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extraordinarily black town, while they were getting dinner ready
at the hotel, I asked a fellow whom I met; one of the working
people; who appeared to have been taking a shower-bath of
something fluffy, which I assume to be the raw material;- Mrs
Sparsit inclined her head.
-Raw material- where Mr Bounderby the banker, might reside.
Upon which, misled no doubt by the word Banker, he directed me
to the Bank. Fact being, I presume, that Mr Bounderby the Banker,
does not reside in the edifice in which I have the honour of offering
this explanation? No, sir, returned Mrs Sparsit, he does not.
Thank you. I had no intention of delivering my letter at the
present moment, nor have I. But, strolling on to the Bank to kill
time, and having the good fortune to observe at the window,
towards which he languidly waved his hand, then slightly bowed,
a lady of a very superior and agreeable appearance, I considered
that I could not do better than take the liberty of asking that lady
where Mr Bounderby the Banker, does live. Which I accordingly
venture, with all suitable apologies, to do. The inattention and
indolence of his manner were sufficiently relieved, to Mrs Sparsit s
thinking, by a certain gallantry at ease, which offered her homage
too. Here he was, for instance, at this moment, all but sitting on the
table, and yet lazily bending over her, as if he acknowledged an
attraction in her that made her charming- in her way.
Banks, I know, are always suspicious, and officially must be, said
the stranger, whose lightness and smoothness of speech were
pleasant likewise; suggesting matter far more sensible and
humorous than it ever contained- which was perhaps a shrewd
device of the founder of this numerous sect, whosoever may have
been that great man; therefore I may observe that my letter- here it
is- is from the member for this place- Gradgrind- whom I have had
the pleasure of knowing in London. Mrs Sparsit recognized the
hand, intimated that such confirmation was quite unnecessary, and
gave Mr Bounderby s address, with all needful clues and
directions in aid.
100
Thousand thanks, said the stranger. Of course you know the
Banker well? Yes, sir, rejoined Mrs Sparsit. In my dependent
relation towards him, I have known him ten years. Quite an
eternity! I think he married Gradgrind s daughter? Yes, said Mrs
Sparsit, suddenly compressing her mouth. He had that- honour.
The lady is quite a philosopher, I am told? Indeed, sir, said Mrs
Sparsit. Is she?
Excuse my impertinent curiosity, pursued the stranger, fluttering
over Mrs Sparsit s eyebrows, with a propitiatory air, but you know
the family, and know the world. I am about to know the family,
and may have much to do with them. Is the lady so very alarming?
Her father gives her such a portentously hard-headed reputation,
that I have a burning desire to know. Is she absolutely
unapproachable? Repellently and stunningly clever? I see, by your
meaning smile, you think not. You have poured balm into my
anxious soul. As to age, now. Forty! Five and thirty? Mrs Sparsit
laughed outright. A chit, said she. Not twenty when she was
married. I give you my honour, Mrs Powler, returned the
stranger, detaching himself from the table, that I never was so
astonished in my life! It really did seem to impress him, to the
utmost extent of his capacity of being impressed. He looked at his
informant for full a quarter of a minute, and appeared to have the
surprise in his mind all the time. I assure you, Mrs Powler, he
then said, much exhausted, that the father s manner prepared me
for a grim and stony maturity. I am obliged to you, of all things, for
correcting so absurd a mistake.
Pray excuse my intrusion. Many thanks. Good day! He bowed
himself out; and Mrs Sparsit, hiding in the window-curtain, saw
him languishing down the street on the shady side of the way,
observed of all the town.
What do you think of the gentleman, Bitzer? she asked the light
porter, when he came to take away.
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