The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

194 THE COURT OF LONDON how valuable have been your lessons in teaching me the necessity of assuming a demeanour calculated to prevent the giddy throng of rank and fashion from conjecturing now painful were the gnawings of affliction at my heart’s core! But this is not the time and these are not the circum- stances,’ she suddenly exclaimed, ‘‘for me to give way to grief. I must study how to act for the best, and you, my dear aunt, must counsel me.”’ “ But you have not told me all that occurred in the queen’s boudoir,’’ remarked Sophia. “Oh, these frequent interruptions which the gush of feeling occasions!’’ cried the Princess Charlotte. ‘‘ The discourse between her Majesty and Mrs. Owen was long and serious, embracing so many points that it gave me the completest insight into the whole conspiracy. But they resolved upon nothing definite, unless it were to ascertain without delay whether the young gentleman whom they called Jocelyn Loftus be really at Canterbury or not. At length Mrs. Owen rose to depart, and I fled away from the vicinage of the boudoir. Hastening to my own apartments, I ordered the carriage, dressed myself in a hurry, and came direct from Windsor to St. James’s to consult with you, my best friend and kindest relative.”’ ‘‘ T have already urged the absolute necessity of prudence © 1) and caution,’ said the Princess Sophia. ‘‘ Unfortunately, my dear Charlotte, the monarchical institutions of this country are becoming unpopular with the great mass of the people. The establishment of a republic in North America. and the tremendous impulse given to liberal ideas by the French Revolution have set the millions a thinking in this. country. The consequence is that royalty is menaced on every side; its end is approaching, and those who are anxious to precipitate the catastrophe rejoice in each new suicidal act which royalty itself commits. Every crime, every vice, every frailty, every misdeed connected with royalty that can be dragged forth by its enemies to the public eye, con- stitutes one of its suicidal acts and becomes a nail which it is. | knocking in its own coffin. It is not therefore for you, my dear Charlotte, to do aught to accelerate the ruin of that throne whereon you hope to sit, and hence the absolute necessity for caution — the utmost caution, indeed, under present circumstances.”’ Gomicbdooks (E(@)