The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

OF LONDON, _ oo amazed at the honesty and eloquence of her aunt ; but being weal, and accustomed to appropriate the thoughts, and defer to the opinions of her aunt, she easily allowed herself to be persuaded. The fact may seem strange, but it is one of daily occurrence, Rio Santo was therefore permitted to declare his sentiments to Miss Mary Trevor—the same night the young lady dreamt of Frank Percival. We must confess that the young nobleman se= lected an unfortunate pericd for his travels; but misguided parents, anxious to show their superior wisdom, almost invariably postpone a suitable marriage, under the pretext that it is not yet time. Poor wisdom! poor pretext! there is a — time to be happy! ‘Frank was formally engaged to Miss Mary Trevor, with the apprebation of all the relatives of the parties; but both were so young, that the marriage must be postpened a year. How could Frank endure the delay? One of his friends advised a journey to Switzerland. He remained abread a year exactly; for he ordered post horses at Geneva in auch a manner, that he could reach London on the three hundred and ao day. It would have been difficult for a lover to have ‘been more punctual, As he was sailing up the Thames, although there was a dense fog, he inter- rogated with his looks all the boats geing and coming from Greenwich, that he might recogniso _- the charming face of his beloved. He saw no- thing, however, but strange countenances, tarpau- _lins, sailor jackets, and on the decks of the COMMECMOOKSACOM §