Colin Clink, Volume 1 (of 3)

nt discourse of his while in that pleasing condition. The mother of our hero partially discl

ng so threateningly, had passed a solitary evening by the side of her small fire, unnoticed even by the neighbours humble as herself; for adve

o her bosom, was silently engaged in fulfilling, as Voltaire has it, one of the most abstruse laws of natural philosophy. Having at length resolved this problem perfectly to his satisfaction, Master Colin betook himself, with the utmost complacency, to sleep, just as though his mother had had no trouble whatever in the world with him; or, as though Mr. Longstaff, th

it had previously received died away and left it again almost at rest. Everything was silent, save one or two of those quiet homely sounds, which fall on the ear with a sensation that appears to render even silence itself still more silent. The solitary ticking of an old caseless Dutch clock on the wall was interrupted only by the smothered rocking of the cradle, wherein lay the yet unconsc

ace, peace! Slee

o a momentary chant of t

ld woman, good

ng ago been gone to rest, everything was as si

overtaken in a similar manner, had instinctively covered her face with her hand, and fallen into that imperfect state of rest in which

said one. "Don't

s a-bed," obs

rn to kick her and her young 'un into th' street to-night, and the devil's in it if I don't, dark

table, an assistant, and Mr. Longstaff, the steward,-in a state of considerable mental ele

n; "You see me, don't you? You see me, I say? Mark that. Did you expect me, I say, missis? No, no, I think not. You thought you were safe enough, but I've got you! I've got you, I tell you, a

mploringly; but she was insta

u hav'n't paid it? or are you going to swear that to me, an' all?-'Cause if you are, I wish you may die in a ditch, and your baby under you! Now, look you, I'm going to show

inal

taff, than she screamed, and fell on her knees; crying out in broken exclamations, "O

, who now began to scream lustily in his cradle, the steward disregarded all, until, finding prayers and e

become of m

vice. He 'll never be good for aught in this world but to hang on th' work'us, and pull money out of other people's pockets. Go on, Bill;-go on, my lad:-put 'em al

ndering him, in this brief period of time, apparently much more intoxicated than he was on first enterin

ame time tapping with his fingers the back of that upon

answered in th

you got him? Bless his old pendulum! we 'll stop his ticking v

s addressed, unless one look of reproachful scorn, which she cast in t

in a more subdued tone:-"I don't wonder-though he is married, and all that so

th an evident struggle to overcome the sobs that were rising in her throat, so as to enable her to speak distinctly, she stood up befo

aby, without a roof to put my head under, because you may have power to do it, and no humanity left in you. But, I say, he is a mean contemptible man,-whether it be you, or any one else,-who can thus insult me, bad as I am. I can bear anything but that, a

ur somewhat rapidly, and to look

yet you seek to be revenged on me,-" she continued, growing more passionate as she proceeded, "you

two other persons. He leaned half over his chair-back, with his dull eyes fixed, though evidently in utter absence of mind, upon the ceiling; while a visib

wrapped him warmly round with all the clothes it contained. She the

ky than under this stripped roof, we cannot do much worse. Put on all t

few trifles as she wished to retain; and afterwards, in accordance wi

"hav'n't you done yet? You mustn't take any notice of this woman, mi

arms, and Fanny by her side, passed out of the door-way of the inner room. Mr. Longstaff looked up, and, seeing them prepared for leaving the place,

nt none of yours. But, before I go, let me tell you I know that Mr. Lupton

nsider what might be the squire's opinion about such an off-hand and barbarous proceeding. He began to feel some misgivings as to the legal consequences of his

s not born to be blown about by every fool's breath that m

creatures beneath that roof, which, an hour before, with all its poverty, seemed to offer as s