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festivity took place。
Bowley Hall was full of visitors。 The red…faced gentleman was there；
Mr。 Filer was there； the great Alderman Cute was there … Alderman Cute
had a sympathetic feeling with great people； and had considerably
improved his acquaintance with Sir Joseph Bowley on the strength of his
attentive letter： indeed had become quite a friend of the family since
then … and many guests were there。 Trotty's ghost was there； wandering
about； poor phantom； drearily； and looking for its guide。
There was to be a great dinner in the Great Hall。 At which Sir Joseph
Bowley； in his celebrated character of Friend and Father of the Poor； was
to make his great speech。 Certain plum…puddings were to be eaten by his
Friends and Children in another Hall first； and； at a given signal； Friends
and Children flocking in among their Friends and Fathers； were to form a
family assemblage； with not one manly eye therein unmoistened by
emotion。
But； there was more than this to happen。 Even more than this。 Sir
Joseph Bowley； Baronet and Member of Parliament； was to play a match
at skittles … real skittles … with his tenants！
'Which quite reminds me；' said Alderman Cute； 'of the days of old
King Hal； stout King Hal； bluff King Hal。 Ah！ Fine character！'
'Very；' said Mr。 Filer； dryly。 'For marrying women and murdering 'em。
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Considerably more than the average number of wives by the bye。'
'You'll marry the beautiful ladies； and not murder 'em； eh？' said
Alderman Cute to the heir of Bowley； aged twelve。 'Sweet boy！ We
shall have this little gentleman in Parliament now；' said the Alderman；
holding him by the shoulders； and looking as reflective as he could；
'before we know where we are。 We shall hear of his successes at the poll；
his speeches in the House； his overtures from Governments； his brilliant
achievements of all kinds； ah！ we shall make our little orations about him
in the Common Council； I'll be bound； before we have time to look about
us！'
'Oh； the difference of shoes and stockings！' Trotty thought。 But his
heart yearned towards the child； for the love of those same shoeless and
stockingless boys； predestined （by the Alderman） to turn out bad； who
might have been the children of poor Meg。
'Richard；' moaned Trotty； roaming among the company； to and fro；
'where is he？ I can't find Richard！ Where is Richard？' Not likely to
be there； if still alive！ But Trotty's grief and solitude confused him； and
he still went wandering among the gallant company； looking for his guide；
and saying； 'Where is Richard？ Show me Richard！'
He was wandering thus； when he encountered Mr。 Fish； the
confidential Secretary： in great agitation。
'Bless my heart and soul！' cried Mr。 Fish。 'Where's Alderman Cute？
Has anybody seen the Alderman？'
Seen the Alderman？ Oh dear！ Who could ever help seeing the
Alderman？ He was so considerate； so affable； he bore so much in mind
the natural desires of folks to see him； that if he had a fault； it was the
being constantly On View。 And wherever the great people were； there； to
be sure； attracted by the kindred sympathy between great souls； was Cute。
Several voices cried that he was in the circle round Sir Joseph。 Mr。
Fish made way there； found him； and took him secretly into a window
near at hand。 Trotty joined them。 Not of his own accord。 He felt that
his steps were led in that direction。
'My dear Alderman Cute；' said Mr。 Fish。 'A little more this way。 The
most dreadful circumstance has occurred。 I have this moment received
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the intelligence。 I think it will be best not to acquaint Sir Joseph with it
till the day is over。 You understand Sir Joseph； and will give me your
opinion。 The most frightful and deplorable event！'
'Fish！' returned the Alderman。 'Fish！ My good fellow； what is the
matter？ Nothing revolutionary； I hope！ No … no attempted interference
with the magistrates？'
'Deedles； the banker；' gasped the Secretary。 'Deedles Brothers … who
was to have been here to…day … high in office in the Goldsmiths' Company
… '
'Not stopped！' exclaimed the Alderman； 'It can't be！'
'Shot himself。'
'Good God！'
'Put a double…barrelled pistol to his mouth； in his own counting house；'
said Mr。 Fish； 'and blew his brains out。 No motive。 Princely
circumstances！'
'Circumstances！' exclaimed the Alderman。 'A man of noble fortune。
One of the most respectable of men。 Suicide； Mr。 Fish！ By his own
hand！'
'This very morning；' returned Mr。 Fish。
'Oh the brain； the brain！' exclaimed the pious Alderman； lifting up his
hands。 'Oh the nerves； the nerves； the mysteries of this machine called
Man！ Oh the little that unhinges it： poor creatures that we are！
Perhaps a dinner； Mr。 Fish。 Perhaps the conduct of his son； who； I have
heard； ran very wild； and was in the habit of drawing bills upon him
without the least authority！ A most respectable man。 One of the most
respectable men I ever knew！ A lamentable instance； Mr。 Fish。 A public
calamity！ I shall make a point of wearing the deepest mourning。 A
most respectable man！ But there is One above。 We must submit； Mr。
Fish。 We must submit！'
What； Alderman！ No word of Putting Down？ Remember； Justice；
your high moral boast and pride。 Come； Alderman！ Balance those
scales。 Throw me into this； the empty one； no dinner； and Nature's founts
in some poor woman； dried by starving misery and rendered obdurate to
claims for which her offspring HAS authority in holy mother Eve。 Weigh
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me the two； you Daniel； going