The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

EEE * But dre kifows your Royal Mighhess to be Mr. Havieor Mr. Harle} to be your Royal High ness —- whichever you choose?” exelaimed the milliner’. “Yes—yew: ull that she knows ‘perfeetly,” said the heir-apparents “and 4 very ‘extraordinary. girl she is. Gifted with ‘a remarkable spirit — great presence of mind and wonderfal courage, she can- defy, dare, and threatens Prinve. Nay, more— to my very fade she told me that she hated me.” “And yet your Royal Highness ‘declares that there is no ‘danyer.f” cried: Mrs. Bruce, in a species of Dewildermentd. “Not for the presetit, I tell you!” exclaimed George, who was a firm belidver in the Christian maxim’ Which #ays, Sufficieit unto the dag is the evil thereaf, * Paulite will let me léttow very shortly what she wishes te fo do'in her sivter’s riattet ;—- and'#heh the’ tine denies—whythen We'll think about it. You know! din not a mast Who meets misfortune half-way: I hate anticipating evil ;— tis bad enoaph When it obmes. And now, nly dvar Fantiy, [ must thank you for the aid you have fen- dered me In ‘nty schuine respecting Lady Des- borough.” With these words, his Royal Highness imprittted, a kiss upon the fips of the handsome mifiiner; and, having once'mofe conjured her to be puntcteal at the place of appomtment, he sped back to the brilliant saloons where the dancing was going on with inciéeasing spirit. The Duchess of Devonshire had slrexdy rotated thither; snd the Prince’ was speedily by her srde. « Whut wevws, niy dear Georgiana ?” demanded he. 4@{ varnvt find Mrs Pittherbert fn ‘herapartmedhts,” answered the Duchess. “She fs not there—and I am assitretl, in atiswer to the inquiries which I nade, that her servants have not seen her since the comt- mencement of the ball.” a'Very atrange!’ ejaculated the Piinte: then, in « ealmer and far more indfffrent tone, he oBser¢ed, “But thete are phinty of otter rooms in Caffton House to which stre-could have refited for the pur- pose ‘of enjoying het sutks;--ant I shall not trouble myself further in the matter. Thanks however, Georgiaha, to you for yoor kitdness in en@eavouting to seek her” THe ‘Pritice tetnnined {n cUnvétedtion With the chatinitig afd sprightly Duchess for about teh mi- putes longer-—at the exprration of which period he agtin daiited the drilitamt saloons. py wen won CHAPTER LXKV. ANOTHER SCENE AT CARLTON HOUSER. . Taz Countess of Desborough had appeared .radi- antly beautiful to all eyes; but that carnation ‘glow which suffused her cheeks witimits richest hue, was heightened by tlie conflicting émiotione that warred within her bosom, as well as by the effort which she made to conceal them. a fn the little leisitre which the excitement of the brilliant scene and the gay dance left ber Yo conimune with herself, she had vainly endeavoared to conjec- ture what could be the aim ald natifre of the Myme- rious warning given her by Mra. Brace, Was it possible that her frailty with the individual whom she knew as Gustavus Wakefield. and whom she THe WESTER mi: eee eel) already fovea with an earnest end devoted -aflzstion, —was it possible that thic ttailty could be known, or even uttspedted! Amd ff not, teen how eould. her fair fame be memaced'?—and how could evil or diuger’ be threatening her? Lastly, whatever were tho porii, how happened it that Mrs. Braes, of all women.is the world, shuld be able and willing’ to resous her froin its conseqtences.? These thoughts swept, with whixlwind speed; many: | Desbo- times through the brain of the Countess of rough duriag the evehtng:: but the oftenerthey te- chrred to her mind,;the mote bewildering did they | seerfi--aitd the feap easy was it to hasard a cénjsotere upon -a single polls. Tortured with the crueHedt sgispense-- haraweed with ‘hie’ must painfal misgiving--et one néotnent foarfal that sorte treschory was intended--at anwber experfenviiiy a-full revivel of confidence fe tie-sine verity of the milliner,—now trembling lest the Prinee of Wales timeslfuhould be at whe bottom of the | whote affsir—then reastarieg herself with the argu- ment that le would never dare to devise unty plot:or perpetrate any outrage against her beneath hie vwn roof aad on suvh an ‘odcasien as the present, one time resolving’ to treat the thing with centempt-—a@& another deciding upon keeping the appeintment,— now painfully revalling to mind the milliner’s former miseonduct and Guplivity—then eturting at the Tes colleetion of thesviemmn atid impressive manner fe which the warning was givon;.- thas, torn’ with o thoesahd. conflicting wettinrents, the Countess of Desborough knew wot hew te act. At length—-whien still undecided—her eyds ene countered a timepiece: the hands merked mide night! ° Rapidty sweeping her looks afound, she saw that her Dussand was conveteing at a distance with some other nobleniem—that fie Dachetss of Devonsitive was talking to Pawline Clarendon ‘and Fiorime- and' that the Princess Sophia wae engaged With grotip of ladfes fa another quarter. For the first time during the eveni#g Wi the Cottrttese, therefore, now find heredif eo entirety alone, as it wére—amiést the brifliant hrosg — tat she could escape withont being pevouived ftom ‘the: salooris. Should she go?--sloald whe keep thetppolttan? ‘Yes; ah ittvincible feeling urged Ker Yo adop the affirmative course for lier dvitstiefice, thakivg a voward of htr th dnesemse, prompted herto hastetiwed learn the ntatute of the petil Which threatesied her. Behold ler issuing forth trom the getyecus salooris. "TWere ave wérvarts Un the fandiwg—m tee ante-cha@mbers: but what-‘of that? Sire muy be golttg to the toilette-roorn dr to Mrs. Fitsheriet¥e apattments. It dods fot, therefore, seem strange that shte-shdulé dius Wave left the saloons—-alome! The is ghined: Hefhtly snd: rapidty she threads it. ‘Myrs. Brace is waiting for fer at the end. ‘Te sitilliner' places her fioger with mysteriods \sighificance hipoh her.lip—and hastily throws open-e door. Eleanor ‘crosses the thréshold : the doer clver noisetessty ‘behind het. | Sat, without. ving Mat she isdidtie--ine deed, fancying that tie rhiiliner és -followiny Her. she trikvétsés & ‘Smilll @ete-chiamber lighted bye Narp-hefd in the hahd’ of am alabaster stele. Am open ‘door faces tier : sheushdsitatingly cavers the ‘apartaiéent scarcely has with which i¢ comtrunieates: —~— bee. | she crossed She threshold when this ' COLT NOOO) ‘SS CO