Speculum - University of Melbourne

44
SPECULUM
position as a member of the East India
Company, her father's title, the several
country homes, and his influence with the
Court, that thrilled Eustace.
But it was not Angela's money that attracted
Eustace. When told that she had an
income of eight thousand pounds a year, he
replied that he thought it was only six
thousand, and the extra two thousand
pounds made no difference at all to his feelings.
Angela must have been a beauty. We
have a portrait which shows her in a blueblack
farthingale, with a scarlet porringer
wrapped around a slashed doublet. A belt
encircles her waist in a single sweep.
She is beautiful.
(Some authorities believe the portrait is
of Mrs. Siddons, others, Nell Gwynn. The
painter may have been Hilliard or Turner,
or possibly someone else.)
Eustace (according to the diary) got a
thrill when he thought of Angela.
One night he held her hand—he got a
bigger thrill.
Next week he put his hand around her
waist—he got a thrill much bigger than
ever before. He then had to go home.
Next month he kissed her—he got the
biggest thrill imaginable.
It was obvious they would have to get
married.
Lovelase reports that on the ocasion of
the Kiss his pulse was 102/min, full, good
(Our illustration is an old etching. Lovelace is in the foreground. His assistants
and instruments are well shown. In the next room an assistant reassures an
anxious patient.)