CHAPTER I--PICKING UP SOOT AND CINDERS
"And why Tom Tiddler's ground?" said the Traveller.
"Because he scatters halfpence to Tramps and such-like," returned the Landlord, "and of
course they pick 'em up. And this being done on his own land (which it IS his own land,
you observe, and were his family's before him), why it is but regarding the halfpence as
gold and silver, and turning the ownership of the property a bit round your finger, and
there you have the name of the children's game complete. And it's appropriate too," said
the Landlord, with his favourite action of stooping a little, to look across the table out of
window at vacancy, under the window-blind which was half drawn down. "Leastwise it
has been so considered by many gentlemen which have partook of chops and tea in the
present humble parlour."
The Traveller was partaking of chops and tea in the present humble parlour, and the
Landlord's shot was fired obliquely at him.
"And you call him a Hermit?" said the Traveller.
"They call him such," returned the Landlord, evading personal responsibility; "he is in
general so considered."
"What IS a Hermit?" asked the Traveller.
"What is it?" repeated the Landlord, drawing his hand across his chin.
The Landlord stooped again, to get a more comprehensive view of vacancy under the
window-blind, and--with an asphyxiated appearance on him as one unaccustomed to
definition--made no answer.
"I'll tell you what I suppose it to be," said the Traveller. "An abominably dirty thing."
"Mr. Mopes is dirty, it cannot be denied," said the Landlord.
"Mr. Mopes is vain of the life he leads, some do say," replied the Landlord, as another
concession.
"A slothful, unsavoury, nasty reversal of the laws of human mature," said the Traveller;
"and for the sake of GOD'S working world and its wholesomeness, both moral and
