第1章

byCharlesDickensCHAPTERI——PICKINGUPSOOTANDCINDERS

"AndwhyTomTiddler’sground？"saidtheTraveller。

"BecausehescattershalfpencetoTrampsandsuch—like，"returnedtheLandlord，"andofcoursetheypick’emup。Andthisbeingdoneonhisownland（whichitIShisownland，youobserve，andwerehisfamily’sbeforehim），whyitisbutregardingthehalfpenceasgoldandsilver，andturningtheownershipofthepropertyabitroundyourfinger，andthereyouhavethenameofthechildren’sgamecomplete。Andit’sappropriatetoo，"saidtheLandlord，withhisfavouriteactionofstoopingalittle，tolookacrossthetableoutofwindowatvacancy，underthewindow—blindwhichwashalfdrawndown。"Leastwiseithasbeensoconsideredbymanygentlemenwhichhavepartookofchopsandteainthepresenthumbleparlour。"

TheTravellerwaspartakingofchopsandteainthepresenthumbleparlour，andtheLandlord’sshotwasfiredobliquelyathim。

"AndyoucallhimaHermit？"saidtheTraveller。

"Theycallhimsuch，"returnedtheLandlord，evadingpersonalresponsibility；"heisingeneralsoconsidered。"

"WhatISaHermit？"askedtheTraveller。

"Whatisit？"repeatedtheLandlord，drawinghishandacrosshischin。

"Yes，whatisit？"

TheLandlordstoopedagain，togetamorecomprehensiveviewofvacancyunderthewindow—blind，and——withanasphyxiatedappearanceonhimasoneunaccustomedtodefinition——madenoanswer。

"I’lltellyouwhatIsupposeittobe，"saidtheTraveller。"Anabominablydirtything。"

"Mr。Mopesisdirty，itcannotbedenied，"saidtheLandlord。

"Intolerablyconceited。"

"Mr。Mopesisvainofthelifeheleads，somedosay，"repliedtheLandlord，asanotherconcession。

"Aslothful，unsavoury，nastyreversalofthelawsofhumanmature，"

saidtheTraveller；"andforthesakeofGOD’Sworkingworldanditswholesomeness，bothmoralandphysical，Iwouldputthethingonthetreadmill（ifIhadmyway）whereverIfoundit；whetheronapillar，orinahole；whetheronTomTiddler’sground，orthePopeofRome’sground，oraHindoofakeer’sground，oranyotherground。"

"Idon’tknowaboutputtingMr。Mopesonthetreadmill，"saidtheLandlord，shakinghisheadveryseriously。"Thereain’tadoubtbutwhathehasgotlandedproperty。"

"HowfarmayitbetothissaidTomTiddler’sground？"askedtheTraveller。

"Putitatfivemile，"returnedtheLandlord。

"Well！WhenIhavedonemybreakfast，"saidtheTraveller，"I’llgothere。Icameoverherethismorning，tofinditoutandseeit。"

"Manydoes，"observedtheLandlord。

Theconversationpassed，intheMidsummerweatherofnoremoteyearofgrace，downamongthepleasantdalesandtrout—streamsofagreenEnglishcounty。Nomatterwhatcounty。Enoughthatyoumayhuntthere，shootthere，fishthere，traverselonggrass—grownRomanroadsthere，openancientbarrowsthere，seemanyasquaremileofrichlycultivatedlandthere，andholdArcadiantalkwithaboldpeasantry，theircountry’spride，whowilltellyou（ifyouwanttoknow）howpastoralhousekeepingisdoneonnineshillingsaweek。

Mr。TravellersatathisbreakfastinthelittlesandedparlourofthePealofBellsvillagealehouse，withthedewanddustofanearlywalkuponhisshoes——anearlywalkbyroadandmeadowandcoppice，thathadsprinkledhimbountifullywithlittlebladesofgrass，andscrapsofnewhay，andwithleavesbothyoungandold，andwithothersuchfragranttokensofthefreshnessandwealthofsummer。Thewindowthroughwhichthelandlordhadconcentratedhisgazeuponvacancywasshaded，becausethemorningsunwashotandbrightonthevillagestreet。Thevillagestreetwaslikemostothervillagestreets:wideforitsheight，silentforitssize，anddrowsyinthedullestdegree。Thequietestlittledwellingswiththelargestofwindow—shutters（toshutupNothingascarefullyasifitweretheMint，ortheBankofEngland）hadcalledintheDoctor’shousesosuddenly，thathisbrassdoor—plateandthreestoriesstoodamongthemasconspicuousanddifferentasthedoctorhimselfinhisbroadcloth，amongthesmock—frocksofhispatients。

Thevillageresidencesseemedtohavegonetolawwithasimilarabsenceofconsideration，forascoreofweaklittlelath—and—

plastercabinsclunginconfusionabouttheAttorney’sred—brickhouse，which，withglaringdoor—stepsandamostterrificscraper，seemedtoserveallmannerofejectmentsuponthem。Theywereasvariousaslabourers——high—shouldered，wry—necked，one—eyed，goggle—

eyed，squinting，bow—legged，knock—knee’d，rheumatic，crazy。Someofthesmalltradesmen’shouses，suchasthecrockery—shopandtheharness—maker，hadaCyclopswindowinthemiddleofthegable，withinaninchortwoofitsapex，suggestingthatsomeforlornruralPrenticemustwrigglehimselfintothatapartmenthorizontally，whenheretiredtorest，afterthemanneroftheworm。

Sobountifulinitsabundancewasthesurroundingcountry，andsoleanandscantthevillage，thatonemighthavethoughtthevillagehadsownandplantedeverythingitoncepossessed，toconvertthesameintocrops。Thiswouldaccountforthebarenessofthelittleshops，thebarenessofthefewboardsandtrestlesdesignedformarketpurposesinacornerofthestreet，thebarenessoftheobsoleteInnandInnYard，withtheominousinscription"ExciseOffice"notyetfadedoutfromthegateway，asindicatingtheverylastthingthatpovertycouldgetridof。Thiswouldalsoaccountforthedeterminedabandonmentofthevillagebyonestraydog，fastlesseningintheperspectivewherethewhitepostsandthepondwere，andwouldexplainhisconductonthehypothesisthathewasgoing（throughtheactofsuicide）toconverthimselfintomanure，andbecomeapartproprietorinturnipsormangold—wurzel。

Mr。Travellerhavingfinishedhisbreakfastandpaidhismoderatescore，walkedouttothethresholdofthePealofBells，and，thencedirectedbythepointingfingerofhishost，betookhimselftowardstheruinedhermitageofMr。Mopesthehermit。

For，Mr。Mopes，bysufferingeverythingabouthimtogotoruin，andbydressinghimselfinablanketandskewer，andbysteepinghimselfinsootandgreaseandothernastiness，hadacquiredgreatrenowninallthatcountry—side——fargreaterrenownthanhecouldeverhavewonforhimself，ifhiscareerhadbeenthatofanyordinaryChristian，ordecentHottentot。Hehadevenblanketedandskeweredandsootedandgreasedhimself，intotheLondonpapers。Anditwascurioustofind，asMr。Travellerfoundbystoppingforanewdirectionatthisfarm—houseoratthatcottageashewentalong，withhowmuchaccuracythemorbidMopeshadcountedontheweaknessofhisneighbourstoembellishhim。Amistofhome—brewedmarvelandromancesurroundedMopes，inwhich（asinallfogs）therealproportionsoftherealobjectwereextravagantlyheightened。Hehadmurderedhisbeautifulbelovedinafitofjealousyandwasdoingpenance；hehadmadeavowundertheinfluenceofgrief；hehadmadeavowundertheinfluenceofafatalaccident；hehadmadeavowundertheinfluenceofreligion；hehadmadeavowundertheinfluenceofdrink；hehadmadeavowundertheinfluenceofdisappointment；hehadnevermadeanyvow，but"hadgotledintoit"

bythepossessionofamightyandmostawfulsecret；hewasenormouslyrich，hewasstupendouslycharitable，hewasprofoundlylearned，hesawspectres，heknewandcoulddoallkindsofwonders。

Somesaidhewentouteverynight，andwasmetbyterrifiedwayfarersstalkingalongdarkroads，otherssaidheneverwentout，someknewhispenancetobenearlyexpired，othershadpositiveinformationthathisseclusionwasnotapenanceatall，andwouldneverexpirebutwithhimself。Even，astotheeasyfactsofhowoldhewas，orhowlonghehadheldverminousoccupationofhisblanketandskewer，noconsistentinformationwastobegot，fromthosewhomustknowiftheywould。Hewasrepresentedasbeingalltheagesbetweenfive—and—twentyandsixty，andashavingbeenahermitsevenyears，twelve，twenty，thirty，——thoughtwenty，onthewhole，appearedthefavouriteterm。

"Well，well！"saidMr。Traveller。"Atanyrate，letusseewhatarealliveHermitlookslike。"

So，Mr。Travellerwenton，andon，andon，untilhecametoTomTiddler’sGround。

Itwasanookinarusticby—road，whichthegeniusofMopeshadlaidwasteascompletely，asifhehadbeenbornanEmperorandaConqueror。Itscentreobjectwasadwelling—house，sufficientlysubstantial，allthewindow—glassofwhichhadbeenlongagoabolishedbythesurprisinggeniusofMopes，andallthewindowsofwhichwerebarredacrosswithrough—splitlogsoftreesnailedoverthemontheoutside。Arickyard，hip—highinvegetableranknessandruin，containedoutbuildingsfromwhichthethatchhadlightlyflutteredaway，onallthewindsofalltheseasonsoftheyear，andfromwhichtheplanksandbeamshadheavilydroppedandrotted。Thefrostsanddampsofwinter，andtheheatsofsummer，hadwarpedwhatwreckremained，sothatnotapostoraboardretainedthepositionitwasmeanttohold，buteverythingwastwistedfromitspurpose，likeitsowner，anddegradedanddebased。Inthishomesteadofthesluggard，behindtheruinedhedge，andsinkingawayamongtheruinedgrassandthenettles，werethelastperishingfragmentsofcertainricks:whichhadgraduallymildewedandcollapsed，untiltheylookedlikemoundsofrottenhoneycomb，ordirtysponge。TomTiddler’sgroundcouldevenshowitsruinedwater；for，therewasaslimypondintowhichatreeortwohadfallen——onesoppytrunkandbrancheslayacrossitthen——whichinitsaccumulationofstagnantweed，andinitsblackdecomposition，andinallitsfoulnessandfilth，wasalmostcomforting，regardedastheonlywaterthatcouldhavereflectedtheshamefulplacewithoutseemingpollutedbythatlowoffice。

Mr。TravellerlookedallaroundhimonTomTiddler’sground，andhisglanceatlastencounteredaduskyTinkerlyingamongtheweedsandrankgrass，intheshadeofthedwelling—house。Aroughwalking—

stafflayonthegroundbyhisside，andhisheadrestedonasmallwallet。HemetMr。Traveller’seyewithoutliftinguphishead，merelydepressinghischinalittle（forhewaslyingonhisback）

togetabetterviewofhim。

"Goodday！"saidMr。Traveller。

"Sametoyou，ifyoulikeit，"returnedtheTinker。

"Don’tYOUlikeit？It’saveryfineday。"

"Iain’tparticklerinweather，"returnedtheTinker，withayawn。

Mr。Travellerhadwalkeduptowherehelay，andwaslookingdownathim。"Thisisacuriousplace，"saidMr。Traveller。

"Ay，Isupposeso！"returnedtheTinker。"TomTiddler’sground，theycallthis。"

"Areyouwellacquaintedwithit？"

"Neversawitaforeto—day，"saidtheTinker，withanotheryawn，"anddon’tcareifIneverseeitagain。Therewasamanherejustnow，toldmewhatitwascalled。IfyouwanttoseeTomhimself，youmustgoinatthatgate。"Hefaintlyindicatedwithhischinalittlemeanruinofawoodengateatthesideofthehouse。

"HaveyouseenTom？"

"No，andIain’tparticklertoseehim。Icanseeadirtymananywhere。"

"Hedoesnotliveinthehouse，then？"saidMr。Traveller，castinghiseyesuponthehouseanew。

"Themansaid，"returnedtheTinker，ratherirritably，——"himaswasherejustnow，’thiswhatyou’realayingon，mate，isTomTiddler’sground。AndifyouwanttoseeTom，’hesays，’youmustgoinatthatgate。’Themancomeoutatthatgatehimself，andheoughttoknow。"

"Certainly，"saidMr。Traveller。

"Though，perhaps，"exclaimedtheTinker，sostruckbythebrightnessofhisownidea，thatithadtheelectriceffectuponhimofcausinghimtoliftuphisheadaninchorso，"perhapshewasaliar！Hetoldsomerum’uns——himaswasherejustnow，didaboutthisplaceofTom’s。Hesays——himaswasherejustnow——’WhenTomshutupthehouse，mate，togotorack，thebedswasleft，allmade，likeasifsomebodywasa—goingtosleepineverybed。Andifyouwastowalkthroughthebedroomsnow，you’dseetheraggedmouldybedclothesaheavingandaheavinglikeseas。Andaheavingandaheavingwithwhat？’hesays。’Why，withtheratsunder’em。’"

"IwishIhadseenthatman，"Mr。Travellerremarked。

"You’dhavebeenwelcometoseehiminsteadofmeseeinghim，"

growledtheTinker；"forhewasalong—windedone。"

Notwithoutasenseofinjuryintheremembrance，theTinkergloomilyclosedhiseyes。Mr。Traveller，deemingtheTinkerashort—windedone，fromwhomnofurtherbreathofinformationwastobederived，betookhimselftothegate。

Swunguponitsrustyhinges，itadmittedhimintoayardinwhichtherewasnothingtobeseenbutanouthouseattachedtotheruinedbuilding，withabarredwindowinit。Asthereweretracesofmanyrecentfootstepsunderthiswindow，andasitwasalowwindow，andunglazed，Mr。Travellermadeboldtopeepwithinthebars。AndtheretobesurehehadarealliveHermitbeforehim，andcouldjudgehowtherealdeadHermitsusedtolook。

Hewaslyingonabankofsootandcinders，onthefloor，infrontofarustyfireplace。Therewasnothingelseinthedarklittlekitchen，orscullery，orwhateverhisdenhadbeenoriginallyusedas，butatablewithalitterofoldbottlesonit。Aratmadeaclatteramongthesebottles，jumpeddown，andranovertherealliveHermitonhiswaytohishole，orthemaninHISholewouldnothavebeensoeasilydiscernible。Tickledinthefacebytherat’stail，theownerofTomTiddler’sgroundopenedhiseyes，sawMr。

Traveller，startedup，andsprangtothewindow。

"Humph！"thoughtMr。Traveller，retiringapaceortwofromthebars。"AcompoundofNewgate，Bedlam，aDebtors’Prisonintheworsttime，achimney—sweep，amudlark，andtheNobleSavage！A

niceoldfamily，theHermitfamily。Hah！"

Mr。Travellerthoughtthis，ashesilentlyconfrontedthesootyobjectintheblanketandskewer（insobertruthitworenothingelse），withthemattedhairandthestaringeyes。Further，Mr。

Travellerthought，astheeyesurveyedhimwithaveryobviouscuriosityinascertainingtheeffecttheyproduced，"Vanity，vanity，vanity！Verily，allisvanity！"

"Whatisyourname，sir，andwheredoyoucomefrom？"askedMr。

MopestheHermit——withanairofauthority，butintheordinaryhumanspeechofonewhohasbeentoschool。

Mr。Travelleransweredtheinquiries。

"Didyoucomehere，sir，toseeME？"

"Idid。Iheardofyou，andIcametoseeyou。——Iknowyouliketobeseen。"Mr。Travellercoollythrewthelastwordsin，asamatterofcourse，toforestallanaffectationofresentmentorobjectionthathesawrisingbeneaththegreaseandgrimeoftheface。Theyhadtheireffect。

"So，"saidtheHermit，afteramomentarysilence，unclaspingthebarsbywhichhehadpreviouslyheld，andseatinghimselfbehindthemontheledgeofthewindow，withhisbarelegsandfeetcrouchedup，"youknowIliketobeseen？"

Mr。Travellerlookedabouthimforsomethingtositon，and，observingabilletofwoodinacorner，broughtitnearthewindow。

Deliberatelyseatinghimselfuponit，heanswered，"Justso。"

Eachlookedattheother，andeachappearedtotakesomepainstogetthemeasureoftheother。

"ThenyouhavecometoaskmewhyIleadthislife，"saidtheHermit，frowninginastormymanner。"Inevertellthattoanyhumanbeing。Iwillnotbeaskedthat。"

"Certainlyyouwillnotbeaskedthatbyme，"saidMr。Traveller，"forIhavenottheslightestdesiretoknow。"

"Youareanuncouthman，"saidMr。MopestheHermit。

"Youareanother，"saidMr。Traveller。

TheHermit，whowasplainlyinthehabitofoverawinghisvisitorswiththenoveltyofhisfilthandhisblanketandskewer，glaredathispresentvisitorinsomediscomfitureandsurprise:asifhehadtakenaimathimwithasuregun，andhispiecehadmissedfire。

"Whydoyoucomehereatall？"heasked，afterapause。

"Uponmylife，"saidMr。Traveller，"Iwasmadetoaskmyselfthatveryquestiononlyafewminutesago——byaTinkertoo。"

Asheglancedtowardsthegateinsayingit，theHermitglancedinthatdirectionlikewise。

"Yes。Heislyingonhisbackinthesunlightoutside，"saidMr，Traveller，asifhehadbeenaskedconcerningtheman，"andhewon’tcomein；forhesays——andreallyveryreasonably——’WhatshouldI

comeinfor？Icanseeadirtymananywhere。’"

"Youareaninsolentperson。Goawayfrommypremises。Go！"saidtheHermit，inanimperiousandangrytone。

"Come，come！"returnedMr。Traveller，quiteundisturbed。"Thisisalittletoomuch。Youarenotgoingtocallyourselfclean？Lookatyourlegs。Andastothesebeingyourpremises:—theyareinfartoodisgracefulaconditiontoclaimanyprivilegeofownership，oranythingelse。"

TheHermitbounceddownfromhiswindow—ledge，andcasthimselfonhisbedofsootandcinders。

"Iamnotgoing，"saidMr。Traveller，glancinginafterhim；"youwon’tgetridofmeinthatway。Youhadbettercomeandtalk。"

"Iwon’ttalk，"saidtheHermit，flouncingroundtogethisbacktowardsthewindow。

"ThenIwill，"saidMr。Traveller。"WhyshouldyoutakeitillthatIhavenocuriositytoknowwhyyoulivethishighlyabsurdandhighlyindecentlife？WhenIcontemplateamaninastateofdisease，surelythereisnomoralobligationonmetobeanxioustoknowhowhetookit。"

Afterashortsilence，theHermitbouncedupagain，andcamebacktothebarredwindow。

"What？Youarenotgone？"hesaid，affectingtohavesupposedthathewas。

"Norgoing，"Mr。Travellerreplied:"Idesigntopassthissummerdayhere。"

"Howdareyoucome，sir，uponmypromises——"theHermitwasreturning，whenhisvisitorinterruptedhim。

"Really，youknow，youmustNOTtalkaboutyourpremises。Icannotallowsuchaplaceasthistobedignifiedwiththenameofpremises。"

"Howdareyou，"saidtheHermit，shakinghisbars，"comeinatmygate，totauntmewithbeinginadiseasedstate？"

"Why，Lordblessmysoul，"returnedtheother，verycomposedly，"youhavenotthefacetosaythatyouareinawholesomestate？Doallowmeagaintocallyourattentiontoyourlegs。Scrapeyourselfanywhere——withanything——andthentellmeyouareinawholesomestate。Thefactis，Mr。Mopes，thatyouarenotonlyaNuisance——"

"ANuisance？"repeatedtheHermit，fiercely。

"WhatisaplaceinthisobscenestateofdilapidationbutaNuisance？WhatisamaninyourobscenestateofdilapidationbutaNuisance？Then，asyouverywellknow，youcannotdowithoutanaudience，andyouraudienceisaNuisance。Youattractallthedisreputablevagabondsandprowlerswithintenmilesaround，byexhibitingyourselftotheminthatobjectionableblanket，andbythrowingcoppermoneyamongthem，andgivingthemdrinkoutofthoseverydirtyjarsandbottlesthatIseeinthere（theirstomachsneedbestrong！）；andinshort，"saidMr。Traveller，summingupinaquietlyandcomfortablysettledmanner，"youareaNuisance，andthiskennelisaNuisance，andtheaudiencethatyoucannotpossiblydispensewithisaNuisance，andtheNuisanceisnotmerelyalocalNuisance，becauseitisageneralNuisancetoknowthatthereCANBE

suchaNuisanceleftincivilisationsoverylongafteritstime。"

"Willyougoaway？Ihaveaguninhere，"saidtheHermit。

"Pooh！"

"IHAVE！"

"Now，Iputittoyou。DidIsayyouhadnot？Andastogoingaway，didn’tIsayIamnotgoingaway？YouhavemademeforgetwhereIwas。InowrememberthatIwasremarkingonyourconductbeingaNuisance。Moreover，itisinthelastandlowestdegreeinconsequentfoolishnessandweakness。"

"Weakness？"echoedtheHermit。

"Weakness，"saidMr。Traveller，withhisformercomfortablysettledfinalair。

"Iweak，youfool？"criedtheHermit，"I，whohaveheldtomypurpose，andmydiet，andmyonlybedthere，alltheseyears？"

"Themoretheyears，theweakeryou，"returnedMr。Traveller。

"Thoughtheyearsarenotsomanyasfolkssay，andasyouwillinglytakecreditfor。Thecrustuponyourfaceisthickanddark，Mr。

Mopes，butIcanseeenoughofyouthroughit，toseethatyouarestillayoungman。"

"Inconsequentfoolishnessislunacy，Isuppose？"saidtheHermit。

"Isupposeitisverylikeit，"answeredMr。Traveller。

"DoIconverselikealunatic？"

"Oneofustwomusthaveastrongpresumptionagainsthimofbeingone，whetherorno。Eitherthecleananddecorouslycladman，orthedirtyandindecorouslycladman。Idon’tsaywhich。"

"Why，youself—sufficientbear，"saidtheHermit，"notadaypassesbutIamjustifiedinmypurposebytheconversationsIholdhere；

notadaypassesbutIamshown，byeverythingIhearandseehere，howrightandstrongIaminholdingmypurpose。"

Mr。Traveller，loungingeasilyonhisbilletofwood，tookoutapocketpipeandbegantofillit。"Now，thataman，"hesaid，appealingtothesummerskyashedidso，"thataman——evenbehindbars，inablanketandskewer——shouldtellmethathecansee，fromdaytoday，anyordersorconditionsofmen，women，orchildren，whocanbyanypossibilityteachhimthatitisanythingbutthemiserablestdrivellingforahumancreaturetoquarrelwithhissocialnature——nottogosofarastosay，torenouncehiscommonhumandecency，forthatisanextremecase；orwhocanteachhimthathecaninanywiseseparatehimselffromhiskindandthehabitsofhiskind，withoutbecomingadeterioratedspectaclecalculatedtogivetheDevil（andperhapsthemonkeys）pleasure，——issomethingwonderful！Irepeat，"saidMr。Traveller，beginningtosmoke，"theunreasoninghardihoodofitissomethingwonderful——eveninamanwiththedirtuponhimaninchortwothick——behindbars——

inablanketandskewer！"

TheHermitlookedathimirresolutely，andretiredtohissootandcindersandlaydown，andgotupagainandcametothebars，andagainlookedathimirresolutely，andfinallysaidwithsharpness:

"Idon’tliketobacco。"

"Idon’tlikedirt，"rejoinedMr。Traveller；"tobaccoisanexcellentdisinfectant。Weshallbothbethebetterformypipe。

Itismyintentiontositherethroughthissummerday，untilthatblessedsummersunsinkslowinthewest，andtoshowyouwhatapoorcreatureyouare，throughthelipsofeverychancewayfarerwhomaycomeinatyourgate。"

"Whatdoyoumean？"inquiredtheHermit，withafuriousair。

"Imeanthatyonderisyourgate，andthereareyou，andhereamI；

ImeanthatIknowittobeamoralimpossibilitythatanypersoncanstrayinatthatgatefromanypointofthecompass，withanysortofexperience，gainedatfirsthand，orderivedfromanother，thatcanconfutemeandjustifyyou。"

"Youareanarrogantandboastfulhero，"saidtheHermit。"Youthinkyourselfprofoundlywise。"

"Bah！"returnedMr。Traveller，quietlysmoking。"Thereislittlewisdominknowingthateverymanmustbeupanddoing，andthatallmankindaremadedependentononeanother。"

"Youhavecompanionsoutside，"saidtheHermit。"Iamnottobeimposeduponbyyourassumedconfidenceinthepeoplewhomayenter。"

"Adepraveddistrust，"returnedthevisitor，compassionatelyraisinghiseyebrows，"ofcoursebelongstoyourstate，Ican’thelpthat。"

"Doyoumeantotellmeyouhavenoconfederates？"

"ImeantotellyounothingbutwhatIhavetoldyou。WhatIhavetoldyouis，thatitisamoralimpossibilitythatanysonordaughterofAdamcanstandonthisgroundthatIputmyfooton，oronanygroundthatmortaltreads，andgainsaythehealthytenureonwhichweholdourexistence。"

"Whichis，"sneeredtheHermit，"accordingtoyou——"

"Whichis，"returnedtheother，"accordingtoEternalProvidence，thatwemustariseandwashourfacesanddoourgregariousworkandactandre—actononeanother，leavingonlytheidiotandthepalsiedtositblinkinginthecorner。Come！"apostrophisingthegate。"OpenSesame！Showhiseyesandgrievehisheart！Idon’tcarewhocomes，forIknowwhatmustcomeofit！"

Withthat，hefacedroundalittleonhisbilletofwoodtowardsthegate；andMr。Mopes，theHermit，aftertwoorthreeridiculousbouncesofindecisionathisbedandbackagain，submittedtowhathecouldnothelphimselfagainst，andcoiledhimselfonhiswindow—

ledge，holdingtohisbarsandlookingoutratheranxiously。

CHAPTERVI——PICKINGUPMISSKIMMEENS{1}

Thedaywasbythistimewaning，whenthegateagainopened，and，withthebrilliantgoldenlightthatstreamedfromthedecliningsunandtouchedtheverybarsofthesootycreature’sden，therepassedinalittlechild；alittlegirlwithbeautifulbrighthair。Sheworeaplainstrawhat，hadadoor—keyinherhand，andtrippedtowardsMr。Travellerasifshewerepleasedtoseehimandweregoingtoreposesomechildishconfidenceinhim，whenshecaughtsightofthefigurebehindthebars，andstartedbackinterror。

"Don’tbealarmed，darling！"saidMr。Traveller，takingherbythehand。

"Oh，butIdon’tlikeit！"urgedtheshrinkingchild；"it’sdreadful。"

"Well！Idon’tlikeiteither，"saidMr。Traveller。

"Whohasputitthere？"askedthelittlegirl。"Doesitbite？"

"No，——onlybarks。Butcan’tyoumakeupyourmindtoseeit，mydear？"Forshewascoveringhereyes。

"Ononono！"returnedthechild。"Icannotbeartolookatit！"

Mr。Travellerturnedhisheadtowardshisfriendinthere，asmuchastoaskhimhowhelikedthatinstanceofhissuccess，andthentookthechildoutatthestillopengate，andstoodtalkingtoherforsomehalfanhourinthemellowsunlight。Atlengthhereturned，encouragingherassheheldhisarmwithbothherhands；

andlayinghisprotectinghanduponherheadandsmoothingherprettyhair，headdressedhisfriendbehindthebarsasfollows:

MissPupford’sestablishmentforsixyoungladiesoftenderyears，isanestablishmentofacompactnature，anestablishmentinminiature，quiteapocketestablishment。MissPupford，MissPupford’sassistantwiththeParisianaccent，MissPupford’scook，andMissPupford’shousemaid，completewhatMissPupfordcallstheeducationalanddomesticstaffofherLilliputianCollege。

MissPupfordisoneofthemostamiableofhersex；itnecessarilyfollowsthatshepossessesasweettemper，andwouldowntothepossessionofagreatdealofsentimentifsheconsidereditquitereconcilablewithherdutytoparents。Deemingitnotinthebond，MissPupfordkeepsitasfaroutofsightasshecan——which（Godblessher！）isnotveryfar。