The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

Ds 3 MYSTERIES gant ‘vanity could not have been blind to the manner in which his own personal attractions were eclipsed by the nameless charms and graces ofthe Apollo before him. Jealousy served, more- over, to augment the fascinating appearance of the stranger, and to the excited fancy of his rival, the careless dreamer appeared to be one of those beings endowed with irresistible powers—that seductive magic of eye which renders powerless the shield of innocence,-and puts to flight the angel guardians of virtue. To Stephen’s eye he appeared an exaggerated Don Juan; yet even Stephen was compelled to doubt whether that famous libertine possessed such unexceptionablé whiskers, such faultless personal array. He could not even censure the sear which seamed the stranger’s forehead, for the brilliant light which fell upon his forehead scarcely revealed the im: perfection to eyes so studious of blemishes as those now fastened upon him. It was only when the face was flushed by violent passion that this badge of heroism was conspicuous; andthe brow of the dreaming statue was nowas3 calm, as smooth, and as polished, as that of an infant. Stephen was obliged to appeal to his fancy for faults, and cons _ soled himself with the agreeable reflection, that + the reason why he had so scrupulously concealed his eyes, was because they were deformed. Con- ‘soled by this reflection, and as the sermon was nearly closed, he withdrew his attention from the — _ dreamer to sean more closely the movements of _ Clara, as the congregation was about to disperse, The soul of Stephen passed into his eyes ay the _ assembly arose. As Clara started upon her feet, =