The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. of believe that he has several—he cannot bring him- self to pay proper attention to the Viscountess.” “ And does she pine at this treatment ?” asked Mrs. Chesterfield: “does she resent it? or is she | exquisite taste. She seemed to know that sho possessed a superb figure; and she had selected a garb the best calculated to display its fine con- tours. Under the ci in which she was keeping the present appointment, it is natural to suppose that there was a certain excitement of the thoughts which gave a heightened animation to the countenance; and when the carnation tinge did rest upon those soft cheeke—and when an union had issue, a tie which existe not now, might have bound the husband more closely to the wife.” in an elegant livery, through the adjacent wood. Whether he may have a mistress on the ely, I of course cannot say: but at all events he bears the reputation of being as well-conducted a young man in his private life as could possibly exist.” Here the discourse terminated, as a servant eame forth to announce that dinner was sorved Up. On the following day, punctually at noon, Mrs. Chesterfield repaired to the place of appointment. . Lif I were unmarried, in to seize. . “ My lord,” she said, “you have deceived me. Frankly and candidly did I explain to you my ati married———” “ Forgive me, Augusta—forgive me !”’ exclaimed the Viscount, becoming terribly agitated: “but ¥ had not the courage to tell you y that I also am married. On my soul, that avowal would have been. conveyed in almost the very first words issuing from my lips on the present occasion !” “You did wrong thus to deceive me,” said Mrs. Chesterfield: “for deception it really was. You should have been candid at once, and not have suffered me to learn by the accident of conversa- tion that such is the case. Do not think for a: moment that I have been purposely prying into your affairs. No—heaven forbid! I thought you were ali frankness and candour ; and I received as gospel whatever fell from your lips.” “And not in one single word have I deceived you !” exclaimed the Viscount with impassioned’ vehemence. “It is true that I withheld a fact: but.I have misrepresented nothing. .I gave you the assurance of my fervid and devoted love; and heaven is my witness how truthfully I spoke in all that I thus said. If not, wherefore am I here now? And when I yesterday bade you reflect that there were sacrifices which you would have to make,—think you that I had not in view certain sacrifices on my own side? Think you that if you would have to surrender a husband, I had'not al- ready made up my mind to surrender a wife? Did I not expressly and emphatically declare that, al- though I could place my wealth at your feet, yet that I could not make you the sharer of my rank ? And how can this discovery of my marriage consti- tute any difference between us, inasmuch as even you could not accompany me to the altar P” : “ Perhaps,” responded Augusta Chesterfield, “I (COL (C DOO CS (COL