CHAPTERII-MR。JAMESHARTHOUSE
THEGradgrindpartywantedassistanceincuttingthethroatsoftheGraces。Theywentaboutrecruiting；andwherecouldtheyenlistrecruitsmorehopefully，thanamongthefinegentlemenwho，havingfoundouteverythingtobeworthnothing，wereequallyreadyforanything？
Moreover，thehealthyspiritswhohadmountedtothissublimeheightwereattractivetomanyoftheGradgrindschool。Theylikedfinegentlemen；theypretendedthattheydidnot，buttheydid。
Theybecameexhaustedinimitationofthem；andtheyyaw-yawedintheirspeechlikethem；andtheyservedout，withanenervatedair，thelittlemouldyrationsofpoliticaleconomy，onwhichtheyregaledtheirdisciples。Thereneverbeforewasseenonearthsuchawonderfulhybridraceaswasthusproduced。
AmongthefinegentlemennotregularlybelongingtotheGradgrindschool，therewasoneofagoodfamilyandabetterappearance，withahappyturnofhumourwhichhadtoldimmenselywiththeHouseofCommonsontheoccasionofhisentertainingitwithhisandtheBoardofDirectorsviewofarailwayaccident，inwhichthemostcarefulofficerseverknown，employedbythemostliberalmanagerseverheardof，assistedbythefinestmechanicalcontrivanceseverdevised，thewholeinactiononthebestlineeverconstructed，hadkilledfivepeopleandwoundedthirty-two，byacasualtywithoutwhichtheexcellenceofthewholesystemwouldhavebeenpositivelyincomplete。Amongtheslainwasacow，andamongthescatteredarticlesunowned，awidow\'scap。AndthehonourablememberhadsotickledtheHousewhichhasadelicatesenseofhumourbyputtingthecaponthecow，thatitbecameimpatientofanyseriousreferencetotheCoroner\'sInquest，andbroughttherailwayoffwithCheersandLaughter。