"There, sir; there," continued Matt; "don't be down; don't let the world see as there's no more fight in you. See what a son and daughter you've got. Why, God bless 'em, they're enough to make a man of a chap if he's ever so bad. Never say die, sir. I'm often in the downs, I am, you know; but then I say to the world, `Come on, and let's have it out at once and done with it.' Let's take it like a dose of physic, and then have the sugar that's to come and take the taste out of one's mouth afterwards. Sure to be a bit of sugar to come some time, you know, sir; some gets more than others, but then there's always a share for you if you won't be soft enough to get your mouth out of taste and fancy it's bitter when it comes, and so not enjoy it. Lots do, you know, sir; while lots more, sir, think so much of their sugar of life, sir, that they spoil it, sir,--foul it, and damp it, and turn it into a muddy, sticky, dirty treacle, sir; and then, sir, loving nothing but pleasure,--or sugar, as we call it,--how they buzz about it like so many flies, till they are surfeited and get their legs and wings fixed, and die miserably, sir. Sugar's no good, sir, unless you have a taste of bitter before it. You don't want to be having all pleasure, you know; it wouldn't do. Bound the wheel of fortune, you know, sir; now down, now up, just as times go." All these meant-to-be-philosophical remarks old Matt accompanied by a cymbalic tune upon the two plates, while Septimus sat moody and silent. "Now, you see, sir," said Matt gently, "I know what you feel,--you don't like having such a battered old hulk about your place, and feel a bit offended at me for imposing upon your good-nature." Septimus made a gesture of dissent. "Well then, sir, we won't play with the matter. You don't like my having a bit of dinner here, and all that sort of thing; but don't you make no mistake, sir, I ain't kicked about in a selfish world all these years without ketching the complaint. I was never vaccinated against selfishness, sir, so I've took it badly, I can tell you. You may look out, sir, for I've a long score chalked up against you, and you'll have it some day." And then old Matt stuck his hat on very fiercely and shuffled out of the room, muttering and chuckling as he went down, "Ho, ho, ho!--creditor! New position for me as have been in debt all my life!" The old man soon returned after his fashion, bringing in a large portion of the veal and bacon from the cook-shop in the Lane; for the best cuts were not all gone. Then followed the old farce of what he called his chronometric complaint, from its always coming on just at mealtimes; and helping himself to a slice of bread, in spite of all appeals, the old man took a sticky kiss from Tom and shuffled out of the room.