Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-05-29

| heard Curlwcll's voice in the shop, and
from his conversation l learned he was
still in love with Patty did not remain
long with her, for one day she lost me in
hackney coach. And then passed in
to different hands. 1t happened thus,
CHAPTER XIV.
A HOUSE IN BLOOMSBURY AGAIN MEET
PATTY BUTLER.
The coachman had driven to his stand );
where, with the patience Of his tribe, he
sat mcekIy awaiting another call. I heard
a church clock strike ten; Immediately
afterwards, sharp shrill female voice
cried coach" and the driver instantly
opened the door, and handed in a woman
who babe him drive to some street, for
the name escaped me, in Bloomsbury
The woman, as it appeared to me, was
under some strange excitement; for now
she gigled, and now again she sighed
heavily, and now she cried, "Well, well,
he can't last forever, and with that con-
ISOLATION, laughed outright. In the midst
of this, she let fall her handkerchief, and
STOPPING to feel for it, her hand caught
me, How her eyes sparkled, as she held
me to the window, and by the dim lamps
in the street, scrutinized my shadowed
beauty. cit can't belong to the coach
man," she said; and Immediately conceal
ed me. From tie brief glance | had Of
my new possessor, did not feel partic-
uIarly hilarious at my destiny. She was a
woman of about three and twenty, with
an animated face. but wthal a certain
viyacious boldness Of the eye, unpleas-
ing to the sobriety of my constitution
However, she had possession of discov-
cry. was, to her own satisfaction at
least, her lawful property.
The coach stopped in narrow dark
street, opposite a mean looking dirty
house--a house with all the outward indi-
cations of squaor and disrcpute. | may
be fancful, but there is physiognomy
in houses-at least such is my belief
Sure l am, | have seen houses with a
staggering, ha,-a-cock sort of look;
whilst other habitations have seemed to
squint and leer wckedly from the corners
of the windows. The house the coach
stopped at was Of this kind; my heart fell
as my new possessor gently struck the
knocker. You'll give me more than a
shilling" said the coachman with an af-
(ected air of wonderment. "A shilling is
your honest fare-and as an honest man
you can ask no more" was the feminine
reply. Honest man! muttered the coach
man, as if the woman talked of something
altogether out Of human experience
Yes, honest man. answered my new
owner, who continued to press me closely
under her arm, ringing honesty upon ev-
cry note of her shril, quick voice. AT
length the coachman mounted his box in
evident disgust at the gibberish he had
been compelled TO hear, for his departing
growl was honesty with no supplemental
nv compliment 10 that very respectable
virtue.
And here you are agin, Mrs CramP!
cried an old withered woman, as my new
mistress entered the house. -tAnd | hope
you've enjoyed myself
Not at all, answered Mrs Cramp, with
sudden il-humor.
We'll! that is hit ofbeauty' exclaim-
ed the old woman, as Mrs Cramp laid me
upon the table. How much did it cost?'
Got it at quite bargain,-l may say
for next to nothing. And how's your LODI
ger, now?' said Mrs Cramp, with an evil
dent with to withdraw me as the subject
of conversation.
La. what do you think! We'll, wonders
will never cease. It's only half an hour
after you went away, when a gentleman
comes here, and inquiries about her. !
thought there was some mystery in that
pale face of hers. Well, when he found
out that she was the lost sheep he'd been
looking after, he went on like mad. He
told me # she got well, he'd marry her,
and make lady of her-and more than
that, putting golden guinea in my hand
he told me to let her want for nothing.
Here Mrs Cramp drew herself up, say
ing-'Mrs Crumpet knew | was right
though | never clapt my eyes upon hel
| knew she couldn't be any better thar
she should be-
well, well, we've all our little faults,
said the charitable Mrs Crumpet. But
hav'nt told you all. Besides the guinea
the gentleman went away and in his owr
pockets brought back two bottles OF wine