The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWINS 185 You have just entered a new week, besides which I am en- titled to another clear week’s notice, but we will say nothing about the notice, and therefore if you pay me the week I shall be satisfied. I should however advise you to leave as soon as you can, — not, my dear children, that 1 want to get rid of you, but because the sooner you begin to economize in every way, the better for yourselves. And so, miss, you would like to get needlework? Well, and very praiseworthy, too. I should recommend you to apply to Mr. Samuel Emanuel, the great clothier in the City. Any one will tell you where it is, and you are certain to get employment there. But as for you, Master Ashton, I really am at a loss what to suggest. If I hear of anything, I will let you know. And now let me offer you each a glass of wine and a piece of cake, and then you had better go and see Mrs. Giles in Park Street at once.”’ Mrs. Macaulay was gratefully thanked for all the advice she had tendered, but the proffered refreshments were declined, as the twins were resolved to delay not a moment in carrying out their new plans. They accordingly set off again through the Regent’s Park to Camden Town, and when they were gone, Mrs. Macaulay, who never let the grass grow under her feet, put up in her window a card announcing “Furnished Lodgings to Let.’’ She experienced a slight twinge of conscience at having bargained for the twenty-five shillings for the rent of the current week, seeing that it was only just entered upon, and that the orphans would most likely move away in the evening or early on the morrow, so that she would have the chance of letting her rooms again at once. But she tranquillized that remorseful feeling by the reflection that she might have demanded a clear week’s notice, or, in default thereof, an additional sum of twenty- five shillings. And then, too, the offer of the cake and wine was another salve for her conscience. It was true that it had been declined, but it was the young people’s lookout, the offer had not been the less made, and she was enabled to congratulate herself on her own generosity. So, altogether, Mrs. Macaulay came to the conclusion that she had acted kindly rather than with harshness, and she proceeded to regale herself with the good things which had been refused by the orphans. In about a couple of hours they returned, having made EORNIClOOKS (C(O)