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Neither me nor any other man knows how； but so heavy； that I
couldn't put a cheerful face upon it； or make believe that I was
anything but what I was。 Now； gentlemen … you gentlemen that sits
at Sessions … when you see a man with discontent writ on his face；
you says to one another； 〃He's suspicious。 I has my doubts；〃 says
you； 〃about Will Fern。 Watch that fellow！〃 I don't say；
gentlemen； it ain't quite nat'ral； but I say 'tis so； and from that
hour； whatever Will Fern does； or lets alone … all one … it goes
against him。'
Alderman Cute stuck his thumbs in his waistcoat…pockets； and
leaning back in his chair； and smiling； winked at a neighbouring
chandelier。 As much as to say； 'Of course！ I told you so。 The
common cry！ Lord bless you； we are up to all this sort of thing …
myself and human nature。'
'Now； gentlemen；' said Will Fern； holding out his hands； and
flushing for an instant in his haggard face； 'see how your laws are
made to trap and hunt us when we're brought to this。 I tries to
live elsewhere。 And I'm a vagabond。 To jail with him！ I comes
back here。 I goes a…nutting in your woods； and breaks … who don't？
… a limber branch or two。 To jail with him！ One of your keepers
sees me in the broad day； near my own patch of garden； with a gun。
To jail with him！ I has a nat'ral angry word with that man； when
I'm free again。 To jail with him！ I cuts a stick。 To jail with
him！ I eats a rotten apple or a turnip。 To jail with him！ It's
twenty mile away； and coming back I begs a trifle on the road。 To
jail with him！ At last； the constable； the keeper … anybody …
finds me anywhere； a…doing anything。 To jail with him； for he's a
vagrant； and a jail…bird known； and jail's the only home he's got。'
The Alderman nodded sagaciously； as who should say； 'A very good
home too！'
'Do I say this to serve MY cause！' cried Fern。 'Who can give me
back my liberty； who can give me back my good name； who can give me
back my innocent niece？ Not all the Lords and Ladies in wide
England。 But； gentlemen； gentlemen； dealing with other men like
me； begin at the right end。 Give us； in mercy； better homes when
we're a…lying in our cradles； give us better food when we're a…
working for our lives； give us kinder laws to bring us back when
were a…going wrong； and don't set jail； jail； jail； afore us；
everywhere we turn。 There an't a condescension you can show the
Labourer then； that he won't take； as ready and as grateful as a
man can be； for； he has a patient； peaceful； willing heart。 But
you must put his rightful spirit in him first； for； whether he's a
wreck and ruin such as me； or is like one of them that stand here
now； his spirit is divided from you at this time。 Bring it back；
gentlefolks； bring it back！ Bring it back； afore the day comes
when even his Bible changes in his altered mind； and the words seem
to him to read； as they have sometimes read in my own eyes … in
jail： 〃Whither thou goest； I can Not go； where thou lodgest； I do
Not lodge； thy people are Not my people； Nor thy God my God！'
A sudden stir and agitation took place in Hall。 Trotty thought at
first； that several had risen to eject the man； and hence this
change in its appearance。 But； another moment showed him that the
room and all the company had vanished from his sight； and that his
daughter was again before him； seated at her work。 But in a
poorer； meaner garret than before； and with no Lilian by her side。
The frame at which she had worked； was put away upon a shelf and
covered up。 The chair in which she had sat； was turned against the
wall。 A history was written in these little things； and in Meg's
grief…worn face。 Oh！ who could fail to read it！
Meg strained her eyes upon her work until it was too dark to see
the threads； and when the night closed in； she lighted her feeble
candle and worked on。 Still her old father was invisible about
her； looking down upon her； loving her … how dearly loving her！ …
and talking to her in a tender voice about the old times； and the
Bells。 Though he knew； poor Trotty； though he knew she could not
hear him。
A great part of the evening had worn away； when a knock came at her
door。 She opened it。 A man was on the threshold。 A slouching；
moody； drunken sloven； wasted by intemperance and vice； and with
his matted hair and unshorn beard in wild disorder； but； with some
traces on him； too； of having been a man of good proportion and
good features in his youth。
He stopped until he had her leave to enter； and she； retiring a
pace of two from the open door； silently and sorrowfully looked
upon him。 Trotty had his wish。 He saw Richard。
'May I come in； Margaret？'
'Yes！ Come in。 Come in！'
It was well that Trotty knew him before he spoke； for with any
doubt remaining on his mind； the harsh discordant voice would have
persuaded him that it was not Richard but some other man。
There were but two chairs in the room。 She gave him hers； and
stood at some short distance from him； waiting to hear what he had
to say。
He sat； however； staring vacantly at the floor； with a lustreless
and stupid smile。 A spectacle of such deep degradation； of such
abject hopelessness； of such a miserable downfall； that she put her
hands before her face and turned away； lest he should see how much
it moved her。
Roused by the rustling of her dress； or some such trifling sound；
he lifted his head； and began to speak as if there had been no
pause since he entered。
'Still at work； Margaret？ You work late。'
'I generally do。'
'And early？'
'And early。'
'So she said。 She said you never tired； or never owned that you
tired。 Not all the time you lived together。 Not even when you
fainted； between work and fasting。 But I told you that； the last
time I came。'
'You did；' she answered。 'And I implored you to tell me nothing
more； and you made me a solemn promise； Richard； that you never
would。'
'A solemn promise；' he repeated； with a drivelling laugh and vacant
stare。 'A solemn promise。 To he sure。 A solemn promise！'
Awakening； as it were； after a time； in the same manner as before；
he said with sudden animation：
'How can I help it； Margaret？ What am I to do？ She has been to me
again！'
'Again！' cried Meg； clasping her hands。 'O； does she think of me
so often！ Has she been again！'
'Twenty times again；' said Richard。 'Margaret； she haunts me。 She
comes behind me in the street； and thrusts it in my hand。 I hear
her foot upon the ashes when I'm at my work （ha； ha！ that an't
often）； and before I can turn my head； her voice is in my ear；
saying； 〃Richard； don't look round。 For Heaven's love； give her
this！〃 She brings it where I live： she sends it in letters； she
taps at the window and lays it on the sill。 What CAN I do？ Look
at it！〃
He held out in his hand a little purse； and chinked the money it
enclosed。
'Hide it；' sad Meg。 'Hide it！ When she comes again； tell her；
Richard； that I love her in my soul。 That I never lie down to
sleep； but I bless her； and pray for her。 That； in my