Great Britain -- History -- George III, 1760-1820 -- Juvenile fiction; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Juvenile fiction
At the time appointed Lady Tryon drove up to the police-office. Several
carriages were already there, their occupants fashionably-dressed
ladies. Lady Tryon recognised them as her acquaintances, with whom she
had played at Lady Buckinghamshire's. The gentleman who had acted as
_croupier_, and kept the faro-table, was among them. They entered
together, looking very hot and very indignant; they were accommodated
with seats while the evidence was read. The witnesses against them were
two servants, who had been dismissed from her ladyship's service, and
had taken these means to revenge themselves. As these ladies of rank
had no excuse to offer, and could not deny the charge, they were each
fined 50 pounds, while the keeper of the table, a gentleman of fashion,
had to pay 200 pounds as a punishment for his transgression of the law.
Lady Tryon drove back in even a worse temper than usual. The 50 pounds
she was to pay was the remainder of the balance at her banker's. She
was now literally penniless unless her lottery tickets should turn up
prizes. The eventful day of the drawing was looked forward to, not only
by her, but by thousands more, with intense anxiety. At length it
arrived. Harry set forth with his grandmother in her carriage. The
evening before she had sent for the doctor, and procured a quieting
potion. In truth she required it, for she looked very ill and excited.
Harry saw her maid, by her directions, put into the pocket of the
carriage two or three small bottles.
"They are little draughts which I may require, Harry, to keep me up. I
am an old woman, you know, and my nerves are not as strong as they used
to be."
They drove on. The crowd increased as they proceeded westward, towards
Guildhall. The great drawing was to take place there.
"We are certain, Harry, to obtain a prize; if not the 20,000 pound
prize, a smaller one, at all events, and that will enable me to purchase
a few more tickets for another lottery, or to set me up at the
card-table again. If I get the 20,000 pound prize you shall have 1,000
pounds, I will promise you, to cut a figure with in town, and then to go
down and marry pretty Mabel Everard. Ah, Harry! you are a fortunate
fellow to have such a kind old grandmother as I am, and to be loved by
such a sweet girl as Mabel. I know your secret; she loves you, you
rogue, and you have only to ask her, and she will marry you at once. I
can manage her father; he is a good-natured, easy man, and has a great
respect for me."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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