Тяжёлые времена

           AndthehonourablememberhadsotickledtheHouse(whichhasadelicatesenseofhumour)byputtingthecaponthecow,thatitbecameimpatientofanyseriousreferencetotheCoroner’sInquest,andbroughttherailwayoffwithCheersandLaughter.

           Now,thisgentlemanhadayoungerbrotherofstillbetterappearancethanhimself,whohadtriedlifeasaCornetofDragoons,andfounditabore;andhadafterwardstrieditinthetrainofanEnglishministerabroad,andfounditabore;andhadthenstrolledtoJerusalem,andgotboredthere;andhadthengoneyachtingabouttheworld,andgotboredeverywhere.Towhomthishonourableandjocular,memberfraternallysaidoneday,‘Jem,there’sagoodopeningamongthehardFactfellows,andtheywantmen.Iwonderyoudon’tgoinforstatistics.’Jem,rathertakenbythenoveltyoftheidea,andveryhardupforachange,wasasreadyto‘goin’forstatisticsasforanythingelse.So,hewentin.Hecoachedhimselfupwithablue-bookortwo;andhisbrotherputitaboutamongthehardFactfellows,andsaid,‘Ifyouwanttobringin,foranyplace,ahandsomedogwhocanmakeyouadevilishgoodspeech,lookaftermybrotherJem,forhe’syourman.’Afterafewdashesinthepublicmeetingway,Mr.GradgrindandacouncilofpoliticalsagesapprovedofJem,anditwasresolvedtosendhimdowntoCoketown,tobecomeknownthereandintheneighbourhood.HencetheletterJemhadlastnightshowntoMrs.Sparsit,whichMr.