The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

THE VISITOR me 1259 Although both Mrs. Leyden and Henrietta felt in their hearts that the old gentleman did not mean to be cruel, but that on the contrary he probably meant to give them some relief, yet they could not help feeling a little shocked at the apparently blunt and unfeeling manner, amounting almost to coarseness and indelicacy, with which he spoke of the articles that were pledged, and which might have shown him how bitter had been the need that had reduced them to such straits. But he did not seem to take any notice of the emotions his words and manner thus excited; and having scrutinized the duplicates, he gathered them all up in a methodical way, wrapped them in paper, and thrust them into his capacious breeches pocket. ‘“T shall take care of these and look over them again at my leisure,’ he said. Then fixing his eyes upon Henrietta, he asked, ‘“‘ Do you like the stage, and do you want to keep omit?’ } She burst into tears, as if the very question were an insult to her pure and delicate feelings. ‘““T could worship the generous benefactor,’ cried Mrs. Leyden, “‘ who would enable that dear girl to quit a pro- fession which she abhors, and to which nothing but a dire necessity could have induced her to have recourse. When we were first reduced to distress, she endeavoured to sup- port us by needlework, but it was so precarious and so badly paid — ” “Of course it is!’ ejaculated the visitor. ‘‘ Don’t you know that in this Christian country, which gave twenty millions to emancipate the black slaves in the West Indies, there are swarms and swarms of white slaves for whom this same Christian country would not voluntarily give twenty million pence? But no matter; let us talk of your own affairs. Do you think, ma’am, that you could bear removal from this wretched den to a little better lodging, if such were provided for you? ”’ Mrs. Leyden in a few words — but these were uttered in a tone of deepest feeling — gave the gentleman to under- stand that she thought and hoped her indisposition had been produced, and indeed was now continued, more by want of proper nourishment and by grief and anxiety than by anything more serious; and while she was speaking Henrietta gazed with mingled hope and suspense upon the Gomicdoo cS (C(O)