The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER III THE BEAUTIFUL SISTERS WeE must now return to the gentleman in the cloak who was the object of the wild-goose chase which terminated in so deplorable a manner for Mr. Page. The reader will remember that there was a row of houses with gardens in front of them, at that part of the Edgeware Road where the fugitive had suddenly and unaccountably disappeared. These clwellings were small, but neat exter- nally and comfortable within, and they were dignified with the name of “ Villas.” The speculator who had built them inherited from his father the not very euphonious name of Gubbins; and, though his ambition prompted him to bestow immortality on the appellation by calling the range of houses ‘“Gubbins’s Terrace,” his friends had wisely interfered to rescue the “ sweet little cottages ”’ from such an ugly nomen- clature. The result was that the title of ‘‘ Paradise Villas ”’ was fixed.upon as a more pleasing substitute, and was con- ferred accordingly. The villa that stood last in the row and at the angle of the lane in which Mr. Page was eased of his property was occu- pied by a widower and his two daughters. Mr. Clarendon was a gentleman of small — very small — income, allowed by a wealthy and titled relative. He had been unfortunate — some said improvident — in early life, and had married the beautiful but penniless daughter of a poor clergyman. This match gave great umbrage to the proud and aristo- eratic family to which he himself belonged, and when his Own means were exhausted, all that he could obtain trom the bounty of his cousin, Lord Marchmont, was an allow- ance of a hundred and fifty pounds a year, Just to keep him from actual penury. 22 ECORNIECLOOOKS m