The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE STEAM PACKET, 29 ‘“‘Chap’s a-vaitin’, sir,” said the young man, leaning himself with ' perfect nonchalance against the door-post. “Well, Tom, you must tell him, Tom, that he must call again—let me see, when shall I say 2—why—whenever he likes, Tom,” dbserved the captain in measured tones. ‘“‘ That’s rayther too unsaytisfactory, sir,” returned the young man, not offermg to move. ‘“ Think o’ summut that won’t look so much like gammon, if you can, sir. My ere eEBers was choked vith bacon von day, and I ’ve been afeard of it ever since.’ ‘“Mr, Thomas Gibbins,” said Captain te solemnly, ‘I have not admitted you to such familiarity with me as to warrant you to make use of this very incorrect language. Have the kindness to dismiss the hatter; and then please to return, as I wish to commune with you upon a certain subject. to, carnifex!”’ Mr. Thomas Gibbins nodded an assent to these commands; and, having fulfilled his master’s mission with the hatter, once more ascended to that gentleman’s garret. | ‘Sit down, Tom,” said Captain Pentonville, in a patronising manner. * | ‘¢Thank’ee, sir, I'll take a cheer,”’ returned Mr. Gibbins. ‘¢ Will you smoke a cigar, Tom ?”’ continued the captain, pushing the cigar-case towards him. “‘Since you’re so pressin’, sir, I won’t refuse,” said Tom; and he began to “ blow a cloud” accordingly. ‘‘ And help yourself to some grog, Tom,” added the captain. “I haven’t another tumbler—so, unless you like to run down stairs and borrow one of your mother’s, you must mix for yourself in that black- ing-bottle—it is clean.” ‘“‘T ain’t partickler, sir,’ said Mr. Gibbins—nor was he indeed; for it seemed quite indifferent to him if the spirit predominated over the water in his punch ;—so, as soon as he was comfortably settled, he turned towards the captain, and observed, “ Vell, sir, wot’s the natur ef the communion vich you vishes to have vith me ?” “A most important matter, Tom—an affair aw elyane a considerable change in your condition,” said the captain. “In a word, Mr. Thomas Gibbins, I am going to be married to a most nee and wealthy young lady,—and I want a servant—a livery-servant, mind—to accom- pany me ina little trip of a week or two, which I am about to undertake with my intended and her family.” ‘‘T’m your man, sir,” cried ‘Tom. “ Any livery prepared ?”’ “Not yet, Tom,” answered the cane < bane we will see about it directly. Then, as for wages z3 J (E(0) Gomichooks