CHAPTER III A LOOPHOLE

Mr.Gradgrindwalkedhomewardfromtheschool,inastateofconsiderablesatisfaction.Itwashisschool,andheintendedittobeamodel.Heintendedeverychildinittobeamodel—justastheyoungGradgrindswereallmodels. TherewerefiveyoungGradgrinds,andtheyweremodelseveryone.Theyhadbeenlecturedat,fromtheirtenderestyearscoursed,likelittlehares.Almostassoonastheycouldrunalone,theyhadbeenmadetoruntothelecture-room.Thefirstobjectwithwhichtheyhadanassociation,orofwhichtheyhadaremembrance,wasalargeblackboardwithadryOgrechalkingghastlywhitefiguresonit. Notthattheyknew,bynameornature,anythingaboutanOgreFactforbid!Ionlyusethewordtoexpressamonsterinalecturingcastle,withHeavenknowshowmanyheadsmanipulatedintoone,takingchildhoodcaptive,anddraggingitintogloomystatisticaldensbythehair. NolittleGradgrindhadeverseenafaceinthemoonitwasupinthemoonbeforeitcouldspeakdistinctly.NolittleGradgrindhadeverlearntthesillyjingle,Twinkle,twinkle,littlestarhowIwonderwhatyouare!NolittleGradgrindhadeverknownwonderonthesubject,eachlittleGradgrindhavingatfiveyearsolddissectedtheGreatBearlikeaProfessorOwen,anddrivenCharles’sWainlikealocomotiveengine-driver.NolittleGradgrindhadeverassociatedacowinafieldwiththatfamouscowwiththecrumpledhornwhotossedthedogwhoworriedthecatwhokilledtheratwhoatethemalt,orwiththatyetmorefamouscowwhoswallowedTomThumb:ithadneverheardofthosecelebrities,andhadonlybeenintroducedtoacowasagraminivorousruminatingquadrupedwithseveralstomachs. Tohismatter-of-facthome,whichwascalledStoneLodge,Mr.Gradgrinddirectedhissteps.HehadvirtuallyretiredfromthewholesalehardwaretradebeforehebuiltStoneLodge,andwasnowlookingaboutforasuitableopportunityofmakinganarithmeticalfigureinParliament.StoneLodgewa