4/28/2023 0 Comments Uriah heep dickens![]() ![]() From this digression, let me proceed to Dover. The last time I was in the Commons, a civil able–bodied person in a white apron pounced out upon me from a doorway, and whispering the word 'Marriage–licence' in my ear, was with great difficulty prevented from taking me up in his arms and lifting me into a proctor's. The system of inveigling continues, I believe, to this day. One of our clerks, who was an outsider, used, in the height of this contest, to sit with his hat on, that he might be ready to rush out and swear before a surrogate any victim who was brought in. As to marriage licences, the competition rose to such a pitch, that a shy gentleman in want of one, had nothing to do but submit himself to the first inveigler, or be fought for, and become the prey of the strongest. Many captives were brought to me in this way. Any one of these scouts used to think nothing of politely assisting an old lady in black out of a vehicle, killing any proctor whom she inquired for, representing his employer as the lawful successor and representative of that proctor, and bearing the old lady off (sometimes greatly affected) to his employer's office. The conflicting interests of these touting gentlemen being of a nature to irritate their feelings, personal collisions took place and the Commons was even scandalized by our principal inveigler (who had formerly been in the wine trade, and afterwards in the sworn brokery line) walking about for some days with a black eye. Kidnappers and inveiglers were planted in all the avenues of entrance to the Commons, with instructions to do their utmost to cut off all persons in mourning, and all gentlemen with anything bashful in their appearance, and entice them to the offices in which their respective employers were interested which instructions were so well observed, that I myself, before I was known by sight, was twice hustled into the premises of our principal opponent. Marriage licences and small probates were what we all looked for, and what paid us best and the competition for these ran very high indeed. As our house now wanted business on any terms, we joined this noble band and threw out lures to the hangers–on and outsiders, to bring their business to us. There were a number of hangers–on and outsiders about the Commons, who, without being proctors themselves, dabbled in common–form business, and got it done by real proctors, who lent their names in consideration of a share in the spoil -and there were a good many of these too. I was turned over to him now, and when I saw him take his snuff and let the business go, I regretted my aunt's thousand pounds more than ever.īut this was not the worst of it. jorkins, notwithstanding his reputation in the firm, was an easy–going, incapable sort of man, whose reputation out of doors was not calculated to back it up. Spenlow made, still it was not established on a sufficiently strong basis to bear, without being shaken, such a blow as the sudden loss of its active manager. Spenlow's time and although it had been quickened by the infusion of new blood, and by the display which Mr. The business had been indifferent under Mr. ![]() To say the truth, we were getting in no very good odour among the tip–top proctors, and were rapidly sliding down to but a doubtful position. I consulted the good Doctor relative to an absence of three days and the Doctor wishing me to take that relaxation,-he wished me to take more but my energy could not bear that,-I made up my mind to go.Īs to the Commons, I had no great occasion to be particular about my duties in that quarter. Not so much for the sake of principle, I believe, as because she happened not to like him.Īlthough it required an effort to leave Miss Mills, I fell rather willingly into my aunt's pretence, as a means of enabling me to pass a few tranquil hours with Agnes. She had been undecided, on leaving Dover, whether or no to give the finishing touch to that renunciation of mankind in which she had been educated, by marrying a pilot but she decided against that venture. Janet was drafted into the service of Mrs. My aunt, beginning, I imagine, to be made seriously uncomfortable by my prolonged dejection, made a pretence of being anxious that I should go to Dover, to see that all was working well at the cottage, which was let and to conclude an agreement, with the same tenant, for a longer term of occupation. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser.
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