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Millennium。
It is possible that poor Trotty's faith in these very vague Old Times
was not entirely destroyed； for he felt vague enough at that moment。 One
thing； however； was plain to him； in the midst of his distress； to wit； that
however these gentlemen might differ in details； his misgivings of that
morning； and of many other mornings； were well founded。 'No； no。 We
can't go right or do right；' thought Trotty in despair。 'There is no good in
us。 We are born bad！'
But Trotty had a father's heart within him； which had somehow got
into his breast in spite of this decree； and he could not bear that Meg； in
the blush of her brief joy； should have her fortune read by these wise
gentlemen。 'God help her；' thought poor Trotty。 'She will know it soon
enough。'
He anxiously signed； therefore； to the young smith； to take her away。
But he was so busy； talking to her softly at a little distance； that he only
became conscious of this desire； simultaneously with Alderman Cute。
Now； the Alderman had not yet had his say； but HE was a philosopher； too
… practical； though！ Oh； very practical … and； as he had no idea of losing
any portion of his audience； he cried 'Stop！'
'Now； you know；' said the Alderman； addressing his two friends； with a
self…complacent smile upon his face which was habitual to him； 'I am a
plain man； and a practical man； and I go to work in a plain practical way。
That's my way。 There is not the least mystery or difficulty in dealing
with this sort of people if you only understand 'em； and can talk to 'em in
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their own manner。 Now； you Porter！ Don't you ever tell me； or
anybody else； my friend； that you haven't always enough to eat； and of the
best； because I know better。 I have tasted your tripe； you know； and you
can't 〃chaff〃 me。 You understand what 〃chaff〃 means； eh？ That's the
right word； isn't it？ Ha； ha； ha！ Lord bless you；' said the Alderman；
turning to his friends again； 'it's the easiest thing on earth to deal with this
sort of people； if you understand 'em。'
Famous man for the common people； Alderman Cute！ Never out of
temper with them！ Easy； affable； joking； knowing gentleman！
'You see； my friend；' pursued the Alderman； 'there's a great deal of
nonsense talked about Want … 〃hard up；〃 you know； that's the phrase； isn't
it？ ha！ ha！ ha！ … and I intend to Put it Down。 There's a certain amount of
cant in vogue about Starvation； and I mean to Put it Down。 That's all！
Lord bless you；' said the Alderman； turning to his friends again； 'you may
Put Down anything among this sort of people； if you only know the way to
set about it。'
Trotty took Meg's hand and drew it through his arm。 He didn't seem
to know what he was doing though。
'Your daughter； eh？' said the Alderman； chucking her familiarly under
the chin。
Always affable with the working classes； Alderman Cute！ Knew
what pleased them！ Not a bit of pride！
'Where's her mother？' asked that worthy gentleman。
'Dead；' said Toby。 'Her mother got up linen； and was called to
Heaven when She was born。'
'Not to get up linen THERE； I suppose；' remarked the Alderman
pleasantly
Toby might or might not have been able to separate his wife in Heaven
from her old pursuits。 But query： If Mrs。 Alderman Cute had gone to
Heaven； would Mr。 Alderman Cute have pictured her as holding any state
or station there？
'And you're making love to her； are you？' said Cute to the young smith。
'Yes；' returned Richard quickly； for he was nettled by the question。
'And we are going to be married on New Year's Day。'
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'What do you mean！' cried Filer sharply。 'Married！'
'Why； yes； we're thinking of it； Master；' said Richard。 'We're rather in
a hurry； you see； in case it should be Put Down first。'
'Ah！' cried Filer； with a groan。 'Put THAT down indeed； Alderman；
and you'll do something。 Married！ Married！！ The ignorance of the
first principles of political economy on the part of these people； their
improvidence； their wickedness； is； by Heavens！ enough to … Now look at
that couple； will you！'
Well？ They were worth looking at。 And marriage seemed as
reasonable and fair a deed as they need have in contemplation。
'A man may live to be as old as Methuselah；' said Mr。 Filer； 'and may
labour all his life for the benefit of such people as those； and may heap up
facts on figures； facts on figures； facts on figures； mountains high and dry；
and he can no more hope to persuade 'em that they have no right or
business to be married； than he can hope to persuade 'em that they have no
earthly right or business to be born。 And THAT we know they haven't。
We reduced it to a mathematical certainty long ago！'
Alderman Cute was mightily diverted； and laid his right forefinger on
the side of his nose； as much as to say to both his friends； 'Observe me；
will you！ Keep your eye on the practical man！' … and called Meg to him。
'Come here； my girl！' said Alderman Cute。
The young blood of her lover had been mounting； wrathfully； within
the last few minutes； and he was indisposed to let her come。 But； setting
a constraint upon himself； he came forward with a stride as Meg
approached； and stood beside her。 Trotty kept her hand within his arm
still； but looked from face to face as wildly as a sleeper in a dream。
'Now； I'm going to give you a word or two of good advice； my girl；'
said the Alderman； in his nice easy way。 'It's my place to give 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。
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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
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