Hard Times

'Time went on in Coketown like its own machinery: so much material wrought up, so much fuel consumed, so many powers worn out, so much money made.' In this way Dickens fast-forwards through several years. Louisa becomes almost a young woman. Thomas becomes almost a young man, then a young man in a long-tailed coat at Bounderby's bank. Sissy is withdrawn from school — Gradgrind, disappointed, tells her she is backward and below the mark, deficient in facts, and that her early circumstances were probably too unfavourable for her reason to develop. He acknowledges she is affectionate and earnest, and they must 'make that do.' She thanks him with a curtsey. He cannot quite tick her off into columns in a parliamentary return. Gradgrind himself becomes MP for Coketown — one of the deaf, dumb, blind, lame honourable gentlemen, deaf to every consideration beyond figures. Louisa at twilight is still watching sparks fall and die in the fire. One evening Gradgrind holds her and says, 'My dear Louisa, you are a woman.' He asks her to come to his study in the morning. That night Tom comes to her. He hints that father and Bounderby have been meeting at the Bank, away from Mrs. Sparsit's ears. He coaxes Louisa close and asks her to think of how much better things could be for him — 'It would be a splendid thing for me. It would be uncommonly jolly!' She gives him an affectionate good-night. She stands at the door watching his departing steps, which retreat quickly, as glad to get away from Stone Lodge.