The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

230 THE COURT OF LONDON she interfere in these matters? As if she herself were so very immaculate! ’’ and the words came hissing from the queen’s mouth. | “What! would you asperse the character of your own daughter?’ exclaimed the young Princess Charlotte, dart- ing a look of mingled amazement and scorn upon her grand- mother. “I only meant to say,’ observed the queen, hurriedly, for she now repented of the remark which she had let slip in her rage, “I only meant to say that Sophia has her faults as well as the rest of the world. But let us not bandy unnecessary words. As for your letter, this is the way I serve it,’ and seizing hold of the epistle, she crumpled it up and tossed it into the fire. “Then am I debarred the privilege of writing to my own mother? ”’ asked the princess, her countenance now becoming deadly pale and her lips quivering with indignation. ‘You may write as much as you choose,’ responded the queen, “‘ so long as you mention nought contrary to my views. An opposite course can only have the tendency of producing the suppression of your letters.”’ ‘Ah! then an English princess is a slave,’’ cried Charlotte, with flashing eyes, dilating nostrils, and swelling bust. ‘Yes, a slave to the will that is paramount,” replied the queen, with the look of malignant triumph. ‘But I would sooner be a beggar in the streets and enjoy freedom of action,’ exclaimed the outraged Charlotte, ‘“‘than continue a princess to be thus held in bondage.” “We are not upon the stage of a theatre,” said her Majesty, ‘‘ and again I may remind you that you have not yet the opportunity of playing the tragedy-queen in all its reality. A truce, therefore, to these magnificent expressions and lofty complainings on your part. If you are disobedient, I shall know how to punish you, all princess and lineal heiress to the throne though you may be. For the present, if your life becomes one of prisonage and espionage, you have only yourself to thank for it. No more journeys to London, unless accompanied by me. Your rides, too, will be confined to the environs of Windsor, and if you order your coachman to proceed elsewhere, you will only subject yourself to the pain of refusal. As for this silly affair of enlisting Mr. Jocelyn Loftus in your projects,” added the queen, with a sneer, 7 Gomicdooks (E(@)