The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN 227 land’s crowned sovereigns, to be thus absent from her own apartments at midnight.”’ ‘“Madam,’’ exclaimed the young princess, the haughty blood flushing her cheeks and turning the marble of her brow into glowing crimson, “ be pleased to recollect the motto upon the royal arms and apply it to yourself: ‘ Evil be to him (or her) who evil thinks.’ ”’ ‘Granddaughter, this is an impertinence on your part,” said the queen, darting the savage glance of a tiger-cat upon the princess. Then, in a colder tone, she observed, but still with sneering accents, ‘“‘ I must, however, admit the justice of hearing your defence before I condemn. Therefore, per- haps you will have the kindness to explain wherefore you are here, listening so attentively as you were, like any eaves- dropper, at the moment I entered the chamber.”’ ‘Ah! madam, you are determined to humiliate me! ”’ exclaimed the princess, bursting into tears, for this was the first time she had ever been so harshly and cruelly treated by the queen. As for Mrs. Bredalbane and Lady Prescott, they instan- taneously comprehended from her Majesty’s words that the young princess had been listening to their discourse, and well knowing that if she were to repeat to the queen all that had been said they would receive a prompt command. to quit the castle, bag and baggage, they threw earnestly imploring looks upon her Royal Highness. The princess at once catching the meaning of those glances and penetrat- ing the ladies’ fears, suddenly wiped her eyes and flung a look of reassurance upon them. Then, putting on an air of dignified composure, she said, ‘‘ I must confess I did listen at this doorway for a few moments, but it was only to ascertain who was within, inasmuch as the fantasy had seized me to come and pass half an hour with Mrs. Bredal- bane, intelligence having reached me that she was somewhat, indisposed.”’ ‘“ Permit me, then, to observe,” said the queen, with a prim, starch aspect and a considerable acerbity of tone, “that it is altogether contrary to court etiquette, as well as being a breach of maiden propriety, to wander from one room to another between eleven and twelve o’clock at night. But come, granddaughter; I wish to speak to you.” ‘ Good night, ladies,”’ said the princess, casting upon the CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)