The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

92 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. pushed into a corner, she took desperate courage, and. commenced : “He came to look for some papers.” *“* Papers ?”? repeated Tim, uneasily. “‘ Ay, which he said poor Gridley, in his madness, had abstracted from the office of his employer, and given to you to take care of.” ‘“And what did you reply?” said her husband, fixing an inquiring glance upon her. ‘That you had no papers.” *¢ That was right, old girl.” “ At last he offered ten guineas, if I—if—” “If what?” ‘If I would search the house.” “© Well.” “Oh, Tim, we were starving! Poor Mary had had nothing to eat since last night, and the boy was roaring for bread. Ten sovereigns—bright, golden, glittering sovereigns! What do you suppose I did?” ** Refuse them,” said her husband, calmly. Meg burst into tears. ‘Refuse them,” repeated her husband, “as an honest wife and a good woman should do. I wish I had been here. Curse him! to come and tempt poor folk with the chink of his money—the old oily- tongued rascal !”’ “Tim,” said the poor woman, “ don’t be angry?”’ ““T am not angry.” ‘¢T consented, Tim,”’ said the woman, desperately ; COniiclooecl SS (SO