The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 208: what you’re looking at

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194 “ Should you like to have him asa lover?” “ Yes—but not as a husband.” “And wherefore not as a husband?” inquired Agatha. “ Because I think he is too particular. He seems a very moral young man,” returned Emma, laugh- ing. “Ah! have you been tempting him, then, you wicked girl?” asked Agatha, also smiling roguishly. “Have you?” demanded Emma. ‘“ Come—let us confess. You and I have no secrets from each other.” 3 “J hope not,” observed Agatha. “ Well, I am bound to admit that the contact of his handsome person did somewhat confuse and bewilder my ideas and excite my passions—and—and—[ suffered him to perceive that he was not displeasing to me. In plain terms, I laid my head upon his shoulder—this was in the evening of the first day’s journey ——” “ And did he reward you with a soft and noiseless kiss?” asked Emma, her bosom heaving visibly in the mirror where it was reflected, and the soft flush of desire tinging her cheeks. “On the contrary—he seemed either not to under- stand my meaning, or else to be indifferent,” an-_ swered Agatha. “Nay—Iam not quite sure that he did not positively repulse me—but very gently — and rather by withdrawing himself from me than by pushing me from him.” “Oh! he withdrew, did he?” exclaimed Emma, alight breaking in upon her mind. “Then cid I fall into a most eggevegious error—for as he re- treated from you, he pressed against me, and 1 fancied that the pressure was intentional.” “ And you returned it?” said Agatha, in a voice full of deep sensuousness —for the dare idea of these amorous overtures heated her blood and inflamed her imagination, so that the carnation deepened upon her cheeks—her hazel eyes swam in liquid languor—and her fine bust swelled and sank like the undulatiug motion of the sea. “JT yeturned that pressure —in fact, 1 gave Jocelyn Loftus to understand precisely what you did,” said Emma, in response to her sister’s ques- tion. “I let him know as plainly as I dared that if he were bold and venturous, I should not prove timid nor cruel.” “ And the result ?” exclaimed Agatha, hastily. “ The same as in your case,” was the reply. “Last evening, in the carriage, 1 renewed my little artifices,” observed Agatha; “ and with an equal futility. When we descended from the carriage and entered the room where the lights were blazing, I scarcely dared look him in the face: “but I was resolved not to seem humili- ated——” “That was precisely the feeling which I expe: rienced,” exclaimed Emma. ‘“ But do you think that Jocelyn is a perfect anchorite—or that he re- jects our overtures because he is smitten with Julia?” “T scarcely know what to think,” responded Agatha. “But I do not fancy that he is inclined to pay any particular attention to Julia: and as for a young man of two or three and twenty years being an anchorite, is not the most probable theory to fall back upon. He may possess very lofty notions of honour-——” “He evidently dees possess them,” observed Emma, ——— in —— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ And is therefore loath to engage in an intrigue with young ladies who are to a certain extent under his protection,” added the eldest sister. “Very likely. Or else he is afraid of that old harridan Ranger,” suggested Emma. “Far from it,” exclaimed Agatha. “He expe- riences for her the most sovereign contempt; although he endeavours to conceal it. But I have marked the curl of his beautifully chiselled lip— Oh! what classic lips——” “And such a faultless Grecian face, with that clear rich brown complexion,” observed Emma. “ His hair, too, is magnificent—dark as jet and as glossy as a woman’s. Then his teeth—your’s and mine are not whiter nor more even x “ And that is paying ourselves a compliment at the same time,” said Agatha, laughing so as to dis- play the rows of pearl which shone between her red and juicy lips. “ But did you ever behold such splendid eyes as Jocelyn’s? Ah! when I think ot that fat, puffy, bloated Prince, and then fix my thoughts upon Jocelyn, it seems as if I had sub- mitted to the pawiogs of a great imp and now vainly sigh for the embraces of an Apollo !” “Nor can I reflect lovingly upon the Duke of York’s image,” said Emma, “ when that of JSocelya is uppermost in my mind. I wonder whether Julia is smitten by him—and whether she thinks of her Duke of Cumberland in constrast with our handsome fellow-traveller. And yet,” exclaimed Emma, suddenly laughing gaily and turning to- wards Agatha, “it is not every trio of sisters who have had three Princes as their lovers > ‘And paramours,”’ added the eldest girl: then, with a subdued sigh, she observed in a tone that altered strangely all in a moment, “Do you know, Emma, I am very much afraid ” “Oh! I can guess what you are about to say!” exclaimed Emma, with a subdued shriek and look of dismay. ‘Heavens! is it possible ?” “JT am afraid so,” replied Agatha, mournfully. “Bat do not speak so loud—do not give vent to ejaculations: we may be overheard! And when I think of it, don’t mention it to Julia: for should my fears prove correct, the fewer confidants the better.” * How in the name of heaven will you manage, my dear girl?” inquired Emma, still contemplating her sister with mingled anguish and dismay. “Oh! if it be really the case, I can conceal the fact for a long time to come,” answered Agatha: “and then I must trust to circumstances to point out the means of avoiding eventual discovery. It is not so difficult on the Continent as it is in Eng- land to manage these matters: midwives are more accomplished in France and Italy—and also more knowing and Jess scrupulous,” she added, with @ significant look. “T understand you,” observed Emma. “ Buat——* “Do not let tus talk any more about it pow, my love,” said Agatha, suddenly brightening ap. “If the worst comes to the worst, the Prince Regent You know, Emma, that I have never as yet yielded to the embrace of any other ——” “And the Prince must know it likewise,” was the response. “For my part, I should be fearfully shocked and alarmed if I thought thet my amour with the Duke of Xork wes oly te Dug A ee disgrace,” ee must support his child—for his it assuredly will be. | (EO) 0)(0)(0) (C S\o(E®)