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acquainted with the facts established by Harvey relating to the
circulation of the blood； can doubt that I have a heart。”
“Is it accessible；” cried Mr Gradgrind； “to any compassionate
influence？”
“It is accessible to Reason； sir；” returned the excellent young
man。 “And to nothing else。”
They stood looking at each other； Mr Gradgrind’s face as white
as the pursuer’s。
“What motive—even what motive in reason—can you have for
preventing the escape of this wretched youth；” said Mr Gradgrind；
“and crushing his miserable father？ See his sister here。 Pity us！”
“Sir；” returned Bitzer； in a very business…like and logical
manner； “since you ask me what motive I have in reason； for
taking young Mr Tom back to Coketown； it is only reasonable to
let you know。 I have suspected young Mr Tom of this bank
robbery from the first。 I had had my eye upon him before that
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time； for I knew his ways。 I have kept my observations to myself；
but I have made them； and I have got ample proofs against him
now； besides his running away； and besides his own confessions；
which I was just in time to overhear。 I had the pleasure of
watching your house yesterday morning； and following you here。 I
am going to take young Mr Tom back to Coketown； in order to
deliver him over to Mr Bounderby。 Sir； I have no doubt whatever
that Mr Bounderby will then promote me to young Mr Tom’s
situation。 And I wish to have his situation； sir； for it will be a rise to
me； and will do me good。”
“If this is solely a question of self…interest with you—” Mr
Gradgrind began。
“I beg your pardon for interrupting you； sir；” returned Bitzer；
“but I am sure you know that the whole social system is a question
of self…interest。 What you must always appeal to； is a person’s self…
interest。 It’s your only hold。 We are so constituted。 I was brought
up in that catechism when I was very young； sir； as you are
aware。”
“What sum of money；” said Mr Gradgrind； “will you set against
your expected promotion？”
“Thank you； sir；” returned Bitzer； “for hinting at the proposal；
but I will not set any sum against it。 Knowing that your clear head
would propose that alternative； I have gone over the calculations
in my mind； and I find that to compound a felony； even on very
high terms indeed； would not be as safe and good for me as my
improved prospects in the Bank。”
“Bitzer；” said Mr Gradgrind； stretching out his hands as though
he would have said； See how miserable I am！
“Bitzer； I have but one chance left to soften you。 You were
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Hard Times 363
many years at my school。 If； in remembrance of the pains
bestowed upon you there； you can persuade yourself in any degree
to disregard your present interest and release my son； I entreat
and pray you to give him the benefit of that remembrance。”
“I really wonder； sir；” rejoined the old pupil in an
argumentative manner； “to find you taking a position so
untenable。 My schooling was paid for； it was a bargain； and when I
came away； the bargain ended。”
It was a fundamental principle of the Gradgrind philosophy；
that everything was to be paid for。 Nobody was ever on any
account to give anybody anything； or render anybody help without
purchase。 Gratitude was to be abolished； and the virtues springing
from it were not to be。 Every inch of the existence of mankind；
from birth to death； was to be a bargain across a counter。 And if
we didn’t get to Heaven that way； it was not a politico…economical
place； and we had no business there。
“I don’t deny；” added Bitzer； “that my schooling was cheap。 But
that comes right； sir。 I was made in the cheapest market； and have
to dispose of myself in the dearest。”
He was a little troubled here； by Louisa and Sissy crying。
“Pray don’t do that；” said he； “it’s of no use doing that： it only
worries。 You seem to think that I have some animosity against
young Mr Tom； whereas I have none at all。 I am only going； on the
reasonable grounds I have mentioned； to take him back to
Coketown。 If he was to resist； I should set up the cry of Stop Thief！
But； he won’t resist； you may depend upon it。”
Mr Sleary； who； with his mouth open and his rolling eye as
immovably jammed in his head as his fixed one； had listened to
these doctrines with profound attention； here stepped forward。
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“Thquire； you know perfectly well； and your daughter knowth
perfectly well （better than you； becauthe I thed it to her）； that I
didn’t know what your thon had done； and that I didn’t want to
know—I thed it wath better not； though I only thought then； it
wath thome thkylarking。 However； thith young man having made
it known to be a robbery of a bank； why； that’h a theriouth thing；
muth too theriouth a thing for me to compound； ath thith young
man hath very properly called it。 Conthequently； Thquire； you
muthn’t quarrel with me if I take thith young man’th thide； and
thay he’th right and there’th no help for it。 But I tell you what I’ll
do； Thquire； I’ll drive your thon and thith young man over to the
rail； and prevent expothure here。 I can’t conthent to do more； but
I’ll do that。”
Fresh lamentations from Louisa； and deeper affliction on Mr
Gradgrind’s part； followed this desertion of them by their last
friend。 But； Sissy glanced to him with great attention； nor did she
in her own breast misunderstand him。 As they were all going out
again； he favoured her with one slight roll of his movable