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former curious tone； “it will be getting away from home。 Yes。”
“Not but what I shall be very unwilling； both to leave you； Loo；
and to leave you here。 But I must go； you know； whether I like it or
not； and I had better go where I can take with me some advantage
of your influence； than where I should lose it altogether。 “Don’t
you see？”
“Yes； Tom。”
The answer was so long in coming； though there was no
indecision in it； that Tom went and leaned on the back of her
chair； to contemplate the fire which so engrossed her； from her
point of view； and see what he could make of it。
“Except that it is a fire；” said Tom； “it looks to me as stupid and
blank as everything else looks。 What do you see in it？ Not a
circus？”
“I don’t see anything in it； Tom； particularly。 But since I have
been looking it； I have been wondering about you and me grown
up。”
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“Wondering again！” said Tom。
“I have such unmanageable thoughts；” returned his sister； “that
they will wonder。”
“Then I beg of you； Louisa；” said Mrs Gradgrind； who had
entered the door without being heard； “to do nothing of that
description； for goodness’ take； you inconsiderate girl； or I shall
never hear the last of it from your father。 And Thomas； it is really
shameful； with my poor head continually wearing me out； that a
boy brought up as you have been； and whose education has cost
what yours has； should be found encouraging his sister to wonder；
when he knows his father has expressly said that she is not to do
it。”
Louisa denied Tom’s participation in the offence； but her
mother stopped her with the conclusive answer； “Louisa； don’t tell
me； in my state of health； for unless you have been encouraged； it
is morally and physically impossible that you could have done it。”
“I was encouraged by nothing； mother； but by looking at the
red sparks dropping out of the fire； and whitening and dying。 It
made me think； after all； how short my life would be； and how little
I could hope to do in it。”
“Nonsense！” said Mrs Gradgrind； rendered almost energetic。
“Nonsense！ Don’t stand there and tell me such stuff； Louisa； to my
face； when you know very well that if it was ever to reach your
father’s ears I should never hear the last of it。 After all the trouble
that has been taken with you！ After the lectures you have
attended； and the experiments you have seen！ After I have heard
you myself； when the whole of my right side has been benumbed；
going on with your master about combustion； and calcination； and
calorification； and I may say every kind of action that could drive a
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poor invalid distracted； to hear you talking in this absurd way
about sparks and ashes！ I wish；” whimpered Mrs Gradgrind；
taking a chair and discharging her strongest point before
succumbing under these mere shadows of facts； “yes； I really do
wish that I had never had a family； and then you would have
known what it was to do without me！”
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Chapter 9
Sissy’s Progress
issy Jupe had not an easy time of it； between Mr
M’Choakumchild and Mrs Gradgrind； and was not without
S
strong impulses； in the first months of her probation； to run
away。 It hailed facts all day long so very hard； and life in general
was opened to her as such a closely ruled ciphering…book； that
surely she would have run away； but for only one restraint。
It is lamentable to think of； but this restraint was the result of
no arithmetical progress； was self…imposed in defiance of all
calculation； and went dead against any table of probabilities that
any Actuary would have drawn up from the premises。 The girl
believed that her father had not deserted her； she lived in the hope
that he would come back； and in the faith that he would be made
the happier by her remaining where she was。
The wretched ignorance with which Jupe clung to this
consolation； rejecting the superior comfort of knowing； on a sound
arithmetical basis； that her father was an unnatural vagabond；
filled Mr Gradgrind with pity。 Yet； what was to be done？
M’Choakumchild reported that she had a very dense head for
figures； that； once possessed with a general idea of the globe； she
took the smallest conceivable interest in its exact measurements；
that she was extremely slow in the acquisition of dates； unless
some pitiful incident happened to be connected therewith； that
she would burst into tears on being required （by the mental
process） immediately to name the cost of two hundred and forty…
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seven muslin caps at fourteenpence halfpenny； that she was as low
down； in the school； as low could be； that after eight weeks of
induction into the elements of Political Economy； she had only
yesterday been set right by a prattler three feet high； for returning
to the question； “What is the first principle of this science？” the
absurd answer； “To do unto others as I would that they should do
unto me。”
Mr Gradgrind observed； shaking his head； that all this was very
bad； that it showed the necessity of infinite grinding at the mill of
knowledge； as per system； schedule； blue book； report； and tabular
statements A to Z； and that Jupe “must be kept to it。” So Jupe was
kept to it； and became low…spirited； but no wiser。
“It would be a fine thing