The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXII THE LATHAMS THE scene of this narrative shifts to a large and very hand- some suburban mansion situated at Balham Hill. This thriving district, in a convenient vicinage of the metropolis, promises to become completely fashionable, and to acquire a reputation on that score equal to Clapham. Tudor House, the mansion of which we are speaking, was situated in the midst of spacious grounds, which had, how- ever, been too recently laid out for perfect beauty, but which were nevertheless sufficiently attractive. Indeed, it was quite evident that no expense had been spared upon either the mansion or the grounds by Sir Frederick Latham, the owner of the property. This gentleman was about fifty years of age, a partner in one of the most eminent mercantile firms in the City of London, and he was exceedingly rich. The house to which he belonged had enjoyed opportunities of rendering, at various times, financial services to the govern- ment, and thus, while a peerage was conferred upon the senior partner, a baronetcy was bestowed upon the second. This was how Sir Frederick Latham obtained the title which he now possessed. He had somewhat recently married the daughter of a noble but impoverished family, a lady in her own right; and thus his wife enjoyed the privilege of prefixing her Christian to her surname on all occasions, which will account for the fact of her being styled Lady Anastatia Latham. She was about one and twenty years of age and very beautiful. It was not, however, beauty alone which characterized her; there was something singularly interesting in the expression of her countenance as well as softly winning and unstu- diously fascinating in her manners. Her features were regular, 271 EOMINGIOOKS (CO)