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more dead than alive。
Regarded as a classical ruin； Mrs Sparsit was an interesting
spectacle on her arrival at her journey’s end； but considered in
any other light； the amount of damage she had by that time
sustained was excessive； and impaired her claims to admiration。
Utterly heedless of the wear and tear of her clothes and
constitution； and adamant to her pathetic sneezes； Mr Bounderby
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immediately crammed her into a coach； and bore her off to Stone
Lodge。
“Now； Tom Gradgrind；” said Bounderby； bursting into his
father…in…law’s room late at night； “here’s a lady here—Mrs
Sparsit—you know Mrs Sparsit—who has something to say to you
that will strike you dumb。”
“You have missed my letter！” exclaimed Mr Gradgrind；
surprised by the apparition。
“Missed your letter； sir！” bawled Bounderby。 “The present time
is no time for letters。 No man shall talk to Josiah Bounderby of
Coketown about letters； with his mind in the state it’s in now。”
“Bounderby；” said Mr Gradgrind； in a tone of temperate
remonstrance； “I speak of a very special letter I have written to
you； in reference to Louisa。”
“Tom Gradgrind；” replied Bounderby； knocking the flat of his
hand several times with great vehemence on the table； “I speak of
a very special messenger that has come to me； in reference to
Louisa。 Mrs Sparsit ma’am； stand forward！”
That unfortunate lady hereupon essaying to offer testimony；
without any voice and with painful gestures expressive of an
inflamed throat； became so aggravating and underwent so many
facial contortions； that Mr Bounderby； unable to bear it； seized her
by the arm and shook her。
“If you can’t get it out ma’am；” said Bounderby； “leave me to
get it out。 This is not a time for a lady； however highly connected；
to be totally inaudible； and seemingly swallowing marbles。 Tom
Gradgrind； Mrs Sparsit latterly found herself； by accident； in a
situation to overhear a conversation out of doors between your
daughter and your precious gentleman…friend； Mr James
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Harthouse。”
“Indeed？” said Mr Gradgrind。
“Ah！ Indeed！” cried Bounderby。 “And in that conversation—”
“It is not necessary to repeat its tenor； Bounderby。 I know what
passed。”
“You do？ Perhaps；” said Bounderby； starting with all his might
at his so quiet and assuasive father…in…law； “you know where your
daughter is at the present time？”
“Undoubtedly。 She is here。”
“Here？”
“My dear Bounderby； let me beg you to restrain these loud
outbreaks； on all accounts。 Louisa is here。 The moment she could
detach herself from that interview with the person of whom you
speak； and whom I deeply regret to have been the means of
introducing to you； Louisa hurried here； for protection。 I myself
had not been at home many hours； when I received her—here； in
this room。 She hurried by the train to town； she ran from town to
this house through a raging storm； and presented herself before
me in a state of distraction。 Of course； she has remained here ever
since。 Let me entreat you； for your own sake and for hers； to be
more quiet。”
Mr Bounderby silently gazed about him for some moments； in
every direction except Mrs Sparsit’s direction； and then； abruptly
turning upon the niece of Lady Scadgers； said to that wretched
woman：
“Now； ma’am！ We shall be happy to hear any little apology you
may think proper to offer； for going about the country at express
pace； with no other luggage than a Cock…and…a…Bull； ma’am！”
“Sir；” whispered Mrs Sparsit； “my nerves are at present too
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much shaken； and my health is at present too much impaired； in
your service； to admit of my doing more than taking refuge in
tears。”
（Which she did。） “Well； ma’am；” said Bounderby； “without
making any observation to you that may not be made with
propriety to a woman of good family； what I have got to add to
that； is； that there’s something else in which it appears to me you
may take refuge； namely a coach。 And the coach in which we came
here； being at the door； you’ll allow me to hand you down to it； and
pack you home to the Bank： where the best course for you to
pursue； will be to put your feet into the hottest water you can bear；
and take a glass of scalding rum and butter after you get into bed。”
With these words； Mr Bounderby extended his right hand to the
weeping lady and escorted her to the conveyance in question；
shedding many plaintive sneezes by the way。 He soon returned
alone。
“Now； as you showed me in your face； Tom Gradgrind； that you
wanted to speak to me；” he resumed； “here I am。 But； I am not in a
very agreeable state； I tell you plainly； not relishing this business
even as it is； and not considering that I am at any time as dutifully
and submissively treated by your daughter； as Josiah Bounderby
of Coketown ought to be treated by his wife。 You have your
opinion； I dare say； and I have mine； I know。 If you mean to say
anything to me tonight； that goes against this candid remark； you
had better let it alone。”
Mr Gradgrind； it will be observed； being much softened； Mr
Bounderby took particular pains to harden himself at all points。 It
was his amiable nature。
“My dear Bounderby；” Mr Gradgrind began in reply。
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“Now； you’ll excuse me；” said Bounderby； “but I don’t want to
be too dear。 That； to start with。 When I begin to be dear to a man； I
generally find that his intention is to come over me。 I am not
speaking to you politely； but； as you are aware； I am not polite。 If
you like politeness； you know where to get it。 You have your
gentleman…friends you know； and they’ll serve you with as much of
the article as you want。 I don’t keep it myself。”
“Bounderby；” urged Mr Gradgrind； “we are all liable to
mistakes—”
“I thought you couldn’t make ’em；” interrupted Bounderby。
“Perhaps I thought so。 But； I say we are all liable to mistakes；
and I should feel sensible of your delicacy； and grateful for it； if
you would spare me these references to Harthouse。 I shall not
associate him in our conversation with your intimacy and
encouragement； pray do not persist in connecting him with mine。”
“I never mentioned his name！” said Bounderby。
“Well； well！” returned Mr Gradgrind； with a patient； even a
submissive； air。 And he sat for a little while pondering。
“Bounderby； I see reason to doubt whether we have ever quite
understood Louisa。”
“Who do you mean by We？”
“Let me say I； then；” he returned； in answer to the coarsely
blurted question； “I doubt whether I have understood Louisa。 I
doubt whether I have been quite right in the manner of her
education。”
“There you hit it；” returned Bounderby。 “There I agree with
you。 You have found it out at last； have you？ Education！ I’ll tell
you what education is—To be tumbled out of doors； n