The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

ee THK MYSTERIES, a i i 230 hates or for whom he entertains the most con- temptuous indifference: but the annoyance is far greater when the humiliation is self-inflicted. The Prince knew that Caroline had seen him in the most disgusting and repulsive phase of his charac- ter,—had seen him in the swinish loathsomeness of @ dranken debauchee,—had seen him in a state when he might have given utterance to any language however filthy, or performed pranks however ridi- culous. He therefore felt that he was stripped of all his dignity, alike as a Prince and as a Man, in her presence; and it was the most humikating incident of his life—the most galling moment of his existence—when she suddenly awoke and lifted her eyes towards his countenance! And what were the emotions—what were the feelings—what were the sentiments of the Princess herself? A burning blush suffused her cheeks— overspread her neck—descended to her bosom,—a blush of natural modesty mingled with indignation, when she beheld her husband standing by the bed- side, and then at the same instant recollected the occurrences of the past night. But her anger was only transitory: the goodness of her disposition suddenly lulled it altogether, as oil subdues the fury of the waves ;—and the thought flashed to her mind that her husband was there to offer his excuses for the state of ebriety in which he had sought the nuptial chamber a few hours previously. This sentiment on her part was quite natural: it was indeed a homage to the presumed refinement and vaunted polish of the Prince’s character ;—and she as a lady judged him as a gentleman. Then was it that the true generosity of her dis- osition shone forth in all its amiable artlessness— all its ingenuous beauty—in all its unsophisti- cated innocence. She loved him not—and yet she felt for him : she entertained not the slightest par- bear to think that he should stand humiliated, abashed, and ashamed in her presence. Nay—she had even every possible motive to abhor and loath giving nature which characterised her sex in general and herself in particular. O Woman! vile, degraded, and unworthy the name of Man must that individual be, who could treat thee with disrespect :—but worse, ten thou- sand times worse than the most savage brute or the most venomous reptile is he who could bear himself towards thes with a coward and a bar- barian cruelty ! The countenance of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales expanded all in a moment into the sweetest smiles: the beneficence of paradise shed its illumination upon those fair features :— and, half raising herself in the nuptial couch, she extended her hand towards the heir-apparent, exclaiming in the softest music of her silver tones, “My lord—my husband—my Prince—if you mean ap apology, I want none—will have none !” ‘Coldly did the royal barbarian take that hand, which he scarcely pressed even for a single instant: then, dropping it abruptly, and with a dogged sternness of countenance and severity of manner, he said, “I thank your Royal Highness for having made me sensible that you fully appreciate the enormity of my offence, but that you are generous enough to forgive it.” “Is it le that I have done wrong?” cried oe ee — ED ee ee ticle of affection for him—and yet she could not him: buat her sentiments were all of that truly for- | the Princess, grieved and alarmed by the words and bearing of her husband. “Since you do not choose to lay any specifie charge against me, madam,” responded the Prince, in the same strain of cold heartlessness, “it is nog likely that I should level any accusation against you. But it would be as well, under existing cir- cumstances, if we understood each other rightly on certain matters. I therefore crave the atten- tion of your Royal Highness for a few minutes !” And, putting back the curtain, the heir-apparent seated himself by the side of the couch,—while the Princess gazed upon him in mingled wonderment and dismay. “You are aware, madam,” resumed the unfeeling bridegroom, “that our union has been one of con- vention—and not of love ;—one of policy—and not of affection. I do not expect that you could have entertained any regard for me, even though the most flattering representations had been made to you concerning my personal appearance, my man- ners, my intelligence, my disposition, and my con- duct. At all events, I am not vain nor foolish enough to suppose that even if you had experienced any good feeling on my behalf, it could possibly have survived the incidents of the past night. On the other hand, I will frankly admit that I ex- perience no tender sentiment towards yourself. That you may be worthy of the highest esteem, the most devoted friendship, and the most ardent love, I will not question for a single instant: but I beg you to remember that we frail and erring mor- tals have no control over our own inclinations. Let us, then, admit—mutually admit—that there exists no love between us—and that there never can exist any! By thus looking our position in the face, we at once grapple with a difficulty which, if We avoid it now, will only force itself upon our ‘notice with a more crushing effect hereafter. result of all this reasoning on my part, is to bring your mind to recognise the necessity of our coming ‘to a prompt understanding with each other.” The “ And that understanding?” gasped the Princess inquiringly, as she still remained gazing in mingled astonishment and terror upon the husband who was thus addressing her in a style of deliberate, cold-blooded, and systematic heartlessness. “Ah! that understanding,” repeated his Royal Highness: “well—it is for me to be as explicit, as frank, and as candid as circumstances demand. Look you, madam —your position {s somewhat altered by your elevation to the rank of a British Princess; and you will no doubt see ample reason to experience the liveliest gratitude at the change." “ Are you serious ?—or is this a pure mockery ?” demanded Caroline, her indignation now rising once more. “I never was more serious in my life,” answered the heir-apparent : “and, upon my soul! I wish to say nothing to wound your feelings. I even de- plore the necessity which compels me thus to speak out. But what are the facts? The other day you were a comparatively unknown and ob- scure Princess, belonging to a petty German Court the name o: which was not over familiar even to persons tolerably well versed in geographical know- ledge. Now you are the Princess of Wales—your name is already written in the grand page of Eng- land’s history. You have become the envy of myriads and myriads of high-born dames and titled ElOOO® ——~ ~~ — SS