Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

— 308 —_—— large assortment,—when she beheld the handsome young page Giulio turn abruptly away into a window-recess; and there he stood with his back towards Ciprina as she passed. Indeed it was evident that he affected to be looking down into the garden, and not to perceive her presence there at all; so that it at once struck her he must be concealing some strong emotion. Her first im- pulse was to pass on without appearing to notice the young page: but a sentiment of curiosity induced her toretrace her way; and accosting him, she said, “ Do you happen to know whether the door of the library is unlocked P” “Yes, Signora—I believe so,” replied Giulio, but without altering his position at the casement or turning his countenance towards Ciprina. She now felt convinced that some strong emotion was agitating the young page: her curiosity was still more piqued than at first; and determined, if possible, to gratify it, she sought an excuse for con- tinuing the conversation. “What is it that attracts your attention in the garden, Giulio?” she inquired. “ Nothing, Signora — nothing,” he responded somewhat petulantly: “ only—I mean that I love to—to—look out upon the evergreens ee! * And perhaps you are fond of pictures, Giulio ?” said Ciprina; “as I find you lounging in this gal- lery where there are certainly some beautiful specimens of the painter’s art — and none more remarkable than the portrait exactly opposite.” Giulio started, and flung upon Ciprina a look which was evidently meant to ascertain whether | she had an object in making that observation, or | whether it had been merely thrown out at random. | She now saw that he had been weeping; and he, struck by the thought that he was betraying his emotion, quickly averted his countenance again. “You are unhappy, Giulio?” said Ciprina: “‘and though perhaps it is scarcely seemly for me | ” to question you on such a point “Ob, unhappy ?” he exclaimed, in a sudden paroxysm of excitement, ‘“ Yes—I am unhappy! But not to you, Signora, dare I reveal the cause !— | nor if I did, ought I to expect words of sympathy from your lips. No!—but the laugh of ridicule, or contempt and scorn “4 “Giulio, I am incapable of ridiculing the sor- rows of a fellow-creature,” answered Ciprina. “Therefore, again I say that if it be not unseemly for me to question you—and if you think fit v At this moment it struck both Ciprina and Giulio that the door at the further extremity of the gallery spened for an instant and then closed again, gently though suddenly. Ciprina stopped short, while she and the youth exchanged rapid glances of inquiry. “Methought the door opened,” said Ciprina, “and that it was instantaneously closed again if “The same idea struck me, Signora,’ answered the page: “but yet it could scarcely have been 80 ” *‘ No—it could searcely have been so,” said Ci- prina: “for no one could have hesitated to enter because i She stopped short, and did not give audible ex- pression to the finish of the sentence. What she meant to say was to the effect that no one would retreat from that door on account of her and Giulio being there together. But her pride had checked AGNES; OB, BEAUTY ANP PLEASURE. her ere she had given utterance to words which might almost have been looked upon as savouring of the siznificancy of an overture, or at all events of being invested with a certain degree of impor- tance. “Tt must have been mere fancy, Signors,” said the young page: and with a respectful bow he moved away from the window-recess, bending his steps in the direction of the door which he and Ciprina bad for a moment imagined to have been opened and skut at the further extremity of the gallery. | The young lady could not now seek to detain him ; and she therefore passed on in the opposite direction, towards the library. Her curiosity was still piqued in reference to the handsome young page: and she almost resolved to seek another op- portunity of questioning him. The allusion to the portrait had evidently touched a chord which ‘vibrated in his heart: she knew the intimacy which had subsisted between himself and the Mar- ' chioness—she had seen no alteration of conduct on the part of Lucrezia towards him—and she wondered therefore why the youth should be so | unhappy. | On the following morning, when the Marchio- ness and Ciprina were seated at the breakfast- | table, the former said, “ It is a delicious day, my friend, for the season of the year: and I have conceived a fancy to take a trip to the villa. Will | you accompany meP We will pass a day or two there—or as long a period as you like 2 “ T shall be most happy to accompany you, my dear Lucrezia,” answered Ciprina; “and as for the length of our sojourn at your charming seat in the Vale of Arno, it shall depend entirely upon your own will and pleasure.” | The carriage was ordered to be in readiness at about noon; and Ciprina presently withdrew to her chamber to perform her toilet for the journey. | When, at mid-day, she descended the marble stair- case in company with the Marchioness to enter the carriage, she perceived that Giulio was to accom- pany them, for he was standing at the door of the equipage. He had a pensive melancholy look |—though in other respects his features were en- tlrely composed; and Ciprina observed that in- stead of flinging upon the Marchioness a furtive look of love and admiration as he had often before been wont to do, his eyes were bent down- ward as she lightly placed her hand upon his arm while she ascended into the vehicle. Ciprina fol- lowed—the door was closed— Giulio leapt up ‘nto the rumble behind; and away went the splendid equipage through the streets of Florence. _ | The villa was reached; and the Marchioness said to Ciprina, “I hope, my dear friend, that you will not be dull, or find the time hang heavy upon your hands here to-day; for it is not probable that we shall receive any visits until the morrow— I have invited no company to meet us at din- ner ss “My dear Lucrezia,” exclaimed Ciprina, “ car I not be happy with you? and does not this beau: tiful place possess all the charms and attractiont | requisite to make a sojourn here most agreeable ?” “T trust that you will find it so,” rejoined the Marchioness. “Come! let us walk through the apartments: for since you were last here, various objects of interest have been added, — statues, comilcbooks ~- com