The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

136 THE COURT OF LONDON a glimpse of your foot and ankle,” he exclaimed; “ and, in good sooth, you may well be proud —”’ “Oh, I am not conceited, | am not vain, Florimel,” interrupted Mrs. Brace; for, as the reader may observe, she Was on very intimate terms with the youthful noble, though even while she addressed him thus familiarly, it was with an undercurrent of respectful deference in her tone and manner. ‘““ Neither vain nor conceited, my dear friend? ”’ repeated Florimel. ‘‘ Then you are deserving of the highest commen- dation, for, as sure as my Christian name is Gabriel, you have every reason to be proud of your personal appearance. A happy man was Mr. Brace when he first led you to the altar — ” ‘““ My lord, you are bantering me! ’’ exclaimed the milliner, speaking in so severe a tone and starting with such galvanic suddenness that Florimel, who had been gazing intently upon her foot and ankle, raised his eyes in amazement to her countenance, on which the colour was coming and going with a rapidity of transition that indicated the working of strong emotions in her bosom. “My dear friend, have I angered you? ”’ asked the young nobleman, taking her hand. ‘“‘ You are well aware that I am incapable of wounding your feelings wantonly — ” “ Yes— yes, my lord,—I believe you,” interrupted Mrs. Brace. “It was a sudden indisposition —a pang shooting through the head, and which ruffled my temper — ”’ “Then you forgive me for any indiscretion that I may have committed by so silly an allusion to your late hus- band? ”’ said Florimel, not altogether believing the story of the sudden indisposition. ‘‘ However, we will change the conversation,’ he added, observing that Mrs. Brace darted upon him a look so strange and sinister that it made him feel uneasy. ‘“‘ Let us go back to the object of my visit. I was telling you, my dear friend, that for the last ten days or a fortnight I have not encountered a new face deserving a sigh or worthy of a tender emotion; and it struck me that you might have it in your power —”’ “T think that I can put you in the way of an adventure alike original and agreeable,’”’? observed Mrs. Brace, who had by this time recovered her wonted equanimity and affability. CONNIE OOO KS (Elo) m