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advice； you know； because I'm a Justice。 You know I'm a Justice；
don't you？'
Meg timidly said； 'Yes。' But everybody knew Alderman Cute was a
Justice！ Oh dear； so active a Justice always！ Who such a mote of
brightness in the public eye； as Cute！
'You are going to be married； you say；' pursued the Alderman。
'Very unbecoming and indelicate in one of your sex！ But never mind
that。 After you are married； you'll quarrel with your husband and
come to be a distressed wife。 You may think not； but you will；
because I tell you so。 Now； I give you fair warning； that I have
made up my mind to Put distressed wives Down。 So； don't be brought
before me。 You'll have children … boys。 Those boys will grow up
bad； of course； and run wild in the streets； without shoes and
stockings。 Mind； my young friend！ I'll convict 'em summarily；
every one； for I am determined to Put boys without shoes and
stockings； Down。 Perhaps your husband will die young （most likely）
and leave you with a baby。 Then you'll be turned out of doors； and
wander up and down the streets。 Now； don't wander near me； my
dear； for I am resolved； to Put all wandering mothers Down。 All
young mothers； of all sorts and kinds； it's my determination to Put
Down。 Don't think to plead illness as an excuse with me； or babies
as an excuse with me； for all sick persons and young children （I
hope you know the church…service； but I'm afraid not） I am
determined to Put Down。 And if you attempt； desperately； and
ungratefully； and impiously； and fraudulently attempt； to drown
yourself； or hang yourself； I'll have no pity for you； for I have
made up my mind to Put all suicide Down！ If there is one thing；'
said the Alderman； with his self…satisfied smile； 'on which I can
be said to have made up my mind more than on another； it is to Put
suicide Down。 So don't try it on。 That's the phrase； isn't it？
Ha； ha！ now we understand each other。'
Toby knew not whether to be agonised or glad； to see that Meg had
turned a deadly white； and dropped her lover's hand。
'And as for you； you dull dog；' said the Alderman； turning with
even increased cheerfulness and urbanity to the young smith； 'what
are you thinking of being married for？ What do you want to be
married for； you silly fellow？ If I was a fine； young； strapping
chap like you； I should be ashamed of being milksop enough to pin
myself to a woman's apron…strings！ Why； she'll be an old woman
before you're a middle…aged man！ And a pretty figure you'll cut
then； with a draggle…tailed wife and a crowd of squalling children
crying after you wherever you go！'
O； he knew how to banter the common people； Alderman Cute！
'There！ Go along with you；' said the Alderman； 'and repent。 Don't
make such a fool of yourself as to get married on New Year's Day。
You'll think very differently of it； long before next New Year's
Day： a trim young fellow like you； with all the girls looking
after you。 There！ Go along with you！'
They went along。 Not arm in arm； or hand in hand； or interchanging
bright glances； but； she in tears； he； gloomy and down…looking。
Were these the hearts that had so lately made old Toby's leap up
from its faintness？ No； no。 The Alderman （a blessing on his
head！） had Put THEM Down。
'As you happen to be here；' said the Alderman to Toby； 'you shall
carry a letter for me。 Can you be quick？ You're an old man。'
Toby； who had been looking after Meg； quite stupidly； made shift to
murmur out that he was very quick； and very strong。
'How old are you？' inquired the Alderman。
'I'm over sixty； sir；' said Toby。
'O！ This man's a great deal past the average age； you know；' cried
Mr。 Filer breaking in as if his patience would bear some trying；
but this really was carrying matters a little too far。
'I feel I'm intruding； sir；' said Toby。 'I … I misdoubted it this
morning。 Oh dear me！'
The Alderman cut him short by giving him the letter from his
pocket。 Toby would have got a shilling too； but Mr。 Filer clearly
showing that in that case he would rob a certain given number of
persons of ninepence…halfpenny a…piece； he only got sixpence； and
thought himself very well off to get that。
Then the Alderman gave an arm to each of his friends； and walked
off in high feather； but； he immediately came hurrying back alone；
as if he had forgotten something。
'Porter！' said the Alderman。
'Sir！' said Toby。
'Take care of that daughter of yours。 She's much too handsome。'
'Even her good looks are stolen from somebody or other； I suppose；'
thought Toby； looking at the sixpence in his hand； and thinking of
the tripe。 'She's been and robbed five hundred ladies of a bloom
a…piece； I shouldn't wonder。 It's very dreadful！'
'She's much too handsome； my man；' repeated the Alderman。 'The
chances are； that she'll come to no good； I clearly see。 Observe
what I say。 Take care of her！' With which； he hurried off again。
'Wrong every way。 Wrong every way！' said Trotty； clasping his
hands。 'Born bad。 No business here！'
The Chimes came clashing in upon him as he said the words。 Full；
loud； and sounding … but with no encouragement。 No； not a drop。
'The tune's changed；' cried the old man； as he listened。 'There's
not a word of all that fancy in it。 Why should there be？ I have
no business with the New Year nor with the old one neither。 Let me
die！'
Still the Bells； pealing forth their changes； made the very air
spin。 Put 'em down； Put 'em down！ Good old Times； Good old Times！
Facts and Figures； Facts and Figures！ Put 'em down； Put 'em down！
If they said anything they said this； until the brain of Toby
reeled。
He pressed his bewildered head between his hands； as if to keep it
from splitting asunder。 A well…timed action； as it happened； for
finding the letter in one of them； and being by that means reminded
of his charge； he fell； mechanically； into his usual trot； and
trotted off。
CHAPTER II … The Second Quarter。
THE letter Toby had received from Alderman Cute； was addressed to a
great man in the great district of the town。 The greatest district
of the town。 It must have been the greatest district of the town；
because it was commonly called 'the world' by its inhabitants。 The
letter positively seemed heavier in Toby's hand； than another
letter。 Not because the Alderman had sealed it with a very large
coat of arms and no end of wax； but because of the weighty name on
the superscription； and the ponderous amount of gold and silver
with which it was associated。
'How different from us！' thought Toby； in all simplicity and
earnestness； as he looked at the direction。 'Divide the lively
turtles in the bills of mortality； by the number of gentlefolks
able to buy 'em； and whose share does he take but his own！ As to
snatching tripe from anybody's mouth … he'd scorn it！'
With the involuntary homage due to such an exalted character； Toby
interposed a corner of his apron between the letter and his
fingers。
'His children；' said Trotty； and a mist rose before his eyes； 'his
daughters … Gentlemen m