Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

<7. ee: a 4s wn Hat. eee ee ~s ae am astonished ———But no matter! Good morn- ing.” “ One word, if you please, my dear uncle,” said Cicely in a quiet tone. “ You know not how much the idea that is floating in my mind, regards your own best interests.” “What on earth do you mean?” demanded Mr. Timperley, stopping short as he was proceed- ing towards the door. ‘“ What can she mean?” he inwardly asked of himself; for as he turned his looks towards her, there was something in the expression of her countenance which again struck him as most peculiar. ‘You are flattered, my dear uncle,” said Cicely, “ that I should have formed such a brilliant match <—you will be able to boast of your niece, the Hon. Mrs. Hardress for the present — Lady Mendlesham hereafter—you are now allied as it were to a very aristocratic family t¢ “And what of all this?” demanded the lawyer sharply. * With such advantages accruing to yourself,” responded Cicely, “ you cannot possibly suffer me to be a dowerless bride. In short, my dear uncle, I have taken it upon myself to promise Hector that my dowry shall amount to thirty thousand pounds.” “ Cicely, you are mad!” exclaimed the lawyer : and he actually for the moment fancied that his niece was taking leave of her senses. *‘T never was more sane in my life,” she re- joined, with an amiable smile, but with a look which implied confidence in the part which she was performing. “ Thirty thousand pounds a “Ridiculous, Cicely!” cried the lawyer, with a gesture of impatience, “Do you think that I am going to give my hard-earned wealth to be dissi- pated by the extravagancies of your patrician husband ?”’ ‘Tt is only a negotiation which I am opening,” answered Cicely: then taking a paper from her bosom, she said, “Is this letter, my dear uncle, worth thirty thousand pounds?” Mr. Timperley, at the sight of that document, started as if bitten by a serpent: most hideously ghastly became his countenance; and it was a strange hollow gaze of dismay aud consternation which he fixed upon his niece. Her looks were now no longer unintelligible to him: he compre- hended the meaning of that calm confidence—that tranquil assurance, which her manner had through- out been displaying. “You see, uncle, that I know everything,” she said impressively: “but without another syllable of discussion let us bring this matter to an issue. Write me a cheque for thirty thousand pounds— or give me your undertaking that that amount shall be forthcoming in the course of to-morrow —and this letter is yours, to be burnt in that fire.” It would be impossible to describe the strange horrified gaze which Mr. Timperley fixed upon Cicely, as she still displayed the letter, but at the same time taking care to hold it in such a man- ner that it could not be suddenly snatched out of her hand. Her own looks now denoted an im- placable determination, though there was nothing overbearing in them. “How came you by that letter?’ asked Mr. Timperley, in a low hollow voice. a ee a ee ee AGNES ; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, eee 155 * T cannot tell you,” answered Cicely. “Suffice it for you to know thatif it be destroyed in yonder fire’—and she pointed to the grate—“ no living soul but myself and you could proclaim what its contents were.” “Ts it so, Cicely ?” ejaculated the lawyer, put- ting the question with tremulous earnestness: “are you telling me the truth? But your hus- band " * Think you I would have entrusted him with such a secret ?”’ cried Mrs. Hardress disdainfully. “Do you suppose that Hector accompanied me willingly into Scotland for the purpose of recog- nising me as his wife? No, no!—your own good sense tel!s you that there was an under-current of circumstances—perhaps coerclon—perhaps strata- gem—on my part. And that something of this sort has actually occurred, you can only too well surmise from the fact of my having obtained a sum of money from my aunt a little while back, wherewith to carry on my proceedings. You see, therefore, that I am no ordinary person—that IL possess energy, perseverance, and prudence, I had my fortune to make—and 1 am making it. L have entrusted to my husband no secret which could in any way give him a power over myself or any one connected with me,” “T never till now, Cicely, comprehended your real character,” answered the lawyer; “though I have flattered myself that none was more skilful than I in reading the human heart. But this sum which you demand $ ““[ dare not take a shilling less,’ interjected Cicely; “for I have promised Hector that my dower shall be thirty thousand pounds.” “ Consider, my dear girl,’ said Mr. Timperley, now adopting a cajoling tone and look, “ the sum is immense! You would not play the part of intimidation and coercion towards your uncle! Have I not given you a home ?—has not your aunt advanced .you money on the mere faith of your assurance that it was for your benefit?” “And am not I doing you an immense service,” exclaimed Cicely, “by putting in your possession this document ?” - “True, true, my dear girl!” ejaculated the lawyer: “I do indeed recognise the extent of this service. And never to your husband—and never to your aunt o “Do you think I would breathe a syllable concerning this?” ejaculatea Cicely, as she held the letter before the lawyer's eyes. “ Understand me well!—or if you understund your own cha- racter, you can all the more easily comprehend maine. I am intensely sellish—I am a hypo- crite and a dissembler, as well as an astute strate- gist. My heart was once a good one—but itis changed. I have now no heart for any one but myself. All my sympathies are concentratedin my own egotism. ‘To achieve my own aggrandise- ment I would trample upon every other cunsidera- tion: I would scruple at no crime, so long as [ had the certainty of shielding myself from its con- sequences. My affection for you is just as much as your’s is for me. The same in respect to my aunt! JI owe neither of you anything; for you were both selfish inoitering me an asylum at your house; aud I was selfish in accepting it. You knew that I was what the world calls a fiue young | woman, and that I should embeijlish your drawing- COMmiclooolkks ee el eee OimM