1 78 Lights and Shadows of London Life. 



her shawl more closely round her, and had drawn her arm within 

 his. Farewell had been taken, and they turned to leave the room. 

 As they passed towards the door a mirror stood before them. It was 

 accident that caused Chalcroft to raise his eyes to it. In an instant 

 he started as from the sting of a scorpion. The frail being that 

 leant upon him paused, and glanced timidly towards him; what means 

 the wild eagerness with which he regards that wan countenance, and 

 turns with frenzied gaze to the " counterfeit presentment" of that 

 mystic glass ? 



CHAPTER II. 



" It was late when we separated last night, Chalcroft," said Lord 

 R , as the two friends sat at a tardy breakfast on the succeeding 

 morning, "and yet you seem to have been stirring early, to judge 

 from the appearance of your dress; it is not I think your usual 

 habit." 



" To confess the truth, I have been early stirring, as you call it," 

 replied his companion ; " for in fact 1 was not in bed last night ; there 

 is something unnatural in being ushered to your chamber by Aurora; 

 so on reaching home I ordered my horses, and have been on the 

 saddle ever since. That Dantzic is very excellent, let me recommend 

 it to your notice : * decies repetita placebit;' I think it improves upon 

 acquaintance. I've got an earthquake style of headache, and they 

 say distilled liquors are beneficial in such cases ; by the way, how 

 did they treat you yesterday at Epsom?" 



" But indifferently," said the young .soldier, filling his glass of 

 chasse: "I mean to-day, however, to take a splendid revenge : you'll 

 go down for the Oaks?" 



"As you will," was the answer, "but with posters; somehow I'm 

 too organically susceptible this morning for teaming it at what hour 

 shall we order them ?" 



" One will doTor me," said the peer, "so suppose you issue the 

 mandate forthwith." 



" Wilkinson," said Chalcroft, addressing his valet, who answered 

 his summons, " I shall want four from Newman's in an hour mind, 

 in an hour exactly and," looking into a mirror that reflected the 

 small French or-molu time-piece which stood behind him, "it is now 

 ten minutes to twelve." 



*' My dear fellow," exclaimed Lord R , " Dantzic may be a good 

 cephalic, but it don't agree I think with your accuracy of optic ; 

 you're astray upon that last attempt twenty minutes ; noon hath 

 already numbered ten of those divisions of time."* With an electric 

 start Chalcroft sprung from his seat, and, resting his hands upon the 

 marble table on which the dial stood, gazed disordered upon it. 

 " Angels and ministers," cried his companion, "dost thou calculate 

 upon a visit from Sathanas? but," as the agonized features of his 



* The dial of a watch held opposite to a looking-glass will explain this illusion better 

 than words. In the countenance too, a very extraordinary change of expression is 

 often produced by similar means. 



