Father and Daughter

           AlthoughMr.GradgrinddidnottakeafterBlueBeard,hisroomwasquiteabluechamberinitsabundanceofbluebooks.Whatevertheycouldprove(whichisusuallyanythingyoulike),theyprovedthere,inanarmyconstantlystrengtheningbythearrivalofnewrecruits.Inthatcharmedapartment,themostcomplicatedsocialquestionswerecastup,gotintoexacttotals,andfinallysettled—ifthoseconcernedcouldonlyhavebeenbroughttoknowit.Asifanastronomicalobservatoryshouldbemadewithoutanywindows,andtheastronomerwithinshouldarrangethestarryuniversesolelybypen,ink,andpaper,soMr.Gradgrind,inhisObservatory(andtherearemanylikeit),hadnoneedtocastaneyeupontheteemingmyriadsofhumanbeingsaroundhim,butcouldsettlealltheirdestiniesonaslate,andwipeoutalltheirtearswithonedirtylittlebitofsponge.

           TothisObservatory,then:asternroom,withadeadlystatisticalclockinit,whichmeasuredeverysecondwithabeatlikearapuponacoffin-lid;Louisarepairedontheappointedmorning.AwindowlookedtowardsCoketown;andwhenshesatdownnearherfather’stable,shesawthehighchimneysandthelongtractsofsmokeloomingintheheavydistancegloomily.

           ‘MydearLouisa,’saidherfather,‘Ipreparedyoulastnighttogivemeyourseriousattentionintheconversationwearenowgoingtohavetogether.Youhavebeensowelltrained,andyoudo,Iamhappytosay,somuchjusticetotheeducationyouhavereceived,thatIhaveperfectconfidenceinyourgoodsense.