The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

FASHIONABLE DEPRAVITY 7 land, now became strengthened in his mind; and he frankly stated his thoughts to Agatha. But with an appearance of the most ingenuous sincerity she vowed that the delay was caused solely by the difficulty of coming to a decision on the point; and she added that the morrow being Sunday, they had resolved to devote the morning to an earnest deliberation on the course which was to be pursued. Jocelyn was satisfied to wait four and twenty hours longer, and no more was said. upon the subject this day. Having visited a theatre in the evening, the party returned to the hotel at about eleven o’clock, as usual; and soon afterward they sought their respective chambers. But when Jocelyn entered his own apartment, he found a note lying upon the toilet-table, and on examining the address, he perceived that it was in a beautiful female hand- writing. For a few moments he hesitated to break the seal, suspect- ing that it was a communication from one of the young ladies; but considering, on a second thought, that indiscre- tion and indelicacy could scarcely be carried so far, he opened the letter. His charitable conclusion was, however, doomed to disappointment, for the contents of the note ran as follows: “It is absolutely necessary that Agatha and I should have a few minutes’ conversation with you alone, and as soon as possible. Iam altogether of opinion that my sisters and my- self should retire from the false and painful position in which the influence and intrigues of others have placed us; and for my own part I am resolved to follow the excellent advice which you so generously, disinterestedly, and kindly gave Agatha. In a word, I shall resign my appointment as lady in waiting to her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. Agatha is also inclined to adopt the same course; but Julia cannot be persuaded to fall into the same view, and Mrs. Ranger is perversely bent in opposing it. This lady watches us narrowly, in order to prevent any private conversation with you upon the subject. To-morrow, immediately after breakfast, we are to hold a consultation, and a decision will be arrived at. But it is absolutely necessary that Agatha and myself should have the benefit of further counsel from your lips before this consultation. Will you, then, have the ECORNICLOO© cS (CO)