The Widowed Bride — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

ea THE WIDOWED BRIDE. “Don’t be afraid!” said Rena, encouragingly, and: she took both <Alice’s hands firmly in hers as the keys grate harshly in the lock without. But they might have spared themselves their fears for ti present at least—it was only a surly looking official, witn hair cut so closely to his head that it looked like bristles, who carried tin bowls of very sky-blue milk with a tin plate of crackers. «<Dinner,” was his oruff remark. ‘‘And be quick about it—you comes on as soon as his worship sets.” ‘What does he mean, Rena?” whispered Alice, greedily beginning to eat her br ead and milk, for she was nearly fam- ished. But Rena could not tell her, and the bristly-haired man, making his appearance soon after, summoned them to fol- low him. “Court’s S Up, said he, “and it won’t do to keep his wor- ship waitin’. Come!” “Who’s his worship?” timidly asked Rena, rising to obey. he man stared at her with dull, fishy eyes of surprise. ‘Don’t ye know?” he asked. ‘*Why, he’s Sir John!” And before Rena could ask any more questions she was 3 _ led down a long corridor to a large, light apartment, wains- eoted around in polished oak, with a rail extending around - three sides, behind which sat a portly old gentlema., in cold spectacles, half a dozen others, and two clerks wr iting _ busily ata desk. - A crowd of people, of all ages and sexes, were gathered around the door opposite, appar ently attracted thither by no stronger motive than idle curiosity, and in a | sort of railed-in box at the left Rena and Alice started to see Mother Meg herself, in the identical red camlet cloak — with two policemen behind her. “These are the children, eh?” said the gold-spectacled old » gentleman, looking up, as the policeman who had made the arrest stepped forward and took Rena’s hand from that of the bristle-headed official. **Yes, your worship, them is the children. This ’ere wit the black eyes was the one as had the bundle.” _ The old gentleman looked kindly at the two little girls as they were placed in a box corresponding to that. oceupied by _ Mother Meg. 25 Rena thought, as her timid eyes met his glance, that she ~~ - comic 900ks.cO =< “ > + -—- > ee. >