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In a variety of voices from all the room。
But the riding…master’s eye had observed the bottle of the nine
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oils in her bosom； and he now interposes with “Leave the bottle；
my dear； ith large to carry； it will be of no uthe to you now。 Give it
to me！”
“No； no！” she said； in another burst of tears。 “Oh no！ Pray let
me keep it for father till he comes back！ He will want it when he
comes back。 He had never thought of going away； when he sent
me for it。 I must keep it for him； if you please！”
“Tho be it； my dear。 （You thee how it ith； Thquire！） Farewell；
Thethilia！ My latht wordth to you ith thith； Thtick to the termth of
your engagement； be obedient to the Thquire； and forget uth。 But
if； when you’re grown up and married and well off； you come upon
any horthe…riding ever； don’t be hard upon it； don’t be croth with
it； give it a Bethpeak if you can； and think you might do wurth。
People must be amuthed； Thquire； thomehow；” continued Sleary；
rendered more pursy than ever； by so much talking； “they can’t be
alwayth a working； nor yet they can’t be alwayth a learning。 Make
the betht of uth； not the wurtht。 I’ve got my living out of the
horthe…riding all my life； I know； but I conthider that I lay down
the philothophy of the thubject when I thay to you； Thquire； make
the betht of us： not the wurtht！”
The Sleary philosophy was propounded as they went
downstairs； and the fixed eye of Philosophy—and its rolling eye；
too—soon lost the three figures and the basket in the darkness of
the street。
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Chapter 7
Mrs Sparsit
r Bounderby being a bachelor； an elderly lady presided
over his establishment； in consideration of a certain
M
annual stipend。 Mrs Sparsit was this lady’s name； and
she was a prominent figure in attendance on Mr Bounderby’s car；
as it rolled along in triumph with the Bully of humility inside。
For； Mrs Sparsit had not only seen different days； but was
highly connected。 She had a great aunt living in these very times
called lady Scadgers。 Mr Sparsit； deceased； of whom she was the
relict； had been by the mother’s side what Mrs Sparsit still called
“a Powler。” Strangers of limited information and dull
apprehension were sometimes observed not to know what a
Powler was； and even to appear uncertain whether it might be a
business； or a political party； or a profession of faith。 The better
class of minds； however； did not need to be informed that the
Powlers were an ancient stock； who could trace themselves so
exceedingly far back that it was not surprising if they sometimes
lost themselves—which they had rather frequently done； as
respected horseflesh； blind…hookey； Hebrew monetary
transactions； and the Insolvent Debtors Court。
The late Mr Sparsit； being by the mother’s side a Powler；
married this lady； being by the father’s side a Scadgers。 Lady
Scadgers （an immensely fat old woman； with an inordinate
appetite for butcher’s meat； and a mysterious leg which had now
refused to get out of bed for fourteen years） contrived the
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marriage； at a period when Sparsit was just of age； and chiefly
noticeable for a slender body； weakly supported on two long slim
props； and surmounted by no head worth mentioning。 He
inherited a fair fortune from his uncle； but owed it all before he
came into it； and spent it twice over immediately afterwards。 Thus
when he died； at twenty…four （the scene of his decease； Calais； and
the cause brandy）； he did not leave his widow； from whom he had
been separated soon after the honeymoon； in affluent
circumstances。 That bereaved lady； fifteen years older than he； fell
presently at deadly feud with her only relative； Lady Scadgers；
and； partly to spite her ladyship； and partly to maintain herself；
went out at a salary。 And here she was now； in her elderly days；
with the Coriolanian style of nose and the dense black eyebrows
which had captivated Sparsit； making Mr Bounderby’s tea as he
took his breakfast。
If Bounderby had been a Conqueror； and Mrs Sparsit a captive
Princess whom he took about as a feature in his state processions；
he could not have made a greater flourish with her than he
habitually did。 Just as it belonged to his boastfulness to depreciate
his own extraction； so it belonged to it to exalt Mrs Sparsit’s。 In the
measure that he would not allow his own youth to have been
attended by a single favourable circumstance； he brightened Mrs
Sparsit’s juvenile career with every possible advantage； and
showered wagon…loads of early roses all over that lady’s path。
“And yet； sir；” he would say； “how does it turn out after all？ Why
here she is at a hundred a year （I give her a hundred； which she is
pleased to term handsome）； keeping the house of Josiah
Bounderby of Coketown！”
Nay； he made this foil of his so very widely known； that third
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parties took it up； and handled it on some occasions with
considerable briskness。 It was one of the most exasperating
attributes of Bounderby； that he not only sang his own praises but
stimulated other men to sing them。 There was a moral infection of
clap…trap in him。 Strangers； modest enough elsewhere； started up
at dinners in Coketown； and boasted； in quite a rampant way； of
Bounderby。 They made him out to be the Royal arms； the Union…
Jack； Magna Charta； John Bull； Habeas Corpus； the Bill of Rights；
an Englishman’s house is his castle； Church and State； and God
save the Queen； all put together。 And as often （as it was very often）
as an orator of this kind brought into his peroration；
“Princes and Lords may flourish or may fade；
A breath can make them； as a breath has made。”
—it was； for certain； more or less understood among the company
that he had heard of Mrs Sparsit。
“Mr Bounderby；” said Mrs Sparsit； “you are unusually slow； sir；
with your breakfast this morning。”
“Why； ma’am；” he returned； “I am thinking about Tom
Gradgrind’s whim；” Tom Gradgrind； for a bluff independent
manner of speaking—as if somebody were always endeavouring to
bribe him with immense sums to say Thomas； and he wouldn’t；
“Tom Gradgrind’s whim； ma’am of bringing up the tumbling girl。”
“The girl is now waiting to know；” said Mrs Sparsit； “whether
she is to go straight to the school； or up to the Lodge。”
“She must wait； ma’am；” answered Bounderby； “till I know
myself。 We shall have Tom Gradgrind down here presently； I
suppose。 If he should wish her to remain here a day or two longer；
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of course she can； ma’am。”
“Of course she can if you wish it； Mr Bounderby。”
“I told him I would give her a shake…down here； last night； in
order that he might sleep on it before he decided to let her have
any association with Louisa。”
“Indeed； Mr Bounderby？ Very thoughtful of you！”