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… Page 55…
The Chimes
me the two； you Daniel； going to judgment； when your day shall come！
Weigh them； in the eyes of suffering thousands； audience （not unmindful）
of the grim farce you play。 Or supposing that you strayed from your five
wits … it's not so far to go； but that it might be … and laid hands upon that
throat of yours； warning your fellows （if you have a fellow） how they
croak their comfortable wickedness to raving heads and stricken hearts。
What then？
The words rose up in Trotty's breast； as if they had been spoken by
some other voice within him。 Alderman Cute pledged himself to Mr。
Fish that he would assist him in breaking the melancholy catastrophe to
Sir Joseph when the day was over。 Then； before they parted； wringing
Mr。 Fish's hand in bitterness of soul； he said； 'The most respectable of
men！' And added that he hardly knew （not even he）； why such afflictions
were allowed on earth。
'It's almost enough to make one think； if one didn't know better；' said
Alderman Cute； 'that at times some motion of a capsizing nature was
going on in things； which affected the general economy of the social fabric。
Deedles Brothers！'
The skittle…playing came off with immense success。 Sir Joseph
knocked the pins about quite skilfully； Master Bowley took an innings at a
shorter distance also； and everybody said that now； when a Baronet and
the Son of a Baronet played at skittles； the country was coming round
again； as fast as it could come。
At its proper time； the Banquet was served up。 Trotty involuntarily
repaired to the Hall with the rest； for he felt himself conducted thither by
some stronger impulse than his own free will。 The sight was gay in the
extreme； the ladies were very handsome； the visitors delighted； cheerful；
and good…tempered。 When the lower doors were opened； and the people
flocked in； in their rustic dresses； the beauty of the spectacle was at its
height； but Trotty only murmured more and more； 'Where is Richard！ He
should help and comfort her！ I can't see Richard！'
There had been some speeches made； and Lady Bowley's health had
been proposed； and Sir Joseph Bowley had returned thanks； and had made
his great speech； showing by various pieces of evidence that he was the
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The Chimes
born Friend and Father； and so forth； and had given as a Toast； his Friends
and Children； and the Dignity of Labour； when a slight disturbance at the
bottom of the Hall attracted Toby's notice。 After some confusion； noise；
and opposition； one man broke through the rest； and stood forward by
himself。
Not Richard。 No。 But one whom he had thought of； and had looked
for； many times。 In a scantier supply of light； he might have doubted the
identity of that worn man； so old； and grey； and bent； but with a blaze of
lamps upon his gnarled and knotted head； he knew Will Fern as soon as he
stepped forth。
'What is this！' exclaimed Sir Joseph； rising。 'Who gave this man
admittance？ This is a criminal from prison！ Mr。 Fish； sir； WILL you
have the goodness … '
'A minute！' said Will Fern。 'A minute！ My Lady； you was born on
this day along with a New Year。 Get me a minute's leave to speak。'
She made some intercession for him。 Sir Joseph took his seat again；
with native dignity。
The ragged visitor … for he was miserably dressed … looked round upon
the company； and made his homage to them with a humble bow。
'Gentlefolks！' he said。 'You've drunk the Labourer。 Look at me！'
'Just come from jail；' said Mr。 Fish。
'Just come from jail；' said Will。 'And neither for the first time； nor the
second； nor the third； nor yet the fourth。'
Mr。 Filer was heard to remark testily； that four times was over the
average； and he ought to be ashamed of himself。
'Gentlefolks！' repeated Will Fern。 'Look at me！ You see I'm at the
worst。 Beyond all hurt or harm； beyond your help； for the time when
your kind words or kind actions could have done me good；' … he struck his
hand upon his breast； and shook his head； 'is gone； with the scent of last
year's beans or clover on the air。 Let me say a word for these；' pointing
to the labouring people in the Hall； 'and when you're met together； hear the
real Truth spoke out for once。'
'There's not a man here；' said the host； 'who would have him for a
spokesman。'
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The Chimes
'Like enough； Sir Joseph。 I believe it。 Not the less true； perhaps； is
what I say。 Perhaps that's a proof on it。 Gentlefolks； I've lived many a
year in this place。 You may see the cottage from the sunk fence over
yonder。 I've seen the ladies draw it in their books； a hundred times。 It
looks well in a picter； I've heerd say； but there an't weather in picters； and
maybe 'tis fitter for that； than for a place to live in。 Well！ I lived there。
How hard … how bitter hard； I lived there； I won't say。 Any day in the year；
and every day； you can judge for your own selves。'
He spoke as he had spoken on the night when Trotty found him in the
street。 His voice was deeper and more husky； and had a trembling in it
now and then； but he never raised it passionately； and seldom lifted it
above the firm stern level of the homely facts he stated。
''Tis harder than you think for； gentlefolks； to grow up decent；
commonly decent； in such a place。 That I growed up a man and not a
brute； says something for me … as I was then。 As I am now； there's
nothing can be said for me or done for me。 I'm past it。'
'I am glad this man has entered；' observed Sir Joseph； looking round
serenely。 'Don't disturb him。 It appears to be Ordained。 He is an
example： a living example。 I hope and trust； and confidently expect；
that it will not be lost upon my Friends here。'
'I dragged on；' said Fern； after a moment's silence； 'somehow。 Neither
me nor any oth