The Duke of Stockbridge by Edward Bellamy
page 106 of 375 (28%)
page 106 of 375 (28%)
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"I don' wanter hurt ye, sis, but ye muss git aout o' the way," said a burly fellow to Eliza, who, with her mother, had thrown herself between the mob and Justice Dwight, his undaunted aspect appearing to excite the special animosity of the rabble. The other three justices were huddled in the furthest corner. "It's all right, men, it's all right. No need of any more words. Here's the paper," said Perez, authoritatively. A man caught it from his hand and gave it to another, saying, "Here, Pete, ye kin read. Wot does it say?" Pete took the document in both hands, grasping it with unnecessary firmness, as if he depended in some degree on physical force to overcome the difficulties of decipherment, and proceeded slowly and with tremendous frowns to spell it out. "We-promise-not-to-ak--under--our-c--o--m,--commishins--until-the-- g--r--i--e--grievunces,"-- "Wot be them?" demanded one of the crowd. "That means taxes, 'n loryers, 'n debts, 'n all that. I've hearn the word afore," exclaimed another. "G'long Pete." "Grievunces," proceeded the reader, "of-wich-the-people-complain." "That's so." "That's dern good. In course we complains." |
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