The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

34 THE COURT OF LONDON Well, what a sweet room you have got here, to be sure! ”’ she continued, calmly gazing around her and looking, for all the world, as if she felt herself a most welcome guest. ‘‘ I never did see such a beautiful boudoir in all my life, and I can tell your ladyship that I have been in a few in my time. But really one would think that you wasn’t pleased to see me? ”’ ‘““ Yes, [I am very pleased,’’ murmured Venetia, still in a faint voice; and though she endeavoured to appear more affable toward the woman, yet for the life of her she could not. “Then you are unwell, or you have had something to annoy you, for you certainly don’t look quite the thing. And yet, dear me! you ought to be happy as the day is long. Here you are, married to a very handsome man, a lady of title, rolling in riches, riding in a carriage, living in a palace, the star of fashion, the worshipped of the aristocracy, and her favourite mistress of the prince.’’ ‘Which I suppose is pretty generally known,’ remarked Venetia, now growing more collected and speaking with mingled bitterness and irony. “ Yes, it’s well known enough,”’ replied Mrs. Gale, either not observing or else not choosing to observe the peculiarity — of Venetia’s accents, ‘and very proud you ought to be when you think of it. Ah! I dare say you are indeed envied enough; and as for jealousy, why, it’s natural that every handsome woman about the court should be jealous of your ladyship. But it’s no wonder you have risen to such a rank, and that you are able to keep it, for the very first day you and me met, you struck me as being the most beautiful woman [ had ever seen in all my life. But you are really handsomer now than ever. Setting aside that little look of annoyance which you wore just now, but which seems to be passing, I declare you appear more brilliant, more magnifi- cent, than ever.”’ “‘T thank you for these assurances,” said Venetia, not altogether insensible to the tribute just paid to the grandeur of her charms. ‘“‘ Ah! it would indeed have been a pity,’”’ continued Mrs. Gale, “if anything else had happened to you than what did at the time — ” ‘Be pleased to tell me,” interrupted Venetia, hastily, “what special business has brought you hither now; for ? COMmiICcoooks.€© im =