The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ar oe 14 THOS Mrerwaits Cr’ THE COURT. its ripe falnees or pared down on the plea of exuber=: ence. For if the shoulders were softly rounded~-if the bust developed itself in: supers amplitude ‘and ewelling volume—if the arms were rebust—end if the folds of the drapery desetibed :a: proportionate’ falness in the lower limbe,-—yet was:the symmretry of the whole form preserved in a harmonious per- fection which left nething to cavil at--nothing to desire ! Buch was Venetia Trelawney—the young lady whose charms had been so fully discussed at the mansion of Lord Leveson, and who had become the | faithful subject of the singular agreement entered into on that occasion. her own inimitatle beanty!—pity it was that care, whieh bad not ventured to trace a single line on her smooth and polished brow, should have beetr able to tightes w-single chord that'oscillated in her heart ! Let us suppose that it'is three or four hours later on this particular day when we introface our readers to Acacia: Cottage. It is now; then, one o'clock in the afternoon;—and Venetia has gone through the routine of the toilette. Jessica, the lady’s-maid—a quiet, reserved, but shrewd and young woman—takes‘a delight in ‘setting off the charms of her mistress to their greatest 'ad- vantage. Not that they need the embeflisinrent of art, nor the aid of 'factitions adormment: but We said she was seated alone in a handsomely farnished boudoir ;—and we must here observe that | stilk dress may develop the beauties and enhance her residence, which bore the delightfal name of' the graces of the person, as-well as mar the effect Acacia Cottage, was fitted: up with: corresponding. of the former or conceal the latter altogethor. elegance throughout. It steod in sach a position at Knightsbridge that the beck windows looked upon Hyde Park,. from which hewever the house itself’ was separated by a small gardet:. Yet though surrounded by every‘ comfort and even every luxury,—though possessing her carriage, and having the means of gratifying any whim or fancy which money could minister to,—and though endowed with that rare loveliness which was in itself & talisman capable of ensuring to its owner as bril- liant and honourable a position as she could well aspire to,—notwithstanding all these advantages, Venetia was not entirely happy. . As she sate in her elegantly-farnished room, she frequently surprised herself in the act ‘of heav- ing a sigh: and if she murmured within the depths of her soul, “I have all that I need to render me happy, there still would pass into ber heart a feeling to remind her that something was wanting to stamp with truth the inwardly expressed thought. And sometimes a cloud would gather upon her brow and cast its shade over her fea- tares—and the expression of her countenance would deepen from languor into desvondency. Then, starting at the end of a few minutes from a painful reverie, she would exert a strong effort to fling off that glooms;—and by throwing a glance upon a mirror facing where she indolently reclined, her vanity would be gratified by the contempla- tion of her own enchanting loveliness, as well as by the promises which the possession of such beauty seemed to hold forth to her exalted fancy. Then smiles would dispel the gloom from her countenance—and her features would beceme ra- diant, even to absorb that sweet drdoping languor which was their wonted expression. But what was the cause of Venetia's intervals of transitory sorrow? Was she conscious of some daty unfulfilled, or of some fault committed? Had she lost that innocence which is the pearl beyond all price, and which far exceeds the value of mere- tricious diamonds that may deck the brow of beauty? Or was she only trembling lest her vir- tue, hitherto preserved, should succumb to temp- tation? Had she taken some fa'se step ?—or cid she feel herself in peril of taking it? Or again, did she deplore a separation from beings who were dear to her?—or lastly, was she agitated by the conflicting fears and hopes of love? As yet we are unable to penetrate the mystery of her sorrow. But pity it was that her thouchts were wot ever glowing, sunny, and enchanting as And therefore Jessica was well pleased when her skifi had proved worthy ofthe being on whose toi- lette it was bestowed. On the present‘ occasion’ the abigail was eminently successful; and ff Ve- netia had appeared so enchantingly beautifal in her morning negligée, she was not less so in a more studied costume. Indeed, it was now that the dark silk dress which she wore displayed all the admirable har- mony in the proportions of her form that we have previously endeavoured to describe: for the body of that dress was made to fit close, so that it seemed to borrow its own shape from the contours of her bust, rather than assist in any way to deter'- mine the’ effect of those flowing outlines. More- over, the long skirt of the robe, reaching to the earpet on which she trod, furnished an idea of the sweeping length of limb which it nevertheless con- cealed, and by apparently adding to her stature, gave her a more imposing beauty. With her charms thus set off to their fullest ad- vantage, did Venetia repair from the boudoir to the drawing-room, She was now sunny with smiles as well as radiant in beauty ; and there was a certain roguish archness in her look which seemed to inti- mate that she was prepared for scme innocent piece of mischief. The drawing-room occupied the first floor of the house—extending from front to back, and having windows that faced the park as well as the street. Those casements that commanded a view of the park, and indeed overlooked the little garden behind the Cottage, were now open: for the weather was beantiful and warm, and the air was filled with the fragrance of the autumn flowers that seemed to drink in the sun-light to replenish their brilliant hues. Jeasica had followed her mistress from the boudoir as far as the drawing-room door; and when Venetia, on looking into the apartment, saw that it was un- occupied, she turned towards her abigail, saying, “ Where is Mra. Arbuthnot f” “J believe, ma’am, that she has gone to Stratton Street,” replied Jessica. ‘Bat shall I ask down stairs f” “ No—it is not of any consequence,” observed Venetia, whose voice was as full of melting melody as the most delicious music. “And yet I should hare thought that she would remain near me at the present moment,” she added— but in a low tone, as the remark was intended for herself, and not to be addressed to the abigail. Jessica withdrew—and Miss Trelawney entered GORMGOOOKXS COMM