Old Saint Pauls | Page 7

awhile, Leonard remained in a state almost of stupefaction,
repeating to himself, as if unwilling to believe them, the words he had
just heard. He had not recovered when the grocer entered the shop, and
noticing his haggard looks, kindly inquired if he felt unwell. The
apprentice returned an evasive answer, and half determined to relate all
he knew to his master, but the next moment he changed his intention,
and, influenced by that chivalric feeling which always governs those, of
whatever condition, who love profoundly, resolved not to betray the
thoughtless girl, but to trust to his own ingenuity to thwart the designs
of his rival, and preserve her Acting upon this resolution, he said he
had a slight headache, and instantly resumed his occupation.
At nine o'clock, the whole family assembled at supper. The board was

plentifully though plainly spread, but the grocer observed, with some
uneasiness, that his apprentice, who had a good appetite in ordinary, ate
little or nothing. He kept his eye constantly upon him, and became
convinced from his manner that something ailed him. Not having any
notion of the truth, and being filled with apprehensions of the plague,
his dread was that Leonard was infected by the disease. Supper was
generally the pleasantest meal of the day at the grocer's house, but on
this occasion it passed off cheerlessly enough, and a circumstance
occurred at its close which threw all into confusion and distress. Before
relating this, however, we must complete our description of the family
under their present aspect.
Tall, and of a spare frame, with good features, somewhat austere in
their expression, and of the cast which we are apt to term precise and
puritanical, but tempered with great benevolence, Stephen Bloundel
had a keen, deep-seated eye, overshadowed by thick brows, and
suffered his long-flowing grey hair to descend over his shoulders. His
forehead was high and ample, his chin square and well defined, and his
general appearance exceedingly striking. In age he was about fifty. His
integrity and fairness of dealing, never once called in question for a
period of thirty years, had won him the esteem of all who knew him;
while his prudence and economy had enabled him, during that time, to
amass a tolerable fortune. His methodical habits, and strong religious
principles, have been already mentioned. His eldest son was named
after him, and resembled him both in person and character, promising
to tread in his footsteps. The younger sons require little notice at
present. One was twelve, and the other only half that age; but both
appeared to inherit many of their father's good qualities. Basil, the elder,
was a stout, well-grown lad, and had never known a day's ill-health;
while Hubert, the younger, was thin, delicate, and constantly ailing.
Mrs. Bloundel was a specimen of a city dame of the best kind. She had
a few pardonable vanities, which no arguments could overcome--such
as a little ostentation in dress--a little pride in the neatness of her
house--and a good deal in the beauty of her children, especially in that
of Amabel--as well as in the wealth and high character of her husband,
whom she regarded as the most perfect of human beings. These slight
failings allowed for, nothing but good remained. Her conduct was
exemplary in all the relations of life. The tenderest of mothers, and the

most affectionate of wives, she had as much genuine piety and
strictness of moral principles as her husband. Short, plump, and
well-proportioned, though somewhat, perhaps, exceeding the rules of
symmetry--she had a rich olive complexion, fine black eyes, beaming
with good nature, and an ever-laughing mouth, ornamented by a
beautiful set of teeth. To wind up all, she was a few years younger than
her husband.
Amabel has already been described. The youngest girl, Christiana, was
a pretty little dove-eyed, flaxen-haired child, between four and five
years old, and shared the fate of most younger children, being very
much caressed, and not a little spoiled by her parents.
The foregoing description of the grocer's family would be incomplete
without some mention of his household. Old Josyna Shotterel, the cook,
who had lived with her master ever since his marriage, and had the
strongest attachment for him, was a hale, stout dame, of about sixty,
with few infirmities for her years, and with less asperity of temper than
generally belongs to servants of her class. She was a native of Holland,
and came to England early in life, where she married Blaize's father,
who died soon after their union. An excellent cook in a plain
way--indeed, she had no practice in any other--she would brew strong
ale and mead, or mix a sack-posset with, any innkeeper in the city.
Moreover, she was a careful and tender nurse, if her services were