Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

372 “Why, Wionie my darling,” he exclaimed, “what is the matter? Why, you are sobbing, I declare!” “Do you not know—have you not suspected, my dear grandfather how can [I allude to it but here—close by—up this very lane, into which the carriage is now turning 4 “Ah, I forgot ! 1 forgot, my dear girl!” said the old man, becoming nervous and excited. “I would not for the world don’t sob so, dear Winnie! what canI do? Here where is the checkstring ?” ““Do nothing, my dear grandfather! do no- thing!” said Winifred hastily. ‘The carriage canoot turn here —the road is too narrow— we must pass the spot! And why should we not ?” exclaimed Winifred, in a suddenly alter- ing tone. “I can look with a calm conscience upon it!” “ Ab, thank God for that, my dear child! thank God for that!” ejaculated the old man. “ But still—but still we will not pass the spot “We are passing it now,’ said Winifred. “ Look ! ’twas there !” But though she thus indicated to her grandsire that scene of foul mysterious murder, yet she her- self closed her eyes; for she could not look upor it. The carriage rolled past; and now from the window on the left-hand side Sir John Dalham’s villa was to be seen, embowered amongst the trees which were already putting on their autumnal tints. The old man pulled the checkstring, and the carriage stopped. Winifred bent upon him a glance of aaoxious inquiry. “It is a nice house, and pleasantly situated,” said Mr. Barrington. “It will.do very well for us, Winnie.” “My dear grandfather, I like not to hear such language come from your lips! Let us be chari- table and magnanimous “4 “Charitable and magnanimous towards the Dalhama?” literally shrieked forth the old man. “Charitable to an adder ?—magnanimous to a viper P” “ Grandfather!” ejaculated Winifred, with a sudden access of wildness: but in a moment she checked herself—and whatsoever else she felt was only expressed by a half stifled sob. “All these things excite you, my poor dear Winnie,” said the old man. ‘“ Yesterday was a trying day for you—and you have not yet re- covered it. Moreover, you are getting rather nervous, Winnie. But I should just like to know now many acres belong to that villa ?>—Thomas!” “Yes, sir: —and the footman was imme- diately at the carriage-door. “Do you see any person—any labourer or poor man, I mean—of whom we may ask a question or two P” “No, sir. But ah!” added the footman, “ there is a gentleman approaching!” “Well, well,” said Mr. Barrington, “ there would be no harm Tl just put a question to him—dquite in a civil way o “ Grandfather, you cannot think of it !” hastily and earnestly whispered Winifred: for she dared not speak out loud, as the footman was still at the earriage window. “Nonsense, my dear child!—don’t be foolish !” said the old man: “there’s no harm in asking for AGNES; OR, BEAUTY ANP PLEASURE. information !—I should hope that I know manners as well as anybody.” “ Here is the gentleman, sir,” said the footman at this moment. “I beg your pardon, sir,” said old Mr. Barring- ton, thrusting his head out of the window, “ but would you oblige me with a little information, if you happen to be acquainted with these parts?” “T shall be most happy, sir,’ was the response given by the gentleman who had that moment come up to the spot where the equipage had halted. But that voice! Winifred started—and it was with difficuity that she could keep back a shriek which was ready to peal forth from her lips; for she recognised the voice of Roderick Dalham ! And now, the next moment, a sudden revulsion of feeling took place within her; and she felt glad that her grandsire and Roderick had thus met— that they were speaking civilly to each other— neither entertaining the smallest suspicion who the other was! For though many long years back they had met, yet Roderick was then a boy of eight or ten; and it was therefore the height of improbability—indeed almost an impossibility — that there should be any recognition now. Wini- fred lay back in the corner of the carriage, unseen by Roderick, who had stopped at a little distance on being addressed by Mr. Barrington. The colloquy progressed. “T shall be most happy,” Roderick Dalham had said, with the bland courtesy that was natural to him, “to give you any information that lies in my power.” “Perhaps you live in this neighbourhood, sir ?”’ asked the old man, with true senile garrulity. * Not exactly,” said Roderick. “TI live for the most part in London—but I am sometimes in this neighbourhood “Perhaps you know Sir John Dalhan, sir ?” said the old man. ‘But it might be as well to inform you that my name is Barrington “ Barrington! indeed !’’ ejaculated Roderick; and at the same instant he caught a glimpse of a white kerchief at the winduw; so that he now knew Winifred was inside the carriage. “I pre- sume,” he continued, in the same courteous tone as before, “that I have the honour of speaking to that same Mr. Barrington who is plaintiff in the celebrated Chancery suit, and whose release yester- day from a prolonged captivity is mentioned in a paragraph which I read in this morning’s news- paper ?” “Yes, [am that Mr. Barrington,” responded tke old man. “But perhaps you are acquainted with Sir John Dalham P” he repeated. “TI have some knowledge of that Baronet,” re- joined Roderick, with the completest self-posses- sion. ‘“ But Ido not hesitate to adc, from all L have heard in reference to your pending lawsuit, that you, Mr. Barrington, will not merely gain the day, but that you deserve to come off victorious.” “ Ah! such is your opinion, sir? Do you hear that, Winnie my dear? Pray let me shake hands with you, sir! It is very kind of you very kind indeed !” and the old man almost whimpered with joy. “ Most cordially shall I shake hands with you, Mr. Barrington,” answered Roderick : but no one who heard him thus speak, except Winifred her- Gomichbooks;com -