The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 191 appeared up the cellar steps followed by her four-footed companion, “‘ that was an escape. If that cussed dog comes here agin, I’ll give him a taste of something to stop his barking. I have no time to lose,” he added. ‘* The police will soon be upon the scent. If I had been missed there would not have been such a hue and cry forme. But then I’ve neither wife nor dog to care for me. I must see old Grindem directly. There’sa ship sails for ’Meriky to-morrow.” It was in consequence of this resolution that Flin, the very same day, called at the office of the partners in Canon Street. His conversation with the senior partner, which Small overheard and resolved to profit by, is‘already known to our readers. With a heavy heart the wife of the poor weaver returned home to her children, who eagerly assailed her, on her arrival, with questions for their father— the gossiping neighbour, in whose charge she had left the cottage, having informed them that something had happened to him. Little Tim, who was accustomed to eat his porridge seated upon his father’s knee, roared lustily for his daddy, and refused to eat for some time without him. It was past eight o’clock by the time breakfast was over, which Meg had vamly tried to partake of: she could not—her heart was full—the food seemed as if it would choke her. Leaving the house this time in the care of the eldest girl, with strict injunctions to look after her brother, she sallied forth with the inten COniiclooecl SS (SO