Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. et 349 pourings of their gratitude; and the quadroon wept as she murmured that this was one of the happiest moments of her life. At length Emily took leave of Winifred, whom she called her “dearest cousin,’ and whom she promised that she would visit once more ere she took her departure for Jamaica. She accompanied Sir Roderick down stairs to the parlour; and then she said, “I must now bid you farewell likewise. You will hear from Mr. Millard’s solicitor és “But you have promised to return once more,” interrupted Roderick, “and pass an hour with Winifred ere you embark for Kingston.” “True!” responded Emily; “and I shall not fail to keep my pledge. Unless indeed ? ““Unless what?’ asked Dalham hastily. “Unless Gustavus should return,” rejoined the quadroon, speaking slowly and apparently with reluctance. “In that case I should not come hither again. It would be better that we should not meet yes, far better! And therefore, Roderick, if he should return to England before I leave for Jamaica, have the kindness to drop me a line stealthily. I will give you my present ad- dress.” Emily—the workings of whose beautiful coun- tenance appeared to indicate the deepest emotion —penned with a tremulous hand a few words upon a piece of paper; and then in a low deep voice she said, “If I never see you again, Rode- rick, let me for the last time invoke heaven’s blessing upon yourself, your wife, and your child !” Having thus spoken, she pressed the Baronet’s hand and hurried from the house. The next day, between three and four o’clock in the afternoon, a cab drove up to the humble little residence of Sir Roderick ard Lady Dalham; and Gustavus Barrington alighted. The welcome he experienced was a most cordial one on the part of the Baronet; while it was characterized with a mingled friendliness and confusion on that of Winifred. Gustavus saw that Winifred had need of leisure to compose the thoughts and recollec- tions which his presence had conjured up; and he remained but for a very few minutes in her bed- room. Nothing was there said in referenca to Emily:—indeed her name had not as yet been spoken from the moment that he crossed the threshold of the house. But when he and Sir Roderick were alone together in the parlour, the latter said, “ I have som2 news for you.” “ What mean you ?” inquired Gustavus. “Surely it cannot be in reference to that unfortunate crea- ture = “Do you mean your wife Emily?” asked the Baronet. “If so, I am alluding to her when I say that I have news for you.” “Ah!” cried Barrington: and he at once be- came violently agitated, “I know not what to think of her—whether she be mad and unaccount- able for her actions, and therefore to be pitied— or whether she be deeply, insidiously wicked, and therefore to be dreaded—aye, almost execrated P” “By heaven, no!” exclaimed Dalham with fervour. ‘“‘I beseech you, Gustavus, to suspend your judgment. I do not think that you your- self thoroughly comprehend your own wife! Hitherto her disposition may have been unfathom- able: but now methinks I oan furnish you with the plummet-line which shall reach to the bottom of that strange romantic soul.” “ Again I ask what mean you?” inquired Gus- tavus. ‘ Has Emily been here?” ‘‘ Yes—Emily has been here,” was the response. “She came last evening.” “Did she tell you under what circumstances we parted in Florence P” “No: she seemed at one time about to enter into particalars—and then she abruptly recoiled from the recapitulation. Whatever she may have done, she is deeply penitent!” “Ah!” interposed Gustavus: “ this may bea mere show and artifice with her in order to induce you to intercede with me.” “ Quite the contrary!” exclaimed the Baronet. “From my own lips went forth the proposition that Winifred and I should act as mediators: but Emily declared that the idea was hopeless—she therefore declined it. Nay, more! she does not wish to see you—she has evidently resigned herself to the conviction that everything is at an end be- tween you.” “Are you sure—are you sure, Roderick, that Emily was not playing some deep game P” “‘ Impossible!” cried the Baronet: “she had no game to play. I repeat, however great her offences against you may have been—even though she should have attempted to take your life “Ah! Well, proceed:”—and the colour went and came rapidly on young Barrington’s counte- nance. ‘ You were saying " Fi “That however great her wrongs towards you, sheis deeply sensible of them, and she is penitent. Never was there a being more meek—more humble! And as for her manner towards myself~—towards Winifred and our new-born child—Oh, Gustavus! it is impossible to doubt the excellence of that heart, strange, wild, and eccentric though many of ite feelings and emotions may be!” “Ab, Roderick, you are deceived!” said Gus- tavus: yet he spoke falteringly, and by no means confidently. ‘‘ Mere words!” “Not mere words, Gustavus! — but dgeds!” ejaculated the Baronet. ‘‘ What think you your wife came hither to announce P—what reparation do you suppose she resolved to make for her former insults towards Winifred ?—what proof of contrition and penitence for her offences towards your The noblest of sacrifices! Aye—and mads in such @ manner, too—with such a depth of feel- ing, Gustavus, I codld weep when I think of all that passed betwixt your wife and me last even. ing!” * Good God! is it 60, Roderick?” stammered the young man. “ But the sacrifice which Emily has made—what does it mean? I cannot for the life of me understand it !” “Tf you, as her husband, give your consent, continued Dalham, “ all her fortune, with the ex- ception of some small income for her own main- tenance, will be transferred into the hands a Winifred and myself!’’ For a moment Gustavus looked astounded; and then suddenly regaining his self-possession, he said with a sound that resembled a passing bitter laugh, “ No, no! Emily would not do such a thing as this! I know her too well.” “ But she hos done it!” exclaimed Roderick, in 7 LOO) | <SIIGO nn