The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

LORD AND LADY SACKVILLE 215 steps to that delicious harmony. Taking from a sideboard several garlands and wreaths of artificial flowers, they raised them with their bare arms above their heads, playing with them, as it were, In a manner that enabled them to show off the beauties of their forms in attitudes more classically oraceful, more studiously indelicate, than the most reckless ballet-dancer or figurante of the present day. ‘Then suddenly quickening their pace, they whirled around and around the prince, flinging the garlands and the posies at him, endeavouring to trip him up with the wreaths, and finally making him the butt of a variety of practical jokes, more calculated, however, to excite than to hurt him. On his side, the prince regent amused himself in several ways. Sometimes he raced and chased after the young ladies, at others he threw himself panting and pufhng upon a sofa, one of the aristocratic beauties acting the part of Hebe and bringing him a delicious beverage in a crystal cup. Or else he would suddenly assume a thoughtful and sentimental demeanour, — either taking a seat at a distance, or else leaning pensively against a pillar, — so as to entice the ladies toward him; and then, as they gathered around him again, he would abruptly seize hold of the nearest, fling his arms about her, and cover her with kisses, amidst the pealing laughter and delighted cries of all the rest. For upwards of ten minutes did Lady Sackville and Sir Douglas Huntingdon continue peeping through the blinds, their heads still remaining in that contact which we have before noticed. The spectacle within the saloon was, of a surety, sufficient to inflame their imaginations, and it cer- tainly produced this effect. Moreover, on the one hand, Sir Douglas Huntingdon was in such an attitude that by casting down his eyes he could plunge his looks amidst the treasures of Venetia’s glowing bust; and on the other hand, the lady herself, by casting an occasional sidelong glance at her companion’s profile, was led to the reflection that he was really much handsomer than she had even supposed him to be. “What think you of that spectacle?’’ she suddenly exclaimed, raising her head from the blinds, and as her looks met those of the baronet, the colour deepened upon her cheeks. “T can only say that I regret we have not some artificial COMMICLOO© <S (C(O)