The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIRNS. And as that name strock the ears of the frail danghter of George the Third, she gave eo sudden a start and turned so a ioe that the Duchess of Devonshire exclaimed, heavens! your Royal Highness is unwell !*" At these words, Lord Florimel sprang towards the bell-pu]l to summon agsigtance: but the Princess, instantaneously recovering her presence of mind by one of those almost superhuman efforts of which we mortals are sometimes capable In pressing emer- gencies, stopped the young nobleman with her own hand—saying, “It is nothing—a sudden indisposi- tion seized upon me: but it has passed.” © Are yon sure that you fee] better, my dearest fiend!” inquired the Countess of Desborough, hastily accosting the Princess Sophia. “Oh! I am well aware that your Royal Highness is subject to these sudden and evanescent attacks ——™ “Thank you for your kind solicitude, my dear Eleanor,” said the Princess: “I can assure you that the faintnees—the giddinese—which seized upon me, has totally persed” And, as she uttered these words, she darted a signi- ficant look upon the Countess, to imply that her presence of mind was eompletely restored. Elesnor now returned to e, who was stand- ing at a little distance ;—and, taking the young lady’s hand, she sald in a low and rapid whisper, “ You must be presented as if you had never seen the Princess before :”—then, leading her towards Sophia, she exclaimed, “ Permit me to introduce to your Royal Highness a much esteemed and amiable friend of mime— Migs Pauline Clarendon.” “Every friend of yours, Eleanor, is welcome to me,” said the Princesa Sophia, receiving Pauline vith a more than ordinary condescension and griceful affability; although the colour came and vent in rapid transitions upon the cheeks of the very handsome but frail and dishonoured daughter of George the Third. Lord Florimel was likewise presented to the Princess, and then to the Countess, with whom he was previonsly unacquainted — the Duchess of Devonshire pesforming this ceremony for her noble coasin; and the conversation turned upon the grand entertainment which the Prince of Wales was to give on the follawing evening. “Iam glad this suhject has been mentioned,” beerved the her levity, was excessively good-natured, and had taken a greet fancy to Pauline: “be- cawe,” she continued, * Miss Clarendon is anxious to be present at his Royal Highness’s ball—and I unable to introduce her, inasmuch as I am ao lovitation to dine with his Royal ness and Mrs. Fitzherbert. But you, my dear ” sho added, turning towards the Countess of Desborough, “will perhaps take charge of our young who, I may gbeerve, is shortly to become Lady Florimel.” “I should be delighted to present Miss Claren- don to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,” said the Countess: “but circumstances, I fear, wil} I have been honoured.” “Indeed, my dear Eleanor,” exclaimed the Prin- “you must over-rule any circoum- w threaten to keep you away from my yal brother's entertainment to-morrow evening. be there—and it will prove a great disap- g ° —o ee - “hese oar ees on Te ee Ti ceri cmcan ATE A i eet — a Dpchesn of Devonshire, who, in spite- pointment to me ff I do not meet you on this acoa- sion at Carlton House. I shall even consider ig unkiad towards myself if yoo remain absent.” “And I, too,” sald the Duchess of Devonshire, “shall be grieved if I do not meet you ta-morrow evening, Eleanor. You mast positively renounce any other engagement which you may have formed.” | It was with no small degree of difieulty that the Countess of Desberough cogvealed her vexation at being thus pressed: for, as the reader may easily conceive, she had her own private motives for not wishing to attend the heir.apparent's ball, nor indeed aven te come in cantact with his Royal Highness again. The conversation which she had overheard be¢ween him and the Magsman had filled her with leathing, indignation, and aversion for that prineely voluptuary: and any tenderness of feeling which she might at one moment have experienced towards him, had been changed by a Goeper reading of his character into abhorrence and Bat the Princess Sophia—not suspecting that hor friend had any private motive of dislike with regard to the Prince of Wales, and anxious by any meens to conciliate and pleasp the young lady who was the depositress of her own tremendous secret—continued to urge the point relative to the invitation te Carlton House, with a seal and earnest- ness which amounted almost to a command and rendered a refusal impossible, : “'Yos, my dear Bleanor, you must go~—and M Clarendon will then be enabled to acoompany you,” said the Princess. “ Were it not ineonsistent with the prevailing etiquette, 1 would myself introduce Mise Clarendon.” And as she uttered these words, the Princess Sophia threw a look fall of deep meaning upon Pauline—as much as to say, *Keep my seeret faithfally—and I will prove your friend in all things.” The result of so much pressing on the part of her Royal Highness and the Duchess of Devoa- shire, was that Eleanor was compelied to yield ;— and, in thus yielding, she was also under the ne. cessity of offering to act as chaperon for Miss Pauline Clarendon on the ooeasion. It wag 00% sequently arranged that Pauline should repair te Deshorough House in Berkeley Square at nine o’elook on the following evening, and theace acoom- ny the Countess to the palatial realdence of the Prtzce of Wales. This matter being settled, to the great delighs — young lady, she and Florimel took their eave, * * When they were ones more alone together in the carriage, and as they were whirling back to Ca. yendish Square, Florimel said, “ And now, my be- loved Panline, you have gained your point most effectually ; and to-morrow evening I shall have the pleasure of dancing with you at Carlton House. But what excuse will you make to your father and sister for having aecompanicd me in my carriage ¢his morning ?—and upon what pretext will you be enabled to leave the house in ball-room costume to-morrow evening f”’ “ My dear Gabriel,” replied Pauline, “ when we reach Cavendish Square presently, you must de- mands private interview with my father, and ioform him thas you have honoured me by a proposal, an’ i a al la el 24; | GOLAAL ar@y(o) S COMM