The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

258 REYNOLDS’ WORKS give us credit for some little medicines that my mother required. ‘T’hen I bought some tea and sugar, some sago, and a few other little things that I thought would do my mother good. I also redeemed some linen from the pawn- broker’s,’’ added Henrietta, in a trembling voice and with blushing cheeks. “Linen? I suppose for your own wear? ”’ ‘No, sir, to make my mother more comfortable,’ answered Henrietta, with a look that showed she was somewhat hurt by the question. ‘“ Well, and then you bought these fine clothes for the little fellow here, eh? ”’ “Yes, sir; he was almost in rags. The suit he has now on cost fifteen shillings. I know it was a great deal to give in our condition, but, poor child, I could not bear to see him as he was,’ and the tears rolled down Henrietta’s pale cheeks. — ‘“ Now you have told me all you bought for your mother and the boy, what did you buy for yourself? Come,” exclaimed the gentleman, somewhat peremptorily, “‘ show me the new dress or new shawl, whatever it was.” ‘““T can assure you, sir,’ cried Mrs. Leyden, perceiving that her daughter was distressed by the question, ‘“‘ that this dear girl expended not a single sixpence upon herself; no, not even to the redemption of her Sunday clothing from the pawnbroker’s.”’ “Oh!” muttered the visitor. ‘‘ Have you many things in pledge? ”’ ‘“ Everything,’ replied Mrs. Leyden, bursting into tears. ‘“T don’t know much about those sort of things,” said the gentleman, “ but I believe that the pawnbroker gives you duplicates, does he not? Come, let me see them all.” Mrs. Leyden made an affirmative sign to Henrietta, who forthwith produced from a drawer a considerable quantity of pawnbrokers’ tickets, which with trembling hands and blushing cheeks she laid upon the table. “You have not always been poor,”’ said the gentleman, as he examined the duplicates one after another. “‘ Here is one for a ring, another for a watch, another for a pair of earrings; then we have gowns, blankets, sheets— God bless me! what a miscellaneous assortment of things, even down to petticoats and stockings! ”’ CONNIE NO KS (E(0)