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If I marry toother dear lass, theres a law to punish me? Of course there is. If I was to live wi her an not marry her\s-\saying such a thing could be, which it never could or would, an her so good\s-\theres a law to punish me, in every innocent child belonging to me? Of course there is. Now, a Gods name, said Stephen Blackpool, show me the law to help me! Hem! Theres a sanctity in this relation of life, said Mr Bounderby, and\s-\and\s-\it must be kept up. No no, dunnot say that, sir. Tant kep up that way. Not that way. Tis kep down that way. Im a weaver, I were in a factry when a chilt, but I ha gotten een to see wi and eern to year wi. I read in th papers every Sizes, every Sessions\s-\and you read too\s-\I know it!\s-\with dismay\s-\how th supposed impossibility o ever getting unchained from one another, at any price, on any terms, brings blood upon this land, and brings many common married fok to battle, murder, and sudden death. Let us ha this, right understood. Mines a grievous case, and I want\s-\if yo will be so good\s-\t know the law that helps me. Now, I tell you what! said Mr Bounderby, putting his hands in his pockets. There is such a law. Stephen, subsiding into his quiet manner, and never wandering in his attention, gave a nod. But its not for you at all. It costs money. It costs a mint of money. How much might that be? Stephen calmly asked. Why, youd have to go to Doctors Commons with a suit, and youd have to go to a court of Common Law with a suit, and youd have to go to the House of Lords with a suit, and youd have to get an Act of Parliament to enable you to marry again, and it would cost you (if it was a case of very plain sailing), I suppose from a thousand to fifteen hundred pound, said Mr Bounderby. Perhaps twice the money. Theres no other law? Certainly not. Why then, sir, said Stephen, turning white, and motioning with that right hand of his, as if he gave everything to the four winds, tis a muddle. Tis just a muddle atoogether, an the sooner Iam dead, the better. (Mrs Sparsit again dejected by the impiety of the people.) Pooh, pooh! Dont you talk nonsense, my good fellow, said Mr Bounderby, about things you dont understand; and dont you call the Institutions of your country a muddle, or youll get yourself into a real muddle one of these fine mornings. The institutions of your country are not your piece-work, and the only thing you have got to do, is, to mind your piece-work. You didnt take your wife for fast and for loose; but for better for worse. If she has turned out worse\s-\why, all we have got to say is, she might have turned out better. Tis a muddle, said Stephen, shaking his head as he moved to the door. Tis a a muddle! Now, Ill tell you what! Mr Bounderby resumed, as a valedictory address. With what I shall call your unhallowed opinions, you have been quite shocking this lady: who, as I have already told you, is a born lady, and who, as I have not already told you, has had her own marriage misfortunes to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds\s-\tens of Thousands of Pounds! (he repeated it with great relish). Now, you have always been a steady Hand hitherto; but my opinion is, and so I tell you plainly, that you are turning into the wrong road. You have been listening to some mischievous stranger or other\s-\theyre always |
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