Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES3 OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, | meatal the old woman, affecting a simpering air. haps I can guess why: and if so ? “Woman, I will and caw have nothing to do with you!” interrupted Cicely, with looks and accents indicative of an abhorrence and a disgust that were becoming more and more intense. “Perhaps you may think it well to alter your decision, Miss,’ said the old woman. “I have plenty of time on my hands: I have been down in the world since last I saw you—but now, thank God! I am getting up again - “Blaspheme not, woman!” interrupted Miss Neale indignantly. ‘ Whatsoever you may be thankful for, must doubtless have been attained at the expense of some fellow-creature’s misery.” “That is as people take it,” rejoined Mrs. Chicklade, with a calmness that was in itself hor- rible, as if she quietly gloated over her misdeeds. “T tell you, Miss Neale, that I have time upon my hands, and that my services may be useful. You can scarcely act for yourself: you will re- quire some one else to act for you;—and why not as well employ me, since I already know so much? In short, I am resolved that you shall enlist my services 7 “Ah! would you force your odious self upon me?” ejaculated Cicely. ‘Think you that I am compelled " “Dare you quarrel with me, Miss Neale ?” asked Mrs. Chicklade, looking the young lady full in the face. “If you felt strong enough, either in your own position or in your own purpose, to reject and scorn me, would you have remained standing here for five minutes exchanging these words with me ?” Cicely seemed to be struck by the speech thus addressed to her, as if there were indeed truth in it, and as if it revealed to her the full sense of her own weakness of position or purpose, which- soever it might be. She reflected for a few mo- ments; and then she said, “ Yes—I may have some questions to put to you. But we cannot linger in conversation here. Call upon me to- morrow, precisely at twelve o’clock.” “To-morrow is Sunday, Miss,” said the old hag, —adding with a half-scornful leer, “ Perhaps you may be at church?” “Come to-morrow, I say, at twelve o’clock pre- cisely!” repeated Miss Neale, with angry petu- lance. “I live at that house yonder. If you come as the clock is striking, you wiil find the front door ajar. Enter—and I shall be waiting for you.” “TI will be punctual to the instant,” said Mrs. Chicklade: and as she turned to depart in another direction, she muttered to herself, ‘I thought so! When once they have known me, they cannot do without me, Things are looking up: the tide of fortune is changing—and at length I am in luck’s way again.” Meanwhile Cicely Neale was continuing her way homeward—but with a slower pace and even a more deeply thoughtful look than before she had encountered Mrs. Chicklade. Mingled with the expression of her countenance was an air of an- noyance, which presently found utterance from her lips, as she murmured, “ What ill fortune could possibly have cast that vile wretch in my way? Ah! she is one of those creatures who, “ Per. 49 —and to get rid of whom one might almost be driven to the perpetration of a crime !” . The following day was Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Timperley always made it arule to go to church with the utmost regularity ; and they likewise in- sisted that as many of their domestics as could possibly be spared should attend divine service also. This much of the habits of the household had been already intimated to Miss Neale; and she had therefore fixed her appointment with Mrs. Chicklade for an occasion when it could be most | conveniently kept—that is to say, with tke least chance of attracting any particular notice. At breakfast-time on the Sunday morning, Cicely pleaded a very severe headach as an excuse for not accompanying her uncle and aunt to church; and they accordingly went without her. All the servants, with the exception of the cook and the housemaid, likewise proceeded to the temple of worship ; and Cicely Neale with some degree of anxiety awaited the moment when Mrs. Chicklade was to make her appearance. A few minutes be- fore twelve, Cicely assured herself that the cook was in the kitchen and that the housemaid wae busy with her work in the bed-chambers up-stairs. She stole down from the drawing-room—set the front door ajar—and then lingered in the hall, until that door was pushed completely open just as the church-clocks were proclaiming the hour of mid-day. Cicely motioned Mrs. Chicklade to close the door cautiously; and she then led the way into. Mr. Timperley’s private office—that being the most convenient room in which they might con- verse together without the fear of the presence of any stranger in the house being suspected by either of the domestics who had remained away from church. We should observe that it was very far from Mr. Timperley’s habit to leave unlocked the door of his private office : but it happened on this pre- sent occasion that he had done so, the key being in the door. Immediately after breakfast he had descended to his office, where he had remained en- gaged for about half-an-hour—uantil his butler had requested him to look into the cellar, on account of some little accident which had befallen a bin of choice wine: and on ascending from the lower regions, Mr. Timperley found his wife waiting for him in the hall. She was rather impatient—it was close upon eleven o’clock ; and he had there- fore at once snatched down his hat from a peg and issued with his wife from the house. To this cir- cumstance was to be attributed Mr, Timperley’s oversight in leaving the key of his private room in the lock. Miss Neale had observed that it was there when descending to set the front-door ajar ; and she at once perceived that it would be the best place for her interview with Mrs. Chicklade ; —so that thither she accordingly conducted the old woman. The writing-table was strown with documents, which Mr. Timperley had been examining previous to his departure for church; for he did not hesi- tate to devote an Hour or two to such professional study on a Sunday; and thus, as the reader has doubtless already conjectured, the lawyer’s regular attendance at a place of worship was for mere ex- ternal show. Cicely Neale and Mrs. Chicklade were now in when once known, will continually cross one’s path the private office together. There was an expres GbDooks \ Com C@