Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 367: what you’re looking at

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

. thing you said that might have explained your meaning; for I fear I’ve got a little deaf lately.” “ And a little blind too,” rejoined Robus curtly. “ However, it’s no business of mine only it’s a great pity you see, people will talk and I think that if your grand-daughter had been wise enough to retire into seclusion two or three weeks ago, before her position became so unmistakably perceptible ¥ An ejaculation of mingled anger and terror burst from old Barrivgton’s lips, as an idea of his companion’s meaning now flashed in unto his mind. “ Mr. Robus,” he said, “ how dare you, sir, jest on such a topicP But confess it was a joke! Ha! ba! you wicked dog! you are always think- ing of the girls! But really, Mr. Robus ”—and here the old man became serious again—“ itisa jest, sir, which in connexion with my grand- daughter—a young lady—lI cannot permit.” At this moment the poor prisoner who had been preparing Mr. Barrington’s breakfast, came up to the spot to announce that it was in readiness; and the old captive said, “I will presently speak to you again, Robus, on that point: I will tell you my mind! It is very unhandsome on your part— very wrong and unkind But however, we will talk it over presently !” Old Barrington proceeded into the ward, and seated bimself at the table where his morning meal was spread. He tried to persuade himself that it was all nothing but a joke on the part of his friend Robus: but still he could not altogether succeed. There was a degree of uneasiness ex- cited in his mind; and it was now increasing. He could not eat with his usual appetite : he kept looking at his watch—he was impatient for the arrival of Winifred. Shortly after ten o’clock in the forenoon, she made her appeararce. Her grandsire received her with even more than the usual fondness of his welcome ; for as he looked at her sweet interest- ing face, he ejaculated within himself, “ Ridicu- lous! impossible! Winifred could not do wrong!” He walked with her in the court-yard ; and for gome time all bis misgivings were completely banished, until bis eye suddenly resting upon her shape, the thought—the horrible thought—again flashed in unto his mind, to the effect that there might be something more than either mere jest or scandal in the allusious of Mr. Robus. *“ Winnie—my dear Winnie,” he said, taking her hand and pressing it between both his own, “tell me, my dear girl—tell me—tell your poor old grandfather that you have never done any- thing wrong # * Good heavens !”’ she murmured, glancing with affright up into the old man’s couatenance, while her own face became deadly pale. “Ob, Winnie!” ke said, in a whining snivelling tone ; “ my darling girl—my only comfort !—you —you—have not——No, no! impossible! You have not any secret which you would be afraid to reveal ?” “A secret?’ gasped Winifred: and it was a species of horror, or rather a dismayed stupor, that was now expressed upon her countenance, “Tell me, Winnie—tell me—Ob, I beseech you to tell me,” exclaimed the old man, “are you not still as worthy as ever of my loye?”’—and his tone a AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, 359 became suddenly firm as it assumed the accent of solemn adjuration. Winifred seemed for a moment as # she were about to be overwhelmed by the horror, anguish, and distress of her feelings; and then suddenly displaying a cold composure, she said, ‘ Grand- father, I do not understand you! Such words from the lips of any other would be an insult: but from your's they come like something that is unin- telligible !” “Well, well, Winnie,” said the old man, his confidence now completely restored again. “I was wrong don’t think anything more about it, my dear child!—it was very stupid on my part! But that impertinent fellow Robus, who ris as full of venom as a serpent—and all because I shall get out of prison before him for of course I shall get out next Term—shall I not, dear Winnie P” “Ob, God grant that you may indeed leave this dreadful place very shortly!” said Wini'red, in a low tone, but which was nevertheless full of anguish. She quickly invented some excuse for leaving ber grandfather for the present; and she hastened forth from the prison. Scarcely able to keep back her tears, she hurried along the streets: she reached Mrs, Slater’s house—she ascended to her own apartment—and tossing off her bonnet and scarf, she fell upon her knees by the side of her couch, giving vent to an agony of weeping. “Oh !” she murmured passionately, amidst con- vulsive sobs, “even Ae at length suspects it! Yes —suspects that I am dishonoured and disgraced! Malignant tongues have whispered it in his ear! What can I do? To return again to that place, is impossible !—to abandon the old man is equally impossible! .To fall upon my knees before him and confess No, no! that is even still more impossible, if indeed there be grades and distinc- tions in the sphere of impossibility itself! Ob, what can I do?” Winifred wrung her hands in despair; she rose from her suppliant posture—she passed into the sitting-room—she sank upon a seat, and endea- voured to reason calmly with herself: but she could not. Her grief again burst forth with pas- sionate violence: but this time it was of sufficient duration to afford a vent for ber overcharged heart, and to leave relief behind it. When at length she was enabled to deliberate seriously with herself, her looks became composed—and her features re- sumed their sweetly interesting expressiun, as from her bosom she took forth a tiny velvet bag and pressed it to her lips. Some one was now tapping at the door of her apartment: the little velvet bag was quickly re- placed in the bosom of her dress; and she bade the person enter. It was the maid-servant of the house, who came to announce that a gentleman desired to see Miss Barrington on very particular business. “ Mrs. Slater is not at home,” added the girl “and I have shown the gentleman into her par- lour.” Winifred descended the stairs; and on entering tbe parlour, she found herself in the presence of a tall gentleman whose age was somewhere be- tween forty and fifty, though it was not easy to conjecture it with avy degree of precision; for es ee ee @innl Comicloookks.c