Rhoda Fleming -- Volume 2

'five pounds or so' (the hazy margin which may extend illimitably, or miserably contract, at the lender's plea

the venerable Signior, Time, became of unhealthy hue. For this was the first dinner which, during the whole course of the young man's career, had ever been failing to him. Reflect upon the mo

tly with the apparent menace of the Fates that he was to get no dinner at all that day; it seemed incredibly derisive, for, as I must repeat, it had never happened to him by any accide

ter in the least. But we have nothing to do with the constitutionally luckless: the calamitous history of a simple empty stomach is enough. Here the tragedy is palpable. Indeed, too sadly so, and I dare apply but a flash of the microscope to the rageing dilemmas of thi

u, as he asked himself, how is a gentleman to dine upon that? He laughed at the notion. The irony of Providence sent him by a cook's shop, where the mingled s

be accounted a generous fellow, and remembering his reputation, he, as to hint at what Fortune might do in his case, tossed some cop

any a dinnerless man has said before, and will again, to point the speech of fools. He continued strolling on, comparing the cramped misty London aspect of things with his visionary free dream of the glorious prairies, where his other life was: the forests, the mountains, the endless expanses; the horses,

ied understanding that wine did not fall to the lot of every fellow upon earth: he had heard of gullets unrefreshed even by beer: but at any rate he himself was accustomed to better things, and he did not choose to excavate f

er will convey the extremity of his misery, o

ut of town!" he exclaimed, quite wi

reckless. The streets were revelling in their winter muck. The

e sighed to his heart. He remembered bitterly how he had that day ridden his stool at th

izing the bill. A play was going forward within, that enjoyed great popular esteem, "The Holly Berries." Seeing that the pit was crammed

ung open, and out tumbled a tough little old man with a younger one grasping his coat-co

fond of plays," s

w," replied the shaken senior; "and that's a b

y me again, that's all,"

likely to stop in y

have you been

llow; and mind you don'

me

stered to the old man by the young one, he cried, "Hands off!" and undertook policeman's duty; but a

, whose enemy retired upon the threat that there should be no

. I'm much obliged. These chaps get tickets given 'm, and grow as cocky in a theatre as men who pay. He never had such wine in him as I've got. That I'd swear. Ha! ha!

and rolled somewh

rt-Sherry: Sherry-Port! and, ha! ha! 'what a lot of wine!' says farmer, never thinking how much he's taking on board. "I guessed it was night," says farmer, as we got into the air, and to see him go on blinking, and stumbling, and saying to me, 'You stand wine, brother Tony!' I'm blest if I ain't bottled laughter. So, says

e's Bank, that the old porter-the "Old Ant," as he was called-possessed money, and had no objection to put out small sums for a certain inter

Anthony negatived the question decisively

saying at last, "Wel

g slowly about his person, and muttering as to the changes

to hasten his proceedings; but at this, Anthony ey

ointment to dine with a friend. He didn't keep it

s Anthony's comment. "You don

e, be hanged!" in

ve heard it, if there 'd been an

you hea

you Sir William's nephew, sir, who'd let you bank with him and put down everything in a book, so that you couldn't forget,

business, when Anthony altered his manner. "Oh! well, sir, I don't m

lity; but Anthony put the startling supposition to him, that he might die that night. He signed the document, and was soon feeding and drinking his wine. This being accomplished, he took some hasty puffs of tobacco, and returned to the theatre, in the hope

llent side-view of the pit, which sat wrapt in contemplation of a Christmas scene

ose nose, to say nothing of his frankness on the subject, proclaimed him his own worst enemy, and whose joke, by dint of repetition, had almost become the joke of the audience too; for whene

a form of slapping the public on the back. But the public likes to have its back slapped, and critics, frozen by the Medusa-head of Success, were soon taught manners. The office of critic is now, in fact, virtually extinct;

his hose in one part, tight in another, and he smacks them. It is cold; so let that be his excuse for showing the bottom of his bottle to the glittering spheres. He takes perhaps a sturdier pull

interior economy, which was applauded, and the remark "Ain't that Christian?" which was just a trifle risky; so he secured pit and gallery at a stroke by a surpassingly shrewd blow at the bishops

neecap, and pathetically believes still to be of the same height, once called him brother Jack. To hear

ho from a spirit

silver ring to the remo

of the audience was flurried by h

s were bent on a particular box, across which a curtain was hastily being drawn. "My sister!" she sent out a voice of anguish, and remained with

ose burst of fraternal surprise and rapture fell flat after it, to t

er eyes alone. The farmer put his arm about his girl's waist. The instant, however, that Anthony's head uprose on the other side of her, the evil reputation he had been gaining for himself all through the evenin

, and they were mutually drenched with water by the shoc

is offender was stimulated by the c

a box-door. "A lady has faint

ver one arm, miserably helpless and perplexed, but his anxiety concerning Rhoda's personal safety in that sea of strife prompted him to draw back the curtain a little, and he stood exposed. Rhoda perceived him. She motioned wit

atter?" whisp

s quick as we can. Thi

g." Edward nursed her

soon, we shall have th

s she that g

k damned

her eyes, st

my dear. Dahlia! all's

What is the time?" and a

he brought her to her feet. The task was difficult amid the threatening storm in the theatre,

give me your help!" E

f her weakness. She had no will either way, and suffered her

aid Edward; and Al

ed Dahlia on a seat with care, and Edward, jumping in,

the pit-doors, and Algernon heard the voice of Farmer