The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

280 THE STEAM PACKET. the villain, and who so wanted him to marry Belinda, Poor girl!— she ’I] be the laughing-stock of all our friends ! ” ‘“‘ Remember we have forgiven the false step which she took, but which she retrieved in time by her prudence,” exclaimed Mr. Pifpaf, holding his bulbous nose aside with the finger and thumb of his left hand, while he shaved himself with the right: “remember that, my us.” last night, when she did not return,” said Mrs. Pifpaf. ‘‘ But what line of conduct do you intend to pursue with regard to Pentonville ? He was evidently a-party to the fraud, and seems to me nothing more than a common-swindler himself.” dear; and never let the poor girl hear ee or angry word from ‘“T’m sure I thought my poor head would have driven me distracted | “By his conduct in rescuing Belinda, I shall consider that he has atoned for a portion of his offences,’’ answered Mr. Pifpaf; ‘but as I must—I mean we must, my dear—now look ee him as a mere 9) adventurer. * Without a shilling,” aflded Mrs. Pifpaf. “© Without a shilling,”’ echoed her husband, wiping his razor upon a curl paper,—‘ and as he has evidently deceived us with regard to his own means, connexions, and position, we have no alternative but to cut his acquaintance henceforth. I shall summon the committee immediately after breakfast “4 “Pray, Mr. Pifpaf,” interrupted his better half, ‘‘ have done with committees and nonsense, and think how we are to avoid all these disgraceful exposures. Belinda deluded on one side—Aramintha de- ceived on another—a nobleman turning out a tailor, and, perhaps, the 93 captain no captain after all “That remains to be seen,” said Mr. Pifpaf, who certainly felt some- what inclined to favour Pentonville’s cause: ‘‘ Belinda told us that the captain was anxious to'give some explanation this morning—we may as well hear it, you know; and x ‘And give him Motte; chance of deceiving us, eh, Mr. Pifpaf?” said the lady, impatiently. Roy as ‘‘ Well, well, my dear—we shall see,” éfed her husband. ‘“ You must aanelaniet that Aramintha’s peace of mind——” ‘‘She had better suffer a little vexation than marry a swindler,” exclaimed Mrs. Pifpaf. ‘‘ Really my poor head will go quite distracted !” “You saw how she took on last night—or rather this morning, when’ Belinda said that the captain was in the fraud,” observed Mr. Pifpaf. ‘¢ Perhaps there may be a loophole——” ‘‘ No—not the least,”’ interrupted Mrs. Pifpaf, emphatically. “ All ‘ | GomiGgbooks (E(0)