Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

LT a et te et Ss — A I TI a ttt ew AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. vexed with that nasty, crabbed, ill-tempered fellow Robus, who wanted to make out that your grand- father ought to remain in prison all his life rather than violate an oath which he had taken ? Ah! an oath P” said Winifred, with a singular expression of countenance. “Yes,” said Mrs, Slater; “the foolish oath which you and I have beard him take over and over again, that he would never leave the prison unless it were to ride away in his own car- riage.” “Ah!” said Winifred ; “and Mr. Robus has been taunting my grandfather upon this sub- ject ?” “Yes— but I cut him short,” replied Mrs. Slater ; “and I brought the old gentleman out to walk in the yard; so we've been lounging up and down here for tho last two or three hours.— But here is your grandfather !” Mr. Barrington now reappeared from the dor- mitory, where his toilet had been hastily changed ; and it at once struck both Winifred and Mrs, Slater that he had a more jaunty air than ever they had before observed—that he walked more up- right —and with a certain elasticity of step re- placing the dragging heaviness which had_been wont to characterize the motion of his limbs. An exulting expression diffused the glow of anima- tion over Winifred’s countenance, as she hastily whispered to Mrs. Slater, ‘The enjoyment of free- dom will add ten years to his life !” At this moment Mr. Cartwright—one of the eminent firm of Cartwright and Co. of Chancery Lane—made his appearance in the court-yard ; and Mr. Barrington hastened forward to grasp the friendly attorney by the hand. “ Well, my dear sir—well,’ said Winifred’s grandfather, in a half anxious tone, “is every- thing right P—no hitch—no delay # “ All right, Mr. Barrington,” answered the soli- citor; “and permit me to congratulate you on your freedom.” “ Freedom !—is it possible?” murmured the old man, with a sensation of sicknesa creeping over him, accompanied by a dizziness and confu- sion in the brain: “ freedom !—is it possible, after six-and-twenty years of captivity! And will the turnkeys really let me out?—will they believe you when you tell them that I am free P—won’t they shake their heads, and either smile upon me in- eredulously, or else look upon me with compas- sionating sadness P” “* Grandfather — dearest grandfather, you are freo!” whispered Winifred: but her voice, though low, was of an exulting energy: “ you are free ! Sustain yourself !—lean upon my arm! You are staggering !” *T am all right, Winifred,” exclaimed the old man, now reawakened into completest conscivus- ness of all that was passing around him, ‘“ Come, let us depart. Ah, here is Robus! Well, my good fellow,” he ejaculated, as the cynic drew nigh, “ do you believe that i am free now?” “ No—I shan’t believe it till I see it,” ejacu- lated Robus. “ How often must I remind you that there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip ?” ‘Permit me to tell you, sir,” said Mr. Cart- wright, stepping forward, “that I, as Mr. Bar- rington’s solicitor, can vouch for tho fact that he 363 is free to leave this prison at any moment; and I hope that in something like three minutes he will give you a practical proof of the sincerity of the declaration.” “Ah! don’t be too sure!” interjected Mr. Robus,—“ although I must confess that this cer- tainly does look something more like a discharge than anything I have for along time seen. But how about the carriage P” “Ah! the carriage,” ejaculated the old man hastily: “why, you see, if my dear Winnie could not manage it fh *Knough! I understand!” said Mr. Robus, with an ironical smile. ‘The oath is of course to be sacrificed! Well, good bye, Mr. Barrington. I wish you your health and happiness——-and that you may never repent haying broken a pledge so solemnly taken.” “Do not be too hard upon my grandfather, Mr. Robus,” whispered Winifred. ‘On the contrary, as an old friend of his you ought to como as far as the upper lobby to see him safe out of the prison. gates, and assure yourself that in the present in- stance there shall be no slip between the cup and the lip.” Mr. Robus was on the point of refusing, for he did not like to behold the happiness attendant upon an emancipation from prison while he re- mained acaptive within its walls; but then he thought that if he went to the upper lobby, he should enjoy a species of malignant triumph over his old friend, by beholding him depart either on foot or else in a hired vehicle. So after a moment’s hesitation he said, “ Yes, by all means, Miss Barrington! I will go as far as the upper lobby !”” There was now a vast amount of leave-taking ; for every one of the prisoners in that particular compartment of the gaol pressed forward to shake hands with old Mr, Barrington—and many of them with Winifred also. At length the cere- mony was finished, and the little party began moving along the avenues towards the principal portals of the establishment. The turnkeys whom they passed, shook hands cordially with the old captive who was going forth to freedom: they likewise shook hands with Winifred—and now they had the kind word for her as formerly; for all their suspicions and misgivings against her were for the moment lost sight of or absorbed in other considerations. Winifred had prepared liberal gratuities for the turnkeys,—several little packets, each containing two or three sovereigns ; and these she had given to her grandfather thas he might bestow them as he passed through the respective gates or lobbies of the prison-officials, At length the upper lobby was reached: hands were shaken with the senior turnkey; and a little packet a trifle heavier than the former ones, was left in his grasp. Then the gate of the prison was thrown open, “My God! I am really free!” murmured old Barrington, as his foot crossed the threshold; and he would have fallen under the influence of the feelings which suddenly seized upon him, had ha not clung fast to Winifred’s arm. “ Guod bye, Robus! God bless you, Robus!” he gaid, turning round to bestow a parting shuke of the hand on the prisoner whom he had left behind. “Well, good bye, Mr. Barrington,” auswered SS ee ee A Dt . —— = — ome Oo —_-- —— - -— — eee ——— — _ — ~ Comiclooolks oOim