The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

“> "Twas you my charmer, who implored me not to preciaim my love in the presence of Paniine,” said Harley. “But if you have no confi- “No—no, my adored girl—I cannot be angry with you,” exclaimed Harley, kissing away her tears. “Only promise that you will meet me to-morrow qrening——” “T will,” muymured Octavia, in a tone that was warcely audib le. “ Thanks, dearest—a thousand thanks,” returned Marley; and the joyousness of his tone and manner excited such ineffable pleasure in the bosom af Octavia, as to stifle the momentary remorse which had stricken her with a sudden pang when her lips breathed an assent to her lover's prayer. “‘To-~mor- row evening, then, my beloved one, we shall mest nf’ he continued, in his tenderest and most se- “The place of appointment shall he at the very respectable and fashionable millinery estahliahment of Mrs. Brace in Pall Mall. At six dclook I shall be there, anxiously awaiting the ar- rival of the most lovely and best-beloved of women. } ing Tell me, then, Octaviar—tell me that I shall not ex- perience disappeintment.” The too-confiding girl bresthed the required pro- mise; and Harley, with difficulty veiling the triumphant feelings which animated him, now be- aought her to compose hereelf in such a manner that Pauline might not suspect the tender understanding which exjsted between them. This was by no means an easy task for Octavia to achieve, $0 full of ecatatic fpelings was her soul. But love is often wonderfully mggestive of what may be termed a venial dupli- qty; and the young lady accordingly succeeded in qoncealing the ardour of her passion beneath a studied reserve—so that the evening passed away without affording the slightest ground for exciting a quspicion on Pauline’s part. Mr. Harley partook of the supper which had heen prepared; and during the meal his conversa- Gon grew more animated, sparkling, and attractive than ever. Octavia was charmed and fascinated— and there were moments when she could have thrown off her reserve, started fram her seat, and Gung her arms about his neck, claiming him as her ver in the presence of Pauline: buf, thongh it was painfal to restrain her feelings benesth the iron qontrol of prudence, she nevertheless snaceeded in thus a severe domination over them. On the other hand, Pauline was gay, sPaciely, and fin excellent spirits; briliian but while ahe ad in the aofter and more tender feelings thet had ac- quired such empire over her more yielding, senal- tive, and impassioned siater. It was nearly midnight when Mr. Harley rose to take his leave; and Octavia aceompanied him as fer as the gaeden- THE MIYSTERI EA. “No {* she murmuredin e scarcely sadible-tonc: —end'they separated—Harley departing te gieat in anticipation over the conquest which he hoped fall soon to achieve—~and Octavia resurning into the villa, to dream -of the man who had obtained sueh empire over her soul. Gane CHAPTER K. In the time of which we are writing, Grub Street was the nn-euphonious and repulsive appellation of that long, narrow, and dirty lane in the Cripplegate district, which now bears the name of Milton Sireet. At the present day the features of that thorough- fare are none of the most inviting: but at the alose of the eighteenth century, the aspact of the place was disgusting and villanous in the extreme. There was not a vestige of pavement; and the ground was so uneven and rugged, that few vehicles ever ventured. that way—for in the fine weather they stood a chance of being overturned by the mounds of concrete dirt that detted the lane, and in the rainy seasons the wheels were sure to sink inte deep ruts. The houses were of the most miserable descrip- tion—the shops of the poorest kind. Every dwell- harboured numerous distinct families ;—and poverty forced the poor artizan into a close neigh- bourhood with the avowed thief. The result, in such cases, too often was that the former instead of bringing the latter within the sphere of a commen- dable industry, became infected with the poison of demoralisation, and ip the desperation produced by failure of work, threw himself into the arms of the villain who promised a rich harvest with litéle trouble in the reaping. Vice and depravity accord. ingly spread like a pestilence in that locality; ana as the first words which infants were tanght to lisp were oaths and imprecation, so the last which they uttered iu their manhood were too frequently the death-prayer on the gallows ! And who can wonder if Grub Street and its eee hed become a noted academy for of thieves,-—a seminary whence the sais of vice, demoralisation, and crime regruite: themselves from day to day,—a hideous school «: infamy where the preceptors were the wratche: children’s own parents ?—who ean wonder, we agai: ask, if Newgate, which was so ominously han:i;. had no fear of finding its felons’ wards.and its cu. demned esils depested, se long as the low lodging - houses, the boozing-kens, the brothels, the 1e.eiver:" and fences’ shops, and ali the other dens of iniquit, in which Grub Street abounded, flourished in a!i their featid and reak.lusurianne—the noxious weed « of the soaial syatem. Reader, take the map of the Great Metenpolis. — and with “Tag Mrerenina oy Loxnon” by your side for ready referense, eirole with a dark lve, either-with pen or pencil, each and every loathsome district or neighbourhood whieh yon will find de. scribed in the two Series of that wark o=in the onc which you are now per . Then calculate the which the haents of erilme andthe skulk - gate. “ You will not forget your promise for to-morrow-| ing-places of poverty bear to the localities wher« evening, my angel?” he as he hastily but fervently pressed her hand to his lips. comfort is feund or where opulence and splendou: goign. The result will prove-tit two-thirds of the CORNICE OOO ©) CO