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from her old pursuits。 But query： If Mrs。 Alderman Cute had gone to
Heaven； would Mr。 Alderman Cute have pictured her as holding any state
or station there？
'And you're making love to her； are you？' said Cute to the young smith。
'Yes；' returned Richard quickly； for he was nettled by the question。
'And we are going to be married on New Year's Day。'
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'What do you mean！' cried Filer sharply。 'Married！'
'Why； yes； we're thinking of it； Master；' said Richard。 'We're rather in
a hurry； you see； in case it should be Put Down first。'
'Ah！' cried Filer； with a groan。 'Put THAT down indeed； Alderman；
and you'll do something。 Married！ Married！！ The ignorance of the
first principles of political economy on the part of these people； their
improvidence； their wickedness； is； by Heavens！ enough to … Now look at
that couple； will you！'
Well？ They were worth looking at。 And marriage seemed as
reasonable and fair a deed as they need have in contemplation。
'A man may live to be as old as Methuselah；' said Mr。 Filer； 'and may
labour all his life for the benefit of such people as those； and may heap up
facts on figures； facts on figures； facts on figures； mountains high and dry；
and he can no more hope to persuade 'em that they have no right or
business to be married； than he can hope to persuade 'em that they have no
earthly right or business to be born。 And THAT we know they haven't。
We reduced it to a mathematical certainty long ago！'
Alderman Cute was mightily diverted； and laid his right forefinger on
the side of his nose； as much as to say to both his friends； 'Observe me；
will you！ Keep your eye on the practical man！' … and called Meg to him。
'Come here； my girl！' said Alderman Cute。
The young blood of her lover had been mounting； wrathfully； within
the last few minutes； and he was indisposed to let her come。 But； setting
a constraint upon himself； he came forward with a stride as Meg
approached； and stood beside her。 Trotty kept her hand within his arm
still； but looked from face to face as wildly as a sleeper in a dream。
'Now； I'm going to give you a word or two of good advice； my girl；'
said the Alderman； in his nice easy way。 'It's my place to give advice；
you know； because I'm a Justice。 You know I'm a Justice； don't you？'
Meg timidly said； 'Yes。' But everybody knew Alderman Cute was a
Justice！ Oh dear； so active a Justice always！ Who such a mote of
brightness in the public eye； as Cute！
'You are going to be married； you say；' pursued the Alderman。 'Very
unbecoming and indelicate in one of your sex！ But never mind that。
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After you are married； you'll quarrel with your husband and come to be a
distressed wife。 You may think not； but you will； because I tell you so。
Now； I give you fair warning； that I have made up my mind to Put
distressed wives Down。 So； don't be brought before me。 You'll have
children … boys。 Those boys will grow up bad； of course； and run wild in
the streets； without shoes and stockings。 Mind； my young friend！ I'll
convict 'em summarily； every one； for I am determined to Put boys
without shoes and stockings； Down。 Perhaps your husband will die
young （most likely） and leave you with a baby。 Then you'll be turned out
of doors； and wander up and down the streets。 Now； don't wander near
me； my dear； for I am resolved； to Put all wandering mothers Down。 All
young mothers； of all sorts and kinds； it's my determination to Put Down。
Don't think to plead illness as an excuse with me； or babies as an excuse
with me； for all sick persons and young children （I hope you know the
church…service； but I'm afraid not） I am determined to Put Down。 And if
you attempt； desperately； and ungratefully； and impiously； and fraudulently
attempt； to drown yourself； or hang yourself； I'll have no pity for you； for I
have made up my mind to Put all suicide Down！ If there is one thing；'
said the Alderman； with his self…satisfied smile； 'on which I can be said to
have made up my mind more than on another； it is to Put suicide Down。
So don't try it on。 That's the phrase； isn't it？ Ha； ha！ now we understand
each other。'
Toby knew not whether to be agonised or glad； to see that Meg had
turned a deadly white； and dropped her lover's hand。
'And as for you； you dull dog；' said the Alderman； turning with even
increased cheerfulness and urbanity to the young smith； 'what are you
thinking of being married for？ What do you want to be married for； you
silly fellow？ If I was a fine； young； strapping chap like you； I should be
ashamed of being milksop enough to pin myself to a woman's apron…
strings！ Why； she'll be an old woman before you're a middle…aged man！
And a pretty figure you'll cut then； with a draggle…tailed wife and a crowd
of squalling children crying after you wherever you go！'
O； he knew how to banter the common people； Alderman Cute！
'There！ Go along with you；' said the Alderman； 'and repent。 Don't
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make such a fool of yourself as to get married on New Year's Day。 You'll
think very differently of it； long before next New Year's Day： a trim
young fellow like you； with all the girls looking after you。 There！ Go
along with you！'
They went along。 Not arm in arm； or hand in hand； or interchanging
bright glances； but； she in tears； he； gloomy and down…looking。 Were these
the hearts that had so lately made old Toby's leap up from its faintness？
No； no。 The Alderman （a blessing on his head！） had Put THEM Down。
'As you happen to be here；' said the Alderman to Toby； 'you shall carry
a letter for me。 Can you be quick？ You're an old man。'
Toby； who had been looking after Meg； quite stupidly； made shift to
murmur out that he was very quick； and very strong。
'How old are