THOMAS GRADGRIND, sir. A man of realities. A man of facts and calculations. A man whoproceeds upon the principle that two and two are four, and nothing over, and who is not tobe talked into allowing for anything over.

Thomas Gradgrind, sir-peremptorily Thomas-Thomas Gradgrind.

With a rule and a pair of scales, and the multiplication table always inhis pocket, sir, ready to weigh and measure any parcel of human nature, and tell youexactly what it comes to.

It is a mere question of figures, a case of simple arithmetic.

Youmight hope to get some other nonsensical belief into the head of George Gradgrind, orAugustus Gradgrind, or John Gradgrind, or Joseph Gradgrind (all supposititious, nonexistent persons), but into the head of Thomas Gradgrind-no, sir!In such terms Mr. Gradgrind always mentally introduced himself, whether to his privatecircle of acquaintance, or to the public in general.

In such terms, no doubt, substituting thewords 'boys and girls,' for 'sir,' Thomas Gradgrind now presented Thomas Gradgrind to thelittle pitchers before him, who were to be filled so full of facts.Indeed, as he eagerly sparkled at them from the cellarage before mentioned, he seemed akind of cannon loaded to the muzzle with facts, and prepared to blow them clean out of theregions of childhood at one discharge.

He seemed a galvanizing apparatus, too, chargedwith a grim mechanical substitute for the tender young imaginations that were to bestormed away.'Girl number twenty,' said Mr. Gradgrind, squarely pointing with his square forefinger, 'Idon't know that girl.

Who is that girl?''Sissy Jupe, sir,' explained number twenty, blushing, standing up, and curtseying.'Sissy is not a name,' said Mr. Gradgrind. 'Don't call yourself Sissy. Call yourself Cecilia.''It's father as calls me Sissy, sir,' returned the young girl in a trembling voice, and withanother curtsey.'Then he has no business to do it,' said Mr. Gradgrind. 'Tell him he mustn't. CeciliaJupe. Let me see. What is your father?''He belongs to the horse-riding, if you please, sir.'Mr. Gradgrind frowned, and waved off the objectionable calling with his hand.'We don't want to know anything about that, here.

You mustn't tell us about that,here. Your father breaks horses, don't he?''If you please, sir, when they can get any to break, they do break horses in the ring, sir.'