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shoes … rough leather leggings； common frock； and broad slouched hat；
Trotty stood gazing； blind to the whole street。 And at the child's arm；
clinging round its neck。
Before he merged into the darkness the traveller stopped； and looking
round； and seeing Trotty standing there yet； seemed undecided whether to
return or go on。 After doing first the one and then the other； he came
back； and Trotty went half…way to meet him。
'You can tell me； perhaps；' said the man with a faint smile； 'and if you
can I am sure you will； and I'd rather ask you than another … where
Alderman Cute lives。'
'Close at hand；' replied Toby。 'I'll show you his house with pleasure。'
'I was to have gone to him elsewhere to…morrow；' said the man；
accompanying Toby； 'but I'm uneasy under suspicion； and want to clear
myself； and to be free to go and seek my bread … I don't know where。 So；
maybe he'll forgive my going to his house to…night。'
'It's impossible；' cried Toby with a start； 'that your name's Fern！'
'Eh！' cried the other； turning on him in astonishment。
'Fern！ Will Fern！' said Trotty。
'That's my name；' replied the other。
'Why then；' said Trotty； seizing him by the arm； and looking cautiously
round； 'for Heaven's sake don't go to him！ Don't go to him！ He'll put
you down as sure as ever you were born。 Here！ come up this alley； and
I'll tell you what I mean。 Don't go to HIM。'
His new acquaintance looked as if he thought him mad； but he bore
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him company nevertheless。 When they were shrouded from observation；
Trotty told him what he knew； and what character he had received； and all
about it。
The subject of his history listened to it with a calmness that surprised
him。 He did not contradict or interrupt it； once。 He nodded his head
now and then … more in corroboration of an old and worn…out story； it
appeared； than in refutation of it； and once or twice threw back his hat； and
passed his freckled hand over a brow； where every furrow he had
ploughed seemed to have set its image in little。 But he did no more。
'It's true enough in the main；' he said； 'master； I could sift grain from
husk here and there； but let it be as 'tis。 What odds？ I have gone against
his plans； to my misfortun'。 I can't help it； I should do the like to…morrow。
As to character； them gentlefolks will search and search； and pry and pry；
and have it as free from spot or speck in us； afore they'll help us to a dry
good word！ … Well！ I hope they don't lose good opinion as easy as we do；
or their lives is strict indeed； and hardly worth the keeping。 For myself；
master； I never took with that hand' … holding it before him … 'what wasn't
my own； and never held it back from work； however hard； or poorly paid。
Whoever can deny it； let him chop it off！ But when work won't maintain
me like a human creetur； when my living is so bad； that I am Hungry； out
of doors and in； when I see a whole working life begin that way； go on that
way； and end that way； without a chance or change； then I say to the
gentlefolks 〃Keep away from me！ Let my cottage be。 My doors is dark
enough without your darkening of 'em more。 Don't look for me to come
up into the Park to help the show when there's a Birthday； or a fine
Speechmaking； or what not。 Act your Plays and Games without me； and
be welcome to 'em； and enjoy 'em。 We've nowt to do with one another。
I'm best let alone！〃'
Seeing that the child in his arms had opened her eyes； and was looking
about her in wonder； he checked himself to say a word or two of foolish
prattle in her ear； and stand her on the ground beside him。 Then slowly
winding one of her long tresses round and round his rough forefinger like
a ring； while she hung about his dusty leg； he said to Trotty：
'I'm not a cross…grained man by natu'； I believe； and easy satisfied； I'm
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sure。 I bear no ill…will against none of 'em。 I only want to live like one
of the Almighty's creeturs。 I can't … I don't … and so there's a pit dug
between me； and them that can and do。 There's others like me。 You
might tell 'em off by hundreds and by thousands； sooner than by ones。'
Trotty knew he spoke the Truth in this； and shook his head to signify
as much。
'I've got a bad name this way；' said Fern； 'and I'm not likely； I'm
afeared； to get a better。 'Tan't lawful to be out of sorts； and I AM out of
sorts； though God knows I'd sooner bear a cheerful spirit if I could。 Well！
I don't know as this Alderman could hurt ME much by sending me to jail；
but without a friend to speak a word for me； he might do it； and you see
… ！' pointing downward with his finger； at the child。
'She has a beautiful face；' said Trotty。
'Why yes！' replied the other in a low voice； as he gently turned it up
with both his hands towards his own； and looked upon it steadfastly。 'I've
thought so； many times。 I've thought so； when my hearth was very cold；
and cupboard very bare。 I thought so t'other night； when we were taken
like two thieves。 But they … they shouldn't try the little face too often；
should they； Lilian？ That's hardly fair upon a man！'
He sunk his voice so low； and gazed upon her with an air so stern and
strange； that Toby； to divert the current of his thoughts； inquired if his wife
were living。
'I never had one；' he returned； shaking his head。 'She's my brother's
child： a orphan。 Nine year old； though you'd hardly think it； but she's
tired and worn out now。 They'd have taken care on her； the Union …
eight…and…twenty mile away from where we live … between four walls （as
they took care of my old father when he couldn't work no more； though he
didn't trouble 'em long）； but I took her instead； and she's lived with me
ever since。 Her mother had a friend once； in London here。 We are
trying to find her； and to find work too； but it's a large place。 Never mind。
M