The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

108 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. residence to qualify him to understand its various ins and outs, and in this consisted its great utility to the owners. They entered a erg: e, and walked but a few yards down, when Dashing Ned of Newington opened a door and entered a sitting-room, a kind of kitchen, in which was a large fireplace and a fire that shed a genial warmth over the apartment, while they could hear the huge logs crackle on the hearth, and the roar of the flames as they rushed up the large chimney. Ned closed the door, while the mendicant wondered where he was till the landlord came with a light, and then he said: ~ ‘“Now, then, let me have a safe crib to stow my prize in, who is a little refractory, and safe keeping is an object.’ ‘You shall be accommodated,” said the landlord, in a deep, gruff voice, ‘‘come along.” They followed him further back into the house, and then they came to a curiously-fitted door, which, in fact, seemed but an artificial’ opening, that would have escaped the most careful scrutiny, so carefully was it done, and so well favored by the peculiar position of the pa as regarded light. ‘¢Go in,” said the landlord. ‘*Come, Mabel, tis useless to question the landlord; he will tell you he cannot interfere in matters that don’t concern him.” “Yes,” said the landlord; ‘‘I never interfere in another per- son’s business, so tumble in. The place is snug enough, and only wants a contented mind to make any one perfectly happy and at home in it.” i “6 God help me,” sighed Mabel, ‘‘ for man will not—I am help- ess, She accordingly walked through the opening, for she could not resist; she would have suffered violence, and they would have carried her through, and she could not bear the idea of even being touched by these men. The tears trickled down her cheeks, as she walked up the stairs, followed closely by the land- lord and that mysterious and fearful man, the mendicant. She went up two pair of stairs, and at the landing of either was a strong door that was painted over the same as the wall, to prevent the ascent of any one they did not wish to enter. Besides, the second deor on each landing was so much like the wall, that it would be difficult to distinguish it. This prevented either the ascent or descent of sounds; so, if a refractory person were hidden there, and the officers were below searching, they would be deceived, and believe they were on a wrong scent. After the second landing, he went along a little passage, and then opening the door, he entered the apartment, saying: ‘‘ You must make yourself easy here for atime; you shall have a fire, and that will give you light and warmth.” She entered a small apartment, at one end of which wasa stone fireplace, and in it placed sufficient fuel, to which the landlord set a light, and in a few moments it began to roar up the chimney. ‘‘ Here,” said the mendicant, ‘‘ you must remain; and let me tell you, you bad better take things kindly, because if not you comicbooks. com