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On the Post； or on the Steps？ Dear； dear； how grand we are。 Two
places to choose from！'
'The steps to…day； my Pet；' said Trotty。 'Steps in dry weather。 Post in
wet。 There's a greater conveniency in the steps at all times； because of
the sitting down； but they're rheumatic in the damp。'
'Then here；' said Meg； clapping her hands； after a moment's bustle；
'here it is； all ready！ And beautiful it looks！ Come； father。 Come！'
Since his discovery of the contents of the basket； Trotty had been
standing looking at her … and had been speaking too … in an abstracted
manner； which showed that though she was the object of his thoughts and
eyes； to the exclusion even of tripe； he neither saw nor thought about her
as she was at that moment； but had before him some imaginary rough
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sketch or drama of her future life。 Roused； now； by her cheerful summons；
he shook off a melancholy shake of the head which was just coming upon
him； and trotted to her side。 As he was stooping to sit down； the Chimes
rang。
'Amen！' said Trotty； pulling off his hat and looking up towards them。
'Amen to the Bells； father？' cried Meg。
'They broke in like a grace； my dear；' said Trotty； taking his seat。
'They'd say a good one； I am sure； if they could。 Many's the kind thing
they say to me。'
'The Bells do； father！' laughed Meg； as she set the basin； and a knife
and fork； before him。 'Well！'
'Seem to； my Pet；' said Trotty； falling to with great vigour。 'And
where's the difference？ If I hear 'em； what does it matter whether they
speak it or not？ Why bless you； my dear；' said Toby； pointing at the
tower with his fork； and becoming more animated under the influence of
dinner； 'how often have I heard them bells say； 〃Toby Veck； Toby Veck；
keep a good heart； Toby！ Toby Veck； Toby Veck； keep a good heart；
Toby！〃 A million times？ More！'
'Well； I never！' cried Meg。
She had； though … over and over again。 For it was Toby's constant
topic。
'When things is very bad；' said Trotty； 'very bad indeed； I mean； almost
at the worst； then it's 〃Toby Veck； Toby Veck； job coming soon； Toby！
Toby Veck； Toby Veck； job coming soon； Toby！〃 That way。'
'And it comes … at last； father；' said Meg； with a touch of sadness in her
pleasant voice。
'Always；' answered the unconscious Toby。 'Never fails。'
While this discourse was holding； Trotty made no pause in his attack
upon the savoury meat before him； but cut and ate； and cut and drank； and
cut and chewed； and dodged about； from tripe to hot potato； and from hot
potato back again to tripe； with an unctuous and unflagging relish。 But
happening now to look all round the street … in case anybody should be
beckoning from any door or window； for a porter … his eyes； in coming
back again； encountered Meg： sitting opposite to him； with her arms
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folded and only busy in watching his progress with a smile of happiness。
'Why； Lord forgive me！' said Trotty； dropping his knife and fork。 'My
dove！ Meg！ why didn't you tell me what a beast I was？'
'Father？'
'Sitting here；' said Trotty； in penitent explanation； 'cramming； and
stuffing； and gorging myself； and you before me there； never so much as
breaking your precious fast； nor wanting to； when … '
'But I have broken it； father；' interposed his daughter； laughing； 'all to
bits。 I have had my dinner。'
'Nonsense；' said Trotty。 'Two dinners in one day！ It an't possible！
You might as well tell me that two New Year's Days will come together； or
that I have had a gold head all my life； and never changed it。'
'I have had my dinner； father； for all that；' said Meg； coming nearer to
him。 'And if you'll go on with yours； I'll tell you how and where； and
how your dinner came to be brought； and … and something else besides。'
Toby still appeared incredulous； but she looked into his face with her
clear eyes； and laying her hand upon his shoulder； motioned him to go on
while the meat was hot。 So Trotty took up his knife and fork again； and
went to work。 But much more slowly than before； and shaking his head；
as if he were not at all pleased with himself。
'I had my dinner； father；' said Meg； after a little hesitation； 'with … with
Richard。 His dinner…time was early； and as he brought his dinner with
him when he came to see me； we … we had it together； father。'
Trotty took a little beer； and smacked his lips。 Then he said； 'Oh！' …
because she waited。
'And Richard says； father … ' Meg resumed。 Then stopped。
'What does Richard say； Meg？' asked Toby。
'Richard says； father … ' Another stoppage。
'Richard's a long time saying it；' said Toby。
'He says then； father；' Meg continued； lifting up her eyes at last； and
speaking in a tremble； but quite plainly； 'another year is nearly gone； and
where is the use of waiting on from year to year； when it is so unlikely we
shall ever be better off than we are now？ He says we are poor now； father；
and we shall be poor then； but we are young now； and years will make us
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old before we know it。 He says that if we wait： people in our condition：
until we see our way quite clearly； the way will be a narrow one indeed …
the common way … the Grave； father。'
A bolder man than Trotty Veck must needs have drawn upon his
boldness largely； to deny it。 Trotty held his peace。
'And how hard； father； to grow old； and die； and think we might have
cheered and helped each other！ How hard in all our lives to love each
other； and to grieve； apart； to see each other working； changing； growing
old and grey。 Even if I got the better of it； and forgot him （which I never
could）； oh father dear； how hard to have a heart so full as mine is now； and
live to have it slowly drained out every drop； without the recollection of
one happy moment of a woman's life； to stay behind and comfort me； and
make me better！'
Trotty sat quite still。 Meg dried her eyes； and said more gaily： that is
to say； with here a laugh； and there a sob； and here a laugh and sob
together：
'So Richard says； father； as his work was yesterday made certain for
some time to come； and as I love him； and have loved him full three years
… ah！ longer than that； if he knew it！ … will I marry him on New Year's Day；
the best and happiest day； he says； in the whole year； and one that is
almost sure to bring good fortune with it。 It's a short notice； father … isn't
it？ … but I haven't my fortune to be settled； or my wedding dresses to be
made； like the great ladies； father； have I？ And he said so much； and said
it in his way； so strong and earnest； and all the time so kind and gentle；
that I said I'd come and talk to you； father。 And as they paid the money
for that work of mine this morning （unexpectedly； I am sure！） and as you
have fared very poorly for a whole week； and as I couldn't help wishing
there should be something to make this day a sort of holiday to you as well
as a dear and happy day to me； father； I made a little treat and brought it to
surprise you。'
'And see how he leaves it cooling on the step！' said another voice。
It was the voice of this same Richard； who had come upon them
unobserved； and stood before the father and daughter； looking down upon
them with a face as glowing as the iron on which his stout sledge…hammer
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daily rung。 A handsome； well…made； powerful youngster he was； with
eyes that sparkled like the red…hot droppings from a furnace fire； black
hair that curled about his swarthy