The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
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The Mysteries of London, v. 4/4
Reynolds, George W. M. (George William MacArthur)
London (England) -- Fiction; Penny dreadfuls
“It was no easy task to make little Harry comprehend the altered
nature of their circumstances. He could not conceive how his sister
had possibly obtained a house of her own, and fancied that she was
joking with him; for he had not been able to understand very much of
what the lawyer had said to Julia. However, all doubts on the boy’s
part vanished, when he heard his sister explain to their landlady
every thing that had taken place at Mr. Richardson’s, and conclude by
requesting that good woman to accompany her forthwith to Camden Town.
This desire was complied with; and away they all three went in a cab to
the address designated upon the card. In due time the vehicle drew up
opposite a neat house forming one of a terrace recently built; and the
little party entered the dwelling with the least possible delay. It was
all new from top to bottom,--the furniture, which was substantial and
good, was new likewise;--the hangings to the windows and the carpets
had been selected with admirable taste in reference to the colour and
pattern of the paper on the walls:--in fact, the abode was fitted up
in the most comfortable manner! ‘I congratulate you, my dear Miss
Murray,’ exclaimed her companion; ‘and I am sure I am as delighted
as yourself, although I shall lose you as a lodger. But you do not,
then, think that it was _the gentleman in the cloak_ who has done all
this?’--‘No,’ answered Julia; ‘that cannot be, because I am sure the
gentleman you speak of never knew my father; and moreover the kind
friend who has thus handsomely repaid the money my father lent him,
has gone out of town.’--‘Then how came _the gentleman in the cloak_
to call and tell you, Miss, that the lawyer wished to see you?’--‘Ah!
I never thought of _that_!’ exclaimed Julia. ‘And yet,’ she added,
after a few moments’ serious reflection, ‘Mr. Richardson said that my
father’s debtor had found me out through the medium of the newspaper
report; and this circumstance may have brought him and _the gentleman
in the cloak_ together.’--‘True!’ ejaculated the garrulous woman. ‘Oh!
what a sweet place this is, to be sure!’--‘It is too good for me,’ said
Julia, in a mournful tone, the first feelings of delight now yielding
to sober reflection: ‘the occupant of such a house as this requires a
servant, and should possess a certain income; whereas I cannot afford
the former, not possessing the latter.’--‘Oh! Miss, are you blind to
all the advantages now spread before your eyes?’ demanded the woman.
‘Here you are in your own house, rent free, and with fifty pounds
in your pocket--Harry’s schooling to be paid into the bargain! All
your kind patronesses will give you as much work as you can possibly
manage, now that they will see how you are getting on in the world;
and the number of your customers must increase. Then you can have the
assistance of one or two respectable young girls; and you will not
only obtain a good living, but be able to save money.’--Julia saw the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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