The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

. “Nothing—absolately nothing,” returned Lady .Ernestina, ,“but the loss of a young man who appears, to be utterly unworthy of the Jove you bestowed upon him.” “Oh! treat not the ciroumstence 50 ‘lightly ” * \ exclaimed “Louisa, both shocked and amazed at the remark: for all Ernestina’s. previous allusions to the subject had been expressive of a cones condolence and delicate sympathy. - “Dearest Louisa,”, cried the artful patrician, “ nit for a moment did I mean to vex or startle you: but I was merely about to introduce a truth which you yourself will recognise sooner or Jater—namely, that the self-styled Jocelyn Loftus is not the only band- some, intelligent, and fascinating young cortemes in the world.” , “O Lady Ermestina! ifeascanger bal made that observation to me,” exclaimed Louisa, now more painfully surprised and deeply shocked than at first, “TI should have regarded it either as au insult or else as a sign of unfeeling thoughtlessness!"” “I am addressing you, my dear young friend,” said Ernestina, “as a woman of the world should address a young and inexperienced girl.” “Ah! lady,” said Louisa, with a Sook of angelic frankness,—“ never, never shall I obey the dictates THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. of that feeling when titles,'pensions, and places were ies eh ntpeeerSg courses, then;'this Ve- netia of w ay peaking oe “the —=— of the Prince——’” | . 3 ” “Enough! venough !*. “exclaimed Lous, -the colour mounting to her cheeks as her pure soul revolted from the aarrative the msin' point of which had only just that instant fleshed to'her compre- hension. “Oh!-if such ‘detestable creatures as this Venetia constitute the charm,‘ the ‘glory, aud the worship of your fashionable world of London, how little do I envy the rich and the great ones of this metropolis! Better, better far'is my own humble cottage situated in a.retired suburb of Canterbury !—and more welcome to me would prove s chaplet of the roses that:bloom in summer over that cattage portico, than the most brilliant coronet glittering upon the brow of your’ titled lady of the mettopolis f° »Expestina was about to respond to these obser- vations, when the door opened and the _— of Leveson entered the room... 1 “What tidings, my. lord ?” exeliieied Louisa, springing from her seat’and bounding towards him with the most eager cuPiosity. ' bows - “Patio, patience, young lady,” answered the comliclbooks.com