Mary Price; or, The Adventures of a Servant Girl — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

18 MARY PRICE. [ACT f. BILL. Serves you right for trying to be wirtuous: be a wagabonc, and you'll live in clover as we do. So just say you'll join us, and we'll soon find you plenty of work, and you shall be well paid for doing on it. RospeRT. I must give myself to you, for I cannot starve ; though, heaven knows I would now, were opportunity offered me, be a good and honest man. BILL. Plenty of time to turn wirtuous, when you grow old and helpless. Nick. (turning and shouting to MOTHER LER, who zs dozing) Holloa! I say, you there, don’t keep bobbing your head up and down like that, or presently you'll smash the dear little creature’s nose! MorTuer L. I'm so tired. Nick. Muzzy, you mean. MorTHer L. Any reward offered yet for this here blessed little babby ? Bint. Only a paltry hundred pounds—so we'll wait a bit, and to-morrow it’s safe to be doubled. (knocking heard at an outer door—all start to their feet) Bitt. Who knows but that may be the peelers come in search of the kid—you'd better mizzle into yonder room until they’re gone again. You, Mother Lee, d’ye hear ? TAVERN Boy. (at door) No danger, gemmen, it’s only a gipsy girl and her old dad. Music.—Enter MARY PRICE and ToMMy disguised, door L. 3 E. MoTHER L. (again sitting) Ah, two of our tribe!—Do you come from Norwood ? Mary (C., disguising her voice) No; from near Canterbury. (aside) My brother still with those vile associates ? and there is the dear child—asleep, poor babe. Tom. (rR. c.) Poor old gipsy Tom, is very tired—and his daughter, too—but never mind beds, we can sleep upon the benches or the floor. TAVERN Boy. (at back) °*Tis well you're so easily satisfied. Every crib occupied—six in a bed—no room for a mouse, except here in the tap room. Exit, BILL. (crossing to MARY) Come, I say, you're a nice young gipsy wench, suppose, for pastime, you tell us our fortunes ? Mary. Willingly! and, with your leave, I'll begin with this young man. (crossing to ROBERT) Show me your hand? RoBERT. (L. C.) There—and now let’s hear all you know of the past concerning me—the future is a secret to us both. Mary. (looking at his hand) You were left an orphan at an early age. RoBerRT. That’s true, at all events. EORMICLOOKKS. CGO