The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

eo THE VISITOR 257 Vivaldi, with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, and she told me of your position, also of what she had given you. I suppose a part of the money has gone to dress this little fellow out in these new clothes? Well, he’s a pretty little boy. What’s your name, sir? ”’ “ Charley Leyden, please sir,’”’ responded the child. ‘“ And I suppose you are very fond of your sister? ”’ asked the gentleman. ‘Oh, yes sir. She is so good and kind to me, and she eave me these new clothes Just now.” “And parted your hair for you, and made you look smart, eh, my boy? ”’ For a moment Charley was at a loss to understand whether the gentleman spoke in a scolding manner or not, and he looked up with a somewhat frightened glance toward his sister. “Oh, I am not angry,” exclaimed the visitor, drawing the boy toward him and smoothing down his hair; “ you are a nice little fellow, but you ought to have more colour upon those cheeks. Well, we shall see. Madam,’’ he continued, turning toward Mrs. Leyden, ‘ you are an invalid. Pray, have you been ill long? ”’ ‘““T have been suffering much for several months past,” ) replied Mrs. Leyden, “‘ and if it were not for that dear, sweet girl, | know not what would have become of me and her little brother,’’ she added, the tears trickling down her cheeks. ‘““ How much do you earn a week? ’’ asked the gentleman, somewhat abruptly fixing her eyes on Henrietta. “ Eight shillings, sir,’’ was the reply. “ Well, you had five pounds given you by Signora Vivaldi last night. Let us see what you have done with it.” “ First of all, sir,’”’? returned Henrietta, “I paid three weeks’ rent, which we had unfortunately fallen in arrear — ”’ “ How much was that? ”’ “ Seven shillings and sixpence, sir. We pay half a crown a week for this room — ” “It would be dear at a gift,” ejaculated the visitor, whose principal characteristic seemed to be a strange and almost uncouth sort of bluntness. ‘ Well, go on, what did you do next? ”’ ' “I paid the chemist, sir, who had been kind enough to CONNIEDOOKS (CO)