The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

300 THE COURT OF LONDON dreadful depravity as to marry a young, handsome, and clever man, and immediately after the honeymoon lend a willing ear to the improper overtures of that wicked, wicked man the prince regent! Oh, Clara, if you ever meet this Venetia, — or Lady Sackville, as I believe she is now called, —I do sincerely hope you will never speak to her. It posi- tively makes my cheeks glow with indignation and also with shame when I think that the entire sex to some extent shares in the infamy of such creatures. Ah! and your cheeks glow also, my beloved Clara,’”’ exclaimed the beauteous girl, suddenly raising her head and observing the deep carnation which overspread her sister’s countenance. ‘‘ Oh, I was well aware that your noble heart would feel as indignant and also as humiliated as I, to think that the name of woman should be disgraced by such a shameless profligate as that Venetia.” ‘Let us talk no more of this,’ said Clara, the deep car- nation hue suddenly sweeping away from her cheeks and leaving them very pale. ‘‘ Yes, yes, the atmosphere of London is indeed unfitted for a flower of innocence and purity such as thou, and therefore must we part soon, dear sister, and you must lose no time in returning to Canterbury. Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s carriage will take you to Black- heath or Dartford, where you can obtain a post-chaise; and as it is now but two o’clock, you will reach Canterbury to-night ere it be very late.” | “You seem, dear Clara, as if you wished to hurry me suddenly away?” said Louisa, the tears rolling down her cheeks. “No, do not think me unkind, my sweet sister,’’ returned Clara; “ but I feel that London is not fitted for you. Oh, no, it is not fitted for you — and God in His mercy forbid that it ever should be,” added Clara, with a strong emphasis. “Well, dear sister,” observed the younger girl, as she wiped away her tears, ‘‘ I will do as you desire. But recol- lect that you have not as yet told me one word relative to yourself; and you ere now led me to believe that you had — many things to tell me, — yes, even secrets, which you had not chosen to commit to paper, but for which you awaited the opportunity of our meeting.” | “ Oh, I have nothing to tell you of such great importance as you seem to imagine,” said Clara, with a smile, which did GOMIGCHOOKS (@) (E(0)