The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

78 REYNOLDS’ WORKS bone — for it was a mere bone — upon a cracked dish was only fit to become a dog’s portion, and not to furnish a meal for a hungry man.. Unfortunately Mr. Pollard could not overrule nature’s cravings, though he was always endeavour- ing to persuade himself that he could not afford to gratify them, and that he should be ruined if he did. Thus, though the wretched man really longed for a good substantial meal, and could have devoured it too at any other person’s expense, if favoured with an invitation to supper, he nevertheless tried to pick a last morsel from that mutton bone which really had nought left upon it. Presently the huge door of the room slowly opened, and Mrs. Webber made her appearance. “Well, is Alice gone?’’ demanded Mr. Pollard, thus alluding to the maid of all work. ‘Yes, sir, she has gone,” was the housekeeper’s response, delivered in aloud, shrill tone on account of her master’s deaf- ness. ‘‘ And what’s more, the slut grumbled because she said I did not give her enough bread and cheese to take home for her supper.”’ “Ah! you are a good woman, Mrs. Webber,’’ exclaimed Pollard, —‘“‘a very good woman, — thrifty and econom- ical. You are the only housekeeper who has ever yet shown a regard to my interests.”’ “J always mean to do so, sir,” rejoined the woman, with an air of great obsequiousness, notwithstanding that she had to ery out in that shrill manner. ‘I have let the parlour fire go out, sir,’’ she continued, “‘ as I don’t suppose the lady you have been expecting for the last few days will make her appearance this evening? ”’ “Dear me, how provoking that she does not come,”’ ejaculated Pollard. ‘‘ She wrote and said she should be with me in a few days back, and here, every day since, have I been having a fire kept in the parlour, and little extras in the larder, because, you see, as I have already told you, Mrs. - Webber, I must ask her to stay a day or two with me.” “Well, sir, of course you know best,’’ responded the housekeeper, ‘‘ but I can’t help thinking that you are putting yourself to a mem unnecessary ©xpense on account i. this Mrs. Rayner.” “Ah! but she can’t very well help making me a little present,’ ejaculated the lawyer, ‘‘ when I pay her over her CONNIE OO KS (E(0)