Page:Paul Clifford Vol 1.djvu/188

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158
PAUL CLIFFORD.

good Dame's tears gushed forth with the bitterness of a despairing Parisina.

"Nay, nay," said Paul, who, though he suffered far more intensely, bore the suffering far more easily than his patroness, "we cannot mend the matter by crying. Suppose you see what can be done for me. I dare say you may manage to soften the Justice's sentence by a little 'oil of palms;' and if you can get me out before I am quite corrupted,—a day or two longer in this infernal place will do the business,—I promise you, that I will not only live honestly myself, but with people who live in the same manner."

"Buss me, Paul," said the tender Mrs. Lobkins, "buss me, oh! but I forgits the gate!—I'll see what can be done. And here, my lad, here's summat for you in the meanwhile. A drop o' the cretur to preach comfort to your poor stomach.—Hush! smuggle it through, or they'll see you."

Here the Dame endeavoured to push a stone bottle through the bars of the gate; but, alas! though the neck past through, the body refused, and the Dame was forced to retract the "cre-