The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

76 THE COURT OF LONDON as before to keep near him when they were walking, or sit next to him in the carriage which was hired for the excursion; whereas it was now Emma who monopolized his arm and engrossed to herself all the attentions which the rules of courtesy compelled him to display. The next day (Thursday) was passed in a similar manner, still nothing more being said about the important topic of Jocelyn’s discourse with Agatha, and Emma still constitut- ing herself the monopolist of his attentions. The ladies all seemed to be a trifle less cheerful than at first; and it was therefore evident that the affair had made some impres- sion upon them. But why they took so much time to arrive at a decision, Loftus could not imagine. If he were, however, at a loss on this point, he had no difficulty in observing that Emma was assailing his heart with a thousand little seductive wiles and insidious fascinations; but he seemed to take no notice thereof, and he assuredly gave her no encouragement. This same Thursday brought letters from England, some for the Misses Owen, and others for Jocelyn. ‘The former, written by the young ladies’ mother, made them acquainted with the burglary which had taken place on the preceding Sunday at Richmond, and the death of the footman. The correspondence for Loftus was from his beloved Louisa, who gave him the fondest and tenderest assurances of her un- alterable attachment. Before Jocelyn retired to bed that Thursday night, he read Louisa’s letters over and over again, and sat up late to pen her a long epistle in reply. He stated frankly that he was still in company with Mrs. Ranger and the Misses Owen, that he had broken the ice with regard to the object of his visit to the Continent, and that he hoped to succeed in inducing Mary’s sisters to abandon their nefarious enterprise of their own accord, without compelling him to expose them to the Princess of Wales. The following day (Friday) was passed in the same manner as the two preceding days; and Saturday was slipping by in a similar way, when Jocelyn thought it high time to ex- press his hope to Agatha that a decision would be promptly announced to him. He accordingly found an opportunity of mentioning the subject apart to her, and she at once assured him that on the morrow he should receive a final answer. A suspicion which he had already conceived, to the effect that the ladies were awaiting instructions from Eng- (COMME OOO KS (E(@)