The Curse Upon Mitre Square — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

26 THE CURSE UPON MITRE SQUARE. off became more difficult to accomplish. The terrible passions had now begun to gain the upper hand, and were pointing out the pleasing downward course that ends in sin. The one bright episode in this narrative of woe may now be recorded. ‘The Prior’s kindness met with some return. Martin grew to revere him much in the light in which a son regards his father, and it was at this time that the Prior questioned him on his former life before entering the monastic career. A tale of poverty it was—of a boyhood without parents; but in his youth a change occurred. A man of high position caused him to be educated, and, unknown to him, doled out sufficient money for the purpose. Who this benefactor was he had no suspicion, but was told that when he should be old enough he was to become a monk at Holy Trinity, Aldgate. This was all he knew concerning himself, and of his relations one only did he remember—a sister, a little older than himself, whom he had not seen for years. The Prior and Martin took long rambles together, and, notwithstanding the disparity in years and station, entertained for one another a sincere regard. But, with many and varied duties to attend to, Handcock did not see his pupil more than once or twice a week. By his orders Martin was put on the sick list, and spent the greater part of his time alone, and having been now /over a year in the monastery, was allowed greater freedom, and could go Eomicbooks co