in consequence of there being practical
objections, into which I need not enter, to the
reception there of the children of persons so
employed, am prepared in these altered
circumstances to make a proposal. I am willing
to take charge of you, Jupe, and to educate
you, and provide for you. The only condition
(over and above your good behaviour) I make
is, that you decide now, at once, whether to
accompany me or remain here. Also, that if
you accompany me now, it is understood that
you communicate no more with any of your
friends, who are here present. These
observations comprise the whole of the case."

"At the thame time," said Sleary, " I
mutht put in my word, Thquire, tho that both
thides of the banner may be equally theen.
If you like, Thethilia, to be prentitht, you
know the natur of the work and you know
your companionth. Emma Gordon, in whothe
lap you're a lyin' at prethent, would be a
mother to you, and Joth'phine would be a
thithter to you. I don't pretend to be of the
angel breed mythelf, and I dont thay but
what, when you mith'd your tip, you'd find
me cut up rough, and thwear a oath or two at
you. But what I thay, Thquire, ith, that good
tempered or bad tempered I never did a
horthe a injury yet, no more than thwearing at
him went, and that I don't expect I thall begin
othervvithe at my time of life, with a rider.
I never wath muth of a Cackler, Thquire, and
I have thed my thay."

The latter part of this speech was addressed
to Mr. Gradgrind, who received it with a grave
inclination of his head, and then remarked.

"The only observation I will make to you
Jupe, in the way of influencing your decision,
is, that it is highly desirable to have a sound
practical education, and that even your father
himself (from what I understand) appears,
on your behalf, to have known and felt that
much."

The last words had a visible effect upon her.
She stopped in her wild crying, a little
detached herself from Emma Gordon, and turned
her face full upon her patron. The whole
company perceived the force of the change,
and drew a long breath together, that plainly
said, " she will go!"

"Be sure you know your own. mind, Jupe,"
Mr. Gradgrind cautioned her; " I say no more.
Be sure you know your own mind!"

"When father comes back," cried the girl,
bursting into tears again after a minute's
silence, "how will he ever find me if I go
away!"

"You may be quite at ease," said Mr. Grad-
grind, calmly; he worked out the whole matter
like a sum; " you may be quite at ease, Jupe,
on that score. In such a case, your father, I
apprehend, must find out Mr.——"

"Thleary. Thath my name, Thquire. Not
athamed of it. Known all over England, and
alwayth paythe ith way."

"Must find out Mr. Sleary, who would then
let him know where you went. I should have
no power of keeping you against his wish, and
he would have no difficulty, at any time, in
finding Mr. Thomas Gradgrind of Coketown.
I am well known."

"Well known," assented Mr. Sleary, rolling
his loose eye. " You're one of the thort,
Thquire, that keepth a prethious thight of
money out of the houthe. But never mind that
at prethent."

There was another silence; and then she
exclaimed, sobbing with her hands before her
face, " Oh give me my clothes, give me
clothes, and let me go away before I break
my heart!"

The women sadly bestirred themselves to
get the clothes together—it was soon done,
for they were not many—and to pack them
in a basket which had often travelled with
them. Sissy sat all the time, upon the ground,
still sobbing and covering her eyes. Mr.
Gradgrind and his friend Bounderby stood
near the door, ready to take her away. Mr.
Sleary stood in the middle of the room, with
the male members of the company about him,
exactly as he would have stood in the centre
of the ring during his daughter Josephine's
performance. He wanted nothing but his whip.

The basket packed in silence, they brought
her bonnet to her, and smoothed her
disordered hair, and put it on. Then they pressed
about her, and bent over her in very natural
attitudes, kissing and embracing her; and
brought the children to take leave of her;
and were a tender-hearted, simple, foolish set
of women altogether.

"Now, Jupe," said Mr. Gradgrind. "If
you are quite determined, come!"

But she had to take her farewell of the male
part of the company yet, and every one of
them had to unfold his arms (for they all
assumed the professional attitude when they
found themselves near Sleary), and give her a
parting kiss—Master Kidderminster excepted,
in whose young nature there was an original
flavour of the misanthrope, who was also
known to have harboured matrimonial views,
and who moodily withdrew. Mr. Sleary was
reserved until the last. Opening his arms
wide he took her by both her hands, and would
have sprung her up and down, after the riding-
master manner of congratulating young ladies
on their dismounting from a rapid act; but
there was no rebound in Sissy, and she only
stood before him crying.

"Good bye, my dear! " said Sleary. " You'll
make your fortun, I hope, and none of our
poor folkth will ever trouble you, I'll pound it.
I with your father hadn't taken hith dog with
him; ith a ill-conwenienth to have the dog
out of the billth. But on thecond thoughth,
he wouldn't have performed without hith
mathter, tho ith ath broad ath ith long!"

With that, he regarded her attentively with
his fixed eye, surveyed his company with the
loose one, kissed her, shook his head, and
handed her to Mr. Gradgrind as to a horse.

"There the ith, Thquire," he said, sweeping