The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, : 289 ] 14 f ti ai wy if / hh uh tbh Ye til ters of crime hkewise como forth: and yet wo doubt whether the immorality that walks the pavement is so much greater than that which rides in car- riages as the world generally supposes. Behold that magnificent equipage wherein the elderly dowager ond the beanteous young girl of soventecn or cightcen gre sented: it stops at the door of a fashionable linen-draper’s, and the dowager Jeans heavily on tho arm of the tall, handsome footman who hands her out, while the young lady throws a rapid but significant glance at the elim, graccful page who has likewise dismounted from behind tho vehicle. Or again, behold that gentleman on horseback, moviug leisurely along, and gazing intontly at each carriage which approaches down the wido avenue: ut length he rocognises the cquipage which he is so enxiously expecting—and, riding up, ho exchanges a faw words with the fair creaturo who is its sole uccupant, A day, an hour, ands place are named for an appuintment of even a far less innocont nature than this one; and the lover passes on with triumph in his heart, whilo the carriage whirls away the titled lady who has alrnady assented to a step that must lead 40 the dishonour of her husband: Again, be- No. 89* Mysteries or LONDON. ee A A a CC = eee” (2 a 0esaw VU" bist / t Hy ed y / HY hold tho splendid chariot, with a coronct on the panel, and in which three beauteous girls with their maternal parent—herself a fino woman—aro seatod, Would you bolieve that care was harboured in hearts where smiles appear on radiant countenances? And yet, tho eldest of thoso sistors isa proy to 2 mortal apprehension : shoe has been frail—weak—the victim of her own strong desires and the opportunity af- forded by some handsome, but obscure and ineligible lover; and now she dreads lest a few months should betray her unchastity and ruin her for ever. But we have not leisure to oxtend this picture :—wo must return to the handsomo dragoon who is walk- ing, in a leisuroly but somowhat thoughtful manner, down Regent Street. Ane wherefore was ho thus partially pensivef Because nearly three yoaurs had elapsod sinro ho had last scen London, and his return to the capital revived a thousand reflections which were indood sufficient to touch his heart painfully. He thought of his early youth—the hopes which lhe had cherishod when the future was bright before him—tho crush ing disappointments and accumulated miscries that had suddenly fallen upon his head—and his present (C(O) (C DOO (SO)