The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE, “ Where are we going?” demanded Maybird, «“ Home,” was the reply. “ But you don’t know where my home is?” ** You will tell me.” The little fellow paused for a few moments, then suddenly throwing his arms round the speaker’s neck, “Yes, if you promise not to hurt poor George?” “ And who is poor George?” * Brother George.’’ His conductor promised, and the child immediately whispered to him the place of his abode. On reaching Bet’s cottage they found the worthy woman in an agony of passionate grief at the absence of her darling, whose capture George had related to her; observing, that as nothing had been taken, and Maybird had no hand in the attempt, he was sure to be liberated. . * Ont of my sight, you gallows’ villain !’’ exclaimed the old woman. “I was a fool to let him venture out to seek for such a worthless vagabond?!’ “Did he go to look for me?” demanded the aston- ished boy. “Who else, hang-dog ?” “Don’t cry, mother,’’ exclaimed the reckless, but not heartless, youth. “I’ll bring, or rather send, him back, No matter what becomes of me, so Maybird comes home safely. Shake hands with me.” “J will break your neck first,” answered the pas- sionate virago. “Perhaps we shall never mest again,” quietly observed the youth, holding out his hand, ** Wo such Inck, gallows’ bird!” quietly took up his eap, which he had thrown upon the table, and left the house, to the great indignation of Lizay, who declared that her “ missus” had a heart “ worse nor a stone;’”’ and rushing after her favourite to the door, entreated him vainly to return. . A few moments afterwards Digby and his little charge made their appearance. The former saw with pleasure the storm of kisses and affectionate endear- ments with which the old weman received her charge. But when he gazed upon her bloated, vulgar appear- ance, and contrasted it with the delicate features and intellectual, expressive countenance of the fair child, he mentally asked himself if such a being could really be its mother. Bet listened to her darling’s account how the great gentleman had taken him away from the beak and brought him home in a coach, and all the circum stances attending his capture and release, The woman wes profuse in her i) ops of grati- tude, and declared that the cause of his danger should never darken her threshold again, * Would you drive him to worse?” demanded her visitor; “depriving him of a heme is not the way to reform him.” * Home or not, the young villain never comes here again, If he must prig, why didn’t he choose the city ?—I shouldn’t have so much minded that; but to disgrace us here \” “This is like missus,” observed Lizzy; “ she don’t care a farden what becomes of George, so her favourite is all square.” “ Leave the room, hussey!” exclaimed Bet; “ can’t I and the gertry cove patter, but you must thrust your fool’s tongue in? Get into the kitchen!’’ The enraged servant obeyed ; casting, as she left the room, no very fayourable looks upon little Maybird and the visitor. 25] “ And is this sweet boy your child?” demanded her visitor, inexpressibly shocked at all he had seen and heard, “ My child!” repeated Bet, taken aback ; “ who the devil’s child do you suppose he is? If I aint his mother, I should like to know who is, that’s all, I’ve had the clothing and feeding of him, and he is my boy; ain’t you, Maybird?” * T don’t know,” said the little fellow, who seemed to have been gifted with an instinctive love of truth; ** Aaron Wolf told George that——” “Hold your tongue!” shriekedthe woman, fiercely ; “Aaron is a fool; and if he interferes in my con. sarns any longer, I'll pus the stunners on him,” The terrified child was silenced. “| feel an interest in his welfare,’ said Digby, “ and will, if you will permit me, take bim entirely under my care. ‘There is my card,” he added, at the same time offering his address. “ Take Maybird!’ said the woman; “ you shall take my blood as soon! What should I do in my lonely chair without his smile and prattle to comfort me? You had better go, sir,” she added, surlily; ‘*I don’t understand coves as calls themselves gentry coming and kidnapping poor people’s kids.” “T am willing to pay you any sum as a recompense for the trouble you may have had with him.” “Pav!” repeated Bet, with a loud laugh; ‘that’s like you gentlefolks, You think our flesh and blood, heart and limbs, may be had for paying for them; and perhaps, after all, I could count couters with you I won’t sell my darling.” | “Consider the advantage to himself,” “TI tell you no!” added the widow, ferociously; | *T’d sooner wring his neck than lose him.” -How much further Bet might have proceeded in her oration it is impossible to say, for at this moment Lizzy burst into the room with something between a whine and a howl, crying: “I knew what it would come to, and all along o: that pale- faced milksop !’’ “ What does the critter mean?” “ Why, I mean that George is taken; he has given himself up to save that doll you are always a-whining about; but 1’!] hire a cackler for him, if you don’t.” Bet, who really was attached to both the children, although the yeungest, from his gentle disposition and loving nature, was immeasurably her favourite, burs’ into a fresh storm of grief and anger at the intelli. gence, and bitterly reproached herself for having driven him, in her fury, from the house, It seems that the generous boy, on hearing of Maybird’s deten- tion, had gone and given himself up co Justice Bumpos in the hope of releasing his brother. Digby was so struck by the courage and generosity of the act, that he determined to use his influence with his uncle to save him. “Don’t despair, my good woman,” he said, kindly; “the prosecutor, Lord Erringcourt, is my near rela- tive; perhaps I may be able to intereede for him,” Bet opened her eyes—it was the first time to her knowledge that she had ever come in contact with the nephew of a lord, Her visitor took his leave soon after, without mak- ing any further attempt te induce her to resign her charge; he felt for the present that it would be useless, Despite Digby’s entreaties, the Earl of Erringcourt too bitterly resented the blow he had received in the stomach to yield to them, and poor George was fally committed. On his trial, the pompous peer, accom- mille (EO) OOKS) (CO) im