The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THE SCHOOLMASTER 41 young hero issued forth, and after wandering some little while amongst the streets at the West End, he presently found himself threading that one in which dwelt Mr. Chubb, the parish clerk. Was it accident that brought Christian thither, or was it a scarcely comprehended and unacknowl- edged feeling of interest and of love on behalf of the young creature of ravishing beauty whom ten days back he had seen for a few minutes at that house? The reader’s imagi- nation can so easily solve the query which we have put, that it becomes unnecessary for us to explain it in set and formal terms. But on passing the house, and casting a look up at the windows, how sudden a thrill galvanized our hero when he perceived a card announcing apartments to let! Christian stopped short, and looked at the card again. Yes, there were the words, in a bold, round, school- master’s hand, embellished with all manner of flourishes and calligraphic illustrations. Christian was more than half- inclined to knock at the door, but a sudden sensation of timidity restrained him, and he passed slowly along the street. But he did not leave the street; no, he turned, retraced his way toward the house, looked at the card again, and was again about to knock at the door, when the thought struck him that the apartments might be, if not exactly above his means, at least above the sum which he was justified in paying for a lodging, and that therefore if he did make an inquiry and then decline, it might be set down to impertinent curiosity or else as an excuse to obtain a glimpse of the lovely Miss Vincent. This latter reflection, as it swept through Christian’s mind, sent all the blood up into his countenance, for he felt as bashful as the very young girl whose image was uppermost in his thoughts. So again he passed on, but this time to the other extremity of the street, and yet he could not tear himself away from it. “ After all,’ he thought, “‘ there is no harm in making the inquiry,” and he retraced his way. At the same moment that his vision was once more turned upon the card in the ground floor window, it encountered the vixenish eyes of Mrs. Chubb, who was looking over it. He bowed; she did not seem to recognize him, nor to com- prehend whether the salutation were really meant for herself or not. But now, with a sudden access of intrepidity, COMMIC OOO) <S) (E) im