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。