Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 363: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 356 ealled to his mind: all his love for his cousin had become resuscitated, mingling with a profound sympathy and compassion as well as with a deep remorse; so that by a very natural reaction of the feelings he experienced a proportionate rage against Emily for the monstrous cheat, so unaccountable to him, which she had practised in reference to that document. Hoe was now compelled to look upon his own wife in the light of a persecutor of his relatives—that venerable grandsire and that well-beloved Winifred. It only required such a setting-in of so strong a tide of emotions as this to make him retrospect with bitterness upon all the various acts and machinations which Emily had from the first practised,—the stealing of the gold from himself, then the stealing of the gold from Winifred, her perseverance in separating him from Winifred, the tyranny she had exercised over bim in Europe, the dissipations in which she had plunged him, the whole affair about the document, and the manner in which she had kidnapped him as it were on board the vessel. A burning sense of wrong was engendered in his mind ; and Emily was the wrong-doer! Forgotten was her beauty : scattered to the winds were all the lingering in- fluences of her siren wiles and voluptuous bland- ishments! Gustavus felt himself to be altogether & new man—an altered being —a regenerated creature. Ten minutes elapsed before he returned to the spot where he had left Mr, Hargrave. The mis- anthrope was now seated upon a bank by the side of the road; one hand supported his head—the other held a document: the envelope lay upon the ground. He was plunged into the profoundest reflection,— so profound indeed, that he did not observe the youth’s approach until his shadow was thrown upon the earth before him. “Ah!” ejaculated the misanthrope; and it was with a sudden start that he thus recognised the presence of Gustavus. “Well, my dear sir,” said the youth; “that document * “Is of all the importance which has been at- tached to it,” rejoined Mr. Hargrave. “I know enough of law to be aware of that !” “Ah!” exclaimed Gustavus joyfully; “then though the release will come tardily, yet that liberation will be effected! Let me look at the deed. Ah!” he again exclaimed, as he took it from the misanthrope’s hand; “it bears a far back date :’"—then reading the endorsement, he said, * Joshua Waldron first of all—afterwards Thomas Timperley 4 “Yes, yes,” ejaculated Mr. Hargrave, “those are the names!’’—and it was almost with a fierce impatience that he snatched the document from young Barrington’s hand, “And now what am [I to do, sir?” inquired Gustavus. “As I am going to Europe immediately-———” You, Mir. Hargrave?” “Yes—I. By the very next packet! And ab! when | bethink me,” exclaimed the misan- thrope, “there is one which leaves Kingston this very day!” * But I was ‘not aware,’ said Gustavus, “of apy such intention om your part ¥ “Perhaps not,” ejaculated the misanthrope courtly: “I am not in the habit of communicating es es - — — rr A ee ee ees my intentions But no matter!’ he continued, suddenly throwing off his cynical severity and bitterness; “it is not the less true, my dear boy, that I am going to Europe; and if you permit me, I will be the bearer of this deed to your grand- father. I hope you can trust me, Gustavus ?—you know that I would not for the world deceive ou!” “Oh, my dear sir!” exclaimed the youth en- thusiastically, “with the exception of my rela- tives, you are almost the only person in the world whom I dare trust! But let me go with you!” “No, my dear boy,” rejoined Mr. Hargrave, pressing his hand with a fervour that seemed even affectionate: “it must not be! Remember that you are married rs * Accursed marriage !”—and Gustavus stamped his foot with rage. “ Nevertheless you are married—and therefore henceforth you can be nothing to Winifred but a cousin, and she must be nothing else to you. It were most unkind—most imprudent—wrong in every sense—for you to throw yourself in her way; for after all you have told me, I feel confi- dent that if you were to meet again, such meeting would only be attended with the saddest memo- ries,” *‘ Alas, alas! it is but too true!” said Gustavus, quivering with’ excitement. “But this spot has now become hateful to me—my wife likewise is hateful 2 “Gustavus, you must not speak thus!” inter- rupted Mr. Hargrave. ‘“‘ You are married—and though your wife has not behaved well to you, yet for a thousand reasons must you study to make the best of your position. Do you agree that I shall take the document with me ?—and J pledge myself that the very first thing to be done by me on arriving in London, will be to deliver it into the hands of your grandsire.” “Yes, I agree,’ said Gustavus. more ve “Not another word!” interjected the misan- thrope. ‘Allis now understood between us. Ah! when I bethink me, do you know how this docu- ment found its way into your cousin’s handsP Did she receive it direct from Mr. Timperley ?” “7 do not know,” answered Gustavus. “Our conversation that day when she gave it to me, was so hurried—I was in such an excited state—that if she told me any particular details, I have for- gotten them: yet my impression is that she simply said it was a document which Mr, Tim- perley had given up. But why doyouaskP Is there anything of importance connected with the mode in whichit came into Winifred’s hanas ?” “ No—nothing, nothing,” answered Hargrave quickly. ‘“‘It was a mere passing curiosity. And now, Gustavus, farewell! [ will write to you from England; I will send you all needful tidings of your grandfather and cousin. Farewell, my dear boy !—and conduct yourself leniently and forgiv- ingly towards your wife; for remember that she is your wife, and you cannot—you must not separate from her!” Thus speaking, Mr. Hargrave wrung the youth’s hand with fervour: he wrung it again and again ; and then hurried away, taking the document with him. Barrington stood rooted to the spot like the mute effigy of despair; for he felt as if he were * But once ee ee me COMmiclbooolks —_—_— er, 4 ee ee rene ee (Q)