Тяжёлые времена

           ‘Hisdaughterhasgonetofetchhim,butIcan’twait;therefore,ifyouplease,Iwillleaveamessageforhimwithyou.’

           ‘Yousee,myfriend,’Mr.Bounderbyputin,‘wearethekindofpeoplewhoknowthevalueoftime,andyouarethekindofpeoplewhodon’tknowthevalueoftime.’

           ‘Ihavenot,’retortedMr.Childers,aftersurveyinghimfromheadtofoot,‘thehonourofknowingyou,—butifyoumeanthatyoucanmakemoremoneyofyourtimethanIcanofmine,Ishouldjudgefromyourappearance,thatyouareaboutright.’

           ‘Andwhenyouhavemadeit,youcankeepittoo,Ishouldthink,’saidCupid.

           ‘Kidderminster,stowthat!’saidMr.Childers.(MasterKidderminsterwasCupid’smortalname.)

           ‘Whatdoeshecomeherecheekingusfor,then?’criedMasterKidderminster,showingaveryirascibletemperament.‘Ifyouwanttocheekus,payyourochreatthedoorsandtakeitout.’

           ‘Kidderminster,’saidMr.Childers,raisinghisvoice,‘stowthat!—Sir,’toMr.Gradgrind,‘Iwasaddressingmyselftoyou.Youmayoryoumaynotbeaware(forperhapsyouhavenotbeenmuchintheaudience),thatJupehasmissedhistipveryoften,lately.’

           ‘Has—whathashemissed?’askedMr.Gradgrind,glancingatthepotentBounderbyforassistance.

           ‘Missedhistip.’

           ‘OfferedattheGartersfourtimeslastnight,andneverdone’emonce,’saidMasterKidderminster.‘Missedhistipatthebanners,too,andwaslooseinhisponging.’

           ‘Didn’tdowhatheoughttodo.