Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

196 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, from gaol, or at all events of surrounding him > derstand, Miss Barrington, why you have come to | with every comfort and luxury for the remainder consult me; and [I feel flattered. We must sit | of his life. + down and discuss the business calmly and quietly.” | It was in the forenoon, a few days after Wini-~ Winifred could however, as the reader is already | aware, tell Mr. Wardour very little concerning her seated in her neatly furnished apartment, occupied — grandfather’s affairs: she did not even know at with the work which Agnes Evelyn had supplied whose suit he was a prisoner, though she did not her. She was thinking of her grandfather and of think that it was Sir Jobn Dalham himself who Gustavus,—wondering how long it would be be- had originally put him into gaol. Indeed, she was fore Mr. Wardour would ascertain anything defi- pretty sure that the cause of his arrest a quarter nitive respecting the position of the old man’s of a century back was in some way distinct from | affairs—wondering likewise whether her cousin the lawsuit. would ever return to his native land, and if so, “Well, my dear girl,” said Mr. Wardour, “I | when she might expect to behold him again,—she will institute private inquiries and ascertain what | was thus engaged in profound reflection, we say, { can of the matter. 1 daresay that in the course when she heard a loud double knock at the front of a few days I shall be enabled to obtain acom- door. It was given as if by one who was either plete insight into your grandfather’s affairs, so far impatient or imperious; and therefore it startled as the causes of his arrest and long detention are her somewhat. Then she heard the front door concerned. In the meanwhile keep your own open and shut; and then the hasty footsteps of a secret; and when the package arrives from Liver- man were ascending the stairs, Who could this pool, you can let me know. [I willintroduce you be? Not Mr. Dalham: Ais movements were slow to an honest dealer in bullion who will give youthe | and even languid—but these steps were now ad- best price for your gold; and we will then invest | vancing rapidly! And they had passed the first the money in your name in the Bank of England, | landing: it was evidently towards Winifred’s own until we decide how it is to be disposed of.” apartments that the visitor was coming! Could Winifred thanked Mr. Wardour for his kind | it be Gustavus? No—utterly impossible! How advice; and she was rising to depart, when he | | absurd was the thought! But the door opened— said, “You will not any longer work with your and it was Gustavus who thus abruptly made his needle, Winifred? You had better let me become | appearance ! your temporary banker for such funds as you may; ‘“ Winifred—dearest Winifred !” require.” & Gustavus—dearest Gustavus!” “Ob, no, sir!” she exclaimed: “and yet thank! These were the ejaculations which burst forth you for your kindness! I shall make no altera-|in a wild thrilling joy from the lips of the. two tion in my mode of life ;—and perbaps indeed the | cousins; and the next moment they were clasped whole of that money wil! be required to release my | in each other’s arms. The tears streamed from poor grandfather from prison !” the eyes of both: their very happiness took the “Well, well,” said Mr. Wardour, “we shall | sembiance of a convulsing g..ef—for they sobbed see:’’—and it was with a real paternal affection | and gave vent to short, broken, unintelligible that he shook her by the hand. | ejaculations. Again and again did Gustavus congratulation: and then he said, “I think I un- Winifred went forth from the barrister’s cham- | strain Winifred to his breast; and Oh! how her bers; and returning to her own lodgings, she sat | heart throbbed and how her bosom palpitated as down to her work—though she could not now} she received and gave back the fond fervid caresses progress so rapidly as was her wont; for her heart | that were lavished upon her! So ineffable, so was full of joy at the idea that her old grand- | ecstatic, so all-absorbing was the delight expe- father might possibly be soon freed from impri- | rienced by this youthful pair, that they thought sonment. As for Mr. Wardour,—when Winifred | not of anything beside the happiness of this meet- had left him, indeed just as the door was closing | ing and that they were restored to eaeh other, behind her, he could not help ejaculating, “ Admi- | Gustavus forgot Emily Pinnock as completely as rable giri ! you are truly one in a thousand! Nine} if he had never known her; and Winifred forgot hundred and ninety-nine out of that thousand, | her vow to stifle her love for her cousin as com- would have at once taken from me as much as I | pletely as if she had never formed it! thought fit to advance—and would have set off to| At length what may be termed the delirious buy fine clothes and to enjoy a holiday. But yow | and almost frenzied violence of their joy began to return to your needle; and you are afraid even of | abate. Winifred disengaged herself from her touching a shilling, lest there should not be suffi- | cousin’s embrace—but taking his hand, she held it cient left to effect the liberation of your grand-/ pressed between both her own, and she gazed sire !” upon him with all that fond interest which seeks Three or four days passed, during which Wini- | to assure itself that the countenance which two fred’s looks greatly improved. She lost that care- | years ago went away so handsome in its youthful worn aspect which recent misfortunes had left | beauty, had come back unmarred by any of the behind: her step grew lighter—the tone of her | incidents through which the world-wide traveller voice more cheerful. She had fully resigned her-} had passed. And it was with a similar feeling self to what she deemed the necessity of thinking | that Gustavus contemplated Winifred; and satis- no more of Gustavus otherwise than as her very | factory to both was this survey. Both had grown dear cousin; and resignation itself is mental placi- | since the separation: the youth had become more dity. But she had real causes for happiness: the | manly—the girl more womanly; and the radiance prospects of Gustavus were excellent, according to | of joy rendered each countenance more attractive the statements in his letter—and she herself pos- | and interesting in the eyes of the other. sessed the means of either releasing her grandsire| Again they embraced; and then they sat down Gomicbooks: cor f fred’s interview with Mr. Wardour—and she was | «