The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 222: what you’re looking at

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

you have eome on purpssé," rejeined the Countess. Have you breaght the pusple velvet dress ——*" - “I ane invaviably' punctual 6: emecuting your iady- * observed the meiifiner, ahe thue spoke, she laid aside her Bonnet am? and precesded te open the band-box: Firet‘she took out several beautiful lace caps, which she care+ fally placed upon ‘the bed; and then she drew forth 2 | | | | | ! | | | a8 ale. thes stoed for » &w moments, with her exqui- sitely shaped shouliiera, her béeauteous neck, and her | well-voanded aeras completely bare;—with- the closely: fitting but not tightly-laced corset sting of her synemetor, ant’ dyveloptng every contoar,—and with f man. | and ankles, ap to the eves of the leg, ap-~ | peaxingp Solow the-shest: she scemed: a per- ' fect meade of loveliness; and Mis. Byace could ret help thiakimg at thw time that % was iadsed neo won-' | don i6 the Prince of Wales wernt so ardently te | possess her. | The velvet robe was triad on—aad it fitted ad- { | t rainatly~ The iow body:revealed half the dust—the were left bare almost to the very: shoulders, where the uainiatute. uleores were-leeped up with rews of pearl sold from the waist the glossy skirt flewed: shining: with a lustweus richness _ in masebre: folds, form presented ‘a voluptaeus ceatrast with tho ele- , Ont, graeetal, and dignified levelinces of the patyi- . Permit me'to observe that this, dress suite “Yous art, then, has ite miysterice as well ae those whieh aze to be ef a more complen: , natuse,”” uid the Countess cf Desborough, with «a smabn | | “ ¥ous ladyship perhaps ts wneware how much: , depends upon the-dress,* retureed the miltiner. “ The. | most faultless shape may be vendered firultptheved yy: and shequhi be made so an te acotempany, at it Wer, each and every motion of the fom, as if it | wese » past theres, ‘The great secrets of the art ts to do justire tea fine fiyure, and impreve a bad one” “You should write a, trenties upon: the meyuteries } tel) of tha avt, Mus. Banou* said the Countess, smiling | aguin at: the information whieh. her mibliecr was an+ “Perden me, my lady,’ Seri seryrenert need “be Shese are secrets whizh mest not‘be published to- would im genesal. Obs! Tens cuese pene ladpeldp + heast pad thad Mise, Fiezherbert, ber @vace of Devonshire: Lady f had carefully: deposited ¥opened the: hand-bex, she-caught a glimpse of the =| Jersey; and many othors of my most omfbent patron- coees ohn condeecend'to Histon to mewhile I explain ' “A! you are enrployed by Dire -Fitsherbdert, . Lady Jersey, and my dear friend the ‘Duchess of Devonshire f* sszid‘the Couhtess in a musing touve— ‘for % etrack her as being singular that Mrs. Braos should have mentioned by name three ladies: whe were intimstel y cottnected with the Prince of Whles + ©@Such is: the fart, I can assure your ladyship,” + answeved the milliner: “And perhaps your lady ship will excuse me for mentioning that his Royal: Highness the heir-xpparent never faneies any drees. worm: by: Miz. Fitsherbert, unless nade at my esta- blisttment.”' “Is his Royal Highness so excelient a connoisseur Indeed, fin respest to lady's attire?” asked Eléanor, ae she febd aside her new‘ velvet dress and,' resuming her morting-wrapper, threw herself languidty back agam mtv the large urm-chair—her pretty fet, im- pritoned in elegant siippers, now resting on an otto- ve Since your ladyship puts the question’ to me,” responded Mrs. Brace, thus ingenionsly directing thé - discourse towards the topic‘on which she was anxious ta touch,“ F will unhesitatingly inform you. that his Royal: Higimess is not only an excellent judge, ‘fm sack matters, but that he volunteers his opinion on ‘many point at those'times when I have the horoar to wait on Sirs, Pitzherbert in. order to.sub- met the latest fashions to her. Would your ladyship ‘be offnded if F were to confess that Mrs. Fitzherbert bes seen your velvet ‘robe, and highly approves sh aad “Oh | -certatuly: I cannot be offended on thet ac- equny” exelsimed Eleanor. “ But how did it hep- 3 pent “T watted upon -Mra Fitsherbert an hour ago te exhibit those beautiful caps,” continued Mm @race Indicating: the:objects-of her remark, and which she. upon the bed: “when F velvet dress and ‘insisted upon sesing it. I dared not sefnec with ‘her: demand~and she was eichanted. Indeed, tetell your ladyship the truth, I ame tomahe hee one according to the same fashion without delay. But, by the bye;* added the mifli- nen, with ‘a frankness and candour ‘so wetl assamed [ that the Countess was: completely duped by the ap- parens artlesenese of her manner,—“ I should have observed ‘thet hia‘ Royal FHiginess was sented at brenikfhet ‘with: Mra. Pitrherbert at the time—and ‘ that. But, no—¥ dare not say sny more.” Aud. Mrs. Brave pretended. to be suddenly ani- mated by a vecosd thought which ‘threw: her into eqn fusion. “Ob! — sannct allow you to break off thus itr the knew why—um bess, andged, & were by a presentiment thatthe Prince bad mentioned heraausp in complimentary terms ol pam ladguhdp’s commands be that I should thiag whiph really occurted this mora- ang’at Orion Hisuec,” cold Mire. Brace, “ I canmet: of esures disebodiuat:” «Yee—-We nas-hont # al” returned Hileuner, helf- ashamed at thus indulging in what she could enly- the } look ‘upen aathe: most frivolous gossip: and yet her oll the while. « Well, I will be explicit,” continued Mem Byece COMME MOO (G co