Chapter 4 Sister, daughter, and wife is machines, spark avery small piece o fie ime went on in Coketown like the turning of Tine years passed, and Thomas Gradgrind saw that his daughter Louisa was now a youny, woman. ly dear Louisa, | must speak to you alone and seriously, he said to her one evening. ‘Come to my room alter breakfast vill you?" " she replied. d his daughtcr, and went out for the tomorrow, “Yes, Fath Mr Gradgrind kis: returned to her room, where she sat, looking evening. Louisa quictly at the sparks of the dying fire. j ‘Are you there, Loo?’ called her brother, looking round the door. ‘fom was now a tall young man. working at Bounderby’s Free of his parents at Bank, and living at Bounderby’s hous last, he now enjoyed all the pleasures which the town could offer a young gentleman. As sullen and selfish as he had always been, Tom continued to look after his only true interest— himself.he answered, standing up and kissing him. ‘How *Dear'tom.” it since you've been to see me?" jounderby keeps me quile busy. But if he trie: y “My sister Loo will be disappointed always used to tell me you would be long is “Well, old I «too hard, 1 Mr Bounderby. She with me than this.” ‘That one always works well with him! am waited for a re} y. Loo! Plas Father s to push ind hurt. me ply, but none came. id anything special to you to hed to talk to me in the morning.” tf mean.” said ‘Tom, ‘Do you know where ‘I tell you — he’s with old Bounderby 1 “No, but he told me he w ‘Ah, that’s wh tonight? Well. paving & good talk, far away from his housekeeper Father i tthe Bank, Mrs Spar: ‘Yom s syou do care abe “1 do. Tom, althor: “Well, my dear si= it if we could be te arm round his sister's waist. ddenly pat his ¢ me, don't you, Loo?’ he asked. h you don’t come to see me often cnoug jolly. 'd like ‘ou decided to or, being together with you is her more, wouldn't you? If y I know, Loo. it could happen! 2a continued 16 look silently into the fire. and Jet you know what's happer Loo: say yes to somethin. Lou “Well. | wanted to come You won't forget how much you care about me, will you. “No. dear ‘Tom, | won't forget. “rhat's splendid. Goodbye. then.’ hy him to the deor, he stood there for th fiery red sparks, and wondered from where she could see Louisa went w the fires of Coketown loa night sky burning 1 whit the future held for her. long time. looking, appeared in her father’s room. Its h beoks, whose pages contained enough to answer all the world's problems. It was a ha large clock whose deadly ‘tick, tock" The nest morning Louts © filled wi facts and number hard punted the seconds from life to death. walls Ww ious room. wiemotion stony feciny monotonous ener ad bani 24 "My dear Loulsa.’ said Mr Gradgrind. ‘You have received at proposal of marriage. Louisa said nothing. Her father repeated his wore to which she replied, ina voice without ny emo m: ham listening, Father. Please go on “My child, 1 must tell you that Mr Bounderby ha rs, been looking forward to the for many y when he could offer you . And now this day has come. his hand in marriag There was silence between them. The hands of the clock moved hes vily, and Mr Gradgrind began to feel uncomfort “Father,” she ‘able, Mr Bounderby3" dat last. “Do you think Low “My dear. [really cannot say." “Father.” continu “Doe: d Louisa in the same emotionless. yoj Mr Bounderby ask me to love him?" “Well, my child, that is a difficult question, Perhaps beca use the word which you use is NOt a suitable one, ‘Which word should I use. then “Louisa. my de; ds with stori ‘ar, you are not one of these girls w 's and nonsense. You are a person. You should think about this qui any other question — by simply ho fill their sensible, practical tion in the looking at the Facts. Louisa’s eyes Lurned towards the window, ‘Are you asking the chimne: ed Mr Gradgrind, ame way as} of Coketown to decide for you?’ ‘MW looks like there is only slow, replied, turning quick Father! monotonous smoke » “But at night, fiery sparl s shoot outy ‘Tknow that, 1 ouisa. do not see what it has to do with th ques! id her father. who really did not understand ata 7 her, t have offen thought that fife is short. And wl "| te ch, So. a live. [wish to do what | can, although it is not much. Se jon, ; is way, Eaceept ht Mr Bounderby asks me to marry him in this way, Euceept Proposal, What does it matter?” ‘Louisa, perhaps | ought to ¢ ave your you something, Have 2ived “Mow could f, Fa have Ebcen? WI “Very (rue, very true.’ agreed the very prac other proposal?” hee? she answered. “Who have f seen? Where at do LE know of tastes, ideas, emotions?" parent. father, that lve never had a child's heart, never felt a child's fear. or dreamed a child's dream: “You taught me so well, What a model daughter! And so grateful for the success of her education! The proud father kissed his eldest child. and took her to tell his wife the happy news. Mrs Gradgrind kissed her daughter weakly, and wished her © with better he: than her own Sissy. working at look Duisa's face was Mrs Gradgrind’s side. looked wordlessly at Louisa. [ty ht weeks later, Mr Bounderby and Miss Gradyrind were married. On the day of her practica just as Louis: ul. well rranged wedding, Stone Lodge to begin her new life. she brother at the bottom of the either with & "You're was leaving met he stirs. His face was red. hetion or with wine from the fine girl, Loo,” Won't life be jolly now! wedding dinner. Pered Tom, ‘And at splendid sister! wiREADING CHECK 1 Put these sentences in the correct order. Number them 1-10. a [_} Louisa and Mr Bounderby get married. Sissy is surprised by the news of the marriage. Mr Gradgrind goes out for the evening. Tom tells Louisa that it could be jolly if they are together more. _| Tom visits Louisa. } Louisa agrees to marry Mr Bounderby although she doesn't love him. Me Gradgrind tells Louisa that he wants to talk to her. b c d e io £0 h @ Mr Gradgrind tells Louisa that Mr Bounderby has proposed to her. EI a) Mr Gradgrind feels proud of his practical daughter. Louisa goes to her father’s room. i Are these sentences true or false? Tick (“) the boxes. a Tom only comes to see Louisa when he wants something from her. [4 oOo y b Tom talks to Mr Bounderby about Louisa in order to make oO oO Mr Bounderby nicer to him. Tom tells Louisa that Mr Bounderby wants to marry her. oO oO oO Qa Tom wants Louisa to marry Mr Bounderby because he hopes that — as the wife of his employer — she can help him. Mr Gradgrind thinks that love is very important in a Marriage. oO Louisa thinks of herself like factory smoke, by day boring oO a é Oo and grey, but at nigtt full of emotional fire. Mrs Gradgrind hopes that Louisa’s life will be like her own oO wv Sissy is happy that Louisa is S0ing to marry Mr Bounderby. oO ; > om 26ORD WORK Find the words to complete the sentences. a Louisa spends long hours looking at the SPOrkSinthe fire krasos b Jom is only interested in himself and is______— lesshif Tom thinks that living with Louisa will be ___ youll | & -uusa shows no feelings about her marriage to Mr Bounderby — she is oe ___ vispimase © | uisa is Mr Gradgrind’s___ _____— child. steeld £ .ouisa’s life in Coketown isn't interesting: it's __________ _. moornoutson @ ifr Gradgrind is_____ because Louisa is a model child. dropu h Sissy feels ___ _ for Louisa because she is marrying someone that she doesn't love. ityp 1 Louisa speaks to her father in a voice with no_______. inotome J Tom is very pleased with his sister and thinks she is________. dipsiend k When Tom is friendly with Louisa, he puts his arm round her______. stwat BUESS WHAT What happens in the next chapter? Tick («”) three boxes. A new and interesting man arrives in Coketown. aQ b [1] Sissy falls in love with the new man. ce C1 Mrs Sparsit has moved out of Mr Bounderby’s house now that he 1s married. 4 © Bitzer, an old student from Gradgrind’s school, now works at Bounderby’s Bank. e (1 Tom ioses his job at Bounderby's Bank. 1 (1 Louisa's feelings for her brother change.