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A low murmur of pity went round the throng； and the women
wept aloud； as this form； almost without form； was moved very
slowly from its iron deliverance； and laid upon the bed of straw。 At
first； none but the surgeon went close to it。 He did what he could
in its adjustment on the couch； but the best he could do was to
cover it。 That gently done； he called to him Rachael and Sissy。 And
at that time the pale； worn； patient face was seen looking up at the
sky； with the broken right hand lying bare on the outside of the
covering garments； as if waiting to be taken by another hand。
They gave him drink； moistened his face with water； and
administered some drops of cordial and wine。 Though he lay quite
motionless looking up at the sky； he smiled and said； “Rachael。”
She stooped down on the grass at his side； and bent over him
until her eyes were between his and the sky； for he could not so
much as turn them to look at her。
“Rachael； my dear。”
She took hand。 He smiled again and said； “Don’t let ’t go。”
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“Thou’rt in great pain； my own dear Stephen？”
“I ha’ been； but not now。 I ha’ been—dreadful； and dree； and
long； my dear—but ’tis ower now。 Ah； Rachael； aw a muddle！ Fro’
first to last； a muddle！”
The spectre of his old look seemed to pass as he said the word。
“I ha’ fell into th’ pit； my dear； as have cost wi’in the knowledge
o’ old fok now livin； hundreds and hundreds o’ men’s lives—
fathers； sons； brothers； dear to thousands an thousands； an keepin’
’em fro’ want and hunger。 I ha’ fell into a pit that ha’ been wi’ th’
Fire…damp crueller than battle。 I ha’ read on ’t in the public
petition； as onny one may read； fro’ the men that works in pits； on
which they ha’ pray’n an pray’n the lawmakers for Christ’s sake
not to let their work be murder to ’em； but to spare ’em for th’
wives and children that they loves as well as gentlefok loves theirs。
When it were in work； it killed wi’out need； when ’tis let alone； it
kills wi’out need。 See how we die an no need； one way an
another—in a muddle—every day！”
He faintly said it； without any anger against any one。 Merely as
the truth。
“Thy little sister； Rachael； thou hast not forgot her。 Thou’rt not
like to forget her now； and me so nigh her。 Thou know’st—poor；
patient； suff’rin； dear—how thou didst work for her； seet’n all day
long in her little chair at thy winder； and how she died； young and
misshapen； awlung o’ sickly air as had’n no need to be； an awlung
o’ working people’s miserable homes。 A muddle！ Aw a muddle！”
Louisa approached him； but he could not see her； lying with his
face turned up to the night sky。
“If aw th’ things that tooches us； my dear； was not so muddled； I
should’n ha’ had’n need to coom heer。 If we was not in a muddle
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among ourseln； I should’n ha’ been； by my own fellow weavers and
workin’ brothers； so mistook。 If Mr Bounderby had ever know’d
me right—if he’d ever know’d me at aw—he would’n ha’ took’n
offence wi’ me。 He wouldn’t ha’ suspect’n me。 But look up yonder；
Rachael！ Look aboove！” following his eyes； she saw that he was
gazing at a star。
“It ha’ shined upon me；” he said reverently； “in my pain and
trouble down below。 It ha’ shined into my mind。 I ha’ look’n at ’t
an thowt o’ thee； Rachael； till the muddle in my mind have cleared
awa； above a bit； I hope。 If soom ha’ been wantin’ in unnerstan’in
me better； I； too； ha’ been wantin’ in unnerstan’in them better。
When I got thy letter； I easily believen that what the yoong ledy
sen and done to me； an what her brother sen and done to me； was
one； and that there were a wicket plot betwixt ’em。 When I fell； I
were in anger wi’ her； and hurryin on t’ be as unjust t’ her as
oothers was t’ me。 But in our judgments； like as in our doins； we
mun bear and forbear。 In my pain and trouble； lookin’ up
yonder；—wi’ it shinin’ on me—I ha seen more clear； and ha’ made
it my dyin’ prayer that aw th’ world may on’y coom toogether
more and get a better unnerstan’in’ o’ one another； than when I
were in’t my own weak seln。”
Louisa hearing what he said； bent over him on the opposite side
to Rachael； so that he could see her。
“You ha’ heard？” he said after a few moments’ silence。 “I ha’
not forgot you； ledy。”
“Yes； Stephen； I have heard you。 And your prayer is mine。”
“You ha’ a father。 Will yo tak’ a message to him？”
“He is here；” said Louisa； with dread。 “Shall I bring him to
you？”
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“If you please。”
Louisa returned with her father。 Standing hand…in…hand； they
both looked down upon the solemn countenance。
“Sir； yo will clear me and mak my name good wi’ aw men。 This
I leave to yo。”
Mr Gradgrind was troubled and asked how？
“Sir；” was the reply： “yor son will tell yo how。 Ask him。 I make
no charges： I leave none ahint me： not a single word。 I ha’ seen
and spok’n wi’ yor son； one night。 I ask no more o’ yo than that yo
clear me—an I trust to yo to do’t。”
The bearers being now ready to carry him away； and the
surgeon being anxious for his removal； those who had torches or
lanterns prepared to go in front of the litter。 Before it was raised；
and while they were arranging how to go； he said to Rachael；
looking upward at the star：
“Often as I coom to myseln； and found it shinin’ on me down
there in my trouble； I thowt it were the star as guided to Our
Saviour’s home。 I awmust think it be the very star！”
They lifted him up and he was overjoyed to find that they were
about to take him in the direction whither the star seemed to him
to lead。
“Rachael； beloved lass！ Don’t let go my hand。 We may walk
toogether t’night； my dear！”
“I will hold thy hand； and keep beside thee； Stephen； all the
way。”
“Bless thee！ Will soombody be pleased to coover my face！”
They carried him very gently along the fields； and down the
lanes； and over the wide landscape； Rachael always holding the
hand in hers。 Very few whispers broke the mournful silence。 It
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was soon a funeral procession。 The star had shown him where to
find the God of the poor； and through humility； and sorrow； and
forgiveness； he had gone to his Redeemer’s rest。
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Chapter 7
Whelp…Hunting
efore the ring formed round the Old Hell Shaft was
broken； one figure had disappeared from within it。 Mr
BBounderby and his shadow had not stood near Louisa；
who held her father’s arm； but in a retired place by themselves。
When Mr Gradgrind was summoned to the couch； Sissy； attentive
to all that happened； slipped behind that wicked shadow—a sight
in the horror of his face； if there had been eyes there for any sight
but one—and whispered in his ear。 Without turning his head； he
conferred with her a few moments； and vanished。 Thus the whelp
had gone out of the circle bef