Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. could not revive the impression that was at the moment made upon his mind, if any were left there at all. Vague and indistinct was his notion of that form—something clothed in white, with Jong dark hair! No more corception indeed had he now of it than if there ware such things as ghosts and he had veritably seen one. He was almost inclined to fancy that he had been the sport of a vision alike horrible and fantastic,— when the conviction suddenly burst upon his mind that he bad assuredly heard the door close. “Now,” he said to himself, “I can endure this no longer! I have studied my best—but it isim- possible to tolerate these horrors!” Hastening into the dressing-room, he slipped on sowe clothing, and stole forth from his chamber with the determination of at least descending the etairs and ascertaining whether all was still in the lower part of the house. He was now on the landing; a glimmering light stole through tho window —but very feebly ; for there was a curtain to that window; eud De Vere was compelled almost to grope his way towards the staircase, Stealthily gliding footsteps, as if they were naked feet upon the stair-carpets, met his ear: he stopped short—the boards creaked beneath his feet—and the next instant a pair of warm arms were thrown around him—he was pressed to a glowing bosom —and a soft and melodious voice said in alow earnestly entreating tone, “For God’s sake come with me !” it was the voice of the quadroon. An ejacula- tion burst from our hero’s lips as he suddenly withdrew himself from that embrace; and then sbe said, “ Hush! hush! for heaven’s sake! It is au error—a mistake !” “ But what does all this mean?” asked Charles, in a determined tone. “Some one has been to my room 4 ‘Qo, sir, L beg you to return thither quickly !” rospouded the lady, who was almost completely unseen in the obscurity. ‘“ No harm is intended to yourself! My God! I am distressed! But pray do not judge hastily! I swear to you that I mean nothing wrong!—neither does he—that unfortunate being! Retire, I implore you! I will tell you everything to-morrow !” There was an expression of the deepest sincerity in the quadroon’s voice; and De Vere was con- vinced that she spoke the sentiments of her soul. “Pardon me, madam !” he said, “ pardon me! ~—and forget that I have quitted my chamber !” The next moment he was in his room ; but this time he took the precaution to lock the door— and now again he retired to his couch. That the lady must have alluded to her husband—or else to some other person of whose presence in the house Charles was previously ignorant—he had now no doubt. He deeply regretted having issued from his room ; but at the same time he felt that under all circumstances his conduct readily admitted of excuse. Everything was to be explained on the “morrow, according to her promise; and with this idea hu contented himself. Indeed, after a little while he felt more contented and tranquillized, so far as he himself was concerned, than he had as yet done since he was an inmate of that cham- ber. Sleop revisited him—and he slumbered on uninterruptedly till the morning. ‘When he awoke his watch told him it was nine a ee ee ~~ " SS SSS SSS SSS 107 —_——— o'clock. He looked forth from the windows of his chamber and dressing-room: the sun was shining brightly—and its beams were reflected in the streams which irrigated the valley. He pro- ceeded to perform his toilet; and he found, as he had anticipated, that the garments which had been left for his use in the dressing-room fitted him as exactly as if they had been originally made for him. He now descended from his chamber, and sought the apartment where he had supped on the pre- ceding evening. The table was spread with all the requisites for a most substantial breakfast ; and he had not been there many moments, when the door opened and the quadroon lady made her appearance. A vivid blush rose to her cheeks, crimsoning through the transparent duskiness of her complexion; and her looks were for a-‘moment modestly flung downward as she greeted our hero kindly. He likewise felé embarrassed—and from the same cause,—both recollecting that embrace which had occurred in the darkness of the stair- case. ‘‘ T fear, sir,” said the quadroon, now suddenly looking up with the frankness of one who had really intended no harm in that proceeding,—* I fear, sir, that you passed a night of alarms. I should have warned you beforehand, only I thought and hoped that certain medicines which I had procured for my unhappy husband, would have produced a sedative effect ——” , “Ab, madam!” ejaculated our hero, “ I perceive by your words that you deserve all my sympathy: and I beseech you not to breathe another syllable of explanation on so painful a topic!” The quadroon took De Vere’s hand and pressed it for a moment with a friendly warmth ; while two tears, trickling from her handsome eyes, traced their pearly pathways down her dusky cheeks, and dropped on that hand which she thus clasped. * Yes, sir,” she resumed, in a tremulous voice, “T promised explanations—you have a right to demand them—ana they shall be given. I have aiready alluded to my unfortunate husband. The truth is that Mr. Barrington & “ Barrington P” echoed Charles, struck by the name; and then as certain recollections flashed in unto his mind, he exclaimed, ‘‘ Good heavens! is it possible? You are Mrs, Barrington P” “ Yes,” answered the quadroon, in astonish- ment, ‘“ Do you know the name? But, Ab, perhaps for a certain reason it is familiar to you by) *Yes—I know the name!” interrupted our hero. ‘Oh, how singular is all this! And your husband—is not his Christian name Gustavus r” “The same,” rejoined the quadroon, “ But you, sir 5 ‘“My names is Charles De Vere,” said our hero. “De Vera? Oh! were you not a witness at that memorable trial Be: 2 _ “Yes—the trial of Winifred Barrington, the cousin of your husband Gustavus. Ah, tho sin- gular combination of circumstances which should have led me to encounter you !” “Singular indeed!” ejaculated the quadroon; “and, Ob! I am rejoiced that it has been in my power to show the slightest attention or to render the least service to one who has always been re- Elooolk Co 5}