按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
honour to the contract。 The business was all Fact； from first to
last。 The Hours did not go through any of those rosy
performances； which foolish poets have ascribed to them at such
times； neither did the clocks go any faster； or any slower； than at
any other seasons。 The deadly statistical recorder in the
Gradgrind observatory knocked every second on the head as it
was born； and buried it with his accustomed regularity。
So the day came； as all other days come to people who will only
stick to reason； and when it came； there were married in the
church of the florid wooden legs—that popular order of
architecture—Josiah Bounderby Esquire of Coketown； to Louisa
eldest daughter of Thomas Gradgrind Esquire of Stone Lodge； M。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 141…
Hard Times 141
P。 for that borough。 And when they were united in holy
matrimony； they went home to breakfast at Stone Lodge aforesaid。
There was an improving party assembled on the auspicious
occasion； who knew what everything they had to eat and drink
was made of； and how it was imported or exported； and in what
quantities； and in what bottoms； whether native or foreign； and all
about it。 The bridesmaids； down to little Jane Gradgrind； were； in
an intellectual point of view； fit helpmates for the calculating boy；
and there was no nonsense about any of the company。
After breakfast； the bridegroom addressed them in the
following terms。
“Ladies and gentlemen； I am Josiah Bounderby of Coketown。
Since you have done my wife and myself the honour of drinking
our healths and happiness； I suppose I must acknowledge the
same； though； as you all know me； and know what I am； and what
my extraction was； you won’t expect a speech from a man who；
when he sees a Post； says ‘that’s a Post；’ and when he sees a Pump
says ‘that’s a Pump；’ and is not to be got to call a Post a Pump； or a
Pump a Post； or either of them a Toothpick。 If you want a speech
this morning； my friend and father…in…law； Tom Gradgrind； is a
Member of Parliament； and you know where to get it。 I am not
your man。 However； if I feel a little independent when I look
around this table today； and reflect how little I thought of
marrying Tom Gradgrind’s daughter when I was a ragged street…
boy； who never washed his face unless it was at a pump； and that
not oftener than once a fort…night； I hope I may be excused。 So； I
hope you like my feeling independent； if you don’t I can’t help it。 I
do feel independent。 Now I have mentioned； and you have
mentioned； that I am this day married to Tom Gradgrind’s
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 142…
Hard Times 142
daughter。 I am very glad to be so。 It has long been my wish to be
so。 I have watched her bringing up； and I believe she is worthy of
me。 At the same time—not to deceive you—I believe I am worthy
of her。 So； I thank you； on both our parts； for the good…will you
have shown towards us； and the best wish I can give the
unmarried part of the present company； is this： I hope every
bachelor may find as good a wife as I have found。 And I hope every
spinster may find as good a husband as my wife has found。”
Shortly after which oration； as they were going on a nuptial trip
to Lyons； in order that Mr Bounderby might take the opportunity
of seeing how the Hands got on in those parts； and whether they；
too； required to be fed with gold spoons； the happy pair departed
for the railroad。 The bride； in passing downstairs； dressed for her
journey； found Tom waiting for her—flushed； either with his
feelings or the vinous part of the breakfast。
“What a game girl you are； to be such a first…rate sister； Loo！”
whispered Tom。
She clung to him as she should have clung to some far better
nature that day； and was a little shaken in her reserved composure
for the first time。
“Old Bounderby’s quite ready；” said Tom。 “Time’s up。 Good…
bye！ I shall be on the look…out for you； when you come back。 I say；
my dear Loo！ An’t it uncommonly jolly now！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 143…
Hard Times 143
Book the Second：
Reaping
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 144…
Hard Times 144
Chapter 1
Effects In The Bank
sunny midsummer day。 There was such a thing
Asometimes； even in Coketown。
Seen from a distance in such weather； Coketown lay
shrouded in a haze of its own； which appeared impervious to the
sun’s rays。 You only knew the town was there； because you knew
there would have been no such sulky blotch upon the prospect
without a town。 A blur of soot and smoke； now confusedly tending
this way； now that way； now aspiring to the vault of Heaven； now
murkily creeping along the earth； as the wind rose and fell； or
changed its quarter： a dense formless jumble； with sheets of cross
light in it； that showed nothing but masses of darkness：—
Coketown in the distance was suggestive of itself； though not a
brick of it could be seen。
The wonder was； it was there at all。 It had been ruined so often；
that it was amazing how it had borne so many shocks。 Surely there
never was such fragile china…ware as that of which the millers of
Coketown were made。 Handle them never so lightly； and they fell
to pieces with such ease that you might suspect them of having
been flawed before。 They were ruined； when they were required to
send labouring children to school； they were ruined； when
inspectors were appointed to look into their works； they were
ruined when such inspectors considered it doubtful whether they
were quite justified in chopping people up with their machinery；
they were utterly undone； When it was hinted that perhaps they
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 145…
Hard Times 145
need not always make quite so much smoke。 Besides Mr
Bounderby’s gold spoon which was generally received in
Coketown； another prevalent fiction was very popular there。 It
took the form of a threat。 Whenever a Coketowner felt he was ill…
used—that is to say； whenever he was not left entirely alone； and it
was proposed to hold him accountable for the consequences of any
of his acts he was sure to come out with the awful menace； that he
would “sooner pitch his property into the Atlantic”。 This had
terrified the Home Secretary within an inch of his life； on several
occasions 。
However； the Coketowners were so patriotic after all； that they
never had pitched their property into the Atlantic yet； but on the
contrary； had been kind enough to take mighty good care of it。 So
there it was； in the haze yonder； and it increased and multiplied。
The streets were hot and dusty on the summer day； and the sun
was so bright that it even shone through the heavy vapour
drooping over Coketown； and could not be looked at steadily。
Stokers emerged from low underground doorways into factory
yards； and sat on steps； and posts； and palings； wiping their
swarthy visages； and contemplating coals。 The whole town seemed
to be frying in oil。 There was a stifling smell of hot oil everywhere。
The steam…en