The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

326 THE COURT OF LONDON known that the princely favour exists for me no longer, will not the queen be the very first to look coldly upon me, and will not her ladies treat me with scorn, mockery, and contempt? Yes, but even this is not all; the worst is behind. For if accident should reveal my position before I can obtain leave to go into retirement, shall I not be expelled igno- miniously from the court, and would not you be involved in my ruin? Then what is to become of us? While we were poor, we always contrived to live somehow or another, because our characters were not gone, but if once thrown upon the world, with our reputations blasted, I as an unwedded mother, and you as the wretched, disappointed pander to your daughter’s shame, who will take us by the hand, who will befriend us, what shall we do? ”’ But Mrs. Arbuthnot was not listening to the latter part of her daughter’s speech. She had fallen into a deep reverie, and was revolving in her mind a variety of plans that suggested themselves as a means of encountering the present emergency. When Penelope had ceased speaking, she also sank into a meditative mood, and there was a long pause before either mother or daughter again broke silence. “My dear child,” suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Arbuthnot, “ T have it, I have it! Depend upon it, I shall be enabled to bring the prince to reason, and make him do something for you.” ‘“‘ Anything, mother, so long as it will ensure our positions at court,’ cried Penelope, ‘‘ and save me from disgrace. But what plan have you in your head? ”’ ‘“‘ Leave it to me, child, do not ask me any questions now. I must act, and not talk.’”’ Then, as she rose from her seat, she added, ‘‘ Be of good cheer, I feel convinced that the prince regent will not only be brought to terms, but even perhaps be compelled to do more for us than we have ever anticipated. Iam now going to London.” Penelope’s curiosity was greatly excited, and her hopes were also revived by the tone of confidence in which her mother spoke, but Mrs. Arbuthnot would say no more at present, and again bidding her daughter be of good cheer, she quitted the apartment. comicloooks (C(O) im