 you
mention it, I should think it highly probable.«
    »Then suppose you try, ma'am,« said Bounderby, laying an envelope with a
cheque in it in her little basket. »You can take your own time for going, ma'am;
but perhaps in the meanwhile, it will be more agreeable to a lady of your powers
of mind, to eat her meals by herself, and not to be intruded upon. I really
ought to apologise to you - being only Josiah Bounderby of Coketown - for having
stood in your light so long.«
    »Pray don't name it, sir,« returned Mrs. Sparsit. »If that portrait could
speak, sir - but it has the advantage over the original of not possessing the
power of committing itself and disgusting others, - it would testify, that a
long period has elapsed since I first habitually addressed it as the picture of
a Noodle. Nothing that a Noodle does, can awaken surprise or indignation; the
proceedings of a Noodle can only inspire contempt.«
    Thus saying, Mrs. Sparsit, with her Roman features like a medal struck to
commemorate her scorn of Mr. Bounderby, surveyed him fixedly from head to foot,
swept disdainfully past him, and ascended the staircase. Mr. Bounderby closed
the door, and stood before the fire; projecting himself after his old explosive
manner into his portrait - and into futurity.
 
Into how much of futurity? He saw Mrs. Sparsit fighting out a daily fight at the
points of all the weapons in the female armoury, with the grudging, smarting,
peevish, tormenting Lady Scadgers, still laid up in bed with her mysterious leg,
and gobbling her insufficient income down by about the middle of every quarter,
in a mean little airless lodging, a mere closet for one, a mere crib for two;
but did he see more? Did he catch any glimpse of himself making a show of Bitzer
to strangers, as the rising young man, so devoted to his master's great merits,
who had won young Tom's place, and had almost captured young Tom himself, in the
times when by various rascals he was spirited away? Did he see any faint
reflection of his own image making a vain-glorious will, whereby five-and-twenty
Humbugs, past five-and-fifty years of age, each taking upon himself the name,
Josiah Bounderby of Coketown, should for ever dine in Bounderby Hall, for ever
lodge in Bounderby buildings, for ever attend a Bounderby chapel, for ever go to
sleep under a Bounderby
