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murmur out that he was very quick； and very strong。
'How old are you？' inquired the Alderman。
'I'm over sixty； sir；' said Toby。
'O！ This man's a great deal past the average age； you know；' cried Mr。
Filer breaking in as if his patience would bear some trying； but this really
was carrying matters a little too far。
'I feel I'm intruding； sir；' said Toby。 'I … I misdoubted it this morning。
Oh dear me！'
The Alderman cut him short by giving him the letter from his pocket。
Toby would have got a shilling too； but Mr。 Filer clearly showing that in
that case he would rob a certain given number of persons of ninepence…
halfpenny a…piece； he only got sixpence； and thought himself very well off
to get that。
Then the Alderman gave an arm to each of his friends； and walked off
in high feather； but； he immediately came hurrying back alone； as if he
had forgotten something。
'Porter！' said the Alderman。
'Sir！' said Toby。
'Take care of that daughter of yours。 She's much too handsome。'
'Even her good looks are stolen from somebody or other； I suppose；'
thought Toby； looking at the sixpence in his hand； and thinking of the tripe。
'She's been and robbed five hundred ladies of a bloom a…piece； I shouldn't
wonder。 It's very dreadful！'
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The Chimes
'She's much too handsome； my man；' repeated the Alderman。 'The
chances are； that she'll come to no good； I clearly see。 Observe what I
say。 Take care of her！' With which； he hurried off again。
'Wrong every way。 Wrong every way！' said Trotty； clasping his hands。
'Born bad。 No business here！'
The Chimes came clashing in upon him as he said the words。 Full；
loud； and sounding … but with no encouragement。 No； not a drop。
'The tune's changed；' cried the old man； as he listened。 'There's not a
word of all that fancy in it。 Why should there be？ I have no business
with the New Year nor with the old one neither。 Let me die！'
Still the Bells； pealing forth their changes； made the very air spin。
Put 'em down； Put 'em down！ Good old Times； Good old Times！ Facts
and Figures； Facts and Figures！ Put 'em down； Put 'em down！ If they
said anything they said this； until the brain of Toby reeled。
He pressed his bewildered head between his hands； as if to keep it
from splitting asunder。 A well…timed action； as it happened； for finding
the letter in one of them； and being by that means reminded of his charge；
he fell； mechanically； into his usual trot； and trotted off。
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The Chimes
CHAPTER II … The Second
Quarter。
THE letter Toby had received from Alderman Cute； was addressed to a
great man in the great district of the town。 The greatest district of the
town。 It must have been the greatest district of the town； because it was
commonly called 'the world' by its inhabitants。 The letter positively
seemed heavier in Toby's hand； than another letter。 Not because the
Alderman had sealed it with a very large coat of arms and no end of wax；
but because of the weighty name on the superscription； and the ponderous
amount of gold and silver with which it was associated。
'How different from us！' thought Toby； in all simplicity and earnestness；
as he looked at the direction。 'Divide the lively turtles in the bills of
mortality； by the number of gentlefolks able to buy 'em； and whose share
does he take but his own！ As to snatching tripe from anybody's mouth …
he'd scorn it！'
With the involuntary homage due to such an exalted character； Toby
interposed a corner of his apron between the letter and his fingers。
'His children；' said Trotty； and a mist rose before his eyes； 'his
daughters … Gentlemen may win their hearts and marry them； they may be
happy wives and mothers； they may be handsome like my darling M… e…'。
He couldn't finish the name。 The final letter swelled in his throat； to
the size of the whole alphabet。
'Never mind；' thought Trotty。 'I know what I mean。 That's more
than enough for me。' And with this consolatory rumination； trotted on。
It was a hard frost； that day。 The air was bracing； crisp； and clear。
The wintry sun； though powerless for warmth； looked brightly down upon
the ice it was too weak to melt； and set a radiant glory there。 At other
times； Trotty might have learned a poor man's lesson from the wintry sun；
but； he was past that； now。
The Year was Old； that day。 The patient Year had lived through the
reproaches and misuses of its slanderers； and faithfully performed its work。
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The Chimes
Spring； summer； autumn； winter。 It had laboured through the destined
round； and now laid down its weary head to die。 Shut out from hope；
high impulse； active happiness； itself； but active messenger of many joys
to others； it made appeal in its decline to have its toiling days and patient
hours remembered； and to die in peace。 Trotty might have read a poor
man's allegory in the fading year； but he was past that； now。
And only he？ Or has the like appeal been ever made； by seventy
years at once upon an English labourer's head； and made in vain！
The streets were full of motion； and the shops were decked out gaily。
The New Year； like an Infant Heir to the whole world； was waited for； with
welcomes； presents； and rejoicings。 There were books and toys for the
New Year； glittering trinkets for the New Year； dresses for the New Year；
schemes of fortune for the New Year； new inventions to beguile it。 Its
life was parcelled out in almanacks and pocket…books； the coming of its
moons； and stars； and tides； was known beforehand to the moment； all the
workings of its seasons in their days and nights； were calculated with as
much precision as Mr。 Filer could work sums in men and women。
The New Year； the New Year。 Everywhere the New Year！ The Old
Year was already looked upon as dead； and its effects were selling cheap；
like some drow