The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
General
The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4
Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
London (England) -- Fiction; Penny dreadfuls
“On the ensuing morning, after breakfast, Julia had just put on her
bonnet and shawl to go out for the purpose of calling upon her various
patronesses and enquiring whether they needed her services, when the
landlady of the house in which she lodged, entered the room and said,
‘Miss Murray, a gentleman wishes to speak to you: he will not walk
up to your apartment, as he does not know whether you may choose to
receive him here; and he is accordingly waiting in my parlour.’--A
ray of hope flashed to the mind of the young woman: what if it were
the unknown who had given her the gilt counter? The suspicion was
strengthened by the delicacy of his behaviour in not ascending to her
chamber; for, during the brief discourse which she had with him on
the night so fatal to her, he had manifested a disposition quite in
accordance with the propriety of conduct and considerate proceeding
adopted by the individual who now waited to see her. Telling Harry that
she should not be long, Julia hurried down stairs; and in a few moments
she found herself in the presence of the individual who was uppermost
in her thoughts. Yes:--it was indeed he--the unknown,--the same tall,
handsome man,--and enveloped, too, in a cloak richly lined with sables.
He was about eight-and-twenty years of age; and there was something
noble and commanding, though gracious and encouraging, in his air and
demeanour. The moment Julia made her appearance, he rose from the chair
in which he had been seated, and taking her hand, said in a tone of
the most earnest sincerity, ‘Miss Murray, I know not in what terms to
express the shame and grief which I experience at the misfortune that
has overtaken you. It was not until I saw this mornings newspaper,
that I even dreamt of the mistake--the dreadful mistake I had made: and
the instant the case met my eyes, I hurried hither. The explanation
which I have to give, you can of course anticipate:--I had purchased
some gilt counters only half-an-hour before I met you in Hanover
Square, and I put them loose into the same pocket which contained my
money.’--‘I never for an instant imagined, sir,’ said Julia, ‘that
you had purposely trifled with my feelings.’--‘Generous young woman,
to put such a construction upon a matter which has caused you so much
suffering!’ exclaimed the unknown. ‘But it is now my duty to accompany
you at once to the police-court, and place your character in the same
honourable light in which it originally stood.’--Julia was overjoyed
at this announcement; and the gentleman, giving her his arm, escorted
her to the police-court, calling however on the baker in their way to
desire him to attend immediately before the magistrate. During the
walk, the stranger asked the young woman a great many questions--not
of an impertinent nature, nor denoting an idle curiosity,--but rather
evincing an interest in the orphan girl. It however struck Julia as
somewhat singular that he did not put a single query to her relative to
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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