Mr. Bounderby

           NotbeingMrs.Grundy,whowasMr.Bounderby?

           Why,Mr.BounderbywasasnearbeingMr.Gradgrind’sbosomfriend,asamanperfectlydevoidofsentimentcanapproachthatspiritualrelationshiptowardsanothermanperfectlydevoidofsentiment.SonearwasMr.Bounderby—or,ifthereadershouldpreferit,sofaroff.

           Hewasarichman:banker,merchant,manufacturer,andwhatnot.Abig,loudman,withastare,andametalliclaugh.Amanmadeoutofacoarsematerial,whichseemedtohavebeenstretchedtomakesomuchofhim.Amanwithagreatpuffedheadandforehead,swelledveinsinhistemples,andsuchastrainedskintohisfacethatitseemedtoholdhiseyesopen,andlifthiseyebrowsup.Amanwithapervadingappearanceonhimofbeinginflatedlikeaballoon,andreadytostart.Amanwhocouldneversufficientlyvaunthimselfaself-mademan.Amanwhowasalwaysproclaiming,throughthatbrassyspeaking-trumpetofavoiceofhis,hisoldignoranceandhisoldpoverty.AmanwhowastheBullyofhumility.

           Ayearortwoyoungerthanhiseminentlypracticalfriend,Mr.Bounderbylookedolder;hissevenoreightandfortymighthavehadthesevenoreightaddedtoitagain,withoutsurprisinganybody.Hehadnotmuchhair.Onemighthavefanciedhehadtalkeditoff;andthatwhatwasleft,allstandingupindisorder,wasinthatconditionfrombeingconstantlyblownaboutbyhiswindyboastfulness.

           Intheformaldrawing-roomofStoneLodge,standingonthehearthrug,warminghimselfbeforethefire,Mr.BounderbydeliveredsomeobservationstoMrs.