Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

96 feel confident that Lord Windermere will not con- sider that he is disgraced in his daughter-in-law. In a word, Agnes, the bridal will soon take place— quite privately, you know—but you can act as the bridemaid " * Good heavens, Fioribel !” exclaimed Miss Eve- lyn, with renewed consternation, affright, and grief; “is it possible that you have gone to such lengths with Mr, Clifford P” “This is unkind!” said Floribel, now having recourse to weeping. ‘I did not a few minutes back remonstrate with you—I congratulated you » “Your own heart told you, Floribel,” said Agnes, gently yet firmly, “that there was nothing precipitate, indiscreet, or imprudent in my con- duct—no intended violation of the obedience due to a parent—nothing secret nor clandestine. Oh, my dear cousin! it grieves me profoundly —it pains me poignantly, to be compelled to address you in such terms!—but never, never can I con- sent to assist in any way in a proceeding which inspires no confidence, and which I fear is not cal- culated to insure your happiness !” “Then we will say nothing more upon the sub- ject, Agnes,” exclaimed Floribel, now really in- dignant without the slightest affectation of anger. “Jt is too bad that you should take me thus to task, as if you were older than I—whereas if age gave any rights, they would belong to me, for I am a few weeks older than you.” Agnes endeavoured to pacify Floribel—to reason with her calmly and gently—to make her compre- hend that she was precipitately taking a step on which depended the remainder of her life’s happi- ness: but Floribel shut herself up in a sort of sullen reserve. Perhaps in her own heart she re- cognised all the truthfulness of her cousin’s observa- tions—all the justice of her remonstrances: but she was infatuated and self-willed—she was bent upon pursuing a particular course—her vanity was flat- tered—her ambition received the promise of being gratified—and she would not retract. At length Agnes felt the necessity of speaking so firmly that Floribel began to fear lest her cousin should actu- ally take steps to break off the intended marriage —such as for instance by communicating with Lord Windermere. She grew frightened: she threw off her sullenness and reserve; she em- braced Agnes, and promised to reflect awhile ere she committed herself by any further pledges or promises to Theodore Clifford. Miss Evelyn—being herself all guileless and artlessness—could not for a moment imagine that her cousin was deceiving her: she was therefore rejoiced at the intention which Floribel now pro- claimed ; and fervidly returning her embrace, she murmured, with tears upon her cheeks, “I felt sare you would not act rashly upon the point.” Miss Lister answered in a manner that was akin to the duplicity of the tactics she was now adopting; and Agnes was completely deceived. The vell-principled young lady’s mind felt as if a considerable weight had been lifted off it; and temporarily leaving Floribel, she repaired to Bel- mont Cottage, to form the acquaintance of Mrs. De Vere, according to an arrangement which she had made with Charles. We will here interrupt the thread of our narra- tive for a few moments in order to explain how ee ee el AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, Mrs. De Vere had been induced to give her con- sent to an engagement between her son and Miss Evelyn. For certain reasons of her own, she had hitherto abstained from forming any acquaint- ances in the neighbourhood : indeed it had been altogether against her own wish that she ever came to reside in the vicinage of London at all. But in this she yielded to superior influences ; and when Charles revealed to her his love for Miss Evelyn, she felt that it would be useless as well as unwise—whatever her own private feelings might be—to attempt to thwart a passion against which she could openly advance no argument. She pur- posed to accompany her son to Italy; and she therefore saw that if she were now to form Miss Evelyn’s acquaintance, it would not necessarily lead her any further into a circle of society in her own neighbourhood. Besides, the plea of ill- health could not be advanced against the recep- tion of one for whom her son had conceived so strong an attachment; and thus her assent to re- ceive Miss Evelyn was but a natural consequence to that other assent which she could not possibly refuse—namely, that Charles might declare his love to Agnes. Miss Evelyn paid the visit to Belmont Cottage, where she remained for upwards of an hour in conversation with Mrs. De Vere, of whom she formed a very favourable opinion. And such, it would seem, was the impression that she made upon the mind of that lady herself; for Mrs. De Vere frequently contemplated Agnes with an air of deep, mournful, and tender interest during this visit. Not long after Agnes left home to call on Mrs. De. Vere, the Hon. Mr, Clifford arrived at the Villa. He was quickly joined by Floribei in the drawing-room, We have already spoken of him as a handsome, dark-haired young gen- tleman, of about three-and-twenty, with luxu- riant whiskers and a Grecian profile. His coun- tenance was intelligent; his manners were pecu- liarly fascinating ; his figure was good; and he dressed with very excellent taste. In respect to his disposition and character, the reader will glean the fullest details during the progress of our story. The moment Floribel made her appearance in the drawing-room, to which Mr. Clifford had been shown, he hastened forward, took her hand, ana pressed it to his lips. They sat down together ; and as he still retained that fair hand in his own, he said, “ Have you yet spoken, dearest Floribel, to your cousin P” “ T have,” answeved the young lady, the colour rising to her cheeks: “and I am afraid that she will never give her consent 2 * You speak, my beloved Floribel,” interrupted Theodore, “as if you were alluding to an elder sister or to some other relative having a right to dictate and coerce.” * When I used the word consent, Theodore,” rejoined Miss Lister, “I intended to convey the idea that But no matter! In short, Agnes believes that I am taking time to reflect and to consider.” “And do you, my sweet Floribel,” asked Clif: ford, with a somewhat reproachful look, yet one that was fall of tenderness, “ require time for such reflection and for such consideration? Do Comicbooks (E(0) — ——Vf OO eee ee eoeoreemvl80—00—_—_—_—_— OO