The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 278: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. implore:you—by that friendship which I mow prefer you and whieh I ask you to veuokeafe ms in Je- tarn vow *? “ Fear net, dees lady, that [ shall ever breathe a werd calanlated to give yeu offence,” interrupted the Countess of Desborough: then, without designing -even to natice the Prince ef Wales, she said, “ ¥ou will have the kindness te acc.mpany.me back to the bali rooms; so that, if my absence has beea per- eeived, it may be supposed that [ have been in your socicty dusing: the interval.” “ Cestainly,” exclaimed Mrs. Pitsherbert, instantly recognising the peradenge of the atep thus suggested ; ‘then, taming towards the Prince of Wales, she. said in a cold tone of reproach, “ Have you a0 apelagy to offer to this. genevous-hearted lady ¢"’ ‘The Countess of Desberoagh will accept none at my hands,” said: the-her-epparent, doggedly. “It were a. méisenble .affoctation on my part— ‘indeed, it wauld anacunt te a plese of sycophancy of which I am utterly ineapabie,” observed Eleanor, “ were I tedeciare that any apelogy, hewever humble, qonk appease the imdaguation whieh I experimes On that head, therefore, my dear Mrs. Fitzherbent, let ao move basaid. Henesforth the Princeef Wales wil treat me with :cerememious courteiy — and I | shall behave towards him with reserved and cold respect, Let each be the understanding; and on that condition, I shall. never breathe 3 word relative j #0 the incidents of this mgit. And it will be the | fault of his Reyzil Highness,” ake added significantly, “if I do not carry the seeret theseof to my grave.” | “I understand your ledyship,” said the Prince, assuming a stern and haughty air: “but be wet! ! assuved that, after evesything which has passed in ee =< “ED. «+ Vaan Pp Were ei -e2e ——n 2 @ 6 Gp this chamber within the last half-hour, I am now. led — yeu aa cordially as ever I felt interested in ri The hateed of yeur Royal Highnese will prove | much mere tolerable to me.then your love,” ex- claimed Kleanes, the natizral pride and dignity of ber sex dictating this cutting taunt. | And the Prinee felt the withering earcasm wai writhed aader tt—~although ke affected to ture aside and ham an opera-air. But, Oh! fer Asa—the | worshipped, idolized, and deified keiv-apparent to be thus treated with indiffbrence,—fer him—the hand- ' somest man and moat fascinating gentleman im | Esrope to be: thus spurned as it-were by that in- dignant and haughty bat acble-minded lady,—Ob! it was intolerakle ;—and the very.tene which he af Sected to hum, hissed between his lips like a reptile’s eraving for vengeance! But, without waiting to observe the result which ber retort had produced, the Countess of Desborough anlocked the. door-—tiwrew it open--and made way for Mrs. Fitzherbert to pase, ‘But this lady whis- pexed, with a half-smile, “ Rermember that [am not 2 SA, AR eerie the Countess accordingly went ‘forth: first, Mra. Fits- herbert fellowtng eloee behind. The ante-chaurver was traversed, and Eleanor was abeut to open the outer-door, when the Prinee-of Wales suddenly exclaimed, “ Stop fer a single me- ment |" The twe ladies paused accordingly: but Mr. Fitsherdert only turned towards him. And it was to her that a sudden: idea had proinpsted him to utter a few words. ' ¢ You are about to seek agais the company whom ee ee eee to be known by you as the Princess ef Wales ;”—and 267 { have invited to Carlton Louse this evening,” he said, m a low and impressive tona “Now, it either becomes necessary for me to retarn amongst them also~-or fer you. to circulate a rumpeur of sudden in- : disposition asa plea for my absence.” “ And wherefere can you not return to the ball- seome—presently ?' demanded Mra. Fitsherbert, in s cold tone, and with a strong emphasis upon the last word, as much as to imply thet he must not ithink of offermg to accompany herself and Eleanor, aa has presence would net be otherwise than dis- ~pleasing te the hatter, “-Yeo—I-.will return presently,” said the Prince,— “if I am sesared that I shall net become the focus for your angry looks.” ould you have me-very atmizdle towards yon ft" denanded Sin Fitsherbert, in a@ tone of bitter irony. “Oh! yeu deserve it ——” “ Perdition |—begone—leave me!” ejaculated his Royal Highness: and retreating, in a towering rage, Imto the bed-chamber, he slammed the door -vio- lently. . “Come, dear Lady Desborengh,” said Mrs. Fice- herbest,. sxsretsing wonderful command over ber feelings: “we mast saunter back to the ball-rooms ‘with esuntenances as serene and smiting as if no- thang wensual had occurred. It may be that some ef my friends have been to seck me in my own ‘apartments—and wa-will therefore say; if questioned, that we have visited the picture-gallery. By the bye, that young ledy whom you introduced this evening is a-eweet pretty -oreahrre,” observed Mrs. Fuerherbert, casting a rapid and-searching glance ot Hleanes’s countenance, inorder to ascertain if there had been any particular motive in presenting Pauline Clarendon to the Prince. “She is not enly beautifal—bat-as amiable and wertwewese an size islovely,” said the Countess. “In a few weeks she will become ‘Lady Florimel.”’ “ So much the better,” - thought Firs. Fitzherbdert “ for she Priace-wae certainly struce with her.” * Bet she did not dreathe these ontiments aloud ;— _ amd Bow the two kadies once more.entered the glit- wring sphere ef beauty, rank, and fashion. Mrs. Pitzherbvert’s iatmate knowledge of the Prinoe’s would net return to the ball-rooms again that night, -~but that he weald retire to his own apartments and Grows hie disappointment, rage, and humiliation in the bettle.er the punch-bow! :-sie accordingly spread the report that his Royal Highness had been seized with a sudden indispositioen; and the enterfaiument therefore broke up-at an earlier hour then it would etherwine have done. CHAPTER LXXVIL A STRANOB VISITRESS.—A WELCOME PROPOSAL. Tusa scone new changes to Mr.:Clarendon’s house ia Cavendish Square. It was about half-past:ten o’cleck in the morning ~—beeakfast was ever—and the father, leaving his two leveby daughters in the parlour, retired to a room whieh: had been Stted up as his tibrary or stacy. Mr. Clarendon’s coantenance has already been described as thin, sallow, aud having an indeffdle stamp ef melancholy traced upon its lineaments; -bet it now apecared actually care-worn and expressed CORNICE OOO enabled her to judge that he f