Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

PY 2 oe ee ’ ‘ » a ee — AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE, the neighbourhood of a gas-light in front of the terrace where they thus met. “Ah, Cicely! is it you?” ejaculated Hector, as if it were only at this moment that he recognised her. “I really did not know you at first !—you are so closely veiled !” “No matter,” said Miss Neale: “ you are now convinced that it is I. As for my being closely veiled, it would be fatal to the little reputation which I have yet left, if I were seen meeting a young gentleman at this hour and at this place.” “The little reputation?” echoed Hardress in surprise. “I do not understand you. Who knows of what has happened betwixt you and me? If the reputation of every young lady who has gone a trifle astray, were as safe as your’s " “You do not understand what I mean—but you shali presently know,” interrupted Cicely. “ First of all let me remind you,” she continued, as they slowly walked together along the terrace, “‘that the ten days have expired, and that during this interval I have vainly awaited a communica- tion from you.” “Why, my dear girl,” ejaculated Hector, “it was I who was waiting to learn what denouement it might please you to give to that pleasant little comedy of the other night. Ah! perhaps you will have the kindness to tell me how it happened that I found myself so suddenly confronted with you, pistols in your hands 2? “Listen,” interrupted Cicely ; “ the explanation is soon given,—and i have no objection to afford it. Indeed, it may perhaps be as well; as you will thereby obtain a new insight into my character.” “One is always pleased,” said Hardress, in a style that was languidly flippant, “to discover fresh traits of amiability in any young lady— though how the deuce I could reconcile such traits with the presentation of a brace of pistols in those fair hands of your’s a “Tf you will listen, I will explain,” said Miss Neale, displaying not the slightest emotion of either impatience or anger at the tone and language of the young patrician. “You know that when we met in Fitzroy Square, exactly a month back, I held out certain threats—I bade you beware of my vengeance—because your treat- ment of me had been infamous and the sense of my wrongs was intolerable. I did not speak in- considerately nor without a fixed resolution: I went straightway and purchased a pair of pistols. —‘If, said I to myself, ‘Lever behold Hector Hardress paying attentions to a rival, here is one pistol to stretch him dead at that rival’s feet; and here is another to put an immediate period to my own existence. I shall have been signally re- venged, and I can then die!’—’Twas thus that I thought, Hector; and from that instant the weapons have ever been ready to my hand.” Cicely paused for a moment, and then quietly added, “ I have them about my person now.” Hector Hardress was no coward, as the reader has seen, He had faced Charles De Vere in a duel ; and indeed he possessed a considerable de- gree of courage. _ But the announcement made to him by Cicely Neale suddenly smote his heart with an uncontrollable terror ; and his countenance be- came very pale. There was something in the cold quiet deliberation of the voice in which she spoke, that gave a fearful effect to the announcement 141 —_- which her words conveyed. IUverything on her part—all her recent proceedings, at the meeting in Titzroy Square as well as at Sidney Villa, together with her present conduct—struck Hector as being the result of firm, fierce, yet cold-blooded resolute- ness. His conscience too told him that she was his victim—that the wrongs she had sustained at his hands were immense ; and he therefore trem- bled as ho walked by the side of this young lady who had told him that she carried about her per- son the means of suddenly levelling him dead at her feet ! “You asked for the explanations—and I have given them,” said Cicely, in the same quiet tone as before, and without appearing to notice the effect which her words had produced: though in reality through the folds of her veil, her large blue eyes had glanced piercingly and penetratingly upon Hector’s countenance. “I went to pass a day or two,” she continued, “at Sidney Villa, to keep Miss Evelyn company, afflicted as she was by the sudden flight of her cousin. I sat up reading in my chamber—I heard a voice in her room—and I sped thither with my pistols. Despite your mask I recognised you, as you are aware, in a moment, My first impulse was to shoot you through the brain, that my vengeance might be wreaked in a moment, and under circumstances so unexpectedly favourable that they necessitated not my own self- | destruction as the immediate result: for I should have proclaimed that it was a burglar that I had shot :—how was I to suspect that the mask con- cealed tha countenance of the Hon, Mr. Hard- ress P” Hector shuddered as he felt the truth of all that Cicely was saying, and thought to what a thread his life had hung for a moment on that particular night. He flung away his cigar: it seemed to produce a sickening sensation ;—and he spoke not a word. “ Yes,” continued Cicely, still with a calm quietude of tone which was more terribly impres- sive than the most impassioned emphasis would have been, ‘‘ my first thought was to kill you on the spot. But a second idea instantaneously flashed to my brain: my plan was suddenly al- tered—and I compelled you to sign the paper, with your valet as an attesting witness.” ** But is it possible, Cicely,” asked Hector, now beginning to recover his self-possession, “ that you can entertain such horrible ideas towards mo— that your vindictiveness can be so terrific ?” “ Estimate my wrongs, Hector,’ responded Miss Neale, “ and then calculate what the amount of my vindictiveness might justifiably be. But let us come to the point at once. Do you intend to fulfil your compact?—will you make me your | bride P will you conduct me to the altar ?”’ The young patrician glanced penetratingly to- wards Miss Neaic, to ascertain whether she were feeling beneath her garments to clutch one of the pistols which he firmly believed that she had about her: but he gathered courage on observing that she was walking by his side as quietly and as much without any suspicious movement as at first. He therefore said, yet with a certain hesitation and faltering of tone, “ You have asked me whether I am prepared to lead you to the altarP I am sure you scarcely expect that I shall answer yes But what—what—if I were to say 710?” COMnclooolks —_ | Onn