The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS “That? Oh that,” said Faddle, carelessly, “is Lady Clinton,” “ You seem on good terms with her,” continued the girl, annoyed by the glance which had aceompanied the salute, “Why, ye—es,” drawled the libertine. “We are to each other. The fact is, we were desperately fond for a short time; but I soon grew tired. I hatewomen who are always fondling and sentimental.” “And I,” a who are as h the poor girl, with spirit, “ men as they are forsworn—who know ‘power, and feel a cruel pride in showing it. Such men have never loved.” Again the libertine kissed his hand to the lady in the phaeton, who had ordered her carriage to turn, and so contrived to passhim. This time Nancy bit her lips, and was silent. Her heart was too full to speak; nor was that of the guilty occupant of the carriage much happier. Married to an aged but honourable man, she had permitted her heart to wan- der to another, At first, her struggles to resist the fascination had been successful, and she had broken off all correspondence with the libertine; bat the sight of him in the park, with a handsome girl by his side, had so excited her imagination and inflamed her jealousy, that she would have given worlds to speak with him ‘but for one moment. Faddle saw and understood her feelings. Nancy was to serve as a decoy duck till he had won a richer prize, and then he meant to cast her off as worthless. No—let us not wrong him—he was too economical to cast her off; he meant to sell her—sell her to his friend the baronet, There are more hearts sold in this land of liberty than half your philosophers dream of. Faddle drew his cab up close to the ring, and entered into conversation with a number of sporting gentlemen, amongst whom was Sic Henry Springer, who was driving an elegant new barouche, with a pair of cream-coloured horses, The turn-out was so complete, so perfect in taste, that even Nancy, torn as her heart was by jealousy and love, could not avoid complimenting him upon his choice, “Why, ay,” said the baronet, complacently, “the thing is pretty enough, if its master had but some one by his side whom he loved to share it, A drive round the park, like the journey of life, is miserable when taken alone.” There was a glance of passionate admiration in the speaker’s look which did not escape the observation of either Nancy or her companion. The heart of the former trembled; the latter rejoiced, for he felt that his plans were maturing. He should soon get rid of her, and te at leisure to follow up the chase of his more wealthy victim, the unhappy Lady Clinton, “By Juniter! but Springer will become a Benedict soon !” exclaimed Colonel Seymour; “ he is absolutely talking sentiment and looking poetry. Ten to one he ic married before the next Derby.” “Done!” said another eagerly, who was a closer observer of human nature than the speaker, and per- haps saw more clearly into the affair. “Tens or fifties?” he added, taking out his book to record the bet. “Tens, I think,” said Seymour, who, being a man of wealth, cared very little about losing afew pounds; “or fifties if you like. But mark, you will lose—you are forward—take your choice.” “ Fifties,” said the gent, coolly closing his book after writing it down. “I'll run the risk, colonel, despite your friendly warning. What say you, OF LONDON LIFE. 333 madam,” he added; “do you think our friend will marry before the next Derby ?” “Marry whom he will,” replied Naney, blushing, for she really felt grateful to him for his kind atten- tion, which, never trespassing on the bounds of re- spect, was soothing to her feelings, “‘ I am sure I wish him happy.” The baronet’s eyes and hers met for an instant, The young man read sorrow there, and mistook the expression for loye—not the first time a similar error has Leen made, “Since you admire my turn-out so much,” he quietly whispered, “‘ will you venture to take a drive in it? I am an old whip,” he added, “ and the horses are steady as lambs.” A decided refusal was upon her lips, when the phaeton of Lady Clinton again Faddle had no eyes but for her. The kiss of the hand was repeated, and the lady’s bow this time most cordial. “Lucky fellow!” exclaimed Seymour, “ to have succeeded where so many failed.” A smile of quiet satisfaction was the libertine’s reply. Poor Nancy was furious. The fire of jealousy was consuming her; but, like a martyr, she smiled even at the stake. — “ Frank, Frank,” she whispered to her companion. “Well, what is it?” he replied, without turning his head from the direction which her ladyship’s phaeton had taken, and which he still followed with his eyes. “Sir Henry wishes me to try his new carriage— merely for a drive.” “Why not? Heisa steady whip.” “You wish me, then, to go?” “ Certainly, if it will give you pleasure; besides, it will enable me to drive after Lady Clinton, to whom I owe many apologies for my neglect of late. Of course I could not do so while you were with me; it would not be etiquette to introduce you.” “TJ understand the difference,” said the poor girl, bitterly, “ between the titled mistress who voluntarily throws herself into the arms of a libertine, and the humble girl who has been cheated of her honeur. Society receives the first, whom God had given every stay to cling to, and rejects the latter. Both are victims; one of her own weakness, the other of man’s crime,” “ Nancy,” said Faddle, in a low whisper. “ Well?” sighed the girl. “You would look devilish pretty in a Quakeress’s dress. Try it at the next masquerade.” “Sir Henry,” exclaimed the heart-broken girl, who hoped by the resolution she had taken to pique her lover, “I will accept your invitation; but, mind, only for one turn round the ring.” “ Don’t alarm yourself, Nancy,” said her companion, laughing. “Springer is too discreet to drive you further, I will but just chat a few moments with Lady Clinton, and meet you here cn your return.” So decided a permission gave the poor girl no op- portunity to retract. With a heavy heart she de- scended from the light cab which Faddle drove, and mounted beside the baronet in his elegant barouche, More than a dozen hands were extended to assist her. “Good bye, pet!” said her companion, driving off after Lady Clinton. “I shall be back before you return from your drive.” “ Perhaps,” thought Seymour to himself, for he had long observed the devoted attention paid by Sir Henry to his fair charge. Several gentlemen who a GOMIIGIOO Ss (CO) m