The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 289 ruffian, for the first time, perhaps, in his life, checking the oath so familiar to his lips. During the rest of the day he continued moodily to pace the deck with his companion, who could not understand why, after having so studiously avoided him, he should again seek his company; it could not be for the sake of society, for he remained doggedly silent, his eyes fixed upon the planks of the deck, as if counting the nails; it prevented his again looking upon the water, the sight of which was beginning to be agony to him. Towards evening they descended to their berths in the hold, just before the tea was served out. Ben, who, in his way, had a great idea of making himself comfortable, had spread a dirty newspaper upon the head of an empty barrel, and drawn it between the beds, to serve by way of table; placed the pannikins upon it, together with a piece of junk left from the mid-day meal, and a couple of biscuits. Flin continued smoking. The men who were serving out the tea approached their berth. “‘ That’s what I call Whitechapel elegance,” observed the one who held the large can. ** Don’t you see,” said the other, “the gentleman has company ?” This was in allusion to Ben’s novel kind of table- cloth and table. A shudder passed through the frame of Flin at the VOL. I. U SS (SO CoOniclooecl