Mr. Bounderby asks me
to marry him. Let it be so. Since Mr. Bounderby likes to take me thus, I
am satisfied to accept his proposal. Tell him, father, as soon as you
please, that this was my answer. Repeat it, word for word, if you can,
because I should wish him to know what I said."

"It is quite right, my dear," retorted her father approvingly, "to be
exact I will observe your very proper request. Have you any wish in
reference to the period of your marriage, my child?"

"None, father. What does it matter?"

They went into the drawing-room, and Mr. Gradgrind presented Louisa to
his wife as Mrs. Bounderby.

"Oh!" said Mrs. Gradgrind. "So you have settled it. I am sure I give you
joy, my dear, and I hope you may turn all your ological studies to good
account. And now, you see, I shall be worrying myself morning, noon, and
night, to know what I am to call him!"

"Mrs. Gradgrind," said her husband solemnly, "what do you mean?"

"Whatever am I to call him when he is married to Louisa? I must call him
something. It's impossible to be constantly addressing him, and never
giving him a name. I cannot call him Josiah, for the name is
insupportable to me. You yourself wouldn't hear of Joe, you very well
know. Am I to call my own son-in-law 'Mister?' I believe not, unless the
time has arrived when I am to be trampled upon by my relations. Then,
what am I to call him?"

There being no answer to this conundrum, Mrs. Gradgrind retired to bed.

The day of the marriage came, and after the wedding-breakfast the
bridegroom addressed the company--an improving party, there was no
nonsense about any of them--in the following terms.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Josiah Bounderby, of Coketown. Since you
have done my wife and myself the honour of drinking our healths and
happiness, I suppose I must acknowledge the same. If you want a speech,
my friend and father-in-law, Tom Gradgrind, is a member of parliament,
and you know where to get it. Now, you have mentioned that I am this day
married to Tom Gradgrind's daughter. I am very glad to be so. It has
long been my wish to be so. I have watched her bringing up, and I
believe she is worthy of me. At the same time, I believe I am worthy of
her. So I thank you for the goodwill you have shown towards us."

Shortly after which oration, as they were going on a nuptial trip to
Lyons, in order that Mr. Bounderby might see how the hands got on in
those parts, and whether they, too, required to