The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

THE WORKING MAN’S WIFE 183 And now the morning had arrived when the pittance was to be paid for the garret, and it was the same day as that on which the incidents of the preceding chapters took place. Scarcely had noon been proclaimed by all the clocks of the metropolis, — those faithful servitors of Old Time with their iron tongues, — when the sharp, ominous, expected tap at the door was heard, and Mrs. Thomas, the vixenish landlady, entered the garret. ‘Well, Mrs. Melmoth, how be you to-day?” asked the woman, affecting a civil tone, although she more than half- suspected that she should have to change it in a minute; for the distress of the poor family was no secret to her, her lynx eyes having marked every article that was taken out by the eldest boy to pledge. ‘‘ Mrs. Thomas, I am very ill, and nearly driven to despair with misery and anguish,’ replied the poor woman; “‘ and what is worse,”’ she added, bursting into tears, ‘‘ I am even unable to pay you the trifle — ” ““T knowed it,” ejaculated the landlady, smacking her hand against the wall as a substitute for the table which she would have struck if there had been one there. ‘I am robbed as completely as if I was stopped on the highway.” “ Robbed! Oh, no, no,’”’ moaned Mrs. Melmoth. “ Though poor, ay, destitute, we are honest.”’ ‘There ain’t no such a thing as honesty amongst poor folks,’ shrieked the landlady. ‘I tell you I’ve been robbed with my eyes hopen, and I’ll prove it. Hasn’t the things which should have been left for me to put the brokers in upon, hasn’t they been removed under my wery nose — ”’ “They have, they have indeed,” sobbed Mrs. Melmoth, pressing her babe to her bosom and endeavouring to calm the other children, who began to cry; “‘ but everything has been made away with to procure bread.” ‘The rent should be paid first,’”’ ejaculated Mrs. Thomas. ‘‘ Now what am I to tell my landlord when he comes and asks for his money, which he will do this evening, and I’m just the half-crown short — ”’ ‘Surely, my dear Mrs. Thomas,” interrupted the work-__ ing man’s wife, ‘‘ you can trust me for a few days, till some- thing turns up.” ‘“ Nothink won’t turn up,” cried the heartless vixen. ‘‘ The government is a persecuting you and yourn, and they'll (GO) ALG 6)(0)()