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MISADVENTURES OF A LOVER. 



(Concluded from pay e 2G.) 

 CHAP. IV. 



T DID not venture out much for some time after my arrival in the 

 metropolis. The state of my face, it is unnecessary to say, was the 

 cause of my being so much " at home." 



Time, which in every case works wonders, wrought marvels for 

 my face. Traces are yet to be seen, in one or two places, of the 

 tom-cat's talons ; but I had not been long in the " great town" 

 when [ found my frontispiece, upon the whole, passably fit to be seen. 



I was so fortunate as to get employment the second day after I had 

 gone in quest of it 



In six weeks afterwards woman, the cause of all my past disasters, 

 brought me into another serious scrape. As I was walking one day 

 up the Strand, arm-in-arm with a friend, we met an excessively 

 handsome young female, with whom my friend was acquainted. 

 " Miss Jackson," said he, making a polite inclination of the head 



from the young lady to me. " Mr. II ," said he, with a very 



pretty nod towards Miss Jackson. The half minute's conversation 

 we had with the young lady only served to deepen the impression 

 her charms had made on me at the first glance. My readers know, 

 from what I have told them before I had got this length, the remark- 

 able facility with which I fail in love. A look, a nod, a word spoken 

 from an engaging female has a dozen times over "done" for my 

 poor heart. To be brief, I was completely smitten in this case. On 

 parting with Miss Jackson and her mother (I ought to have men- 

 tioned before now that her mamma was with her), I enquired of 

 my friend where they stayed. " Newman Street, Oxford Street, but 

 do not recollect the number, 1 ' was the answer. "Are you in love ? 

 do you mean to call?" he enquired in a half jocular tone. " That 

 will do ; that's very fair,'' said I, assuming a little pleasantry at his 

 queries. The conversation was dropped. 



Nothing further passed that clay concerning the adorable Miss 

 Jackson. To my ineffable surprize I next day received a card from 

 Mrs. Jackson, inviting me to form part of a select company who 

 were to drink tea next afternoon at her house. My immediate infer- 

 ence was that in the interim my friend had met with Mrs. Jackson, 

 and, the conversation turning by accident or otherwise on me, he had 

 spoken favourably of me as I may say without incurring the impu- 

 tat on of egotism he had every reason to do and that the invitation 

 I received was the result. I of course heartily accepted the invita- 

 tion drank tea with Mrs. Jackson and friends, and spent a most 

 agreeable evening. I sat opposite Miss Jackson on the occasion. I 

 have studied Lavaler with some care. I have, moreover, been no 

 inattentive observer of female faces. The eyes, in particular, which 

 Socrates, or some other of the ancients, calls the windows of the soul, 

 have always had a peculiar share of my attention. Some words, but 

 especially looks were exchanged between Miss Jackson arid pelf, that 



