Lower and Lower

           Thefiguredescendedthegreatstairs,steadily,steadily;alwaysverging,likeaweightindeepwater,totheblackgulfatthebottom.

           Mr.Gradgrind,apprisedofhiswife’sdecease,madeanexpeditionfromLondon,andburiedherinabusiness-likemanner.Hethenreturnedwithpromptitudetothenationalcinder-heap,andresumedhissiftingfortheoddsandendshewanted,andhisthrowingofthedustaboutintotheeyesofotherpeoplewhowantedotheroddsandends—infactresumedhisparliamentaryduties.

           Inthemeantime,Mrs.Sparsitkeptunwinkingwatchandward.Separatedfromherstaircase,alltheweek,bythelengthofironroaddividingCoketownfromthecountryhouse,sheyetmaintainedhercat-likeobservationofLouisa,throughherhusband,throughherbrother,throughJamesHarthouse,throughtheoutsidesoflettersandpackets,througheverythinganimateandinanimatethatatanytimewentnearthestairs.‘Yourfootonthelaststep,mylady,’saidMrs.Sparsit,apostrophizingthedescendingfigure,withtheaidofherthreateningmitten,‘andallyourartshallneverblindme.’

           Artornaturethough,theoriginalstockofLouisa’scharacterorthegraftofcircumstancesuponit,—hercuriousreservedidbaffle,whileitstimulated,oneassagaciousasMrs.Sparsit.ThereweretimeswhenMr.JamesHarthousewasnotsureofher.Thereweretimeswhenhecouldnotreadthefacehehadstudiedsolong;andwhenthislonelygirlwasagreatermysterytohim,thananywomanoftheworldwitharingofsatellitestohelpher.