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
the spoilt dress: it seemed as if he had quite forgotten that incident!
“On their arrival at the police-office, the gentleman immediately
handed his card to the magistrate, to whom he whispered a few words at
the same time; and his worship became all civility and politeness. The
case was called on without a moment’s delay: the gentleman concisely
but effectually explained the affair of the gilt counter; and the
magistrate, on declaring Julia to be discharged, assured her that she
would leave the court without the slightest stain on her character.
The stranger placed ten pounds in the magistrate’s hands for the
use of the poor-box, and then departed in company with Julia, whom
he escorted back to the house in which she dwelt. On reaching the
door, he paused, and taking her hand, said, ‘Miss Murray, I shall not
insult you by offering a pecuniary recompense for the mortification,
annoyance, and distress you have undergone through that gilt counter.
But I shall endeavour to serve you in another way. Farewell for
the present: you will shortly see me again; for, be assured,’ he
added, gazing earnestly upon her for a moment, ‘I shall never forget
you.’--Thus speaking, he pressed her hand and hurried away;--and it
was not until he had disappeared from her view that she remembered she
was still in profound ignorance of who or what he was. It, however,
struck her that the case would be again reported in the newspapers;
and she therefore hoped that the morrow would clear up the mystery.
But it was with some degree of anxiety and painful suspense that she
thus awaited the publication of the journals of the ensuing day;--and
she could not account to herself for the feelings that thus agitated
her. Although her character had been completely cleared from the
imputation thrown upon it, and her innocence was made unquestionably
apparent,--although she had ample funds, through the generosity of Lady
Caroline Jerningham, to provide for all present wants,--and although
a secret voice seemed to whisper in her soul that she possessed a
good friend in the stranger-gentleman,--yet, somehow or another, poor
Julia was not entirely contented. Was it that the handsome countenance
of her unknown benefactor had made any impression on her heart?--was
it that his kind and sympathising conduct had touched a tender chord
in her pure and innocent bosom? It is impossible to answer these
questions at present: but it is very certain that Julia experienced a
disappointment almost amounting to a positive shock, when she found
that the morning papers seemed to be in as much ignorance as herself
relative to her unknown benefactor. The report merely alluded to him
as ‘_a gentleman whose name did not transpire_;’--and this mystery in
which her friend evidently wrapped himself, became a source of secret
trouble to the young dress-maker. Wherefore had he not revealed his
name to her? Disreputable that name could not be; else how could it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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