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！
the man。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 235…
Hard Times 235
Louisa faintly uttered some word of incredulity and surprise。
“O yes！ I know！” said Bounderby； immediately catching at the
sound。 “I know！ I am used to that。 I know all about it。 They are the
finest people in the world； these fellows are。 They have got the gift
of the gab； they have。 They only want to have their rights
explained to them； they do。 But I tell you what。 Show me a
dissatisfied Hand； and I’ll show you a man that’s fit for anything
bad； I don’t care what it is。”
Another of the popular fictions of Coketown； which some pains
had been taken to disseminate—and which some people really
believed。
“But I am acquainted with those chaps；” said Bounderby。 “I
can read ’em off； like books。 Mrs Sparsit； ma’am； I appeal to you。
What warning did I give that fellow； the first time he set foot in the
house； when the express object of his visit was to know how he
could knock Religion over； and floor the Established Church？ Mrs
Sparsit； in point of high connections； you are on a level with the
aristocracy；—did I say； or did I not say； to that fellow； ‘you can’t
hide the truth from me： you are not the kind of fellow I like； you’ll
come to no good’？”
“Assuredly； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “you did in a highly
impressive manner； give him such an admonition。”
“When he shocked you； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “when he
shocked your feelings？”
“Yes； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； with a meek shake of her head；
“he certainly did so。 Though I did not mean to say but that my
feelings may be weaker on such points—more foolish if the term is
preferred—than they might have been； if I had always occupied
my present position。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 236…
Hard Times 236
Mr Bounderby stared with a bursting pride at Mr Harthouse； as
much as to say； “I am the proprietor of this female； and she’s
worth your attention； I think。” Then； resumed his discourse。
“You can recall for yourself； Harthouse； what I said to him
when you saw him。 I didn’t mince the matter with him。 I am never
mealy with ’em。 I know ’em。 Very well； sir。 Three days after that；
he bolted。 Went off； nobody knows where： as my mother did in my
infancy—only with this difference； that he is a worse subject than
my mother； if possible。 What did he do before he went？ What do
you say；” Mr Bounderby； with his hat in his hand； gave a beat
upon the crown at every little division of his sentences； as if it were
a tambourine； “to his being seen—night after night—watching the
Bank？—to his lurking about there—after dark？—to its striking
Mrs Sparsit—that he could be lurking for no good—to her calling
Bitzer’s attention to him； and their both taking notice of him—And
to its appearing on inquiry today—that he was also noticed by the
neighbours？” Having come to the climax； Mr Bounderby； like an
oriental dancer； put his tambourine on his head。
“Suspicious；” said James Harthouse； “certainly。”
“I think so； sir；” said Bounderby； with a defiant nod。 “I think so。
But there are more of ’em in it。 There’s an old woman。 One never
hears of these things till the mischief’s done； all sorts of defects are
found out in the stable door after the horse is stolen； there’s an old
woman turns up now。 An old woman who seems to have been
flying into town on a broomstick； every now and then。 She watches
the place a whole day before this fellow begins； and on the night
when you saw him； she steals away with him； and holds a council
with him—I suppose； to make her report on going off duty； and be
damned to her。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 237…
Hard Times 237
There was such a person in the room that night； and she shrunk
from observation； thought Louisa。
“This is not all of ’em； even as we already know ’em；” said
Bounderby； with many nods of hidden meaning。 “But I have said
enough for the present。 You’ll have the goodness to keep it quiet；
and mention it to no one。 It may take time； but we shall have ’em。
It’s policy to give ’em line enough； and there’s no objection to
that。”
“Of course； they will be punished with the utmost rigour of the
law； as notice…boards observe；” replied John Harthouse； “and
serve them right。 Fellows who go in for Banks must take the
consequences。 If there were no consequences； we should all go in
for Banks。” He had gently taken Louisa’s parasol from her hand；
and had put it up for her； and she walked under its shade； though
the sun did not shine there。
“For the present； Loo Bounderby；” said her husband； “here’s
Mrs Sparsit to look after。 Mrs Sparsit’s nerves have been acted
upon by this business； and she’ll stay here a day or two。 So； make
her comfortable。”
“Thank you very much； sir；” that discreet lady observed； “but
pray do not let My comfort be a consideration。 Anything will do for
Me。”
It soon appeared that if Mrs Sparsit had a failing in her
association with that domestic establishment； it was that she was
so excessively regardless of herself and regardful of others； as to
be a nuisance。 On being shown her chamber； she was so
dreadfully sensible of its comforts as to suggest the inference that
she would have preferred to pass the night on the mangle in the
laundry。 True； the Powlers； and the Scadgerses were accustomed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 238…
Hard Times 238
to splendour； “but it is my duty to remember；” Mrs Sparsit was
fond of observing with a lofty grace： particularly when any of the
domestics were present； “that what I was； I am no longer。 Indeed；”
said she； “if I could altogether cancel the remembrance that Mr
Sparsit was a Powler； or that I myself am related to the Scadgers
family； or if I could even revoke the fact； and make myself a person
of common descent and ordinary connections； I would gladly do
so。 I should think it； under existing circumstances； right to do so。”
The same Hermitical state of mind led to her renunciation of made
dishes and wines at dinner； until fairly commanded by Mr
Bounderby to take them； when she said； “Indeed you are very
good； sir；” and departed from a resolution of which she had made
rather formal and public announcement； to “wait for the simple
mutton。” She was likewise deeply apologetic for wanting the salt；
and feeling amiably bound to bear out Mr Bounderby to the fullest
extent in the testimony he had borne to her nerves； occasionally
sat back in her chair and silently wept； at which periods a tear of
large dimensions； like a crystal earring； might be observed （or
rather； must be； for it insisted on public notice） sliding down her
Roman nose。
But Mrs Sparsit’s greatest point； first and last； was her
determination to pity Mr Bounderby。 There were occasions when
in looking at him she was involuntarily moved to shake her head；
as who would say； “Alas poor Yorick！” After allowing herself to be
betrayed into these evidences of emotion； she would force a
lambent brightness； and would be fitfully cheerful； and would say；
“You have still good spirits； sir； I am thankful to find；” and would
appear to hail it as a blessed dispensation that Mr Bounderby bore
up as he did。 One idiosyncrasy for which she often apologised； she
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 239…
Hard Times