The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 397: what you’re looking at

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

364 THE COURT OF LONDON costume in which she had ere now issued from the dining- room. She felt that her cheeks were flushed, she knew that her eyes were swimming in a wanton languor, and as she bent down her looks she could catch the quick risings and sinkings of her bosom which the low-bodied dress revealed in most luxurious exposure. She therefore knew that at this moment she was beautiful, very beautiful, and wishing to produce a certain impression upon the mind as well as the senses of him whom she was expecting, she murmured between her coral lips, “‘ I wish that he would come.” Scarcely was the desire thus expressed when the sound of footsteps on the other side of the wall reached her ears, and as she looked up she almost immediately encountered the fine dark eyes of him whose presence she was anxiously awaiting. Standing upon the stump of a tree on the outer side of the wall, the lover was enabled thus to look over that barrier, and Julia, lightly springing upon the seat, thus raised herself to the same level. Then followed what was so truly natural when a gentleman half-scales a wall on one side and a lady does the same on the other: that is to say, their lips met in speedy contact and were glued together in one long delicious kiss. ‘‘ Dearest Julia, again am I rendered supremely happy! ” ‘“‘ And IJ, dearest Charles, am I not happy also? ” These were the first words that they exchanged, and their lips once more grew together, remaining in contact this time even longer than at first. “May I not leap this wall and join you in the garden? ”’ asked the Earl of Curzon, for he indeed was Julia’s admirer. The look which she flung upon him conveyed the answer even before her lips could frame one; and vaulting lightly over the wall, he stood on the garden seat by her side. Then as they sank down thereon to a sitting posture, he seized her in his arms, strained her with every appearance of the fondest rapture to his breast, and covered her cheeks, her lips, and her brow with kisses. ‘“When we parted yesterday, my dear Charles,” said Julia, at length breaking the silence which had been sealed. by such rapturous caresses, “‘ you told me that you had something most important and most serious to speak to me about, and although I besought you to tell me then Gomicbooks (E(@) m