Rake's Progress Read Online Free PDF Page B

Roger appeared on the scene to welcome them.
    Another carriage full of demi-reps rolled up, followed by carriages driven by bucks and bloods, Choice Spirits, Pinks of the ton , and Corinthians.
    Rainbird, his face set in a mask of disapproval, went downstairs to tell all the women servants to stay where they were and on no account to venture upstairs. Dave was crammed into a makeshift sort of page’s livery and put on duty. Angus was beside himself with rage to think he had wasted his art to feed a parcel of doxies.
    At first it seemed reassuringly like any other supper party. They danced, they chatted, they played cards. But bottle after bottle of champagne began to disappear and then the ladies called for rum.
    Then they played Hunt the Slipper, an innocuous enough game, but the ladies ran about screaming, and some of them began to complain about the heat and took off their dresses.
    Dave was sent downstairs.
    When suppertime came, Joseph trembled and averted his eyes as he handed out plates of food to near-naked guests. The only one still formally attired was Lord Guy, but he was very drunk and seemed to be highly diverted by the goings-on.
    Joseph found himself thinking about Lizzie and about how he had snubbed her of late. Lizzie was good , he thought, longing for the maid’s quiet reassurance. He resolved to slip out on the morrow and buy her a little present.
    One young lady with enormous bosoms had rested them on a plate and was offering them to Lord Guy. Lord Guy waved his quizzing glass and said languidly they looked a trifle underdone.
    Everyone laughed, and Joseph’s delicate stomach heaved. I’ll never have another erotic dream again , he thought, unaware that Rainbird was thinking the same thing.
    All that female flesh , Rainbird was wondering, it’s funny how it puts you off the idea .
    At last supper was over and Rainbird and Josephwere told they might retire to bed. Manuel stayed where he was, standing behind his master’s chair.
    â€˜Best get some sleep,’ muttered Rainbird to Joseph. ‘This place is going to be like a sty in the morning.’
    Miss Esther Jones awoke early to a fine day. She felt restless and decided to go for a walk before summoning the servants to morning prayers.
    She remembered that little scullery maid, Lizzie, with pleasure, and her steps took her towards Clarges Street.
    At first she thought there was a fire at Number 67. Servants from the other houses were standing out on the street, gazing up at the windows.
    She quickened her pace and joined the audience.
    One man gave a coarse laugh and pointed upwards. The house was still a blaze of lights. At a first-floor window there appeared to be a huge fat man’s face pressed against the glass. The crowd began to laugh and cheer, and with flaming cheeks Miss Esther Jones realized she was looking at a bare female bottom on which someone had painted a grinning face.
    As she watched, thunderstruck, a man lifted the naked woman away from the window and looked down. He was fully dressed in evening clothes. He had a rakish, handsome face, golden hair, and bright blue eyes. Esther recognized the drunk who had walked so boldly into her house.
    He looked at the watching crowd in an amusedway and then his eyes alighted on Esther and sharpened. He turned away from the window, and Esther knew he was going to come down and speak to her.
    She turned and ran off down the street as fast as she could and did not stop until she was safely inside her home in Berkeley Square and had locked the door behind her.

THREE

    Pious Selinda goes to prayers,
    If I but ask her favour;
    And yet the silly fool’s in tears,
    If she believes I’ll leave her,
    Would I were free from this restraint,
    Or else had hopes to win her;
    Would she make of me a saint,
    Or I of her a sinner.
    WILLIAM CONGREVE

    By noon the morning after the supper party, the servants rolled up their sleeves and grimly got to work. Angus MacGregor had to