The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

ST. JAMES’S PALACE 181 Royal Highness shook her head to express her regret that she should have been the means of bringing about this inter- view between the father and the daughter. “My dear girl,’ said Pauline, in the kindest and most soothing manner to Florence, ‘‘ what afflicts you thus? What feeling causes these tears? ”’ ‘Pardon me, my dear aunt,’ murmured Florence, hastily wiping her eyes, ‘‘ and intercede on my behalf that her Royal Highness shall forgive me this foolish conduct of mine in her presence. But I could not help it. Some feeling came over me, stronger than myself, — a feeling for which I could not account at the time, and which I am still less able to explain now. It was a temporary weakness, a transitory depression of spirits, produced, most probably, by that sudden excite- ment which seemed to take possession of his Royal Highness the prince. ButI feel better now. Indeed, I am quite recovered, and again do I implore your pardon.” “ You have not offended us, my dear girl,’’ said the Prin- cess Sophia, rising from her seat and taking the young maid- en’s hand in the kindest manner. To be brief, Florence Eaton speedily recovered her wonted cheerfulness, and in a short time a footman entered to announce that the carriage had arrived. Lady Florimel and her niece resumed their bonnets and scarfs, took leave of the princess, and entered the carriage, which Pauline ordered to drive round Hyde Park ere returning home. While proceeding to that fashionable lounge maintained by the people’s money to enable the aristocracy of London to display their gorgeous equipages and sumptuous ap- parel, Florence continued to discourse upon the singular incidents of the meeting in the Royal Closet. She expressed: her pity for the prince who had been so deeply moved at. having the features of a lost friend recalled to his memory, and with a natural artlessness she observed that any one who could be so moved must possess a very excellent dis- position. Pauline was vexed to hear her talk in this manner, for she saw that the incident had made a deep impression upon the young maiden’s mind, and she did not wish any occurrence to disturb the even tenor of that existence which had hitherto passed in such serene and tranquil happiness. Moreover, Pauline was naturally fearful of her niece obtain- ing any clue to the discovery of the secret of her birth, for CoOnnicloooks (C(O)