The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

260 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a capital thing to become respectable, and settle down in a respectable neighbourhood, and be visited by respectable families, and go to the Protestant church or the Catholic chapel in a respectable way on Sundays— Ah, by the bye, if I were you, my dear madam, I would come the church dodge; there’s nothing like the church dodge. Be sure to hire a pew, go to church regularly, and if you can snivel a little bit in the middle of the sermon, — of course choosing the proper part, — your respectability is estab- lished.”’ Madame Angelique could not help smiling at this tirade into which Mr. Isaac Shadbolt launched forth, and she said, ‘‘ Well, then, if you are so very anxious that I should keep myself respectable, pray do your best to keep up my respectability. Don’t call the servant-girl ‘my dear.’ ”’ ‘““ Nor yet chuck her under the chin,’ added Mr. Shad- bolt. “You don’t mean to say you’ve done it?” cried the Frenchwoman in alarm. ‘Done it? Oh, dear me, no, not for the world! Be- sides, the girl is too ready with her hand in slapping one’s face.” “Then you have taken liberties with her,’ exclaimed Madame Angelique. ‘‘ Now really this is too bad.” “Pray don’t entertain such an evil opinion of your de- voted friend honest Ike Shadbolt. I only meant that she looks like a girl who would slap a fellow’s face— But hush, mum! — here she is! ”’ The lunch was accordingly brought in, and it was now quite edifying to observe the curious manner in which Mr. Shadbolt endeavoured to look grave, serious, and well- conducted, pursing up his mouth, and only furtively leering from the corner of his eyes at Madame Angelique and Jane to mark the effect which he produced. When the pretty maid servant had retired, he indemnified himself for three minutes’ seriousness by five minutes’ laughter, and then he began to pay his respects to the cold chicken, the ham, and the Madeira. “ Talking about respectability,”’ continued Mr. Shadbolt, “T highly approve of your determination to maintain that respectability here. People in a certain class of life can’t get on without it. Take your grocer, for instance, CORNICIOOKS (E(0)