The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

152 of the till, into the contents whereof he would keep up an incessant investigation at all hours of the day. Then he would be frequently running outside, to see whether he had dressed his windows up with all the attractions of which they were susceptible; and on his return it was pleasant to see him coaxing a stick of sealing-wax into a more irresistible angle, or prop- ping up an envelope-box into that tempting position that its gaping lid seemed to be calling out for a pur- chaser; whilst the bundles of cubas were s0 pic- turesquely piled up in pyramids, with the points thrust invitingly forth, that they made the very lips of the passers-by moisten as they gazed upon them. But the snug little back-parlour, that was at the end of the shop, was the haven where he delighted to rest when the business of the day was over; and here would he sit, smoke, and dream over the prospective fortune that he believed himself destined to make some day, until, like a small Sir Walter Raleigh, he would shadow forth an El Dorado behind his two counters. It is true that now and then a sense of loneliness would steal upon him, and he would draw his arm-chair closer up to the blazing fire, and sigh for the domestic companionship that the vacancy in the opposite corner suggested. And perhaps, in the whole range of those infla- ences that daily impress their effect upon humanity, there is nothing like firelight to call forth the genial emotions of the heart; to evoke those retrospective images that cling about the memory; to rouse into kindred warmth those better feelings of our nature that are frozen by the contact of ehilling ordinary realities, The fireside is the shrine where all our petty bickerings, our minor annoyances, our mere business perplexities may be daily offered up as an acceptable sacrifice. Our social sympathies are ex- panded into a genial glow; the fancy is cradled in its cheerful blaze, and fed by its fostering flame. He was in one of these retrospective moods, think- ing of a certain young lady who had been the “ first love” of his early days, and speculating on the possi- bility of ever meeting her again, when the creaking ~~ of a customer in the shop roused him from his verie, and starting up, he saw, to his immeasurable delight, that the face of the intending purchaser be- longed to an old schoolfellow who had been likewise separated from him for some time by the different bent of their avocations, “What! the immortal Dick ?” exclaimed Chuckers, is he passed round the counter and grasped his friend’s digits with a hearty squeeze, and a conviction that, netwithstanding his extravagant salutation, he was only shaking hands with corporeal clay. “ If there is one person more than another I wished to see, Dick Jones is the man; but how did you come to find me out?” “Soon told,” said that individual, responding to Bob’s earnest greeting with the same cordiality, and yielding to his invitation to penetrate the little sanc- tum at the back; “ just left the office—got a week’s holiday—strolling down the street—wanted my cigar- case filled—louked up—saw the name of Chuckers over the door—thought it was you—and here I am,” “ And delighted I am to meet with you,” added Bob, giving the fire an extra poke in honour of his arrival ; “comfortably settled here you see—not been in the business a month, but now getting on famously. Gave ten pounds fer the ‘ good-will’ as they call it, but had very little good from it yet. There is every prospect of my making a profitable thing out of it, howeve., by and bye; for my connection is evidently THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, increasing already. Yesterday there wasn’t a sovl came in all day, but I have had two here since this morning, even without counting you.” “Twol” laughed his companion, “ Why you are driving a roaring trade.” ‘*Yes—what they came for wasn’t very remune- rative, certainly. One wanted change for a shilling, and the other to know where the post-office was; but I expect great things from the new labels Grigg has done forme. You have heard of Grigg, of course?” “ Can’t say I have,” replied the other, himself in a chair by the fireplace, and familiarly naturalising his feet to the fender; “but since it is you, and I have found you at home, I may at once deliver a special communication, with which I w entrusted for your particular ear.” ‘e “A special communication!” echoed Chuckers, opening his eyes to their fullest extent. “ haven’t been asking in the Home Office whether I should like to be prime minister a little while, eh?” -“"No, my mission is more of a private nature,” returned Mr, Richard Jones, who held himself a government situation in Somerset House, and was presumed to have an enviable acquaintance with diplomatic secrets; “I mean to astonish you.” , © Blaze away!” said Bob, metaphorically, “What — is it?—Annie faithless, or the governor seyere?— which ?” : “Neither, my boy,” rejoined his companion; ‘as for Annie Lambert, she is as she ever was, the paragon of lovely constancy and constant loveliness; and for the governor, his assent to our marriage is as 3a , as quarter-day. Youare on the right scent, however, — Guess again.” - ; 1 amen “Impossible!” cried Bob, after a few moments’ cc sideration, with his eyes intently fixed on the ceiling, (3 as if a mesmeric influence was expected to come out the whitewash. a “ Guess!” repeated the puzzle-propounder with in- creased energy. — | y * Can’t!” urged Bob, with redoubled emphasis, as he pushed the cigar-box towards him; “so take your time, light a principe, and unfold,” “Well, then, you remember your old sweetheart, Caroline Merton, and the bosom friend of Annie Lam- bert; she that you used to be so fond of when we did the amiable down at Grange Farm together?” “ Remember her? I should think so; why, in every thing, from “ Pope Joan” to the “ Lancers,” she was the only partner I ever cared about; knitting or nutting, bonnet-building or blackberrying, Carry and I were inseparable, But, alas! Fate was unkind, and Caroline went over to Paris; when I went into the business from which 1 have just been liberated.” © “ Nothing of the kind, my dear fellow, all a delu- sion; she merely exercised her feminine prerogative and altered her mind, She has been in London ever since, keeping single, no doubt, for your sake. Annie saw her the other day; gave her an invitation to the farm, wrote to me to bring you down if I could, or bring myself if I couldn’t, and to morrow morning I propose starting.” 4 ty “ Wel” emphasised Bob, “we pro starting ick; by all means make it the stk y and bother Zimmerman! I see—the boy can look after and I can take the ramble with you. boat from Blackwall, then van to Maidstone, then hearty welcome from Fermer Lambert, blushing | recognitions from Carry, moonlight stra}i orchard, old loves, old memsio/\4) RSLS) ‘ ‘ ie ns walk to Grange through corn-fields and hop-gardens; |