I had no other companion than a boy, a servant to the
man from whom I hired my horses. I arrived in London within an hour
of Mr. Winbrooke, and accidentally alighted at the very inn where he
was.
"He started and turned pale when he saw me; but recovered himself in
time enough to make many new protestations of regard, and beg me to
make myself easy under a disappointment which was equally afflicting
to him. He procured me lodgings, where I slept, or rather
endeavoured to sleep, for that night. Next morning I saw him again,
he then mildly observed on the imprudence of my precipitate flight
from the country, and proposed my removing to lodgings at another
end of the town, to elude the search of my father, till he should
fall upon some method of excusing my conduct to him, and reconciling
him to my return. We took a hackney-coach, and drove to the house
he mentioned.
"It was situated in a dirty lane, furnished with a tawdry
affectation of finery, with some old family pictures hanging on
walls which their own cobwebs would better have suited. I was
struck with a secret dread at entering, nor was it lessened by the
appearance of the landlady, who had that look of selfish shrewdness,
which, of all others, is the most hateful to those whose feelings
are untinctured with the world.
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