Nobody present having any suggestion to offer in the remarkable emergency, Mrs. Gradgrind departed this life for the time being, after delivering the following codicil to her remarks already executed:
“As to the wedding, all I ask, Louisa, is, – and I ask it with a fluttering in my chest, which actually extends to the soles of my feet, – that it may take place soon. Otherwise, I know it is one of those subjects I shall never hear the last of.”
When Mr. Gradgrind had presented Mrs. Bounderby, Sissy had suddenly turned her head, and looked, in wonder, in pity, in sorrow, in doubt, in a multitude of emotions, towards Louisa. Louisa had known it, and seen it, without looking at her. From that moment she was impassive, proud, and cold – held Sissy at a distance – changed to her altogether.
Chapter XVI Husband And Wife
Mr. Bounderby’s first disquietude on hearing of his happiness, was occasioned by the necessity of imparting it to Mrs. Sparsit. He could not make up his mind how to do that, or what the consequences of the step might be. Whether she would instantly depart, bag and baggage, to Lady Scadgers, or would positively refuse to budge from the premises; whether she would be plaintive or abusive, tearful or tearing; whether she would break her heart, or break the looking-glass; Mr. Bounderby could not at all foresee. However, as it must be done, he had no choice but to do it; so, after attempting several letters, and failing in them all, he resolved to do it by word of mouth.
On his way home, on the evening he set aside for this momentous purpose, he took the precaution of stepping into a chemist’s shop and buying a bottle of the very strongest smelling-salts. “By George!” said Mr. Bounderby, “if she takes it in the fainting way, I’ll have the skin off her nose, at all events!” But, in spite of being thus forearmed, he entered his own house with anything but a courageous air; and appeared before the object of his misgivings, like a dog who was conscious of coming direct from the pantry.
“Good evening, Mr. Bounderby!”
“Good evening, ma’am, good evening.” He drew up his chair, and Mrs. Sparsit drew back hers as who should say, “Your fireside, sir. I freely admit it. It is for you to occupy it all, if you think proper.”
“Don’t go to the North Pole, ma’am!” said Mr. Bounderby.
“Thank you, sir,” said Mrs. Sparsit, and returned, though short of her former position.
Mr. Bounderby sat looking at her, as, with the points of a stiff, sharp pair of scissors, she picked out holes for some inscrutable ornamental purpose, in a piece of cambric. An operation which, taken in connexion with the bushy eye-brows and the Roman nose, suggested with some liveliness the idea of a hawk engaged upon the eyes of a tough little bird. She was so steadfastly occupied, that many minutes elapsed before she looked up from her work: when she did so, Mr. Bounderby bespoke her attention with hitch of his head.
“Mrs. Sparsit ma’am,” said Mr. Bounderby, putting his hands in his pockets, and assuring himself with his right hand that the cork of the little bottle was ready for use, “I have no occasion to say to you, that you are not only a lady born and bred, but a devilish sensible woman.”
“Sir,” returned the lady, “this is indeed not the first time that you have honoured me with similar expressions of your good opinion.”
“Mrs. Sparsit ma’am,” said Mr. Bounderby, “I am going to astonish you.”
“Yes. sir?” returned Mrs. Sparsit, interrogatively, and in the most tranquil manner possible. She generally wore mittens, and she now laid down her work, and smoothed those mittens.
“I am going, ma’am,” said Bounderby, “to marry Tom Gradgrind’s daughter.”
“Yes, sir?” returned Mrs. Sparsit. “I hope you may be happy, Mr. Bounderby. Oh, indeed I hope you may be happy, sir!” And she said it with such great condescension, as well as with such great compassion for him, that Bounderby, – far more disconcerted than if she had thrown her work-box at the mirror, or swooned on the hearth-rug, – corked up the smelling-salts tight in his pocket, and thought, “Now confound this woman, who could have ever guessed that she would take it in this way!”