The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

AN EXPLOSION 187 girl, whimpering once more; ‘“ for he seduced me, he did; he made me go astray; and if father will take me home again, I’ll be good and steady in future.” “Well, young woman,” remarked the magistrate, ‘ we shall see what your father says presently. And now answer me one or two questions. Did Sneaksby know how you came by the ten pounds that you gave him? ”’ “To be sure he did, your worship,’ was the reply. “ I told him that aunt gave it to me, and he said the Lord had need of it. So I handed it over to him. He’d such power over me then, he had.”’ ‘* And has he ever paid you any portion of it back again? ”’ inquired the magistrate. ‘ Not a farthing, your worship, although he’s had plenty of money since, from Salem and other places. And, what’s more, the New Lights are building him and Brother Paxwax both beautiful houses — ”’ “ If this isn’t a reason to make your worship send these rascals to prison, I’ll be hanged if I know what would,” exclaimed Mr. Jones. ‘‘ As for my daughter, I’ll take her home again and forgive her this time — ”’ ‘““And I won’t do it no more, father,’”’ cried Ann, turning in an appealing manner toward her parent. “ But will mother forgive me? ”’ ‘Yes, yes, it shall be all right,’’ answered her father. ‘“Come, don’t cry, my love,’”’ whispered Mrs. Piggleberry, in a soothing tone. ‘’ I know it was all my fault for taking you to Salem and throwing you in the way of them New Lights. A precious state of grease they’ve brought you to after all.” ‘“Now, one more question, young woman,” said the magis- trate. ‘‘ Was the prisoner Paxwax cognizant of the affair of the ten-pound note? ”’ “ He knew all about it, your worship,” replied Ann Jones; “in fact it was him that went and changed it the moment I gave it to them.” “That will do,” observed the magistrate; ‘‘ we need not go into the case of the umbrella. Now, prisoners, what have you to say in your defence? ”’ “ Verily, the young woman hath spoken falsely,”’ said the Reverend Nathaniel Sneaksby, in his habitual canting drone; “and thou, O righteous judge! wilt not be swayed by Satan COnniclooOoKs (©)