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ROMANCE AND REALITY.



CHAPTER XII.


"I am the most unlucky person in the world."
Common Exclamation.

"People always marry their opposites."
General Remark.

"Coaches all full," said a little bustling waiter, who popped about like a needle through a seam. "No horses to be had,—all at the races,—very bad day, sir,—very bad indeed!".

"Confound the wet!" somewhat hastily ejaculated Mr. Lorraine, resuming his station at the window, which looked into a narrow little street, now almost Venetian with a canal in the middle. The rain came down in torrents,—not a creature was passing; he had not even the comfort of seeing a few people drenched through: somebody was dead in the shop opposite, so that was shut up: he turned to the room,—there was not a glass to enliven its dark dingy lilac walls; the chairs were with those black shining sliding seats, in contempt of all comfort; the fire-place was filled with