Mr. Gradgrind was delighted at his apparent success. He could not see, he was so practical and so self-opinionated, that her heart was breaking while she was yielding with external calmness.
But the reaping time came soon. Mr. Harthouse, young, attractive, and unscrupulous, made love to Louisa, and finally persuaded her to run away with him. Unable to resist the temptation in her own strength, she fled to her father’s house through an awful storm.
The thunder was rolling into distance, and the rain was pouring down like a deluge, when the door of his room opened. He looked round the lamp upon his table, and saw with amazement his eldest daughter.
“Louisa!”
“Father, I want to speak to you.”
“What is the matter? What is it? I conjure you, Louisa, tell me what is the matter.”
She dropped into a chair before him, and put her cold hand on his arm.
“Father, you have trained me from my cradle.”
“Yes, Louisa.”
“I curse the hour in which I was born to such a destiny.”