The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

ventured to speak of such a sum; but as that indivi- dual coolly shuffled up the silver like one quite used to such payments, and took the extra shilling to him- self with the greatest nonchalance in the world, the effect of such a deliberate proceeding was materially destroyed. As further dancing was considered unadvisable, and the advantages of a promenade in the cool fresh air were too apparent to be disregarded, it was arranged that Thornton should offer his arm to the young damsel in the Greek dress, and that Chuckers should in like manner escort the object of his attention about Leaving the former couple for awhile, we must take e of the fate that attended the aspiring who, already smitten with the engaging figure of the partner he had chosen, was now improv- ing the opportunity by giving an amorous tone to his discourse. “Why,” said he, insinuating his arm slily round her waist as they got into the more retired part of the gardens; “why longer conceal from me those charms which are hidden by this hateful mask? Let once tear aside the envious veil that hides this eous countenance, and bask in the refulgence of those eyes that are destined to be the loadstars of my destiny.” | This flowing speech of Mr. Chuckers was all he could remember of a stock address that he had some time before studied for these especial emergencies ; but though he now gave it, as he thought, with some- thing more than its usual emphasis, it was responded to with no other emotions than those arising from an effort to restrain laughter, for a subdued tittering was “Speak, sweet enslayer of my soul,” he continued, in the same high-flown style; “am I to be denied the pleasure of this blissful vision? Nay, thus I break the spell that keeps my love unknown,” and attempt- ing to gently remove the mask from her face, he was unexpectedly greeted with a severe smack on his own. hands to yourself, if you please, Mr, oe your “Ha, you know me, then!” exclaimed Bob in astonishment, and taken quite aback by this unex- discovery. * Yes, and the young lady in pink that you used to go and hear at the Crown and Compasses,” pursued the other, following up her attack; “I need only mention the name of Mivins, I believe, to be under- stood?” - “Clementina Mivins!” echoed the brigand. “Ah! name not that name to.me. It isthe name of one who—but no matter. What is Clementina to me? What is it that she is no longer Mivins?”’ And re- leasing his arm from her waist, he folded his hands pensively, and looked with a contemplative and dis- tracted air upon a red bucket lamp that was dangling half extinguished from the branch of a tree above. ** And you never loved her, then?” asked the girl. “1!” gasped Chuckers, who, under the influence of strong beverages, was generally disposed towards the sentimental and metaphysical, and which, being com- bined, verge upon the profoundly unintelligible—* JZ love her! Look at that lamp sputtering in the oil and flickering in the agonies of expiring light. That lamp is an emblem of my love for Clementina Mivins. It is going out, and so is the last spark of the attach- ment I bear to that faithless creature.” “You will not forget, then, the last time you met amar = ee — LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. her,” rejoined the Greek girl; and uplifting her mask, she disclosed a laughing countenance beneath, that to the staggered brigand presented the features of the identical Clementina herself. “ Miss Mivins{” cried Chackers ; “is it possible?” “ Mrs, Simmons now, if you please,” returned the masquerader; “‘my husband was the Punchinello that came and spoke to us in the supper-box; and I and my friend Miss Braggs, who isa Posy and does the Venuses, are very much obliged to you for etand- ing treat to us so handsomely. We are engaged here atso much a night for the fancy balls; and when you come to another one, I am sure we shall all be very happy to see you, particularly if you bring us such a card of invitation to clear you out.” The unhappy brigand, who had but imperfectly heard the closing part of the speech—for to his dis- torted vision each object seemed now multiplied by two—gave his hat a frantic blow over his eyes, rushed desperately forth, and, seeing Thornton at the end of the vista talking to the equally treacherous Miss Braggs, he snatched hold of his arm, whirled him out of the reach of feminine temptation, and hurrying through the noisy crowd, who were now getting quarrelsome over their cups and playing off coarse practical jokes upon each other, he allowed nothing te stop his impetuous career until they were safely out of the gardens, “ What on earth is the matter with you, Bob?” asked Thornton, as soon as he recovered breath enough to put the question ; “ have you lost any thing ?” “Yes, a heart,” sighed Chuckers, balancing himself against one of the outer pillars; “a heart that has been—never mind—let us have some oysters.” This strange variation of feeling was occasioned by a loud appeal shouted forth at that moment by a weather-beaten little man in a fur cap and long apron, and who gave them an invitation to partake of his unseasonable commodities at a small stall close by, and of which he was the proprietor. As Thornton declined, Bob Chuckers, with brigand- like rapacity, commenced a furious onslaught upon a dozen of these crustaceous edibles, aided by a plentiful admixture of pepper and vinegar, which, for the pe- euliar flavour they imparted, might have been com- pounded of grated blacking and stale beer. Having thus allayed the agitation of his mind, he seemed to become more composed. Indeed, it should be noticed as a curious fact that oysters generally seem to be re- garded as wonderful soothers of the system, and to be recognised in those squalid localities where they are constantly on sale as a great universal panacea for all the sorrows that afflict mankind. 7 “Ts there any house open in the neighbourhood where we can have some half-and-half?” pursued Chuckers, who was groaning with thirsty despair. The oyster-vendor pointed out a dilapidated build- ing at the back of the gardens, where a light was faintly perceptible through a side-door that stood ajar, and to the public house thus indicated the brigand and his friend proceeded. It was a wretched, uncomfortable-looking place, with that hot sickly odour about if that night houses generally have. The frequenters were chiefly cabmen, and those nondescripts in straw stockings that hang about their track; and behind the bar was ~ the landlord, very dozy and dirty, with a small tumbler of muddy gin-and-water before him to keep alive his wakeful energies. The beer was flat, and almost tasteless, the pre- dominant flayour that lingered on the palate sug- — ee a a EOMICOOOKS (E()