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'I hope not； sir；' said Trotty； faintly。 'I'd sooner die of want！'
'Divide the amount of tripe before…mentioned； Alderman；' said Mr。
Filer； 'by the estimated number of existing widows and orphans； and the
result will be one pennyweight of tripe to each。 Not a grain is left for
that man。 Consequently； he's a robber。'
Trotty was so shocked； that it gave him no concern to see the
Alderman finish the tripe himself。 It was a relief to get rid of it； anyhow。
'And what do you say？' asked the Alderman； jocosely； of the red… faced
gentleman in the blue coat。 'You have heard friend Filer。 What do YOU
SAY？'
'What's it possible to say？' returned the gentleman。 'What IS to be
said？ Who can take any interest in a fellow like this；' meaning Trotty； 'in
such degenerate times as these？ Look at him。 What an object！ The
good old times； the grand old times； the great old times！ THOSE were
the times for a bold peasantry； and all that sort of thing。 Those were the
times for every sort of thing； in fact。 There's nothing now…a…days。 Ah！'
sighed the red…faced gentleman。 'The good old times； the good old
times！'
The gentleman didn't specify what particular times he alluded to； nor
did he say whether he objected to the present times； from a disinterested
consciousness that they had done nothing very remarkable in producing
himself。
'The good old times； the good old times；' repeated the gentleman。
'What times they were！ They were the only times。 It's of no use talking
about any other times； or discussing what the people are in THESE times。
You don't call these times； do you？ I don't。 Look into Strutt's Costumes；
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and see what a Porter used to be； in any of the good old English reigns。'
'He hadn't； in his very best circumstances； a shirt to his back； or a
stocking to his foot； and there was scarcely a vegetable in all England for
him to put into his mouth；' said Mr。 Filer。 'I can prove it； by tables。'
But still the red…faced gentleman extolled the good old times； the
grand old times； the great old times。 No matter what anybody else said；
he still went turning round and round in one set form of words concerning
them； as a poor squirrel turns and turns in its revolving cage； touching the
mechanism； and trick of which； it has probably quite as distinct
perceptions； as ever this red…faced gentleman had of his deceased
Millennium。
It is possible that poor Trotty's faith in these very vague Old Times
was not entirely destroyed； for he felt vague enough at that moment。 One
thing； however； was plain to him； in the midst of his distress； to wit； that
however these gentlemen might differ in details； his misgivings of that
morning； and of many other mornings； were well founded。 'No； no。 We
can't go right or do right；' thought Trotty in despair。 'There is no good in
us。 We are born bad！'
But Trotty had a father's heart within him； which had somehow got
into his breast in spite of this decree； and he could not bear that Meg； in
the blush of her brief joy； should have her fortune read by these wise
gentlemen。 'God help her；' thought poor Trotty。 'She will know it soon
enough。'
He anxiously signed； therefore； to the young smith； to take her away。
But he was so busy； talking to her softly at a little distance； that he only
became conscious of this desire； simultaneously with Alderman Cute。
Now； the Alderman had not yet had his say； but HE was a philosopher； too
… practical； though！ Oh； very practical … and； as he had no idea of losing
any portion of his audience； he cried 'Stop！'
'Now； you know；' said the Alderman； addressing his two friends； with a
self…complacent smile upon his face which was habitual to him； 'I am a
plain man； and a practical man； and I go to work in a plain practical way。
That's my way。 There is not the least mystery or difficulty in dealing
with this sort of people if you only understand 'em； and can talk to 'em in
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The Chimes
their own manner。 Now； you Porter！ Don't you ever tell me； or
anybody else； my friend； that you haven't always enough to eat； and of the
best； because I know better。 I have tasted your tripe； you know； and you
can't 〃chaff〃 me。 You understand what 〃chaff〃 means； eh？ That's the
right word； isn't it？ Ha； ha； ha！ Lord bless you；' said the Alderman；
turning to his friends again； 'it's the easiest thing on earth to deal with this
sort of people； if you understand 'em。'
Famous man for the common people； Alderman Cute！ Never out of
temper with them！ Easy； affable； joking； knowing gentleman！
'You see； my friend；' pursued the Alderman； 'there's a great deal of
nonsense talked about Want … 〃hard up；〃 you know； that's the phrase； isn't
it？ ha！ ha！ ha！ … and I intend to Put it Down。 There's a certain amount of
cant in vogue about Starvation； and I mean to Put it Down。 That's all！
Lord bless you；' said the Alderman； turning to his friends again； 'you may
Put Down anything among this sort of people； if you only know the way to
set about it。'
Trotty took Meg's hand and drew it through his arm。 He didn't seem
to know what he was doing though。
'Your daughter； eh？' said the Alderman； chucking her familiarly under
the chin。
Always affable with the working classes； Alderman Cute！ Knew
what pleased them！ Not a bit of pride！
'Where's her mother？' asked that worthy gentleman。
'Dead；' said Toby。 'Her mother got up linen； and was called to
Heaven when She was born。'
'Not to get up linen THERE； I suppose；' remarked the Alderman
pleasantly
Toby might or might not have been able to separate his wife in Heaven
from her old pursuits。 But query： If Mrs。 Alderman Cute had gone to
Heaven； would Mr。 Alderman Cute have pictured