Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

‘= ~ ord » ia 7 of i> r, ene = | 173 to be swelled into a numerous company for the wedding breakfast. There was to be no departure elsewhere for the honeymoon,—this custom being | but little practised amongst the dwellers in that hot climate where travelling was avoided as much as possible. ? | | We have already said that Emily Pinnock | looked very beautiful; and we may now observe | — that ther natural. charms were enhanced by the ex- quisite taste of her becomimg toilet. Her counte- nuance was animated with happiness—the rich car- | bation mantled beneath her transparent brunette skin—and her eyes, so large and handsome, shone with a kindred lustre. The young bridegroom seemed in every way well worthy of that beautiful bride. He was dressed handsomely and eldgantly, the costume setting off his slender well-shaped figure to the utmost advantage. His countenance likewise beamed with pleasure and delight; and he gazed with mingled pride and fondness upon the beautiful quadroon as she clung lovingly to his arw. There were yet, as we have said, other guests to be awaited; and there was still more than half- an-hour to intervene before the carriages would arrive to take the bridal party into Kingston, where the holy ceremony was to be performed. Indeed, it was now only a little past ten o’clock in the forenoon: but the bride as well as the | bridesmaids had their bonnets on and were in per- fect readiness to set out when the proper moment should come. “I hope the Miss Thurlows and their father will not keep us waiting,” said Mr. Pinnock, looking at his watch. “There is however little fear of that; for my friend Thurlow is always punctual in his appointments as well as with his payments,” “And I saw Jane Thurlow last evening,” said the elder Miss Adair; “and she assured me that her father, herself, and her sister would be here by half past ten at the latest.” “And Mr. Adair?” inquired Mr. Pinnock: *' he lef¢ you to come alone—eh ?” “I have already told you, Mr. Pinnock,” re- sponded Miss Adair, “that be was compelled to drive into Kingston after setting us down at Mount Pleasant; for you know that a mail- steamer leaves for England at noon; and my father us “Oh, to be sure!” ejaculated Mr. Pinnock ; “business must be attended to; and your father | would not be the rich man that he isif he had | But you said that he | ever neglected his effairs. would be here presently ?” **He had merely some instructions to give to his head clerk,” replied Miss Adair; “and I know that having done this he will at once drive hither without delay.” “Here he comes!” ejaculated Mr. Pinnock, who from the drawing-room cusement had just caught sight of Mr. Adair’s carriage approaching up the avenue. In a few minutes Mr, Adair had joined the oridal party. | | | | | He warmly greeted Gustavus, to | whom he had tuken a liking although their ac- | quaintance was so brief; and he addressed Emily } with a kind of friendly familiarity, for he had known her from her childhood. He then tarned to converse with Mr, Pinnock, while the two Miss AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PIEASURE. le Adairs joined Gustavus and Emily at the far 0 | extremity of the apartment. “No particular news from England by the mail. that came in yesterday,” said Mr. Adair. “ Every- thing is quiet there—though on the Continent of Europe things continue to be very much un- | settled:”—for my readers will bear in mind that | these scenes which we are relating occurred at the close of the memorable revolutionary year 1848. . “T had so many letters by yesterday’s mail,” said Mr. Pinnock, “that I really had not time to look over the newspapers, beyond glancing at the Markets and the Money Articles: and then [ for- got to bring the newspapers home with me from my oflice last evening. Not however that I sup- pose [ should have read much of them; for what with the preparations for tu-day’s ceremony % “To be sure! to be sure!” ejaculated Mr. Adair; “ your time has been thoroughly oecupied. Nor on wy part did I find much leisure to look over what may be termed the English domestic news though, by the bye, I recollect reading something about a murder which has been com- mitted in London and which appears to have pro- duced a very great sensation.” “Indeed ?” said Mr. Pinnock. “But for my part I seldom take the trouble to read such narra- tives.” “Nor Iasa rule,” rejoined Mr. Adair. “In- deed, if you were to ask me to give you an accu- rate sketch of this particular case to which I am alluding, I do not think that I could perform the task. However, it seems that a youog girl——I forget her name was arrested upwards of a month back on a charge of murdering some old rs 4 ol lady of no very excellent character, It tuok place in the neighbourhood of St. Juhao’s Wood “Only listen to papa!” said the ellest Misa Adair, in a subdued tone to her sister, Gustavus, and Emily: “how can he think of talking of such horrible things on an occasion when nothing but the most cheerful topics ought to enter into the ~ discourse !” “ Oh, leave them to themselves, my dear sister !” said the younger Miss Adair. ‘“ When they have finished their present subject, they will talk of the prices of sugar, and ginger, and so forth, until the carriages arrive,” * And what is the name of this young mure deress of whom you are speaking?” asked Mr, Pinnock, in a careless conversational way, as he re- mained at the other extremity of the roum with his friend Mr. Adair. “Well, I really forget,” replied the latter gentleman, “I have the worst head in the world for remembering names—unless they are connected with business,” he added with a smiles ‘and yet I recollect, when glancing over the Lon- don newspapers last night, there was something in the girl’s name which struck me with the force of a coincidence ; but I can’t for the hfe of me now call to mind what it was. However, it is of no consequence—though, as I just now said, the crime seems to have created great excitement in the British metropolis, The accused young female appears to be very interesting aud prepussess- ~ ing bP] OF course!” ejaculated Mr. Pinnock: “ ail Gomichbooks:.