the lumley autograph-第7部分

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ecstasy。

But　Mr。　T…'s　blaze　of　admiration　was　not　the　only　flame　at　work；
while　he　was　gazing　at　the　heroine　of　the　moment。　In　the　sudden
burst　of　enthusiasm　roused　by　the　fair　purloiner；　he　forgot　all　else；
the　precious　volume　in　his　hand　drooped；　touched　the　flame　of　a
wax…light　on　the　table；　and　in　another　instant　the　great　Holberton
Album；　that　Album　of　European　reputationwas　burning　before　our
eyesits　invaluable　leaves　were　curling；　and　blackening；　and
smoking　under　the　devouring　flame！

A　shriek　from　Lady　Holbertonan　unearthly　cry　from　the　page　of　the
Albumboth　echoed　by　the　spectators；　came　too　late。　The　volume
was　half　consumed。　Of　the　Lumley　Autograph　not　a　line　remained！

Such　was　the　ill…fated　end　of　the　letter　of　the　poor　starving　poet。　It
was　written　amid　gloom　and　distress；　its　career　closed　in　a　stormy
hour。　The　loss　of　the　Album　of　course　broke　off　the　engagement
between　Lady　Holberton　and　Mr。　T…。　This　however　could　scarcely
have　been　regretted　under　the　circumstances；　for　their　union；　after
the　catastrophe　must　have　been　one　long　series　of　miserable
reproaches。　The　sudden　change　in　Mr。　T…'s　feelings　toward　Miss
Rowley　was　not　a　momentary　one；　the　admiration　first　kindled　by
that　lady's　bold　declaration；　grew　to　be　the　strongest　sentiment　of
his　heart；　and　only　a　few　weeks　later　he　was　made　the　happiest　of
men　by　receiving　as　his　own　the　fair　hand　which　accomplished　the
deed。　Miss　Rowley　and　Mr。　T…　were　united　in　the　bands　of
matrimony　and　collectorship。　Lady　Holberton　was　still　inconsolable
when　I　left　London；　she　was　thinking　of　traveling　among　the
Hottentots；　or　in　any　other　clime　where　albums　are　unknown　and　her
loss　could　be　forgotten。　The　journey　to　Kaffirland　was　however
postponed　until　the　next　change　of　ministry；　and　I　have　learned
recently　that　the　lady　has　so　far　recovered　her　spirits　as　to　be
thinking　of　an　'Omnibus。'　The　very　last　packet；　indeed；　brought　a
flattering　application　to　myself；　Lady　Holberton　graciously　declaring
that　the　name　of　Jonathan　Howard　is　not　only　valued　by　herself；　as
that　of　a　friend；　but　interesting　to　collectors　generally；　as　having
been　once　connected　with　that　much　lamented　document；　now　lost
to　the　world；　the　letter　of　the　poor　starving　poet；　known　as　the
Lumley　Autograph。

｛〃Omnibus〃　=　in　this　context；　an　〃omnibus　bill〃　（i。e。；　one　dealing
with　a　variety　of　subject）　in　Parliament｝







End