I hope I have learnt how to accommodate myself to the changes of life. If I have acquired an interest in hearing of your instructive experiences, and can scarcely hear enough of them, I claim no merit for that, since I believe it is a general sentiment.”

“Well, ma’am,” said her patron, “perhaps some people may be pleased to say that they do like to hear, in his own unpolished way, what Josiah Bounderby of Coketown has gone through. But you must confess that you were born in the lap of luxury yourself. Come, ma’am, you know you were born in the lap of luxury.”

“I do not, sir,” returned Mrs. Sparsit with a shake of her head, “deny it.”

Mr. Bounderby was obliged to get up from the table and stand with his back to the fire looking at her; she was such an enhancement of his position.

“And you were in crack society. Devilish high society,” he said, warming his legs.

“It is true, sir,” returned Mrs. Sparsit, with an affectation of humility the very opposite of his, and therefore in no danger of jostling it.

“You were in the tip-top fashion, and all the rest of it,” said Mr. Bounderby.

“Yes, sir,” returned Mrs. Sparsit, with a kind of social widowhood upon her. “It is unquestionably true.”

Mr. Bounderby, bending himself at the knees, literally embraced his legs in his great satisfaction and laughed aloud. Mr. and Miss Gradgrind being then announced, he received the former with a shake of the hand, and the latter with a kiss.

“Can Jupe be sent here, Bounderby?” asked Mr. Gradgrind.

“Certainly.” So Jupe was sent there. On coming in, she curtseyed to Mr. Bounderby, and to his friend Tom Gradgrind, and also to Louisa, but in her confusion unluckily omitted Mrs. Sparsit. Observing this, the blusterous Bounderby had the following remarks to make:

“Now, I tell you what, my girl. The name of that lady by the teapot is Mrs. Sparsit. That lady acts as mistress of this house, and she is a highly connected lady. Consequently, if you ever come again into any room in this house, you will make a short stay in it if you don’t behave towards that lady in your most respectful manner. Now, I don’t care a button what you do to me, because I don’t affect to be anybody. So far from having high connections I have no connections at all, and I come of the scum of the earth. But towards that lady I do care what you do, and you shall do what is deferential and respectful, or you shall not come here.”

“I hope, Bounderby,” said Mr. Gradgrind, in a conciliatory voice, “that this was merely an oversight.”

“My friend Tom Gradgrind suggests, Mrs. Sparsit,” said Bounderby, “that this was merely an oversight. Very likely. However, as you are aware, ma’am, I don’t allow of even oversights towards you.”

“You are very good indeed, sir,” returned Mrs.