hard times(艰难时世)-第14章
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all over England； and alwayth paythe ith way。”
“Must find out Mr Sleary； who would then let him know where
you went。 I should have no power of keeping you against his wish；
and he would have no difficulty at any time； in finding Mr Thomas
Gradgrind of Coketown。 I am well known。”
“Well known；” assented Mr Sleary； rolling his loose eye。
“You’re one of the thort； Thquire； that keepth a prethiouth
thight out money out of the houthe。 But never mind that at
prethent。”
There was another silence； and then she exclaimed； sobbing
with her hands before her face； “Oh give me my clothes； give me
my clothes； and let me go away before I break my heart！”
The women sadly bestirred themselves to get the clothes
together—it was soon done； for they were not many—and to pack
them in a basket which had often travelled with them。 Sissy sat all
the time； upon the ground； still sobbing； and covering her eyes。 Mr
Gradgrind and his friend Bounderby stood near the door； ready to
take her away。 Mr Sleary stood in the middle of the room； with the
male members of the company about him； exactly as he would
have stood in the centre of the ring during his daughter
Josephine’s performance。 He wanted nothing but his whip。
The basket packed in silence； they brought her bonnet to her；
and smoothed her disordered hair； and put it on。 Then they
pressed about her； and bent over her in very natural attitudes；
kissing and embracing her： and brought the children to take leave
of her； and were a tender…hearted； simple； foolish set of women
altogether。
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Hard Times 56
“Now； Jupe；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “If you are quite determined；
come！”
But she had to take her farewell of the male part of the
company yet； and every one of them had to unfold his arms （for
they all assumed the professional attitude when they found
themselves near Sleary）； and give her a parting kiss—Master
Kidderminister excepted； in whose young nature there was an
original flavour of the misanthrope； who was also known to have
harboured matrimonial views； and who moodily withdrew。 Mr
Sleary was reserved until the last。 Opening his arms wide he took
her by both her hands； and would have sprung her up and down；
after the riding…master manner of congratulating young ladies on
their dismounting from a rapid act； but there was no rebound in
Sissy； and she only stood before him crying。
“Good bye； my dear！” said Sleary。 “You’ll make your fortun； I
hope； and none of our poor folkth will ever trouble you； I’ll pound
it。 I with your father hadn’t taken hith dog with him； ith a ill…
conwenienth to have the dog out of the billth。 But on thecond
thoughth； he wouldn’t have performed without hith mathter； tho
ith ath broad ath ith long！”
With that he regarded her attentively with his fixed eye；
surveyed his company with his loose one； kissed her； shook his
head； and handed her to Mr Gradgrind as to a horse。
“There the ith； Thquire；” he said； sweeping her with a
professional glance as if she were being adjusted in her seat； “and
the’ll do you juthtithe。 Good bye； Thethilia！”
“Good bye； Cecilia！” “Good bye； Sissy！” “Good bless you； dear！”
In a variety of voices from all the room。
But the riding…master’s eye had observed the bottle of the nine
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Hard Times 57
oils in her bosom； and he now interposes with “Leave the bottle；
my dear； ith large to carry； it will be of no uthe to you now。 Give it
to me！”
“No； no！” she said； in another burst of tears。 “Oh no！ Pray let
me keep it for father till he comes back！ He will want it when he
comes back。 He had never thought of going away； when he sent
me for it。 I must keep it for him； if you please！”
“Tho be it； my dear。 （You thee how it ith； Thquire！） Farewell；
Thethilia！ My latht wordth to you ith thith； Thtick to the termth of
your engagement； be obedient to the Thquire； and forget uth。 But
if； when you’re grown up and married and well off； you come upon
any horthe…riding ever； don’t be hard upon it； don’t be croth with
it； give it a Bethpeak if you can； and think you might do wurth。
People must be amuthed； Thquire； thomehow；” continued Sleary；
rendered more pursy than ever； by so much talking； “they can’t be
alwayth a working； nor yet they can’t be alwayth a learning。 Make
the betht of uth； not the wurtht。 I’ve got my living out of the
horthe…riding all my life； I know； but I conthider that I lay down
the philothophy of the thubject when I thay to you； Thquire； make
the betht of us： not the wurtht！”
The Sleary philosophy was propounded as they went
downstairs； and the fixed eye of Philosophy—and its rolling eye；
too—soon lost the three figures and the basket in the darkness of
the street。
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Hard Times 58
Chapter 7
Mrs Sparsit
r Bounderby being a bachelor； an elderly lady presided
over his establishment； in consideration of a certain
M
annual stipend。 Mrs Sparsit was this lady’s name； and
she was a prominent figure in attendance on Mr Bounderby’s car；
as it rolled along in triumph with the Bully of humility inside。
For； Mrs Sparsit had not only seen different days； but was
highly connected。 She had a great aunt living in these very times
called lady Scadgers。 Mr Sparsit； deceased； of whom she was the
relict； had been by the mother’s side what Mrs Sparsit still called
“a Powler。” Strangers of limited information and dull
apprehension were sometimes observed not to know what a
Powler was； and even to appear uncertain whether it might be a
business； or a political party； or a profession of faith。 The better
class of minds； however； did not need to be informed that the
Powlers were an ancient stock； who could trace themselves so
exceedingly far back that it was not surprising if they sometimes
lost themselves—which they had rather frequently done； as
respected horseflesh； blind…hookey； Hebrew monetary
transactions； and the Insolvent Debtors Court。
The late Mr Sparsit； being by the mother’s side a Powler；
married this lady； being by the father’s side a Scadgers。 Lady
Scadgers （an immensely fat old woman； with an inordinate
appetite for butcher’s meat； and a mysterious leg which had now
refused to get out of bed for fourteen years） contrived the
Charles Dickens
