Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

—_—s en —— seceived this document P” 360 -while bis hair was grey, his teeth were remarkably fine and well preserved, and his eyes were very bright. He was dressed in a complete suit of black which seemed to be entirely new, for the fresh gloss was still upon the cloth: his hat and gloves likewise appeared as if they were purchases made within the last few hours. ‘You are Miss Barrington?” he said, at once taking her hand with a species of friendly fami- liarity; and he contemplated her countenance with an expression of the deepest interest. “ Pray be seated, sir,” she said, wondering who he could possibly be—but desirous to find a pre- text for sitting down and escaping from this close survey, lest he should discover that which could scarcely be any longer maintained a secret from the eyes of even the most casual observer. The stranger sat down, his eyes still contem.- plating her countenance, but iu a perfectly re- spectful manner, and with an air of paterzal in- terest. ‘““And you are Miss Barrington?” he repeated, as if she were even more sweetly prepossessing than he could have previously imagined from any description he had heard or any idea he had formed of her. “But I must not keep you in suspense. I am—I am that Mr. Hargrave eé “Ah!” ejaculated Winifred, almost starting with amazement; “the gentleman who wrote the letter from Jamaica about Mr. Timperley ?” “The same,’ responded Mr. Hargrave. “I arrived in London late last night—I have come from Jamaica—and I bring you, Miss Barrington —I bring you from your cousin Gustavus de ““Oh!”—and she clasped her hands in joyous anticipation of what was to follow. “1 bring you the document which “God be thanked!” cried Winifred, bounding forward from her seat to take the packet which Mr. Hargrave had just produced from his pocket. “ 4 thousand, thousand thanks, my dear sir!” she exclaimed: “for now my grandsire can be free!” “TI called just now at the prison,” said Mr. Hargrave, “with the intention of delivering this document into the hands of your grandsire—for such was the promise which I made to your cousin Gustavus in Jamaica: but then it suddenly struck me that as it was you, Miss Barrington, who had entrusted him with the document, to you should it berestored. Therefore I came hither.” “ And Gustavus?” said Winifred; “is he well? is he happy P” “He is well,” replied Mr. Hargrave; “and in ” justice to himself must I give you the assurance that it was not bis fault if that important docu- ment has been 80 long kept back.” * All this you shall explain to me another time exclaimed Winifred, nearly wild with the excite- ment of joy; “ for this very day may my grandsire be released !” “Que word, Miss Barrington—and only one word !” cried Hargrave. “ Speak, sir,” she exclaimed. “It is my duty to display all courtesy towards yourself !” “Nay, I will not detain you a minute,” re- joined Hargrave; “for I appreciate and respect your desire to hasten your venerable relative’s re- lease. But tell me, Miss Barrington—was it from Mr. Timperley direct that you in the first instance | ? - ee a child.” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY ANP PLEASURE. “Oh, no, Mr. Hargrave!” replied Winifred. “It was his niece, the Hon. Mrs. Hardress, who at the intercession of a young lady—a Miss Evelyn “Miss Evelyn,” “* Who—where “Good heavens, are you ill?” cried Winifred, looking anxiously in the misanthrope’s counte- nance “ No—it is nothing,” he answered, as calmly as he had before been speaking. ‘ Miss Evelyn you say, I think—you mentioned her Christian name sf “ No—I did not: but it is Agnes. And I can assure you, Mr. Hargrave, that Agnes Evelyn has proved a dear good friend to me!” “I suppose—I suppose,” said Mr. Hargrave, “that the young lady resides in the neighbour- hood—perhaps in the same street-—and therefore you are neighbours fe “Not so, Mr. Hargrave,” replied Winifred, somewhat surprised at so much questioning. “Miss Evelyn lives at a beautiful place called Sidney Villa, in the neighbourhood of St. John’s Wood.” “ Farewell, Miss Barrington !” said Mr. Har- grave, now hurriedly rising from his seat, and warmly pressing Winifred’s hand. “ Lose not @ moment in effecting the release of your grandsire ! I will see you soon again.” He then hurried from the house; and Winifred, so soon as she was alone, went down upon her knees and poured forth her gratitude to heaven for the restoration of the document. Then she rushed up to her chamber, all wild with joy: she put on her bonnet and shawl —and she sped down the staircase again. In the hall-passage she met Mrs. Slater, who had just come in. “The deed is arrived! if has come! I have got it !” exclaimed Winifred, triumphantly displaying the packet. ‘“ Hasten to the prison—tell my grandfather that to-day he shall be free! I am burrying off to Mr. Cartwright to put everything in train for his release! Ah! Mrs. Slater, it is strange that your handsome first-floor should have become vacant last Monday; for now I at once engage it for the accommodation of my grand- father !” Mrs. Slater gave vent to a few ejaculations ez- pressive of her delight at the restoration of the deed; and while she sped away in one direction, to execute the commission entrusted to her, Winifred went off in another to put matters in train for her grandsire’s release. Mrs. Slater performed her own part with delicacy and caution,—not breaking the intelligence too hastily to the old man, but communicating the joyous tidings gradiently and deliberately. Old Barrington had moreover been prepared, more or less, to expect that the period of his release was not very far distant, —though it was now anticipated by a couple of months: thus, all things considered, there was nothing in the shape of a sudden shock of happiness, so to speak, to overwhelm the aged captive, Yet the tears ran down his cheeks—he whimpered while he smiled— he snivelled and laughed—cried and chuckled—and would perhaps even have danced if his friend Mr. Robus had not bidden him, with some degree of severity, “act like a man, and not play the part of repeated Mr. Hargrave. —— —_ CONnnicloools