第93章

ThesightofLondonwarmedmyheartwithvariousemotions，suchasacordialmanmustdrawfromtheheartofallhumanity。Heretherearequickwaysandmanners，andtherapidsenseofknowledge，andthepowerofunderstanding，ereawordbespoken。WhereasatOare，youmustsayathingthreetimes，veryslowly，beforeitgetsinsidetheskullofthegoodmanyouareaddressing。Andyetwearefarmoreclevertherethaninanyparishforfifteenmiles。

Butwhatmovedmemost，whenIsawagainthenobleoilandtallowoftheLondonlights，andthedrippingtorchesatalmosteverycorner，andthehandsomesignboards，wasthethoughtthatheremyLornalived，andwalked，andtooktheair，andperhapsthoughtnowandthenoftheolddaysinthegoodfarm-house。

AlthoughIwouldmakenoapproachtoher，anymorethanshehaddonetome(uponwhichgriefIhavenotdwelt，forfearofseemingselfish)，yettheremustbesomelargechance，orthelittlechancemightbeenlarged，offallinginwiththemaidensomehow，andlearninghowhermindwasset。Ifagainstme，allshouldbeover。

Iwasnotthemantosighandcryforlove，likeaRomeo：noneshouldevenguessmygrief，exceptmysisterAnnie。

ButifLornalovedmestill——asinmyheartofheartsI

hoped——thenwouldIfornoonecare，exceptherowndeliciousself。Rankandtitle，wealthandgrandeur，allshouldgotothewinds，beforetheyscaredmefrommyowntruelove。

Thinkingthus，IwenttobedinthecentreofLondontown，andwasbittensogrievouslybycreatureswhosenameis’legion，’madwiththedelightofgettingawholesomefarmeramongthem，thatverilyIwasashamedtowalkinthecourtlypartsofthetownnextday，havinglumpsuponmyfaceofthesizeofapicklingwalnut。Thelandlordsaidthatthiswasnothing；andthatheexpected，intwodaysattheutmost，averyfreshyoungIrishman，forwhomtheywouldallforsakeme。Nevertheless，Ideclinedtowait，unlesshecouldfindmeahayricktosleepin；fortheinsectsofgrassonlytickle。HeassuredmethatnohayrickcouldnowbefoundinLondon；uponwhichIwasforcedtoleavehim，andwithmutualesteemweparted。

ThenextnightIhadbetterluck，beingintroducedtoadecentwidow，ofveryhighScotchorigin。Thathousewassweptandgarnishedso，thatnotabitwaslefttoeat，foreithermanorinsect。Thechangeofairhavingmademehungry，Iwantedsomethingaftersupper；

beingquitereadytopayforit，andshowingmypurseasasymptom。ButthefaceofWidowMacAlister，whenI

proposedtohavesomemorefood，wasathingtobedrawn(ifitcouldbedrawnfurther)byournewcaricaturist。

ThereforeIleftheralso；forlieferwouldIbeeatenmyselfthanhavenothingtoeat；andsoIcamebacktomyoldfurrier；thewhichwasathoroughlyheartyman，andwelcomedmetomyroomagain，withtwoshillingsaddedtotherent，inthejoyofhisheartatseeingme。BeingunderparoletoMasterStickles，Ionlywentoutbetwixtcertainhours；becauseIwasaccountedasliabletobecalledupon；forwhatpurposeIknewnot，buthopeditmightbeagoodone。Ifeltitaloss，andahindrancetome，thatIwassoboundtoremainathomeduringthesessionofthecourtsoflaw；fortherebythechanceofeverbeholdingLornawasverygreatlycontracted，ifnotaltogetherannihilated。Fortheseweretheveryhoursinwhichthepeopleoffashion，andthehighworld，werewonttoappeartotherestofmankind，soastoencouragethem。Andofcoursebythistime，theLadyLornawashighamongpeopleoffashion，andwasnotlikelytobeseenoutoffashionablehours。Itistruethatthereweresomeplacesofexpensiveentertainment，atwhichthebettersortofmankindmightbeseenandstudied，intheirhoursofrelaxation，bythoseofthelowerorder，whocouldpaysufficiently。Butalas，mymoneywasgettinglow；andtheprivilegeofseeingmybetterswasmoreandmoredeniedtome，asmycashdrewshorter。Foramanmusthaveagoodcoatatleast，andthepocketsnotwhollyempty，beforehecanlookatthosewhomGodhascreatedforhisensample。

Hence，andfrommanyothercauses——partofwhichwasmyownpride——ithappenedthatIabodeinLondonbetwixtamonthandfiveweeks’time，ereeverIsawLorna。ItseemedunfitthatIshouldgo，andw