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the old church on his return。 He halted there a moment； from habit：
and knew that it was growing dark； and that the steeple rose above him；
indistinct and faint； in the murky air。 He knew； too； that the Chimes
would ring immediately； and that they sounded to his fancy； at such a time；
like voices in the clouds。 But he only made the more haste to deliver the
Alderman's letter； and get out of the way before they began； for he dreaded
to hear them tagging 'Friends and Fathers； Friends and Fathers；' to the
burden they had rung out last。
Toby discharged himself of his commission； therefore； with all
possible speed； and set off trotting homeward。 But what with his pace；
which was at best an awkward one in the street； and what with his hat；
which didn't improve it； he trotted against somebody in less than no time；
and was sent staggering out into the road。
'I beg your pardon； I'm sure！' said Trotty； pulling up his hat in great
confusion； and between the hat and the torn lining； fixing his head into a
kind of bee…hive。 'I hope I haven't hurt you。'
As to hurting anybody； Toby was not such an absolute Samson； but
that he was much more likely to be hurt himself： and indeed； he had
flown out into the road； like a shuttlecock。 He had such an opinion of his
own strength； however； that he was in real concern for the other party：
and said again；
'I hope I haven't hurt you？'
The man against whom he had run； a sun…browned； sinewy； country…
looking man； with grizzled hair； and a rough chin； stared at him for a
moment； as if he suspected him to be in jest。 But； satisfied of his good
faith； he answered：
'No； friend。 You have not hurt me。'
'Nor the child； I hope？' said Trotty。
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'Nor the child；' returned the man。 'I thank you kindly。'
As he said so； he glanced at a little girl he carried in his arms； asleep：
and shading her face with the long end of the poor handkerchief he wore
about his throat； went slowly on。
The tone in which he said 'I thank you kindly；' penetrated Trotty's heart。
He was so jaded and foot…sore； and so soiled with travel； and looked about
him so forlorn and strange； that it was a comfort to him to be able to thank
any one： no matter for how little。 Toby stood gazing after him as he
plodded wearily away； with the child's arm clinging round his neck。
At the figure in the worn shoes … now the very shade and ghost of
shoes … rough leather leggings； common frock； and broad slouched hat；
Trotty stood gazing； blind to the whole street。 And at the child's arm；
clinging round its neck。
Before he merged into the darkness the traveller stopped； and looking
round； and seeing Trotty standing there yet； seemed undecided whether to
return or go on。 After doing first the one and then the other； he came
back； and Trotty went half…way to meet him。
'You can tell me； perhaps；' said the man with a faint smile； 'and if you
can I am sure you will； and I'd rather ask you than another … where
Alderman Cute lives。'
'Close at hand；' replied Toby。 'I'll show you his house with pleasure。'
'I was to have gone to him elsewhere to…morrow；' said the man；
accompanying Toby； 'but I'm uneasy under suspicion； and want to clear
myself； and to be free to go and seek my bread … I don't know where。 So；
maybe he'll forgive my going to his house to…night。'
'It's impossible；' cried Toby with a start； 'that your name's Fern！'
'Eh！' cried the other； turning on him in astonishment。
'Fern！ Will Fern！' said Trotty。
'That's my name；' replied the other。
'Why then；' said Trotty； seizing him by the arm； and looking cautiously
round； 'for Heaven's sake don't go to him！ Don't go to him！ He'll put
you down as sure as ever you were born。 Here！ come up this alley； and
I'll tell you what I mean。 Don't go to HIM。'
His new acquaintance looked as if he thought him mad； but he bore
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him company nevertheless。 When they were shrouded from observation；
Trotty told him what he knew； and what character he had received； and all
about it。
The subject of his history listened to it with a calmness that surprised
him。 He did not contradict or interrupt it； once。 He nodded his head
now and then … more in corroboration of an old and worn…out story； it
appeared； than in refutation of it； and once or twice threw back his hat； and
passed his freckled hand over a brow； where every furrow he had
ploughed seemed to have set its image in little。 But he did no more。
'It's true enough in the main；' he said； 'master； I could sift grain from
husk here and there； but let it be as 'tis。 What odds？ I have gone against
his plans； to my misfortun'。 I can't help it； I should do the like to…morrow。
As to character； them gentlefolks will search and search； and pry and pry；
and have it as free from spot or speck in us； afore they'll help us to a dry
good word！ … Well！ I hope they don't lose good opinion as easy as we do；
or their lives is strict indeed； and hardly worth the keeping。 For myself；
master； I never took with that hand' … holding it before him … 'what wasn't
my own； and never held it back from work； however hard； or poorly paid。
Whoever can deny it； let him chop it off！ But when work won't maintain
me like a human creetur； when my living is so bad； that I am Hungry； out
of doors and in； when I see a whole working life begin that way； go on that
way； and end that way； without a chance or change； then I say to the
gentlefolks 〃Keep away from me！ Let my cottage be。 My doors is dark
enough without your darkening of 'em more。 Don't look for me to come
up into the Park to help the show when there's a Birthday； or a fine
Speechmaking； or what not。 Act your Plays and Games without me； and
be welcome to 'em； and enjoy 'em。 We've nowt to do with one another。
I'm best let alone！〃'
Seeing that the child in his arms had opened her eyes； and was looking
about her in wonder； he checked himself to say a word or two of foolish
prattle in her ear； and stand her on the ground beside him。 Then slowly
winding one of her long tresses round and round his rough forefinger like
a ring； while she hung about his dusty leg； he said to Trotty：
'I'm not a cross…grained man by natu'； I believe； and easy satisfied； I'm
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sure。 I bear no ill…will against none of 'em。 I only want to live like one
of the Almighty's creeturs。 I can't … I don't … and so there's a pit dug
between me； and them that can and do。 There's others like me。 You
might tell 'em off by hundreds and by thousands； sooner than by ones。'
Trotty knew he spoke the Truth in this； and shook his head to signify
as much。
'I've got a bad name this way；' said Fern； 'and I'm not likely； I'm
afeared； to get a better。 'Tan't lawful to be out of sorts； and I AM out of
sorts； though God knows I'd sooner bear a cheerful spirit if I could。 Well！
I don't know as this Alderman could hurt ME much by sending me to jail；
but without a friend to speak a word for me； he might do it； and you see
… ！' pointing downward with his finger； at the child。
'She has a beautiful face；' said Trotty。
'Why yes！' replied the other in a low voice； as he gently turned it up
with both his hands towards his own； and looked upon it steadfastly。 'I've
thought so； many times。 I've thought so； when my hearth was very cold；
and cupboard very bare。 I thought so t'other night； when we were taken
like two thieves。 But they … th