The Great Manufacturer

           TimewentoninCoketownlikeitsownmachinery:somuchmaterialwroughtup,somuchfuelconsumed,somanypowerswornout,somuchmoneymade.But,lessinexorablethaniron,steel,andbrass,itbroughtitsvaryingseasonsevenintothatwildernessofsmokeandbrick,andmadetheonlystandthateverwasmadeintheplaceagainstitsdirefuluniformity.

           ‘Louisaisbecoming,’saidMr.Gradgrind,‘almostayoungwoman.’

           Time,withhisinnumerablehorse-power,workedaway,notmindingwhatanybodysaid,andpresentlyturnedoutyoungThomasafoottallerthanwhenhisfatherhadlasttakenparticularnoticeofhim.

           ‘Thomasisbecoming,’saidMr.Gradgrind,‘almostayoungman.’

           TimepassedThomasoninthemill,whilehisfatherwasthinkingaboutit,andtherehestoodinalong-tailedcoatandastiffshirt-collar.

           ‘Really,’saidMr.Gradgrind,‘theperiodhasarrivedwhenThomasoughttogotoBounderby.’

           Time,stickingtohim,passedhimonintoBounderby’sBank,madehimaninmateofBounderby’shouse,necessitatedthepurchaseofhisfirstrazor,andexercisedhimdiligentlyinhiscalculationsrelativetonumberone.

           Thesamegreatmanufacturer,alwayswithanimmensevarietyofworkonhand,ineverystageofdevelopment,passedSissyonwardinhismill,andworkedherupintoaveryprettyarticleindeed.

           ‘Ifear,Jupe,’saidMr.Gradgrind,‘thatyourcontinuanceattheschoolanylongerwouldbeuseless.’

           ‘Iamafraiditwould,sir,’Sissyansweredwithacurtsey.

           ‘Icannotdisguisefromyou,Jupe,’saidMr.