The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 120: what you’re looking at

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103 proceeded to look them all up in the : then, bouncing to the room door, she threw it wide open,—and stopping short upon the threshold, she turned towards her husband, ex- claiming, “ Now, Mr. Brugg, the sooner you get vid of them drunken New Lights, the better I” Aud again bouncing onward, she hastened along &@ passage leading to the kitchen, the door of which she banged behind her with a violence that shook the whole house to its foundation. “Brother Paxwax,” said Mr. Sneaksby, rising from his chair as soon as he had somewhat re- covered from the stupefaction into which this ex. traordinary proceeding threw him,—“we are in che tents of the ungodly, and it is time for us to be gone.” “Brother Soeaksby,” responded [chabod, ltke- wise quitting his seat,--“ we cannot remain beneath this inhospitable fig-tree any longer—for the gin ‘has disappeared,” he added, in a low voice to himself. “My dear Christian friends,” said Mr. Brugg, imploringly—for he was afraid that the scene would be reported abroad to his discredit, — “I hambly beseech you to pardon this treatment on the part of—of—the very best woman in existence.” “ May the devil take such women—and you too, air,” cried the Rev. Nathaniel Sneaksby, unabie to keep a reinupon his temper any longer. “I never saw such an accursed termagant in all my life.” “Nor I such a wretched hen-peckdd old foo),” criei Mr. Paxwax, raghing out into the as he spoke and opening the front door, for fear that his remark might provoke Mr. Brygg to hurt the jug of hot water at his head. “Come along, Brother Sneaksby.” “J am coming, Brother Paxwax,” said this re- verend gentieman, who was not quite such a coward as his satellite: and having flung a look of mingled ferocity and contempt upon the astounded Joel Brugg, he stalked majestically eut of the house, leaving the front door wide open behiad him. Repairing to the public-house where they had put op their cattle, the two New Lights sate down in the parlour and began to console themselves with steamiog jorums of gin-puneb for the insult and inhospitality which they had experienced at Brother Brugg’s ; — and as the injuries which their feelings had sustained were manifeld and deep, the amount of solace required was necessarily propor- tionate, But as this solace consisted in gin-puach, in the same ratio that it lightened their bearta so did it lighten their heads ; and when at about four o'clock in the afternoon they paid their bill and issued forth to mount their beasts, their pace was 80 unsteady that they mutually agreed there never was a place with such wretchedly loose and uneven pevement in all the world as Dartford. Followed by the broad grins of the landlerd, the hostler, and several hangers-on about the inv, the pious travellers commenced their journey home- ward. But again had they to endure the persecution of the small boys, who, perceiving the inebriated condition of the two sanctimonious vessels, became perfectly uproarious in their glee and so extremely practical in their jokes that Mr. Sneaksby had two falls from his horse and Mr. Paxwax three from hie ass before the limits of Dartford were reached. At length the urchins took jJeave of them; and they wr rela way without farther melestation of ee 4 Presently a tremendous shower of rain began to fall; and the two leaders of the New Lights were speedily wet through to the skin. Vainly did they urge on their beasts to gain the nearest way-side public-honse: the horse proved almost as obstinate as the donkey—and before a sheltering roof even ape peared in sight, the reverend travellers were come pletely drenched. ‘The water poured down from the broad brims of their hats as if they were sluices opened for the occasion; and never did human beings look or feel more thoroughly miserable. At length they put up at a tavern, where they resolved to sup and pase the night; and with sorrow be it recorded that the Rev. Nathaniel Sneaksby and his friend Mr. Ichabod Paxwax were conveyed blind drunk to bed. On the following moming they resumed their journey, the weather having cleared up; and with faces woefully elongated by reason of the head-ache which they experienced and the remorseful memo- yies which filled their brains, they entered the metropolis at about mid-day. Proceeding straight to the stables where they had hired the mettled charger and the noble donkey, they felt a perfect relief when they thus got rid of their cattle; and hastening to Jermyn Street, they made such im- provements in their toilette as rendered them fit to present themselves to the august synod of New Light Elders assembled in the vestry-room of Salem to receive them. The reader will searcely require to be informed that they denounced in the strongest terms the in- hospitable conduct of the Rev. Joel Brugg of Darte ford ; but in giving an account of theic visit and its failure, neither Mr. Sneaksby nor Mr. Paxwaxr thought it at all necessary te state how tremendously tipsy they hed both got. CHAPTER CXLIX. THE AFFLICTED MAIDEX. Iw the morning after the adventures at the masque- rade, Pauline Clarendon awoke in a magnificently furnished bed-chamber, —the canopy overhanging the couch and the tops of the looking-glass frames being surmounted with ducal coronets. For a few instants she was a prey toa wild bee wilderment as she cast her eyes around: but almost immediately her ideas settled themselves into the proper places in her brain,—and she reco!iected all that had occurred on the preceding eveniug— where she was now—and how she came thither. Then, as the fancied perfidy of Lord Florimel rose uppermost in her mind and dominated all her other thoaghts, she buried her countenance in the pillow and gave way to an agonised ebullition of grief The flood of tears which sbe thus poured forth, relieved her somewhat ;—and she bad just dried the pearly drops upon her long lashes and her pale cheeks, when the door opened gently and the betlliant Duchess of Devonshire entered the apart- ment. “My dearest Pauline,” she exclaimed, approach- ing the bed and taking the young lady’s hand, “do tell me what has happened! Nothing has occurred to Octavia, I hope——” “Nothing, my generous friead—my noble bene- factress,” said Paulina “ But I must apologwe ElOOO® SS an