Now that he was directly charged with the crime, she wrote him the news at once, so that he might lose no time in returning to face the unjust accusation2. Being so certain herself of his innocence3, she made no secret of what she had done, and all Coketown waited, wondering whether he would appear or not.
Two days passed and he had not come, and then Rachel told Bounderby the address to which she had written him. Messengers were sent, who came back with the report that Stephen had received her letter and had left at once, saying he was going to Coketown, where he should long since have arrived.
Another day with no Stephen, and now almost every one believed he was guilty, had taken Rachel's letter as a warning and had fled. All the while Tom waited nervously4, biting his nails and with fevered lips, knowing that Stephen, when he came, would tell the real reason why he had loitered near the bank, and so point suspicion to himself.
On the third day Mrs. Sparsit saw a chance to distinguish herself. She recognized on the street "Mrs. Pegler," the old countrywoman who also had been suspected. She seized her and, regardless of her entreaties5, dragged her to Bounderby's house and into his dining-room, with a curious crowd flocking at their heels.
She plumed7 herself on catching8 one of the robbers,[Pg 434] but what was her astonishment9 when the old woman called Bounderby her dear son, pleading that her coming to his house was not her fault and begging him not to be angry even if people did know at last that she was his mother.
Mr. Gradgrind, who was present when they entered, having always heard Bounderby tell such dreadful tales of his bringing-up, reproached her for deserting her boy in his infancy10 to a drunken grandmother. At this the old woman nearly burst with indignation, calling on Bounderby himself to tell how false this was and how she had pinched and denied herself for him till he had begun to be successful.
Everybody laughed at this, for now the true story of the bullying11 mill owner's tales was out. Bounderby, who had turned very red, was the only one who did not seem to enjoy the scene. After he had wrathfully shut every one else from the house, he vented13 his anger on Mrs. Sparsit for meddling14 (as he called it) with his own family affairs. He ended by giving her the wages due her and inviting15 her to take herself off at once.
So Mrs. Sparsit, for all her cap-setting and spying, had to leave her comfortable nest and go to live in a poor lodging16 as companion to the most grudging17, peevish18, tormenting19 one of her noble relatives, an invalid20 with a lame21 leg.
But meanwhile another day had passed—the fourth since Rachel had sent her letter—and still[Pg 435] Stephen had not come. On this day, full of her trouble, Rachel had wandered with Sissy, now her fast friend, some distance out of the town, through some fields where mining had once been carried on.
Suddenly she cried out—she had picked up a hat and inside it was the name "Stephen Blackpool." An instant later a scream broke from her lips that echoed over the country-side. Before them, at their very feet, half-hidden by rubbish and grasses, yawned the ragged6 mouth of a dark, abandoned shaft22. That instant both Rachel and Sissy guessed the truth—that Stephen, returning, had not seen the chasm23 in the darkness, and had fallen into its depths.
They ran and roused the town. Crowds came from Coketown. Rope and windlass were brought and two men were lowered into the pit. The poor fellow was there, alive but terribly injured. A rough bed was made, and so at last the crushed and broken form was brought up to the light and air.
A surgeon was at hand with wine and medicines, but it was too late. Stephen spoke24 with Rachel first, then called Mr. Gradgrind to him and asked him to clear the blemish25 from his name. He told him simply that he could do so through his son Tom. This was all. He died while they bore him home, holding the hand of Rachel, whom he loved.
Stephen's last words had told the truth to Mr. Gradgrind. He read in them that his own son was the robber. Tom's guilty glance had seen also.[Pg 436] With suspicion removed from Stephen, he felt his own final arrest sure.
Sissy noted26 Tom's pale face and trembling limbs. Guessing that he would attempt flight too late, and longing27 to save the heartbroken father from the shame of seeing his son's arrest and imprisonment28, she drew the shaking thief aside and in a whisper bade him go at once to Sleary, the proprietor29 of the circus to which her father had once belonged. She told him where the circus was to be found at that season of the year, and bade him ask Sleary to hide him for her sake till she came. Tom obeyed. He disappeared that night, and later Sissy told his father what she had done.
Mr. Gradgrind, with Sissy and Louisa, followed as soon as possible, intending to get his son to the nearest seaport30 and so out of the country on a vessel31, for he knew that soon he himself, Tom's father, would be questioned and obliged to tell the truth. They traveled all night, and at length reached the town where the circus showed.
Sleary, for Sissy's sake, had provided Tom with a disguise in which not even his father recognized him. He had blacked his sullen32 face and dressed him in a moth-eaten greatcoat and a mad cocked hat, in which attire33 he played the role of a black servant in the performance. Tom met them, grimy and defiant34, ashamed to meet Louisa's eyes, brazen35 to his father, anxious only to be saved from his deserved punishment.[Pg 437]
A seaport was but three hours away. He was soon dressed and plans for his departure were completed. But at the last moment danger appeared. It came in the person of the porter of Bounderby's bank, who had all along suspected Tom. He had watched the Gradgrind house, followed its master when he left and now laid hands on Tom, vowing36 he would take him back to Coketown.
In this moment of the father's despair, Sleary the showman saved the day for the shivering thief. He agreed with the porter that as Tom was guilty of a crime he must certainly go with him, and he offered, moreover, to drive the captor and his prisoner at once to the nearest railroad station. He winked37 at Sissy as he proposed this, and she was not alarmed. The porter accepted the proposal at once, but he did not guess what the showman had in mind.
Sleary's horse was an educated horse. At a certain word from its owner it would stop and begin to dance, and would not budge38 from the spot till he gave the command in a particular way. He had an educated dog, also, that would do anything it was told. With this horse hitched39 to the carriage and this dog trotting40 innocently behind, the showman set off with the porter and Tom, while Mr. Gradgrind and Louisa, whom Sissy had told to trust in Sleary, waited all night for his return.
It was morning before Sleary came back, with the news that Tom was undoubtedly41 safe from pursuit,[Pg 438] if not already aboard ship. He told them how, at the word from him, the educated horse had begun to dance; how Tom had slipped down and got away, while the educated dog, at his command, had penned the frightened porter in the carriage all night, fearing to stir.
Thus Tom, who did not deserve any such good luck, got safely away, but though his father was spared the shame of ever seeing his son behind the bars of a jail, yet he was a broken man ever after the truth became known.
What was the fate of all these? Bounderby, a bully12 to the last, died of a fit five years afterward42, leaving his entire fortune to the perpetual support of twenty-five humbugs43, each of whom was required to take the name of "Josiah Bounderby of Coketown." Louisa never remarried, but lived to be the comfort of her father and the loving comrade of Sissy Jupe. Sissy never found her father, and when at last Merrylegs, his wonderful dog, came back alone to die of old age at Sleary's feet, all knew that his master must be dead. Tom died, softened44 and penitent45, in a foreign land. Rachel remained the same pensive46 little worker, always dressed in black, beloved by all and helping47 every one, even Stephen's besotted wife.
As for Mr. Gradgrind, a white-haired, decrepit48 old man, he forgot all the facts on which he had so depended, and tried for ever after to mingle49 his life's acts with Faith, Hope and Charity.
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1
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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2
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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3
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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8
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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13
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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15
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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grudging
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| adj.勉强的，吝啬的 | |
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peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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30
seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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31
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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32
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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33
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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34
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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36
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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37
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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38
budge
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| v.移动一点儿；改变立场 | |
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39
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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40
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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41
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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42
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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43
humbugs
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| 欺骗( humbug的名词复数 )； 虚伪； 骗子； 薄荷硬糖 | |
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44
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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45
penitent
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| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
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46
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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47
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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48
decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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49
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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