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Mr E。 W。 B。 Childers took one of his hands out of his pockets；
stroked his face and chin； and looked； with a good deal of doubt
and a little hope； at Mr Gradgrind。 From the first he had sought to
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conciliate that gentleman； for the sake of the deserted girl。
“When Sissy got into the school here；” he pursued； “her father
was as pleased as Punch。 I couldn’t altogether make out why；
myself； as we were not stationary here； being but comers and
goers anywhere。 I suppose； however； he had this move in his
mind—he was always half…cracked—and then considered her
provided for。 If you should happen to have looked in tonight； for
the purpose of telling him that you were going to do her any little
service；” said Mr Childers； stroking his face again； and repeating
his look； “it would be very fortunate and well…timed； very fortunate
and well…timed。”
“On the contrary；” returned Mr Gradgrind。 “I came to tell him
that her connections made her not an object for the school； and
that she must not attend any more。 Still； if her father really has left
her； without any connivance on her part—Bounderby； let me have
a word with you。”
Upon this； Mr Childers politely betook himself； with his
equestrian walk； to the landing outside the door； and there stood
stroking his face and softly whistling。 While thus engaged； he
overheard such phrases in Mr Bounderby’s voice as “No。 I say no。
I advise you not。 I say by no means。” While； from Mr Gradgrind；
he heard in his much lower tone the words； “But even as an
example to Louisa； of what this pursuit which has been the subject
of a vulgar curiosity； leads to and ends in。 Think of it； Bounderby；
in that point of view。”
Meanwhile； the various members of Sleary’s company
gradually gathered together from the upper regions； where they
were quartered； and； from standing about； talking in low voices to
one another and to Mr Childers； gradually insinuated themselves
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Hard Times 50
and him into the room。 There were two or three handsome young
women among them； with their two or three husbands； and their
two or three mothers； and their eight or nine little children； who
did the fairy business when required。 The father of one of the
families was in the habit of balancing the father of another of the
families on the top of a great pole； the father of a third family often
made a pyramid of both those fathers； with Master Kidderminster
for the apex； and himself for the base； all the fathers could dance
upon rolling casks； stand upon bottles； catch knives and balls；
twirl hand…basins； ride upon anything； jump over everything； and
stick at nothing。 All the mothers could （and did） dance； upon the
slack wire； and performed rapid acts on bare…backed steeds； none
of them were at all particular in respect of showing their legs； and
one of them； alone in a Greek chariot； drove six in hand into every
town they came to。 They all assumed to be mighty rakish and
knowing； they were not tidy in their private dresses； they were not
at all orderly in their domestic arrangements； and the combined
literature of the whole company would have produced but a poor
letter on any subject。 Yet there was remarkable gentleness and
childishness about these people； a special inaptitude for any kind
of sharp practice； and an untiring readiness to help and pity one
another； deserving； often of as much respect； and always of as
much generous construction； as the every…day virtues of any class
of people in the world。
Last of all appeared Mr Sleary： a stout man as already
mentioned； with one fixed eye and one loose eye； a voice （if it can
be called so） like the efforts of a broken old pair of bellows； a
flabby surface； and a muddled head which was never sober and
never drunk。
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“Thquire！” said Mr Sleary； who was troubled with asthma； and
whose breath came far too thick and heavy for the letters； “Your
thervant！ Thith ith a bad piethe of bithnith； thith ith。 You’ve heard
of my Clown and hith dog being thuppothed to have morrithed？”
He addressed Mr Gradgrind； who answered “Yes。”
“Well Thquire；” he returned； taking off his hat； and rubbing the
lining with his pocket…handkerchief； which he kept inside for the
purpose。 “Ith it you intenthion to do anything for the poor girl；
Thquire？”
“I shall have something to propose to her when she comes
back；” said Mr Gradgrind。
“Glad to hear it； Thquire。 Not that I want to get rid of the child；
any more than I want to thtand in her way。 I’m willing to take her
prenthith； though at her age ith late。 My voithe ith a little huthky；
Thquire； and not eathy heard by them ath don’t know me； but if
you’d been chilled and heated； heated and chilled； chilled and
heated in the ring when you wath young； ath often ath I have
been； your voithe wouldn’t have lathted out； Thquire； no more
than mine。”
“I dare say not；” said Mr Gradgrind。
“What thall it be； Thquire； while you wait？ Thall it be Therry？
Give it a name； Thquire！” said Mr Sleary； with hospitable ease。
“Nothing for me； I thank you；” said Mr Gradgrind。
“Don’t thay nothing； Thquire。 What doth your friend thay？ If
you haven’t took your feed yet； have a glath of bitterth。”
Here his daughter Josephine—a pretty fair…haired girl of
eighteen； who had been tied on a horse at two years old； and had
made a will at twelve； which she always carried about with her；
expressive of her dying desire to be drawn to the grave by the two
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piebald ponies—cried “Father； hush！ she has come back！” then
came Sissy Jupe； running into the room as she had run out of it。
And when she saw them all assembled； and saw their looks； and
saw no father there； she broke into a most deplorable cry； and took
refuge on the bosom of the most accomplished tight…rope lady
（herself in the family way）； who knelt down on the floor to nurse
her； and to weep over her。
“Ith an infernal thame； upon my thoul it ith；” said Sleary。
“O my dear father； my good kind father； where are you gone？
You are gone to try to do me some good； I know！ You are gone
away for my sake； I am sure。 And how miserable and helpless you
will be without me； poor； poor father； until you come back！” It was
so pathetic to hear her saying many things of this kind； with her
face turned upward； and her arms stretched out as if she were
trying to stop this departing shadow and embrace it； that no one
spoke a word until Mr Bounderby （growing impatient） took the
case in hand。
“Now； good people all；” said he； “this is wanton waste of time。
Let the girl understand the fact。 Let her take it from me； if you
like； who have been run away from； myself。 Here； what’s your
name！ Your father has absconded—deserted you—and you
mustn’t expect to see him again as long as you live。”
They cared so little for plain Fact； these people； and were in
that advanced state of degeneracy on the subject； that instead of
being impressed by the speaker’s strong common sense； they took
it in extraordinary dudgeon。 The men muttered “Shame！” and the
women “Brute！” and Sleary； in some haste； communicated the
following hint； apart