The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. “With all my heart, as soon as you please, sir,” replied the young man, mentally adding, “ provided it be the object of my choice—the only woman I can ever really love—my own sweet Amy Lawrence !”’ There was a knock at the door. “Come in,” said Gilbert. Mark Small made his appearance, for his father was too much offended to trust himself in the presence of his partner, and announced that the person Mr. Grindem had sent for was waiting without. ‘Send him in,” was the laconic reply. In a minute, Dick—vor Tim’s Dick, as he was familiarly called—stood bowing and scraping at the door, requesting to know in what way he could have the honour to serve the wealthy Mr. Grindem. “Oh! ah! have you seen your friend Gridley ? ” ‘< No, sir. The widow and I have been twice to the ’sylum, but doctor says he’s in a paroxysm. I hope,” he added, “‘ it bean’t worse. He were only in a straight waistcoat, at fust, and that were bad,enough.” “Good heavens!” exclaimed Henry, “is poor Gridley ill?” ‘* He be mortal bad, sir! Huis honour and the doctor took him to Mr. Crab’s ’sylum; he did nothing but rave and tear all night. It took five of us to hold un down. I had no idea mad folk were so strong.” “ Mad?” “Even so, Henry,” said his uncle. ‘ Dissipation and drink have done their work. I could not suffer COniiclooecl SS (SO