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wholesale hardware trade before he built Stone Lodge； and was
now looking about for a suitable opportunity of making an
arithmetical figure in Parliament。 Stone Lodge was situated on a
moor within a mile or two of a great town—called Coketown in the
present faithful guide…book。
A very regular feature on the face of the country； Stone Lodge
was。 Not the least disguise toned down or shaded off that
uncompromising fact in the landscape。 A great square house； with
a heavy portico darkening the principal windows； as its master’s
heavy brows overshadowed his eyes。 A calculated； cast up；
balanced； and proved house。 Six windows on this side of the door；
six on that side； a total of twelve in this wing； a total of twelve in
the other wing： four and twenty carried over to the back wings。 A
lawn and garden and an infant avenue； all ruled straight like a
botanical account…book。 Gas and ventilation； drainage and water…
service； all of the primest quality。 Iron clamps and girders；
fireproof from top to bottom； mechanical lifts for the housemaids；
with all their brushes and brooms； everything that heart could
desire。
Everything？ Well； I suppose so。 The little Gradgrinds had
cabinets in various departments of science too。 They had a little
conchological cabinet； and a little metallurgical cabinet； and a
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little mineralogical cabinet； and the specimens were all arranged
and labelled； and the bits of stone and ore looked as though they
might have been broken from the parent substances by those
tremendously hard instruments their own names； and； to
paraphrase the idle legend of Peter Piper； who had never found
his way into their nursery； if the greedy little Gradgrinds grasped
at more than this； what was it for good gracious goodness sake；
that the greedy little Gradgrinds grasped at！
Their father walked on in a hopeful and satisfied frame of mind。
He was an affectionate father； after his manner； but he would
probably have described himself （if he had been put； like Sissy
Jupe； upon a definition） as “an eminently practical” father。 He had
a particular pride in the phrase eminently practical； which was
considered to have a special application to him。 Whatsoever the
public meeting held in Coketown； and whatsoever the subject of
such meeting； some Coketowner was sure to seize the occasion of
alluding to his eminently practical friend Gradgrind。 This always
pleased the eminently practical friend。 He knew it to be his due；
but his due was acceptable。
He had reached the neutral ground upon the outskirts of the
town； which was neither town nor country； and yet was neither
spoiled； when his ears were invaded by the sound of music。 The
clashing and banging band attached to the horse…riding
establishment which had there set up its rest in a wooden pavilion；
was in full bray。 A flag； floating from the summit of the temple；
proclaimed to mankind that it was “Sleary’s Horseriding” which
claimed their suffrages。 Sleary himself； a stout modern statue with
a moneybox at its elbow； in an ecclesiastical niche of early Gothic
architecture； took the money。 Miss Josephine Sleary； as some very
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Hard Times 20
long and very narrow strips of printed bill announced； was then
inaugurating the entertainments with her graceful equestrian
Tyrolean flower…act。 Among the other pleasing but always strictly
moral wonders which must be seen to be believed； Signor Jupe
was that afternoon to “elucidate the diverting accomplishments of
his highly trained performing dog Merrylegs”。 He was also to
exhibit “his astounding feat of throwing seventy…five
hundredweight in rapid succession backhanded over his head
thus forming a fountain of solid iron in mid…air； a feat never before
attempted in this or any other country and which having elicited
such rapturous plaudits from enthusiastic throngs it cannot be
withdrawn”。 The same Signor Jupe was to “enliven the varied
performances at frequent intervals with his chaste Shakespearean
quips and retorts”。 Lastly； he was to wind them up by appearing in
his favourite character of Mr William Button； of Tooley Street； in
“the highly novel and laughable hippocomedietta of The Tailor’s
Journey to Brentford”。
Thomas Gradgrind took no heed of these trivialities of course；
but passed on as a practical man ought to pass on； either brushing
the noisy insects from his thoughts； or consigning them to the
House of Correction。 But； the turning of the road took him by the
back of the booth； and at the back of the booth a number of
children were congregated in a number of stealthy attitudes；
striving to peep in at the hidden glories of the place。
This brought him to a stop。 “Now； to think of these vagabonds；”
said he； “attracting the young rabble from a model school。
“ A space of stunted grass and dry rubbish being between him
and the young rabble； he took his eyeglass out of his waistcoat to
look for any child he knew by name； and might order off。
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Phenomenon almost incredible though distinctly seen； what did
he then behold but his own metallurgical Louisa peeping with all
her might through a hole in a deal board； and his own
mathematical Thomas abasing himself on the ground to catch but
a hoof of the graceful equestrian Tyrolean flower…act！
Dumb with amazement； Mr Gradgrind crossed to the spot
where his family was thus disgraced； laid his hand upon each
erring child； and said：
“Louisa！！ Thomas！！”
Both rose； red and disconcerted。 But； Louisa looked at her
father with more boldness than Thomas did。 Indeed； Thomas did
not look at him； but gave himself up to be taken home like a
machine。
“In the name of wonder； idleness； and folly！” said Mr
Gradgrind； leading each away by a hand； “what do you do here？”
“Wanted to see what it was like；” returned Louisa shortly。
“What it was like？”
“Yes； father。”
There was an air of jaded sullenness in them both； and
particularly in the girl： yet； struggling through the dissatisfaction
of her face； there was a light with nothing to rest upon； a fire with
nothing to burn； a starved imagination keeping life in itself
somehow； which brightened its expression。 Not with the
brightness natural to cheerful youth； but with uncertain； eager；
doubtful flashes； which had something painful in them； analogous
to the changes on a blind face groping its way。
She was a child now； of fifteen or sixteen； but at no distant day
would seem to become a woman all at once。 Her father thought so
as he looked at her。 She was pretty。 Would have been self…willed
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（he thought in his eminently practical way）； but for her bringing…
up。
“Thomas； though I have the fact before me； I find it difficult to
believe that you； with your education and resources； should have
brought your sister to a scene like this。”
“I brought him； father；” said Louisa； quickly。 “I asked him to
come。”
“I am sorry to hear