The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

290 THE COURT OF LONDON Must come to your Frederick’s arms? Couldn’t live a week away from him?” ‘“ You know that I love you, Fred,’”’ she observed, going up to him as he sat upon his bed, and throwing her arm around his neck. ‘“ Well, I am not astonished that you should like me a little,’ he exclaimed; ‘for I am not the ugliest fellow in the world, nor yet the greatest fool. But what is the matter with you, Harriet?’ he demanded, observing that there was something singular, or at all events, unusual, in the young woman’s looks and manner. “ Frederick,” she said, not exactly replying to his question, “ vou are aware that I shall not be able to conceal my posi- tion much longer. Will you not fulfil your promise — and — and marry me, without further delay? ”’ “Tt is all very easy, my girl, to talk of marriage,” re- sponded the conceited footman; ‘‘ but where the devil is the money to come from? ’Tis true that I get good wages and pick up many perquisites and presents in this house; but I don’t know how the deuce it is, the money does run away so fast — ”’ ‘‘ Because you are so very, very extravagant, Fred,” interrupted Harriet. ‘‘ However, I do not mean to reproach you,” she added, assuming her most coaxing and endearing manner; “ for I am very fond of you, and I know that if you had the means, you would fulfil your promise and marry me.” “ Well, I don’t know but what I might,” said the young man. “ That is to say,” he added, with a look of extreme animal grossness, ‘‘ if I was sure that the child which you are soon to bring forth is really my own.” “TI take God to witness my oath that it is,” ejaculated Harriet, her countenance flushing with excitement. ‘‘Come, you needn’t put yourself into a rage, my dear,” said her paramour, with the most haughty indifference; ‘“‘for you are very well aware that I was not the first, nor the second — ” ‘But you know that I have remained faithful to you, Fred, from the moment that you began to pay your ad- dresses to me,’ interrupted Harriet, the tears starting into her eyes; “‘ and it is not generous to reproach me for the past, particularly as I never attempted to deceive you on COMmicbooolks CO