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was particularly strange； and it was even particularly affecting； to
see this crowd of earnest faces； whose honesty in the main no
competent observer free from bias could doubt； so agitated by
such a leader。
Good！ Hear； hear！ Hurrah！ The eagerness； both of attention and
intention； exhibited in all the countenances； made them a most
impressive sight。 There was no carelessness； no languor； no idle
curiosity； none of the many shades of indifference to be seen in all
other assemblies； visible for one moment there。 That every man
felt his condition to be； somehow or other； worse than it might be；
that every man considered it incumbent on him to join the rest；
towards the making of it better； that every man felt his only hope
to be in his allying himself to the comrades by whom he was
surrounded； and that in this belief； right or wrong （unhappily
wrong then）； the whole of that crowd were gravely； deeply；
faithfully in earnest； must have been as plain to any one who chose
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to see what was there； as the bare beams of the roof； and the
whitened brick walls。 Nor could any such spectator fail to know in
his own breast； that these men； through their very delusions；
showed great qualities； susceptible of being turned to the happiest
and best account； and that to pretend （on the strength of sweeping
axioms； howsoever cut and dried） that they went astray wholly
without cause； and of their own irrational wills； was to pretend
that there could be smoke without fire； death without birth；
harvest without seed； anything or everything produced from
nothing。
The orator having refreshed himself； wiped his corrugated
forehead from left to right several times with his handkerchief
folded into a pad； and concentrated all his revived forces in a sneer
of great disdain and bitterness。
“But； oh my friends and brothers！ Oh men and Englishmen； the
down…trodden operatives of Coketown！ What shall we say of that
man—that working…man； that I should find it necessary so to libel
the glorious name—who； being practically and well acquainted
with the grievances and wrongs of you； the injured pith and
marrow of this land； and having heard you； with a noble and
majestic unanimity that will make Tyrants tremble； resolve for to
subscribe to the funds of the United Aggregate Tribunal； and to
abide by the injunctions issued by that body for your benefit；
whatever they may be—what； I ask you； will you say of that
working…man； since such I must acknowledge him to be； who； at
such a time； deserts his post； and sells his flag； who； at such a time；
turns a traitor and a craven and a recreant； who； at such a time； is
not ashamed to make to you the dastardly and humiliating avowal
that he will hold himself aloof and will not be one of those
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associated in the gallant stand for Freedom and for Right？”
The assembly was divided at this point。 There were some
groans and hisses； but the general sense of honour was much too
strong for the condemnation of a man unheard。 “Be sure you’re
right； Slackbridge！” “Put him up！” “Let’s hear him！” Such things
were said on many sides。 Finally； one strong voice called out； “Is
the man heer？ If the man’s heer； Slackbridge； let’s hear the man
himseln； ’stead o’ yo。” Which was received with a round of
applause。
Slackbridge； the orator； looked about him with a withering
smile； and； holding out his right hand at arm’s length （as the
manner of all Slackbridges is）； to still the thundering sea； waited
until there was a profound silence。
“Oh my friends and fellow…men！” said Slackbridge then；
shaking his head with violent scorn； “I do not wonder that you； the
prostrate sons of labour； are incredulous of the existence of such a
man。 But he who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage existed；
and Judas Iscariot existed； and Castlereagh existed； and this man
exists！”
Here； a brief press and confusion near the stage； ended in the
man himself standing at the orator’s side before the concourse。 He
was pale and a little moved in the face—his lips especially showed
it； but he stood quiet； with his left hand at his chin； waiting to be
heard。 There was a chairman to regulate the proceedings； and this
functionary now took the case into his own hands。
“My friends；” said he； “by virtue o’ my office as your president；
I ashes o’ our friend Slackbridge； who may be a little over hetter in
this business； to take his seat； whiles this man Stephen Blackpool
is heern。 You all know this man Stephen Blackpool。 You know
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Hard Times 182
him awlung o’ his misfort’ns； and his good name。”
With that； the chairman shook him frankly by the hand； and sat
down again。 Slackbridge likewise sat down； wiping his hot
forehead—always from left to right； and never the reverse way。
“My friends；” Stephen began； in the midst of a dead calm； “I ha’
hed what’s been spok’n o’ me； and ’tis lickly that I shan’t mend it。
But I’d liefer you’d hearn the truth concernin myseln； fro my lips
than for onny other man’s； though I never cud’n speak afore so
monny； wi’out bein moydert and muddled。”
Slackbridge shook his head as if he would shake it off； in his
bitterness。
“I’m th’ one single Hand in Bounderby’s mill； o’ a’ the men
theer； as don’t coom in wi’ th’ proposed reg’lations。 I canna coom
in wi’ ’em。 My friends； I doubt their doin’ yo onny good。 Licker
they’ll do you hurt。”
Slackbridge laughed； folded his arms； and frowned
sarcastically。
“But ’t ant sommuch for that as I stands out。 If that were aw； I’d
coom in wi’ th’ rest。 But I ha’ my reasons—mine； yo see—for being
hindered； not on’y now； but awlus—awlus—life long！”
Slackbridge jumped up and stood beside him； gnashing and
tearing。 “Oh my friends； what but this did I tell you？ Oh my fellow…
countrymen； what warning but this did I give you？ And how
shows this recreant conduct in a man on whom unequal laws are
known to have fallen heavy？ Oh you Englishmen； I ask you how
does this subornation show in one of yourselves； who is thus
consenting to his own undoing and to yours； and to your children’s
and your children’s children？”
There was some applause； and some crying of Shame upon the
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man； but the greater part of the audience were quiet。 They looked
at Stephen’s worn face； rendered more pathetic by the homely
emotions it evinced； and； in the kindness of their nature； they were
more sorry than indignant。
“’Tis this Delegate’s trade for t’ speak；” said Stephen； “an he’s
paid for’t； and he knows his work。 Let him keep to’t。 Let him give
no heed to what I ha had’n to bear。 That’s not for him。 That’s not
for nobbody but me。”
There was a propriety； not to say a dignity in these words； that
made the hearers yet more quiet and attentive。 The same strong
voice called out； “Slackbridge； let the man be heern； and howd
thee tongue！” Then the place was wonderfully still。
“My brothers；” said Stephen； whose low voice was distinctly
heard； “and my fellow…workmen—for that yo