The String of Pearls (1850), p. 671

shilling in my left, so that I could not help myself a bit, and all the street laughing. Oh, I hate you!"
"She hates me!" said Ben. "Oh!"
"But she don't mean it, Ben," said Sir Richard.
"Do you think she doesn't, sir?"
"I am sure of it. Do you, now, Julia ?"
"Yes, Sir Richard, indeed I do, really now, for he is quite a horrid monster, and I only wonder they don't put him in one of the cages at the Tower along with the other wild beasts, and make a show of him. That's all that he is fit for."
"Oh, you aggravating darling," said Ben, making a dart at Julia, and catching her up in his arms as you would some little child. "How can you go on so to your Ben ?"
"Murder!" cried Julia.
"Oh, if you are going to have a fight for it," said Sir Richard, " I will go and wait down stairs, Julia."
Bang came a knock at the street-door.
"Oh, Ben, there's ma or pa," said Julia "Let me down directly. Do Ben—oh, pray do. Let me down, Ben."
"Do yer love your Ben?"
"Anything you like, only let me down."
"Very good. There yer is, then, agin on yer little mites of feet. Lor bless you, Sir Richard, that girl loves the very ground as I walks on, she does, and she has comed over me with her fascinations in such a way as never was known. Ain't she a nice 'un?—sleek and shiny, with a capital mane. But you should see her at feeding-time, Sir Richard, how nice she does it—quite delicate and pretty; and you should see her—"
The door of the room opened, and Hardman, the officer, made his appearance.
"Your humble servant, Sir Richard. I hope I have not kept you waiting long? I was only in the neighbourhood."
"No, Hardman, thank you, it's all right. I have not been here above a quarter of an hour."
"I am glad of that, sir. How do you do, Mr. Ben ?"
"Pretty well," said Ben, "only a little hungry and thirsty, that's all; but don't trouble yourself about that, Mr. Hardman; I always do get hungry when I look at Julia."
"I hope, Mr. Ben, that don't mean that you will dine off her some day when you are married?"
"Oh, lor, no. Bless her heart, no. She loves me more and more, Mr. Hardman."
"I am glad to here it, Ben—very glad to hear it. But I presume, Sir Richard, that you have some orders for me?"
"Why, yes, Hardman. There's that rascal Todd, you know, still, continues to elude us. What I want you to do is, to take charge entirely on the river, and to make what arrangements you like at the various quays and landing-places, and with all the watermen, so that he, shall not have a chance of escaping in that way."
"Certainly, sir; I will set about it directly."
"Do so, Hardman. Expense in this case is of no object, for the Secretary of State will guarantee all that; but of course I don't wish you to be extravagant on that account."
"I quite understand you, Sir Richard, and will do my best."
"That I am sure you will, Hardman; and now I will go. I shall feel no peace of mind until that man is dead, or in the cell again at Newgate."
Todd popped his head out from under the clothes, and making the most hideous face, he shook one of his clenched fists in the direction of front room.
It would have been some satisfaction to him to have given a loud howl of rage but he dared not venture upon it; so he was forced to content himself with the pantomime of passion instead of its vocal expression.