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hearth； and somebody came rushing in between them。
'No！' cried the voice of this same somebody； a generous and jolly
voice it was！ 'Not even you。 Not even you。 The first kiss of Meg in
the New Year is mine。 Mine！ I have been waiting outside the house；
this hour； to hear the Bells and claim it。 Meg； my precious prize； a happy
year！ A life of happy years； my darling wife！'
And Richard smothered her with kisses。
You never in all your life saw anything like Trotty after this。 I don't
care where you have lived or what you have seen； you never in all your
life saw anything at all approaching him！ He sat down in his chair and
beat his knees and cried； he sat down in his chair and beat his knees and
laughed； he sat down in his chair and beat his knees and laughed and cried
together； he got out of his chair and hugged Meg； he got out of his chair
and hugged Richard； he got out of his chair and hugged them both at once；
he kept running up to Meg； and squeezing her fresh face between his
hands and kissing it； going from her backwards not to lose sight of it； and
running up again like a figure in a magic lantern； and whatever he did； he
was constantly sitting himself down in his chair； and never stopping in it
for one single moment； being … that's the truth … beside himself with joy。
'And to…morrow's your wedding…day； my pet！' cried Trotty。 'Your real；
happy wedding…day！'
'To…day！' cried Richard； shaking hands with him。 'To…day。 The
Chimes are ringing in the New Year。 Hear them！'
They WERE ringing！ Bless their sturdy hearts； they WERE ringing！
Great Bells as they were； melodious； deep…mouthed； noble Bells； cast in
no common metal； made by no common founder； when had they ever
chimed like that； before！
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The Chimes
'But； to…day； my pet；' said Trotty。 'You and Richard had some words
to…day。'
'Because he's such a bad fellow； father；' said Meg。 'An't you； Richard？
Such a headstrong； violent man！ He'd have made no more of speaking
his mind to that great Alderman； and putting HIM down I don't know
where； than he would of … '
' … Kissing Meg；' suggested Richard。 Doing it too！
'No。 Not a bit more；' said Meg。 'But I wouldn't let him； father。
Where would have been the use！'
'Richard my boy！' cried Trotty。 'You was turned up Trumps originally；
and Trumps you must be； till you die！ But； you were crying by the fire
to…night； my pet； when I came home！ Why did you cry by the fire？'
'I was thinking of the years we've passed together； father。 Only that。
And thinking that you might miss me； and be lonely。'
Trotty was backing off to that extraordinary chair again； when the
child； who had been awakened by the noise； came running in half…
dressed。
'Why； here she is！' cried Trotty； catching her up。 'Here's little Lilian！
Ha ha ha！ Here we are and here we go！ O here we are and here we go
again！ And here we are and here we go！ and Uncle Will too！' Stopping
in his trot to greet him heartily。 'O； Uncle Will； the vision that I've had
to…night； through lodging you！ O； Uncle Will； the obligations that you've
laid me under； by your coming； my good friend！'
Before Will Fern could make the least reply； a band of music burst into
the room； attended by a lot of neighbours； screaming 'A Happy New Year；
Meg！' 'A Happy Wedding！' 'Many of em！' and other fragmentary good
wishes of that sort。 The Drum （who was a private friend of Trotty's） then
stepped forward； and said：
'Trotty Veck； my boy！ It's got about； that your daughter is going to be
married to…morrow。 There an't a soul that knows you that don't wish you
well； or that knows her and don't wish her well。 Or that knows you both；
and don't wish you both all the happiness the New Year can bring。 And
here we are； to play it in and dance it in； accordingly。'
Which was received with a general shout。 The Drum was rather
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The Chimes
drunk； by…the…bye； but； never mind。
'What a happiness it is； I'm sure；' said Trotty； 'to be so esteemed！
How kind and neighbourly you are！ It's all along of my dear daughter。
She deserves it！'
They were ready for a dance in half a second （Meg and Richard at the
top）； and the Drum was on the very brink of feathering away with all his
power； when a combination of prodigious sounds was heard outside； and a
good…humoured comely woman of some fifty years of age； or thereabouts；
came running in； attended by a man bearing a stone pitcher of terrific size；
and closely followed by the marrow…bones and cleavers； and the bells； not
THE Bells； but a portable collection on a frame。
Trotty said； 'It's Mrs。 Chickenstalker！' And sat down and beat his
knees again。
'Married； and not tell me； Meg！' cried the good woman。 'Never！ I
couldn't rest on the last night of the Old Year without coming to wish you
joy。 I couldn't have done it； Meg。 Not if I had been bed…ridden。 So
here I am； and as it's New Year's Eve； and the Eve of your wedding too；
my dear； I had a little flip made； and brought it with me。'
Mrs。 Chickenstalker's notion of a little flip did honour to her character。
The pitcher steamed and smoked and reeked like a volcano； and the man
who had carried it； was faint。
'Mrs。 Tugby！' said Trotty； who had been going round and round her； in
an ecstasy。 … 'I SHOULD say； Chickenstalker … Bless your heart and soul！
A Happy New Year； and many of 'em！ Mrs。 Tugby；' said Trotty when he
had saluted her； … 'I SHOULD say； Chickenstalker … This is William Fern
and Lilian。'
The worthy dame； to his surprise； turned very pale and very red。
'Not Lilian Fern whose mother died in Dorsetshire！' said she。
Her uncle answered 'Yes；' and meeting hastily； they exchanged some
hurried words together； of which the upshot was； that Mrs。 Chickenstalker
shook him by both hands； saluted Trotty on his cheek again of her own
free will； and took the child to her capacious breast。
'Will Fern！' said Trotty； pulling on his right…hand muffler。 '