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seen that； when they entered； she was sitting by the fire in tears。
'Why； father！' said Meg。 'You're crazy to…night； I think。 I don't
know what the Bells would say to that。 Poor little feet。 How cold
they are！'
'Oh； they're warmer now！' exclaimed the child。 'They're quite warm
now！'
'No； no； no；' said Meg。 'We haven't rubbed 'em half enough。 We're
so busy。 So busy！ And when they're done； we'll brush out the damp
hair； and when that's done； we'll bring some colour to the poor
pale face with fresh water； and when that's done； we'll be so gay；
and brisk； and happy … ！'
The child； in a burst of sobbing； clasped her round the neck；
caressed her fair cheek with its hand； and said； 'Oh Meg！ oh dear
Meg！'
Toby's blessing could have done no more。 Who could do more！
'Why； father！' cried Meg； after a pause。
'Here I am and here I go； my dear！' said Trotty。
'Good Gracious me！' cried Meg。 'He's crazy！ He's put the dear
child's bonnet on the kettle； and hung the lid behind the door！'
'I didn't go for to do it； my love；' said Trotty； hastily repairing
this mistake。 'Meg； my dear？'
Meg looked towards him and saw that he had elaborately stationed
himself behind the chair of their male visitor； where with many
mysterious gestures he was holding up the sixpence he had earned。
'I see； my dear；' said Trotty； 'as I was coming in； half an ounce
of tea lying somewhere on the stairs； and I'm pretty sure there was
a bit of bacon too。 As I don't remember where it was exactly； I'll
go myself and try to find 'em。'
With this inscrutable artifice； Toby withdrew to purchase the
viands he had spoken of； for ready money； at Mrs。 Chickenstalker's；
and presently came back； pretending he had not been able to find
them； at first； in the dark。
'But here they are at last；' said Trotty； setting out the tea…
things； 'all correct！ I was pretty sure it was tea； and a rasher。
So it is。 Meg； my pet； if you'll just make the tea； while your
unworthy father toasts the bacon； we shall be ready； immediate。
It's a curious circumstance；' said Trotty； proceeding in his
cookery； with the assistance of the toasting…fork； 'curious； but
well known to my friends； that I never care； myself； for rashers；
nor for tea。 I like to see other people enjoy 'em；' said Trotty；
speaking very loud； to impress the fact upon his guest； 'but to me；
as food； they're disagreeable。'
Yet Trotty sniffed the savour of the hissing bacon … ah！ … as if he
liked it； and when he poured the boiling water in the tea…pot；
looked lovingly down into the depths of that snug cauldron； and
suffered the fragrant steam to curl about his nose； and wreathe his
head and face in a thick cloud。 However； for all this； he neither
ate nor drank； except at the very beginning； a mere morsel for
form's sake； which he appeared to eat with infinite relish； but
declared was perfectly uninteresting to him。
No。 Trotty's occupation was； to see Will Fern and Lilian eat and
drink； and so was Meg's。 And never did spectators at a city dinner
or court banquet find such high delight in seeing others feast：
although it were a monarch or a pope： as those two did； in looking
on that night。 Meg smiled at Trotty； Trotty laughed at Meg。 Meg
shook her head； and made belief to clap her hands； applauding
Trotty； Trotty conveyed； in dumb…show； unintelligible narratives of
how and when and where he had found their visitors； to Meg； and
they were happy。 Very happy。
'Although；' thought Trotty； sorrowfully； as he watched Meg's face；
'that match is broken off； I see！'
'Now； I'll tell you what；' said Trotty after tea。 'The little one；
she sleeps with Meg； I know。'
'With good Meg！' cried the child； caressing her。 'With Meg。'
'That's right；' said Trotty。 'And I shouldn't wonder if she kiss
Meg's father； won't she？ I'M Meg's father。'
Mightily delighted Trotty was； when the child went timidly towards
him； and having kissed him； fell back upon Meg again。
'She's as sensible as Solomon；' said Trotty。 'Here we come and
here we … no； we don't … I don't mean that … I … what was I saying；
Meg； my precious？'
Meg looked towards their guest； who leaned upon her chair； and with
his face turned from her； fondled the child's head； half hidden in
her lap。
'To be sure；' said Toby。 'To be sure！ I don't know what I'm
rambling on about； to…night。 My wits are wool…gathering； I think。
Will Fern； you come along with me。 You're tired to death； and
broken down for want of rest。 You come along with me。' The man
still played with the child's curls； still leaned upon Meg's chair；
still turned away his face。 He didn't speak； but in his rough
coarse fingers； clenching and expanding in the fair hair of the
child； there was an eloquence that said enough。
'Yes； yes；' said Trotty； answering unconsciously what he saw
expressed in his daughter's face。 'Take her with you； Meg。 Get
her to bed。 There！ Now； Will； I'll show you where you lie。 It's
not much of a place： only a loft； but； having a loft； I always
say； is one of the great conveniences of living in a mews； and till
this coach…house and stable gets a better let； we live here cheap。
There's plenty of sweet hay up there； belonging to a neighbour； and
it's as clean as hands； and Meg； can make it。 Cheer up！ Don't
give way。 A new heart for a New Year； always！'
The hand released from the child's hair； had fallen； trembling；
into Trotty's hand。 So Trotty； talking without intermission； led
him out as tenderly and easily as if he had been a child himself。
Returning before Meg； he listened for an instant at the door of her
little chamber； an adjoining room。 The child was murmuring a
simple Prayer before lying down to sleep； and when she had
remembered Meg's name； 'Dearly； Dearly' … so her words ran … Trotty
heard her stop and ask for his。
It was some short time before the foolish little old fellow could
compose himself to mend the fire； and draw his chair to the warm
hearth。 But； when he had done so； and had trimmed the light； he
took his newspaper from his pocket； and began to read。 Carelessly
at first； and skimming up and down the columns； but with an earnest
and a sad attention； very soon。
For this same dreaded paper re…directed Trotty's thoughts into the
channel they had taken all that day； and which the day's events had
so marked out and shaped。 His interest in the two wanderers had
set him on another course of thinking； and a happier one； for the
time； but being alone again； and reading of the crimes and
violences of the people； he relapsed into his former train。
In this mood； he came to an account （and it was not the first he
had ever read） of a woman who had laid her desperate hands not only
on her own life but on that of her young child。 A crime so
terrible； and so revolting to his soul； dilated with the love of
Meg； that he let the journal drop； and fell back in his chair；
appalled！
'Unnatural and cruel！' Toby cried。 'Unnatural and cruel！ None but
people who were bad at heart； born bad； who had no business on the
earth； could d