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laugh and sob together：
'So Richard says； father； as his work was yesterday made certain
for some time to come； and as I love him； and have loved him full
three years … ah！ longer than that； if he knew it！ … will I marry
him on New Year's Day； the best and happiest day； he says； in the
whole year； and one that is almost sure to bring good fortune with
it。 It's a short notice； father … isn't it？ … but I haven't my
fortune to be settled； or my wedding dresses to be made； like the
great ladies； father； have I？ And he said so much； and said it in
his way； so strong and earnest； and all the time so kind and
gentle； that I said I'd come and talk to you； father。 And as they
paid the money for that work of mine this morning （unexpectedly； I
am sure！） and as you have fared very poorly for a whole week； and
as I couldn't help wishing there should be something to make this
day a sort of holiday to you as well as a dear and happy day to me；
father； I made a little treat and brought it to surprise you。'
'And see how he leaves it cooling on the step！' said another voice。
It was the voice of this same Richard； who had come upon them
unobserved； and stood before the father and daughter； looking down
upon them with a face as glowing as the iron on which his stout
sledge…hammer daily rung。 A handsome； well…made； powerful
youngster he was； with eyes that sparkled like the red…hot
droppings from a furnace fire； black hair that curled about his
swarthy temples rarely； and a smile … a smile that bore out Meg's
eulogium on his style of conversation。
'See how he leaves it cooling on the step！' said Richard。 'Meg
don't know what he likes。 Not she！'
Trotty； all action and enthusiasm； immediately reached up his hand
to Richard； and was going to address him in great hurry； when the
house…door opened without any warning； and a footman very nearly
put his foot into the tripe。
'Out of the vays here； will you！ You must always go and be a…
settin on our steps； must you！ You can't go and give a turn to
none of the neighbours never； can't you！ WILL you clear the road；
or won't you？'
Strictly speaking； the last question was irrelevant； as they had
already done it。
'What's the matter； what's the matter！' said the gentleman for whom
the door was opened； coming out of the house at that kind of light…
heavy pace … that peculiar compromise between a walk and a jog…trot
… with which a gentleman upon the smooth down…hill of life； wearing
creaking boots； a watch…chain； and clean linen； MAY come out of his
house： not only without any abatement of his dignity； but with an
expression of having important and wealthy engagements elsewhere。
'What's the matter！ What's the matter！'
'You're always a…being begged； and prayed； upon your bended knees
you are；' said the footman with great emphasis to Trotty Veck； 'to
let our door…steps be。 Why don't you let 'em be？ CAN'T you let
'em be？'
'There！ That'll do； that'll do！' said the gentleman。 'Halloa
there！ Porter！' beckoning with his head to Trotty Veck。 'Come
here。 What's that？ Your dinner？'
'Yes； sir；' said Trotty； leaving it behind him in a corner。
'Don't leave it there；' exclaimed the gentleman。 'Bring it here；
bring it here。 So！ This is your dinner； is it？'
'Yes； sir；' repeated Trotty； looking with a fixed eye and a watery
mouth； at the piece of tripe he had reserved for a last delicious
tit…bit； which the gentleman was now turning over and over on the
end of the fork。
Two other gentlemen had come out with him。 One was a low…spirited
gentleman of middle age； of a meagre habit； and a disconsolate
face； who kept his hands continually in the pockets of his scanty
pepper…and…salt trousers； very large and dog's…eared from that
custom； and was not particularly well brushed or washed。 The
other； a full…sized； sleek； well…conditioned gentleman； in a blue
coat with bright buttons； and a white cravat。 This gentleman had a
very red face； as if an undue proportion of the blood in his body
were squeezed up into his head； which perhaps accounted for his
having also the appearance of being rather cold about the heart。
He who had Toby's meat upon the fork； called to the first one by
the name of Filer； and they both drew near together。 Mr。 Filer
being exceedingly short…sighted； was obliged to go so close to the
remnant of Toby's dinner before he could make out what it was； that
Toby's heart leaped up into his mouth。 But Mr。 Filer didn't eat
it。
'This is a description of animal food； Alderman；' said Filer；
making little punches in it with a pencil…case； 'commonly known to
the labouring population of this country； by the name of tripe。'
The Alderman laughed； and winked； for he was a merry fellow；
Alderman Cute。 Oh； and a sly fellow too！ A knowing fellow。 Up to
everything。 Not to be imposed upon。 Deep in the people's hearts！
He knew them； Cute did。 I believe you！
'But who eats tripe？' said Mr。 Filer； looking round。 'Tripe is
without an exception the least economical； and the most wasteful
article of consumption that the markets of this country can by
possibility produce。 The loss upon a pound of tripe has been found
to be； in the boiling； seven…eights of a fifth more than the loss
upon a pound of any other animal substance whatever。 Tripe is more
expensive； properly understood； than the hothouse pine…apple。
Taking into account the number of animals slaughtered yearly within
the bills of mortality alone； and forming a low estimate of the
quantity of tripe which the carcases of those animals； reasonably
well butchered； would yield； I find that the waste on that amount
of tripe； if boiled； would victual a garrison of five hundred men
for five months of thirty…one days each； and a February over。 The
Waste； the Waste！'
Trotty stood aghast； and his legs shook under him。 He seemed to
have starved a garrison of five hundred men with his own hand。
'Who eats tripe？' said Mr。 Filer； warmly。 'Who eats tripe？'
Trotty made a miserable bow。
'You do； do you？' said Mr。 Filer。 'Then I'll tell you something。
You snatch your tripe； my friend； out of the mouths of widows and
orphans。'
'I hope not； sir；' said Trotty； faintly。 'I'd sooner die of want！'
'Divide the amount of tripe before…mentioned； Alderman；' said Mr。
Filer； 'by the estimated number of existing widows and orphans； and
the result will be one pennyweight of tripe to each。 Not a grain
is left for that man。 Consequently； he's a robber。'
Trotty was so shocked； that it gave him no concern to see the
Alderman finish the tripe himself。 It was a relief to get rid of
it； anyhow。
'And what do you say？' asked the Alderman； jocosely； of the red…
faced gentleman in the blue coat。 'You have heard friend Filer。
What do YOU SAY？'
'What's it possible to say？' returned the gentleman。 'What IS to
be said？ Who can take any interest in a fellow like this；' meaning
Trotty； 'in such degenerate times as these？ Look at him。 What an
object！ The good old times； the grand old times； the great old
times！ THOSE were the times for