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tended with the swiftness of its rapid waters running to the sea。
He tried to touch her as she passed him； going down to its dark
level： but； the wild distempered form； the fierce and terrible
love； the desperation that had left all human check or hold behind；
swept by him like the wind。
He followed her。 She paused a moment on the brink； before the
dreadful plunge。 He fell down on his knees； and in a shriek
addressed the figures in the Bells now hovering above them。
'I have learnt it！' cried the old man。 'From the creature dearest
to my heart！ O； save her； save her！'
He could wind his fingers in her dress； could hold it！ As the
words escaped his lips； he felt his sense of touch return； and knew
that he detained her。
The figures looked down steadfastly upon him。
'I have learnt it！' cried the old man。 'O； have mercy on me in
this hour； if； in my love for her； so young and good； I slandered
Nature in the breasts of mothers rendered desperate！ Pity my
presumption； wickedness； and ignorance； and save her。' He felt his
hold relaxing。 They were silent still。
'Have mercy on her！' he exclaimed； 'as one in whom this dreadful
crime has sprung from Love perverted； from the strongest； deepest
Love we fallen creatures know！ Think what her misery must have
been； when such seed bears such fruit！ Heaven meant her to be
good。 There is no loving mother on the earth who might not come to
this； if such a life had gone before。 O； have mercy on my child；
who； even at this pass； means mercy to her own； and dies herself；
and perils her immortal soul； to save it！'
She was in his arms。 He held her now。 His strength was like a
giant's。
'I see the Spirit of the Chimes among you！' cried the old man；
singling out the child； and speaking in some inspiration； which
their looks conveyed to him。 'I know that our inheritance is held
in store for us by Time。 I know there is a sea of Time to rise one
day； before which all who wrong us or oppress us will be swept away
like leaves。 I see it； on the flow！ I know that we must trust and
hope； and neither doubt ourselves； nor doubt the good in one
another。 I have learnt it from the creature dearest to my heart。
I clasp her in my arms again。 O Spirits； merciful and good； I take
your lesson to my breast along with her！ O Spirits； merciful and
good； I am grateful！'
He might have said more； but； the Bells； the old familiar Bells；
his own dear； constant； steady friends； the Chimes； began to ring
the joy…peals for a New Year： so lustily； so merrily； so happily；
so gaily； that he leapt upon his feet； and broke the spell that
bound him。
'And whatever you do； father；' said Meg； 'don't eat tripe again；
without asking some doctor whether it's likely to agree with you；
for how you HAVE been going on； Good gracious！'
She was working with her needle； at the little table by the fire；
dressing her simple gown with ribbons for her wedding。 So quietly
happy； so blooming and youthful； so full of beautiful promise； that
he uttered a great cry as if it were an Angel in his house； then
flew to clasp her in his arms。
But； he caught his feet in the newspaper； which had fallen on the
hearth； and somebody came rushing in between them。
'No！' cried the voice of this same somebody； a generous and jolly
voice it was！ 'Not even you。 Not even you。 The first kiss of Meg
in the New Year is mine。 Mine！ I have been waiting outside the
house； this hour； to hear the Bells and claim it。 Meg； my precious
prize； a happy year！ A life of happy years； my darling wife！'
And Richard smothered her with kisses。
You never in all your life saw anything like Trotty after this。 I
don't care where you have lived or what you have seen； you never in
all your life saw anything at all approaching him！ He sat down in
his chair and beat his knees and cried； he sat down in his chair
and beat his knees and laughed； he sat down in his chair and beat
his knees and laughed and cried together； he got out of his chair
and hugged Meg； he got out of his chair and hugged Richard； he got
out of his chair and hugged them both at once； he kept running up
to Meg； and squeezing her fresh face between his hands and kissing
it； going from her backwards not to lose sight of it； and running
up again like a figure in a magic lantern； and whatever he did； he
was constantly sitting himself down in his chair； and never
stopping in it for one single moment； being … that's the truth …
beside himself with joy。
'And to…morrow's your wedding…day； my pet！' cried Trotty。 'Your
real； happy wedding…day！'
'To…day！' cried Richard； shaking hands with him。 'To…day。 The
Chimes are ringing in the New Year。 Hear them！'
They WERE ringing！ Bless their sturdy hearts； they WERE ringing！
Great Bells as they were； melodious； deep…mouthed； noble Bells；
cast in no common metal； made by no common founder； when had they
ever chimed like that； before！
'But； to…day； my pet；' said Trotty。 'You and Richard had some
words to…day。'
'Because he's such a bad fellow； father；' said Meg。 'An't you；
Richard？ Such a headstrong； violent man！ He'd have made no more
of speaking his mind to that great Alderman； and putting HIM down I
don't know where； than he would of … '
' … Kissing Meg；' suggested Richard。 Doing it too！
'No。 Not a bit more；' said Meg。 'But I wouldn't let him； father。
Where would have been the use！'
'Richard my boy！' cried Trotty。 'You was turned up Trumps
originally； and Trumps you must be； till you die！ But； you were
crying by the fire to…night； my pet； when I came home！ Why did you
cry by the fire？'
'I was thinking of the years we've passed together； father。 Only
that。 And thinking that you might miss me； and be lonely。'
Trotty was backing off to that extraordinary chair again； when the
child； who had been awakened by the noise； came running in half…
dressed。
'Why； here she is！' cried Trotty； catching her up。 'Here's little
Lilian！ Ha ha ha！ Here we are and here we go！ O here we are and
here we go again！ And here we are and here we go！ and Uncle Will
too！' Stopping in his trot to greet him heartily。 'O； Uncle Will；
the vision that I've had to…night； through lodging you！ O； Uncle
Will； the obligations that you've laid me under； by your coming； my
good friend！'
Before Will Fern could make the least reply； a band of music burst
into the room； attended by a lot of neighbours； screaming 'A Happy
New Year； Meg！' 'A Happy Wedding！' 'Many of em！' and other
fragmentary good wishes of that sort。 The Drum （who was a private
friend of Trotty's） then stepped forward； and said：
'Trotty Veck； my boy！ It's got about； that your daughter is going
to be married to…morrow。 There an't a soul that knows you that
don't wish you well； or that knows her and don't wish her well。 Or
that knows you both； and don't wish you both all the happiness the
New Year can bring。 And here we are； to play it in and dance it
in； accordingly。'
Which was received with a general shout。 The Drum was rather
drunk； by…the…bye； but； never