Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

> Lee ements tilmeestteteeteerieeeeaeeaeeeeiaeeeel AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. laughter as well as by the playful exchange of caresses, following manner :— ** My dear Madam, “ Although this is the first time I have ever had the honour and pleasure of addressing you, I have nevertheless long known you well by repute; for your niece, my beloved Cicely, has frequently men- tioned you to me in the most affectionate terms. Believe me, therefore, when I convey to you the assurance that it will afford me infinite gratifica- tion to make your acquaintance; and I hope to have this pleasure with the least possible delay. If I did not perform that which was no doubt a duty in asking your assent to the alliance of your niece Cicely with myself, it was because I feared lest from any reason an obstacle should be thrown in the way of our union. This declaration will serve as a proof of my deep affection for her whom I am proud and happy to call my wife; and I am confident that when we present ourselves to you, you will look smilingly upon us and give us your blessing. Believe me, my dear aunt—for so you must now permit me to call you—the love I bear for your dear Cicely is only equalled by the pride with which I shall in a very short time present her to my family. If there bas been anything secret and clandestine in the circumstances at- tending our union, it arose entirely from family reasons: but I am resolved that I will act in a way that becomes a man who has no cause to blush for the partner whom he has taken unto himself. I could say much more: but I prefer withholding additional explanations until I have the pleasure of accompanying my wife into your presence,—an opportunity which I hope will be afforded me with the least possible delay. “ Believe me, my dear aunt, * Your’s most dutifully, “ Hector HARDRESS.” “Excellent!” ejaculated Cicely, lavishing ca- resses upon the young patrician: “ nothing could be better! This will have its effect!” “And now you must write your note,” Hardress. “Oh, it is already written and put into an en- velope duly addressed !” cried Cicely, as she gaily disengaged herself from the arm which Hector had thrown about her waist: then, having rung the bell, she said, “See! I put your letter inside my own—both under the same cover. Here! lend me your ring with the crest on it, to seal the envelope.” Hardress complied with the demand: he also folded and held a piece of paper to enable Cicely to melt the wax for the sealing of the letter. That seal was stamped with the young patrician’s crest ; and by the time. this was done the waiter entered the room in answer to the summons of the ** Bid our valet step up, if you please,” Miss Neale. ** Yes, ma’am :*’—and the waiter withdrew. Cicely kept Hardress talking in front of the fire until Luke made his appearance; and then bounding towards the ralet, she exclaimed, ‘‘ Take this immediately —to the post!” she added, suddenly sinking her voice to a whisper, and dart- ing upon Corbet a significant look. said said um en eee wee ee - 149 — *Yes, Miss,” replied the valet: and he instau- The letter, when completed, ran in the | taneously quitted the room. At the same moment Hector Hardress lounged towards the window; and on gazing through the panes, he was struck by the spectacle which met his view. “Good heavens, Cicely!” he exclaimed, “if I did not know that we were at York I could swear that this was Edinburgh! But if ever in my life I saw Edinburgh Castle And by heavens! there is something exactly like Scott’s Monu- ment! Good God! the railway-station too!— and this is Princes Street! Cicely, we are in Edinburgh !” “Yes—we are in Edinburgh,” replied Miss Neale, with a tone, look, and manner of calm quiet confidence. * Cicely! what does it mean?” asked the young patrician, contemplating Miss Neale with affright and dismay, and with suspicions of some treachery agitating in his mind, though he knew not what it was that he suspected. ‘“ Cicely!” he repeated with vehemence, “‘ what does it mean, I ask?” “Tt means,” she rejoined, in the same collected manner as before, “that I am your wife according to the law of Scotland—and this law holds good in England.” A cry—or rather yell of savage rage burst from the lips of Hector Hardress, as the whole truth blazed upon him likea flood of overwhelming light. He made one bound forward to dash Cicely upon the floor: but her demeanour over- awed him; and with a hollow moan he sank anni- hilated upon a seat. ar CHAPTER XXVII. THE STRATEGIC MAREIAGE. Yzs—so dignified, yet without the slightest arro- gance, was the mien of Cicely Neale—so full of confidence, yet without any display of overweening triumph, was her look—so resolute her bearing for the purpose of seif-defence—that Hector Hard- ress was overawed and discomfited. Her tall form was drawn up to its full height: there was a gentle flush upon her cheeks—there was the steadiness of a heroine in her gaze ; and yet with all that queenliness of demeanour, there was the indescribable gloss of a lady’s elegance and grace over all. Hector Hardress was ghastly pale: his under jaw had fallen as if the hand of death were upon him : his half-open mouth afforded a singularly vacant expression to blend with the look of die may and consternation which otherwise marked his countenance. He lay back rather than sat in the chair, his eyes riveted upon Cicely —his whole demeanour seeming as if the fierce rage of the hyena had been : suddenly sub- dued in the overawed pusillanimity of the spaniel. Never was a woman more imposing in her calm dignity than Miss Neale at that moment! —never wasamanmore completely cowed, crushed, and overwhelmed than Hardress at that same time ! There was a deep silence for upwards of two or three minutes ; and then Cicely, breaking that pause, said in a calm, quiet tone, “If you value Comiclooolks —— Olin