The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 191 fears: but the officers will protect you—no harm can come to you with them.” ‘‘T am perfectly satisfied.” ‘¢ Are you ready?” inquired the magistrate of the officer. ‘*Tam, your worship.” he replied. ‘ And your fellow-officer—where is he ?” ‘‘Texpect him every moment, your worship,” replied the officer. ‘: He is just the man for the job.” ‘Do not lose more time than necessary.” ‘“‘No, your worship; though if he intends going, he’s gone by this time; and if not, he’ll be good fora few hours. You may come this way, if you please. Miss Morton,” said the officer to Mabel. ‘‘ His worship has nothing more to say to vou. Follow me if you please.” Mabel followed the officer out into an ante-room, where he said to her: ‘‘ Well, after what you have related as having gone through with him, I am not much surprised at your fears; but his worship, and I too, really thought you had imposed upon us, to screen the mendicant from the punishment of the graver crime.” *“Oh, no, no.” “Your presence here now sufficiently disproves that. But what did you do—where did vou hide yourself all night ?” ‘“‘TIt was very late when I left the house, and the greater part of the night I wandered about, not knowing where I was; but I came toa market, and sat down in a basket, till I fell asleep, and then walked about till I came here.” | “‘ And have you had no breakfast ?” ‘‘ None.” ‘‘ Goodness me!” said the officer, ‘‘ yours is a desperate case; why, I should have been dead by this time. Go without eating and drinking all this time! Why, bless my soul, ’m hungry at the thought! Sit down, and I'll get vou something, before my brother-officer comes in, for we must be off immediately.” So saying, he left the room. Mabel did feel sinking for want of sustenance and rest. How she bad continued to exist through her recent troubles and privations, she could not understand. The fact was, she had been a sufferer beyond the strength of maby; but it was the constant and great excitement that carried her through it. She paused in her thoughts, as she heard foot- steps of different people passing and repassing, fearful of hear- ing the one she most of all dreaded. Presently the officer returned with some coffee and toast he had procured from a neighboring coffee-shop, which he placed before her, saying at the same tine-—‘‘ Eat this, and be as quick as you can, in case Thorburn should come in, because we must start that instant.” The coffee refreshed her; and, by the time she had hastily finisbed her mea! the officer re-entered the room. ‘* Well,” he said, ‘‘I am glad to see you have finished it. You must now come with me, for the officer I was waiting for is come in. comicbooks. com