Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

124 Emily, in the same quiet tone as before, and also with the same tremulous vibration of the accents. * What!” cried Mr. Pinnock, “you have not told him how every good and honest person must admire this conduct on his part ?” “TI said nothing of all this,” rejoined Emily ; “because the satisfaction experienced by a heart conscious of its own integrity, is a far higher reward for a good deed than any praise which human lips may bestow.” It was in a lower voice than before that Emily Pinnock thus spoke; and as the last words flowed forth from her lips, her large dark eyes flung a look upon Gustavus,—a look which was full of the warmest and loftiest admiration for that conduct which she had been eulogizing in a manner at once so Jady-like and so delicate. And the heart of Gustavus felt the influence of that look: it swelled with rapturous emotions—it seemed to him as if he felt a more affectionate sentiment of friendship towards Emily Pinnock than he had ever previously experienced, strong as that senti- ment had already been. He felt too that if they had been alone he could have strained her in his arms, or have fallen at her feet to press her hand to his lips and thank her for having deemed his conduct worthy of so much kind, delicate, and generous consideration on her part. “That Hargrave,” exclaimed Mr. Pinnock, “ is a very extraordinary man—and a very good man too, or else I am exceedingly mistaken! He is resolved But no matter! I am not going to tell secrets and now therefore let us sit down to dinner.” Throughout the remainder of that evening Gustavus Barrington could not help thinking that there was a difference in Emily’s manner towards him—but a differance of a pleasing and enrapturing character. She displayed not merely the ingenuous candour and open-heartedness of friendship: but there was something softer still— something that seemed to border almost upon tender interest, without however amounting to any actual manifestation of love. It was as if she felt herself drawn closer to him by circum- stances,—as if there were a sympathy attracting heart to heart,—as if many barriers which on ac- count of the briefness of their acquaintance had previously existed between them, had been sud- denly hurled down,—as if, in short, they had known each other for a very long period and a corresponding degree of confiding intimacy was the result. On the following day there was an inquest upon the body; and Gustavus was summoned as the principal witness. He identified the corpse; and being questioned by the Coroner, gave some de- tails in reference to the shipwreck. Mr. Hargrave was likewise summoned: but he simply deposed to the fact of having seen Gustavus drag the corpse ashore. The proceedings quickly termi- nated; and a suitable verdict was returned, Gus- tavus looked about for Mr. Hargrave when he issued from the hut where the ceremony took place : but the misanthrope was nowhere to be seen. The youth accordingly repaired to Mount Pieasant, to accompany Emily for a walk; and he atill found that the beautiful quadroon displayed towards him a manner which savoured somewha of the artless familiarity and confiding franknes =_eRererr ee a a AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, of a sister—though it differed in this respect, that there was a certain subdued tenderness about it, He felt happy—elate—enraptured with joy— though all the while believing, or at least endea- vouring to persuade himself, that in the feelings which he experienced towards Emily Pinnock there was nothing which in any way impaired or interfered with the affectionate regard he had been wont to entertain for his cousin Winifred. On returning to the house after their ramble, Emily and Gustavus were surprised to find that Mr. Pinnock was at home, it being a full hour earlier than that at which he was wont to make his afternoon appearance at Mount Pleasant. “There!” he at once exclaimed, starting up from his seat—with one hand clapping Gustavus upon the shoulder—and with the other pointing towards the table in the drawing-room where this scene took place: “those are for you!” Gustavus and Emily both glanced at the table, upon which they beheld a small box of common wood, and a letter of a long official shape, bearing avery large seal. This document was addressed to “Gustavus Barrington, Esq.,” and the youth proceeded to.open it. It was a letter from the Governor of Jamaica, couched in terms the most flattering to Gustavus. It set forth that having heard from Mr. Hargrave how Mr, Barrington had refused to possess himself of the gold found about the person of the deceased Mr. Elverstone— and that having likewise heard from Mr. Pinnock how Mr. Barrington had behaved in the kindest and most generous manner towards Mr. Elver- stone during the awful perils of the storm and shipwreck—the Governor of Jamaica had awarded to Mr. Barrington the amount of golden treasure that had been found upon the person of the de- ceased. Scarcely had Gustavus read this document, when Mr. Pinnock snatched it from his hand; and giving it to Emily, he cried, “ Read this—and see how highly it tells on behalf of our young friend !” Miss Pinnock took the letter: but as she read it, she partially averted her countenance, so that her features were veiled by the long massive tresses of her black hair from the view of Mr. Pinnock and Gustavus. The merchant began to open the box containing the gold which had been sent from the governor’s house—while Gustavus, thinking at the moment nought of the precious metal, had his eyes fixed upon Emily Pinnock, She slowly looked round:—there was a glowing admiration in her regards,—a flush of enthusiastic joy upon her cheeks,—ail bespeaking the nature and the strength of the emotions that were swell- ing in her bosom. But deeper grew that blush as she suddenly perceived that the eyes of Gustavus were fixed upon her; and her own eyes were in- stantaneously withdrawn—but not before those luminous orbs had poured upon Gustavus a flood of light, brilliant yet tender—shining yet full of softness—and which seemed to envelope his entire soul in its halo. Then he again felt as if he could seize her in his arms and strain her to bis breast : he felt as if he longed to press to his heart that form which seemed glowing with emotions excited on his account,—to drink in the sweets of her lips and to look down into the depths of her superb dark eyes. COMMicooolK<s a —————eeee om