The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

244 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. —_ ee ee —-._ eI E———. While he thus ruminated a young girl bounced out of a doorway towards him, It was poor Matty, “ Hillo !” said Tom, “here again ?” ‘Yes; and perhaps for the last time.” “Nay, don’t say that,” said Tom. ‘‘ Why do you look so dull? Why, as I live, there are tears in your eyes, Come, come, my lass; don’t be so down on your luck,” ‘‘Never mind jme,” said. Matty, “so that no harm has befallen you, I don’t care. Life is a misery to me, and has been for many a long month.” “ Better luck is in store for you,” said Tom, kindly. ‘“Come, cheer up ; here’s a sovereign for you.” “T don’t want your money,” said Matty, thrusting back the coin; “if I have done a good action I am satisfied, for I have committed a great deal of bad- ness through that villain who attempted to rob you.” ‘‘Then what is your object in following me?” asked Tom, ‘For no harm!” cried poor Matty; “but I sup- pose a fine gentleman like you is ashamed to be seen talking to an unfortunate like I am?” “No, not at all, my girl,” said Tom; “but I know you have some object in meeting me thus.” “6 Tr have.” “ What is it?” “I have come to say good-bye; I have made up my mind to leave the streets and get a situation, if possible. If I had clothes I would take any sort of work rather than lead the miserable life I have done for so long.” “Clothes needn’t prevent you,” said Tom; ‘I have a great deal of money, and will buy you some if you promise me to leave off this wretched life you have been leading.” Haven't I kept my word with you to-night?” sald Matty. “You have, But the worst of it is I fear Barney will not be punished after all.’’ “Will he be discharged, think you?” “ Mr. Gale says so,” “Then he’ll murder me if he meets me,” said Matty, ‘I know he will.” “Not if I can help it,’ said Tom. “But have you any notion where to get a situation ?” “Yes. Icut an advertisement ont of the ‘Times’ this morning, and applied for the place of general servant, a place in Pimlico; the house is kept by three gentlemen; there’s no woman in the house, so I didn’t like to take it,” “What kind of. gentlemen were Tom. “One was tall and thin, and looked like.a clergy- man, but I didn’t like the looks of his eyes, they were wicked,” ‘‘ And the others?” ‘The second was a small, dried-up, weazen-faced old man, and looked like a broken-down lawyer,” “The deyil, he, did!” said) Tom. ‘And the third ?” "I didn’t see the third one ; he was out on busi- ness,in the city.” “And what did these two old gentlemen seem to say or want ?” “‘ They said all I should have to do would be to run of errands, clean up the place, and cook a little ; eee 8 no one living in the house besides them- olyes. ‘Then why not take it, Matty ? Did they, ask for your character ?” “No; I spoke of it, but the tallest of the two they ?”’ asked said it didn’t much matter about my character, for I looked clean and tidy.” ' ‘Then take the situation,” said Tom, “and if anything happens, here’s my card ; call.on me at the Grosvenor hotel at any time, but don’t let any one see my card but yourself. I have very particular and peculiar reasons for what Ido and say. Here it is,” Matty took the card, and placed it in her bosom, and, after much persuasion, Tom forced five pound upon her wherewith to get clothes. With a thousand thanks poor Matty went her way, begging heaven to bless the generous youth who had been such a substantial friend to her in her need. 3 She didn’t return to Cauliflower Alley, but took lodgings for the night in a respectable coffee shop. When morning came she started out light and early, and went forthwith to a well-known shop, where, at the cost of about three pounds, she fully furnished herself with every necessary that a ser- vant would require. Having fortified herself with an excellent break- fast Matty, bent upon reforming herself, went straight to Pimlico to look after her situation, She rang the bell several times before it was answered. But she could not help remarking that several heads successively appeared at the windows, and much peeping was observable through the blinds ere the door was opened. At last the latch was drawn, and. the door was opened gradually and very cautiously. Matty found herself in the passage, and, although she did not know it, confronted no less a personage than old Jonathan. *‘Oh, you are the young person who called yes- terday about the situation?” “Yes, sir,’ said Matty, curtseying humbly. “‘ And have you been in service before ?” “I have, sir,”’ “ Lately ?” “No, sir,” “You have lost your character from the last place, I think you said, and the lady is now out of town,” S Yes, sir.” ~ “Ah, very well; no matter. But I hope you are virtuous and honest, because I don’t like to have any one about me except those who are of the strictest integrity.” ‘TI hope you will find me all you desire, sir,” said Matty ; “I'll endeavour to please you.” ‘“No doubt, no doubt,” said Jonathan, stroking his chin, ‘‘ but when. you came in did you observe any strange or suspicious-looking person watching this house?” FINO, SIT 1) ‘No policeman, or anything of that kind?” *¢ No, sir,” ‘‘That’s all right, And now, my good girl, you may consider yourself engaged, and may commence your duties.at once, This house is furnished from top to bottom in first class order, and I wish that you will sce that everything is kept clean and tidy, for we are three brothers who live here, and are very particular.” Matty was shown down into the kitchen, and began her work forthwith. Meantime, Jonathan, old Flint, and Warner—for such the three brothers were—held a long consulta- tion together, “Tl tell you what it is,” said Jonathan, “our new servant 1s, a yery respectable, genteel sort of girl, and can be of great use to us ; Wwe can’t afford oe ee ~ oe es eee Gomichboo S ————e C©