The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 181: what you’re looking at

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“the flowing outlines of —ae ewe te —— ea a at | *arnation glow upon a finely grained skin. ner ». .2te-g ee soem 170 Fe) ~~ noon ail that had oceurred—for he certainly felt pnt ae inclination for sleep. qe CHAPTER XXXITIII. LEITTICR RODNEY. Iz was about nine o'clock in the morning following the night of which we have been speaking, that Lettive Rodney awoke in a chamber around which her eyes slowly wandered with an expression as if she were not over well satisfied with her quarters, It was a large room, furnished in an antiquated style, and of gloomy aspect,—theugh some recent preparations had evidently been made to givo it. an air of eomfort. The latticed windows wera. axnall; the coiling was low; the wails were of wainscot ; tho chairs were of a dark wood, massive and heavy. The same might be said of the hod- stead: but the bedding materials 7 | all new; and these, together with the dpgperies, were of & superior quality to the piher pppoint- ments of the chamber. It wae hig circumstance which indicated how recent arrangements had been made to render the place more habitable than it would otherwise bave been. f Lettice Rodney awoke, as we have paid, at about nine o’clock: and looking around her, she soomed emitten with the gloom of her quarters. In a few minutes, however, when sha grew more gom- pletely awake, a smilo appeared wpop her exceed- ingly handsome countenance, ag she aurmured to herself, “Buf, after ‘all, it ig ‘9 change and a novelty; and I am to he moget munificently re- eompensed P” arn She raised herself up in the eouch—rested ber elbow upon the pillow—gnd. sustained ber head with her hand. In thet'position she would have furined ath adniirable cody for the; pencil of ap “¢ selyop were agit was most likely some ore \.vuld be calling. THE MYATRRIEG OF THR COURT. a RN Fs es CR ee: = Oe een igeigeees [pew & em =a Her teeth were somewhat large, but of ivory white- ness and faultlessly even: her nose was etraight— her forehead high. It.has already been stated that she was about two-and-twenty; and since the age of fifteen had she dwelt under the evil auspices of Madame Angelique. Her temperamout wae naturally luxurious: she had fallen an easy victim to the wiles of that abominable woman; and as sho was an orphan, ahehad no heppy home to regret. On tha coptéary sof: the four fomales whom we introduced tothe reader at the williner’s establishment, Lettice was thé one least accessible to remorseful feolings, and moat inelined to abandon herself fully and completely to the mode of ex- isterice ahe was pursuing. She tay half-reclining upon her pillow in that apartment arvand which her eyel wandered by no xpeans lovingly at first: yct, as we bave seen, she consoled herself quickly enough for this change in her quarters, by’ the reflection that there was noyelty in it, and that she was ombarking in some adyenture which would tomunerate her well, though she as yet scarcely comprehended the pre- cise natgre of the services required at her hands. While she lay thinking, the door opened slowly; and an old waman, with trembling limbs, and head shaking as if it were palsied, made her appearance. She was followed by a buxom-looking voung girl of about seventeen, and who was the old woman’s granddaughter. This girl carried a large deal box, whieh was corded, and which sho set down upon the floor. . . “Ab! then,” said Lettier, us she beheld the boy, “some one bas been this morning 7” “No, ma’am—if was in the middlo of the night,” answered the old woman: sod in a mys- fterious manner, gha added, “It was the Duke hirgelf, together with a young gentleman. Lis Grace told me yesterday morning—as I think [ mentioned to you, ma’am—that | was to sit up, artist. Wo corset nop jmprisoned thé contours off, “I must have slept soundiy onough, Mrs. Nor- her shape, which tharsfore took their own neturdl) wood,” observed Lettioe: “for I heard no nviso of and voluptyous developments. Her glossy brown hair floated. negligently over the hand which sus- tained her head, ‘end over the shoulders which werp covere@ with the snowy night-drese, Plegsure and dissipation bid pot cmarred the gorgeous beauty of her form: the rounded aud full undulations of thé fat retgined theif proper position, us if all the eneiors asesociated ‘with ‘the pxuberant charme of & superb womauhoods: “The sweeping length of her limbs was ‘delinegted by the bed-clothes: ali her forra were traceable, and could be followed by the eye, if an observer had been presdut. The semi-languor which agcompanies the firet fow minutes of the morn’s awakening, gave a certain exproasion of sensuous. sto her oountenance,—or rather softly deepencd Mi whieh it habitually wore. She was a splendid oreature, well-grown and fresh coloured; ‘but the fulness of her contours stopped short just at that degree of luxurianca when they touched upon —~while the hue upon her cheeks was not the ruddinesa of the rustic hoyden, but the Her lips were of coral redness— habitually moist—and eweming to invite fervid kisses, as well as to be mabled to give them baek with a kindred ardour. peas of youth hed] it TS op io, Cass mae —_ eR AW pe bp ER ger SRE Eons me ape 14 — Eee ~ doors opening. I aball get up now. And Phare,” she added, addressing herself to the girl, “see thit you get mo the heet breakfast you can possibiy agcornplish. | But, dear me, what oa plate this 1s--- so fonely and deyofate!” “Ahi it was qguege thriving enough, ma’am,” said Mrs. Norwood, “when the late farmer had ~@ 2? , ‘And how long has the place been in this con- dition fF” inquired Lettice. “Oh! upward of the last twelve months, or so,” yesponded the old woman. “His Craco’s bailiff let mo and my pranddaughter live ere for nothing, just to keep the rvoms ajred and take care of the furniture, till some nowetenant coincs. You see, ma'am, the person who had it last, was a bachelor; and he weut on at such a pace he soon got ruined and was seut to gaol fox debt, where he dted of a fever brought on by tard driuking. There was, more than a year’s rent owing; and so his Gtwiee’s baihif kept the furni- ture in the house. AMfl the farm stock was aold off; and now there isn’t su much as a hen to lay an egg. However, thinks to his Grace's hbe- rality, there ig overything in the place to mak@¢ you comfortable, ma'am, while you are here.” The old woman withdrew, followed by her grand ob eres. ee ell 1a gee Gi 8 ei ares ees ee s (C NOOK a eater etna a EE SDC TT 9 a =" wee, £