CHAPTER VIII NEVER WONDER

ndsmootholdBounderby!’ Theirshadowsweredefineduponthewall,butthoseofthehighpressesintheroomwereallblendedtogetheronthewallandontheceiling,asifthebrotherandsisterwereoverhungbyadarkcavern.Or,afancifulimagination—ifsuchtreasoncouldhavebeenthere—mighthavemadeitouttobetheshadowoftheirsubject,andofitsloweringassociationwiththeirfuture. ‘Whatisyourgreatmodeofsmoothingandmanaging,Tom?Isitasecret?’ ‘Oh!’saidTom,‘ifitisasecret,it’snotfaroff.It’syou.Youarehislittlepet,youarehisfavouritehe’lldoanythingforyou.WhenhesaystomewhatIdon’tlike,Ishallsaytohim,“MysisterLoowillbehurtanddisappointed,Mr.Bounderby.Shealwaysusedtotellmeshewassureyouwouldbeeasierwithmethanthis.”That’llbringhimabout,ornothingwill.’ Afterwaitingforsomeansweringremark,andgettingnone,Tomwearilyrelapsedintothepresenttime,andtwinedhimselfyawningroundandabouttherailsofhischair,andrumpledhisheadmoreandmore,untilhesuddenlylookedup,andasked: ‘Haveyougonetosleep,Loo?’ ‘No,Tom.Iamlookingatthefire.’ ‘YouseemtofindmoretolookatinitthaneverIcouldfind,’saidTom.‘Anotheroftheadvantages,Isuppose,ofbeingagirl.’ ‘Tom,’enquiredhissister,slowly,andinacurioustone,asifshewerereadingwhatsheaskedinthefire,anditwasnotquiteplainlywrittenthere,‘doyoulookforwardwithanysatisfactiontothischangetoMr.Bounderby’s?’ ‘Why,there’sonethingtobesaidofit,’returnedTom,pushinghischairfromhim,andstandingup‘itwillbegettingawayfromhome.’ ‘Thereisonethingtobesaidofit,’Louisarepeatedinherformercurioustone‘itwillbegettingawayfromhome.Yes.’ ‘NotbutwhatIshallbeveryunwilling,bothtoleaveyou,Loo,andtoleaveyouhere.ButImustgo,youknow,whetherIlikeitornotandIhadbettergowhereIcantakewithmesomeadvantageofyourinfluence,thanwhereIshouldloseitaltogether.Don’tyousee?’ ‘Yes,Tom.’ Theanswerwassolongincoming,thoughtherewasnoindecisioninit,thatTomwentandleanedonthebackofherchair,tocontemplatethefirewhichsoengrossedher,fromherpointofview,andseewhathecouldmakeofit. ‘Exc