Living London Volume 2; Its Work and Its Play, Its Humour and and Its Pathos, Its Sights and Its Scenes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ... hostess oh her fatigue. She has been standing there--poor lady --for three mortal hours, with never a bite or sup: a social heroine of no mean parts. My Lady remains near her in silence, realising that nothing as a guest could so well become her as the leaving of such a tired hostess; yet she herself is still thrilling with the, excitement of the cotillon, and feeling as it fatigue were an unknown possibility. "I hate the idea of going home," she says to her husband when they are once more settled in the carriage; "it is so dull to go there, and I want something exciting to take place. Here is a beautiful dawn in a world alive, and I am to shut it all out, to sleep when the earth is awaking." But the clattering hoofs of a galloping team may be heard amidst masculine shouts, and "A fire a fire " shrieks My Lady with, delight; "just the very thing Follow them, Johnson " she cries to the coachman. Past the Park they rush, waking the echoes of the silent Edgware Road, the inhabitants of a sleepful Maida Vale, and on, on they tear through a hushed world of villas set in green gardens, till they come to a small side street where there is assembled a small knot of anxious, silent people, and the engines are blocking the way, the pavements are wet with tortuous lines of leather piping, and a slight smoke in the distance shows that the conflagration is exhausting itself, when the sight of a stalwart young fireman being lifted into a cab freezes My Lady's warm excitement into cold terror. "Is he hurt?" she asks. "Only stifled a bit by the smoke, ma'am, and he's broke his arm, I think; he got down the child that was burnt." My Lady's mood has changed; she is no longer eager, glad, and gay--she shivers with t...