“Coketown, sir,” said Bounderby, obstinately taking a chair, “is not the kind of place you have been accustomed to. Therefore, if you will allow me⁠—or whether you will or not, for I am a plain man⁠—I’ll tell you something about it before we go any further.”

Mr. Harthouse would be charmed.

“Don’t be too sure of that,” said Bounderby. “I don’t promise it. First of all, you see our smoke. That’s meat and drink to us. It’s the healthiest thing in the world in all respects, and particularly for the lungs. If you are one of those who want us to consume it, I differ from you. We are not going to wear the bottoms of our boilers out any faster than we wear ’em out now, for all the humbugging sentiment in Great Britain and Ireland.”