The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

392 THE COURT OF LONDON and the struggle irresistibly led her on into repinings against the destiny which thus made her the victim of so fierce a con- flict between the spirit and the flesh. It was at the moment when the heightened colour of her cheeks, the subdued lustre of her magnificent eyes, now swimming in a soft languor, and the rapid heavings of her bosom gave an indescribable charm to her entire appearance, that the door of the apartment was thrown open, and the lace-bedizened domestic announced his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Composing herself as well as she was'able, the Countess oi Desborough advanced to meet the heir apparent, who, after the usual compliments, handed her back to the sota whence she had risen, and took a seat by her side. ‘There is no chance, I hope, of interruption on the part of the earl? ”’ said the prince; then, instantly perceiving that the observation had excited the surprise of the count- ess, he hastened to add, ‘* because I wish to speak to your ladyship on a subject of no ordinary importance.”’ “The earl will not return until six o’clock,’’ answered | )} Eleanor; ‘‘ and it is now half-past four,’ she remarked, - glancing at the timepiece on the mantel. ‘Your ladyship is doubtless astonished at the announce- ment I have already made, respecting the importance of che matter which has brought me hither this afternoon,” continued the prince, scarcely knowing how to open the subject that was uppermost in his mind. “ But I am sure, I feel convinced,” he exclaimed, with some degree of ab- ruptness, “‘ that your ladyship will meet my inquiries with candour and frankness.” Had not the countess been conscious of one incident which by its importance afforded a clue to the meaning of the prince’s allusion, she might have thought that his Royal Highness was about to address her in the language of love; but there was a certain excitement in his voice as well as an embarrassment in his manner that engendered in her bosom the worst fears on behalf of a lady to whom she was deeply attached. “It is consistent with my nature and also with my duty to behave frankly toward your Royal Highness,’’ she ob- served, after a few moments’ reflection. “You already divine the object of my visit! ”’ exclaimed Eo m ECORNIE OOO KS A