The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

ee id THE STEAM PACKET, — | 265. ‘‘Tom,” said the captain, when that functionary entered the room, **T have sent for you upon a matter of some moment.”’ ; ‘“‘ Then, sir, I1’ll take a cheer, if you hav’n’t no partickler objection against the formiliarity,” observed Tom, coolly seating himself; ‘‘ for if so be it’s a wery serious matter o’ bisness, ve can discuss it more comfortabler sittin’ than standin’.” “Take the chair by all means, Tom,” said the captain smiling. “* My good fellow,” he added, after a moment’s pause, ““my own affairs are now drawing to a crisis. It is possible that I shall to-mor- row find myself an outcast—a beggar—a man of ruined fortune and infamous reputation; or I shall be the real friend, without acting as the deceiver, of Mr. Pifpaf and his family.” “Von is a orkard alternaytive,” murmured Mr, Gibbins, slapping his thigh with his open palm. ‘In the latter case,’ continued the captain, heedless of this inter- ruption, “ you shall share in my good luck; but, in the former one you will be thrown upon the world without resources—in a strange country, and afar from home.” ‘Ts there any wagrant acts in this here country, sir?’’ demanded Tom seriously; ‘‘ cos,’”’ he acded, after an instant’s pause, “‘it’s wery possible as we shall both become liable to the meaning o’ that there stattit.” ‘““ No—not yet, at all events, Tom,” replied the captain. ‘‘ Here is the amount of wages already due to you, and five pounds beyond. Take them—and should anything unpleasant happen to me, return immediately to England :—it is my wish—my command. Do you understand me ?”’ ‘‘T understand, sir, as vell as a young gen’leman as was edicated at the parochal cost can understand the English langvidge,” answered Tom; ‘ but understandin’ and doin’ is too wastly different things.” ‘Then you won’t obey me, Tom ? ” “‘T should rayther think not,” doggedly returned Mr. Gibbins. “Turn me avay? vell and good, Captain Pentonweal—turn away the young feller as vould go through fire and water for you any day in the veek, and who would eat dry bread or horse-beans, so long as he fol- lowed you ;—but you can’t perwent him from stayin’ in the same place as yourself, to have a eye on your interests.”’ Tears trickled down the faithful domestic’s cheeks as he uttered these words. “Tom, you are a faithful fellow—a faithful fellow, indeed,” conti- nued Pentonville, whose eyes also saw through a haze; “‘ but I implore —I beseech ——”’ | Gomichooks (eto)