The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

190 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. rified at the sight of that dreadful man, from whom I have suf- fered so much.” ‘‘What, do you mean to tell me that you saw the man you accuse of abduction and saved from being committed for trial for murder ?” ‘*T did, your worship.” This seemed to have an astounding effect upon all present, and there was 2 pause of some moments. ‘*Did he see you ?” inquired the magistrate. ‘* No sir.” ‘* What was he about ?” ‘* He was coming down from the room above,” replied Mabel, ‘‘ with a light in his hand.” ‘* And he was the man who walked about overhead ?” inquired the magistrate. ‘‘T suppose it was, your worship; at least, I think it was; but I was so terrified that I scarce knew what to do.” ‘¢ And you quitted the house because you saw the man there ?" said the magistrate. ‘*T did,” she replied. ‘‘I thought he had come there on pur- ose to secure me again. Indeed—indeed, I was half frightened into the belief that I had been sent there on purpose to be taken back again.” ‘‘Upon my word, said the magistrate, ‘‘ this is certainly one of the strangest affairs Ican remember. You knew nothing of the man’s being there, of course?” said the magistrate, inquir- ingly, to the officer. ‘*}¥ didn’t, indeed, your worship, else I would have securea him, your worship.” ‘** So I should imagine,” said the magistrate. **T have come here,” added Mabel, ‘‘ thinking I ought to do so, for several reasous, one of which is, I am destitute, and have no assistance until my friends send me aid from Morton Hall. And another is, I ought to come and explain why I left my lodgings, having given my word that I would not do so.” | ““Very good,” said the magistrate; ‘‘ very right and proper. ‘You have acted very properly.” ‘* And, above all, to let your worship know where the man is to be found at this moment.” _ “Yes, I see; we'll take care of that. You will have no objec- tion to go back, and to show the officers the man you mean ?” “**No, your worship. I never wish to see him again; but be- yond that I have no objection.” “Very well, then; let two officers go back with this young lady to the house, and then see if this inan is to be found there now; perhaps he may have fled.” ‘“‘T really cannot say. I was too terrified to know distinctly what was done on the occasion. I saw him, and that to me was all that was needed to terrify me. I thought, I can hardly tell you what, sir; but I felt as if my whole life depended upon my Immediate escape.” “Well,” said the magistrate, ‘‘I can easily understand your comicbooks. com