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twice threw back his hat； and passed his freckled hand over a brow；
where every furrow he had ploughed seemed to have set its image in
little。 But he did no more。
'It's true enough in the main；' he said； 'master； I could sift
grain from husk here and there； but let it be as 'tis。 What odds？
I have gone against his plans； to my misfortun'。 I can't help it；
I should do the like to…morrow。 As to character； them gentlefolks
will search and search； and pry and pry； and have it as free from
spot or speck in us； afore they'll help us to a dry good word！ …
Well！ I hope they don't lose good opinion as easy as we do； or
their lives is strict indeed； and hardly worth the keeping。 For
myself； master； I never took with that hand' … holding it before
him … 'what wasn't my own； and never held it back from work；
however hard； or poorly paid。 Whoever can deny it； let him chop it
off！ But when work won't maintain me like a human creetur； when my
living is so bad； that I am Hungry； out of doors and in； when I see
a whole working life begin that way； go on that way； and end that
way； without a chance or change； then I say to the gentlefolks
〃Keep away from me！ Let my cottage be。 My doors is dark enough
without your darkening of 'em more。 Don't look for me to come up
into the Park to help the show when there's a Birthday； or a fine
Speechmaking； or what not。 Act your Plays and Games without me；
and be welcome to 'em； and enjoy 'em。 We've nowt to do with one
another。 I'm best let alone！〃'
Seeing that the child in his arms had opened her eyes； and was
looking about her in wonder； he checked himself to say a word or
two of foolish prattle in her ear； and stand her on the ground
beside him。 Then slowly winding one of her long tresses round and
round his rough forefinger like a ring； while she hung about his
dusty leg； he said to Trotty：
'I'm not a cross…grained man by natu'； I believe； and easy
satisfied； I'm sure。 I bear no ill…will against none of 'em。 I
only want to live like one of the Almighty's creeturs。 I can't … I
don't … and so there's a pit dug between me； and them that can and
do。 There's others like me。 You might tell 'em off by hundreds
and by thousands； sooner than by ones。'
Trotty knew he spoke the Truth in this； and shook his head to
signify as much。
'I've got a bad name this way；' said Fern； 'and I'm not likely； I'm
afeared； to get a better。 'Tan't lawful to be out of sorts； and I
AM out of sorts； though God knows I'd sooner bear a cheerful spirit
if I could。 Well！ I don't know as this Alderman could hurt ME
much by sending me to jail； but without a friend to speak a word
for me； he might do it； and you see … ！' pointing downward with his
finger； at the child。
'She has a beautiful face；' said Trotty。
'Why yes！' replied the other in a low voice； as he gently turned it
up with both his hands towards his own； and looked upon it
steadfastly。 'I've thought so； many times。 I've thought so； when
my hearth was very cold； and cupboard very bare。 I thought so
t'other night； when we were taken like two thieves。 But they …
they shouldn't try the little face too often； should they； Lilian？
That's hardly fair upon a man！'
He sunk his voice so low； and gazed upon her with an air so stern
and strange； that Toby； to divert the current of his thoughts；
inquired if his wife were living。
'I never had one；' he returned； shaking his head。 'She's my
brother's child： a orphan。 Nine year old； though you'd hardly
think it； but she's tired and worn out now。 They'd have taken care
on her； the Union … eight…and…twenty mile away from where we live …
between four walls （as they took care of my old father when he
couldn't work no more； though he didn't trouble 'em long）； but I
took her instead； and she's lived with me ever since。 Her mother
had a friend once； in London here。 We are trying to find her； and
to find work too； but it's a large place。 Never mind。 More room
for us to walk about in； Lilly！'
Meeting the child's eyes with a smile which melted Toby more than
tears； he shook him by the hand。
'I don't so much as know your name；' he said； 'but I've opened my
heart free to you； for I'm thankful to you； with good reason。 I'll
take your advice； and keep clear of this … '
'Justice；' suggested Toby。
'Ah！' he said。 'If that's the name they give him。 This Justice。
And to…morrow will try whether there's better fortun' to be met
with； somewheres near London。 Good night。 A Happy New Year！'
'Stay！' cried Trotty； catching at his hand； as he relaxed his grip。
'Stay！ The New Year never can be happy to me； if we part like
this。 The New Year never can be happy to me； if I see the child
and you go wandering away； you don't know where； without a shelter
for your heads。 Come home with me！ I'm a poor man； living in a
poor place； but I can give you lodging for one night and never miss
it。 Come home with me！ Here！ I'll take her！' cried Trotty；
lifting up the child。 'A pretty one！ I'd carry twenty times her
weight； and never know I'd got it。 Tell me if I go too quick for
you。 I'm very fast。 I always was！' Trotty said this； taking
about six of his trotting paces to one stride of his fatigued
companion； and with his thin legs quivering again； beneath the load
he bore。
'Why； she's as light；' said Trotty； trotting in his speech as well
as in his gait； for he couldn't bear to be thanked； and dreaded a
moment's pause； 'as light as a feather。 Lighter than a Peacock's
feather … a great deal lighter。 Here we are and here we go！ Round
this first turning to the right； Uncle Will； and past the pump； and
sharp off up the passage to the left； right opposite the public…
house。 Here we are and here we go！ Cross over； Uncle Will； and
mind the kidney pieman at the corner！ Here we are and here we go！
Down the Mews here； Uncle Will； and stop at the black door； with
〃T。 Veck； Ticket Porter；〃 wrote upon a board； and here we are and
here we go； and here we are indeed； my precious。 Meg； surprising
you！'
With which words Trotty； in a breathless state； set the child down
before his daughter in the middle of the floor。 The little visitor
looked once at Meg； and doubting nothing in that face； but trusting
everything she saw there； ran into her arms。
'Here we are and here we go！' cried Trotty； running round the room；
and choking audibly。 'Here； Uncle Will； here's a fire you know！
Why don't you come to the fire？ Oh here we are and here we go！
Meg； my precious darling； where's the kettle？ Here it is and here
it goes； and it'll bile in no time！'
Trotty really had picked up the kettle somewhere or other in the
course of his wild career and now put it on the fire： while Meg；
seating the child in a warm corner； knelt down on the ground before
her； and pulled off her shoes； and dried her wet feet on a cloth。
Ay； and she laughed at Trotty too … so pleasantly； so cheerfully；
that Trotty could have blessed her where she kneeled； for he had
seen that； when they entered； she was sitting by the fire in tears。
'Why