The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 153: what you’re looking at

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im A ee I PT a EP tc Pe? wee ee —— © eee, ee ;. ne a ge nee eee, fee omamnanammmnd aePr 146 ; “But nothing very particular, I dare say, Miss Anna-Maria. And having thus expressed themselves, the three sisters turned towards the officers; but they were much piqued and annoyed to find that those two gallant gentlemen were still surveying the attractive eonle with the deepest interest. ‘That face is familiar to me, Pink,” cried Captain Phinnikin. “ And to me also. T cannot recollect,” observed the lieutenant. my soul, she is a magnificent woman!” “A splendid creature!” ejaculated the captain, for- eetting his habitual drawl for a moment. “Taith! I remember——-and yet—no— it is impossible!” «Yes—it zs impossible—it cannot be!” cried Mr. Pink, as if divining and echoing the other’s thoughts. “But Tam sure J have seen her before! And will you believe me, Phinnikin, when I assure you that, at the first glance, I thought—— “Trad! it is her profile—her figure!” cried the cap- {ain, pursuing the train of his own thoughts, as his exes followed the young couple who were passing Inisurely along ata little distance, and quite uncon- scious of the interest that one of them at least was creating. “ Well—it strikes me that if isthe same!” observed the lieutenant, his amazement every moment becoming greater, and his uncertainty less, ~ ‘ “Who do you take her to bo?” demanded Phinni- kin, turning abruptly towards his brother- officer. Pordita,” responded the Heutenant, without hesi- tation. «And yet~—in England—so changed too, in clreum- stances—and in company with that genteel young {ellow——” “ All those things occurred to me likewise,” inter- rupted Mr. Pink. “Let us convince ourselves!” cried the captains; and the military gentlemen, with a somewhat abrupt and unceremonious bow to the Matson family, walked away together, arm-in-arm. “Well, I never!” exclaimed the eldest Miss Mat- son, now tossing her hey more indignantly than on any previous occasion, yet looking wistfully after thio two really handsome and elegant, though conceited and coxcombical young officers, whose fine figures were rapidly receding along the parade. “TF could not have supposed that Captain Phinnikin would have been guilty of such rudeness!” said Miss Julia. “Oh! as forthe captain—f was prepared for any thing with Am,” observed Miss Anna-Maria: “but it’s Mr. Pink that Z’m astonishe tat!” “J am sure the captain is the best behayed of the two,” exclaimed Julia. “That shows vour igncrance, Miss,” Maria, tartly. “T know what’s certcel as well as you, I should hope,” retorted Julia, “Don’t be cross, my love,” ing a soothing tone. “And don’t vou pretend to know better than one two years older than yourself,” cried Julia. “ As for vou,” she continued, addressing herself to her eldest sister, “T was quite surprised to hear how you went ou about the Browns andthe Thompsons. Tow foolish But where I have seen it before, “Upon suid Anna- said Anna-Maria, affect we should all Jook if it were found out that Uncle Ben was a pawnbroker in Lambeth Marsh “Hush! girls—hush? Drat yeur tongues—how THRE AYSTERIES OF LONDON. added | they are going!” interrupted Mrs, Matson, ina hoarse and hasty whisper. “JY am sure, ma, dulia talked as much about the Browns and the Thompsons as I did,” said the eldest daughter; “and now sheis trying to quarrel with me about it. But here come the Thompsons,” she added abruptly, as her cyes wandered along the parade. Mrs. Matson and the three young ladies all smoothed their countenances ina moment; and nothing could be more amiable, affable, or charming than the manner in which they rose simultaneously to grect the Misses Thompson — tivo tall, handsome, well-dressed, and really most gentecl girls, let their father have been what he might, “Qh! iy dear Miss Thompson,” cried the eldest Miss Matson, “I am so delighted to see yuu! How well you are looking, to be sure!” “We were talking about you only a few minutes ago, to Captain Phinnikin and Mr. Pink,” said Julia; and we were admiring those dears of bonnets that vou wore last Sunday at church.” “Tam glad you liked them,’ responded the elder Miss Thompson. “But how happened it that you were not at Lady Noakes’s last night?” * Well—we don’t mind telling you, dear,” said Miss Matson the elder: “the truth is that we were not in- vited; and I suppose it must heve been an oversight. of her ladyship.” “Tier ladyship was quite surprised that you were not present,” returned Miss Thompson: “she assurea mo that a card had been duly forwarded to you,” “Oh! how provoking!” cried all three Misses Mat- son at the same moment, and as it were in the same breath. ‘The invitation must have miscarried scome- how ot another. We would not have been absent for the world if we had received the card.” “But, my dear Miss Thompson,” continued the eldest Miss Matson, “as you and your dear sister, are so intimate with Lady Noakes, perhaps vou would just hint that the invitation did miscarry-——” “Oh! certainly,” replied the good-natured young lady thus appealed to. “ But we must say good bys now—for we promised papa not to stay out late, and 1¢ is already near eight o’clock.” “Tow is that dear good soul, Mr. Thompson?” asked Mrs. Matson. ‘I was speaking of him to Cap- tain Phinnikin and Mr. Pink just now, and saying what great respect we all entertained for him.” “Thank you, my dear madam—papa is quite well,” returned Miss Thompson. “ But we must really say good bye, for we expect. the Greens to drop into supper presently ——” “Delightful girls, the Riss Greens!” exclaimed Mrs. Matson; ‘and very well connected, I have heard.” “Oh! certainly—their uncle is a Member of Par- liament,” responded Miss Thompson. “ Brt good bye.” “Good bye,” repeated her sister; and away they went—happy, joyous, kind-hearted, and good girls, who would not have suffered their tongues to utter a word of scandal,—thus proving 2 striking contrast with the Matson family. “What avulgar buoyancy of spirits the eldest ie Thompson always has!” exclaimed the senior of He three sisters, after a pause. “I really can monly seem commonly polite to her.” “And the youngest is just like herin that respect,” observed Julia, “They are the rudest and_worst-ochaved girls 10 Dover, except the Miss Greens,” added Mrs, Matson. 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