Husband and Wife — Hard Times

Bounderby's first worry about his engagement is telling Mrs. Sparsit. He buys smelling salts and enters his own house like a dog caught coming from the pantry. When he announces he is marrying Tom Gradgrind's daughter, she receives the news with terrifying composure, pitying him so thoroughly that he corks the salts unused and sweats whenever she looks at him. She accepts apartments at the Bank as keeper on the same annual compliment, and nothing he blusters can dislodge her from the role of Victim.

The eight-week betrothal runs entirely on Fact. Love is made in the form of bracelets; dresses, jewellery, cakes, gloves, and settlements are manufactured. The Hours perform none of the rosy operations foolish poets ascribe to lovers, and the deadly statistical clock at Stone Lodge knocks every second on the head as it is born.

They marry at the church of the florid wooden legs and breakfast with an improving party that knows what every dish contains. Bounderby gives a blunt speech: he is Josiah Bounderby, will call a Post a Post and a Pump a Pump, and feels independent to have risen from a ragged street-boy to Tom Gradgrind's son-in-law. They leave for Lyon so he can inspect how the French Hands live. Tom catches Louisa on the stairs, flushed from breakfast wine, and whispers what a game girl she is. She clings to him as she should have clung to some far better nature that day. End of Book the First.