The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

160 oe ee omen ateet uefa & CHAPTER CLXIV. A LADY OF QUALITY IN DIFFICULTIES. CuRNn we now to a m derate-sized but handsomely farnished house in Pic eadilly—at no great distance from the larger and sill more splendid mansion of Lord Florinedl. It was about eleven o'clock in the morning, and in the elegant break/ast-parlour of the moderate- sized dwelling just alluded to, a lady was half-sitting and half-reclining uprm a sdfa. A cheerful fire burnt in the grate; the cartsins of scarlet satin gave with prismatic effect, a fainter tint of their own hue 0 the mellowed and subdued light which penetrated :brough the casements ;—and the rich crimson of the paper on the walls and the velvet fittings of the furnitare, all combined to render the complexion of che fair occupant of that apartment the more deli- vately lovely. In the roseate atmosphere of the room, and re- clining upon the deep crimson cushions of the sofa, this bequteous woman was set off to the utmost ad- vantag; by the morning-wrapper of white muslin which was gathered negligently around her. Her hair, of indescribable palenesa, but glossy and shining, was floating partially over the back of the sofa, and partiaHy upon her own alabaster shoulders, which her deshixbiiler teft revealed. That hair, which the lly wag wont to wear in myriads of caris, when her toilette was completed for the day, was now flowing in all the beauteous abandonment of massive treases; and it shone against the crimson velvet of the sofa like lace of flaxen material on which the sua is shining. Her countenance was pale—very pale—and cven stightly care-worn in appearance: bat its extreme loveliness and purity would have disarmed the most critical observer of his objection to its colourless aspect. The hue of health had fled from ber cheek ; but the camellia-like damask still remained :—and moreover, it was evident that happinesa and the mind's tranquillity would soon bring back the tint of the rose to mingle with the stainlessness of the lily. Besides, the red richness and the luscious fal- ness remained to the lips—the liquid blue and lan- guishing expression to the eyes — and the classic stamp of elegance to the whole countenance ! ‘hea her form—her admirable form—as it was atreiched half-reclining upon that sofa, with as much abandonment of the person as was likely to be in- dulged in when the superb creature was in the solitude of her own parlour and in the negligence of her morning apparel—that fine form, we say, was now to be scanned at its fullest advantage. No corset gave an artificial shape or setting to any coutour: the bust retaineu its rounded voluptuousneas through its own natural plumpness ;—the luxuriance of the lady's bosom marred not the perfect symmetry and rich shapeliness of either of those lobes of snow. Though her form had expanded into the maturity of its charms, yet was her entire figure c by an elasticity which imparted dignity to her car- riage when walking, grace and ease to her attitude when sitting, and an air of ineffable abandonment and soft sensuousnesss to her whole person when reclining negligently as we find her now. ‘ve muslin wrapper being slightly drawn up, dis- played just so mucn of one of the lady’s legs as to ux MysteniaS. indicate by ite beautiful moulding at the extremity and the robustness into which the delicacy of the ankle gradually swelled, that her limbs were modelled with a grace, a syrametry, and a richness correspond- ing with the extreme fulness of the bust aod the taper elegance of the waist. . This lady, as the reader has doubtless already conjectured, was Mrs. Fitzherbert—the cast-off wife ot his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. She was reclining in a pensive mood upon that sofa — utterly unmindful of the personal charms which her unstudied attitude displayed. Nor indeed was there any necessity for a coquettish aflectation on this occasion: for she was alone in that apart- ment—alone with her own sorrowing thoughts! The cup of chocolate remained untouched upon the table—the newspaper lay unread upon the sofa A dozen letters, from some frivolous lady-friends, or else containing invitations to balls and parties which she had no heart to grace with her presence, were tossed negligently aside—the very manner in which they lay, fully testifying the impatience with which they had been opened and the disgust or disappoint- ment with which they had been flung aside the instant the few first lines of their contents were scanned. The fact was that Mrs. Fitsherbert found herself in the most cruel embarrassment. Too proud to apply to the Prince of Wales for pecuniary atsist- ance, she was utterly without resources at the present moment. Not an article of furniture in the house which she had taken was paid for; and the uphol- sterer was already clamorous for his money. He had heard from the neighbouring tradesmen that every- thing which went into Mra. Fitsherbert’s dwelling was delivered upon trust—that not a shilling had as yet been paid to any of her creditors—that the smallest accounts, which are usually cash-transactions, were never liquidated—and that her doors were constantly beset by duns. He had therefore become alarmed for the sum which Mrs. Fitzherbert owed him; and as the amount was two thousand pounds, he felt by no means inclined to lose it for want of putting the machinery of the law into motion. He had accord- ingly instructed his attorney to menace the lady with instantaneous process;—and as that profes- sional gentleman happened to be Mr. Rigden, we need scarcely inform our readers that Mrs. Fits- herbert had little mercy to expect st his hands. She had accordingly written to two friends, ex- plaining her unpleasant position and demanding a loan. The Duchess of Devonshire and the Countess of Desborough were the ladies to whom Mrs. Fits- herbert bad thus unbosomed herself: and she had confidently expected supplies by hand on the pre- vious eveuing, or at least by post on the same mora- ing of which we are writing. But no answers uf any kind bai reached her: and she therefore felt assured that her two friends must be out of town. What could she dof—to whom besides should she address herself? She had many wealthy ac- quaintances, it was true: but there were none, be- sides the splendid Georgiana of Devonshire and the amiable Eleanor of Desborough, whom she chose te. admit into the privacy of her confidence. As fos humbling herself so far as to write to the Prince — never! Her pride revolted against such a proceed- ing: for she could not forget the dastardly, detesta- bly ruffian-like means which be had adopted te break off his connexion with her. Hap he throwa (COU (C (CO