Chapter 21
It was into the drawing-room that he was thus bidden. A tea-table was set out; and Mr Bounderbys young wife, and her brother, and a great gentleman from London, were present. To whom Stephen made his obeisance, closing the door and standing near it, with his hat in his hand. This is the man I was telling you about, Harthouse, said Mr Bounderby. The gentleman he addressed, who was talking to Mrs Bounderby on the sofa, got up, saying in an indolent way, Oh really? and dawdled to the hearth-rug where Mr Bounderby stood. Now, said Bounderby, speak up! After the four days he had passed, this address fell rudely and discordantly on Stephens ear. Besides being a rough handling of his wounded mind, it seemed to assume that he really was the self- interested deserter he had been called. What we
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