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again （as you informed me he promised to do to…morrow； pending your
inquiries； and I think he may be so far relied upon）； his committal for
some short term as a Vagabond； would be a service to society； and would
be a salutary example in a country where … for the sake of those who are；
through good and evil report； the Friends and Fathers of the Poor； as well
as with a view to that； generally speaking； misguided class themselves …
examples are greatly needed。 And I am；' and so forth。
'It appears；' remarked Sir Joseph when he had signed this letter； and Mr。
Fish was sealing it； 'as if this were Ordained： really。 At the close of the
year； I wind up my account and strike my balance； even with William
Fern！'
Trotty； who had long ago relapsed； and was very low…spirited； stepped
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forward with a rueful face to take the letter。
'With my compliments and thanks；' said Sir Joseph。 'Stop！'
'Stop！' echoed Mr。 Fish。
'You have heard； perhaps；' said Sir Joseph； oracularly； 'certain remarks
into which I have been led respecting the solemn period of time at which
we have arrived； and the duty imposed upon us of settling our affairs； and
being prepared。 You have observed that I don't shelter myself behind my
superior standing in society； but that Mr。 Fish … that gentleman … has a
cheque…book at his elbow； and is in fact here； to enable me to turn over a
perfectly new leaf； and enter on the epoch before us with a clean account。
Now； my friend； can you lay your hand upon your heart； and say； that you
also have made preparations for a New Year？'
'I am afraid； sir；' stammered Trotty； looking meekly at him； 'that I am a
… a … little behind…hand with the world。'
' Behind…hand with the world！' repeated Sir Joseph Bowley； in a tone
of terrible distinctness。
'I am afraid； sir；' faltered Trotty； 'that there's a matter of ten or twelve
shillings owing to Mrs。 Chickenstalker。'
'To Mrs。 Chickenstalker！' repeated Sir Joseph； in the same tone as
before。
'A shop； sir；' exclaimed Toby； 'in the general line。 Also a … a little
money on account of rent。 A very little； sir。 It oughtn't to be owing； I
know； but we have been hard put to it； indeed！'
Sir Joseph looked at his lady； and at Mr。 Fish； and at Trotty； one after
another； twice all round。 He then made a despondent gesture with both
hands at once； as if he gave the thing up altogether。
'How a man； even among this improvident and impracticable race； an
old man； a man grown grey； can look a New Year in the face； with his
affairs in this condition； how he can lie down on his bed at night； and get
up again in the morning； and … There！' he said； turning his back on Trotty。
'Take the letter。 Take the letter！'
'I heartily wish it was otherwise； sir；' said Trotty； anxious to excuse
himself。 'We have been tried very hard。'
Sir Joseph still repeating 'Take the letter； take the letter！' and Mr。 Fish
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not only saying the same thing； but giving additional force to the request
by motioning the bearer to the door； he had nothing for it but to make his
bow and leave the house。 And in the street； poor Trotty pulled his worn
old hat down on his head； to hide the grief he felt at getting no hold on the
New Year； anywhere。
He didn't even lift his hat to look up at the Bell tower when he came to
the old church on his return。 He halted there a moment； from habit：
and knew that it was growing dark； and that the steeple rose above him；
indistinct and faint； in the murky air。 He knew； too； that the Chimes
would ring immediately； and that they sounded to his fancy； at such a time；
like voices in the clouds。 But he only made the more haste to deliver the
Alderman's letter； and get out of the way before they began； for he dreaded
to hear them tagging 'Friends and Fathers； Friends and Fathers；' to the
burden they had rung out last。
Toby discharged himself of his commission； therefore； with all
possible speed； and set off trotting homeward。 But what with his pace；
which was at best an awkward one in the street； and what with his hat；
which didn't improve it； he trotted against somebody in less than no time；
and was sent staggering out into the road。
'I beg your pardon； I'm sure！' said Trotty； pulling up his hat in great
confusion； and between the hat and the torn lining； fixing his head into a
kind of bee…hive。 'I hope I haven't hurt you。'
As to hurting anybody； Toby was not such an absolute Samson； but
that he was much more likely to be hurt himself： and indeed； he had
flown out into the road； like a shuttlecock。 He had such an opinion of his
own strength； however； that he was in real concern for the other party：
and said again；
'I hope I haven't hurt you？'
The man against whom he had run； a sun…browned； sinewy； country…
looking man； with grizzled hair； and a rough chin； stared at him for a
moment； as if he suspected him to be in jest。 But； satisfied of his good
faith； he answered：
'No； friend。 You have not hurt me。'
'Nor the child； I hope？' said Trotty。
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'Nor the child；' returned the man。 'I thank you kindly。'
As he said so； he glanced at a little girl he carried in his arms； asleep：
and shading her face with the long end of the poor handkerchief he wore
about his throat； went slowly on。
The tone in which he said 'I thank you kindly；' penetrated Trotty's heart。
He was so jaded and foot…sore； and so soiled with travel； and looked about
him so forlorn and strange； that it was a comfort to him to be able to thank
any one： no matter for how little。 Toby stood gazing after him as he
plodded wearily away； with the child's arm clinging round his neck。
At the figure in the worn shoes … now the very shade and ghost of
shoes … rough leather leggings； common frock； and broad slouched hat；
Trotty stood gazin