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and failing in them all； he resolved to do it by word of mouth。
On his way home； on the evening he set aside for this
momentous purpose； he took the precaution of stepping into a
chemist’s shop and buying a bottle of the very strongest smelling…
salts。 “By George！” said Mr Bounderby； “if she takes it in the
fainting way； I’ll have the skin off her nose； at all events！” But； in
spite of being thus forearmed； he entered his own house with
anything but a courageous air； and appeared before the object of
his misgivings； like a dog who was conscious of coming direct from
the pantry。
“Good evening； Mr Bounderby！”
“Good evening； ma’am； good evening。” He drew up his chair；
and Mrs Sparsit drew back hers as who should say； “Your fireside；
sir。 I freely admit it。 It is for you to occupy it all； if you think
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proper。”
“Don’t go to the North Pole； ma’am！” said Mr Bounderby。
“Thank you； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； and returned； though short
of her former position。
Mr Bounderby sat looking at her； as； with the points of a stiff；
sharp pair of scissors； she picked out holes for some inscrutable
ornamental purpose； in a piece of cambric。 An operation which；
taken in connection with the bushy eyebrows and the Roman
nose； suggested with some liveliness the idea of a hawk engaged
upon the eyes of a tough little bird。 She was so steadfastly
occupied； that many minutes elapsed before she looked up from
her work： when she did so； Mr Bounderby bespoke her attention
with hitch of his head。
“Mrs Sparsit ma’am；” said Mr Bounderby； putting his hands in
his pockets； and assuring himself with his right hand that the cork
of the little bottle was ready for use； “I have no occasion to say to
you； that you are not only a lady born and bred； but a devilish
sensible woman。”
“Sir；” returned the lady； “this is indeed not the first time that
you have honoured me with similar expressions of your good
opinion。”
“Mrs Sparsit ma’am；” said Mr Bounderby； “I am going to
astonish you。”
“Yes。 sir？” returned Mrs Sparsit； interrogatively； and in the
most tranquil manner possible。 She generally wore mittens； and
she now laid down her work； and smoothed those mittens。
“I am going； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “to marry Tom
Gradgrind’s daughter。”
“Yes； sir？” returned Mrs Sparsit。 “I hope you may be happy； Mr
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Bounderby。 Oh； indeed I hope you may be happy； sir！” And she
said it with such great condescension； as well as with such great
compassion for him； that Bounderby；—far more disconcerted than
if she had thrown her work…box at the mirror； or swooned on the
hearth…rug；—corked up the smelling…salts tight in his pocket； and
thought； “Now confound this woman； who could have ever
guessed that she would take it in this way！”
“I wish with all my heart； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； in a highly
superior manner； somehow she seemed； in a moment； to have
established a right to pity him ever afterwards； “that you may be
in all respects very happy。”
“Well； ma’am；” returned Bounderby； with some resentment in
his tone： which was clearly lowered； though in spite of himself； “I
am obliged to you。 I hope I shall be。”
“Do you； sir！” said Mrs Sparsit； with great affability。 “But
naturally you do； of course you do。”
A very awkward pause on Mr Bounderby’s part； succeeded。
Mrs Sparsit sedately resumed her work； and occasionally gave a
small cough； which sounded like the cough of conscious strength
and forbearance。
“Well； ma’am；” resumed Bounderby； “under these
circumstances； I imagine it would not be agreeable to a character
like yours to remain here； though you would be very welcome
here？”
“Oh dear no； sir； I could on no account think of that！” Mrs
Sparsit shook her head； still in her highly superior manner； and a
little changed the small cough—coughing now； as if the spirit of
prophecy rose within her； but had better be coughed down。
“However； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “there are apartments at
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the Bank； where a born and bred lady； as keeper of the place；
would be rather a catch than otherwise； and if the same terms—”
“I beg your pardon； sir。 You were so good as to promise that
you would always substitute the phrase； annual compliment。”
“Well； ma’am； annual compliment。 If the same annual
compliment would be acceptable there； why； I see nothing to part
us unless you do。”
“Sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “the proposal is like yourself； and if
the position I shall assume at the Bank is one that I could occupy
without descending lower in the social scale—”
“Why； of course it is；” said Bounderby。 “If it was not； ma’am；
you don’t suppose that I should offer it to a lady who has moved in
the society you have moved in。 Not that I care for such society； you
know！ But you do。”
“Mr Bounderby； you are very considerate。”
“You’ll have your own private apartments； and you’ll have your
coals and your candles and all the rest of it； and you’ll have your
maid to attend upon you； and you’ll have your light porter to
protect you； and you’ll be what I take the liberty of considering
precious comfortable；” said Bounderby。
“Sir；” rejoined Mrs Sparsit； “say no more。 In yielding up my
trust here； I shall not be freed from the necessity of eating the
bread of dependence；” she might have said the sweet…bread； for
that delicate article in a savoury brown sauce was her favourite
supper； “and I would rather receive it from your hand； than from
any other。 Therefore； sir； I accept your offer gratefully； and with
many sincere acknowledgments for past favours。 And I hope sir；”
said Mrs Sparsit； concluding in an impressively compassionate
manner； “I fondly hope that Miss Gradgrind may be all you desire；
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and deserve！”
Nothing moved Mrs Sparsit from that position any more。 It was
in vain for Bounderby to bluster； or to assert himself in any of his
explosive ways； Mrs Sparsit was resolved to have compassion on
him； as a Victim。 She was polite； obliging； cheerful； hopeful； but；
the more polite； the more obliging； the more cheerful； the more
hopeful； the more exemplary altogether； she； the forlorner
Sacrifice and the Victim； he。 She had that tenderness for his
melancholy fate； that his great red countenance used to break out
into cold perspirations when she looked at him。
Meanwhile the marriage was appointed to be solemnised in
eight weeks time； and Mr Bounderby went every evening to Stone
Lodge as an accepted wooer。 Love was made on these occasions in
the form of bracelets； and； on all occasions during the period of
betrothal； took a manufacturing aspect。 Dresses were made；
jewellery was made； cakes and gloves were made； settlements
were made； and an extensive assortment of Facts did appropriate
honour to the contract。 The business was all Fact； from first to
last。