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Mr Gradgrind seemed rather at a loss to understand the last
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four words； replying； “How； matter？ What matter； my dear？”
“Mr Bounderby；” she went on in a steady； straight way； without
regarding this； “asks me to marry him。 The question I have to ask
myself is； Shall I marry him？ That is so； father； is it not？ You have
told me so； father。 Have you not？”
“Certainly； my dear。”
“Let it be so。 Since Mr Bounderby likes to take me thus； I am
satisfied to accept his proposal。 Tell him； father； as soon as you
please； that this was my answer。 Repeat it； word for word； if you
can； because I should wish him to know what I said。”
“It is quite right； my dear；” retorted her father approvingly； “to
be exact。 I will observe your very proper request。 Have you any
wish in reference to the period of your marriage； my child？”
“None； father。 What does it matter！”
Mr Gradgrind had drawn his chair a little nearer to her； and
taken her hand。 But； her repetition of these words seemed to
strike with some little discord on his ear。 He paused to look at her；
and； still holding her hand； said：
“Louisa； I have not considered it essential to ask you one
question； because the possibility implied in it appeared to me to be
too remote。 But perhaps； I ought to do so。 You have never
entertained in secret any other proposal？”
“Father；” she returned； almost scornfully； “what other proposal
can have been made to me？ Whom have I seen？ Where have I
been？ What are my heart’s experiences？”
“My dear Louisa；” returned Mr Gradgrind； reassured and
satisfied； “you correct me justly。 I merely wished to discharge my
duty。”
“What do I know father；” said Louisa in her quiet manner； “of
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tastes and fancies； of aspirations and affections； of all that part of
my nature in which such light things might have been nourished？
What escape have I had from problems that could be
demonstrated； and realities that could be grasped？” As she said it；
she unconsciously closed her hand； as if upon a solid object； and
slowly opened it as though she were releasing dust or ash。
“My dear；” assented her eminently practical parent； “quite true；
quite true。”
“Why； father；” she pursued； “what a strange question to ask me！
The baby…preference that even I have heard of as common among
children； has never had its innocent resting…place in my breast。
You have been so careful of me； that I never had a child’s heart。
You have trained me so well； that I never dreamed a child’s
dream。 You have dealt so wisely with me； father； from my cradle to
this hour； that I never had a child’s belief or a child’s fear。”
Mr Gradgrind was quite moved by his success； and by this
testimony to it。 “My dear Louisa；” said he； “you abundantly repay
my care。 Kiss me； my dear girl。”
So； his daughter kissed him。 Detaining her in his embrace； he
said； “I may assure you now； my favourite child； that I am made
happy by the sound decision at which you have arrived。 Mr
Bounderby is a very remarkable man； and what little disparity can
be said to exist between you—if any—is more than
counterbalanced by the tone your mind has acquired。 It has
always been my object so to educate you； as that you might； while
still in your early youth； be （if I may so express myself） almost any
age。 Kiss me once more； Louisa。 Now； let us go and find your
mother。”
Accordingly； they went down to the drawing…room； where the
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esteemed lady with no nonsense about her； was recumbent as
usual； while Sissy worked beside her。 She gave some feeble signs
of returning animation when they entered； and presently the faint
transparency was presented in a sitting attitude。
“Mrs Gradgrind；” said her husband； who had waited for the
achievement of this feat with some impatience； “allow me to
present to you Mrs Bounderby。”
“Oh！” said Mrs Gradgrind； “so you have settled it！ Well； I’m
sure I hope your health may be good； Louisa； for if your head
begins to split as soon as you are married； which was the case with
mine； I cannot consider that you are to be envied； though I have
no doubt you think you are； as all girls do。 However； I give you joy；
my dear—and I hope you may now turn all your ological studies to
good account； I am sure I do！ I must give you a kiss of
congratulation； Louisa； but don’t touch my right shoulder； for
there’s something running down it all day long。 And now； you
see；” whimpered Mrs Gradgrind； adjusting her shawls after the
affectionate ceremony； “I shall be worrying myself； morning； noon；
and night； to know what I am to call him！”
“Mrs Gradgrind；” said her husband； solemnly； “what do you
mean？”
“Whatever I am to call him； Mr Gradgrind； when he is married
to Louisa！ I must call him something。 It’s impossible；” said Mrs
Gradgrind； with a mingled sense of politeness and injury； “to be
constantly addressing him and never giving him a name。 I cannot
call him Josiah； for the name is insupportable to me。 You yourself
wouldn’t hear of Joe； you very well know。 Am I to call my own son…
in…law； Mister。 Not； I believe； unless the time has arrived when； as
an invalid； I am to be trampled upon by my relations。 Then； what
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am I to call him！”
Nobody present having any suggestion to offer in the
remarkable emergency； Mrs Gradgrind departed this life for the
time being； after delivering the following codicil to her remarks
already executed：
“As to the wedding； all I ask； Louisa； is；—and I ask it with a
fluttering in my chest； which actually extends to the soles of my
feet；—that it may take place soon。 Otherwise； I know it is one of
those subjects I shall never hear the last of。”
When Mr Gradgrind had presented Mrs Bounderby； Sissy had
suddenly turned her head； and looked； in wonder； in pity； in
sorrow； in doubt； in a multitude of emotions； towards Louisa。
Louisa had known it； and seen it； without looking at her。 From
that moment she was impassive； proud； and cold—held Sissy at a
distance—changed to her altogether。
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Chapter 16
Husband And Wife
r Bounderby’s first disquietude on hearing of his
happiness； was occasioned by the necessity of
M
imparting it to Mrs Sparsit。 He could not make up his
mind how to do that； or what the consequences of the step might
be。 Whether she would instantly depart； bag and baggage； to Lady
Scadgers； or would positively refuse to budge from the premises；
whether she would be plaintive or abusive； tearful or tearing；
whether she would break her heart； or break the looking…glass； Mr
Bounderby could not at all foresee。 However； as it must be done；
he had no choice but to do it； so； after attempting several letters；
and failing in them all； he resolved to do it by word of mouth。