Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

. SS clerk, is certainly a very nice young gentleman. He sives close by. As for Mr. Hardress, I do not taink he will ever make his appearance at Sidney Vina again “Ts he ill? or has he gone abroad ?” inquired Miss Neale ; “ or what else is the reason that de- prives you of so aristocratic a visitor ?” * Hush!” said Floribel : “I hear Agnes’ foot- steps—and she does not like me to indulge in what she would call gossiping.” Miss Evelyn now made her appearance,— having taken the promised materials to Winnie Barrington, who had already enjoyed a good hour’s rest at the hospitable villa. But Rachel still de- tained her there a little longer in conversation ; so that Cicely Neale presently took her departure be- fore Winifred. We must now leave them for a brief space, while we transfer the attention of the reader to Beimont Cottage; for on this particular day of which we are writing, a perfect cloud of incidents, all of greater or lesser importance, as will pre- sentiv pe seen, were destined to take place, either simuftaneously or in rapid succession. ‘ 1t was about one o’clock, when Mr. Timperley ealled. according to appointment, at Belmont Cot- tage. He found Mrs. De Vere awaiting his arri- val ; and the instant Margaret had retired and the door had closed, the lady said to him, “ We must be quick with our discourse, Mr. Timperley: for Charles intimated in the morning that he should be home very early this afternoon in order to take me out for a walk. You have not come in a cab, Isee x * No—I rode in the omnibus to Camden Town,” replied Mr. Timperley; “ and I walked thence to Belmont Cottage, What tidings have you for me?P Did you question your son ?” **T have but little more to add to what you already know,” rejoined Mrs. De Vere. “ It almost seems as if Charles had an aversion to be eatechised on the subject—which is only natural indeed, for he looked upon the duel with the greatest horror. He tells me that during the last three months he has oceasionally met Mr. Hardress, who was always very civil and courteous towards him: but he assures me that the lady con- cerning whom the quarrel took place, was a per- fect stranger to him.” “To whom ?—to your son?” demanded Mr. Timperley. “ Yes—a stranger to Charles,” replied Mrs. De Vere. “I have now no more to tell you. It is quite evident that the dispute had nothing to do with either of the cousins at Sidney Villa ; or else Charles would have at once confessed it,” Mr. Timperley reflected for a few moments; and then he said, “ What if Charles were to be appointed junior attaché to some foreign Enm- bassy—or to be removed to the storekeeper’s office at Portsmouth, Plymouth, or some place remote from London? Do you not think it would be better ?” “es!” exclaimed Mrs. De Vere, vehemently and gratefully; “for a thousand reasons it would! The idea of coming to London’ never pleased me: t what could [ do? His lordship insisted on iding for Charles in his present position ; and ow, Mr. Timperley, how imperious his lord- in having his will obeyed.” AGNES ; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. SA EER SE EE Fe 59 “Do you think,” inquired the lawyer, “that the friendship between the two young men will be re- newed after the duel—and that it will even be cemented by the very fact itself?” “At all events, Mr. Timperley,” replied Mrs, De Vere, “these are casualties to be guarded against. You have seen his lordship ?” ‘“‘t saw him last évening,” responded the solici- tor. “ We talked the matter over: I said that I was to see you again to-day, and I would inquire whether you had any objection to either one of the propositions which I have just made on behalf of your son?—You have nonce; and therefore in a few days you may be prepared to learn that some better appointment has been procured for hin— but at a distance from London.” “Oh! assure his lordship that I shall only be too grateful!” cried Mrs. De Vere. Mr. Timperley rose to take his departure; and recollecting something, he asked, “Do you know where Sir John Dalham’s villa is situated? I am aware that he has some such pretty little place out in this neighbourhood: I called at his town resi- dence last evening, and learnt that he was at St. John’s Wood. I want to see him—and I may as well kill two birds with one stone.” Mrs. De Vere happened to know where Sir John Dalham’s suburban villa was situated, about a mile distant from her own cottage; and she de- scribed the route to Mr. Timperley. He accord. ingly took his leave. Mrs. De Vere saw by the time-piece that it was now two o’clock; and she went up-stairs to put on her bonnet and shawl—for at this hour Charles was to return home. Scarcely had she finishod her toilet, and descended to look forth from the front door to see if that son whom she so dearly loved was as yet coming up the road, when she beheld Mrs, Chicklade approaching. This woman was even more flauntingly dressed than when we described her interviews with Cicely Neale; anu she affected a juvenility of apparel which was ab: solutely ridiculous. She had on a large straw hat with flowing ribbons; and she was bedizened with jewellery — most of it of a sufficiently trumpery description, gled disgust and terror from the threshold of the door,—when Mrs. Chicklade, wita a smile, or rather insolent Jeer upon her countenance, motioned her to stop. Mrs. De Vere was paralysed by the mysterious power that the vile woman wielded over her; and though all trembling, she was trans- fixed to the threshold of the open froné door of the cottage. “T am not coming to trouble you to-day,” said Mrs. Chicklade, stopping at the gate of the fence which bordered the little front garden: “I have got other game in hand. But I don’t admire pride—and you were on the point of running in- doc?s without speaking to me.” Mrs, De Vere was infinitely relieved when she found that the woman was not bent upon paying Belmont Cottage a visit; but still she could not give utterance to a word—for she could not bring herself to say anything courteous, and she dared not speak in an opposite sense. “Pride indeed!” ejaculated Mrs. Chicklade, determined to give herself airs and take offence at Mrs. De Vere’s inclination to retreat into the house, “T should like to know what reason - comlceoolkks Mrs. De Vere was recoiling in min- |