The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 356: what you’re looking at

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

er re een x rae TF ee -_ = ry a, a ae et + Sn ee ee a ee ee ere > SFY = eae ‘ - . . Le . —— THE STEAM PACKET. 275 ae Only a little sntareultas then 2” sid Buckram. x Greatly—deeply interestéd, ”’ answered Belinda, who really believed _ that she was only giving uttérarice to the truth: “at the same time, f must confess that, had you been a plain gentleman, I should not have been so speedily: -dazzled with ohsalbie odin sane Sapumant gi eam and—your good. qualities —because——” “Because what ?”. asked: Buckram. “ Because,” continued Belinda, “ they are less apparent in a private man than in a nobleman. But you were so condescending—and so attentive to pa and all of us—and so very, very amiable to me— that ==... “ And thus,” said Buckram, finding that the young lady hesitated, **T am chiefly indebted to rank and fortune for the honour which you now do me in accompanying me to Paris to become my wife!” “Why will you talk so?” cried Belinda, scarcely knowing how to explain: her real sentiments, or those which she fancied to be her real ‘ones, ‘* 1 love you—I will do anything for you! Have I not given a proof of it by accompanying you this night, alone, without a female companion or attendant? But I must hold you to your promise to engage a maid for me at the first town we stop at to-morrow; and then I shall have full confidence—as indeed I now have i ‘*Oh! full confidence!” ejaculated the tailor: “ that is always the phrase with young ladies in these cases. Now tell me truly, Belinda,” he added in a coaxing tone, ‘‘ if I really was a tradesman—suppose such a thing should or conld happen—just suppose such a thing, . that’s all—would you then marry me?” ‘‘Pray don’t talk in this manner, Noodleton—I can’t and won’t hear it!” cried the young lady. _ “ Yesbut I wish to know at once whether you love me for myself alone, or for my pr operty and rank ?” “T cannot conceive ——” “‘ Answer me a plain question, Belinda :—were I plain Mr. Jenkins, or Mr, ne or Mr. Buckram, for instance,—would you marry me 2 9 99 ** Of course I would, my ‘deatest-Lever dear Noodleton !” answered the young lady, thinking that such a reply was the best method of . finishing a topic which she did not admire, and not conceiving that she ran any risk of compromising her sincerity by making the asser- tion. ‘You would—you would, my ever dear Belinda!”’ cried Mr. Buck- ram; and he embraced her enthusiastically. ‘Oh! then,” he added, assuming a theatrical tone, and recalling to mind the nature of the ene (E(0) Comicbooks