Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

SR ee erent he ee a eee ee 273 —_s solemn tone, “ It is God only who has the right to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children; for it were horrible and infamous for man to do so! Your blessing, then, dearest, dearest grand- sire,on the head of my husband—Roderick Dal- ham !” A wild cry, or rather yell of mingled rage and execration burst from the lips of old Barrington, at the same time that he clenched his fists and dealt himself blows the severity of which only too well indicated the violence uf his emotions. Wini- fred clung in terror to her husband; while Dal- ham murmured, “I did not deserve this from him !” All of a sudden Mr. Barrington fell down upon the carpet, and the blood which came forth from his moutb, indicated that he had broken some internal vessel in the midst of that fierce paroxysm of excitement to which he had given way. CHAPTER LXXIII. THE COTTAGE, Ir was the day following that of which we have just been writing; and in the forenoon we shall find the beautiful Agnes roaming in the neigh- bourhood of her own habitation. Lovely as ever did she look; while her costume, at once elegant and simple, indicated the pure gentility of her tastes. Agnes was fond of taking plenty of exer- cise—which indeed seems to be a habit invariably associated with well regulated minds. She rose early in the morning: the reader has already seen that when indoors she spent her*time industriously with her needle, or usefully in the perusal of good books. Her’s was just the disposition that would crave three or four hours of wholesome exercise daily; and this she was accustomed to take. The result was that there was always a healthful buoyancy of the spirits—a certain lightness at the heart—and a clearness of the intellect which constituted no mean elements of her happiness: while upon her cheeks there was the soft blush of the rose which the influence of the fresh air would often enhance into the richer glow of the carna- tion. And then, merely to look at the pure fine- grained skin of Agnes—the exquisite clearness of her complexion, without spot or blemish,—this also would add to the impression of the wholesome vigorous health enjoyed by one who loved to be in the open air, and to contemplate the beauties of nature in the varied seasons,—either when Spring scatters flowers from her brow upon the earth—or when Summer rejoices in the richness of the golden harvest—or when Autumn points invitingly to the luscious fruitage with which the trees are gemmed during the period of her sway—or when Winter weaves his fantastic fretwork of frost upon the hedges, or crystallizes his tears upon the ebon framework of the windows. Yes—in ali seasons did Agnes behold something to admire. Her’s was a disposition, which, fraught with angelic con- tentment, recognised all the good of the world wherever it was to be discerned, and carried within ber bosom a grateful heart that never was uomindful of the great Artificer of all things. On this particular furenoon of which we are — me ee ee ee ee + eee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. writing, Agnes had come forth earlier than usual ; and she was wandering a little further than was her wont. But there was a brisk freshness in the air which seemed to give elasticity to her steps as well as a wholesome lightness to her heart; and it was thus that her ramble was prolonged. She was now in the open country; and ata little dis- tance she beheld a rude, wretched, tumble-down old cottage, of so miserable an appearance that she was suddenly shocked at the idea that any human beings could possibly live in so vile a hovel. Yet that it was indeed so tenanted, her eyes received fullest proof. For in front of the cottage a girl, whose age appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, was playing gaily with a little boy— evidently her brother by the likeness; while a dog was gambolling around them both. At first Agnes was on the point of turning away, instead of drawing near enough to run the risk of her pre- sence being regarded in the light of an intrusion: but a second glance at the little group made her alter her intention. She approached some few paces nigher: then she stopped short—and she sighed profoundly as she continued to regard that sister and her little brother. They were almost naked; and such garments as they had on, were masses of rags—so that it was a wonder they clung in festooning tatters to those forms at all. The girl was good-looking enough to be almost called beautiful. She had long coal-black hair, large dark eyes, and a brunette complexion: but there was nothing of the gipsy in her. Her face seemed rather of French configuration than of English, — the profile having the nose going slightly inward and defining what is called re- froussé in France, but for which there is no adequate synonym in the English language. The expression of that countenance was a blending of vivaciousness and ingenuousness, shrewdness com- mingled with artlessness. The giri’s mouth was well formed; and she had a set of teeth which though the least thing large, were nevertheless pure and beautiful as polished ivory. Her arms and legs were naked: they were somewhat robust, but modelled to an exact justness of proportions. Even though so miserably attired, yet there was nothing coarse nor absolutely vulgar about this girl,—nothing low or common; on the contrary, there was a something of natural gentility about her, which must irresistibly have produced upon apy mind the impression that if she were only well clad and provided with the proper requisites of the toilet, she would prove a being calculated to attract and interest the observer. Agnes now drew nearer to the group; and the little boy on beholding a stranger thus approach- ing, desisted from his occupation in playing with the dog. A vivid blush all in a moment appeared upon the countenance of the dark-haired damsel, as if she felt ashamed at being thus surprised in the negligence or poverty of her toilet. She turned hastily towards the cottage, as if to fly from the view of the young lady who was drawing near,—when a little girl, two or three years younger than the boy, opened the door of the hovel and came running out with extended arms towards its sister—for in this light did that young female stand towards the two children. She snatched up the little girl—imprinted a hasty kiss upon its cheek—and plunging into the cottage, —_- COMiclooolxs ee | ee ey es we ~ — = eo ----- —_ —? ee ee om