The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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162 THR MYSTERIES complete. She whispered a few words to her mamma, who in order to listen to her eldest “ girl,” was compelled for the moment to leaye off listening fo the tender whispers of Mr. Hogben, the enriched twopenny postman; and the the whispering between the mamms daughter was that the lattay conveyed to ¢ tain on invitation (alsq in 9 whigper) to tca on the following evening. “Blow me tight!" vocjfergted Binf, if I wouldn’t come end tackle your mesg-table with the greatest pleasure ; hut to-morrow thege'g : sion down ta Margate with my boat ang ' spyiss be on the paddle-box from nine ip the morping til} nine at night.” Miss Chowley biughed ged as a peony at stentorian manner in which her whispered invita- tion to tea was thus Ret Ra hit wholg gam- pany; and Miss Spilsbury—the tgl}, gaunt maiden lady—drew up her form with g prudishness which made it look still taller ang gogg gaunt than it was before. But this litle inciden§ wag quickly succeeded by another which sttracted geperal notice. Mrs. Dumpling, who had a keen pye to the epirits, saw that the brandy was go rapidly disappearing she must make hasfp and fish her firs$ tumbler jn order to havg 9 chance of obtaining 9 second; and in doing this, some of the hot steamjng fluid went what is called ‘“‘the wrong way.” Ho poor Mrs. Dumpling became almost convulsed with a violent fit of coughing, and looked as if she were going off in an apopleéftic fit. “Tap her‘on the beck !”” cried Mrs. Sifkin. “ Cut her stay-lace!” exclaimed Mrs. Wanklin. “Throw wafer into her face!” said Mrs. Macaulay, with en air of deepest concern, and in- wardly hopipg that some on¢ would at once follow out the suggestion by dashing a ¢ymber full of the cold fluid in the choking lady’, i anes “Ease her |’ gried Captain Bluff, ip a voice as loud and hoarse as if he were roaring fep tho top of the paddle-box to the boy stationed at the batchway of the engine-rogm. “Stopher! Don't let her go-ahead like that ’ere! By jingo, she’s gone down pstarn foremost!’ he vociferatingly added, as the unfortunate Mrs. Dumpling tumbled off ber chair. | . Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk, instantaneonsly en- deavoured to raise the worthy dame : but he tumbled down likewjse—for truth compels us to declare that this yery orthodox gentleman was now cxces- cessively drunk. “That's all the effect of your good wine, ma’am,” roared Captain Bluff, with a shout of laughter. “ Their bilers is busted—their ingins is all stopped —they’re reglarly brandy-logged——-I knowed how it would be! They muat ile their wheels well for theirselves afore they’}] go agin.” At first Mrs. Macaulay was inclinad jo be very indignant and to secm very much disgusted af this exhibition on the part of Mrs. Dumpling and the parish clerk: but the compliment conveyed by Captain Bluff in respect to her wine, not merely appeased her in 9 moment, but made her Jook upon the scene with a complaisant and setisfied air. Mrs. Dampling was speedily raised up in brawny arms of Captain Bluff; while Christian performed the same kind office for Mr. Chubb. “Tm afeard you're werry drunk, sir,” said the oe p Cap- OF THE COURT. Captain, now finding leisure to address this ob- servation with John Bull bluntness and secamanlike frankness to the discomfited parish clerk,—‘ werry drunk jndeed, sir! and I likes for to seo it. Shows you've been enjoying yourself !” “Amen!” gutturally hiccoughed Mr. Chubb. “Do, my dear young friend,” said Mre. Macaulay to Christian, “s¢e the poor man home. He lives in Duke Street—yext door, you know, to the aker's Where you used to deal when you lived J gil} sec bim home with much pleasure,” re- young Ashten. “ But do you think he can fr” “Stand ?” eghoed Chubb: and the next moment be began rapping out such a series of profane oaths that the Miss Chowleys ebyieked jp dismay— and Mrs. Chowley was so much aba $hat she fell into the arms of Mr. Hoghep, ghg findly offered to deliver her at her own door, , per- had haps it would prove the weightiest letter ever in all hig experience had so to deli yge. As for Miss Spijsbury, she pursed up her mouth with supreme” diegust; while Mrs. Sifkin whispered to Mre. Wanklin that if people would cheat their guests with wine at one-and-threepence, making them believe it cost five shillings a bottle, it was no wonder such consequences should ensue. Jn tho midst of the confusion Christian managed tq get the parish clerk out of the roam, and anon out of the house: but scarcely had he been thus conducted jnto the fresh air, when Mr. Chubb seemed doggedly determined to sit down upon the front-dooy steps; and with sundry imprecations invoked against his own eyes and sh he per- sisted in pulling off his coat and high-lows, with the idea that he was in his own chamber and about to get into bed. Christian Pxperianced the Freatest trouble in lifting him up egain; and ag be Jed the parish clerk along, this inebriate gentleman shouted forth q strange medley, consisting gf portions of the hundredth psalm and of a bacchanalign song; so that if was fortunate indeed they encounter no policemen, or Mr. Chubb might have passed the remaindey of the night in the station-house. Ultimately our young hero succeeded in getting the parish clerk to his own door,—which they thus reached as some adjacent church-clock was pro- claiming the hour of midnight. It was a private house: for Mr. Chubb was a schoolmaster—and his school-room was at the back part of the pre- mises, with an entrance from another street. A light was burning in the front-parlour; and the moment Christian knocked at the door, that light disappeared, so that he knew his summons was to be at once attended to. He heard a chain let fall within ; and the door was opened. But Christian was seized with amazement at the first which he threw upon the being who thus opened that door. She was a young creature of not more than sixtcen, and of the most ravishing beauty. That same glance showed him too that there was an sir of superiority about her—a natural gentility which forbade the thought that she could be the daughter of the parish clerk. Yet she was plainly ne dressed ; and thus so far as her ap- Prongh ! the { parel wont, she might have belonged to the Chubb family. But Christian felt convinced she did not. There was as much difference between the cl vulgarity of Mr. Chubb and the exquisite gentility COMMIC DOO Col