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words on the structure of the system； and consolidate it for a
thousand ages。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 1160
Chapter 63
Steel And Iron
eorge’s shooting…gallery is to let； and the stock is sold off；
and George himself is at Chesney Wold； attending on Sir
G
Leicester in his rides； and riding very near his bridle…rein；
because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse。 But
not today is George so occupied。 He is journeying today into the
iron country farther north； to look about him。
As he comes into the iron country farther north； such fresh
green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind； and coal…
pits and ashes； high chimneys and red bricks； blighted verdure；
scorching fires； and a heavy never lightening cloud of smoke；
become the features of the scenery。 Among such objects rides the
trooper； looking about him； and always looking for something he
has come to find。
At last； on the black canal bridge of a busy town； with a clang of
iron in it； and more fires and more smoke than he has seen yet； the
trooper； swart with the dust of the coal roads； checks his horse；
and asks the workman does he know the name of Rouncewell
thereabouts？”
“Why； master；” quoth the workman； “do I know my own
name？”
“’Tis so well known here； is it； comrade？” asked the trooper。
“Rouncewells？ Ah！ you’re right。”
“And where might he be now？” asks the trooper； with a glance
before him。
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Bleak House 1161
“The bank； the factory； or the house？” the workman wants to
know。
“Hum！ Rouncewells is so great apparently；” mutters the
trooper； stroking his chin； “that I have as good as half a mind to go
back again。 Why I don’t know which I want。 Should I find Mr
Rouncewell at the factory； do you think？”
“’Tain’t easy to say where you’d find him—at this time of the
day you might find either him or son there； if he’s in town； but his
contracts take him away。”
And which is the factory？ Why； he sees those chimneys—the
tallest ones！ Yes； he sees them。 Well！ let him keep his eye on those
chimneys； going on as straight as ever he can； and presently he’ll
see ’em down a turning on the left； shut in by a great brick wall
which forms one side of the street。 That’s Rouncewells。
The trooper thanks his informant； and rides slowly on； looking
about him。 He does not turn back； but puts up his horse （and is
much disposed to groom him too） at a public house where some of
Rouncewell’s hands are dining； as the ostler tells him。 Some of
Rouncewell’s hands have just knocked off for dinner time； and
seem to be invading the whole town。 They are very sinewy and
strong； are Rouncewell’s hands—a little sooty too。
He comes to a gateway in the brick wall； looks in； and sees a
great perplexity of iron lying about； in every stage； and in a vast
variety of shapes； in bars； in wedges； in sheets； in tanks； in boilers；
in axles； in wheels； in cogs； in cranks； in rails； twisted and
wrenched into eccentric and perverse forms； as separate parts of
machinery； mountains of it broken up； and rusty in its age； distant
furnaces of it glowing and bubbling in its youth； bright fireworks
of it showering about； under the blows of the steam hammer； red…
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Bleak House 1162
hot iron； white…hot iron； cold…black iron； an iron taste； an iron
smell； and a Babel of iron sounds。
“This is a place to make a make a man’s head ache； too！” says
the trooper； looking about him for a counting…house。 “Who comes
here？ This is very like me before I was set up。 This ought to be my
nephew； if likenesses run in families。 Your servant； sir。”
“Yours； sir。 Are you looking for any one？”
“Excuse me。 Young Mr Rouncewell； I believe？”
“Yes。”
“I was looking for your father； sir。 I wished to have a word with
him。”
The young man； telling him he is fortunate in his choice of a
time； for his father is there； leads the way to the office where he is
to be found。 “Very like me before I was set up—devilish like me！”
thinks the trooper； as he follows。 They come to a building in the
yard； with an office on an upper floor。 At sight of the gentleman in
the office； Mr George turns very red。
“What name shall I say to my father？” asks the young man。
George full of the idea of iron； in desperation answers “Steel；”
and is so presented。 He is left alone with the gentleman in the
office； who sits at a table with account…books before him； and some
sheets of paper； blotted with hosts of figures and drawings of
cunning shapes。 It is a bare office； with bare windows； looking on
the iron view below。 Tumbled together on the table are some
pieces of iron； purposely broken to be tested； at various periods of
their service； in various capacities。 There is iron…dust on
everything； and the smoke is seen； through the windows； rolling
heavily out of the tall chimneys； to mingle with the smoke from a
vaporous Babylon of other chimneys。
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Bleak House 1163
“I am at your service； Mr Steel；” says the gentleman； when his
visitor has taken a rustic chair。
“Well； Mr Rouncewell；” George replies； leaning forward； with
his left arm on his knee； and his hat in his hand； and very chary of
meeting his brother’s eye； “I am not without my expectations； that
in the present visit I may prove to be more free than welcome。 I
have served as a dragoon in my day； and a comrade of mine that I
was once rather partial to； was； if I don’t deceive myself； a brother
of yours。 I believe you had a brother who gave his family some
trouble； and ran away； and never did any good but in keeping
away？”
“Are you quite sure；” returns the ironmaster； in an altered
voice； “that your name is Steel？”
The trooper falters and looks at him。 His brother starts up； calls
him by his name； and grasps him by both hands。
“You are too quick for me！” cries the trooper； with the tears
springing out of his eyes。 “How do you do； my dear old fellow。 I
never could have thought you would have been half so glad to see
me as all this。 How do you do； my dear old fellow； how do you do！”
They shake hands； and embrace each other； over and over
again； the trooper still coupling his “How do you do； my dear old
fellow！” with his protestation that he never thought his b