The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

— 168 THE MYSTERIES. observe that, considering your indisposition, you look uncommonly well: your cheeks are animated with a healthy glow—and your eyes sparkle bril- liantly.” y. “TI am slightly feverish, perhaps,” said Mrs. Brace. On the contrary, you are quite cool,” returned ' Florimel, after a pause, during which he had taken her hand. “But tell me, my dear friend,” he con- a ee em LO a - ea tinued,—“ what is the nature of this important busi- ness concerning which you desired to see me ?” “TJ will explain it,” said Mrs. Brace, throwing her- self back upon the pillows, and stretching her robust white arms beneath her head in such a manner that the movement drew aside the folds of her night-drees, thus displaying to the eyes of the young nobleman more of the bosom than modesty should have allowed to be revealed. “ Yesterday evening,” she resumed, az if quite unconscious of the act just recorded, “a young lady, dressed in deep mourning, called upon me. It appears that she has very recently lost both her parents—under what circumstances she did not inform me; and she was so completely overwhelmed with grief, when speaking of them, that I dared not ask her. Since that period, however, she has been meditating seriously upon the course of life which she ought to adopt in order to earn a livelihood. The poor creature possesses a few hundred pounds: but she does not wish to exist in idleness upon a sum of money which must sooner or later be exhausted. Being skilful with her needle, she thought of turning that talent to advantage; and, having procured a list of the principal millinery establishments in Lon- don, she resolved te apply to them for work. As ac- cident ordained, mine was the very first house whereat she called; and I made immediate arrangements with her. This evening she takes up hera be- neath my roof.” « Ah! my dear Mrs. Brace, [ begin to understand —nay, more—I do comprehend the object for which you have sent for me,” exclaimed Florimel, in a re- proachful tone: “but I dare not—no—I dare not—— I am proof against temptation.” “ At all events, my good friend, I lost no time in making you acquainted with the circumstance,” eaid Mra. Brace. “The moment the young lady took her departure, [ despatched a note to your lord- ship’s mansion.” “Our past connexion, and the nature of it, render me grateful to you for this preference,” obeerved the nobleman: “but again I say, I dare not! No—I have at length obtained a formal introduction to my Pauline—I have passed in her society, at the house of a mutual friend, one of the most delicious even- ings of my life—I saw her adorning the ball- room, radiant in her youthful beauty and matchless in elegance and grace—and I could not prove un- faithful to her. Believe me, my dear friend, I really love and adore Pauline Clarendon—and I should hate myself, were I to forget the vows which I have pledged to her, and the oaths which I have secretly taken within the depths of my own heart.” “It is not for me to tempt you to break those vows,” said Mrs. Brace; and by another movement, skilfully executed and having all the air of negligence, she still further bared her bosom, until one round swelling globe was completely revealed and the eye could embrace more than half of the other. “ At the game time,” she continued, “ J must inform you, my dear friend, that never have you seen a more charm- ing creature than the young lady who is to take up her abode beneath my roof to-night. She is not more than sixteen—the very age which you moet admire ; and her form is a perfect model of symmetry and grace. Her eyes are a fine dark blue, melting and tender ;—her hair is a deep brown, lustrous with a rich gloss ;—and no lily can compare with the white- ness of her skin. You know that I am a good judge of beauty in my own sex, Florimel—and I can assure you that this angelic girl of whom I am speaking, is far superior to any whom you have ever beheld in this house.” ‘‘Do not say any more upon the subject,” ex- claimed Florimel, whose passions were inflamed not only by the picture which Mrs. Brace had drawn of the fair unknown, but likewise by the contemplation of her own charms: for the young nobleman found it almost impossible to withdraw his gaze from that breast of snow which was thus revealed to him in all its full, ample, and voluptuous proportions. “ Now listen to me, Florimel,” said Mrs. Brace, turning her countenance upon him, and assuming her most witching looks: “you love Pauline—you have sworn to be faithful to her. But was not the vow somewhat rashly made f—and will it not be dif- ficult to keep? Months must elapse before you can marry her: for the sake of decency in reference to the usages of the world, you cannot propose to her —or rather admit that you have proposed to her— under six or eight weeks. Then her father will have to be consulted. Ofcourse he will consent to the match; but it would be unseemly to a degree and indelicately precipitate to fix a very early day for the bridal. As I have observed, therefore, some months will intervene ere you lead your beloved Pauline to the altar; and, during that period, must you remain an anchorite? I cannot believe that you will ;—and I do not consider that Pauline herself has a right to make such an exaction. When once you are her husband, she may then have a right to demand an account of your proceedings: but in the interval you are still your own master, free and independent.” “JI comprehend all the speciousness of your reasoning—and yet I can scarcely resist it,” mur- mured Florimel, in asubdued tone. “Oh! my dear friend,” he exclaimed, suddenly starting from the chair which he had occupied close to the bed; “do not tempt me—I implore you not to undermine the good resolutions that I have formed. My Pauline has aright to my constancy—Aas a claim upon my fidelity! The peculiar circumstances under which our acquaintance was formed——” “ Will prevent her from giving you the credit which your constancy and fidelity would assuredly deserve,” added Mra. Brace. “J dare not remain to hear you argae thus, my dear friend,” cried Florimel: then, seizing her hand, and pressing it warmly, he said, “I cannot find it in my heart to reproach you—although you really deserve vituperation from my lips. But I have a sincere friendship for you—I would do any- thing I could to serve you—and you know it. Show me, therefore, some gratitude in retarn —and tempt me not.” “My dear Florimel,” said Mrs. Brace, pressing his hand against her bosom, as if it were an invo- luntary act—or rather one prompted by the fervour of grateful feelings,—*I am aware of your kind and generous sentiments in my behalf—and I thank you sincerely—Oh! moat sincerely! For I have always been fond of you from the first moment that COMGLOO S COMM