Madame Flirt

r between the high railings with their funnel shaped link extinguishers pointing downward at her on either side her courage seemed to be slipping from

she had not only thrown away the chance of her life, but that she had been guilty of black ingratitude to her benefactors. And her folly in permitting the fancy to

uldn't attempt to justify herself. Mr. Gay was a poet. He would understand. But the terrible duchess-Kitty of Queensberry who feared nothing and in the plaines

st keep my word. I don't care a bit abou

the feeling should slacken she seized the

hall porter who scowled when he saw a girl ins

he bell like that one would

Lady Mayoress, as your own eyes ough

r gruffly. "He's not here. He's s

Where is

he ri

Can I wa

o other way save toe and heel. An' let me give you warning, young 'oman, the roads aren't safe after dark. D'rectly you ge

your advice kindly and I'll not forget it

calls it. Mr. Pope'

ich is the way after I

rd-you goes through 'em all, if you don't get a knock on the 'ead on the way or a bullet through ye. One's as likel

hen," said Lavinia resig

face o' yours won't get ye into trouble. It

ne. As for my face, I haven't any

and did not slacken her pace till she reached Piccadilly and

cend, still shone brightly. The long grass invited repose and Lavin

en her escapade; he would have helped her over the two difficulties facing her-very li

e country are kind-hearted. I'd have had a corner in a waggon and some hay to lie upon without any bothe

bout the streets or brave the tempest of her mother's wrath. This wrath, however, didn't frighten her so much as the prospect of be

inia turned her mind to something far more agreeable-her promise t

eries. By the light of what had happened it seemed now to her perfectly monstrous that she could ever have consented to

He'll be waiting anxiously to know how I've

ming eyes of the young poet were strangely involved. With what courtly grace and reverence he had kissed he

she tried to sum up the position. Whether Mr. Gay befriended him or not, their acquaintance would have to cease. He was pennile

elf. Oh, if I could only earn some money by singing! I would love it

dejected. After so many disappointments what ground had he for hope? Lavinia longed to whisper in his ear words of encouragement. She had treasured that look when his face lighted up at something she had said that had pleased him. A

f talk, the laughter, gave her a sense of security. But the problem of how to pass the night was still before her. She dared not linger to think it out. She must go on. Young gallants gorgeously arrayed were swaggering

oomed large and shadowy in the narrow roadway, narrowing still more towards Temple Bar past the ill-favoured and unsavoury Butcher's Row on the north side o

the deep doorways did not frighten Lavinia so much as the silk-coated and bewigged cav

t she knew all the same that he was keeping on her heels. Along Fleet Street he kept close to her and on Ludgate Bridge where the traffic was blocked by the

darted into Paternoster Row, and took shelter in a deep doorway. Either he had not

side came the sound of loud talking and laughter, and the clinking of glasses. It was the Chapter Coffee House, the meeti

uddenly opened and fastened back by one of the servants. The man looked inquiringly at

ty. At the same time she was reluctant to leave the protection of

distinguished. One table was surrounded by a boisterous group in the centre of which was a fat man in a frowsy wig. He had a

mmand over all authors whatever; he caused them to write what he pleased; they could not call their very names their own. Curll was the deadly enemy of Pope and his frien

d book. All that she knew was that she disliked the man at first sight, while his vile speech made her ears tingle with shame. Despite the danger

th all the virtues and laden with misfortunes which had so drawn him towards he

unnaturally bright, the face unnaturally flushed, the laugh unnaturally empty. And she

argued, but that of his companions and especially of the squint-eyed, foul-tongue

the Maiden Head inn. He would probably look like that again before the night was ended. She could not bear to gaze upon

h it was, afforded her no protection; it spoke rather of cut-throats, footpads, ruffians ready for any outrage. The din of voices, the sounds of brawling reached

of was the coffee house in the Old Baile

are of that. I suppose she thinks I'm still a

dgate Hill, keeping close to the houses