The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

32 THE COURT OF LONDON ay, and fallen thickly too, for the writing was in those places wholly obliterated. But she now read them again, because the scene with her husband had opened her mind to those tender sympathies which even the most callous natures or the most worldly dispositions must feel at times. Yes, she read them again and again; she wept also over those letters, for this was an hour of Venetia’s weakness, one of those chastening intervals which occur in the existence of every woman, no matter how lofty her ambition, how unprincipled her conduct, or how profligate her ways. But in the midst of this occupation her confidential dependent Jessica knocked at the boudoir, and on being desired to enter, she said, “ An elderly gentlewoman desires to see your ladyship immediately.” ‘Who is she? What is her name?”’ asked Venetia, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes. ‘“‘ She would not say, my lady. In fact, I do not know her, I never saw her before; and she seems a respectable kind of a person. She declares that it is most urgent business on which she desires to see your ladyship.”’ “Then show her up here,’’ said Venetia, ‘‘ and order dinner to be served in half an hour.” ““ Does your ladyship dine alone? ”’ “Yes, quite alone to-day, for the first time, indeed, for the last six weeks. But the prince has got a dinner-party of convivial friends and boon companions, from which ladies are excluded. However, show this female up at once.’’ Jessica flitted away, and during the five minutes of her absence Venetia replaced the letters in her desk, which she locked. She then looked at herself in the glass, wiped away all traces of her tears, arranged her hair, and, reseating her- self, prepared to receive with composed feelings the visitress who was approaching. Presently the door opened, and Jessica, having ushered in the ‘elderly gentlewoman,’’ immediately withdrew. But instantaneously recognizing this female’s countenance, Venetia gave a start as if seized with a cold shudder, and it was evidently with a sickening sensation that she exclaimed, “‘ Ah, Mrs. Gale! ” (CO nin comilcooolks