The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 162: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 158 ‘> 4t is to be hoped she may, otherwise sbe will place you in a very disagreeable position. What are you?” ‘‘T have no business.” ‘‘ No business, eh ?” ‘« Yes,” ‘Well, then, there is sufficient ground to commit you at once; but at the same time I shall remand you and give you an opportunity of finding out your witness, and in the meanwhile we may ascertain something about you.” The mendicant was then removed from the bar, and recon- ducted to the cell, where he was left till it was convenient to carry him to the Compter. “It is a wonder he didn’t commit you at once,” said the officer; ‘‘ and I am more surprised at his adjourning for a couple of bours for your witness.” “‘ Yes: I did not expect it.” ‘‘Nor anybody else; but it matters not. You will be up on the next examination day, and then you will be committed.” CHAPTER XXXII. MABEL was puzzled what to do with herself after she had es- caped from the house of horrors in which she had been confined by the mendicant. Which way to turn she knew not; not a friend at hand to whom she could apply for advice; and she wandered about, not knowing where she was going, and, after a while, found herself, as we have said, in the outskirts of London. She felt wearied and tired, and yet she had not the means to urchase rest and refreshment. Now. however. when it was road daylight. and people were rushing to and fro from all uarters, she felt a sense of security that she had not hitherto elt, but the means of existence troubled her. Seeing a poesia s open, and an announcement that old jewelry was bought, and a variety of other announcements, she determined to sell a small ring she possessed; and for that pur- pose entered the shop, and, seeing an individual behind the counter, she said to him, ‘* Will you ppirchase this ring of me 2” The man looked very hard at Mabel, and then at the ring, which he weighed in his hand, and carefully examined it over and over, and finally he went to a vial, from which he took a piece of wire, and dropped a small drop of some liquid upon it, and then he took the scales, and, having weighed it, he said to Mabel, in a soft voice: : ‘* Nine-and-sixpence, miss, is all I can give for it; that is the utmost value of the metal.” ‘*T must trust to you, sir, for its value,” said Mabel, ‘for I do not know it myself. I will take that sum.” . ae is your ewn, I presume?” said the shopkeeper, inquir- ingly. “Ves: certainly.” The money was counted out on the counter carefully by the goldsmith, who said when he had done so: comicbooks. com