Mrs. Sparsit’s Staircase

           Mrs.Sparsit’snervesbeingslowtorecovertheirtone,theworthywomanmadeastayofsomeweeksindurationatMr.Bounderby’sretreat,where,notwithstandingheranchoriteturnofmindbaseduponherbecomingconsciousnessofheralteredstation,sheresignedherselfwithnoblefortitudetolodging,asonemaysay,inclover,andfeedingonthefatoftheland.DuringthewholetermofthisrecessfromtheguardianshipoftheBank,Mrs.Sparsitwasapatternofconsistency;continuingtotakesuchpityonMr.Bounderbytohisface,asisrarelytakenonman,andtocallhisportraitaNoodletoitsface,withthegreatestacrimonyandcontempt.

           Mr.Bounderby,havinggotitintohisexplosivecompositionthatMrs.Sparsitwasahighlysuperiorwomantoperceivethathehadthatgeneralcrossuponhiminhisdeserts(forhehadnotyetsettledwhatitwas),andfurtherthatLouisawouldhaveobjectedtoherasafrequentvisitorifithadcomportedwithhisgreatnessthatsheshouldobjecttoanythinghechosetodo,resolvednottolosesightofMrs.Sparsiteasily.Sowhenhernerveswerestrunguptothepitchofagainconsumingsweetbreadsinsolitude,hesaidtoheratthedinner-table,onthedaybeforeherdeparture,‘Itellyouwhat,ma’am;youshallcomedownhereofaSaturday,whilethefineweatherlasts,andstaytillMonday.’TowhichMrs.Sparsitreturned,ineffect,thoughnotoftheMahomedanpersuasion:‘Tohearistoobey.’

           Now,Mrs.