The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

214 THE UYSTERIES OF LONDON. : lessons than those which seclusion and good train- ing have already inculcated: would to God that you might never be compelled to look upon the dark side of human affairs }” « Havo I other lessons to learn—other teachings to undergo—other experience to acquire, beyond what I already know?” asked the ingenuous and candid Agnes, Alas] yes—and in a variety of ways,” responded her father, with a sigh. ‘ You have as yet seen only oue phase of the world—that of tranquillity, soreno happiness, and peace. You have not even heard tho storms of that world in the distance. Hitherto your life has been passed under the most genial in- fluences; and you know nothing—absolutely no- thing, of what may be termed life. Again I say, therefore, how deeply—how oarnestly it is to be wished that your mind may never become ac- quainted with the bitter teachings of vicissitude or misfortune.” “Yam already well aware, my dear father, from my historical studies and from the perusal of the books which you have selected for mo, that man- kind pursues many and varied conflicting interests, and that gain is the chief object thus sought after, But I am still ata loss,” continued the beautiful Agnes, “to understand how people can be wicked enough to injure others who have never injured them, and when the infliction of such injury can confer no bonefit upon tho individual who is guilty of such flagrant wrong. Suppose, for instance, that this Mrs. Mortimer who was hore just now, should in reality entertain some cvil design to- wards me, how could she possibly acquire any per- sonal advantage from the pursuit of such conduct?” “You are as yet too innocent—oh ! far too inno- cont, if not too young, to understand these mat- ters,” said Mr, Vernon, gazing with all a father’s affection upon his beauteous and artless child. “ Neither is it for mo to remove the film from your eyes in this respect.” “And yet, dear papa,” sho observed, with the most endearing, amiable natueté, “ if no ono will point out the shoals, rocks, and quicksands to me, how can I possibly avoid them? You sce that just now I erred by receiving that person too frankly— too cordially e * And the old man who called the other ovoning, too,” said her father, with a smile. “ Now, do you not perceive, my dear child, that there is sornothing suspicious in these two visits, which indeed appoar to havo some degree of relationship to cach other, and perhaps lad tho same instigation, I cannot conceive that accident should send two persons hithor, separately and at a short interval, on the same pretencn, unless they were acting in collusion. That such an accidental coincidence might happen, I admit; but prudence—worldly prudence, my love, makes us look suspiciously upon such events; and I confess that this is the light in which I view tho present occurrences. Tho woman represented horself as tho widow of a Goneral who had latoly died iu India: now I happen to be so well-informed on these matters as to be enabled to stato most emphatically that no Genoral-officer of that name has existed for many years past. Finding horself at fault in respect to her first assertion, your visitor endearoured to make good her tate by means of a second; but the falsehood was equally palpa- blo in this latter case. New, therefore, my dear- est Agnes, you comprehend that there aro good ee RS ER, SE eT LT SS eR, and just grounds for suspecting the motive which led her hither.” ‘Ts it possible that persons can beso wicked P” exclaimed the young maiden. “Tt is, alas! too trne,” replied her father; “and therefore you cannot be too much upon your guard in respect to strangers. I wonder that Mrs. Gifford did not represent to you the impropriety of al- lowing the old man to force his way into yeur pro- sence a few days ago——” “Both Mrs, Gifford and Jane spoke to me on the subject after he was gone,” said Agnes, desirous to rescue her two servants from blame: “ but I fancied their timidity had made thom conjure up visions of thieves and housobreakers, and I only Jaughed whilo they remonstrated.” “Then you now perceive, dear Agnes, that they wero right ia the observations which they under- took to address to you,” said Mr. Vernon. “Yes—and I am sorry that I did not listen with moro attention,” answered the amiable girl. “in future, my dear father, I will allow no one to enter the house unless be or she be the bearer of a letter from you.’ “This is precisely what I could dosire, Agnes,” exclaimed Mr. Vernon; “and you will afford me unfeigned pleasure if you adhere to this resolu- tion.” You know that I will do all you enjoin—oren withont questioning your motives,” observed Agnos, “ Command—and I obey.” “My dear child, the word ‘command’ exists not in tho vocabalary that I have to uso when conyoy- ing my wishes to you. So dutiful—so good—so willing are you, Agnos, that I have nover had osca- sion to speak with impcriousness or harshness to you. You do not even question me concorning those matters which might naturally awaken your curiosity and your interest,” : ‘Tt is sufficient for me to know that you desire mo to dwell in this seclusion,” said Agnes; “and as you have exerted yourself, my dearest father, to surround me with covery comfort—overy eloment of happiness, I should be indeed ungrateful and un- just were I to sook prematurcly those explanations which you have promised to give me when the pro- per time shall arrive.” ‘‘And that time is not so very far distant, Ag- nes,’ said Mr. Vernon. “Two years more—and I shall no longer have any secrets from you. But while we aro thus conversing, I forget that it is waxing late and that J have not even as yct begun to account for the sudden and unexpected visit which circumstances have compelled me to pay you this cyening.” Agnes now regarded her paront with somo degree of suspense; for his remark had brought back to her memory the circumstance that he had nover called at so late an hour before, and, moreover, that this was the third time he had visited her within the week—an occurrence at yarianco with his ordinary habit. “My dear child,” said Mr. Vernon, speaking iné/ the kindest tone possible, “I am compelled to loave England on urgent business to-morrow.” “Teara England?” repeated Agnes, tears starting into her eycs. “Yes, my boloved—and [ regrot to add that my absence may be of some weeks’ duration. Paris Js the place whither this sudden and unexpected EE ICE Pt a ENS IS PRS EConnicloooks (CO)