CHAPTER XI. MAKEMONEY'S invitation to Charles Turf, Esq., to dine with him in London-accepted by the latter. Continuation of the interesting adventures of the Match-girl; strange, but true. Love letters; or, rather bargains of a Smithfield character-Vice reduced to a trade, and beauty a marketable commodity; but face painting not amongst the faults of the Match-girl. The dangers of fascination-FLOURISH'S opinion and dislike of very beautiful women—some truth connected with his remarks. A female without a heart-yet not devoid of susceptibility-a touch of the pathetic-the afflicted father, fond mother, and inconsisiderate son-grey hairs still respected. Greatness of the Match-girl! Introduction of young RENtroll, country gentleman-a neck-or-nothing sort of personageall to-day, and let to-morrow provide for itself.-A masquerade visit; or, how to pay off old debts. Dangerous to be safe. Prowess of the Match-girl-the sprig of quality reduced beneath the rank of a commoner-revenge sweet. No security in disguise, or, I am not what I seem to be? The bailiffs in the dark-a scene in a lock-up house -the amorous man-woman-One might be hanged as well for a sheep as a lamb. HOLDFAST in error-astonished -the secret unravelled—therefore, go it," and finish the spree; it will amount to the same thing one hundred years hence; but "all's well that ends well." 66 α "THE ghost story, or rather, the 'White Lady of Kew,'" observed Makemoney,-"I am ready to admit is, of a very interesting nature; but yet, I should like to hear another chapter respecting the match-girl-there is so much life attached to all her movements." "I am equally anxious to hear it," replied Sprightly," and if you send an invitation to Charles Turf, Esq., to dine with you, the affair is accomplished at once; nay, more, we shall have him all to ourselves, and under your own roof. Besides, we are indebted to him for his hospitality in more than one or two instances." "Say no more, my dear nephew" answered Makemoney, "I regret it has never occurred to us before; but better late than never; I will send to Turf without delay, as my messenger shall not return from him without an answer.' "I second the proposition," urged Flourish, "time flies in the company of Charles Turf-his method of relating anecdotes is the most delightful I ever heard.” Charles Turf immediately acquiesced with the request of Makemoney, and a more splendid dinner could not have been provided for any gentleman. Makemoney, respecting his dinners, was one of the most liberal creatures alive. The cloth being removed-the wine going round briskly, and the Pilgrims in high spirits, Flourish addressed Turf,-"My dear sir, my friend Makemoney has been talking about scarcely anything else, since he heard you relate the singular adventures of the match-girl; therefore, if it is quite convenient to you to proceed with another chapter of her memoirs-I am sure delight will be the result, and no one will feel it more than your humble servant. I am sure you will not hesitate." 6 "I have not the slightest objection," replied Turf; "but I wish to premise, that in order to prevent any idea arising in your minds, of exaggeration on my part, I will deliver nothing else but a round, unvarnished tale', respecting the beautiful, but depraved Charlotte Partridge. Yet I have to regret, that her adventures are not in better hands; for, according to the biographers of the late Dr. Johnson, he was extremely fond of taking women of the town to taverns, (in company with his friend Savage, the poet), whom he casually met with in his nightly strolls, and listen to their histories with great patience and interest! but the Colussus of Literature', when he moved in better society, or rather company of a more moral description, became proverbial for his gravity and good conduct, and related nothing else but propriety at the table of the Thrales,' burying his former midnight sprees in oblivion; or else, the world, might have been benefitted by some penetrating sketches of female frailty-their origin-and cause-tending, as awful lessons towards the improvement of mankind in general. "The self-importance which Charlotte possessed, astonished me," said Turf; " and it was quite ludicrous to witness some of the highest born men in the kingdom-and some of the proudest also, who valued themselves on their rank and station in society, succumb to her sneers and ridicule, when she reproved them for addressing her in a way that she did not approve of. She had no individual respect for persons ;* and maintained her ground with * A celebrated French Duke, distinguished for his gallantries in all the countries he visited before the revolution in France, and quite promiscuous in his amours; also immensely rich, but in meanness, equal to the veriest miser; and sooner than open his purse strings, he would shuffle off without paying, if he found a convenient opportunity. During his first visit to the house of a well known courtezan in Italy, he wished to quit her establishment without complying with the usual terms, and when pressed closely on the subject, he attempted to get off by boasting of his rank in life. "I am " said he, "the Duke of ****" "Very likely you are such a person," answered the courtezan, "I shall not dispute it; but under the circumstances you entered my house, it is immaterial to the most consummate assurance I ever beheld: presuming, I apprehend, upon her great personal beauty." "It has often occurred to me, though I do not mean to boast of much experience," said Flourish, "that beautiful women are so much in love with themselves, that they have scarcely any left-nay, none at all for any other persons. I dislike your very beautiful women-flattery being so much their idol, that they positively doat, and live upon it, and are selfish to the extent of the phrase; but when calculation, gain, and coldness are annexed to it, and the face and form are reduced to a sort of merchandize, and the best bidder can purchase it. Such a female must be devoid of a heart, and can only be denominated, the mere outline of a woman. But these are the sort of women who generally have it all their own way-can threaten and command-delude ensnare-and ruin men with the most perfect finesse and indifference-therefore, my dear Makemoney, old as you are, I speak it without offence, and you, Sprightly, invulnerable as you boast to be, have a care of all match-girls, say I, ha! ha! ha! Beauty is a witch; Against whose claims, faith melteth into blood. "I have" said Turf, "some curious copies of letters which were addressed to the match-girl, and will serve to show the bartered feelings of some men, respecting women of a peculiar class in society, which I will read to you : My dear girl, Your lovely figure, fine form, and admirable beauty of person,in short, the tout ensemble delights me; but I hate writing-talking, or making what is called, love. Therefore, if you choose to jump into a carriage, without hesitation; enjoy a capital house, furnished fit for a princess, without any trouple; a carriage that will make all the women in the Metropolis sigh to have its parallel--and a purse well filled, at your command, only say, Yes! and the bargain is concluded. I would not write so much to an Empress. Now or never? From your admirer, To Miss Partridge. To which epistle, she wrote the following answer to the noble Lord a person whom she detested. My Lord! What a mistake I have made, a most egregious blunder? In my eyes, the term of beast would be far more appropriate. I am not to be bought and sold in a land of liberty; I am no slave. More words are unnecessary, except to state that I despise your ugly person-and your gold, (although I am fond, very fond of the glittering ore) has not the weight of a single feather with CHARLOTTE PARTRIDGE. me whether it is the Duke or his coachman, my demand must be discharged. However, I will just give your Grace a gentle hint upon the subject, and then you will decide as you think proper." She immediately rang a bell, when three or four bravoes appeared, with stilettoes in their hands, with countenances of the most murderous aspect. "Yes," replied the Duke, "I am perfectly convinced you are now in the right, my good lady;" instantly paid the charge, and felt glad to depart in a whole skin. P.S.-If you send any more messengers to annoy me with your proposals, they shall be horse-whipped; and if you dare, in person, to approach me, beware of the consequences, for I have a rod in pickle, even for a Lord. suffice-beast! So let this hint The following letter is from an old general, who was terribly smitten with the match-girl : "My dear girl, I am an old soldier, and to command has been hitherto my forte, however in this instance, I leave the command in your hands. But fighting has been my trade, instead of making love. Therefore, anything like fine words, or complimentary phrases, you must not expect from me. The FORTRESS, I am quite aware, is of the most magnificent description; but a long siege will not do -offer liberal terms of capitulation—surrender without delay—and you shall have no occasion to find fault with your admirer, To Miss Partridge GENERAL To which, the match-girl sent the following laconic reply ;"My worthy and respected old general, I honour your laurels, and I love the brave, but this time, victory is out of the question; therefore, my answer in the military phrase is-to the right about; quick; march: 66 General From your humble servant, "I rather think, Charles Turf," said Makemoney "that you must have been a great favourite with Miss Partridge; for you appear to be acquainted with all her secrets in life: ha ha! ha!" Nothing more than a friend, I assure you," replied Turf; " I am in her confidence it is true, owing to a circumstance which occurred in the early part of her career, I was her adviser upon that occasion; and she has never forgotten it-and owing to that kindness, as she termed it, she has been very communicative to me ever since. "Quite platonic!" urged Flourish, with a smile," and you, Mr. Turf, of all other men, know the extent and meaning of the word, friend, with a lady of her description. "I will take the word of Mr. Turf, that it was truly platonic," said Sprightly, " and were it otherwise-kiss and tell of it, would never suit his book of life; gallantry forbids it. But he has previously told you, that he would nothing extenuate,' and I return him my thanks for the simple, straight-forward manner in which he has related the adventures of the match-girl, without identifying himself at all with them, the great fault of too many story-tellers-but I hope he will now proceed without any interruption. "Charlotte was quite the rage with those sort of men who are continually on the look out for a new face in the public walks of the Metropolis; in consequence of her character having run before her that she was a Gay woman. Persons who prefer the company and conversation of such females, to the retired and modest community; yet nevertheless it might be difficult to class them under the head of admirers-lovers-keepers-or gallants; true, perhaps, that one or two of them felt something like love for the ci-devant match-girl; others inclined to purchase her favours-yet most of them ready to deceive and outwit this splendid piece of frailty!" 6 "But never was the adage more the fact, in this case, that which went in at one ear, went out at the other,' she laughed in her sleeve at all of them; although she listened to the tales of every one of the gallants, with the utmost politeness, yet artful complacency; and, however, strange but true, Charlotte might be deemed a chaste woman, as to her feelings-the mere statue of a female the exterior and fine form of a woman, that could not be excelled. But for warmth of disposition, or a soul inclined to love, were entirely out of the question. Charlotte had not the slightest touch of it in her composition. She could listen, listen, and listen again, to the most animated declaration of attachment made to her by her admirers, with as much indifference as a bill of the play offered to her for purchase. It was this sort of coldness of character that enabled the match girl to triumph over all her suitors. Her secret, an invaluable secret to a woman of this description, she kept inviolably to herself: this was the great danger to men who were fond of her company -they could not pluck out her mystery! "Charlotte was all affability and condescension, she never refused a present, great or small, offered for her acceptance-and became quite an adept in pointing out in any of her visits to different jewellers; or other shops, where expensive articles of curiosity were to be met with, which exactly suited her taste and fancy, in so strong a manner to those gentlemen who were with her at the time, that her hints could not be mistaken. From this insinuating mode of conduct, her house was filled with some of the richest rarities in London. Her magnificent collection of shawls might have extorted a sigh from the heart of a Duchess-she had also a happy knack of pointing out to any new visitor, to render the gift more important, that the Duke of- presented her with that inimitable vase; my Lord- furnished me also with those elegant mirrors in the apartments, not to be excelled; and Sir Henry- one of the most wealthy and ancient baronets on the list of men of rank, had been kind enough to send her those elegant chairs and sofas, not to be equalled in the great Metropolis; but that delightful creature her most particular friend, Peregrine Crayon, Esq. had made her a present of a whole-length likeness of herself, said, at the least, to be worth £500, but she had refused £1000 for it, and will not sell it for any sum! Her library, she urged with a smile on her beautiful face, she was well aware could not compete with the British Museum; but nevertheless, it had been collected for her by nothing else but scholars; and the bindings of all her books were of the most costly description. Her display of annuals, keepsakes, forget-me-not's were splendid in the extreme: she also took |