The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

THE you have come on purpose,” rejoined the Countess. ** Have you brought the purple velvet dress ——” “JT aminvariably punctual in executing your lady- ship’s commands,” observed the milliner. As she thus spoke, she laid aside her bonnet and scarf and proceeded to openthe band-box. First she took out several beautiful lace caps, which she care- fully placed upon the bed; and then she drew forth a superb velvet dress, made in accordance with a fashion which she herself had artistically devised and which she hoped, through the aid of the brilliant Countess of Desborough, to bring into vogue. Rising from her seat, and slowly divesting herself of the elegant morning wrapper which she wore, Eleanor proceeded to try on the new dress in front of a psyche, or full-length looking-glass, which re- flected her fine figure on its polished surface. Indeed, as she thus stood for a few moments, with her exqui- sitely shaped shoulders, her beauteous neck, and her well-rounded arms completely bare,—with the closely fitting but not tightly-laced corset setting off her symmetry, and developing every contour,—and with her feet and ankles, up to the swell of the leg, ap- pearing below the short petticoat, she seemed a per- fect model of loveliness; and Mrs. Brace could not help thinking at the time that it was indeed no won- der if the Prince of Wales burnt so ardently to possess her. The velvet robe was tried on—and it fitted ad- mirably. The low body revealed half the bust—the arms were left bare almost to the very shoulders, where the miniature sleeves were looped up with rows of pearls—and from the waist the glossy skirt flowed in massive folds, shining with a lustrous richness where the light from the windows fell upon them, and deeply dark in the shades between. “ You are really a most accomplished artiste in your profession,” said the Countess of Desborough, well pleased with the result of the experiment, and sur- veying herself in the glass not altogether without a feeling of vanity—for she saw that she was handsome —gloriously handsome; and the thought raised up a glow of pride to her cheeks so pale before. “JT thank your ladyship for the compliment,” re- turned Mrs. Brace, whose full and largely rounded form presented a voluptuous contrast with the ele- gant, graceful, and dignified loveliness of the patri- cian, “Permit me to observe that this dress suits your ladyship admirably: it will undulate with every movement, and thereby become almost as ex- pressive as gestures.” “Your art, then, has its mysteries as well as those which are acknowledged to be of a more complex aature,’ said the Countess of Desborough, with a smile. “Your ladyship perhaps is unaware how much depends upon the dress,” returned the milliner. “ The most faultless shape may be rendered faulty thereby; and it should be made so as to accompany, as it were, each and every motion of the form, as if it were a part thereof. The great secrets of the art are to do justice to a fine figure, and improve a bad one.” * You should write a treatise upon the mysteries of that art, Mrs. Brace,” said the Countess, smiling again at the information which her milliner was im- parting. “ Pardon me, my lady,” responded the latter; “ but these are secrets which must not be published to the world in general. Oh! I can assure your ladyship that Mrs. Fitzherbert, her Grace of Devonshire, Lady MYSTERIES. 211 Jersey, and many others of my most eminent patron- esses often condescend to listen to me while I explain these things.” “Ah! you are employed by Mrs. Fitzherbert, Lady Jersey, and my dear friend the Duchess of Devonshire?” said the Countess in a musing tone— for it struck her as being singular that Mrs. Brace should have mentioned by name three ladies who were intimately connected with the Prince of Wales. “Such is the fact, [ can assure your ladyship,” answered the milliner, “ And perhaps your lady- ship will excuse me for mentioning that his Royal Highness the heir-apparent never fancies any dress worn by Mrs, Fitzherbert, unless made at my esta- blishment.” “Ts his Royal Highness so excellent a connoisseur in respect to lady’s attire?” asked Eleanor, as she laid aside her new velvet dress and, resuming her morning-wrapper, threw herself languidly back again into the large arm-chair—her pretty feet, im- prisoned in elegant slippers, now resting on an otto- man. . “Since your ladyship puts the question to me,” responded Mrs, Brace, thus ingeniously directing the discourse towards the topic on which she was anxious to touch,—“I will unhesitatingly inform you that his Royal Highness is not only an excellent judge in such matters, but that he volunteers his opinion on many points at those times when I have the honour to wait on Mrs. Fitzherbert in order to sub- mit the latest fashions to her. Would your ladyship be offended if I were to confess that Mrs. Fitzherbert has seen your velvet robe, and highly approves of it 2” “Oh! certainly I cannot be offended on that ac- count,” exclaimed Eleanor. “ But how did it hap-— pen?” “JT waited upon Mrs, Fitzherbert an hour ago te exhibit those beautiful caps,” continued Mrs. Brace, indicating the objects of her remark, and which she had carefully deposited upon the bed: “when I opened the band-box, she caught a glimpse of the velvet dress and insisted upon seeing it. I dared not refuse compliance with her demand--and she was enchanted. Indeed, to tell your ladyship the truth, I am to make her one according to the same fashion without delay. But, by the bye,’ added the milli- ner, with a frankness and candour se well assumed that the Countess was completely duped by the ap- parent artlessness of her manner,—* I should have observed that his Royal Highness was seated at breakfast with Mrs. Fitzherbert at the time—and that——-But, no—I dare not say any more.” And Mrs. Brace pretended to be suddenly ani- mated by a second thought which threw her into confusion. | “Oh! I cannot allow you to break off thus in the middle of your narrative,” exclaimed Eleanor, whose curiosity was excited, she scarcely knew why—un- less, indeed, it were by a presentiment that the Prince had mentioned her name in compiimentary terms. “Tf your ladyship’s commands be that I should tell you everything which really occurred this morn- ing at Carlton House,” said Mrs. Brace, “ I cannot of course prove disobedient.” “ Ves—let me hear it all,” returned Eleanor, half- ashamed at thus indulging in what she could only look upon as the most frivolous gossip: and yet her heart palpitated all the while. “Well, IL will be explicit,” continued Mrs. Brace COMNICLO©