noon
For , whereas he would , but a little while ago , have walked these streets blindly brooding , he now had eyes and thoughts for a new external world . How the many toiling people lived , and loved , and died ; how wonderful it was to consider the various trainings of eye and hand , the nice distinctions of sight and touch , that separated them into classes of workers , and even into classes of workers at subdivisions of one complete whole which combined their many intelligences and forces , though of itself but some cheap object of use or ornament in common life ; how good it was to know that such assembling in a multitude on their part , and such contribution of their several dexterities towards a civilising end , did not deteriorate them as it was the fashion of the supercilious May-flies of humanity to pretend , but engendered among them a self-respect and yet a modest desire to be much wiser than they were -LRB- the first evinced in their well-balanced bearing and manner of speech when he stopped to ask a question ; the second , in the announcements of their popular studies and amusements on the public walls -RRB- ; these considerations , and a host of such , made his walk a memorable one . `` I too am but a little part of a great whole , '' he began to think ; `` and to be serviceable to myself and others , or to be happy , I must cast my interest into , and draw it out of , the common stock . '' Although he had arrived at his journey 's end for the day by noon , he had since insensibly walked about the town so far and so long that the lamplighters were now at their work in the streets , and the shops were sparkling up brilliantly . Thus reminded to turn towards his quarters , he was in the act of doing so , when a very little hand crept into his , and a very little voice said : `` O ! If you please , I am lost . '' He looked down , and saw a very little fair-haired girl .