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pieces of iron； purposely broken to be tested； at various periods of
their service； in various capacities。 There is iron…dust on
everything； and the smoke is seen； through the windows； rolling
heavily out of the tall chimneys； to mingle with the smoke from a
vaporous Babylon of other chimneys。
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Bleak House 1163
“I am at your service； Mr Steel；” says the gentleman； when his
visitor has taken a rustic chair。
“Well； Mr Rouncewell；” George replies； leaning forward； with
his left arm on his knee； and his hat in his hand； and very chary of
meeting his brother’s eye； “I am not without my expectations； that
in the present visit I may prove to be more free than welcome。 I
have served as a dragoon in my day； and a comrade of mine that I
was once rather partial to； was； if I don’t deceive myself； a brother
of yours。 I believe you had a brother who gave his family some
trouble； and ran away； and never did any good but in keeping
away？”
“Are you quite sure；” returns the ironmaster； in an altered
voice； “that your name is Steel？”
The trooper falters and looks at him。 His brother starts up； calls
him by his name； and grasps him by both hands。
“You are too quick for me！” cries the trooper； with the tears
springing out of his eyes。 “How do you do； my dear old fellow。 I
never could have thought you would have been half so glad to see
me as all this。 How do you do； my dear old fellow； how do you do！”
They shake hands； and embrace each other； over and over
again； the trooper still coupling his “How do you do； my dear old
fellow！” with his protestation that he never thought his brother
would have been half so glad to see him as all this！
“So far from it；” he declares； at the end of a full account of what
has preceded his arrival there； “I had very little idea of making
myself known。 I thought； if you took by any means forgivingly to
my name； I might gradually get myself up to the point of writing a
letter。 But I should not have been surprised； brother； if you had
considered it anything but welcome news to hear of me。”
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Bleak House 1164
“We will show you at home what kind of news we think it；
George；” returns his brother。 “This is a great day at home； and you
could not have arrived； you bronzed old soldier； on a better。 I
make an agreement with my son Watt today； that on this day
twelvemonth he shall marry as pretty and as good a girl as you
have seen in all your travels。 She goes to Germany tomorrow； with
one of your nieces； for a little polishing up in her education。 We
make a feast of the event； and you will be made the hero of it。”
Mr George is so entirely overcome at first by this prospect； that
he resists the proposed honour with great earnestness。 Being
overborne； however； by his brother and his nephew—concerning
whom he renews his protestations that he never could have
thought they would have been half so glad to see him—he is taken
home to an elegant house； in all the arrangements of which there
is to be observed a pleasant mixture of the originally simple habits
of the father and mother； with such as are suited to their altered
station and the higher fortunes of their children。 Here； Mr George
is much dismayed by the graces and accomplishments of his
nieces that are； and by the beauty of Rosa； his niece that is to be；
and by the affectionate salutations of these young ladies； which he
receives in a sort of dream。 He is sorely taken aback； too； by the
dutiful behaviour of his nephew； and has a woeful consciousness
upon him of being a scapegrace。 However； there is great rejoicing；
and a very hearty company； and infinite enjoyment； and Mr
George comes bluff and martial through it all； and his pledge to be
present at the marriage and give away the bride； is received with
universal favour。 A whirling head has Mr George that night； when
he lies down in the state…bed of his brother’s house； to think of all
these things； and to see the images of his nieces （awful all the
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Bleak House 1165
evening in their floating muslins）； waltzing； after the German
manner； over his counterpane。
The brothers are closeted next morning in the ironmaster’s
room； where the elder is proceeding； in his clear； sensible way； to
show how he thinks he may best dispose of George in his business；
when George squeezes his hand and stops him。
“Brother； I thank you a million times for your more than
brotherly welcome； and a million times more to that for your more
than brotherly intentions。 But my plans are made。 Before I say a
word as to them； I wish to consult you upon one family point。
How—” says the trooper； folding his arms； and looking with
indomitable firmness at his brother—“how is my mother to be got
to scratch me？”
“I am not sure that I understand you； George；” replies the
ironmaster。
“I say； brother； how is my mother to be got to scratch me？ She
must be got to do it； somehow。”
“Scratch you out of her will； I think you mean？”
“Of course I do。 In short；” says the trooper； folding his arms
more resolutely yet； “I mean—to—scratch me？”
“My dear George；” returns his brother； “is it so indispensable
that you should undergo that process？”
“Quite！ Absolutely！ I couldn’t be guilty of the meanness of
coming back without it。 I should never be safe not to be off again。 I
have not sneaked home to rob your children； if not yourself；
brother； of your rights。 I； who forfeited mine； long ago！ If I am to
remain； and hold up my head； I must be scratched。 Come。 You are
a man of celebrated penetration and intelligence； and you can tell
me how it’s to be brought about。”
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Bleak House 1166
“I can tell you； George；” replies the ironmaster； deliberately；
“how it is not to be brought about； which I hope may answer the
purpose as well。 Look at our mother； think of her； recall her
emotion when she recovered you。 Do you believe there is a
consideration in the world that would induce her to take such a
step against her favourite son？ Do you believe there is any chance
of her consent； to balance against the outrage it would be to her
（loving dear old lady！） to propose it？ If you do； you are wrong。 No；
George！ You must make up your mind to remain unscratched。 I
think；” there is an amused smile on the ironmaster’s face； as he
watches his brother； who is pondering； deeply disappointed； “I
think you may manage almost as well as if the thing were done；
though。”
“How； brother？”
“Being bent upon it； you can dispose by will of anything you
have the misfortune to inherit； in any way you like； you know。”
“That’s true！” says the trooper； pondering again。 Then he
wistfully asks； with his hand on his brother’s； “would you mind
mentioning that； brother； to your wife and family？”
“Not at all。”
“Thank you。 You wouldn’t object to say； perhaps； that although
an undoubted vagabond； I am a vagabond of the harum scarum
order； and not of the mean sort？”
The iron master； repressing his amused smile； assents。
“Thank you。 Thank you。 It’s a weight off my mind