suppose her a dove； embodied by some freak of nature； in the
earthly tabernacle of a bird of the hook…beaked order。
She was a most wonderful woman for prowling about the
house。 How she got from story to story was a mystery beyond
solution。 A lady so decorous in herself； and so highly connected；
was not to be suspected of dropping over the banisters or sliding
down them； yet her extraordinary facility of locomotion suggested
the wild idea。 Another noticeable circumstance in Mrs Sparsit
was； that she was never hurried。 She would shoot with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 246…
Hard Times 246
consummate velocity from the roof to the hall； yet would be in full
possession of her breath and dignity on the moment of her arrival
there。 Neither was she ever seen by human vision to go at a great
pace。
She took very kindly to Mr Harthouse； and had some pleasant
conversation with him soon after her arrival。 She made him her
stately curtsey in the garden； one morning before breakfast。
“It appears but yesterday； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； “that I had the
honour of receiving you at the Bank； when you were so good as to
wish to be made acquainted with Mr Bounderby’s address。”
“An occasion； I am sure； not to be forgotten by myself in the
course of Ages；” said Mr Harthouse； inclining his head to Mrs
Sparsit with the most indolent of all possible airs。
“We live in a singular world； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit。
“I have had the honour； by a coincidence of which I am proud；
to have made a remark； similar in effect； though not so
epigrammatically expressed。”
“A singular world I would say； sir；” pursued Mrs Sparsit； after
acknowledging the compliment with a drooping of her dark
eyebrows； not altogether so mild in its expression as her voice was
in its dulcet tones； “as regards the intimacies we form at one time；
with individuals we were quite ignorant of； at another。 I recall； sir；
that on that occasion you went so far as to say you were actually
apprehensive of Miss Gradgrind。”
“Your memory does me more honour than my insignificance
deserves。 I availed myself of your obliging hints to correct my
timidity； and it is unnecessary to add that they were perfectly
accurate。 Mrs Sparsit’s talent for—in fact for anything requiring
accuracy—with a combination of strength of mind—and Family—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 247…
Hard Times 247
is too habitually developed to admit of any question。” He was
almost falling asleep over this compliment； it took him so long to
get through； and his mind wandered so much in the course of its
execution。
“You found Miss Gradgrind—I really cannot call her Mrs
Bounderby； it’s very absurd of me—as youthful as I described
her？” asked Mrs Sparsit； sweetly。
“You drew her portrait perfectly；” said Mr Harthouse。
“Presented her dead image。”
“Very engaging； sir；” said Mrs Sparsit； causing her mittens
slowly to revolve over one another。
“Highly so。”
“It used to be considered；” said Mrs Sparsit； “that Miss
Gradgrind was wanting in animation； but I confess she appears to
me considerably and strikingly improved in that respect。 Ay； and
indeed here is Mr Bounderby！” cried Mrs Sparsit； nodding her
head a great many times； as if she had been talking and thinking
of no one else。 “How do you find yourself this morning； sir？ Pray
let us see you cheerful； sir。”
Now； these persistent assuagements of his misery； and
lightenings of his load； had by this time begun to have the effect of
making Mr Bounderby softer than usual towards Mrs Sparsit； and
harder than usual to most other people from his wife downward。
So； when Mrs Sparsit said with forced lightness of heart； “You
want your breakfast； sir； but I daresay Miss Gradgrind will soon be
here to preside at the table；” Mr Bounderby replied； “If I waited to
be taken care of by my wife； ma’am； I believe you know pretty well
I should wait till Doomsday； so I’ll trouble you to take charge of the
teapot。” Mrs Sparsit complied； and assumed her old position at
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 248…
Hard Times 248
table。
This again made the excellent woman vastly sentimental。 She
was so humble withal； that when Louisa appeared； she rose；
protesting she never could think of sitting in that place under
existing circumstances； often as she had the honour—of making
Mr Bounderby’s breakfast； before Mrs Gradgrind—she begged
pardon； she meant to say； Miss Bounderby—she hoped to be
excused； but she really could not get it right yet； though she
trusted to become familiar with it by and by—had assumed her
present position。 It was only （she observed） because Miss
Gradgrind happened to be a little late； and Mr Bounderby’s time is
so very precious； and she knew it of old to be so essential that he
should breakfast to the moment； that she had taken the liberty of
complying with his request； long as his will had been a law to her。
“There！ Stop where you are； ma’am；” said Mr Bounderby； “stop
where you are！ Mrs Bounderby will be very glad to be relieved of
the trouble； I believe。”
“Don’t say that； sir；” returned Mrs Sparsit； almost with severity；
“because that is very unkind to Mrs Bounderby。 And to be unkind
is not to be you； sir。”
“You may set your mind at rest； ma’am。—You can take it can
take it very quietly； can’t you； Loo？” said Mr Bounderby； in a
blustering way to his wife。
“Of course。 It is of no moment。 Why should it be of any
importance to me？”
“Why should it be of any importance to any one； Mrs Sparsit；
ma’am？” said Mr Bounderby； swelling with a sense of slight。 “You
attach too much importance to these things； ma’am。 By George；
you’ll be corrupted in some of your notions here。 You are old
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 249…
Hard Times 249
fashioned； ma’am。 You are behind Tom Gradgrind’s children’s
time。”
“What is the matter with you？” asked Louisa； coldly surprised。
“What has given you offence？”
“Offence！” repeated Bounderby。 “Do you suppose if there was
any offence given me； I shouldn’t name it； and request to have it
corrected？ I am a straightforward man； I believe。 I don’t go
beating about for side winds。”
“I suppose no one ever had occasion to think you too diffident；
or too delicate；” Louisa answered him composedly： “I have never
made that objection to you； either as a child or as a woman。 I don’t
understand what you would have。”
“Have？” returned Mr Bounderby。 “Nothing。 Otherwise； don’t
you； Loo Bounderby； know thoroughly well that I； Josiah
Bounderby of Coketown； would have it？”
She looked at him； as he struck the table and made the teacups
ring； with a proud colour in her face that was a new change； Mr
Harthouse thought。 “You are incomprehensible this morning；”
said Louisa。 “Pray take no further trouble to explain yourself。 I am
not curious to know your meaning。 What does it matter！”
Nothing more was said on this theme； and Mr Harthouse was
soon idly gay on indifferent subjects。 But from this day； the Sparsit
action upon Mr Bounderby threw Louisa and James Harthouse
more together； and strengthened the dangerous alienation from
her husband and confidence against him with another； into which
she had fallen by degrees so fine that she could not retrace them if
she tried。 But； whether she ever tried or no； lay hidden in her own
closed heart。
Mrs Sparsit was so much affected on this particular occasion；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 250…
Hard Times 250
that； assisting Mr Bounderby to his hat after breakfast； and being
then alone with him in the hall； she imprinted a chaste kiss upon
his hand； murmured “My benefactor！” and retired； overwhelmed
with grief。 Yet it is an indubitable fact； within the cognisance of
this history； that five minutes after he had left the house in the
self…same hat； the same descendant of the Scadgerses and
connection by matrimony of the Powlers； shook
小提示：按 回车 [Enter] 键 返回书目，按 ← 键 返回上一页， 按 → 键 进入下一页。
赞一下
添加书签加入书架