2-982-652 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Snapdragon - drawn by C. Keene, 1858. Scene from a short story. 'Jacob Sharp rang the bell mechanically, and submitted himself without a word to the attentions of the doctor's boy, who relieved him of his coat and hat, and announced his arrival. The latter part of his duty the boy might have omitted, for the roars of laughter which proceeded from a group engaged at Snapdragon completely drowned his treble. The room was darkened, and around the flaming dish stood a merry group snatching forth the blazing raisins with shouts of boisterous merriment. Jacob heard them not, saw nothing but one face, which, lighted up by the flames of the ignited spirit, appeared to have the hue of death, rendering the faint smile it wore more ghastly and terrible to him than the strongest look of anguish would have been. It was Ellen Rattery that stood among the merry group of children. Ellen! the child whom he had destroyed, come there to reproach him for his cruel desertion of her when his care was most needed...he pointed to the room whence shouts of laughter still came, looking wild, and wondering as he said almost in a whisper, " She is there! she is there!".' From the Christmas supplement to the "Illustrated London News", 1858.