Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

LL LLL MLSLLLLLELL LLL LALA. LLL LLL ALL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LE ALLL LE LLL LA LE LLL ALLA LL LLL LL LL EE tc ee CL eI ee A tse RE ee NE ee ae em 102 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. cise road which it had taken? or how could in- quiries be instituted upon such a point? Agnes therefore came to the conclusiun that there was really nothing to be done in the matter, and that she must endeavour to remain quiet until she re- ceived some tidings of her cousin. She thought to herself that Fleribel would not be sq cruel as to leave her very long in suspense, and that she would be certain to write immediately after the ceremony should have made her an honourably wedded wife. The rumour soon spread in the neighbourhood that Miss Lister had eloped with some gentleman belonging to a high patrician family; and the report failed not to reach Belmont Cottage at an early hour. Charles was profoundly afflicted—for he knew full well that his beloved Agnes would be overwhelmed with grief. His first impulse was to speed to Sidney Villa and proffer his consolations: but Mrs. De Vere represented that it would be more consistent with delicacy and propriety of feeling if she herself were to call upon Miss Evelyn in the first instance. Charles assented; and Mrs. De Vere proceeded to Sidney Villa. Agnes had however shut herself up in her chamber, having given strict injunctions to Rachel to deny her to everybody—her determination being to receive no visitors, and to avoid all conversation upon the painful subject until she should be in a position to proclaim that her cousin had become the wife of the gentleman with whom she had taken her de- parture. Subsequently, however, when she heard tuat Mrs. De Vere had called, she felt sorry she had not proved accessible to that lady, considering the nature of the engagement which subsisted vetween herself and Charles. She therefore wrote a note to Mrs. De Vere, apologizing for not having seen her, and hoping to have that satisfactian on the morrow. In the afternoon Cicely Neale called at Sidney Villa. To her likewise did Rachel explain that her young mistress was too much distressed to see any one: but Cicely declared that she could not think of abandoning her friend to the painful companionship of her own thoughts. Rachel ac- cordmgly took it upon herself to introduce Miss Neale into the presence of Agnes; and the latter was glad that her dependant had in this instance disobeyed her instructions. Cicely said as much as she could to*comfort Agnes : but she was care- self weeping into Miss Neale’s arms: she did in- deed now experience the want of a companion and of a friend; and she therefore gratefully assented to Cicely’s proposal. It was about eleven o’clock at night when the two young ladies separated, to retire to their chambers. An apartment adjoining the one which Agnes occupied, had been prepared for Cicely : but upon being conducted thither, she made no immediate preparation to seek her couch. On the contrary, the instant she found herself alone, her proeeedings were of a strange and singular character. Having evidently from the first made up her mind to pass a day or two at Sidney Vills, she had ordered a box containing changes of ap- parel and the requisites of the toilet, to be sent by a carrier ; and this box had arrived in the course of the evening. She now opened it; and from amongst the dresses which it contained, she drew forth a pair of pistols. These she deliberately began to load; and when the task was accom- plished she looked at her watch. It was then half-past eleven o’clock. “At midnight it is to happen!” she muttered to herself: and a singular expression of mingled rage, distress, and firm resolution passed over her countenance. She now extinguished the tapers; and without disapparelling herself, or making the slightest pre- paration for rest, she sat down in the dark, and soon fell into a profound reverie. But we must leave her for the present, and direct the attention of the reader to certain incidents that were passiug elsewhere. A few minutes before midnight a postchaise drew up at a little distance from the boundary- wall belonging to the garden of Sidney Villa ; and two persons alighted. One of them bade the postilion make a little circuit in the neighbour- hood, for fear lest the circumstance of such an equipage stopping there should attract the atten- tion of any belated persons returning to their homes. The postilion was further directed to be at the iron gate of Sidney Villa in about a quarter of an hour’s time. The chaise aceordingly rolled away ; and the two individuals who had alighted from it, proceeded to the gate which has just been alluded to. This was locked, as those persons in- deed expected to find it: but having satisfied themselves that no observer was nigh, they at ance ful not to encourage too much hope that every- : sealed it. thing would terminate in a manner to dispel much | of Miss Evelyn’s grief in respect to her cousin ; for Cicely had strong misgivings in her own mind relative to the purity of Mr. Clifford’s intentions. Not that she had any positive reason for suspect- ing that gentleman, with whom she was indeed totally unacquainted ; but her own sad experiences had taught her to think lightly of patrician honour when a too confiding female was con- cerned. **I can assure you, my dear Agnes,” said Cicely, ‘‘that-my uncle and aunt were much distressed when the intelligence reached Lincoln’s Inn Fields just now. You must permit me to remain with you foradayortwo. I cannot think of leaving you altogether alone under such painful circumstances ;—and if you will consent to recelve me as a companion and treat me as a friend——”’ Agnes interrupted the speech by throwing her- Without maintaining any further mystery on the point, we may as well at once inform onr readers that these persons were Hector Hardress and his valet. The latter was a man of abont five-and- thirty years of age—thoroughly unprincipled —fond of money—and ready to do st to obtain it. His name was Luke Corbet; he had been for about a twelvemonth in the service of his present master. ** Now, Luke,’’ said Hector, so soon as they were within the garden belonging to Sidney Villa, . you thoroughly understand all that we have to re) ?’ , ** Bverything, sir,’ was the man’s ready re- sponse. ‘It is not a very difficult matter to earry off a young lady, provided you can prevent her from screaming in such a way as to alarm the household.”’ ** There will be no fear of that,” rejoined Hec- Gomicbookss¢om