Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 326: what you’re looking at

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

ee eee eee aes ea ees aS eee eae een areas eee eee eee ee ae ee SS Charles! I epili speak! I love you as never woman loved! It isa love that can either melt me into the softest of my sex, or madden me into the wildest and most frenzied! Which is it to be? I can live for you, and make life a heaven for us both:—but I will not live without you I will go down into the grave even though it be Satan’s kingdom itself into which I shall be rushing headlong! Again I say, do not interrupt me! You shkaié hearme out! Do you look upon meas amurderess? As there is a God above us, Cherles, I became a murderess for your sake! I explained this to you on board the ship—and you know that what I told you was the truth. Have I therefore no claim upon your heart,—I who have risked my own soul for your sake? If you refuse me your love—if you deny me the only solace which can be now offered me—I mean your affection—you will be guilty of ingratitude the most stupendous !” ‘““Signora,” said Charles, who was almost con- founded on finding that the Princess was resolved to view the matter in such a light and appeal to him through such a medium,—‘“‘ what if you compel me to confess that I cannot love you ?” * Only tell me that you do not loathe me—that you do not hate and abhor me,” cried Bianca, with a voice and look of the most impassioned entreaty, —‘“‘and the assurance will suffice for my happi- ness! Yes!—because then I shall know that the rest will depend upon me! And, Oh! I will win your love! I will Javish upon you the tenderest endearments—{ wil! anticipate your slightest want —TI willbe your slave! Is this no proof of love? Ob, if a few days back any one had told me that such words as these would ever issue from the lips of the Princess of Spartivento, the. prediction would have been scorned and scouted with indie- nation! But, Oh! love has made me humble— and I could grovel at your feet! Have mercy upon me !” The Princess sank upon her knees, her hand- s0me countenance upturned towards our hero— her clasped hands outstretched. He was terribly bewildered: he was afflicted and he was horrified : he loathed the woman, and yet he pitied her: he felt it bis duty to repulse her—and yet that duty was so harsh, so stern, so cruel he could not pos- sibly perform it! “Have mercy upon me!” she repeated: and now hope thrilled in her accents, for she thought that he was moved by her entreaties and pravers. “If you do not choose to make me your wife, let me be your mistress! I who was once all pride, am now all humility !—I who was once as strong in woman’s virtue as ever the best and purest of the sex could be, am now all weakness! Yes—I will be your slave!” “Tt cuts me to the very soul to hear your Highness speak thus !’’ exclaimed Charles. “ Rise, Jady—rise !” and when he attempted to force her up from her suppliant posture, she seized both his hands and pressed them to her lips. “Rise, signora—I insist!” he exclaimed, now becoming impatient and angry; and he used a degresa of violence in raising her of which the moment after he was ashamed. peech you, if there were aught unmaoly in my conduct !—but this scene must end, signora, both for your sake and mine! You force a certain AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. mory retains aught of what has occurred “ Pardon me—pardon me, I be- avowal from my lips—and now therefore let it ba made! I love another!” “Ah!” and the Princess started: then she be- came motionless—rigid in features and in limbs— while a deadly pallor overspread her countenance. “The avowal is made,” continued Charles, re- covering his fortitude and his self-possession ; “and I beseech that my conduct in making it may be duly appreciated by the feminine delicacy of your Highness, Again I say that if you will recall and forget everything which has now passed —I on my side will so bear myself towards you that you shall have no reason to think my me- “Tis well. Be it so,” said the Princess, witha cold monotony of voice. ‘I thank you for the proposal, It is a compact.” It seemed as if a corpse were speaking—so pale, so rigid were her features —so fixed her gaze —so cold her manner. Was that tho giowing and impassioned woman who a few minutes before had been proclaiming her love in such fervid tones? The contrast.was almost incredible: but Charlos hoped that the change was a proof of the power of command which the lady waa able to exercise over herself, “ Yes—it is a compact, my lord,” she repeated ; “and I need not say that I understand it to mean that to no living soul—no, not evee———”’ and she gasped for utterance,—“ no, not even to my sister ve “ Believe me, signora,’ interjected Charles, “ the secret shall be as sacred as if it were buried in the tomb itself !” “T hold you to your word—and I thank you.” Thus speaking, the Princess turned and quitted the room. Charles threw himself upon a seat, pressed his hand to his brow, and ejaculated within himself, “I am bewildered and distracted by the scene! Unhappy woman! I cannot help pitying her—and yet my soul recoils from her as if from a reptile whose loathsome nature is not concealed by the beauty of its skin!” He started up from his chair—he hastened from the room—and he descended into the spacious gardens attached to the mansion. There were avenues of bright evergreens, leading to hot- houses and conservatories filled with luscious fruits and beautiful flowers ; and there were foun- tains playing. Charles’ proceeded along these avenues, giving way to his reflections,—when in obedience to the impulse of his thoughts, he pre- s2ntly ejaculated, “ Would that I were away from hence! Though it is my own domain, yet would I sooner be in a certain spot on the good old Hag- lish soil!” “ My lord,” said a sweet voice near, “ I was not intentionally playing the part of an eavesdropper —nor did I even know that you were iv the garden. But suffer me to exercise the privilege of a friend—and let me ask whether you ere un- happy ?” It was the Countess of Milazzo who appeared round the angle at the extromity of the avenue as she thus spoke ; and Charles, with that gentlemanly courtesy which was natural to him, hastened to say, “ Pardon me, my lady, if you heard from my lips aught which could lead you to believe that L fail to appreciate the Honour and pleasure of ens tertaining such a guest as yourself.” chook 5} a ee ey.