The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET, 271 lost nothin’ in my life yet, with the exception of a suvrin’ as mother sent me to change von Saturday mornin’.”’ ‘“* Make haste, Tom—make haste!” cried the captain impatiently : ‘“‘ why do you fumble about in your pockets like that ?”’ ‘‘ Bless me if I can—no—blow me—vell, I never!”’ ejaculated Tom, feeling in all his pockets, one after the other; ‘‘ as sure as I’m a made bein’ vith human featurs, I’ve lost that there little hepistle ! ”’ ‘‘Damnation!” cried the captain; ‘* you surely do not mean a ‘“<T mean wot I says, sir; and wery sorry I am,” answered Tom, giving up the search as a bad job: ‘‘ but all the grief in the vorld von’t remedy it.”’ ‘¢ What shall I do? how shall I act?” mused Pentonville audibly, as, In a state of deep embarrassment, he paced up and down near the door of the theatre: ‘‘ what shall I do? All my plans will be dis- comfited by this unlucky mishap! Tom, Tom—I did not think “I’m wery exceedin’ wexed, sir,’”’ interrupted Tom; “‘ but blowed if I know, how I come to do it. Can’t you start at vonce, and write another despatch to Pifpaf from the fust stage—unless you catch ’em and return vith ’em to-night ? ” | | “T will do so, Tom—I must do so,”’ said the captain, after a mo- ment’s reflection. ‘‘ Now, then—out with the horse.” ‘* He ’s been in readiness this two hours in the adjinin’ stable, sir,” said Tom; and to the establishment thus alluded to did master and man repair; Mr. Gibbins observing on the way “‘ that he’d selected the wery best bit 0’ flesh as the livery could perduce, and that he knowed 99 wery well ee though it wos a rum ’un to look at, ’t would prove a devil to go.”’ Mr. Gibbins had so wisely adopted all his measures, and so faith- fully fulfilled the instructions of his master, that ere was not.a moment’s delay at the livery stables, and the captain was speedily mounted upon the nag held in readiness for him. “‘ Are you all right, sir?’? demanded Tom. ““ Quite,” replied the captain; and with these words he trotted rapidly away from the stable-door. While he is on his journey along the Paris road, we shall enlighten the reader a_ little with regard to his views and intentions. He had determined upon adopting a new course of life, and of calling to his aid honourable means to accomplish any aims to which he might aspire in future. He at the same time did not think it incompatible with his new resolutions to avail himself of any fortunate occurrence by which he might legitimately establish claims upon Mr. Pifpaf’s favour and forgiveness. He had anticipated what would be the conduct of the — Gomichooks (E(0)