The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 225: what you’re looking at

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212 “ Why, when Mr. Gibson came yesterday and aaw you walk into the house, he asked me who you was ; and I was obleeged to tell him that you was a lodger. He looked uncommon glum, and said that he thought as how be had put Miss Vincent intd a house where there was no single men to talk non- sense to her and so on. §o I told him that you was a very respectable and well-behaved young —that you was out nearly the whole day, and never saw Miss Vincent unless it was ing to pass her in the passage or on the stairs. But still he wasn’t satisfied ; s0 then I said as how I know’d you was an obleeging young and would leave at the shortest possi- ble notice. Mr. Gibson looked better pleased, and went away; and then I thought it was all right. But, lo and behold! just as the clock strikes five this evening, a the carriage to the door— in comes Mr. Gibson, and says that Miss Vincent is to go away with him directly. Her things was off she went, only just a knocked at the door. So e up in her own room when he came—and was to go away with him at once, she struck all of a heap.” “Ah! she seemed vexed ?” ejaculated Christian, eagerly. “That she did,” exclaimed Mrs. Chubb, not observing his excitement. ‘ And I know what it was: she was sad at the thought of parting from me. You see, I was always very kind and good to her, though it was but a guineas a week as was paid for her keep. And now, Mr. Ashton, there's hope you won’t think of leaving me.” THE MYSTERIES : # THE COURT. to the lodgings ;‘ and Christian readily promised to grant it, on condition that she would go and make some befitting excuse for his not completing the bargain which he had half-settled in the morning with the other lodging-house-keeper. This little matter was speedily arranged; and our young hero accordingly kept his quarters at the parish clerk’s house. But why did he do this after the unceremonious way in which be had been treated when it was thought expedient to get rid of him P? Simply because he wished to remain af the place where Isabella had lived, and where it was possible, he thought, she might happen to call. But which of our readers, whether gentleman or lady, who knows what love is, can fail to penetrate our young hero's motives for tarrying at his present lodg- ings P Another week passed away; and Christian, on ing, as usual, one morning at ten o’clock to Mivart’s Hotel, found the utmost ex- citement prevailing amongst the ducal retinue: there was to be a grand review in Hyde Park that day, at which his Royal Highness the Duke of Maxe-Stoiburg-Quotha was to be present, and in honour of whom the military display was to take place. It was necessary that the Duke should be accompanied by his entire retinue; and there- tionaries were issuing orders to the servants of the hotel: some of them were i ing their best apparel (and heaven knows that bad was the best!) —while others were burnishing up their trampery jewellery with pieces of wash-leather. Christian passed on to the little room in which he was accus- tomed to sit: bat on opening the door, he stopped short in sudden dismay at the astounding spectecle Bat Christian made her no answer—for the/| himself simple reason that he was not listening to the latter portion of her speech. His heart at the moment the loftiest barriers and bridges the widest gulfe—-until it beholds iteclf crowned with success. Such now was the case with Christian Ashton ; and feeling assured that he was not indif. t to the lovely Isabella, he clung to the hope that the progress of time and the flow of circum- stances might lead them together to the altar. “Why, what are you thinking about, Mr. Ashton ?” exclaimed Mrs. Chubb. hinking about?” ejaculated our hero, thus | os A ot rudely startled up from a dreamy reverie. “Oh! I was thinking of all you have been telling me about Miss Vincent.” Mrs. Chubb repeated her request with regard of joy and sorrow,—#or- | i “Der deyvil! why for, yong mans, you for to come in widout knocking at de door ?” Christian’s only reply was a peal of the ludicrous figure presented to i Groom his view by his lordship Baron Raggidbak, of to the high and mighty reigning Dake Stolburg-Quotha. His lordship gnashed tecth with rage, and endeavoured to slip (COLL (C DOO (GO)