‘Who is it?’ asked Louisa.
‘It is Mr. Bounderby,’ said Sissy, timid of the name, ‘and your brother Mr. Tom, and a young woman who says her name is Rachael, and that you know her.’
‘What do they want, Sissy dear?’
‘They want to see you. Rachael has been crying, and seems angry.’
‘Father,’ said Louisa, for he was present, ‘I cannot refuse to see them, for a reason that will explain itself. Shall they come in here?’
As he answered in the affirmative, Sissy went away to bring them. She reappeared with them directly. Tom was last; and remained standing in the obscurest part of the room, near the door.
‘Mrs. Bounderby,’ said her husband, entering with a cool nod, ‘I don’t disturb you, I hope. This is an unseasonable hour, but here is a young woman who has been making statements which render my visit necessary. Tom Gradgrind, as your son, young Tom, refuses for some obstinate reason or other to say anything at all about those statements, good or bad, I am obliged to confront her with your daughter.’
‘You have seen me once before, young lady,’ said Rachael, standing in front of Louisa.
Tom coughed.
‘You have seen me, young lady,’ repeated Rachael, as she did not answer, ‘once before.’