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following hint； apart to Mr Bounderby。
“I tell you what； Thquire。 To thpeak plain to you； my opinion ith
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Hard Times 53
that you had better cut it thort； and drop it。 They’re a very good…
natured people； my people； but they’re accuthtomed to be quick in
their movement； and if you don’t act upon my advithe； I’m
damned if I don’t believe they’ll pith you out o’ winder。”
Mr Bounderby being restrained by this mild suggestion； Mr
Gradgrind found an opening for his eminently practical exposition
of the subject。
“It is of no moment；” said he； “whether this person is to be
expected back at any time； or the contrary。 He is gone away； and
there is no present expectation of his return。 That； I believe； is
agreed on all hands。”
“Thath agreed； Thquire。 Thick to that！” From Sleary。
“Well then。 I； who came here to inform the father of the poor
girl； Jupe； that she could not be received at the school any more； in
consequence of there being practical objections； into which I need
not enter； to the reception there of the children of persons so
employed； am prepared in these altered circumstances to make a
proposal。 I am willing to take charge of you； Jupe； and to educate
you； and provide for you。 The only condition （over and above your
good behaviour） I make is； that you decide now； at once； whether
to accompany me or remain here。 Also； that if you accompany me
now； it is understood that you communicate no more with any of
your friends who are here present。 These observations comprise
the whole of the case。”
“At the thame time；” said Sleary； “I muth put in my word；
Thquire； tho that both thides of the banner may be equally theen。
If you like； Thethilia； to be prentitht； you know the natur of the
work and you know your companionth。 Emma Gordon； in whothe
lap you’re a lying at prethent； would be a mother to you； and
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Hard Times 54
Joth’phine would be a thithther to you。 I don’t pretend to be of the
angel breed myself； and I don’t thay but what； when you mith’d
your tip； you’d find me cut up rough； and thwear a oath or two at
you。 But what I thay； Thquire； ith； that good tempered or bad
tempered； I never did a horthe a injury yet； no more than
thwearing at him went； and that I don’t expect I shall begin
otherwithe at my time of life； with a rider。 I never wath much of a
Cackler； Thquire； and I have thed my thay。”
The latter part of this speech was addressed to Mr Gradgrind；
who received it with a grave inclination of his head； and then
remarked：
“The only observation I will make to you； Jupe； in the way of
influencing your decision； is； that it is highly desirable to have a
sound practical education； and that even your father himself （from
what I understand） appears； on your behalf； to have known and
felt that much。”
The last words had a visible effect upon her。 She stopped in her
wild crying； a little detached herself from Emma Gordon； and
turned her face full upon her patron。 The whole company
perceived the force of the change； and drew a long breath
together； that plainly said； “she will go。”
“Be sure you know your own mind； Jupe；” Mr Gradgrind
cautioned her； “I say no more。 Be sure you know your own mind！”
“When father comes back；” cried the girl； bursting into tears
again after a minute’s silence； “how will he ever find me if I go
away！”
“You may be quite at ease；” said Mr Gradgrind； calmly； he
worked out the whole matter like a sum： “you may be quite at
ease； Jupe； on that score。 In such a case； your father； I apprehend；
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must find out Mr—”
“Thleary。 Thath my name； Thquire。 Not athamed of it。 Known
all over England； and alwayth paythe ith way。”
“Must find out Mr Sleary； who would then let him know where
you went。 I should have no power of keeping you against his wish；
and he would have no difficulty at any time； in finding Mr Thomas
Gradgrind of Coketown。 I am well known。”
“Well known；” assented Mr Sleary； rolling his loose eye。
“You’re one of the thort； Thquire； that keepth a prethiouth
thight out money out of the houthe。 But never mind that at
prethent。”
There was another silence； and then she exclaimed； sobbing
with her hands before her face； “Oh give me my clothes； give me
my clothes； and let me go away before I break my heart！”
The women sadly bestirred themselves to get the clothes
together—it was soon done； for they were not many—and to pack
them in a basket which had often travelled with them。 Sissy sat all
the time； upon the ground； still sobbing； and covering her eyes。 Mr
Gradgrind and his friend Bounderby stood near the door； ready to
take her away。 Mr Sleary stood in the middle of the room； with the
male members of the company about him； exactly as he would
have stood in the centre of the ring during his daughter
Josephine’s performance。 He wanted nothing but his whip。
The basket packed in silence； they brought her bonnet to her；
and smoothed her disordered hair； and put it on。 Then they
pressed about her； and bent over her in very natural attitudes；
kissing and embracing her： and brought the children to take leave
of her； and were a tender…hearted； simple； foolish set of women
altogether。
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“Now； Jupe；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “If you are quite determined；
come！”
But she had to take her farewell of the male part of the
company yet； and every one of them had to unfold his arms （for
they all assumed the professional attitude when they found
themselves near Sleary）； and give her a parting kiss—Master
Kidderminister excepted； in whose young nature there was an
original flavour of the misanthrope； who was also known to have
harboured matrimonial views； and who moodily withdrew。 Mr
Sleary was reserved until the last。 Opening his arms wide he took
her by both her hands； and would have sprung her up and down；
after the riding…master manner of congratulating young ladies on
their dismounting from a rapid act； but there was no rebound in
Sissy； and she only stood before him crying。
“Good bye； my dear！” said Sleary。 “You’ll make your fortun； I
hope； and none of our poor folkth will ever trouble you； I’ll pound
it。 I with your father hadn’t taken hith dog with him； ith a ill…
conwenienth to have the dog out of the billth。 But on thecond
thoughth； he wouldn’t have performed without hith mathter； tho
ith ath broad ath ith long！”
With that he regarded her attentively with his fixed eye；
surveyed his company with his loose one； kissed her； shook his
head； and handed her to Mr Gradgrind as to a horse。
“There the ith； Thquire；” he said； sweeping her with a
professional glance as if she were being adjusted in her seat； “and
the’ll do you juthtithe。 Good bye； Thethilia！”
“Good bye； Cecilia！” “Good bye； Sissy！” “Good bless you； dear！”
In a variety of voices from all the room。
But the riding…master’s eye had observed the bottle of the nine
Charles Dickens