The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

CN cre teen ee i TE ST aI AT TO TIT AE OT GS NS ER EE a ee ee ie aE SO ee a Ore a “JT was told before I came to Londen that the ventlamen of the great metromilis were very find of paying silly young Jadiex vain and empty compli- ments,” said Perdita, looking with gool-humeured archnets at her companion, while her ever beamed! with wickedness and her bosom heaved viribly. “Ys it the first time that you have been accured of your beauty?” asked Charles, still carrier away by a uncontroullable influence. «No-—not precisely the first,” re-ponded Perdita, With a naiveté so admirably assumed that hercom- pinion believed it to be completely genuine. “There was a young gentleman—or rather a nobleman, bat ] must not mention his name—in the countrs, who effered me his hand ;—and he paid me many very fine compliments.” » “And you accepted the propezal? you are engaged to him?” e::claimed Charles, with a strange fluttering of the hrart. “Neither the one nor the other,’ answered Pordita, “I could not love him—and therefore I declined the honour. My mother was angry with me, and talked a great deal about the excellence of the match and so forth: but I was obstinate—ves, very obstinate, Mr. Hatfield,” sho said archly; “for never—never,” che continued, her tone suddenly becoming earnest and her manner serious-—“ never could I bestow my hand where I cannot likewise give my heart!” “And you have resolved wisely, Miss Fitzhard- ince!” exclaimed Charles, “ Matrimony without sin- ecre affection can afford no promise of happiness. but one sa bewitifal as yourselfimpres-ed too with such sterlrg sentiments and harbouring such pure princi- ples—oh, you will prove indeed a treasure to the man who is fortunate enough to secure your heart and hand!” “Again you compliment me, Mr. Tatfield.” ssid Perdita, looking down and bhlushing,—for even her very blushes she could command at pleasure. “In reference, however, to the observation you have just made, I should remark that I have never yet met with one of your sex whom I could compreliend fully and who could understand me. I admire openness, can- dour and sincerity, —that generous frankness, too, which at once establishes friendship and dissipates cold formality. For I believe that the trammels of ceremonial politeness positively spoil the heart,— tutoring it to curb its enthnsfasm where enthusiasm would be so natural! I know not how to express my- self clearly ; but what I mean to imply is this—that I am a believer in the possibility of friendship at first sight——” ‘And of love at fizst sight also?” exclaimed Charles Ilatfield, in an impassioned tone. “Yes—and of love at first sight also,” repeated Perdita, again hanging down her head-—again com- munding a deep blush—and likewise speaking in a low, melting tone of deep emotion, as she drew a long sich, “Was it that possibility of experiencing the fecling of friendship at first sight, which led vou to accept my proposed services as an escort to the places of public amusement?” enquired Charles, “Wherefore do vou seek thus to probe the secret feelings of my*soul?” asked Perdita, turning upon hinia look indicative of mingled pleasure and amaze- mont. “Yave I offended you by the question, charming ludy?™ exclaimed Charles. ‘Ohl T do not so readily take offence, Mr. Hatfield,” RO - — eS Same n cried Perdita. “ But—frank, candid, m.t ies ne + though Jo belicve myself ta be—I still have my htt filings of prile, and Eeould not think cf ea Ae ie avewal to a gentlenian oethervise than asa Fasive < city.” “Then were I ta do stare cincerely and s emniy ——ant on my honour av a men—that it was aoe otf tarne of friendship, escr ro nee Dat Grct sieht aml oe- cording to your own doctrine, which prompted me to offer my services as a chaz trea.” said Charh:, hastily and «enthusiastically, “woul son degn to answer my question?” " “Such a delaration on your part, sir, would neces. rily clicit—nay, demand sume Lind of a response on ine.” returned the artfal Licarts, looning down, and tapping the carpe: with her 4. in such a manner that her ankle peeped from hancatt: her dress, and the young man’s eyes could catch a ghmpse of the ex- quisitely white chin throwch the net work of the dainty silk stocling, Charles hesitated: an avowal of friendship trembled on his tongue—but he thought how dangerous such a confession would be—he thought, too, of Lady Frances Ellinekam ! And Perdita again perceived that he hesitated; and instantly had recourse to a new artifice to display her charms to their utmost advantage. Stooping down, She affected to arrange the ottoman in the must con- venient manner for her fert;—but, in this attitude which scemcd su natural, ingennous, and artless, ste revealed so much of the treasures of her bo-om that no room was left for imagininges-and Charles Hatfill felt liimerlf scizel with a deliriuin in which he would have made over his soul to Satan had such been the price demanded fur the possession of Perdita. “Mivs Fitzhardinge,” he said, his voice almozt subdued and his tongue parched through the madden. ing tierceness of passion, “on my honour as 4 gentle- man, I swear that the offer I ere now made you was dictated by a fecling of friendship! Yes—cf a friend- ship that sprang up in my soul in a single instant— that took birth in a moment—a friendship that prompted me to declare how proud and delighted I should be to act as your escort! For Iam candid, frank. and ingenuous as I perceive you to be,—and | will give you another proof of the existence cf these qualities in respect to myself—even at the risk of offending yon. T’rom the first moment that I set foot in this room unul now, I have experienced emotions such as [ never felt before. In my delirium I apos- trophised you as an angel of beauty ;—and an ancl of beauty must you indeed be to exercise such prompt— such speedy—such witching influence a3 that which has enthralled me. For it appears as if there were a spell upon me—an enchantment, from which there is no escape. Sweet lady, pardon me for having spoken thas frankly—” “T again assure you that I do not very readily take offence,” answered Perdita: then, laying her hand upon his—for the designing woman sousht to excite him almost to madness—and again approaching her countenance so near his own that he could louk into the depth of her large, wanton eves,—she caid, “ You have made a certain avowal, end vou have a right to expect a candid and unreserved reply fron me. Then learn, Mr. Hatfield, that never should I have acceptedt your services as a chee ren—never should we have talked thus famiheriy—never woul | you have been sufvercd to read soy much of my deposition as within the last hour vor have learnt—!.2] not FE ikewi-o e q e 8 m ¢ ——_— mee ae eee a ae eee ee ee oe wee (C(O) DOO (SO)