Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/263

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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
261

the few of whom Mr. Wigram had spoken. He considered that himself had better become sole conductor of the ladies to many other voters, leaving the gentlemen to pursue their system with the respectable shopkeepers, to whose tender mercies we consign them.

They entered a long, hilly, irregular street, the houses of which had been erected "in firm despite of beauty and of taste;" nevertheless, they accommodated the progeny of labour well, and were, in general, kept so clean and comfortable, as to attract the admiration of Lady Allerton; but the candidate's lady had seen a more attractive object. Two fine boys, each about two years old, had come out from either side the way, and were embracing in the middle of the street. They reminded her so much of little Frank and his cousin, that she fancied even their features resembled them; and, darting forwards, she caught the one she deemed most like her own, and kissed him fondly, for his face and hands were clean, and his clothing decent, though coarse; his mother was at the door, and he flew eagerly in terror to her arms, on which, Isabella said to the woman, apologetically,

"I thought he was like my own little boy,