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it； and when he poured the boiling water in the tea…pot； looked lovingly
down into the depths of that snug cauldron； and suffered the fragrant
steam to curl about his nose； and wreathe his head and face in a thick
cloud。 However； for all this； he neither ate nor drank； except at the very
beginning； a mere morsel for form's sake； which he appeared to eat with
infinite relish； but declared was perfectly uninteresting to him。
No。 Trotty's occupation was； to see Will Fern and Lilian eat and
drink； and so was Meg's。 And never did spectators at a city dinner or
court banquet find such high delight in seeing others feast： although it
were a monarch or a pope： as those two did； in looking on that night。
Meg smiled at Trotty； Trotty laughed at Meg。 Meg shook her head； and
made belief to clap her hands； applauding Trotty； Trotty conveyed； in
dumb…show； unintelligible narratives of how and when and where he had
found their visitors； to Meg； and they were happy。 Very happy。
'Although；' thought Trotty； sorrowfully； as he watched Meg's face； 'that
match is broken off； I see！'
'Now； I'll tell you what；' said Trotty after tea。 'The little one； she
sleeps with Meg； I know。'
'With good Meg！' cried the child； caressing her。 'With Meg。'
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The Chimes
'That's right；' said Trotty。 'And I shouldn't wonder if she kiss Meg's
father； won't she？ I'M Meg's father。'
Mightily delighted Trotty was； when the child went timidly towards
him； and having kissed him； fell back upon Meg again。
'She's as sensible as Solomon；' said Trotty。 'Here we come and here
we … no； we don't … I don't mean that … I … what was I saying； Meg； my
precious？'
Meg looked towards their guest； who leaned upon her chair； and with
his face turned from her； fondled the child's head； half hidden in her lap。
'To be sure；' said Toby。 'To be sure！ I don't know what I'm rambling
on about； to…night。 My wits are wool…gathering； I think。 Will Fern； you
come along with me。 You're tired to death； and broken down for want of
rest。 You come along with me。' The man still played with the child's
curls； still leaned upon Meg's chair； still turned away his face。 He didn't
speak； but in his rough coarse fingers； clenching and expanding in the fair
hair of the child； there was an eloquence that said enough。
'Yes； yes；' said Trotty； answering unconsciously what he saw expressed
in his daughter's face。 'Take her with you； Meg。 Get her to bed。 There！
Now； Will； I'll show you where you lie。 It's not much of a place： only a
loft； but； having a loft； I always say； is one of the great conveniences of
living in a mews； and till this coach…house and stable gets a better let； we
live here cheap。 There's plenty of sweet hay up there； belonging to a
neighbour； and it's as clean as hands； and Meg； can make it。 Cheer up！
Don't give way。 A new heart for a New Year； always！'
The hand released from the child's hair； had fallen； trembling； into
Trotty's hand。 So Trotty； talking without intermission； led him out as
tenderly and easily as if he had been a child himself。 Returning before
Meg； he listened for an instant at the door of her little chamber； an
adjoining room。 The child was murmuring a simple Prayer before lying
down to sleep； and when she had remembered Meg's name； 'Dearly；
Dearly' … so her words ran … Trotty heard her stop and ask for his。
It was some short time before the foolish little old fellow could
compose himself to mend the fire； and draw his chair to the warm hearth。
But； when he had done so； and had trimmed the light； he took his
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The Chimes
newspaper from his pocket； and began to read。 Carelessly at first； and
skimming up and down the columns； but with an earnest and a sad
attention； very soon。
For this same dreaded paper re…directed Trotty's thoughts into the
channel they had taken all that day； and which the day's events had so
marked out and shaped。 His interest in the two wanderers had set him on
another course of thinking； and a happier one； for the time； but being alone
again； and reading of the crimes and violences of the people； he relapsed
into his former train。
In this mood； he came to an account （and it was not the first he had
ever read） of a woman who had laid her desperate hands not only on her
own life but on that of her young child。 A crime so terrible； and so
revolting to his soul； dilated with the love of Meg； that he let the journal
drop； and fell back in his chair； appalled！
'Unnatural and cruel！' Toby cried。 'Unnatural and cruel！ None but
people who were bad at heart； born bad； who had no business on the earth；
could do such deeds。 It's too true； all I've heard to…day； too just； too full
of proof。 We're Bad！'
The Chimes took up the words so suddenly … burst out so loud； and
clear； and sonorous … that the Bells seemed to strike him in his chair。
And what was that； they said？
'Toby Veck； Toby Veck； waiting for you Toby！ Toby Veck； Toby
Veck； waiting for you Toby！ Come and see us； come and see us； Drag
him to us； drag him to us； Haunt and hunt him； haunt and hunt him； Break
his slumbers； break his slumbers！ Toby Veck Toby Veck； door open wide
Toby； Toby Veck Toby Veck； door open wide Toby … ' then fiercely back to
their impetuous strain again； and ringing in the very bricks and plaster on
the walls。
Toby listened。 Fancy； fancy！ His remorse for having run away from
them that afternoon！ No； no。 Nothing of the kind。 Again； again； and
yet a dozen times again。 'Haunt and hunt him； haunt and hunt him； Drag
him to us； drag him to us！' Deafening the whole town！
'Meg；' said Trotty softly： tapping at her door。 'Do you hear
anything？'
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