Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

Ee ee eee 3A6 she had previously more or less entertained to the effect that her cousin might have been ren- dered the victim of foul play in the metropolis: it proved that he was alive ;—and indeed the cir- cumstance seemed all the more probable from the account which he himself had given Winifred of his wife’s jealous and self-willed disposition. Taking it for granted, therefore, that Gustayus had been compellec by Emily to embark with such exceed- jng abruptness, and that in the hurry of his de- parture he had forgotten all about the deed which had been confided to him, she wrote a letter ad- dressed to Gustavus, at Mr. Pinnock’s abode, Mount Pleasant, near Kingston, Jamaica, beseech- ing him to forward the deed with the least pos- sible delay after the receipt of that communica- tion. In this letter Winifred did not actually reproach Gustavus for his precipitate flight and | | * a a — res re AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ing the abysm and uniting those families in the persons of these two scions thereof! And then too, looking at the whole matter in a more worldly point of view, it was veritably to Roderick Dal- ham’s interest to espouse Winifred, as each day the chanees multiplied in favour of the gain of her grandsire’s law-suit:—and thus, although Rode- rick Dalham’s love had from the moment of ite inception in his heart been high above all selfish considerations, yet it could not be otherwise than strengthened when circumstances tended in their progress more and more to convince him of the expediency of linking his destinies with those of Winifred Barrington. The reader has now obtained a deeper insight than he before possessed into the mind of Roderick Dalbam : and the feelings with which this indi- vidual repaired to his appointment with Winifred the total silence he had maintained after parting | may be imagined. He knew that it was to be an from her at her lodgings: but she represented the | interview of importance: he felt a presentiment uneasiness she had experienced and which had | that circumstances had led her to some fixed and been shared with her grandsire—she spoke like- wise of the delay occasioned in the emancipation of the old man for want of that important docu- ment, Aud now came the moment when Winifred Barrington and Roderick Dalham were again to | self! It was noon on the 21st of Feburary; and | solve of never beholding Winifred again! —per- Winifred | haps on the other band I may learn from her meet. once more was Roderick punctual, positive decision in reference to the topic which at their previous meeting he had ventured to revive; and ina word, he said to himself as he entered into Winifred’s presence, “ Within this hour some- thing must ensue of the utmost importance to my- Perhaps I may be forced to adopt the re- —always neat and tasteful in her attire—had now | lips that she has decided upon giving me a legal perhaps taken some little extra pains with her | right to become her defender and protector!” toilet, as any young lady might do when expect- ing a visitor, and particularly when the business of the interview was of the importance which might now de attached to it. At first when Rode- rick Dalham was conducted by Mrs. Slater into Winifred’s sitting-room, the colour mantled upon the young. lady’s countenance—then her cheeks became very pale—and thus for a few instants she seemed to be embarrassed and confused, until by an effort she regained an outward air of cempo- sure. But now her cheeks continued pale: yet very interesting did she seem; and it was with the most unfeigned admiration that Roderick Dalham caught himself gazing upon her. For he, the man of the world, loved Winifred—yes, he loved her !— and for no selfish reason was it that he had first thought of making her his bride. His mind was eonstituted with the experiences of forty years— for this was his age: he had been wild too in his time—he had seen much of life—he was not a man lightly to be hurried onward by any mere ro- mantic whim or caprice—and therefore the love of; such an individual was based upon the most solid foundation. It was not a love that had been speedily formed: it had grown upon him. The more he had becdme acquainted with Winifred’s good qualities, the greater was the impression they had made upon his mind; and when he had seen her crushed down by the weight of calamities, it had appeared sweet to him to raise her up—to seve her from being trampled completely nnder foot—that she might thenceforth cling to him asa defender and protector. And thus, having saved the life of Winifred, it was no wonder if Roderick Dalham should regard her as a being indescribably more dear to him than she previously was—that he should feel as if heaven, after having suffered circumstances to create so wide a gulf between the two families, should decide upon ultimately bridg- . a We have already noticed the perturbation of Winifred’s feelings when Roderick was introduced to the little sitting-apartment where she received him; but recovering her self-possession, she said, “You have heard from Mr. Wardour how crueily distressed and anxious I have been on account of my cousin: you are not therefore in ignorance of the reason which impelled me to beg the postpone- ment of our meeting for three days?” “Yea, Winifred,” answered Roderick; “ Mr. Wardour has given me some few, details upon the subject; and Oh! you know not how afflicted I wae when I learnt that you were thus experiencing fresh misfortunes !” * Alas, Mr. Dalham!” responded Winifred, “I sometimes think that I was born for a career of sorrow: but that idea would be an outrage to the deity himself !” “Oh, yes, Winifred!” exclaimed Mr. Dalham; “pray be more hopeful! You are so young that it is doubly, doubly painful to hear such language come from your lips! Ab, Winifred! if it de- pended upon myself—if I were the guardian of your happiness ‘5 ‘Listen to me, Mr. Dalham,” she said. “ When I gave you the appointment the other day, it was with the fervid hope at the time that the emanci- pation of my grandsire was immiuent; and that thus the first step would have been taken towards reinstating him in his former position of prosperity in the world. And then I should have besought you to seek his presence—to throw yourself at his feet—to proclaim how you had saved my life when I stood in the dock of a criminal tribunal!—and —and, Mr. Dalham, if you had succeeded in dis- arming my grandfather of his rancour towards you —then—then,” continued Winifred, hesitating and blushing, “ you might have asked or demanded his assent “i cComilcbooks ‘= _— "oa hc ee