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conferred with her a few moments； and vanished。 Thus the whelp
had gone out of the circle before the people moved。
When the father reached home； he sent a message to Mr
Bounderby’s； desiring his son to come to him directly。 The reply
was； that Mr Bounderby having missed him in the crowd； and
seeing nothing of him since； had supposed him to be at Stone
Lodge。
“I believe； father；” said Louisa； “he will not come back to town
tonight。” Mr Gradgrind turned away and said no more。
In the morning he went down to the Bank himself as soon as it
was opened； and seeing his son’s place empty （he had not the
courage to look in at first）； went back along the street to meet Mr
Bounderby on his way there。 To whom he said that； for reasons he
would soon explain； but entreated not then to be asked for； he had
found it necessary to employ his son at a distance for a little while。
Also； that he was charged with the duty of vindicating Stephen
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Blackpool’s memory； and declaring the thief。 Mr Bounderby quite
confounded； stood stock…still in the street after his father…in…law
had left him； swelling like an immense soap…bubble； without its
beauty。
Mr Gradgrind went home； locked himself in his room； and kept
it all that day。 When Sissy and Louisa tapped at his door； he said；
without opening it； “Not now； my dears； in the evening。” On their
return in the evening； he said； “I am not able yet—tomorrow。” He
ate nothing all day； and had no candle after dark： and they heard
him walking to and fro late at night。
But in the morning he appeared at breakfast at the usual hour；
and took his usual place at the table。 Aged and bent he looked； and
quite bowed down； and yet he looked a wiser man； and a better
man； than in the days when in this life he wanted nothing but
Facts。 Before he left the room； he appointed a time for them to
come to him； and so with his grey head drooping went away。
“Dear father；” said Louisa； when they kept their appointment；
“you have three young children left。 They will be different； I will
be different yet； with Heaven’s help。”
She gave her hand to Sissy； as if she meant with her help too。
“Your wretched brother；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “Do you think he
had planned this robbery； when he went with you to the
lodgings？”
“I fear so； father。 I know he had wanted money very much； and
had spent a great deal。”
“The poor man being about to leave the town； it came into his
evil brain to cast suspicion on him？”
“I think it must have flashed upon him while he sat there；
father。 For I asked him to go there with me。 The visit did not
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originate with him。”
“He had some conversation with the poor man。 Did he take him
aside？”
“He took him out of the room。 I asked him afterwards； why he
done so； and he made a plausible excuse； but since last night；
father； and when I remember the circumstances by its light； I am
afraid I can imagine too truly what passed between them。”
“Let me know；” said her father； “if your thoughts present your
guilty brother in the same dark view as mine。”
“I fear； father；” hesitated Louisa； “that he must have made
some representation to Stephen Blackpool—perhaps in my name；
perhaps in his own—which induced him to do in good faith and
honesty； what he had never done before； and to wait about the
Bank those two or three nights before he left the town。”
“Too plain！” returned the father。 “Too plain！”
He shaded his face； and remained silent for some moments。
Recovering himself； he said：
“And now； how is he to be found？ How is he to be saved from
justice？ In the few hours that I can possibly allow to elapse before
I publish the truth； how is he to be found by us； and only by us？
Ten thousand pounds could not effect it。”
“Sissy has effected it； father。”
He raised his eyes to where she stood； like a good fairy in his
house； and said in a tone of softened gratitude and grateful
kindness； “It is always you； my child！”
“We had our fears。” Sissy explained； glancing at Louisa； “before
yesterday； and when I saw you brought to the side of the litter last
night； and heard what passed （being close to Rachael all the time）；
I went to him when no one saw； and said to him； ‘Don’t look at me。
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See where your father is。 Escape at once； for his sake and your
own！’ He was in a tremble before I whispered to him； and he
started and trembled more then； and said； ‘Where can I go？ I have
very little money； and I don’t know who will hide me！” I thought of
father’s old circus。 I have not forgotten where Mr Sleary goes at
this time of year； and I read of him in a paper only the other day。 I
told him to hurry there； and tell his name； and ask Mr Sleary to
hide him till I came。 ‘I’ll get to him before the morning；’ he said。
And I saw him shrink away among the people。”
“Thank Heaven！” exclaimed his father。 “He may be got abroad
yet。”
It was the more hopeful as the town to which Sissy had directed
him was within three hours’ journey of Liverpool； whence he
could be swiftly dispatched to any part of the world。 But； caution
being necessary in communicating with him—for there was a
greater danger every moment of his being suspected now； and
nobody could be sure at heart； but that Mr Bounderby himself； in
a bullying vein of public zeal； might play a Roman part—it was
consented that Sissy and Louisa should repair to the place in
question； by a circuitous course alone； and that the unhappy
father； setting forth in an opposite direction； should get round to
the same bourne by another and wider route。 It was further
agreed that he should not present himself to Mr Sleary； lest his
intentions should be mistrusted； or the intelligence of his arrival
should cause his son to take flight anew； but； that the
communication should be left to Sissy and Louisa to open； and
that they should inform the cause of so much misery and disgrace；
of his father’s being at hand and of the purpose for which they had
come。 When these arrangements had been well considered and
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were fully understood by all three； it was time to begin to carry
them into execution。 Early in the afternoon； Mr Gradgrind walked
direct from his own house into the country； to be taken up on the
line by which he was to travel； and at night the remaining two set
forth upon their different course； encouraged by not seeing any
face they knew。
The two travelled all night； except when they were left； for odd
numbers of minutes； at branch…places up illimitable flights of
steps； or down wells—which was the only variety of those
branches—and； early in the morning； were turned out on a
swamp； a mile or two from the town they sought。 From this dismal
spot they were rescued by a savage old postilion； who happened to
be up early； kicking a horse in a fly； and so were smuggled into the
town by all the back lanes where the pigs lived： which； although
not a magnificent or even savoury approach； was； as is usual in
such cases； the legitimate highway。