IV + 

Lost + 

The robbery at the Bank had not languished before, and did not cease to occupy a front place in the attention of the principal of that establishment now. In boastful proof of his promptitude and activity, as a remarkable man, and a self-made man, and a commercial wonder more admirable than Venus, who had risen out of the mud instead of the sea, he liked to show how little his domestic affairs abated his business ardour. Consequently, in the first few weeks of his resumed bachelorhood, he even advanced upon his usual display of bustle, and every day made such a rout in renewing his investigations into the robbery, that the officers who had it in hand almost wished it had never been committed. + 

They were at fault too, and off the scent. Although they had been so quiet since the first outbreak of the matter, that most people really did suppose it to have been abandoned as hopeless, nothing new occurred. No implicated man or woman took untimely courage, or made a self-betraying step. More remarkable yet, Stephen Blackpool could not be heard of, and the mysterious old woman remained a mystery. + 

Things having come to this pass, and showing no latent signs of stirring beyond it, the upshot of Mr.┬аBounderbyтАЩs investigations was, that he resolved to hazard a bold burst. He drew up a placard, offering twenty pounds reward for the apprehension of Stephen Blackpool, suspected of complicity in the robbery of Coketown Bank on such a night; he described the said Stephen Blackpool by dress, complexion, estimated height, and manner, as minutely as he could; he recited how he had left the town, and in what direction he had been last seen going; he had the whole printed in great black letters on a staring broadsheet; and he caused the walls to be posted with it in the dead of night, so that it should strike upon the sight of the whole population at one blow. + 

The factory-bells had need to ring their loudest that morning to disperse the groups of workers who stood in the tardy daybreak, collected round the placards, devouring them with eager eyes. Not the least eager of the eyes assembled, were the eyes of those who could not read. These people, as they listened to the friendly voice that read aloudтБатАФthere was always some such ready to help themтБатАФstared at the characters which meant so much with a vague awe and respect that would have been half ludicrous, if any aspect of public ignorance could ever be otherwise than threatening and full of evil. Many ears and eyes were busy with a vision of the matter of these placards, among turning spindles, rattling looms, and whirling wheels, for hours afterwards; and when the hands cleared out again into the streets, there were still as many readers as before. + 

Slackbridge, the delegate, had to address his audience too that night; and Slackbridge had obtained a clean bill from the printer, and had brought it in his pocket. Oh, my friends and fellow-countrymen, the downtrodden operatives of Coketown, oh, my fellow-brothers and fellow-workmen and fellow-citizens and fellow-men, what a to-do was there, when Slackbridge unfolded what he called тАЬthat damning document,тАЭ and held it up to the gaze, and for the execration of the workingman community! тАЬOh, my fellow-men, behold of what a traitor in the camp of those great spirits who are enrolled upon the holy scroll of Justice and of Union, is appropriately capable! Oh, my prostrate friends, with the galling yoke of tyrants on your necks and the iron foot of despotism treading down your fallen forms into the dust of the earth, upon which right glad would your oppressors be to see you creeping on your bellies all the days of your lives, like the serpent in the gardenтБатАФoh, my brothers, and shall I as a man not add, my sisters too, what do you say, now, of Stephen Blackpool, with a slight stoop in his shoulders and about five foot seven in height, as set forth in this degrading and disgusting document, this blighting bill, this pernicious placard, this abominable advertisement; and with what majesty of denouncement will you crush the viper, who would bring this stain and shame upon the Godlike race that happily has cast him out forever! Yes, my compatriots, happily cast him out and sent him forth! For you remember how he stood here before you on this platform; you remember how, face to face and foot to foot, I pursued him through all his intricate windings; you remember how he sneaked and slunk, and sidled, and splitted of straws, until, with not an inch of ground to which to cling, I hurled him out from amongst us: an object for the undying finger of scorn to point at, and for the avenging fire of every free and thinking mind to scorch and scar! And now, my friendsтБатАФmy labouring friends, for I rejoice and triumph in that stigmaтБатАФmy friends whose hard but honest beds are made in toil, and whose scanty but independent pots are boiled in hardship; and now, I say, my friends, what appellation has that dastard craven taken to himself, when, with the mask torn from his features, he stands before us in all his native deformity, a What? A thief! A plunderer! A proscribed fugitive, with a price upon his head; a fester and a wound upon the noble character of the Coketown operative! Therefore, my band of brothers in a sacred bond, to which your children and your childrenтАЩs children yet unborn have set their infant hands and seals, I propose to you on the part of the United Aggregate Tribunal, ever watchful for your welfare, ever zealous for your benefit, that this meeting does Resolve: That Stephen Blackpool, weaver, referred to in this placard, having been already solemnly disowned by the community of Coketown hands, the same are free from the shame of his misdeeds, and cannot as a class be reproached with his dishonest actions!тАЭ + 

Thus Slackbridge; gnashing and perspiring after a prodigious sort. A few stern voices called out тАЬNo!тАЭ and a score or two hailed, with assenting cries of тАЬHear, hear!тАЭ the caution from one man, тАЬSlackbridge, yтАЩor over hetter inтАЩt; yтАЩor a goen too fast!тАЭ But these were pygmies against an army; the general assemblage subscribed to the gospel according to Slackbridge, and gave three cheers for him, as he sat demonstratively panting at them. + 

These men and women were yet in the streets, passing quietly to their homes, when Sissy, who had been called away from Louisa some minutes before, returned. + 

тАЬWho is it?тАЭ asked Louisa. + 

тАЬIt is Mr.┬аBounderby,тАЭ said Sissy, timid of the name, тАЬand your brother Mr.┬аTom, and a young woman who says her name is Rachael, and that you know her.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do they want, Sissy dear?тАЭ + 

тАЬThey want to see you. Rachael has been crying, and seems angry.тАЭ + 

тАЬFather,тАЭ said Louisa, for he was present, тАЬI cannot refuse to see them, for a reason that will explain itself. Shall they come in here?тАЭ + 

As he answered in the affirmative, Sissy went away to bring them. She reappeared with them directly. Tom was last; and remained standing in the obscurest part of the room, near the door. + 

тАЬMrs.┬аBounderby,тАЭ said her husband, entering with a cool nod, тАЬI donтАЩt disturb you, I hope. This is an unseasonable hour, but here is a young woman who has been making statements which render my visit necessary. Tom Gradgrind, as your son, young Tom, refuses for some obstinate reason or other to say anything at all about those statements, good or bad, I am obliged to confront her with your daughter.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou have seen me once before, young lady,тАЭ said Rachael, standing in front of Louisa. + 

Tom coughed. + 

тАЬYou have seen me, young lady,тАЭ repeated Rachael, as she did not answer, тАЬonce before.тАЭ + 

Tom coughed again. + 

тАЬI have.тАЭ + 

Rachael cast her eyes proudly towards Mr.┬аBounderby, and said, тАЬWill you make it known, young lady, where, and who was there?тАЭ + 

тАЬI went to the house where Stephen Blackpool lodged, on the night of his discharge from his work, and I saw you there. He was there too; and an old woman who did not speak, and whom I could scarcely see, stood in a dark corner. My brother was with me.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy couldnтАЩt you say so, young Tom?тАЭ demanded Bounderby. + 

тАЬI promised my sister I wouldnтАЩt.тАЭ Which Louisa hastily confirmed. тАЬAnd besides,тАЭ said the whelp bitterly, тАЬshe tells her own story so precious wellтБатАФand so fullтБатАФthat what business had I to take it out of her mouth!тАЭ + 

тАЬSay, young lady, if you please,тАЭ pursued Rachael, тАЬwhy, in an evil hour, you ever came to StephenтАЩs that night.тАЭ + 

тАЬI felt compassion for him,тАЭ said Louisa, her colour deepening, тАЬand I wished to know what he was going to do, and wished to offer him assistance.тАЭ + 

тАЬThank you, maтАЩam,тАЭ said Bounderby. тАЬMuch flattered and obliged.тАЭ + 

тАЬDid you offer him,тАЭ asked Rachael, тАЬa banknote?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes; but he refused it, and would only take two pounds in gold.тАЭ + 

Rachael cast her eyes towards Mr.┬аBounderby again. + 

тАЬOh, certainly!тАЭ said Bounderby. тАЬIf you put the question whether your ridiculous and improbable account was true or not, I am bound to say itтАЩs confirmed.тАЭ + 

тАЬYoung lady,тАЭ said Rachael, тАЬStephen Blackpool is now named as a thief in public print all over this town, and where else! There have been a meeting tonight where he have been spoken of in the same shameful way. Stephen! The honestest lad, the truest lad, the best!тАЭ Her indignation failed her, and she broke off sobbing. + 

тАЬI am very, very sorry,тАЭ said Louisa. + 

тАЬOh, young lady, young lady,тАЭ returned Rachael, тАЬI hope you may be, but I donтАЩt know! I canтАЩt say what you may haтАЩ done! The like of you donтАЩt know us, donтАЩt care for us, donтАЩt belong to us. I am not sure why you may haтАЩ come that night. I canтАЩt tell but what you may haтАЩ come wiтАЩ some aim of your own, not mindin to what trouble you brought such as the poor lad. I said then, bless you for coming; and I said it of my heart, you seemed to take so pitifully to him; but I donтАЩt know now, I donтАЩt know!тАЭ + 

Louisa could not reproach her for her unjust suspicions; she was so faithful to her idea of the man, and so afflicted. + 

тАЬAnd when I think,тАЭ said Rachael through her sobs, тАЬthat the poor lad was so grateful, thinkin you so good to himтБатАФwhen I mind that he put his hand over his hard-worken face to hide the tears that you brought up thereтБатАФOh, I hope you may be sorry, and haтАЩ no bad cause to be it; but I donтАЩt know, I donтАЩt know!тАЭ + 

тАЬYouтАЩre a pretty article,тАЭ growled the whelp, moving uneasily in his dark corner, тАЬto come here with these precious imputations! You ought to be bundled out for not knowing how to behave yourself, and you would be by rights.тАЭ + 

She said nothing in reply; and her low weeping was the only sound that was heard, until Mr.┬аBounderby spoke. + 

тАЬCome!тАЭ said he, тАЬyou know what you have engaged to do. You had better give your mind to that; not this.тАЭ + 

тАЬтАКтАЩDeed, I am loath,тАЭ returned Rachael, drying her eyes, тАЬthat any here should see me like this; but I wonтАЩt be seen so again. Young lady, when I had read whatтАЩs put in print of StephenтБатАФand what has just as much truth in it as if it had been put in print of youтБатАФI went straight to the Bank to say I knew where Stephen was, and to give a sure and certain promise that he should be here in two days. I couldnтАЩt meet wiтАЩ Mr.┬аBounderby then, and your brother sent me away, and I tried to find you, but you was not to be found, and I went back to work. Soon as I come out of the mill tonight, I hastened to hear what was said of StephenтБатАФfor I know wiтАЩ pride he will come back to shame it!тБатАФand then I went again to seek Mr.┬аBounderby, and I found him, and I told him every word I knew; and he believed no word I said, and brought me here.тАЭ + 

тАЬSo far, thatтАЩs true enough,тАЭ assented Mr.┬аBounderby, with his hands in his pockets and his hat on. тАЬBut I have known you people before today, youтАЩll observe, and I know you never die for want of talking. Now, I recommend you not so much to mind talking just now, as doing. You have undertaken to do something; all I remark upon that at present is, do it!тАЭ + 

тАЬI have written to Stephen by the post that went out this afternoon, as I have written to him once before sinтАЩ he went away,тАЭ said Rachael; тАЬand he will be here, at furthest, in two days.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen, IтАЩll tell you something. You are not aware perhaps,тАЭ retorted Mr.┬аBounderby, тАЬthat you yourself have been looked after now and then, not being considered quite free from suspicion in this business, on account of most people being judged according to the company they keep. The post-office hasnтАЩt been forgotten either. What IтАЩll tell you is, that no letter to Stephen Blackpool has ever got into it. Therefore, what has become of yours, I leave you to guess. Perhaps youтАЩre mistaken, and never wrote any.тАЭ + 

тАЬHe hadnтАЩt been gone from here, young lady,тАЭ said Rachael, turning appealingly to Louisa, тАЬas much as a week, when he sent me the only letter I have had from him, saying that he was forced to seek work in another name.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, by George!тАЭ cried Bounderby, shaking his head, with a whistle, тАЬhe changes his name, does he! ThatтАЩs rather unlucky, too, for such an immaculate chap. ItтАЩs considered a little suspicious in Courts of Justice, I believe, when an innocent happens to have many names.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat,тАЭ said Rachael, with the tears in her eyes again, тАЬwhat, young lady, in the name of Mercy, was left the poor lad to do! The masters against him on one hand, the men against him on the other, he only wantin to work hard in peace, and do what he felt right. Can a man have no soul of his own, no mind of his own? Must he go wrong all through wiтАЩ this side, or must he go wrong all through wiтАЩ that, or else be hunted like a hare?тАЭ + 

тАЬIndeed, indeed, I pity him from my heart,тАЭ returned Louisa; тАЬand I hope that he will clear himself.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou need have no fear of that, young lady. He is sure!тАЭ + 

тАЬAll the surer, I suppose,тАЭ said Mr.┬аBounderby, тАЬfor your refusing to tell where he is? Eh?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe shall not, through any act of mine, come back wiтАЩ the unmerited reproach of being brought back. He shall come back of his own accord to clear himself, and put all those that have injured his good character, and he not here for its defence, to shame. I have told him what has been done against him,тАЭ said Rachael, throwing off all distrust as a rock throws off the sea, тАЬand he will be here, at furthest, in two days.тАЭ + 

тАЬNotwithstanding which,тАЭ added Mr.┬аBounderby, тАЬif he can be laid hold of any sooner, he shall have an earlier opportunity of clearing himself. As to you, I have nothing against you; what you came and told me turns out to be true, and I have given you the means of proving it to be true, and thereтАЩs an end of it. I wish you good night all! I must be off to look a little further into this.тАЭ + 

Tom came out of his corner when Mr.┬аBounderby moved, moved with him, kept close to him, and went away with him. The only parting salutation of which he delivered himself was a sulky тАЬGood night, father!тАЭ With a brief speech, and a scowl at his sister, he left the house. + 

Since his sheet-anchor had come home, Mr.┬аGradgrind had been sparing of speech. He still sat silent, when Louisa mildly said: + 

тАЬRachael, you will not distrust me one day, when you know me better.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt goes against me,тАЭ Rachael answered, in a gentler manner, тАЬto mistrust anyone; but when I am so mistrustedтБатАФwhen we all areтБатАФI cannot keep such things quite out of my mind. I ask your pardon for having done you an injury. I donтАЩt think what I said now. Yet I might come to think it again, wiтАЩ the poor lad so wronged.тАЭ + 

тАЬDid you tell him in your letter,тАЭ inquired Sissy, тАЬthat suspicion seemed to have fallen upon him, because he had been seen about the Bank at night? He would then know what he would have to explain on coming back, and would be ready.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, dear,тАЭ she returned; тАЬbut I canтАЩt guess what can have ever taken him there. He never used to go there. It was never in his way. His way was the same as mine, and not near it.тАЭ + 

Sissy had already been at her side asking her where she lived, and whether she might come tomorrow night, to inquire if there were news of him. + 

тАЬI doubt,тАЭ said Rachael, тАЬif he can be here till next day.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen I will come next night too,тАЭ said Sissy. + 

When Rachael, assenting to this, was gone, Mr.┬аGradgrind lifted up his head, and said to his daughter: + 

тАЬLouisa, my dear, I have never, that I know of, seen this man. Do you believe him to be implicated?тАЭ + 

тАЬI think I have believed it, father, though with great difficulty. I do not believe it now.тАЭ + 

тАЬThat is to say, you once persuaded yourself to believe it, from knowing him to be suspected. His appearance and manner; are they so honest?тАЭ + 

тАЬVery honest.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd her confidence not to be shaken! I ask myself,тАЭ said Mr.┬аGradgrind, musing, тАЬdoes the real culprit know of these accusations? Where is he? Who is he?тАЭ + 

His hair had latterly began to change its colour. As he leaned upon his hand again, looking gray and old, Louisa, with a face of fear and pity, hurriedly went over to him, and sat close at his side. Her eyes by accident met SissyтАЩs at the moment. Sissy flushed and started, and Louisa put her finger on her lip. + 

Next night, when Sissy returned home and told Louisa that Stephen was not come, she told it in a whisper. Next night again, when she came home with the same account, and added that he had not been heard of, she spoke in the same low frightened tone. From the moment of that interchange of looks, they never uttered his name, or any reference to him, aloud; nor ever pursued the subject of the robbery, when Mr.┬аGradgrind spoke of it. + 

The two appointed days ran out, three days and nights ran out, and Stephen Blackpool was not come, and remained unheard of. On the fourth day, Rachael, with unabated confidence, but considering her despatch to have miscarried, went up to the Bank, and showed her letter from him with his address, at a working colony, one of many, not upon the main road, sixty miles away. Messengers were sent to that place, and the whole town looked for Stephen to be brought in next day. + 

During this whole time the whelp moved about with Mr.┬аBounderby like his shadow, assisting in all the proceedings. He was greatly excited, horribly fevered, bit his nails down to the quick, spoke in a hard rattling voice, and with lips that were black and burnt up. At the hour when the suspected man was looked for, the whelp was at the station; offering to wager that he had made off before the arrival of those who were sent in quest of him, and that he would not appear. + 

The whelp was right. The messengers returned alone. RachaelтАЩs letter had gone, RachaelтАЩs letter had been delivered. Stephen Blackpool had decamped in that same hour; and no soul knew more of him. The only doubt in Coketown was, whether Rachael had written in good faith, believing that he really would come back, or warning him to fly. On this point opinion was divided. + 

Six days, seven days, far on into another week. The wretched whelp plucked up a ghastly courage, and began to grow defiant. тАЬWas the suspected fellow the thief? A pretty question! If not, where was the man, and why did he not come back?тАЭ + 

Where was the man, and why did he not come back? In the dead of night the echoes of his own words, which had rolled Heaven knows how far away in the daytime, came back instead, and abided by him until morning. + 