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THE CHIMES. 113 |
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Meeting the child's eyes with a smile which melted Toby more than tears, he shook him by the hand.
"I don't so much as know your name," he said, "but I've opened my heart free to you, for I'm thankful to you; with good reason. I'll take your advice, and keep clear of this------"
" Justice," suggested Toby.
" Ah !" he said. " If that's the name they give him. This Justice. And to-morrow will try whether there's better fortun' to be met with, somewheres near London. Good night. A Happy New Year !"
" Stay!" cried Trotty, catching at his hand, as he relaxed his grip. " Stay! The New Year never can be happy to me, if we part like this. The New Year never can be happy to me, if I see the child and you, go wandering away, you don't know where, without a shelter for your heads. Come home with me ! I'm a poor man, living in a poor place; but I can give you lodging for one night and never miss it. Come home with me ! Here! I'll take her!" cried Trotty, lifting up the child. "A pretty one ! I'd carry twenty times her weight, and never know I'd got it. Tell me if I go too quick for you. I'm very fast. I always was!" Trotty said this, taking about six of his trotting paces to one stride of his fatigued companion; and with his thin legs quivering again, beneath the load he bore.
"Why, she's as light," said Trotty, trotting in his speech as well as in his gait; for he couldn't bear to be thanked, and dreaded a moment's pause ; " as light as a feather. Lighter than a Peacock's feather—a great deal lighter. Here we are, and here we go! Round this first turning to the right, Uncle Will, and past the pump, and sharp off up the passage to the left, right opposite the public-house. Here we are and here we go ! Cross over, Uncle Will, and mind the kidney pieman at the corner! Here we are and here we go ! Down the Mews here, Uncle Will, and stop at the black door, with ' T. Veck, Ticket Porter' wrote upon a board; and here we are and here we go, and here we are indeed, my precious Meg, surprising you !"
With which words Trotty, in a breathless state, set the child down before his daughter in the middle of the floor. The little visitor looked once at Meg; and doubting nothing in that face, but trusting everything she saw there; ran into her arms.
" Here we are and here we go !" cried Trotty, running round the room, and choking audibly. " Here, Uncle Will! Here's a fire you know! Why don't you come to the fire ? Oh here we are and here we go ! Meg, my precious darling, where's the kettle ? Here it is and here it goes, and it'll bile in no time !"
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