The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 129: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_-—- —- ~~... — ~~ — a we 6 —- ow —— — —an al ec rere enn 122 THL MYSTERIES OF LONDON, ; of her melodious voice, she said, “ Yes—Charles, for thy sake, I will accompany thee to the altar, and will wed thee according to the rites of the Protestant Church and the usages of that society in which we live |” ‘Now am JT supremely happy!” cried Charles Iat- field, his tone and manner fully corroborating his words. “We will repair to Paris, my beloved Perdita —for there we can be united by the chaplain of the British Embassy without an instant’s unnecessary de- Jay; and thence also can I write to my father, solemnly and formally calling upon him to assert his right to the peerage which he has so long permitted his sounger brother to usurp. And in Paris my Perdita will be the cynosure of all interest —~” “Oh! yes—let us visit that delightfal city of which - have heard so much!” interrupted the young woman, her eyes gleaming resplendently with the pleasing sensations excited by the idea. “But I must now leave you for a moment, to prepare for this sudden journey—as my mother cannot be long before she returns.” Perdita roze from the sofa, and hastened from the room, kissing her hand with playful fondness to her lover as she crossed the threshold. Even that simple action on her part excited the most ravishing feelings in his soul;—for as she thus turned round for an ine stant ere the door closed behind her, his looks swept all the fulness—all the contours—all the rich propor- tions of her voluptuous form,—while the morning sun-light, rosy from the hues of the hangings throngh which it penetrated, shone on her beauteous catmten- ince, giving splendour to the fine large eyes, freshness to the vermilion lips, and a halo to her glossy hoirt! She disappeared; and Charles, who had risen from hrs seat simultancuusly with herself, advanced tu the window. The street was quict;—but the sounds of thé’ rapid: vehicles in Cockspur Street met his ears;— and he wondered whether the postchaise were yet approaching the dwelling. This idea led him to ponder on the step which he w.is about to Cake ;—and 2 sensation cf sadness slowly crept upon him, a3 he reflected that he was on the point of leaving his home—abandoning his parents and friends! The recollection of his mother smote bim—smote him painfully ;—and yet he did not sech by inward, silent reasoning to improve this better state of feeling, and act upon its warnings. No:— With that perverseness which so frequently gharac- tenses those who are on the point of adopting a neasure Which they scerctly know to be injudicions and unwisely pro ipitate—even ifno worse,—he sourht iv sophistry and specious mental argument an apology tur his conduct. Again he reminded himself that his parents had acted unnaturally towards him,—and thet their uniform conduct in this respect had now Leen followed up by harshness, upbraidings, menaces, and esrennare, on the part of his father. Then he fen-ted his imagination with the thoughts of POS ses3- ris Perdita:—it a few days she wold be his—irrevo- wably his,—and ina manner which would enrble im te present ber proudly to the world as bis weddel wile. From this strain of meditations he ghded into glorious, gorgeous visiuns of future greatness the words, © My Lord,” and Your Lordship,” only so re- | house keepers were apt to be, and that postilions were, cently addressed to hum, sounded hike delicions miusic proportionately cuminunicative. i in his ears;—and his paintul reflections were subdued | At length all the arrangements were completed ;— by the feclings of triumph now once more awakened | Charles handed his Perdita into the vehiclo—mani- within him. Love—amoition—hope,—all—all his | fested the same politenc.s towards the old mother— yearnings, all his cravings were now on the point of {and then entered it himself, Mrs. Fitzhardinge had an LS oe CS ae we being gratified: he should cast off that parental yoke Which had latterly weighed so heavily upon him ;—he was about to visit Paris—he would appear as a Vis- count, and with a beauteous bride, in the sphere of fashion the most refined, clegance the most perfect, and civilisation the most consummate,—and he already fancied himself walking in the delicious gardens of the Tuileries, with Perdita—the observed of all observers —leaning fondly on his arm! These visions—sweeping like a gorgeous pageantry through his excited imagination—brought him to that State of mind, in which all regrets were banished—all remorse was forgotten ;—and when Perdita returned to the apartment, ready attired for the journey, he flew towards her—he wound his arms around her wasp- like waist, and pressed her enthusiastically to his bosom. : This was the first time that he had seen her in a walk- ing-dress;s—and he thought that she even appeared more ravishingly beautiful than when in her morning deshabillée, or her drawing-room garb. The pink crape bonnet, adorned with artificial flowers, set off hier fine countenance with such admirable effect :—the flowing drapery of the elegant summer-shawl meandered over the proportions of the symmetrical form—deyeloping each contour with its wavy undulations:—and the straw-coloured kid gloves, fitting tightly to a fault, described the shape of the beautiful tapering fingers. *You are lovely beyond the loveliness of woman!” murmured Charles Mfatfield, surveying her with an ndmiration the most unfeigned—the most sincere. “And yon, Charles—are not yon my own hand- some, dearly beloved Charles—so scon to be my hus- hand?” asked Perdita. “You said just now that you should be proud to present me as your wife to your friends:—Oh! I fecl—yes, I feel that I shall also be prowl to be so presented. My mind seems to have undergone a complete change since I made you that piumise to wed you at the altar;—-and you must for- et, dear Charles, that I ever wished it otherwise!” Tfattield, for all answer, impressed a burning kiss upon her rosy lips;—and the young woman's eyes be- came soft and melting in expression—voluptuous and languid with desire. At this instant her mother returned, With the an- nouncement that the post-chaise would be at the door in tess than a quarter of an hour; and the old woman hastened to thé bed-rooms to pack up the trunks, Her daught-r, who kept the purse, then gave her the neces- sary money to liquidate all liabilities due to the Jand- lady of the houses and while this was being done, Per- dita placed the gold and Bank-notes in Charles's hand, saying, “In the excitement of the morning's incidents I forgot to tender you this amount before,’ “ Heneeforth all that I have is your's emally, my beloved,” said the young man, as he secured the money about his person. The post-chaise-and-four now appeared; and while the trunks were being strapped un to the vehicle, Mrs. Fitzhardinge superintended the process, appa rently with the bustling officionsness of an old woman of particular habits, but in reality to provent any come munication between the post-boys and the people of the dwelling ;—for she Lnew how inquisitive lodginy- eG EConnicloooks ee (CO)