The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

———_ e.. me ae nme ee 154 might. lead, in due time, to a similar compact that was being talked about by another couple; and the dis- covery tended, of course, to make them the subjects of numerous sly hits and inuendoes in consequence. The sudden manner in which Chuckers was with- drawn from these agreeable scenes into the busy realities of life prevented any explanation taking place; and though her image was never entirely ef- faced, it yet came to be occasionally eclipsed by the intervention of fresh objects, and it was only when he began to seriously think of settling down into matri- mony that the permanence of the impression that had beon made was felt and acknowledged. Let us, therefore, now return to Bob, who, after revelling all night in a dream which blended long ringlets, bright eyes, green pathways, twisting bop- poles, end sentimental ballads, imte a confused heap together, now awoke to the cold grey light that strug- gied through the curtains of his bed-chamber, and a matter-of-fact comseiousness that the church clock was then striking five. Every body knows—or if any body don’t, it may soon be learned from experience—that getting up at five of a eold autumnal morning is not to be ineluded among the social pleasures of this life. Every thing presents a repulsive, cheerless, damp aspect, from the shining slated roofs of the epposite houses to the slippery road only traversed by rumbling market-carts and rakish- looking cabs. Bub felt, certainly, rather reluctant to encounter the waking migeries of the hous, but re- membering that he had to meet his. friend at London Bridge by half-past seven, and recollecting the rich recompense that would reward his self-denial at the Grange, he battled manfully with the dosy suggestions of quieseent cosiness, and throwing himself vigorously out of bed, preceeded towards: the window to ascer- tain the state of the weather, It was decidedly no very agreeable prospect, A cold sleety rain, dremching to the skin those whose avocatiens compelled them to encounter it thus early, and sudden gusts, that wrenched umbrellas from hands that bore them, and sent wet avalanches of gingham into the faces of foot-passengers coming in an. opposite direction, gave no promise of @ very delightful day. “ Never mind,” thought Bob, “it will clear up pre- sently ;” and with this consolatory reflection he hastily robed himself, and began—for the boy who looked after that department never came till eight—to light the fire and prepare breakfast. Now these operations are most assuredly easy enough in themselves, when the accessories are at hand, and no obstacle intervenes; but Bob’s evil star was in the ascendant that morning, and he found diffi- culties where they were least expected. First, the wood was damp, and resisted all attempts at ignition ; then the coals were as anti-inflammable as though they had been asbestos; and after these minor annoy- ances had been surmounted, and the little copper kettle had been consigned to the fiery ordeal, a puff of smoke indignantly refused to make its exit by the chimney, and diffused itself in a remonstrative shower of small blacks about the apartment. Driven down by the spasmodic gusts of an unquestionable north- easter, the smoke, emboldened by the success of the first onslaught, came out stronger than ever, and with a rebellious determination about it that set all oppo- sition at defiance. It was in vain that Chuckers tried philosophic combinations with the door and window, opening and closing each alternately; the insidious invader of domestic peace would not be persuaded to best a retreat, and Bob was cempelled at last to endure the mortification of Ixion, and put up with a cloud instead of something more substantial. His breakfa:t was entirely spoiled, and his linen, previously sus- | pended in spotless starched purity before the fire, was | profusely ornamented with flakes of sooty blackness; but at last, after a fearful succession of struggles against the elementary enemies of fire, air, and water, Bob sallied forth, attired in the choicest apparel his wardrobe could provide, and heard the clock again, as he crossed the threshold, striking seven. all;” bat the rain, as if in direct opposition to his hopes, came down at that instant faster and steadier than ever, and compelled him to take refuge on a door-step whilst he established a telegraphic com- g | munication with a glazed hat and straw stockings, that, as the only extremities visible, indicated the: existence of a cabman on the box of a vehicle A mutual understanding having to the length of the journey and the : amount of the fare, the waterman introduced Bob the interior, and away they went. through the fizzing sputtering like directions; away into Cheapside and Cornhill, and then with a sudden jolt, a jerk, and a crash, the cab came into collision with a railway omnibus, ‘the horse down on its knees, the driver on ‘pavement, and Bob into a state of mind that ‘vehicle. This was, however, sufficient to preclude the -_- ——> ee « - eo oe ewe - THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. “In very good time, indeed,” thought Bob, as he looked up and smiled approvingly on the slight fissure © in the drifting vaporous clouds, and augured well of jt pe of blue sky that appeared beyond; “ we shall have a pleasant excursion down the river, after been attained relative On through the miry streets rolled the cab, dash- img past dripping newskoys on their way home with the morning papers, and yawning apprentices detach- ing unwieldy shutters; away through St. Paul's — Churchyard, with the wheels hissing round and round catherine wheels, and showering spaska of mad in all sending Bosc siderable obscurity om the question where at that precise moment he might happen to be deposited, Fortunately, after a moment’s examination of the vehicle, no other injury was found te have accrued from the accident than a fracture of the shafts of the - possibility of Chuckers pursuing his journey by the same conveyance, and he therefore heroically de termined to brave the weather, and walk the rest of the distance. There was a short cut he knew existing somewhere in that locality, which would bring him down fo the river-side quicker than by pursuing the sinuosities of the ordinary thoroughfare; and threading the mazes of the first alley on the right © which presented itself, he walked resolutely on, fully believing that he was going in the right direction. But the continuous chain of offices and warehou branching off at right angles to each other, and i flicting the necessity of continvally turning round the corner, mystified Boh so much that he helplessly bewildered in his topography. Running rather than walking during the remainder of exploring tour, Chuckers arrived at last at the Lone Bridge Wharf; almost breathless with his exertions, and nearly soaked through with the rain. ve thing and every body in the place appeared m into a scene of inextricable hurry and confusic Passengers bustling down the steps one way, porters with pyramids of portmanteaus struggling off in another; periodical vendors, office keeper coachmen, cab drivers, and country cousins, all ¢ ing at once, and movirg s{h rial o\eFo) KS.cOmMm and the other multifarious concomitants of a steam