Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

————— Ee a keeper went in to say that Mrs. Clifford’s servant bad arrived.” “Then you gave her the note ?” “© Yes—I gave Miss Evelyn the note, ma’am.” “And what then? Tell me what followed?” eried Floribel with much emotion: everything !” if “ Why, ma’am, then”—and the groom hesitated. “Speak, speak!” exclaimed Floribel. ‘‘ What happened, I ask? I command you to tell me!” *“ Why, ma’am, Miss Evelyn burst into tears of joy; and—and—she almost fainted.” “Dear Agnes!” murmured Floribel; and the tears started forth from her own eyes. But in- stantaneously dashing them away, she said, “‘ And Miss Evelyn read the note ?” “Yes, ma’am,” rejoined the groom; “and she said that she should come at once—she should be here almost as soon as I could get back.” “Enough,” said Floribel, waving her hand for the livery-servant to withdraw. “If you please, ma'am,” he said, before he re- tired, “at what hour will you please to have the garriage ?—and is it to be the close-carriage or the open caleche? It is a beautiful day, ma’am— and quite warm, though the end of October.” *T do not know that I shall go out at all to- day. Perhaps Miss Evelyn may stay to dinner. At all events I have no orders to give at pre- sent,” The groom bowed and retired. One of the maid-seryants also quitted the room; while the other remained to set a few little things to rights ; for in a newly furnished house there are always these sorts of attentions to be paid—especially when an upholsterer, obeying a wholesale order, has had but three days for the completion of all arrangements. Fioribel fell into a profound reverie, until she heard a double knock at the door: then she started, and sat quivering with suspense, the colour again coming and going on her beautiful countenance. Ina few moments the door opened, and Agnes rushed into the room. Dearest Floribel !” she ‘exclaimed. * Dearest Agnes!” cried the young lady: and they were clasped in each other’s arms. Long did they thus remain embraced. It seemed as if Agnes could not sufficiently assure herself that Floribel was restored to her—that it was a reality and not a dream; while on the other hand Floribel appeared to experience the fulfilment of a previously existing want to cling to some one on whose love and friendship she could rely. The maid retired from the apartment; and the two cousins sat down together, “You are pale—and you seem careworn, my sweet Agnes,” said Floribel, as they looked at each other, their hands fondly clasped. “Ob, my dear cousin, I am happy now!” re- plied Agnes :—“ Oh, perfectly happy!” she enthu- siastically added, as raising Floribel’s hand to her lips, she caught sight of the wedding-ring upon her finger. * But you have suffered much on wy account ?” said Floribel, in a low and mournful voice’ “Yes, —Oh, much!” exclaimed Agnes. “I knew you had gone to marry Mr. Clifford 4 “Oh! you knew it?” interjected Floribel quickly, “But how? how?” “tell me me es ere mee “Qh! you were seen to depart from Mrs. She- ridan’s Louse with a young gentleman—the police constable saw you—and then I knew that this young gentleman could be none other than Thevo- dore Clifford whom you already loyed. But why did you not write to me, Floribel? A single line —a word eyen Ol! you know not the un- easinéss you would have spared me!” and the tears trickled from the eyes of Agnes at the thought of all the anxiety she bad undergone. “For heaven’s sake do not weep, my sweet cou- sin!’ said Floribel, weeping likewise. “No! no! I am happy now!” cried our ami- able heroine, straining lTloribel to her bosom ;— ‘and all the more so,” she added, in a softer and gentler tone, ‘because whatsoever little sciuntilla- tion of fear and doubt I might have experienced, has now disappeared pardon me, dearest Flo- ribel, for saying so!”—and again she glanced at the marriage-ring, but this time significantly. At the moment a slight flush crossed Floribel’s — countenance: but so transient was it, that when the next instant Agnes raised her eyes again, she perceived it not. “Oh! TI should have written to you,” said Flo- ribel; “but [I was determined—no doubt it was a silly vanity on my part—but still such was my feeling I was determined, I say, to wait until I could receive you in a house of my own. Ah! my dear Agnes, it was natural I should wish to convince you of my happiaess, after you had doubt- less thought that I had fled from our own home only to encounter disappointment and misery.” ** And you are completely happy, Fioribel?” said Agnes, gazing earnestly with her beautiful bluo eyes into the large dark ones of her cousin. “Oh, happy !—can you doubt it?” cried Ilo- ribel, suddenly starting up from her seat. ‘ Look around at this splendid room? Is it not elegantly furnished? See this casket of jewels! What magnificent diamonds! what pearls! what rubies! Here is a sweet watch—a real Breguet! and here is another, exquisitely enamelled at the back! Look at this choice of gold chains! and here are rings fitted for the fingers of aqueen! Ah! here is the list of the wines in our cellar, Lighty dozen !— and about forty more to be added! But como with me over the house.” “And where is Mr. Clifford? where is Theo- Gore your husband ?” inquired Agnes. “Ob, he is not here at present,” responded Floribel. ‘‘I must tell you that he has a difficult game to play with his father with whom he is accordingly compelled to pass several hours each day ra “ How long then have you been in London since your marriage?” askeil Agnes, “Let me see?” said Floribel. “We were mar- ried ” and again the slight flush passed tran. siently over her countenance, but still so slightly and so transiently that Agnes perceived it not,— ‘we were married on the 21st: we returned to London on the 23rd.” “And this is the 31st!” said Agnes, somewhat reproachfully. “A whole week in London x2 “Ah! but we first of all went to an hotel,” con- tinued Floribel, “ while Theodore took this house: then there was the furnishing and the hiring of servants—for we keep seven, Agnes!—a lady’s mwaid—e parlour-maid—a housemaid—asteward— a em = er me sm Comicloools Olin