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Year was already looked upon as dead； and its effects were selling cheap；
like some drowned mariner's aboardship。 Its patterns were Last Year's；
and going at a sacrifice； before its breath was gone。 Its treasures were
mere dirt； beside the riches of its unborn successor！
Trotty had no portion； to his thinking； in the New Year or the Old。
'Put 'em down； Put 'em down！ Facts and Figures； Facts and Figures！
Good old Times； Good old Times！ Put 'em down； Put 'em down！' … his
trot went to that measure； and would fit itself to nothing else。
But； even that one； melancholy as it was； brought him； in due time； to
the end of his journey。 To the mansion of Sir Joseph Bowley； Member of
Parliament。
The door was opened by a Porter。 Such a Porter！ Not of Toby's
order。 Quite another thing。 His place was the ticket though； not Toby's。
This Porter underwent some hard panting before he could speak；
having breathed himself by coming incautiously out of his chair； without
first taking time to think about it and compose his mind。 When he had
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found his voice … which it took him a long time to do； for it was a long
way off； and hidden under a load of meat … he said in a fat whisper；
'Who's it from？'
Toby told him。
'You're to take it in； yourself；' said the Porter； pointing to a room at the
end of a long passage； opening from the hall。 'Everything goes straight in；
on this day of the year。 You're not a bit too soon； for the carriage is at the
door now； and they have only come to town for a couple of hours； a'
purpose。'
Toby wiped his feet （which were quite dry already） with great care；
and took the way pointed out to him； observing as he went that it was an
awfully grand house； but hushed and covered up； as if the family were in
the country。 Knocking at the room…door； he was told to enter from within；
and doing so found himself in a spacious library； where； at a table strewn
with files and papers； were a stately lady in a bonnet； and a not very
stately gentleman in black who wrote from her dictation； while another；
and an older； and a much statelier gentleman； whose hat and cane were on
the table； walked up and down； with one hand in his breast； and looked
complacently from time to time at his own picture … a full length； a very
full length … hanging over the fireplace。
'What is this？' said the last…named gentleman。 'Mr。 Fish； will you
have the goodness to attend？'
Mr。 Fish begged pardon； and taking the letter from Toby； handed it；
with great respect。
'From Alderman Cute； Sir Joseph。'
'Is this all？ Have you nothing else； Porter？' inquired Sir Joseph。
Toby replied in the negative。
'You have no bill or demand upon me … my name is Bowley； Sir Joseph
Bowley … of any kind from anybody； have you？' said Sir Joseph。 'If you
have； present it。 There is a cheque…book by the side of Mr。 Fish。 I
allow nothing to be carried into the New Year。 Every description of
account is settled in this house at the close of the old one。 So that if
death was to … to … '
'To cut；' suggested Mr。 Fish。
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'To sever； sir；' returned Sir Joseph； with great asperity； 'the cord of
existence … my affairs would be found； I hope； in a state of preparation。'
'My dear Sir Joseph！' said the lady； who was greatly younger than the
gentleman。 'How shocking！'
'My lady Bowley；' returned Sir Joseph； floundering now and then； as in
the great depth of his observations； 'at this season of the year we should
think of … of … ourselves。 We should look into our … our accounts。 We
should feel that every return of so eventful a period in human transactions；
involves a matter of deep moment between a man and his … and his
banker。'
Sir Joseph delivered these words as if he felt the full morality of what
he was saying； and desired that even Trotty should have an opportunity of
being improved by such discourse。 Possibly he had this end before him
in still forbearing to break the seal of the letter； and in telling Trotty to
wait where he was； a minute。
'You were desiring Mr。 Fish to say； my lady … ' observed Sir Joseph。
'Mr。 Fish has said that； I believe；' returned his lady； glancing at the
letter。 'But； upon my word； Sir Joseph； I don't think I can let it go after
all。 It is so very dear。'
'What is dear？' inquired Sir Joseph。
'That Charity； my love。 They only allow two votes for a subscription
of five pounds。 Really monstrous！'
'My lady Bowley；' returned Sir Joseph； 'you surprise me。 Is the
luxury of feeling in proportion to the number of votes； or is it； to a rightly
constituted mind； in proportion to the number of applicants； and the
wholesome state of mind to which their canvassing reduces them？ Is
there no excitement of the purest kind in having two votes to dispose of
among fifty people？'
'Not to me； I acknowledge；' replied the lady。 'It bores one。 Besides；
one can't oblige one's acquaintance。 But you are the Poor Man's Friend；
you know； Sir Joseph。 You think otherwise。'
'I AM the Poor Man's Friend；' observed Sir Joseph； glancing at the
poor man present。 'As such I may be taunted。 As such I have been
taunted。 But I ask no other title。'
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'Bless him for a noble gentleman！' thought Trotty。
'I don't agree with Cute here； for instance；' said Sir Joseph； holding out
the letter。 'I don't agree with the Filer party。 I don't agree with any party。
My friend the Poor Man； has no business with anything of that sort； and
nothing of that sort has any business with him。 My friend the Poor Man；
in my district； is my business。 No man or body of men has any right to
interfere between my friend and me。 That is the ground I take。 I