The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

APPREHENSIONS AND SUSPICIONS 165 ramifications of all these mysteries, for they are many and they are deep,” added Miss Stanley, emphatically, “‘ are so strangely interwoven — ”’ ‘Oh, you terrify me, my dear aunt,” said Louisa. ‘“ Can any harm have happened to Clara?”’ Then, as a sudden reminiscence struck her, she went on to say, ‘‘ I do indeed know that London is a very dangerous place and that amongst all classes, but especially the highest, there are great numbers of bad and profligate people. That Lady Ernestina Dysart, the Marquis of Leveson’s niece, of whom I spoke just now, was led to tell me — I know not in what strange mood at the time — many strange things about the profligacy of the fashionable world; and she especially quoted as an instance a certain celebrated beauty named Venetia Trelawney, who, by her arts and wiles, had raised herself to the peerage. Having married a gentleman named Sackville, she and her husband — Lord and Lady Sackville — dwell at Carlton House, and she is the great favourite of the prince regent.” ‘But what, my dear Louisa,” interrupted Miss Stanley, ‘““ has all this to do with the topics of our discourse? ”’ “Nothing, except that all that I heard concerning this Venetia Trelawney, or, rather, Lady Sackville,’ rejoined Louisa, ‘‘ has for some reason or another, I cannot define what, made a considerable impression on my mind, and has often intruded itself upon my thoughts. Perhaps it was because the wicked example of this Lady Sackville made me fear for my beloved sister Clara, placed as she is in a metropolis abounding with such temptations and she herself being of such a rare beauty. For you know not, dear aunt, how wonderfully Clara hasimproved. When I saw her, seven. or eight months ago, in London, although only after a separa- tion of a like interval, I was struck by that improvement. Ah! I felt so proud of her, for there is really something grand and imposing in Clara’s looks. She has become quite the polished lady — and, oh,” exclaimed the artless young maiden, her thoughts in their excitement thus rapidly rang- ing from one topic to another, ‘‘ what pleasure shall I have in writing to her to-day, to inform her of your recovery and beseech her to return home at once to see you. And she too will be so overjoyed, for you will perceive by her letters what affectionate mention she always makes of you.” (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si in