BOOK THE THIRD - GARNERING
2. Chapter Ii - Very Ridiculous (continued)
Sissy rose. She was not surprised by the result, but she was happy
in it, and her face beamed brightly.
'You will permit me to say,' continued Mr. James Harthouse, 'that I
doubt if any other ambassador, or ambassadress, could have
addressed me with the same success. I must not only regard myself
as being in a very ridiculous position, but as being vanquished at
all points. Will you allow me the privilege of remembering my
enemy's name?'
'My name?' said the ambassadress.
'The only name I could possibly care to know, to-night.'
'Sissy Jupe.'
'Pardon my curiosity at parting. Related to the family?'
'I am only a poor girl,' returned Sissy. 'I was separated from my
father - he was only a stroller - and taken pity on by Mr.
Gradgrind. I have lived in the house ever since.'
She was gone.
'It wanted this to complete the defeat,' said Mr. James Harthouse,
sinking, with a resigned air, on the sofa, after standing
transfixed a little while. 'The defeat may now be considered
perfectly accomplished. Only a poor girl - only a stroller - only
James Harthouse made nothing of - only James Harthouse a Great
Pyramid of failure.'
The Great Pyramid put it into his head to go up the Nile. He took
a pen upon the instant, and wrote the following note (in
appropriate hieroglyphics) to his brother:
Dear Jack, - All up at Coketown. Bored out of the place, and going
in for camels. Affectionately, JEM,
He rang the bell.
'Send my fellow here.'
'Gone to bed, sir.'
'Tell him to get up, and pack up.'
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