The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

CL ae ee om Awd as that name struck the ears of the frail daughter of George the Third, she gave so sndden a start and turned so ashy pale, that the Davchess of Devonshire exclaimed, “Goodsheavens! your Roya! ' Highness is ‘unwell !’’ ——— a - _ At these words, Lord Filerimel sprang towards the bell-pull to summon assistance: but the Princess, instantaneously recovering her presence of mind by _ one of those almost superhuman efforts of which we mortals are sometimes capable in pressing emer- | gencies, stopped the young nobleman with her own a -— hand—ssying, “It ts nothing—a sudden indisposi- tion seized,upon me: ‘but it has passed." “ Are you sure that you feel better, ny dearest friend?” maquired the Countess of Desborough, hastily accosting the Princess:‘Sophia. “Oh! I am well aware that your Royal Highness is: subject to these sudden and evanescent attacks ——~” “Thank you for your kind. sclicitude; my dear Eleanor,” said the Princess: “I can assure you that the faintness—the giddiness—whrich seized upon me, has totally passed.” And, as she uttered these words, she darted asigni- ficant look upon the Countess, to imply that her presence of nrind was completely restored. Eleanor now returned to Pauline, who was stand- ing at a little distance;—and, taking the yonng lady’s hand, she said in a low and rapid whisper, “ You must be presented as if you had never seen the Princess before :”-—then, leading her towards Sophia, she exclaimed, “ Permit me‘to introduce: to your Royal Highness a much esteemed and amiable friend of mine— Miss Pauline Clarendon.” “Every friend of yours, Eleanor, is welcome to me,” said the Princess Sophia, receiving Pauline with a more than ordinary condescension and graceful affability; although the colour came and went in rapid transitions upon the cheeks of the very handsome but frail and dishonoured daughter of George the Third. Lord Florimel was likewise presented to the Princess, and then to the Countess, with: whom he was previously unacqualoted — the Duchess of Devonshire performing this ceremony for her noble cousin; and the convorsation turned. upon the grand entertainment which the Prince of Wales was to give on the following evening. “Tam glad this subject has been mentioned,” observed the Duchess of Devonshire, who, in spite of her levity, was excessively good-natured, and who bad taken a great fancy to Pauline: “be- cause,” she continued, “ Miss Clarendon is anxious to be present at his Royal Highness’s ball—-and F am unable to introduce her, inasmuch as I am honoured by an iivitation to dine with his Royal Highness and' Mrs. Fitzherbert. But you, nry dear Eleanor,” she added, turtiing towards the’ Countess. of Desborough, “will perhaps take charge of our young friend, who, I may observe, is shortly to become Lady Florimel.”’ “I should be delighted to present: Mise Claren- dort to his Royal Highness the Prince of Waies,” ssid the Countess: “but circumstances, [ fear, witl prevent mz from accepting the invitation with which {have been honoured.” - “Indsed, my dear Kleanor,” exclaimed the-Prin- ||| oes Sophia, “you must over-rule any circam- atances which threaten to keep you away from my royal brother's entertainment to-morrow eveniny. I shall be there—and it will prove a great disap. poiutment to me if I do not meet you on this occa- sion at Carlton House. I shall even consider ig uniting towards: myself if yoa reinain. absent.” “ And: 1, too,” said the Duehess of Devonshire, “shall be grieved if I do not meet you to-morrow: evening, Eleanor. You mast positively ranounee any ether engagement which you may have formed.” it. was with no email degvec:of diffieulty that the Countess of Desborough cenuealed her vexation at being thus pressed: for, as the reader may easily caneeive, she had her own private motives for not wishing to attend the heiv-apparent’s hell, nor indeed aven to come in contact with his Roya). Highness: again. The conversation which she ‘had overheard between him and the Magsman had filled her with loathing,. indignation, and aversion for that princely volpptuary :. and any tenderness of fecling which she might at ene moment have experienced towards him, had been changed by & deeper veading:of his character into abhervence and But the Priacess Sopliia—not suspecting that. her friend: had aay private motive of dislike with regard. to the Prince of Wales,.and anxious by any means to conciliate and please the young lady who was the depositress of her own. tremendous: secret-— continued to urge the point relative to the invitation to Cariton House, witha seal and earneat- |- pess which amounted almost to a command and rendevsed. a refusal impoasible. “Yes, my dear Eleanor, you muat.go—and Mies Clarendon will then be.enabled to aecompany you,” said the Princess. “ Were it not inconsistent witlt the prevailiug etiquette, 1 would myself introduce Mis» Clarendon.” And as she uttered these wends, the Princess Sophia threw a look full of deep meaning upon Pauline—as much as to say, “Keep my secret faithfully—aad 1 will psove your friend in all things.” The resalt of so'much presstag on the part of her Royal Highness and the Duchess of Devon shire, was that. Eleaner was: compelled to:yield ;— and, in thus yielding, ake was also under the ne cessitty of offering to act as chaperon for Mise: Peotine Clareridon on: the: oesasion. It was com sequently arranged that Pauline should repair te Desborough House in Berkeley Square at nine clock en the following: evening, and thence accom- pany the Countess: to the paiatial residence of the Prinee‘of Wales. This matter being settled, to the great delight. of the young lady, she aod Florimel took thair leave. When .they werm emee more alone together in the carriage, and as they were whirling back te Ca- vendish Square, Florimel said, “ And now, my bc- Noved Pauline, you have gained your point most effectually ; and to-morrow evening I shall have ‘the pleasure of dascing with you at Carlton House. But what excuse will you make to your father and sister for having aceompanied me ia.my carriage this morning ?—and upon what pretext will you be enabled to leave the bouse in ball-room. costume to-morrow. evening 7” “ My dear Gabriel,” replied Pauline, “ when we. ‘reach Cavendish. Square presently, you must. de- mand a private interview with my father, aud inform him that yeu.have hangured. me by & propesal,. and eee ener 267 COMIC OOOKS. Com