The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, “ All IT said.” repeated the captain, ‘‘ was to request Henry would desire Mabel to step down-stairs, in order that she might hear the no doubt gratifying intelligence of the capture of the man who has wrought her so much uneasiness.” Rafferty turned to Henry, and touching his forehead with the point of his finger, he said, in a tone of genuine commusera- tion— ‘** So the poor captain has gone at last, Master Henry ?” ‘What do you mean, Rafferty ?” “It’s what do I mane, is it, sir? Why the maning is clear enough. The captain’s given his senses leave of absence, that’s all. Ionly hope they’ll come back again, soon, and report them- selves at headquarters.” | Had his life depended upon his keeping his gravity Henry could not have done so. He was quite upset, and laughed aloud as he cried— ‘‘Well, Rafferty, I do think you are right; but so far as re- gards going up-stairs for Mabel, Ican do that.” ‘*'Yes, Master Henry, you can go up-stairs, divil a doubt, for “Miss Mabel, but as to coming down-stairs again with her—that’s quite another affair altogether.” ‘We shall see.” ‘‘'Yes, sir, we shall see, God willing, sir. I don't think its decent for either of you to be poking your fun at the likes of me.” ** Well, well—you go, Henry, at once.” “Yes,” said Henry, and he left the room. Rafferty looked at the captain with an odd, bewildered look, for some few moments, and then walking closer up to him, he said, in a voice that evidently strugzled with emotion— ‘*Captain Morton, I may be an old fool. I’m old, Iknow, and perhaps not far from being a fool; but I loved that girl, sir, bet- ter than I loved my own heart’s blood. She is dearer to me than all the world, and to save her a pain or an ache, Id lay down mv life, sir. The very sound of her voice is music to my ears. Don’t trifle with me, sir—don’t trifle with me, but tell me the honest truth. Have you found her?” ‘*She shall answer for herself,” said the captain, as the door was opened, and Henry appeared, leading in Mabel by the and. Rafferty staggered back as if he had been shot. “It’s she!” he cried—‘“ it is—it is. Oh! Mabel, Mabel! how could you? Never mind. Here’s a day!” He rushed up to her, and before she, or Henry, or the captain, could in the least degree stop him, he had clas her in his arms, and kissed her so many times, that whenever Henry thought of it during the remainder of that day, he felt positively envious and furious. . . ‘* Hold, Rafferty!” he cried. ‘‘ There, if you please—that will do. Confound your impudence!” ‘“‘Oh, don’t mention it,” said Rafferty, ‘‘and so you’re come back again, dear Mabel, have you, after all the_trouble I’ve had comicbooks. com