The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

"“— fs we f THES MYSTBUIES. g2 This-latter cugyestion-was inrmediately adopted ; end when the bags had been conveyed to the empty chamber dn the greund-fieot end ranged upon the misntel-piece in such a fashion that Mr. Page could embrace the entire array with one gloating glance, he said, “ Now, my pretty Julia, we must decide upon our future proceedings. In me you behold a com- mercial traveller of bigh respectability and old star.d- iIng—capable of giving the most satisfactory re- ferences. {am unmarried—and have long wanted a wife. What do you say? Can you be happy as Mrs. Page? If so—the bargain is soon struck and the fortune need not be divided.” “Well—if you’re willing to take me as I am,” responded the young woman unhesitatingly, “ I’m sure I cannot object to take you as you are. But we must leave this place togethur—[' nrean that we must not separate till the—the —-" “Till the knot is tied—eh, Jolin?” added Mr. Page, throwing his arm around her waist and im- printing a kiss upon her lipe—which latter process made him aware of the fact that she had recently partaken of a liquor smelling marvellously like gin: but he was not disposed to be over nice under the circumstances, “Yes—that is ‘what I meant,” she observed. “ If you are guing to make a lady of me, the sooner the ‘better. But my father was a gentleman once, by all accounts,” added Julia, with some degree of mourn- fulness in her tone, as her thoughts were thus sud- denly brought back to the memory of ner deceased parent. “By the bye, what is your surname, my dear?” inquired Page. “ Lightfoot,” was the answer, “TI thought so!” ejaculated the commercia: tra- veller. © What do you mean?” demanded the young woman. “Do you know anything about us?” “Yes—sormething—but no matter now,” replied Page. “We wil’ talk of all that by and bye. For the present we have other business to think of. Stay here we cannot—those villains next door would find me out: and yet how to leave the house until your father is buried ——” “T have already given directions retative to the funeral, which will take place as privately as pos- tible three days hence,” interrupted Julia. “In the Meantime we can remain together: for even if you had not come here to-night and I had never known you, I should not have stayed any longer in the house with the corpse.” “Come, then,” said Page: © we will depart at once. [f you have a zood strong piece of cord, I will fasten four of these bags round my waist, and my mantle will coverthem. The other two you can carry under your shaw! or cloak, whichever you possess.” “ Stay one moment,” exclaimed Julia; and, quit- Ging the room, she hastened up-stairs. In ateout a minute she returned, wearing ner bon- Met and cluuk, and carrying a smail bundle in her hand. She likewise brought a piece of rope, wherewith the commercial traveller slung four of the bags round his body. The young woman took charge of the re- mainder of the treasure; and when she had ascer- tained, by peeping forth from the front door, that the coast was clear, she and her comparion quitted the liouse together. Hill, where they entered a heackney-conch, which drove them, according to theinstructions wiven, (o a tavern in Farringdon Street. There they took up their quarters for the night; inasmuch as the com- mercial traveller knew very well thet he would not be allowed to intreduce his female friend to the George and Blue Soar, Holborn. On the ensuing morning, shortly after nine o'clock, Mr. Page and Julia Lightfoot crossed over the way to the Pleet Prison; and im that establishment they speedily found a parson, who, for the handsome ree comperise of half-a-crown anda gallon of ale, vied the matrimonial’ knot and pronounced the nuptial venediction. For at that period Fleet marriages were lawful; and thus the couple who had enly known each other a few hours, were made indissolubly one, The reader may perhaps be startled at the circu stance of tins ceremony taking: place while the corpse of Julia's fa:her waa yet above the grounds: but she was anxious on her part to nail s husband white he was in the humour to take her and who, as she termed it, could “make a lady of her;’”’ while he, on the other hand, was equally solicitous to establish a right to that treasure which, until the nuptials were celebrated, belonged wholely and solely to the young woman Thus all feeling of delicacy was superseded by seifish interest on either side. As soon as the marriage-rites were thus per. formed by a drunken parson, assisted by an insulvent prize-fizt.ter who fuifilled the duties of clerk, and in the resence of three or four male and femile prisoners who attended as witnesses, Mr. and Mrs, Page drove into Southwark, where they tvok @ genteel lodging, at which we must leave them for the present. OHAPTER XXIV. THE FATHER AND DAUGHTERS, Ir is now necessary that we should return to uctavia Clarendon, atthe moment when, having taken leave of Lord Florimel who had escorted her home in tne manuer already described, she en- countered Pauliue at the garden gate. But the instant that she met her sister's gaze, the blood gushed in a full tide to her cuuntenance, be- fore so pale; and the words that she would have uttered seemed to rise like a torrent of lava to her throat — remaining there with suffucating effect, and unable to obtain uttcrance. “Ootavia—my beloved Octavia, restrain your feelings,” said Pauline speaking in low hurried tones, as she waved her handkerchief as a signal to Lord Florimel whom she beheld looking forth from the window of the hackney-coach at a little distance. “All is well—our father suspects not your ab- sence,” she added with equal haste. “© Pauline! do you not despise your sister ™ murmured Octavia, now recovering the powers of her voice. “ For God's sake, talk not thus!” was the young maiden’s rapid adjaration, as she led the way into the house, followed by her sister. They ascended to their bed.chamber, where Oo. tavia threw aside her bonnet and shawi: then, fling- ing herself into Paulise’s arms, she burst into On emerging from the court, Page directed Julia | tears. to guide him by the nearest route towards Tower “Not a word relative to anything that hes oo- eS SS SSS SSS aan estatunye phates ens sdastessitasnems COMIC OOO SS Sa » co