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review or great field…day in his thoughts。 But what I mean to say； and do
say is； that as the functions of Toby's body； his digestive organs for
example； did of their own cunning； and by a great many operations of
which he was altogether ignorant； and the knowledge of which would have
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astonished him very much； arrive at a certain end； so his mental faculties；
without his privity or concurrence； set all these wheels and springs in
motion； with a thousand others； when they worked to bring about his
liking for the Bells。
And though I had said his love； I would not have recalled the word；
though it would scarcely have expressed his complicated feeling。 For；
being but a simple man； he invested them with a strange and solemn
character。 They were so mysterious； often heard and never seen； so high
up； so far off； so full of such a deep strong melody； that he regarded them
with a species of awe； and sometimes when he looked up at the dark
arched windows in the tower； he half expected to be beckoned to by
something which was not a Bell； and yet was what he had heard so often
sounding in the Chimes。 For all this； Toby scouted with indignation a
certain flying rumour that the Chimes were haunted； as implying the
possibility of their being connected with any Evil thing。 In short； they
were very often in his ears； and very often in his thoughts； but always in
his good opinion； and he very often got such a crick in his neck by staring
with his mouth wide open； at the steeple where they hung； that he was fain
to take an extra trot or two； afterwards； to cure it。
The very thing he was in the act of doing one cold day； when the last
drowsy sound of Twelve o'clock； just struck； was humming like a
melodious monster of a Bee； and not by any means a busy bee； all through
the steeple！
'Dinner…time； eh！' said Toby； trotting up and down before the church。
'Ah！'
Toby's nose was very red； and his eyelids were very red； and he
winked very much； and his shoulders were very near his ears； and his legs
were very stiff； and altogether he was evidently a long way upon the frosty
side of cool。
'Dinner…time； eh！' repeated Toby； using his right…hand muffler like an
infantine boxing…glove； and punishing his chest for being cold。 'Ah…h…h…h！'
He took a silent trot； after that； for a minute or two。
'There's nothing；' said Toby； breaking forth afresh … but here he stopped
short in his trot； and with a face of great interest and some alarm； felt his
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nose carefully all the way up。 It was but a little way （not being much of a
nose） and he had soon finished。
'I thought it was gone；' said Toby； trotting off again。 'It's all right；
however。 I am sure I couldn't blame it if it was to go。 It has a precious
hard service of it in the bitter weather； and precious little to look forward
to； for I don't take snuff myself。 It's a good deal tried； poor creetur； at the
best of times； for when it DOES get hold of a pleasant whiff or so （which
an't too often） it's generally from somebody else's dinner； a…coming home
from the baker's。'
The reflection reminded him of that other reflection； which he had left
unfinished。
'There's nothing；' said Toby； 'more regular in its coming round than
dinner…time； and nothing less regular in its coming round than dinner。
That's the great difference between 'em。 It's took me a long time to find
it out。 I wonder whether it would be worth any gentleman's while； now；
to buy that obserwation for the Papers； or the Parliament！'
Toby was only joking； for he gravely shook his head in self…
depreciation。
'Why！ Lord！' said Toby。 'The Papers is full of obserwations as it is；
and so's the Parliament。 Here's last week's paper； now；' taking a very
dirty one from his pocket； and holding it from him at arm's length； 'full of
obserwations！ Full of obserwations！ I like to know the news as well as
any man；' said Toby； slowly； folding it a little smaller； and putting it in his
pocket again： 'but it almost goes against the grain with me to read a
paper now。 It frightens me almost。 I don't know what we poor people
are coming to。 Lord send we may be coming to something better in the
New Year nigh upon us！'
'Why； father； father！' said a pleasant voice； hard by。
But Toby； not hearing it； continued to trot backwards and forwards：
musing as he went； and talking to himself。
'It seems as if we can't go right； or do right； or be righted；' said Toby。
'I hadn't much schooling； myself； when I was young； and I can't make out
whether we have any business on the face of the earth； or not。
Sometimes I think we must have … a little； and sometimes I think we must
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be intruding。 I get so puzzled sometimes that I am not even able to make
up my mind whether there is any good at all in us； or whether we are born
bad。 We seem to be dreadful things； we seem to give a deal of trouble；
we are always being complained of and guarded against。 One way or
other； we fill the papers。 Talk of a New Year！' said Toby； mournfully。 'I
can bear up as well as another man at most times； better than a good many；
for I am as strong as a lion； and all men an't； but supposing it should really
be that we have no right to a New Year … supposing we really ARE
intruding … '
'Why； father； father！' said the pleasant voice again。
Toby heard it this time； started； stopped； and shortening his sight；
which had been directed a long way off as seeking the enlightenment in
the very heart of the approaching year； found himself face to face with his
own child； and looking close into her eyes。
Bright eyes they were。 Eyes that would bear a world of looking in；
before their depth was fathomed。 Dark eyes； that reflected back the eyes
which searched them； not flashingly； or