CHAPTER V THE KEYNOTE

eredowntown,butknewnomorerespectingit.Sotheystoppedforamoment,lookingabout. Almostastheydidso,therecamerunningroundthecornerofthestreetataquickpaceandwithafrightenedlook,agirlwhomMr.Gradgrindrecognized.‘Halloa!’saidhe.‘Stop!Whereareyougoing!Stop!’Girlnumbertwentystoppedthen,palpitating,andmadehimacurtsey. ‘Whyareyoutearingaboutthestreets,’saidMr.Gradgrind,‘inthisimpropermanner?’ ‘Iwas—Iwasrunafter,sir,’thegirlpanted,‘andIwantedtogetaway.’ ‘Runafter?’repeatedMr.Gradgrind.‘Whowouldrunafteryou?’ Thequestionwasunexpectedlyandsuddenlyansweredforher,bythecolourlessboy,Bitzer,whocameroundthecornerwithsuchblindspeedandsolittleanticipatingastoppageonthepavement,thathebroughthimselfupagainstMr.Gradgrind’swaistcoatandreboundedintotheroad. ‘Whatdoyoumean,boy?’saidMr.Gradgrind.‘Whatareyoudoing?Howdareyoudashagainst—everybody—inthismanner?’Bitzerpickeduphiscap,whichtheconcussionhadknockedoffandbacking,andknucklinghisforehead,pleadedthatitwasanaccident. ‘Wasthisboyrunningafteryou,Jupe?’askedMr.Gradgrind. ‘Yes,sir,’saidthegirlreluctantly. ‘No,Iwasn’t,sir!’criedBitzer.‘Nottillsherunawayfromme.Butthehorse-ridersnevermindwhattheysay,sirthey’refamousforit.Youknowthehorse-ridersarefamousfornevermindingwhattheysay,’addressingSissy.‘It’saswellknowninthetownas—please,sir,asthemultiplicationtableisn’tknowntothehorse-riders.’BitzertriedMr.Bounderbywiththis. ‘Hefrightenedmeso,’saidthegirl,‘withhiscruelfaces!’ ‘Oh!’criedBitzer.‘Oh!An’tyouoneoftherest!An’tyouahorse-rider!Ineverlookedather,sir.Iaskedherifshewouldknowhowtodefineahorseto-morrow,andofferedtotellheragain,andsheranaway,andIranafterher,sir,thatshemightknowhowtoanswerwhenshewasasked.Youwouldn’thavethoughtofsayingsuchmischiefifyouhadn’tbeenahorse-rider?’ ‘Hercallingseemstobeprettywellknownamong’em,’observedMr.Bounderby.‘You’dhavehadthewholeschoolpeepinginarow,inaweek.’ ‘Truly,Ithinkso,’returnedhisfriend.‘Bitzer,turnyouaboutandtakeyourselfhome.Jupe,stayhereamoment.Letmehearofyourru