The String of Pearls (1850), p. 64

THE STRING OP PEARLS.

following morning she would go to the house of her old school friend, which was in the immediate vicinity, and hold a conversation with her.
"I shall hear something," she said, "at least of a kindly and a consoling character; for what Arebella may want in calm and steady judgment, she tally compensates for in actual feeling, and what is most of all, I know I can trust her word implicitly, and that my secret will remain as safely locked m her breast as it were in my own."
It was something to come to a conclusion to ask advice, and she felt that some portion of her anxiety was lifted from her mind by the mere fact that she had made so firm a mental resolution, that neither danger nor difficulty should deter her from seeking co know the fate of her lover. She retired to rest now with a greater hope, and while she £ courting repose, notwithstanding the chance of the discovered images that fancy may present to her in her slumbers, we will take a glance at the parlour below, and see how far Mrs. Oakley is conveying out the pacific intention she had so tacitly expressed, and how the supper is going forward, which, with not the best grace in the world, she is preparing for her husband, who for the first time in his life had began to assert his rights, and for big Ben, the beef-eater, whom she as cordially disliked as it was possible for any woman to detest any man. Mrs. Oakley by no means preserved her taciturn demeanour, for after a little she spoke, saying—
"Well, I don't know," said Ben the beef-eater, "sausages are all very well in their way, but you need such a plaguey lot of them; for if you only eat them one at a time, how soon will you get through a dozen or two."
"A dozen or two," said Mrs. Oakley; "why, there are only five to a pound."
"Then," said Ben, making a mental calculation, "then, I think, ma'am, that you ought not to get more than nine pounds of them, and that will be a matter of forty-five mouthfuls for us."
"Get nine pounds of them," said Mr. Oakley, "if they be wanted; I know Ben has an appetite."
"Indeed," said Ben, "but I have fell off lately, and don't take to my wittals as I used; you can order, missus, if you please, a gallon of half-and-half as you go along. One must have a drain of drink of some sort; and mind you don't be going to any expense on my account, and getting anything but the little snack I have mentioned, for ten to one I shall take supper when I get to the Tower; only human nature is weak, you know, missus, and requires something to be a continually a holding of it up."
"Certainly," said Mr. Oakley, "certainly, have what you like, Ben; just say the word before Mrs. Oakley goes out, is there anything else?"
"No, no," said Ben, " oh dear no, nothing to speak of; but if you should pass a shop where they sells fat bacon, about four or five pounds, cut into rashers, you'll find, missus, will help down the blessed sausages."
"Gracious Providenee," said Mrs. Oakley, "who is to cook it?"
"Who is to cook it, ma'am? why the kitchen fire, I suppose; but mind ye if the man aint got any sausages, there's a shop where they sells biled beef at the corner, and I shall be quite satisfied if you brings in about ten or twelve pounds of that. You can make it up into about half a dozen sandwiches."
"Go, my dear, go at once," said Mr. Oakley, " and get Ben his supper. I am quite sure he wants it, and be as quick as you can."
"Ah," said Ben, when Mrs. Oakley was gone, " I didn't tell you how I was sarved last week at Mrs. Harveys. You know they are so precious genteel there that they don't speak above their blessed breaths for fear of wearing themselves out; and they eats down in a chair as if it were balanced only on one leg, and a little more one way or t'other would upset them. Then, if they sees a crumb a laying on the floor they rings the bell, and a poor half-starved devil of a servant comes and says, 'Did you ring, ma'am?' and then they says, 'Yes, bring a dust