The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. 273 S~: : — W/Z ss Z) ’ \ N i \ Rey \\t AY \\ ‘ ——— \W PN * SNE by bs oy \ Nx —~ ‘ — > »s* ——— << —— = ——_- = : — il l | ey 4 gf ’ A’ pee Wi} fi V/ ] eA / yr “ Why, do you know, my dear, he is the best match | “ His character and family are unexceptionabie Y” in the market, at least for the present season. Forty| The young lady was silent. . thousand a year landed property, to say nothing of his| “ Georgina,” said the marchioness, “ don’t act like a bishopric,” fool, and throw away the chance of an establishment “The settlements which he has offered,” said her | which not one girl of your acquaintance but would mother, “are princely, and such as no girl in her| jump at. If you never intended to have him, why senses wou.d think of refusing.” permit things to proceed so far? All the world ex- “But wealth,’ sighed Georgina, “is not the only | pects it, I assure you.” uisite to ensure happiness in the marriage state.’’ “T care not for the world,” replied her daughter. ‘At least it is the principal,” urged her worldly-| roused to defend herself; “and as for the attentions minded mother. of the prelate, lis age and character I conceived “ T can never love him.” justified me in receiving from him what I certainly “ No one is so unreasonable as to ask it,” replied | should have checked in a younger man.” her aunt. “ Love is all very well in romance, but in| ‘ Absurd!” exclaimed Lady Heartley. “ Because real life it is superfluous. You wil! find in him a| the dear bishop wears an apron, do you think he is to friend, an intellectual companion, a guide, and banker, | be treated like an old woman or a child?” and that is all that any reasonable woman can expect.| “How could I possibly suspect his motives? He I married for love, my dear, and can speak from | never spoke one word of love.’ experience how little it has todo with happinessin| “Of course not,” continued her aunt; “a bishop the married state. Besides,” she added, “ what can | should never talk of such things; it would be indeco- you object to hislordship? Is he not handsome?” rous—yet it is all understood. But you must have “Oh, yes. That is, I never once thought upon the | known from the newspapers what hia intentions subject,” replied the persecuted girl, were. Look here,” she continued, taking up several 35 TT COMIC DOD OOKSHEO