The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

FASHIONABLE DEPRAVITY 73 not injured you, sir? ’’ demanded Agatha, with a mixture of indignation and reproach. ‘Shall I suffer war to be made by three young ladies against a princess who not only has never injured them, but whom so many high personages in England are leagued together to ruin? ’’ and as Jocelyn thus spoke, he fixed his gaze earnestly upon Agatha Owen, that the seriousness of his looks might confirm the decisiveness of his language. ‘Oh, if my mother were here to counsel us!’’ she exclaimed, bursting into tears; and the bosom that ere now glowed - with sensuous transports and palpitated with the longings of desire was convulsed with sobs. ‘It is a most painful thing for any one to speak ill of a mother to the ears of her daughters,” said Jocelyn; ‘“ but you must be aware, Miss Owen, that she who should have proved your best friend has been your greatest enemy, and fortunate will it be for you, perhaps, that your mother is not now here to influence your decision.”’ ‘“ And if my sisters and I renounce the service in which we are engaged,’ said Agatha, when the first convulsion of orief had passed, “‘ what course are we to pursue? Whither shall we go? ”’ “ Return to England, ae your mother, and tell her the whole truth,” replied Loftus. ‘‘ Say that you had no alterna- tive but to come back to her, inasmuch as I was so resolute, so sternly resolute, in declaring that if you did not, I would warn the princess against you.”’ “But I must consult my sisters, I must also consult with Mrs. Ranger,” observed Agatha; ‘‘ and this blow has fallen so suddenly, so unexpectedly.” ‘Take as much time as you think fit, Miss Owen,” said Jocelyn, ‘‘ and in the interval I will keep aloof from you, I will even remove my quarters to another hotel — ”’ “No, that would excite suspicions and create scandal here,’ interrupted Agatha, hastily; for, notwithstanding the hostile and dictatorial attitude which Loftus had as- sumed, she did not wish to part from him. ‘ I will do nothing to increase your present annoyance,” he responded. “If you can still regard me in a friendly light, after all that has just occurred, I shall cheerfully remain in your company. Indeed, I shall consider your desire for me to do so as an evidence of improved feeling COUM (A) LOOKS (C(O)