The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

~ STRUGGLES 243 Ashton approached the door, he suddenly looked around, and with a coarse grin said, ‘‘ Ah, young o ‘oman! it’ S easier to take things there than to git ’em out agin.” It was not that the fellow ill-naturedly intended to wound the poor girl’s feelings, but his words had that effect, piercing indeed like a barbed arrow into her heart, for she was in that desponding, almost wretched state of mind, when any inci- dent of this sort suddenly assumes the aspect of an ominous prediction to be fearfully fulfilled. With almost a preter- human effort she kept back the tears that were again ready to start forth from her beauteous black eyes, and in a fit of desperation she rushed into the shop. The pawnbroker, with spectacles upon his nose and pen stuck behind his ear, bent a scrutinizing glance upon the young girl, so as to assure himself, as far as such survey would, that she had not stolen the articles she came to pledge, and then he examined them. She was ready to sink with shame during the process, and all the more so, as in the middle of it a couple of ill-looking half-tipsy women came in, with brazen effrontery in their looks, for they were not hu- miliated at the thought of being seen in such a place. The pawnbroker asked her how much she required upon the articles, but she was so confused that she was unable to utter a word. The man’s experience in such matters at once enabled him to detect the difference between shrinking bash- fulness and conscious dishonesty; he therefore received the pledges, handed her over thirty shillings, together with a small ticket, and Christina hurried out of the shop, infinitely relieved at escaping from the coarse looks and jeering whispers of the two women. She purchased provisions, and reéntered the lodging. When her brother returned from his unavailing errand, his eyes instantaneously glanced from the food which was spread upon the table, toward his sister, and he burst into tears. He comprehended in a moment the generosity of her purpose in sending him temporarily out of the way, and he embraced her fervently. But then a painful idea smote him, and through his tears he again glanced — but now with anxious inquiry — toward Christina. She comprehended what he meant, and at once reassured him by explaining what she had done, and that the little memorials which they possessed of their long dead mother had not been touched. They sat com a LOOKOL KS (E(O)