss； if I possibly can； and I hope you will assist me in a
good spirit； Bounderby； for I have been very much distressed。”
“I don’t understand you； yet；” said Bounderby； with determined
obstinacy； “and therefore I won’t make any promises。”
“In the course of a few hours； my dear Bounderby；” Mr
Gradgrind proceeded； in the same depressed and propitiatory
manner； “I appear to myself to have become better informed as to
Louisa’s character； than in previous years。 The enlightenment has
been forced upon me； and the discovery is not mine。 I think there
are—Bounderby； you will be surprised to hear me say this—I
think there are qualities in Louisa； which—which have been
harshly neglected； and—and a little perverted。 And—and I would
suggest to you； that—that if you would kindly meet me in a timely
endeavour to leave her to her better nature for a while—and to
encourage it to develop itself by tenderness and consideration—
it—it would be the better for the happiness of all of us。 Louisa；”
said Mr Gradgrind； shading his face with his hand； “has always
been my favourite child。”
The blustrous Bounderby crimsoned and swelled to such an
extent on hearing these words； that he seemed to be； and probably
was； on the brink of a fit。 With his very ears a bright purple shot
with crimson； he pent up his indignation； however； and said：
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“You’d like to keep her here for a time？”
“I—I had intended to recommend； my dear Bounderby； that
you should allow Louisa to remain here on a visit； and be attended
by Sissy （I mean of course Cecilia Jupe）； who understands her；
and in whom she trusts。”
“I gather from all this； Tom Gradgrind；” s
