hard times(艰难时世)-第14节
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any association with Louisa。”
“Indeed； Mr Bounderby？ Very thoughtful of you！”
Mrs Sparsit’s Coriolanian nose underwent a slight expansion of
the nostrils； and her black eyebrows contracted as she took a sip of
tea。
“It’s tolerably clear to me；” said Bounderby； “that the little puss
can get small good out of such companionship。”
“Are you speaking of young Miss Gradgrind； Mr Bounderby？”
“Yes； ma’am； I am speaking of Louisa。”
“Your observation being limited to ‘little puss；’” said Mrs
Sparsit； “and there being two little girls in question； I did not
know which might be indicated by that expression。”
“Louisa；” repeated Mr Bounderby。 “Louisa； Louisa。”
“You are quite another father to Louisa； sir。” Mrs Sparsit took a
little more tea； and； as she bent her again contracted eyebrows
over her steaming cup； rather looked as if her classical
countenance were invoking the infernal gods。
“If you had said I was another father to Tom—young Tom； I
mean； not my friend； Tom Gradgrind—you might have been
nearer the mark。 I am going to take young Tom into my office。
Going to have him under my wing； ma’am。”
“Indeed？ Rather young for that； is he not； sir？” Mrs Sparsit’s
“sir；” in addressing Mr Bounderby； was a word of ceremony；
rather exacting consideration for herself in the use； than
honouring him。
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“I’m not going to take him at once； he is to finish his
educational cramming before then；” said Bounderby。 “By the
Lord Harry； he’ll have enough of it； first and last！ He’d open his
eyes； that boy would； if he knew how empty of learning my young
maw was； at his time of life。” Which； by the by； he probably did
know； for he had heard of it often enough。 “But it’s extraordinary
the difficulty I have on scores of such subjects； in speaking to any
one on equal terms。 Here； for example； I have been speaking to
you this morning about tumblers。 Why； what do you know about
tumblers？ At the time when； to have been a tumbler in the mud of
the streets； would have been a godsend to me； a prize in the lottery
to me； you were at the Italian Opera。 You were coming out of the
Italian Opera； ma’am； in white satin and jewels； a blaze of
splendour； when I hadn’t a penny to buy a link to light you。”
“I certainly； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with a dignity serenely
mournful； “was familiar with the Italian Opera at a very early
age。”
“Egad； ma’am； so was I；” said Bounderby； “—with the wrong
side of it。 A hard bed the pavement of it’s Arcade used to make； I
assure you。 People like you； ma’am； accustomed from infancy to
lie on Down feathers； have no idea how hard a paving…stone is；
without trying it。 No； no； it’s of no use my talking to you about
tumblers。 I should speak of foreign dancers； and the West End of
London； and May Fair； and lords and ladies and honourables。”
“I trust； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； with decent resignation； “it is not
necessary that you should do anything of that kind。 I hope I have
learnt how to accommodate myself to the changes of life。 If I have
acquired an interest in hearing of your instructive experiences；
and can scarcely hear enough of them； I claim no merit for that；
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since I believe it is a general sentiment。”
“Well； ma’am；” said her patron； “perhaps some people may be
pleased to say that they do like to hear； in his own unpolished way；
what Josiah Bounderby of Coketown； has gone through。 But you
must confess that you were born in the lap of luxury； yourself。
Come； ma’am； you know you were born in the lap of luxury。”
“I do not； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit with a shake of her head；
“deny it。”
Mr Bounderby was obliged to get up from the table； and stand
with his back to the fire； looking at her； she was such an
enhancement of his position。
“And you were in crack society。 Devilish high society；” he said；
warming his legs。
“It is true； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with an affectation of
humility the very opposite of his； and therefore in no danger of
jostling it。
“You were in the tiptop fashion； and all the rest of it；” said Mr
Bounderby。
“Yes； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with a kind of social
widowhood upon her。 “It is unquestionably true。”
Mr Bounderby； bending himself at the knees； literally
embraced his legs in his great satisfaction and laughed aloud。 Mr
and Miss Gradgrind being then announced； he received the
former with a shake of the hand； and the latter with a kiss。
“Can Jupe be sent here； Bounderby？” asked Mr Gradgrind。
Certainly。 So Jupe was sent there。 On coming in； she curtseyed
to Mr Bounderby； and to his friend Tom Gradgrind； and also to
Louisa； but in her confusion unluckily omitted Mrs Sparsit。
Observing this； the blustrous Bounderby had the following
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remarks to make：
“Now； I tell you what； my girl。 The name of that lady by the
teapot； is Mrs Sparsit。 That lady acts as mistress of this house； and
she is a highly connected lady。 Consequently； if ever you come
again into any room in this house； you will make a short stay in it if
you don’t behave towards that lady in your most respectful
manner。 Now； I don’t care a button what you do to me； because I
don’t affect to be anybody。 So far from having high connections； I
have no connections at all； and I come of the scum of the earth。
But towards that lady； I do care what you do； and you shall do
what is deferential and respectful； or you shall not come here。”
“I hope； Bounderby；” said Mr Gradgrind； in a conciliatory
voice； “that this was merely an oversight。”
“My friend Tom Gradgrind suggests； Mrs Sparsit；” said
Bounderby； “that this was merely an oversight。 Very likely。
However； as you are aware； ma’am； I don’t allow of even
oversights towards you。”
“You are very good indeed； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； shaking
her head with her State humility。 “It is not worth speaking of。”
Sissy； who all this time had been faintly excusing herself with
tears in her eyes； was now waved over by the master of the house
to Mr Gradgrind。 She stood； looking intently at him； and Louisa
stood coldly by； with her eyes upon the ground； while he
proceeded thus：
“Jupe； I have made up my mind to take you into my house； and；
when you are not in attendance at the school； to employ you about
Mrs Gradgrind； who is rather an invalid。 I have explained to Miss
Louisa—this is Miss Louisa—the miserable but natural end of
your late career； and you are to expressly understand that the
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whole of that subject is past； and is not to be referred to any more。
From this time you begin your history。 You are； at present；
ignorant； I know。”
“Yes； sir； very；” she answered； curtseying。
“I shall have the satisfaction of causing you to be strictly
educated； and you will be a living proof to all who come into
communication with you；
