The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 234: what you’re looking at

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212 THE COURT OF LONDON her mind, and she rejoiced unfeignedly that her beloved sister should have won the heart of so excellent a young gentleman. She excused herself for not introducing him to Mr. and Mrs. Beckford on the ground that they were very old people and much fatigued with their excursion into the country on the preceding day; and as Loftus, being but little acquainted with the personages and circumstances of fash- ionable life, entertained not the remotest idea that he was in the house of a Miss Bathurst, as a matter of course he beheld nought to engender suspicion that any duplicity was being practised. But, ah! when he had taken his departure, how quickly did the long pent-up feelings in our heroine’s bosom seek an issue in a flood of tears, and how convulsive were the sobs that her surcharged breast gave forth! But Venetia had no leisure for thus abandoning herself to her grief, or to the flood of memories relative to her sister and her home, which this interview had so painfully excited. For it was now past noon, and she must get back to Acacia Cottage. Because this was Thursday, the fourth day of the love-campaign, the grandest and most important of all. It was the day, in short, for the prince’s visit; for that he would avail himself of his turn to call upon her at once there was but little doubt. The reader may remember with what admirable tact she played her cards upon this occasion. She gave him to understand that she was no mere adven- turess, no wanton, but as yet a pure virgin; and this was the truth. She however frankly confessed that she had her ambition; and she alluded to the connection between Mrs. Fitzherbert and himself as illustrative of the position which she must stipulate for if she became his mistress. Then the prince suggested that she should get married to some easy, good-natured person who would either wink at her being the royal mistress, or else positively assent to it. This proposition was fraught with exceeding pleasure for Venetia, inasmuch as she saw that matrimony might be made a sufficient cloak to preserve her reputation, and also (as she hoped) to save her well-beloved Louisa the pain of ever having to blush for her sister. She had for some time observed the affection which Horace Sackville entertained toward her; and, therefore, the instant the prince regent’s proposition was made, it struck her that Horace was the convenient husband to be thus obtained. She knew that » CORDICLOOO (CO)