The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

ERNESTINA AND THE PRINCE 139 naturally belonged to her complexion was now deepening into the rich carnation hue; the blush gradually descended to her neck, thence suffusing itself over her bosom; and the longer the prince gazed, the more convinced did he become that his lips had glued themselves in impassioned kisses to those glowing cheeks, that his hand had pressed and his head been pillowed upon that heaving, swelling bosom, and that the entire form had lain palpitating with love and desire in his arms. Slowly now did Ernestina raise her head and turn her eyes toward him, — those large lustrous eyes looking up full into his, and swimming with that Oriental languor which he had observed and which had ravished him before. Ay, and he was no longer uncertain nor in doubt as to where and when those seductive looks had previously shed their Elysian influence upon his soul; and falling on his knees at the lady’s feet, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Heavens! are you my lovely unknown — unknown no longer — but Ernestina Dysart? ”’ ‘Oh, then you are not angry with me, beloved prince? ”’ murmured the siren, flinging her snowy arms around his neck. “Angry with you — impossible! ” cried the royal volup- tuary, straining her to him even as he knelt, and covering her warm and glowing cheeks with passionate kisses. ‘‘ But what means this mystery? ” he exclaimed, at length, rising and taking a chair by her side. “ Are you really Lady Ernestina Dysart, the niece of my friend Leveson? And if so, what meant that scene of mingled outrage, mystery, and love which characterized the night of our first acquaintance?”’ ‘“ I will tell you everything in good time, my dear prince,”’ answered the lady, as she lavished upon him the tenderest caresses with an appearance of the fondest affection. ‘‘ But whatever the explanations may be, promise — ”’ ‘I can promise anything, everything, to such a charmer as you,” interrupted the prince, his head already turning with blissful rapture, as on the night at Beechey Manor. ‘“‘ Ah! how rejoiced I am that we have met again! ”’ and he devoured her cheeks, her neck, and her bosom with his burning kisses. ‘ But tell me what you have to say, and then — and then — talk to me of love, only of love! ”’ “ Listen patiently, if you will, and attentively, if you can, for a few minutes,”’ said Ernestina, with a smile of such COM (A) LOOKS (C(O)