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first； because all gifts have an inevitable tendency to pauperise the
recipient； and secondly； because his only reasonable transaction in
that commodity would have been to buy it for as little as he could
possibly give； and sell it for as much as he could possibly get； it
having been clearly ascertained by philosophers that in this is
comprised the whole duty of man—not a part of man’s duty； but
the whole。
“Pretty fair； ma’am。 With the usual exception； ma’am；”
repeated Bitzer。
“Ah—h！” said Mrs Sparsit； shaking her head over her teacup；
and taking a long gulp。
“Mr Thomas； ma’am； I doubt Mr Thomas very much； ma’am； I
don’t like his ways at all。”
“Bitzer；” said Mrs Sparsit； in a very impressive manner； “do
you recollect my having said anything to you respecting names？”
“I beg your pardon； ma’am。 It’s quite true that you did object to
names being used； and they’re always best avoided。”
“Please to remember that I have a charge here；” said Mrs
Sparsit； with her air of state。 “I hold a trust here； Bitzer； under Mr
Bounderby。 However improbable both Mr Bounderby and myself
might have deemed it years ago； that he would ever become my
patron； making me an annual compliment； I cannot but regard
him in that light。 From Mr Bounderby I have received every
acknowledgement of my social station； and every recognition of
my family descent； that I could possibly expect。 More； far more。
Therefore； to my patron I will be scrupulously true。 And I do not
consider； I will not consider； I cannot consider；” said Mrs Sparsit；
with a most extensive stock on hand of honour and morality； “that
I should be scrupulously true； if I allowed names to be mentioned
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under this roof； that are unfortunately—most unfortunately—no
doubt of that connected with his。”
Bitzer knuckled his forehead again； and again begged pardon。
“No； Bitzer；” continued Mrs Sparsit； “say an individual； and I
will hear you； say Mr Thomas； and you must excuse me。”
“With the usual exception； ma’am；” said Bitzer； trying back； “of
an individual。”
“Ah—h！” Mrs Sparsit repeated the ejaculation； the shake of the
head over her teacup； and the long gulp； as taking up the
conversation again at the point where it had been interrupted。
“An individual； ma’am；” said Bitzer； “has never been what he
ought to have been； since he first came into the place。 He is a
dissipated； extravagant idler。 He is not worth his salt； ma’am。 He
wouldn’t get it either； if he hadn’t a friend and relation at court；
ma’am！”
“Ah—h！” said Mrs Sparsit； with another melancholy shake of
her head。
“I only hope； ma’am；” pursued Bitzer； “that his friend and
relation may not supply him with the means of carrying on。
Otherwise； ma’am； we know out of whose pocket that money
comes 。 “
“Ah—h！” sighed Mrs Sparsit again； with another melancholy
shake of her head。
“He is to be pitied； ma’am。 The last party I have alluded to； is to
be pitied； ma’am”； said Bitzer。
“Yes； Bitzer；” said Mrs Sparsit。 “I have always pitied the
delusion； always。”
“As to an individual； ma’am；” said Bitzer； dropping his voice
and drawing nearer； “he is as improvident as any of the people in
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this town。 And you know what their improvidence is； ma’am。 No
one could wish to know it better than a lady of your eminence
does。”
“They would do well；” returned Mrs Sparsit； “to take example
by you； Bitzer。”
“Thank you； ma’am。 But； since you do refer to me； now look at
me； ma’am。 I have put by a little； ma’am； already。 That gratuity
which I receive at Christmas； ma’am： I never touch it。 I don’t even
go the length of my wages； though they’re not high； ma’am。 Why
can’t they do as I have done； ma’am？ What one person can do；
another can do。”
This； again； was among the fictions of Coketown。 Any capitalist
there； who had made sixty thousand pounds out of sixpence；
always professed to wonder why the sixty thousand nearest Hands
didn’t each make sixty thousand pounds out of sixpence； and more
or less reproached them every one for not accomplishing the little
feat。 What I did you can do。 Why don’t you go and do it？
“As to their wanting recreations； ma’am；” said Bitzer； “it’s stuff
and nonsense。 I don’t want recreations。 I never did； and I never
shall； I don’t like ’em。 As to their combining together； there are
many of them； I have no doubt； that by watching and informing
upon one another could earn a trifle now and then； whether in
money or good will； and improve their livelihood。 Then； why don’t
they improve it； ma’am？ It’s the first consideration of a rational
creature； and it’s what they pretend to want。”
“Pretend indeed！” said Mrs Sparsit。
“I am sure we are constantly hearing ma’am； till it becomes
quite nauseous； concerning their wives and families；” said Bitzer。
“Why； look at me； ma’am！ I don’t want a wife and family。 Why
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should they？”
“Because they are improvident；” said Mrs Sparsit。
“Yes； ma’am；” returned Bitzer； “that’s where it is。 If they were
more provident； and less perverse； ma’am； what would they do？
They would say； “While my hat covers my family；” or； “While my
bonnet covers my family”—as the case might be； ma’am—”I have
only one to feed； and that’s the person I most like to feed。”
“To be sure；” assented Mrs Sparsit； eating muffin。
“Thank you； ma’am；” said Bitzer； knuckling his forehead again
in return for the favour of Mrs Sparsit’s improving conversation。
“Would you wish a little more hot water； ma’am； or is there
anything else that I could fetch you？”
“Nothing just now； Bitzer。”
“Thank you； ma’am。 I shouldn’t wish to disturb you at your
meals； ma’am； particularly tea； knowing your partiality for it；” said
Bitzer； craning a little to look over into the street from where he
stood； “but there’s a gentleman been looking up here for a minute
or so； ma’am； and he has come across as if he was going to knock。
That is his knock； ma’am； no doubt。”
He stepped to the window； and looking out； and drawing in his
head again； confirmed himself with； “Yes； ma’am。 Would you wish
the gentleman to be shown in； ma’am？”
“I don’t know who it can be；” said Mrs Sparsit； wiping her
mouth and arranging her mittens。
“A stranger； ma’am； evidently。”
“What a stranger can want at the Bank at this time of the
evening； unless he comes upon some business for which he is too
late； I don’t know；” said Mrs Sparsit； “but I hold a charge in this
establishment from Mr Bounderby； and I will never shrink from it。
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If to see him is any part of the duty I have accepted； I will see him。
Use your own discretion； Bitzer。”
Here； the visitor； all unconscious of Mrs Sparsit’s magnanimous
words； repeated his knock so loudly that the light porter hastened
down to open the door； while Mrs Sparsit took the precaution of
concealing her little table； with all its appliances upon it； in a
cupboard； and then decamped up stairs that she might appear； if
needful； with the greater dignity。
“If you please； ma’am； the gentleman would wish to see you；”
said Bitzer； with his light eye at Mrs Sparsit’s keyhole。 So； Mrs
Sparsit； who had improved the interval by touching up her cap；
took her classical features downstairs again； and entered the
boardroom in the manner of a Roman matron going outside the
city walls to treat with an invading general。
The visitor having strolled to the window； and being then
engaged in looking carelessly out； was as unmoved by this
impressive entry as man could possibly be。 He stood whistling to
himself with all imaginable coolness； with his hat still on； and a
certain air of exhaustion upon him； in part arising from excessive
summer； and in
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