The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 171 “Tam quite sure that such is the case, and I stated as much myself before I came here to the magistrate.” ‘*'You did; and yet he doubted me ?” ‘Why, I must say he did, and for a very insufficient reason, as far as my mind goes in the matter. He said that the only thing which could have induced Captain Morton to come to Lon- don, instead of writing, would be to get heresooner than the post, and assuch had not occurred, he rather felt inclined to doubt if there was such a person at all as Captain Morton, and such a place as Morton Hall.” “That was cruel.” ‘Well, well; you will have the triumph of showing him that he is wrong; and as for his supposition, Captain Morton might start to get to London sooner than the post, itis likely enougl. he might do so, and yet be delayed by a thousand incidents and accidents on the road to which the post would not be at all sub- jected.” ‘* Yes, yes; you are right.” “I feel pretty sure I am; I have seen a good deal of human nature, Miss Morton, and I think now I can trust my judgment a little; I believe every word that you have said to be the strict truth and nothing but the truth.” ‘““You do me justice, and you have the thanks of a grateful heart. He, who ijias been to me all that the kindest of parents could be, will be able to thank you more efficiently than I can; and that he will soon be here to do so I feel assured.” ‘‘T have to go to the magistrate’s private house, to report to him my present interview with you, and I will tell him of my own firm impression as regards what you have said being correct in every particular. Make yourself as comfortable now as you can. Don’t tell anything to Mrs, Jenkins: she is not, in her way, a bad sort of woman, but then she cannot keep anything to her- self, and if she knew who you were, and why you were here, it would be in the course of a very few hours spread over the entire neighborhood.” , . ‘*T have resisted her inquiries.” ‘That is right; I will call upon you to-morrow morning, with- out fail, and then 1 hope to have some pleasant intelligence to give to you.” ‘‘T hope so, too; many thanks for all you have done for me.” **Do you require more money ?” ‘*No; 1 have that which you gave me still. I have spent none of [it, and, indeed, may as well return it to you: for Mrs. Jen- kins, whatever may be her gossiping faults, has had the kind- ness to save me all trouble by purchasing whatever I require, and she will put down all the items, she says, in a bill.” A smile came over the officer's face as he said: ‘Well, that is kind, to be sure; but it will do just as well. You tell her I will pay her, and she will then go on being as kind in the way of little bills as she is now.” Mabel saw that there was something in the transaction which excited the risibJe faculties of the officer, but she had not the least idea of what it was; and, as she did not ask him, he saw comicbooks. com