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。