The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

THE INTENDED HUSBAND 343 I suffer myself to become an object of such indelicate arrangements. Your conduct has, however, left me no choice.”’ ‘“T am afraid that I treated you somewhat harshly and cruelly the evening before last, when I saw you at Windsor Castle,” said the prince, “‘ but I had many things to vex me at the time.” ‘“ And chiefly of all, the loss of Lady Sackville,’ observed Penelope, with some little degree of bitterness. ‘“T will not deny that her loss has vexed me cruelly,” answered the prince. ‘ But I see that you are jealous,’ he added, laughing. ‘ Now this is certainly not a sentiment to be entertained by a young lady who is on the point of mar- — riage with a very fine, handsome, and agreeable man.”’ “Then your Royal Highness has really exercised a sound discretion in the choice of a husband for my daughter? ” said Mrs. Arbuthnot. ‘I mean, sir, that you have borne in mind the observations I made upon the point, and that you will not offer for Penelope’s acceptance an individual whom she may be ashamed to acknowledge as her husband? ” ‘“‘T hesitate not to say she will be proud of him,’’ answered the prince. ‘I assure you he is good-looking, with a fine military air — But tell me, Penelope, do you like mous- taches? ”’ “ Sir,” replied the young lady, colouring up to the very hair of her head, “‘ there sounds something too much like a tone of banter in your speech to inspire me with much confidence as to the present proceeding. I am already sufficiently humiliated —”’ ‘Pray do not be angry, my dear Penelope,” interrupted the prince, passing his arm around her waist. “I only sought to make my peace with you by putting on my best possible humour, but if you feel offended, I can of course become as coldly dignified and freezingly haughty as ever I was in my life. I thought it better not to give too business- like and matter-of-fact an air to the present transaction.” ‘Tf that be indeed your motive, sir,’’ responded Miss Arbuthnot, ‘‘ I thank you for your kind consideration, and beg that you will retain your present humour.” But while she thus spoke, she gently disengaged herself from the royal arm and moved a little nearer toward the extremity of the sofa. (Cl) nn) GDoOo So! nn