Тяжёлые времена

           Bounderby,foldinghisarms,‘doyoupeople,inageneralway,complainof?’

           Stephenlookedathimwithsomelittleirresolutionforamoment,andthenseemedtomakeuphismind.

           ‘Sir,Iwerenevergoodatshowino’t,thoughIhahad’nmyshareinfeelingo’t.’Deedweareinamuddle,sir.Lookroundtown—sorichas’tis—andseethenumberso’peopleashasbeenbroughtenintobeinheer,furtoweave,an’tocard,an’topieceoutalivin’,awthesameoneway,somehows,’twixttheircradlesandtheirgraves.Lookhowwelive,an’wheerwelive,an’inwhatnumbers,an’bywhatchances,andwi’whatsameness;andlookhowthemillsisawlusagoin,andhowtheyneverworksusnonighertoonydis’antobject—ceptinawlus,Death.Lookhowyouconsidersofus,andwritesofus,andtalksofus,andgoesupwi’yordeputationstoSecretarieso’State’boutus,andhowyoareawlusright,andhowweareawluswrong,andneverhad’nnoreasoninussineverwewereborn.Lookhowthishagrowenan’growen,sir,biggeran’bigger,broaderan’broader,harderan’harder,froyeartoyear,frogenerationuntogeneration.Whocanlookon’t,sir,andfairlytellaman’tisnotamuddle?’

           ‘Ofcourse,’saidMr.Bounderby.‘Nowperhapsyou’llletthegentlemanknow,howyouwouldsetthismuddle(asyou’resofondofcallingit)torights.’

           ‘Idonno,sir.Icannabeexpectento’t.’Tisnotmeasshouldbelookentoforthat,sir.’Tisthemasisputowerme,andowerawtherestofus.