The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 197 “Oh, wherefore should I annoy and distress you, my dear aunt, more than I have already done?’’ exclaimed the Princess Charlotte, now evidently chagrined at having made her last observation. “ But you: must tell me, my dear child, what you have heard or read,’’ said the Princess Sophia, earnestly and even entreatingly, ‘‘ because I will candidly tell you how much is true and how much is false of all that rumour circulates or that scandal loves to repeat.”’ “Yes, it is better that I should know how to discriminate between the true and false,’ said the young princess, evi- dently appreciating the justice of the remark. ‘‘ Heaven knows that the royal history is already clouded enough without the necessity of wilful exaggeration. I have heard, then, my dear aunt,’’ she continued, partially averting her blushing countenance, “‘ that my deceased aunt, your well- beloved sister, the Princess Amelia, died heart-broken from a blighted and dishonouring love.” ‘No, no, it is not true, it is not true! ’’ exclaimed the Princess Sophia, but her very manner convinced her niece that the tale was indeed too true. ‘‘ What else have you heard, Charlotte? ’’ demanded the aunt, abruptly. -“ Dreadful things connected with my uncle Ernest, the Duke of Cumberland,’ responded the young princess, hesitatingly. ‘‘ I overheard the other day the Honourable Mrs. Bredalbane and Lady Prescott conversing together about Uncle Ernest and his late valet, Sellis — ”’ ‘Oh, but this is the vilest of scandals! ’’ exclaimed the Princess Sophia, starting as if galvanized. ‘‘ Come, my dear girl, we must talk no more upon the subject, you must think no more of them.”’ ‘“T will endeavour to forget them,’’ rejoined the Princess Charlotte; but, having taken her leave of her aunt, she continued to ponder deeply and painfully upon all these matters during her ride back to Windsor Castle. 9) connicloooks (C(O)