The String of Pearls; or, The Barber of Fleet Street — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

d, bot in the iN lism THE STRING OF PEARLS. 365 | ‘* Had you forgotten, Arabella Wilmot ¢ Had you forgotten your father? Nay, had you forgotten the brave Colonel Jeffery 2” “No, no! I ought not to forget any, when so many have so kindly remem- bered me, and you too, sir, I ought not, and will not forget you, for you have been a kind friend to me.” “ Nay, I am nothing.” * Seek not, sir, to disparage what you have done, you have been all kindness to me.”’ Before he was aware of what she was about, Johanna had seized the hand of Sir Richard Blunt, and for one brief moment touched it with her lips. The good magistrate was sensibly affected. “‘God bless me!” said Mr. Orton, “‘ something very big keeps blocking up the whole of my window.” They all looked, and as they were silent at that moment, they heard a voice from the street, say— “Come! Come, my dear! Don’t set the water-works a-going. Always remember, that easy does it. You come in here, and have something to eat, if you won’tgohome. Lor bless me! what will they think has become of me at the tower ?” “ Why, it is Ben!” cried Johanna. ‘Ben?’ said Ann. ‘ Whois Ben?” “ Hush! Stop,” said Sir Richard, ‘“‘1 pray you, stop.” Johanna would have rushed out to speak to Ben, who certainly was at the window of the fruiterer’s shop, with Arabella Wilmot upon his arm, endeavour= ing to persuade her to enter, and partake of some refreshment. ‘¢ T will bring him in,” said Sir Richard. ‘* Retire into the parlour, I beg of you, Miss Oakley, for he will make quite a scene in the shop if you do not.”’ Johanna knew well Ben’s affection for her, and doubted not, but that as Sir Richard said, he would not scruple to show it, even in the open shop, probably to the great edification of the passers by. She accordingly retired to the parlour with Ann. Ina few moments, Sir Richard Blunt ushered in both Ben and Arabella “Vilmot. Arabella with a_ shriek of joy, rushed into Johanna’s arms, and then with excess of emotion she fainted. Ben caught up Johanna fairly off her feet, as though he had been dancing some little child, and holding her in a sitting posture upon one arm, he said— ‘Bless you! Easy does it. Easy I say—does—it. Don’t you think I’m a crying. It’sa tea-chest has flew in my eye from that grocer’s shop opposite. Oh, you little rogue, you. Easy doesit. What you have got them what do you call ’ems on, have you?” The kiss that Ben gave her might have been heard at Sweeney Todd’s, and then when prevailed upon to sit down, he would insist upon holding her fast upon his knee. “T must go,” said Johanna, and then looking at Arabella, she added—* Let me go, before she awakens from her transient forgetfulness to beg me to stay.” Ben was furious at the idea of Johanna going back to Todd’s, but Sir Richard, overruled him, and after some trouble, got him to consent. Then turning to Johanna, he said— ‘ | ‘‘The moment night comes on, you will have some visitors, and remember, Miss Oakley, that St. Dunstan’s 1s the watch-word. Whoever comes to you with that in his mouth, is a friend.”’ | ‘“‘ { will remember, and now farewell and God bless and reward you for all your goodness to me. I will live for the many who love me yet, and whom I love in this world.” * *% % 2 M R Was it not a world of wonders that amid all this, Johanna did not go mad? Surely something more than mortal strength must have sustained that young and innocent girl in the midst of all these strange events. No human SSS prices Veg ‘ f c He 2 i ai Cis z Eeeeereee SS: S 2 - ee — as ees an — — SSS SSS SS — SSD RS ee Se ee Sn et ee == = = = == aes = == = = = ee eee naa are eee — erence actor nent = = — Fe a a peti TSS=, A OS Se a = Se Sere SS = : ane sre eT ane ee ENO anc aaa o 4 | } comicbooks.com