The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

158 THE COURT OF LONDON matter of course, 1t would have been a man of beardless face and of rather effeminate appearance. As it was, she looked like a modern Diana the Huntress; for she had spurs upon her boots and carried a riding-whip in her hand, and her form, though robust and vigorous, was admirably symmetrical, while all her movements were characterized by a graceful ease. Nothing could exceed the elegance of her costume. The hat, with its broad brim, set off her handsome countenance to the greatest advantage, and when she removed it on entering the chamber her magnificent black hair showered in a myriad glossy ringlets over her broad and sloping shoulders. The blue frock coat, braided most elaborately in front, fitted close to her form, developing the contours of her swelling hips and giving a wasp-like appearance to the waist; while the gray small- clothes and the polished Hessian boots, with their tassels and spurs, completed an attire at once tasteful and becoming. Being tall in stature, Lady Letitia had a masculine air, and enacted the part of “the man” to perfection, the robust proportions and straightness of her limbs, with the solid firmness of the flesh, giving a fulness of shape to her entire person and rendering ample justice to the excellent ‘fit ” of her garments. Having admitted his disguised companion into the royal bedchamber, Tim Meagles closed and locked the door by which they had thus entered; and bursting into a hearty laugh as he approached the couch, he exclaimed, “ My dear prince, you seem to stare at my friend here as if you had never seen him before in all your life.’ ‘“ And who the devil is it? ”’ demanded his Royal Highness, sitting up in bed, while his countenance wore an expression which showed that he was half-inclined to be angry. ‘ Why! by heavens— ’tis a woman,” he exclaimed, as Letitia advanced toward him. Then, his features expanding into a smile, he said, “ Ah! my beautiful huntress — I recognize you now! Well, I suppose Meagles has brought you to breakfast with me — and this is an unexpected pleasure.” “Your Royal Highness is very kind thus to receive me,” returned Letitia, her smile revealing a set of large but brilliant teeth. .‘“‘ It was not my fault — Meagles would insist upon bringing me — and your Royal Highness knows what a harum-scarum fellow he 1s.” Gomicbooks (ele)