OF MY TIME. BY THE AUTHOR OF BLUE-STOCKING HALL. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. THE YOUNG REFORMERS. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN AND RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. TALES OF MY TIME. CHAPTER VIII. The RISING before the sun had appeared above the horizon, I commenced my pilgrimage. way was rough and tedious; but though fruitful of misadventure, the hindrances which obstructed my path having had nothing to recommend them in the way of romance, I pass over a tiresome journey, and will not travel anew along the trackless regions which I had to pass. After sundry difficulties and many interruptions, I reached the place whither I was bound, and began to act upon my orders. So unexpected was my arrival, and so secret my plans, that my object prospered. I entered on my task with caution; exerted all my ingenuity; arrested my man; frightened him out of deeds and debt, and came to the end of my business in such miraculous brief space, that nothing short of "veni, vidi, vici," seemed sufficiently flattering and epigrammatic for my good fortune. Some applause was perhaps my due, but I gave myself more than I deserved. Placing the valise which contained my treasure on a table, I turned the key in an outer door, and retiring after a day of great fatigue to an inner chamber, went to rest, longing for day, that I might commence my homeward course. "The corps diplomatique must hide their diminished heads in future," thought I, "and bow to my superior generalship. I shall rise to the highest pinnacle in my uncle's favour, when I give him a detail of my achievements. I shall shew him that what appeared delicate, difficult, and intricate to ordinary minds, was rendered easy of accomplishment through my genius, which has overcome every obstacle; I shall henceforward command the estimation which I have hitherto failed to win." Soothed and self-complacent, I commended myself to Morpheus, and never unclosed my eye-lids till the full day-light appeared to chide my laziness. My first waking impulse was to take a look at my dear valise; so starting up, and opening the door of communication between my bed chamber, and the outer apartment which served as my sitting room, I sprang forward to the table on which I had placed the portman teau, but saw it not. Wild with dismay, I ran to and fro from room to room, overturning whatever came in my way, in the agony of fruitless search. The valise was gone; I tried the door which was locked just as I left it, but I now perceived that I had left the window, which had no fastening, entirely unprotected, and a short ladder would suffice to gain its height on the outside. I put on my clothes, roused the people of the house, and searched everywhere, but all in vain. I could not gain any tidings of my property. No language can paint my situation. After having accomplished my purpose so completely, aud rejoiced in the consequences of my success by anticipation, till my sanguine spirit had reached the summit of its wishes, here was a merciless crush which destroyed the whole fabric of my hopes. What carelessness! what childish absurdity, to leave the valise in the |
