The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. 297 TMS ~ NES i = a ate ———— VA . S Le | | IN y : Y SSN uy. : NY : Be area Au AG Wy 1 rf ai a wl 12 nh init : ena MA = ——t ——— oes ee or —— = - 2s SSSS]_—__EE_—_E—_— oo —_— SSS with Ellen, after his releaso from the hospital, he enffered her to understand pretty plainly that he should no longer refuse pecuniary assistance at her Lands. In the courso of a few weoks ho spoko out more plainly still, and unblushingly asked for the amount he required at tho time; and ero many months had passed away ho never parted from her without receiving a poortion of tho contents of her purse. At first sho herself was much shocked at this evidenco of an altered disposi- tion: but sho was so deoply—so dovotedly at- tached to him, that sho reasoned hersclf into con- solation even‘on that head; and the moro selfish ke becamo, the moro anxious did sho appear to ministor to his wants. This was not all: for frequent intoxication irritated his tomper—and ho did not hesitate to vent his 11 humour upon her, Sometimes, too, ho failed to keep his appointments with her: and when thoy did mect at Inst, ho abused her if she darod to reproach him. On ono occasion ho actually raised his hand to strike her ; but the poor, loving creature, falling on her knees at his fect, turned up towards him a countenance 80 tearful and wee-begone, that the coward blow was Btayed, and ho implored her pardon. Never- No 96* —\Vygrners or Lonpon, theless, shoe had received a shock which sho could not forget: neither could sho avoid contrasting the Leonard Mitchell, whom military punishment had degraded, to the samo lovel as the orntes, with the Leonard Mitchell whe formerly appeared the very type of a gallant, gencrous-hearted, and high- minded British Bragoon., But Loonerd Mitchell must not be blamed if his manners and habits wero thus changed, and if he took inveterately to drinking. He was ono of theso whom bad laws had forced into evil courses ; and if hoe flew to the intoxicating glass, it was becauso tho alcoholic liquor contained the hours of oblivion. Persecuted as he had been—degraded as ho folt himself, existence had become intoler- ablo unless he lost the consciousness of at least a portion of it. His comrades noticed tho alte- ration which had taken place in him, and they well understaod the cause: for it had been tho samo with overy ono who had ever under- gone the torture and the disgrace of the lash. In his sober hours Leonard experienced no remorsec—no compunction for the ways which he was pursiting: he had grown dogged—mo- rose — indifferent; — no — j:ot altogether indif- — —$ $< SD SS | SS (C(O) DOO ZN i (SO)