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“I forced the safe myself over night； and shut it up ajar before I
went away。 I had had the key that was found； made long before。 I
dropped it that morning； that it might be supposed to have been
used。 I didn’t take the money all at once。 I pretended to put my
balance away every night； but I didn’t。 Now you know all about it。”
“If a thunderbolt had fallen on me；” said the father； “it would
have shocked me less than this！”
“I don’t see why；” grumbled the son。 “So many people are
employed in situations of trust； so many people； out of so many；
will be dishonest。 I have heard you talk； a hundred times； of its
being a law。 How can I help laws？ You have comforted others with
such things； father。 Comfort yourself！”
The father buried his face in his hands； and the son stood in his
disgraceful grotesqueness； biting straw： his hands； with the black
party worn away inside； looking like the hands of a monkey。 The
evening was fast closing in； and from time to time； he turned the
whites of his eyes restlessly and impatiently towards his father。
They were the only parts of his face that showed any life or
expression； the pigment upon it was so thick。
“You must be got to Liverpool； and sent abroad。”
“I suppose I must。 I can’t be more miserable anywhere；”
whimpered the whelp； “than I have been here； ever since I can
remember。 That’s one thing。”
Mr Gradgrind went to the door； and returned with Sleary； to
whom he submitted the question； How to get this deplorable
object away？
“Why； I’ve been thinking of it； Thquire。 There’th not muth time
to loathe； tho you muth thay yeth or no。 Ith over twenty mileth to
the rail。 Thereth a coath in half an hour； that goeth to the rail；
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‘purpothe to cath the mail train。 That train will take him right to
Liverpool。”
“But look at him；” groaned Mr Gradgrind。 “Will any coach—”
“I don’t mean that he thould go in the comic livery；” said
Sleary。 “Thay the word； and I’ll make a Jothkin of him； out of the
wardrobe； in five minutes。”
“I don’t understand；” said Mr Gradgrind。
“A Jothkin—a Carter。 Make up your mind quick； Thquire；
There’ll be beer to feth。 I’ve never met with nothing but beer ath’ll
ever clean a comic blackamoor。”
Mr Gradgrind rapidly assented； Mr Sleary rapidly turned out
from a box； a smock frock； a felt hat； and other essentials； the
whelp rapidly changed clothes behind a screen of baize； Mr Sleary
rapidly brought beer； and washed him white again。
“Now；” said Sleary； “come along to the coath； and jump up
behind； I’ll go with you there； and they’ll thuppothe you one of my
people。 Thay farewell to your family； and tharp’th the word。” With
which he delicately retired。
“Here is your letter；” said Mr Gradgrind。 “All necessary means
will be provided for you。 Atone； by repentance and better conduct；
for the shocking action you have committed； and the dreadful
consequences to which it has led。 Give me your hand； my poor
boy； and may God forgive you as I do！”
The culprit was moved to a few abject tears by these words and
their pathetic tone。 But； when Louisa opened her arms； he
repulsed her afresh。
“Not you。 I don’t want to have anything to say to you！”
“O Tom； Tom； do we end so； after all my love！”
“After all your love！” he returned； obdurately。 “Pretty love！
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Leaving old Bounderby to himself； and packing my best friend Mr
Harthouse off； and going home just when I was in the greatest
danger。 Pretty love that！ Coming out with every word about our
having gone to that place； when you saw the net was gathering
round me。 Pretty love that！ You have regularly given me up。 You
never cared for me。”
“Tharp’th the word！” said Sleary at the door。
They all confusedly went out： Louisa crying to him that she
forgave him； and loved him still； and that he would one day be
sorry to have left her so； and glad to think of these her last words；
far away： when some one ran against them。 Mr Gradgrind and
Sissy； who were both before him while his sister yet clung to his
shoulder； stopped and recoiled。
For； there was Bitzer； out of breath； his thin lips parted； his thin
nostrils distended； his white eyelashes quivering； his colourless
face more colourless than ever； as if he ran himself into a white
heat； when other people ran themselves into a glow。 There he
stood； panting and heaving； as if he had never stopped since the
night； now long ago； when he had run them down before。
“I’m sorry to interfere with your plans；” said Bitzer； shaking his
head； “but I can’t allow myself to be done by horse…riders。 I must
have young Mr Tom； he mustn’t be got away by horse…riders； here
he is in a smock frock； and I must have him！”
By the collar； too； it seemed。 For； so he took possession of him。
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Chapter 8
Philosophical
hey went back into the booth； Sleary shutting the door to
keep intruders out。 Bitzer； still holding the paralysed
T
culprit by the collar； stood in the Ring； blinking at his old
patron through the darkness of the twilight。
“Bitzer；” said Mr Gradgrind； broken down； and miserably
submissive to him； “have you a heart？”
“The circulation sir；” returned Bitzer； smiling at the oddity of
the question； “couldn’t be carried on without one。 No man； sir；
acquainted with the facts established by Harvey relating to the
circulation of the blood； can doubt that I have a heart。