CHAPTER IX SISSY’S PROGRESS

SissyJupehadnotaneasytimeofit,betweenMr.M’ChoakumchildandMrs.Gradgrind,andwasnotwithoutstrongimpulses,inthefirstmonthsofherprobation,torunaway.Ithailedfactsalldaylongsoveryhard,andlifeingeneralwasopenedtoherassuchacloselyruledciphering-book,thatassuredlyshewouldhaverunaway,butforonlyonerestraint. Itislamentabletothinkofbutthisrestraintwastheresultofnoarithmeticalprocess,wasself-imposedindefianceofallcalculation,andwentdeadagainstanytableofprobabilitiesthatanyActuarywouldhavedrawnupfromthepremises.Thegirlbelievedthatherfatherhadnotdesertedhershelivedinthehopethathewouldcomeback,andinthefaiththathewouldbemadethehappierbyherremainingwhereshewas. ThewretchedignorancewithwhichJupeclungtothisconsolation,rejectingthesuperiorcomfortofknowing,onasoundarithmeticalbasis,thatherfatherwasanunnaturalvagabond,filledMr.Gradgrindwithpity.Yet,whatwastobedone?M’Choakumchildreportedthatshehadaverydenseheadforfiguresthat,oncepossessedwithageneralideaoftheglobe,shetookthesmallestconceivableinterestinitsexactmeasurementsthatshewasextremelyslowintheacquisitionofdates,unlesssomepitifulincidenthappenedtobeconnectedtherewiththatshewouldburstintotearsonbeingrequired(bythementalprocess)immediatelytonamethecostoftwohundredandforty-sevenmuslincapsatfourteen-pencehalfpennythatshewasaslowdown,intheschool,aslowcouldbethataftereightweeksofinductionintotheelementsofPoliticalEconomy,shehadonlyyesterdaybeensetrightbyaprattlerthreefeethigh,forreturningtothequestion,‘Whatisthefirstprincipleofthisscience?’theabsurdanswer,‘TodountoothersasIwouldthattheyshoulddountome.’ Mr.Gradgrindobserved,shakinghishead,thatallthiswasverybadthatitshowedthenecessityofinfinitegrindingatthemillofknowledge,aspersystem,schedule,bluebook,report,andtabularstatementsAtoZandthatJupe‘mustbekepttoit.’SoJupewaskepttoit,andbecamelow-spirited,butnowiser. ‘Itwouldbeafinethingtobeyou,MissLouisa!’shesaid,onenight,whenLouisahadendeavouredtomakeherperplexitiesfornextdaysomethingclearertoher. ‘Doyouthinkso?’ ‘Ishouldknowsomuch,MissLouisa.Allthatisdifficulttomenow,wouldbesoeasythen.’ ‘Youmightnotbethebetterforit,Sissy.’ Sissysubmitted,afteralittlehesitation,‘Ishouldnotbetheworse,MissLouisa.’TowhichMissLouisaanswered,‘Idon’tknowthat.’ Therehadbeensolittlecommunicationbetweenthesetwo—bothbecauselifeatStoneLodgewentmonotonouslyroundlikeapieceofmachinerywhichdiscouragedhumaninterference,andbecauseoftheprohibitionrelativetoSissy’spastcareer—thattheywerestillalmoststrangers.Sissy,withherdarkeyeswonderinglydirectedtoLouisa’sface,wasuncertainwhethertosaymoreortoremainsilent.