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THE CHIMES. |
109 |
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;; I am afraid Sir," stammered Trotty, looking meekly at him, "that I am a—a—little behindhand with the world."
" Behindhand with the world!" repeated Sir Joseph Bowley, in a tone of terrible distinctness.
"I am afraid Sir," faltered Trotty, "that there's a matter of ten or twelve shillings owing to Mrs. Chickenstalker."
" To Mrs. Chickenstalker !" repeated Sir Joseph, in the same tone as before.
"A shop Sir," exclaimed Toby, "in the general line. Also a —a little money on account of rent. A very little Sir. It oughtn't to be owing, I know, but we have been hard put to it, indeed!"
Sir Joseph looked at his lady, and at Mr. Fish, and at Trotty, one after another, twice all round. He then made a despondent gesture with both hands at once, as if he gave the thing up altogether.
" How a man, even among this improvident and impracticable race; an old man; a man grown grey; can look a New Year in the face, with his affairs in this condition; how he can lie down on his bed at night, and get up again in the morning, and— There !" he said, turning his back on Trotty. " Take the letter. Take the letter !"
" I heartily wish it was otherwise, Sir," said Trotty, anxious to excuse himself. "We have been tried very hard."
Sir Joseph still repeating " Take the letter, take the letter!" and Mr. Fish not only saying the same thing, but giving additional force to the request by motioning the bearer to the door, he had nothing for it but to make his bow and leave the house. And in the street, poor Trotty pulled his worn old hat down on his head, to hide the grief he felt at getting no hold on the New Year, anywhere.
He didn't even lift his hat to look up at the Bell tower when he came to 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 |
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