The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

188 THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER. slightly have aroused her jealousy; for despite Tim’s regular habits and general character for steadiness, she was as susceptible as most wives on the subject of con- jugal fidelity. But the allusion to a body and the canal had aroused a far worse fear. | “‘ Pray do not jest with me!” she exclaimed, clasp- ing her hands together, and fixing on the man a look of anguish, which made even his callous heart feel a momentary regret for the pain he had inflicted. “I am his wife—the mother of his children. Has there been a body found in the canal?” Mike remained doggedly silent. “No,” said one of the girls, who at first had joined with the rest in the laugh; “‘ there has not—at least as far as he knows. He is the greatest liar in Man- chester.” “‘ There has!” roared the ruffian, furiously. “* There has not,” repeated the girl, ‘* and you know it. Never mind him, missus. Go home. Most likely your husband will be back by the time you get there. Mike would tell a lie, and swear to anything, for a spree. Jem Mills was quodded at last ’size, only be- cause Mike gave him a character.” This time the laugh was turned against the fellow so completely, that he became savage, and, turning round, struck the poor girl—whose heart, vice, and its consequent degradation, had not entirely corrupted—a violent blow on the temple, only for speaking the truth: an act of brutality which so disgusted several COniiclooecl SS (SO