The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

310 THE COURT OF LONDON possession of the citadel at a moment when he had not been dreaming of making warfare against it; and it had surren- dered not merely at discretion, but willingly, cheerfully, joyfully. Such were the earl’s thoughts on regaining the chamber which had been assigned to him. But perhaps his vanity would have been somewhat shocked, although his sensuous satisfaction might not have been less, had some little bird whispered in his ear the secret that it was purely and simply through a mistake he had been blessed with Venetia’s love that night. Immediately after the Earl of Curzon had stolen forth from the boudoir, Lady Sackville rose from the couch of illicit pleasure and rang the bell. Jessica speedily made her appearance; and the business of the toilet then commenced. Still bent upon retaining that empire which she had already gained over the mind of Sir Douglas Huntingdon, Venetia took considerable pains with herself in order to set off her charms to the greatest advantage. She ordered Jessica to allow her hair to fall in long flowing masses over her shoulders and down her back; and she chose a dress which, fitting close to her shape, developed its noble contours in . their luxuriant fulness and their rounded plumpness. Nor did Jessica, who loved her mistress and was proud of her, — more than ever proud of her, indeed, since she had become a peeress and also the favourite of the prince regent, — Jessica, we say, did not fail to lavish her usual praises, encomia, and compliments upon Venetia’s charms. ‘“ Assuredly your ladyship has the finest hair I ever saw,” observed the abigail. ‘‘ Here it is a shining mass of gold where the light falls upon it, there it is of a glossy velvet dark- ness where the shade remains. If your ladyship were a queen, this glorious hair would render a crown needless. And your ladyship’s neck, it is of dazzling whiteness, arching so grace- fully, too. Permit me to arrange the body of your ladyship’s dress. There, now it exhibits the fine slope of the shoulders; how ravishing a picture to the eyes of a male admirer! Par- don me, my lady, for venturing the observation, but your bust is the grandest, the finest, the most superb that ever woman possessed. There is but one lady I ever saw who can at all compare with your ladyship in this respect.” (EO) m Gomicdbooks