Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

ie as an excuse for providing her with the 4 im- mediate means of a comfortable subsistence. Winifred was not therefore compelled to seek in any other quarter for work; and setting herself to her task, she seemed to have relapsed into her former mode of life. So she had as far as industry went, and so far as paying the same devoted at- tention as ever to the wants of her grandfather: but in other respects Winifred was changed, The iron of misfortune had penetrated deeply into her soul, making a woynd which could only be healed in time if the circumstances of her life progressed favourably, but which the slightest additional cala- mity would lay bare anew. That pensiveness which had always characterized her countenance, had now deepened : her cheeks, always pale, were still more colourless than was their wont: a tear more frequently glided forth from her soft blue eye; and she had a slightly careworn look as if having recovered from a recent illness, She spoke less to Mrs, Slater, to her grandfather, or to whom- soever else she was brought in contact with; and her voice had a subdued and softly clouded tone, as if it had grown accustomed to keep back sighs. Indeed, it was impossible that any young female of Winnie’s age could have gone through so much without experiencing the lingering influence of those dread misfortunes. About three weeks had passed from the date of the trial: and it was now the end of November. One morning the post brought a letter, addressed to Winifred in the well-known handwriting of Gustavus; and her countenance became animated with joy. Be it recollected that she was utterly ignorant of the attraction which had detained Gustavus in Jamaica: she simply believed that he was waiting to obtain a passage as junior officer in a ship to bring him to Rngland. With trembling hands she tore open the letter; and the feelings which she experienced on perusing it were of the strongest and most conflicting description, In that letter Gustavus told her how he had become possessed of a treasure, consisting of gold ore and. dust worth about fourteen or fifteen thousand pounds; and all this treasure her cousin had sent home for the use of herself and her grandfather. It had been shipped to her: she was to be the recipient of it: for Gustavus expressed his convic- tion that she would use the little fortune in a manner most conducive to the interests of their venerable relative. Here was indeed joy for Wini- fred! She could scarcely believe her eyes—her brain reeled—and she would have fainted had she not exerted an almost preter-human power Of self- command in order that she might finish the letter. Then she went on to read how Gustavus had received from Mr. Pinnock certain business-offers which would at once give him a good position, with perhaps a prospect of partnership in the worthy merchant's establishment; and how there- fore he had decided for the present upon remain- ing altogether at Kingston. Gustavus in his letter dwelt somewhat emphatically upon having sent oyer the whole of the treasure to his cousin and grandfather; and the reader will comprehend the motives which influenced him at the time he had thus written, when he was endeavouring to place a salve upon his own conscience and quiet its qualms on account of the perfidy of which he more LS ee ee oe dtl AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. or less felt himself to be guilty towards Winifred. 195 But as Winnie now read this letter, she had not the slightest suspicion of any sinister or hidden design on the part of her cousin; and she there- fore looked upon the transmission of the whole of the treasure as a proof of his unchangeable good- ness of heart. Winifred was likewise of far too unselfish a disposition not to be rejoiced at the excellent prospects which Gustavus now had be- fore him: yet on the other hand she naturally felt grieved at the idea that a lengthened period might elapse ere she again saw him. But then she said to herself, “And yet perhaps it is all for the better! Of me be must not think again as he may have been thinking! He will find a bride amongst the daughters of the rich planters of that island,—one whom he will not be ashamed to acknowledge as his wife, and against whom sus- picion has never rested!” It was a long time that morning before Wini- fred Barrington could even so far compose her feelings as to descend to Mrs. Slater’s parlour and show her kind friend the letter. - Indeed its con- tents were sufficient to upset the reason of that poor girl, who at the time she received it was working for her bread, ‘and who thus suddenly - found herself rich; for the treasure had been sent on board the same vessel which brought the letter, and therefore it was already in England. At length, however, Winifred sought her good friend Mrs. Slater: and when that worthy creature be- came acquainted with its contents, she seemed as if she could dance for joy. She instantaneously insisted that Winifred should hasten away to the prison and communicate the news to Mr. Bar- rington: but Winnie had already made up her mind to take the advice of her friends upon this point. She saw that Gustavus must have had strong motives in addressing the package to her- self, and in so earnestly enjoining her to see that its contents were disposed of in a manner most beneficial to the old man; and her naturally quick intelligence had f\thomed those motives. ** No,” she said to Mrs. Slater ; “I will not im- mediately show my grandfather this letter. In the first place it contains a piece of intelligence which must be broken delicately and by degrees to one of his age and shattered nerves; and in the second place, even if he survived the shock of joy, he would be for instantaneously expending this sum in the prosecution of the suit by which he hopes to gain a far larger fortune. I will go and consult Mr. Wardour.” Mrs. Slater recognised, when the exuberance of her joy was past, the sound sense of this reason- ing; and it was agreed-that the affair should in the meanwhile be kept a profound secret. Off went Winifred to Mr. Wardour’s chambers; and she found that gentleman seated in his private room, at a table covered with briefs and law- books, all apparently in the most ‘‘ admired disorder.” He received Winifred with kindness ; and he was immediately struck by the animation which per- | vaded her countenance. She could not speak—she was gasping for breath under the influence of her | varied feelings: but as she sank upon a seat, she handed him the letter. He took and read it; and his own countenance speedily expanded with joy and satisfaction. Seizing Winifred’s hand, he pressed it in warmest — = ee el COMmiclooolkks Olin