The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 185: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SPEED Sai aE on 172 “ Well, at all events, I intend to subdue Bergami if it be possible,” observed Emma. “ By the bye,” she added, suddenly turning the conversation to another ‘topic as a thought strnok her, “ did not her Royal Highness say something yesterday about getting up private theatricals for our own emusement here at the villa?” “ Fes,” auswered Julia: “but in consequence of some observation that was made by one of the ladies, 1 fancy her Royal Highness will renounce the idea.” “Ah! Trecollect,” said Emma, “ The Princess was remiuded that her husband, the Prince Regeut, had given a series of private theatrieals at Carlton House; and she does not wish to imitate at Geneva what he does in London.” «1 noticed that her Royal Lighness,” continued Julia, “was looking, last evening, when we re- turued from our walk, over tie file of Englsh newspapers; and | saw that she was scanuing witb great attention a deseription which the 7'imes gave of the very first private representation, ln December last, at Carlton House. I watched her Royal Highvess as she read over the names of all the élite vf the aristocracy who were present. Of course there was the brilliant avd incomparabie Lady Sackville—the Cuvountess of Curzoa—the Marchioness of Conyngham—Miss Bathurst— Miss Arbuthnot—Lady Prescott-——” “Oh never mind enumerating ‘the names,” in- ferrupted Emma: “we have scanned them over and over aguin a dozen times. Depend upon it that her Royal Highness regards as a personal enemy, aud also as a positive rival, every young aud good-looking woman who visits at Caltou [iouse.” " “No doubt she does~—and naturally so under the circumstances,” observed Agathu. But what has all this got to do with the topic on which we were conversing the private theatricals ?” “Oh! only this,” returned Julia, “that I was about to add, when Emma interrupted me, that so soon as her Royal Highness read over that list of names, she said ‘Oh! f perceive that one must have the most duzzling beauties that can be congregated to make private theairicals yo off weil ; and‘there- fore we will not atiempt anyking of the sort here.’ This she said with considerable bitterness,” ob-. served Julia. At this moment a time-piece on the mantdi in Agatha’s room chimed half-past eight; and the three young ladies, suddenly cutting short their colloquy, hastened down to the breaktast-pariour. . Qual CHAPTER CLV. THE AUDIENCE AND THE LETTER. Ir was a litle past noon on the same day, and her Royal Highuess the Princess of Wales was walk- ing in the garden attended by Agatha, Emma, and Jiblia, as ladies-in.wuiting—the other three ladies of her suite not being on daty for this day. The Baron Bergami was likewise present as equerry-in- waiting. Her Royal Highness was at this time forty-five years of age. She was stout: her embonpoint had expanded into luxuriance, slightly perhaps ap- proaching to coarseness. Her cheeks had a some- = SR Pe oe eee ees ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT: what heighténed colour ‘upon them which was not exactly that of health, but seemed to indicate a love of good living. Nevertheless she was temperate and abstemious; and that inclinatiom to ruddiness was entirely natural. Her neck being totally deficien* in that graceful arching which gives = statuesque and dignified air to a well-dressed woman, had the same awkwardness of appearance as if it were short. Her eyes wero handsome and of a fine blue, indicating good tem- per and generosity of heart. It was perhaps this expression, added to a placid, unaffected smule, which from her girlhood had seemed atereo- typed upon her lips, which +o some degree pre- vented the observer from noticing the shade of mournfulness which nevertheless had for years past been growiug upon her countenance; and as her disposition was naturally lively and vivacious, she did not qutwardly display as much feeling as she inwardly experienced relative to the misfor- tunes that had overtaken her, and the bitter hatred of which her husband made her the victim. In a wonad, that she was an amiable, well-meauing, kind-hearted woman, there can be no doubt: that she was thoughtless, and that her manners were characterised with all the freedom peculiar to Continental ladies, cannot be denied: but that she was crimina\ and faithless to her husband, is nut to be believed for a single moment. Aud now a few words relative to Bergami. He was at the time of which we are writing, about thirty-eight years of age, and remarkably haud- some, His dark hair, glossy whiskers, and deli- cately pencilled moustache, set off a countenance that was pale and pensive. His dark eyes were gene- rally cast downward as if in thought: but bis fine form, slender even to youthful symmetry, was up- right as a dart. He dressed habitually in deep black; though on formal occasions, when in attend- ance upon the Princess, he wore a sort of uniform surtout coat of blue cloth, frogged, braided, and buttoned close up to the chin. In either costume he looked the perfect gentleman: but in the latter he had a military appearance, truly becom- ing. “ In manners he was gentle, unassuming, but agreeably courteous. His conversation, unvb- tiusive and quiet, was interesting, instructive, and often fascinating ; while he himself appeared en- tirely unconscious of its powers. Towards the Princess his demeanour was ever characterised by the most marked respect; and though from his very boyhood he had known her, yet did he never appear to lose sight of the great distance which social conventionalisms had placed between him and her. Indeed, so delicate—so considerate—and sv nobly generous was his behaviour towards her Royal Jlighness, that he never under apy circum- staucee would allow himself to be left alone with her even for an instant: and if, when in the draw- iug-room, he beheld a chance of all the ladies-in- waiting being absent from the apartment at one and the same moment, he invariably made it a point of retiring ere left in téte-d-téte with the Princess. Having recorded these few observations rela- tive to chargeters whom history has made memv- rable, we now resume the thread of our nar: ative. ‘7 am sure I do not know how long we are likely to remain here,” said the Priacess, pursu- | ECOMNIE OG O) cS) CO