be sure Louisa did not go, and next day Bounderby sent her clothes to
Mr. Gradgrind, advertised his country house for sale, and, needing
something to take his spite out upon, redoubled his efforts to find the
robber of the bank.

And he began by covering the town with printed placards, offering a
large regard for the arrest of Stephen Blackpool.

IV

STEPHEN'S RETURN

Rachel had known, of course, of the rumors against Stephen, and had been
both indignant and sorrowful. She alone knew where he was, and how to
find him, for deeming it impossible, because of his trouble with the
Coketown workmen, to get work under his own name, he had taken another.

Now that he was directly charged with the crime, she wrote him the news
at once, so that he might lose no time in returning to face the unjust
accusation. Being so certain herself of his innocence, she made no
secret of what she had done, and all Coketown waited, wondering whether
he would appear or not.

Two days passed and he had not come, and then Rachel told Bounderby the
address to which she had written him. Messengers were sent, who came
back with the report that Stephen had received her letter and had left
at once, saying he was going to Coketown, where he should long since
have arrived.

Another day with no Stephen, and now almost every one believed he was
guilty, had taken Rachel's letter as a warning and had fled. All the
while Tom waited nervously, biting his nails and with fevered lips,
knowing that Stephen, when he came, would tell the real reason why he
had loitered near the bank, and so point suspicion to himself.

On the third day Mrs. Sparsit saw a chance to distinguish herself. She
recognized on the street "Mrs. Pegler," the old countrywoman who also
had been suspected. She seized her and, regardless of her entreaties,
dragged her to Bounderby's house and into his dining-room, with a
curious crowd flocking at their heels.

She plumed herself on catching one of the robbers, but what was her
astonishment when the old woman called Bounderby her dear son, pleading
that her coming to his house was not her fault and begging him not to be
angry even if people did know at last that she was his mother.

Mr. Gradgrind, who was present when they entered, having always heard
Bounderby tell such dreadful tales of his bringing-up, reproached her
for deserting her boy in his infancy to a drunken grandmother. At this
the old woman nearly burst with indignation,