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At the close of the year； I wind up my account and strike my
balance； even with William Fern！'
Trotty； who had long ago relapsed； and was very low…spirited；
stepped forward with a rueful face to take the letter。
'With my compliments and thanks；' said Sir Joseph。 'Stop！'
'Stop！' echoed Mr。 Fish。
'You have heard； perhaps；' said Sir Joseph； oracularly； 'certain
remarks into which I have been led respecting the solemn period of
time at which we have arrived； and the duty imposed upon us of
settling our affairs； and being prepared。 You have observed that I
don't shelter myself behind my superior standing in society； but
that Mr。 Fish … that gentleman … has a cheque…book at his elbow；
and is in fact here； to enable me to turn over a perfectly new
leaf； and enter on the epoch before us with a clean account。 Now；
my friend； can you lay your hand upon your heart； and say； that you
also have made preparations for a New Year？'
'I am afraid； sir；' stammered Trotty； looking meekly at him； 'that
I am a … a … little behind…hand with the world。'
' Behind…hand with the world！' repeated Sir Joseph Bowley； in a
tone of terrible distinctness。
'I am afraid； sir；' faltered Trotty； 'that there's a matter of ten
or twelve shillings owing to Mrs。 Chickenstalker。'
'To Mrs。 Chickenstalker！' repeated Sir Joseph； in the same tone as
before。
'A shop； sir；' exclaimed Toby； 'in the general line。 Also a … a
little money on account of rent。 A very little； sir。 It oughtn't
to be owing； I know； but we have been hard put to it； indeed！'
Sir Joseph looked at his lady； and at Mr。 Fish； and at Trotty； one
after another； twice all round。 He then made a despondent gesture
with both hands at once； as if he gave the thing up altogether。
'How a man； even among this improvident and impracticable race； an
old man； a man grown grey； can look a New Year in the face； with
his affairs in this condition； how he can lie down on his bed at
night； and get up again in the morning； and … There！' he said；
turning his back on Trotty。 'Take the letter。 Take the letter！'
'I heartily wish it was otherwise； sir；' said Trotty； anxious to
excuse himself。 'We have been tried very hard。'
Sir Joseph still repeating 'Take the letter； take the letter！' and
Mr。 Fish not only saying the same thing； but giving additional
force to the request by motioning the bearer to the door； he had
nothing for it but to make his bow and leave the house。 And in the
street； poor Trotty pulled his worn old hat down on his head； to
hide the grief he felt at getting no hold on the New Year；
anywhere。
He didn't even lift his hat to look up at the Bell tower when he
came to the old church on his return。 He halted there a moment；
from habit： and knew that it was growing dark； and that the
steeple rose above him； indistinct and faint； in the murky air。 He
knew； too； that the Chimes would ring immediately； and that they
sounded to his fancy； at such a time； like voices in the clouds。
But he only made the more haste to deliver the Alderman's letter；
and get out of the way before they began； for he dreaded to hear
them tagging 'Friends and Fathers； Friends and Fathers；' to the
burden they had rung out last。
Toby discharged himself of his commission； therefore； with all
possible speed； and set off trotting homeward。 But what with his
pace； which was at best an awkward one in the street； and what with
his hat； which didn't improve it； he trotted against somebody in
less than no time； and was sent staggering out into the road。
'I beg your pardon； I'm sure！' said Trotty； pulling up his hat in
great confusion； and between the hat and the torn lining； fixing
his head into a kind of bee…hive。 'I hope I haven't hurt you。'
As to hurting anybody； Toby was not such an absolute Samson； but
that he was much more likely to be hurt himself： and indeed； he
had flown out into the road； like a shuttlecock。 He had such an
opinion of his own strength； however； that he was in real concern
for the other party： and said again；
'I hope I haven't hurt you？'
The man against whom he had run； a sun…browned； sinewy； country…
looking man； with grizzled hair； and a rough chin； stared at him
for a moment； as if he suspected him to be in jest。 But； satisfied
of his good faith； he answered：
'No； friend。 You have not hurt me。'
'Nor the child； I hope？' said Trotty。
'Nor the child；' returned the man。 'I thank you kindly。'
As he said so； he glanced at a little girl he carried in his arms；
asleep： and shading her face with the long end of the poor
handkerchief he wore about his throat； went slowly on。
The tone in which he said 'I thank you kindly；' penetrated Trotty's
heart。 He was so jaded and foot…sore； and so soiled with travel；
and looked about him so forlorn and strange； that it was a comfort
to him to be able to thank any one： no matter for how little。
Toby stood gazing after him as he plodded wearily away； with the
child's arm clinging round his neck。
At the figure in the worn shoes … now the very shade and ghost of
shoes … rough leather leggings； common frock； and broad slouched
hat； Trotty stood gazing； blind to the whole street。 And at the
child's arm； clinging round its neck。
Before he merged into the darkness the traveller stopped； and
looking round； and seeing Trotty standing there yet； seemed
undecided whether to return or go on。 After doing first the one
and then the other； he came back； and Trotty went half…way to meet
him。
'You can tell me； perhaps；' said the man with a faint smile； 'and
if you can I am sure you will； and I'd rather ask you than another
… where Alderman Cute lives。'
'Close at hand；' replied Toby。 'I'll show you his house with
pleasure。'
'I was to have gone to him elsewhere to…morrow；' said the man；
accompanying Toby； 'but I'm uneasy under suspicion； and want to
clear myself； and to be free to go and seek my bread … I don't know
where。 So； maybe he'll forgive my going to his house to…night。'
'It's impossible；' cried Toby with a start； 'that your name's
Fern！'
'Eh！' cried the other； turning on him in astonishment。
'Fern！ Will Fern！' said Trotty。
'That's my name；' replied the other。
'Why then；' said Trotty； seizing him by the arm； and looking
cautiously round； 'for Heaven's sake don't go to him！ Don't go to
him！ He'll put you down as sure as ever you were born。 Here！ come
up this alley； and I'll tell you what I mean。 Don't go to HIM。'
His new acquaintance looked as if he thought him mad； but he bore
him company nevertheless。 When they were shrouded from
observation； Trotty told him what he knew； and what character he
had received； and all about it。
The subject of his history listened to it with a calmness that
surprised him。 He did not contradict or interrupt it； once。 He
nodded his head now and then … more in corroboration of an old and
worn…out story； it appeared； than in refutation of it； and once or
twice threw back his hat； and passed his freckled hand over a brow；
where every furrow he had ploughed seemed to have set its