Mrs. Sparsit's Staircase — Hard Times

Mrs Sparsit prolongs her stay at Bounderby's country house, pitying him to his face while calling his portrait a Noodle in private. Bored, jealous, and sharp-eyed, she erects in her mind a mighty Staircase with a dark pit of shame and ruin at the bottom and sees Louisa descending step by step toward it. Watching becomes her occupation: impenetrable reserve only whets her edge.

Bounderby tells her the Bank robbery is in hand, Tom is helping, and the old woman is not yet caught. Keep it quiet, he says; let the thieves grow confident. That evening from her window Mrs Sparsit sees Louisa in the garden alcove with Harthouse, their faces close, whispering about Stephen Blackpool.

Louisa says it has been difficult to think ill of Stephen. Harthouse calls him an infinitely dreary fellow, then spins a cynical theory: the humble-virtue worker, injured by Bounderby, met someone who proposed a share in the Bank business, put something in his pocket, and relieved his mind. Louisa feels lightened by agreeing and walks the lanes on his arm, little thinking she is going down Mrs Sparsit's staircase.

Night and day Sparsit keeps the Building standing in her mind, wide-eyed, with no touch of pity, waiting for the last fall like a harvest. She has no intention of interrupting the descent.