The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

~~ 64. THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON vulgar in her manner of specch, yet the impression it seemed calculated to produce upon a stranger was singularly unpleasant. On the other hand, the whole sphere of harmony has known nothing more melodious than the voice of Perdita,—a voice which was capable of many modulations, each characterised by a charm peculiar to itself; for whether she were speaking in indignation—or in softness,—in outbursting passion— or in dogecd ill-humour,—still were the tones of that voice metallic, rich, and flowing. “The heartless wretches!” exclaimed the old woman, again breaking an interval of silence,—“ to thrust us on shore at Deal with only a shilling in our pockets!” “This is not the Teast hardship we have ever en- dured, mother,” satd Perdita, rather in a tone of remonstrance than consolation, ‘For my part, I have searcely ever seen any thing but privation and misery——" “Yon ungrateful wretch!” ejaculated the harridan, furiously. © When I had but a morsel of bread to give you, did I ever takea portion for myself? For you, Per- dita,” she continued, speaking in a milder and even more tender tone,—“for you 1 have gone through sufferings unknown and unheard of in this country,— for you have I toiled beneath the scorching South Australian sun of summer, and amidst the noisome damps of a South Australian winter! Yes—for years and years have I toiled on—toiled on, that your beauty might not be impaired by want or privation,—at least that you might endure as little want and privation as possible.” “Woll—well,” cried the young woman, somewhat softened by her mother’s words; “don't let us Took lack to the past. We are now in England—and you say that wo are not many miles from London. Good! We will eadcayour to sustain each other’s courage and strength to reach the fine city where you hope to change our rags into silks and satins, and fill our empty pockets with gold.” “ Yes—and you shall see whether I have deccived you, Perdita!” exclaimed the harridan, in a tone par- taking of enthusiasm. “ Nearl: nineteen years have elapsed since J last saw the mighty metrepolis; and, uniess its people be much changed, there is a fortune to be made by an experienced woman and a beautiful girl, Jeavued together.” «And you are the experienced woman, mother?” said Pordita, actually seehing a compliinent—for in. | ordinate vanity was amongst her failings, | “Yes—and you are the beautiful girl—and yon know it,” returned the old harridan. “ Being ofaccord as we are together, it is impossible that we can fail to accomplish our grand designs. Why was it that I im- plored you not to accept the offers of marriage which needy settlers made you in New South Wales? Be- cause your charms can command thousands of pounds | in London; whereas, in that frightful colony, all you | could have hoped to gain was what is termed ‘a com- <rtable position.” And to one possessing vour notions —your pridec—your strong passions—your soaring dis- position,—aye, and to one endowed with your loveli- ness to0,—a mere home is not sufficient. You require luxuries—although you have never yet tasted them,— fine clothes—aithough you have never yet worn them, —a splendid equipage, although you have never yet known the use of one! It was for this that I brought you to England,—it was for this that 1 besought you to contract no marriage in the colony,—it was for this re 8 ete © ee —_—_— that I conjured you to abstain from any conuexoin that might become permanent!” “Tam well aware of your motives, mother,” said Perdita. “In a word,” she added, with a strange mixture of pride and irony, “you considered my beauty to be more marketable in London than in New South Wales. And after all that you have told me of the English people and England’s capital, J am inclined to believe that you have not misled me. Bunt supposing that I contract some splendid marriage in London—that I find my way into the highest circles— and that I become the belle of the- great city,—will there not be the constant risk—the ever imminent chance of falling in with the officers of some of those regiments which have returned from Sydney or Botany Bay——” “T see now that you scarcely understand me—that we do not altogether comprehend each other!” mter- rupted the old woman, impatiently. “There is no need for you to count only on the chance of making a good snatch: ’tis indeed far more probable that you may ensnare some young gentleman of birth, family, and fortune,—or some old voluptuary of immense wealth,—and there is more to be gained as the mis- tress of one of these, than as a wife. Donot marry, Perdita—do not dream of marriage: remain Jndepen- dent—and the moment you have ruined one lover, you can take another. There—that is plain speaking ; and now do you comprehend me?” “ Porfectly,” answered the young woman: then, under the influence of the wanton thoughts which rushed to her imagination, she said, “Yes—I] compre- hiend you, and I confess that your views now become more suitable to mine. I could not chain myself to one individual, with any hope of being faithful to him :—lJove is a passion which will never obtain over me that influence which it so often exercises over tha weak, the simple-minded, or the infatuated.” “Be not too confident on that point, Perdita,” said the old woman. “In Sydney and Botany Bay your amours were only the result of a warm temperament ; —for carefully as I watched over you-——” “Now, mother, let us have no moral teachings from your lips!” exclaimed the young woman, in an impe- rious and authoritative tone; “for had you been so very immaculate yourself, I should never have beheld the light of day, neither would you have passed some cightecn or nineteen years of your life in a penal colony. And such a colony as it is! Why—let a pretty girl be lemined in by all the precautions which a parent can imagine, circumstances must inevitably lead her astray in South Australia! And you,—-vor, who know all this so well,—can yout wonder if I were seduced at the early age of thirteen, and if from that period until your pardon arrived and we embarked to return home, I have not failed to indulge my fancy without hesitation? On the one side I obeyed your instructions,—I accepted no offer of marringe, and lived with no man permanently as his mistress: but, on the other, I hesitated not to intrigue with the gayest and most dashing ofticers——” “Enough! enough!” ojaculated the mother, wih, bad as she herself was, felt a cold chill come over her at this open, audacious, and unhlushing avawal of her daughter's depravity,—a depravity that was not how- ever unknown, cither in circumstances or extent, fo the old woman. “Give me your arm, Perdita—assist me to mount this hill,—for 1am ready todrop. There! you area good girl! Ah! Perdita—I was once young and beautiful as you are now,—well-formed too, and EConnicloooks (SO)