CHAPTERXII-DOWN
THEnationaldustmen，afterentertainingoneanotherwithagreatmanynoisylittlefightsamongthemselves，haddispersedforthepresent，andMr。Gradgrindwasathomeforthevacation。
Hesatwritingintheroomwiththedeadlystatisticalclock，provingsomethingnodoubt-probably，inthemain，thattheGoodSamaritanwasaBadEconomist。Thenoiseoftheraindidnotdisturbhimmuch；butitattractedhisattentionsufficientlytomakehimraisehisheadsometimes，asifhewereratherremonstratingwiththeelements。Whenitthunderedveryloudly，heglancedtowardsCoketown，havingitinhismindthatsomeofthetallchimneysmightbestruckbylightning。
Thethunderwasrollingintodistance，andtherainwaspouringdownlikeadeluge，whenthedoorofhisroomopened。Helookedroundthelampuponhistable，andsaw，withamazement，hiseldestdaughter。
\'Louisa！\'