The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

PD DLBLLLLLLLLL LL LLL LLL ELE OO rr — bo sella aye 6 PRE Fe Marge» eres ee we. boat wharf on an autumnal morning completed the picture of chaos which now burst upon the astounded vision of Mr. Chuckers. “ Half-past seven o’clock boat gone yet?” gasped Bob, as an official hurried by. “ No, sir; just starting; follow me, or you will be too late,” and the panting querist had only just time to obey the injunctions of his guide and race over the slippery plank, off the stone steps, and on to the deck of the vessel, when the signal was given for departure, and the steamer was set in motion. “ Thank goodness!” muttered Bob, as he propped himself against the heated box of the funnel to dry his coat and rest his limbs; “thank goodness, I am all right now at last,” and after having reconnoitred his fellow passengers during his stay in that position, and satisfied himself that Dick Jones was not of the number, he determined to wait at the Town Pier at Gravesend until that individual arrived, and then to administer a severe and dignified reprimand for the delay he had occasioned. In the meantime, the clattering of knives and forks, plates and tea-cups, and the other concomitants of a matin meal, stole upon the ears of Mr. Chuckers with a pleasant sound, which served to tranquillise his per- turbed spirit, and reminded him that a hearty break- fast on board would be no bad substitute for the scanty snack which the smoke had nearly deprived him of before starting. Descending to the cabin, whence the savoury fumes of tea and coffee rose seductively to the upper air, Bob found the long table so prodigally provided with viands, which were so fully appreciated by the double rows of hungry passengers garnishing the extreme ends thereof, that he paused in admiration on the threshold, as one witnessing ,a scene that, to an ob- servant and philanthropic mind like his, was truly delightful to centemplate. Rounds of beef and chines of ham, temptingly festooned with parsley and rapidly gliding away in transparent slices that dissolved almost by looking at, were enough of themselves to create an appetite; and he, having one ready made, lost no time in ixing himself in the midst. Neyer before bad Bob felt so ferociously hungry, and the innate good humour of his disposition displayed itself more freely than ever as the rolls and butter at his side disappeared with the inhibition of the fragrant mocha, like the magical articles dexterously made to vanish by the potent hand of a legerdemain professor. The weather, too, which had been so perversely gloomy all the morning, now began to realise Bob’s sanguine prediction, and clear up in earnest, sending bright rays of sunshine through the cabin windows, and attracting grumbling passengers to the deck, who turned ont all to have singularly enough prognosticated a fine day, though they had apparently so little faith in their vaticination as to have. come prepared with every habiliment to encounter a wet one. “ What's to pay, steward?” asked Chuckers, as that bustling functionary came briskly round to collect the pecuniary amount of each individual’s repast. “ ence, sir, if you please,”’ was the smirking reply of the oflicial, as he tucked his napkin under the arm, and rubbed his hands merrily Bob thrust his hand confidently into his side pocket to discharge the claim, which, considering the havoc he had made, he confessed was extremely moderate, and the steward patiently awaited its withdrawal. 1; was a critical moment, Bob, bafiled in the first attempt to extract money from one part of his vest, tried an- EE OE. ee eee ee ee + eee LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. ot 2 oe ee ~~ A et la ge —_ -_——_—_— 155 —_——_—— a ee other, but with no better success. rapid, but less confidential, divings into every imagin- able hole and corner of his apparel; and with overy failure the face of Chuckers grew redder and redder, and that of the claimant longer and longer. At last the painful truth flashed upon him. His pocket had been picked during his exploring tour through the alleys by the river side, and his finances wera reduced to the clinking of a few coppers that remained from the change of his last sixpence. Something seunding like a subdued anathema escaped from his lips on ascer- taining the fact of such an embarrassing predicament. “Sorry to hurry you, sir, but when you are quite disengaged—” vindictively urged the steward, brush- ing off imaginary crumbs from the table as a kind of excuse for loitering, and leaving his victim to fll up the hiatus. Bob never felt the tones of the human voice grate so harshly on his ear. They seemed to vibrate on his tympanum like the closing chimes of the bell which warns the condemned criminal of his last mo- ment, It was of no avail that he assumed an air of confi- dence, and recommenced his researches. He felt that the precise reason of his non-compliance with the request must come out at last, and this, with as much assurance as he could command for the emergency, he now communicated to the anxious steward. But there are some men obstinately incredulous under such circumstances; and the proprietor of the con- sumed breakfast was one of them. He didn’t be- lieve in such things as pickpockets, not he; though they might dress themselves up like gentlemen, and walk about on steamers, for what he knew, and order things that they never intended to pay for; but he had only read of such doings in newspapers, and never saw one in his life that he knew of, though he didn’t know how soon he might, and so on. At last Bob, rendered desperate by circumstances, bethought himself of an expedient. He would de- posit his silk umbrella with the steward as security for the ultimate payment; and this arrangement, after some hesitation, was accepted. And now, cheered by the reflection that this di- lemma had been favourably surmounted, Mr. Chuck- ers, whose faith in imperturbability of temper had already become somewhat shaken, began to brighten up with the sunbeams, and ascended to the deck to recover his lost equanimity. Another surprise was, however, in store for him. The steamer had made such rapid progress during the time he was breakfast~- ing, and the period occupied by the unpleasant alter- cation that ensued, that it had now nearly gut out of sight of land altogether; and the expanded view of the river, therefore, puzzled him mightily, It was somethisg like seeing a well-known but unex- pected vision in a dream, when the spectator, having gone off to sleep without feelin, it, finds himself under the influence of imagination without believing it, “What place is that yonder?” inquired the bewil- dered passenger, indicating an indefinite object, with a confused recollection of having seen it before, and anxiously awaiting a reply from the man at the helm. “ Buoy at the Nore, sir,” bluntly replied the helms- man, wrenching up the lower part of the wheel as he spoke, and elevating his nose with a very small opinion of his interrogator’s knowledge of geography. “ Buoy! Nore!” ejaculated Bob, with his eyes and mouth opening simultaneously ; “why where on éarth is this steamer going to?” Sr - Then came more |