CHAPTER XI NO WAY OUT

itnettingatthefireside,inaside-saddleattitude,withonefootinacottonstirrup.Itwasapart,atonceofMrs.Sparsit’sdignityandservice,nottolunch.Shesupervisedthemealofficially,butimpliedthatinherownstatelypersonsheconsideredlunchaweakness. ‘Now,Stephen,’saidMr.Bounderby,‘what’sthematterwithyou?’ Stephenmadeabow.Notaservileone—theseHandswillneverdothat!Lordblessyou,sir,you’llnevercatchthematthat,iftheyhavebeenwithyoutwentyyears!—and,asacomplimentarytoiletforMrs.Sparsit,tuckedhisneckerchiefendsintohiswaistcoat. ‘Now,youknow,’saidMr.Bounderby,takingsomesherry,‘wehaveneverhadanydifficultywithyou,andyouhaveneverbeenoneoftheunreasonableones.Youdon’texpecttobesetupinacoachandsix,andtobefedonturtlesoupandvenison,withagoldspoon,asagoodmanyof’emdo!’Mr.Bounderbyalwaysrepresentedthistobethesole,immediate,anddirectobjectofanyHandwhowasnotentirelysatisfied‘andthereforeIknowalreadythatyouhavenotcomeheretomakeacomplaint.Now,youknow,Iamcertainofthat,beforehand.’ ‘No,sir,sureIha’notcoomfornowto’th’kind.’ Mr.Bounderbyseemedagreeablysurprised,notwithstandinghispreviousstrongconviction.‘Verywell,’hereturned.‘You’reasteadyHand,andIwasnotmistaken.Now,letmehearwhatit’sallabout.Asit’snotthat,letmehearwhatitis.Whathaveyougottosay?Outwithit,lad!’ StephenhappenedtoglancetowardsMrs.Sparsit.‘Icango,Mr.Bounderby,ifyouwishit,’saidthatself-sacrificinglady,makingafeintoftakingherfootoutofthestirrup. Mr.Bounderbystayedher,byholdingamouthfulofchopinsuspensionbeforeswallowingit,andputtingouthislefthand.Then,withdrawinghishandandswallowinghismouthfulofchop,hesaidtoStephen: ‘Nowyouknow,thisgoodladyisabornlady,ahighlady.Youarenottosupposebecauseshekeepsmyhouseforme,thatshehasn’tbeenveryhighupthetree—ah,upatthetopofthetree!Now,ifyouhavegotanythingtosaythatcan’tbesaidbeforeabornlady,thisladywillleavetheroom.Ifwhatyouhavegottosaycanbesaidbeforeabornlady,thisladywillstaywheresheis.’ ‘Sir,IhopeIneverhadnowttosay,notfittenforabornladytoyear,sin’Iwerebornmysen’,’wasthereply,accompaniedwithaslightflush. ‘Verywell,’saidMr.Bounderby,pushingawayhisplate,andleaningback.‘Fireaway!’ ‘Iha’coom,’Stephenbegan,raisinghiseyesfromthefloor,afteramoment’sconsideration,‘toaskyoyoradvice.Ineed’tovermuch.IweremarriedonEas’rMondaynineteenyearsin,longanddree.Shewereayounglass—prettyenow—wi’goodaccountsofherseln.Well!Shewentbad—soon.Notalongofme.GonnowsIwerenotaunkindhusbandtoher.’ ‘Ihaveheardallthisbefore,’saidMr.Bounderby.‘Shetooktodrinking,leftoffworking,s