Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 388: what you’re looking at

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

$80 LLL LALLA L LLL, countenance as she came more completely within the sphere of light—one glimpse was sufficient for Agnes!—and a cry of mingled joy and amazement burst from her lips, as she recognised the lost Floribel ! About fifteen months had elapsed since they last met,—fifteen months during which Floribel had been enlarging her experiences in the sphere of profligacy, while Agnes had been giving as many additional proofs of her immaculate virtues. But, Ab! Agnes knew not how criminal her cousin had been :—the generous consideration and delicacy of Charles De Vere had kept her in the dark on these points ! And now the erring Floribel was clasped in the arms of the pure-minded Agnes; and the frail one was pressed to the chaste bosom of Virtue’s own personification. Tears of joy ran down the cheeks of the affectionate Agnes ;—tears flowing from other sources gushed from the eyes of Flori- bel. It was a long time before either of them could give utterance to a word. And amidst the many powerful feelings which this meeting con- jured up on the part of Agnes, she forgot under what strange circumstances Floribel had presented herself. At length the first effusion of emotions on either side being past, Agnes, retaining her cousin’s hand in both her own, and gazing with mingled delight and tenderness upon her counte- nance, exclaimed, “Is it possible that this can be otherwise than a dream ?” And now as she had leisure to contemplate Floribel, she saw that her cousin was as handsome as ever,—aye, even perhaps handsomer than she had ever before known her, with her hair of raven darkness arranged in plain bands, with the warm blood mantling beneath the delicate brunette com- plexion of her countenance, and the dress that she wore defining all the luxurious proportions of her shape. For Floribel, on springing forward into her cousin’s arms, had dropped from her shoulders o cloak in which she was muffled when first making her appearance in the apartment. On the other hand, Floribel, while contemplating Agnes, likewise was impressed with the idea that never had she seen her cousin so bewitchingly beautiful,—her long auburn hair floating like bur- nished gold upon her ivory shoulders, and plea- sure calling up the softest blush of the rose to her cheeks, while a kindred light played in the depths of her large blue eyes. And thus to each other did the cousins seem more beautiful than ever they had appeared before! “Tg it indeed you, FloribelP or is it a dream ?” asked Agnes, “ For, Oh! it appears to me as if the slightest motion that I made would dispel the charming vision! But no—it is not a dream— and you are here, dear Floribel! But why come you so mysteriously? why at this hour, and ‘thus stealthily P? Know you not that my father is hereP Yes—yowr unocle, Floribel!—and he will welcome you to his arms! And know you not that Charles also is here P—and he will receive you hospitably beneath this roof !”’ “T have come to see you, Agnes—and you only,” answered Floribel. ‘Stealing upon you thus mysteriously, my visit must be as fleeting as it is in other respects ghost-like.” “Oh! you must not leave me, now that you are eae se AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. restored to me?” exclaimed Agnes, “Charles told me that you were dwelling in strict seclu- sion——”’ “Ah!” said Floribel: “he has told you that ? And are you sure, Agnes, that he has not breathed a syllable which has at all prepared you to think otherwise of me?” “Oh, no! no! What mean you?” asked our heroine, almost in affright. “TI mean this, Agnes,” resumed Floribel,— “that inasmuch as you will henceforth dwell chiefly in Italy—or at least methought that such was the probability on account of your husband’s position And, Oh! Agnes, no one could more sincerely than myself congratulate you on his altered fortunes and all the felicity that is in store for you yl “Oh! I know that you feel thus kindly for him—thus tenderly for me!” interjected Agnes. “But pray proceed. What were you about to tell me? You were on the point of remarking that as it is probable I shall henceforth dwell prin- cipally in this clime ye “Yes—and such being the case,” said Floribel, “itis almost certain that sooner or later you would find out what I had been, and what under other names I have done I mean the errors into which I have fallen “No, no! do not tell me this!” murmured Agnes, growing very pale, and flinging a look of absolute affright upon her cousin. ‘‘ What would you have me understand P” ; *‘T would have you understand that Charles, for the kindest and best of reasons, has suppressed all the worst that regards me. He has represented me as penitent and penitent I have no¢ been! In a word, Agnes, he has abstained from telling you the truth, for fear lest it should plant a dagger into your gentle heart. Nay, more! he has doubt- less told everything to your father—but Lord Ormesby has also thrown a veil over the circum- stances the revelation of which would only afilict you sorely !” The tears trickled from the eyes of Agnes: they were no longer tears of joy, but of distress at the words which thus fell upon her ears, though she was still far from having a right comprehension of the tale that was being told. “For the most generous of feelings,” pursued Floribel, ‘you are kept in a state of delusion; and this shall last no Jonger ! tenance of the secret might be fraught with much embarrassment and apprehension for your father and your intended husband. They must dread lest any sudden accident should reveal to you the real truth with the effect of ashock! This is a state of things which I could not permit to exist any longer; and I have come expressly to prepare you, Agnes, for whatsoever revelations may in process of time be made unto you. Ab! you will wonder how I came hither ? and I must not omit to tell you. If I mention the name of La Dol- fina i ‘Ah! that infamous woman who was executed the other day at Florence for her crimes? She was a poisoner! Charles has told me some par- ticulars concerning her. But you, Floribel,—Oh, how is it possible that you should have known any- thing of her?” “Listen to me, my dear Agnes. That vile chook I know that the main- —_— (€@) 5}