Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 124: what you’re looking at

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115 more hideous on account of their hue being dife ferent from the duskiness of her quadroon com. plexion. ‘He thought too that a broad flat nose, great coarse thick lips, and a set of loathsomely decayed teeth, completed the picture of this ugli- ness, and rendered it absolutely revolting. It is true that in imagination he again beheld a remark- ably fine pair of large lustrous black eyes: but it appeared to him that instead of in the slightest degree redeeming the intense ugliness of the face, they only threw it into a more hideous relief by the strength of contrast and by the light which those luminous eyes shed upon all the features. Such was the dream of Gustavus; and so strong an impression did it make upon his mind, that when he awoke in the morning he felt convinced that though it were.but a vision, it had depicted the reality so far as Emily Pinnock was concerned, He therefore thought within himself that he must after all have attained a better view of her face the preceding evening than he could possibly re- collect to have done—and that the dream had re- peated, but in a more vivid manner, the impression that was made upon him at the time. Still he wondered that on retiring to rest he had not been enabled to form a better idea of Miss Pinnock’s lineaments than he had done; and thus, though there was some little perplexity in his brain, he had no doubt with regard to the main prominent fact, that the merchant’s niece was in reality pos- sessed of a very superb figure, endowed with all the softest graces and the most voluptuous charms, but that she was unfortunately cursed with a re- volting ugliness of countenance. Having performed his toilet, he descended to the apartment where he had spent the preceding evening, and where he now expected to have all his ideas in respect to Emily completely confirmed by meeting her there. But he found Mr. Pin- nock only in the room; and this gentleman wel- comed him with the most cordial hospitality. The table was spread with all kinds of tempting viands, near the open window; and the merchant, at once sitting down, bade his guest be seated also. Gustavus flunz a glance over the table; and he perceived that the arrangements were only made tor two persons: it was therefore evident that Miss Emily was not to join them at the morning meal. ** My niece,”’ said Mr. Pinnock, in the course of conversation, “is an early riser, and she usually takes her breakfast long before I do. She gets out for a ramble before the heat of the day sets in —and besides, my young friend, you must not think it any ill compliment to you that she is not here to preside at the breakfast-table after the fashion of Old England: but she is very bashful —we live a retired sort of life—and she sees few strangers.” Gustavus expressed the hope that his presence at Mr. Pinnock’s abode might in no sense cause any embarrassment; and he thought it only proper to add that while in one sense he was pleased to finc Miss Pinnock did not adopt any formalities on his account, yet that the absence of the lady of the house from the table must necessarily always be a source of regret to those who were partaking of its hospitalities. “Emily is a good girl,’ said Mr. Pinnock; “and when you come to know her better, you will AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, LS like her. I daresay that when her ‘bashfalness wears off in respect to yourself—you being a stranger—you will become very good friends to- gether: for I can tell you candidly that I don’t mean to part with you in a hurry—I shall endea- vour to indemnify you by two or three weeks of rest and recreation for the hardships and suffer- ings you have endured,” Having thus spoken in a benevolent and good- humoured manner, Mr, Pinnock jumped up from table: for a neat little chaise had just driven round to the front of the residence. Gustavus followed the merchant from the house; and with- out seeing anything of Emily, he took his seat in the vehicle. Kingston was soon reached; the merchant and the youth alighted at the door of the former gentleman’s business. establishment ; and they entered the counting-house. ‘“ Now, my young friend,’ said Mr, Pinnock, “before you go out to amuse yourself, you and I have a little business to transact together. You have lost everything by the shipwreck—and there- fore you are in want of everything. Iam going to write you a cheque—I shan’t charge it to Mil- lard and Co.—it is simply a matter betwixt you and me—and when you arearich man,” added Mr. Pinnock with a good-natured laugh, “you shall repay me—and not before.” He was accustomed, in those moods when re- laxing from the severer considerations of business, to speak at times with great volubility; and that speech had been made with such rapidity that Gustavus could not possibly edge ina word. He however at length found an opportunity to expiain that he was in no want of funds; and he ac- quainted Mr. Pinnock with the handsome couduct of the officers on board the ship-of-war, as well as the delicate manner in which the gift had been bestowed upon him. “Very well, then,” said the merchant, “you require no money at present: but remteuiber that when you do, I shall be most happy to avt as your banker. Now go and see whatsoever is worth seeing. If you find your way home to Mount Pleasant—which is the name of my suburban resi- dence—before I am ready to return, well and good: but if not, the chaise will be here at four o'clock, and you can accompany me.” Gustavus thanked the kind-hearted merchant for all the favours that he was receiving at his hands; and he issued forth from the counting- house. He wandered about for some two or three hours, amusing himself by the inspection of all that was worth seeing in the capital of Jamaica: but as it is not the purpose of this story to digress into topographical descriptions, we shall not pause to depict the leading features of Kingston. After a while Gustavus began to think that it would be as well if he commenced giving his orders and making his purchases for the recon- struction of his wardrobe. He accordingly visited several shops, buying shirts, hose, and handker- chiefs at one —ordering clothes at another—boots and shoes at a third. Toilet necessaries were not forgotten; and finally young Barrington entered a linen-draper’s repository to buy gloves, which he had hitherto forgotten. He was standing at the counter, paying for the articles he had purchased, when he beheld a well-dressed young lady stop for an instant at the window and fix her eyes upon Ghbooks (2) : (E(o)