The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

VALENTINE AND VENETIA 107 I find that there are so very, very few books in which the world is depicted truly. It was all very well when I was accustomed to judge the world entirely by the books I read; then they had an extraordinary charm for me.”’ ‘“ And yet your ladyship has read other books besides novels?” said Valentine, gazing upon her with a sort of mournful interest. ‘‘ Yes, assuredly,’”’ she replied, again smiling with all her wonted sweetness. ‘‘ Does not the world call me accom- plished? Well, and without vanity I may say that so I am, considering how little it requires to render a lady accom- plished in high life. For instance, I have read all our best poets, and possessing a memory of very great power, — this too I may say without vanity, because memory is a gift, — I can repeat the finest and most striking passages of these works. Then I can draw when I choose. Here,’ she con- tinued, rising from the sofa on which she was seated, and approaching a table where she opened a splendid portfolio, ‘these are my specimens. See, here are drawings in chalk, and drawings in pencil, and here are designs in water-colours. Most of these I did when at Acacia Cottage, before I came to Carlton House, but since I have been here I have had no time for drawing, or, rather, perhaps no inclination.”’ “They are very beautiful,’ said Valentine, who had followed Lady Sackville to the table. ‘‘ I should not think of flattering you for a moment,” he continued, ‘‘ but I myself am very fond of drawing, and I have no hesitation in pro- nouncing these specimens to exhibit a great proficiency. And yet they bear every indication of a taste rapidly culti- vated and not gradually developed, a taste, so to speak, which put forth all its powers of a sudden, and grappled with difficult subjects before it passed entirely through the usual length of training.” ‘“ You are right, Sir Valentine,’ answered Venetia, ‘‘ and now I see that you are really no flatterer, but at the same time an excellent judge. Well, then, for my other accomplish- ments, I am considered a tolerably good musician, quite good enough to compete with any lady who sits down to her piano or her harp either for her own recreation or that of her friends, at a select party. Then, as for my conversation, when you and I come to know more of each other you will be able to judge me on that score.”’ (C(O) nn) (C KS al in