Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

LLL, CE ON LE: ETE” «at ep <_— 3 126 ewer ee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. shortly have to dare the same perils which all alike who embark on that element have to en- counter. I have relations in England,—an aged grandsire, who has experienced much misfor- tune —a cousin whom [I left in comparative poverty 4 “And you are doubtless anxious to rejoin them?” said Emily, in a low voice, and with her looks bent downward, as she walked by the side of Gustavus. “Oh! is it not my bounden duty?” he ex- claimed, in a vehement manner which showed that the sense of duty whereof he spoke was struggling painfully against some strong inclina- tion of an opposite tendency. “Am I not bound to hasten back to those who may perhaps be suf- fering and whose distresses I may be enabled to alleviate? Yes!—I am sure that with your gene- rosity of heart you would even urge me “Then you seriously think of leaving us?” in- terrupted Emily : and there was something strange in her tone, as she continued to keep her looks bent downward, while waiking by the youth’s side. Gustavus could not immediately give the reply which he felt it would grieve himself to utter, and which he feared it would grieve the beautiful quadroon to hear: but after a few moments’ re- flection, he said in a gentle and subdued voice, *‘T haye experienced so much kind hospitality— so much generous friendship at Mount Pleasant, that it will afflict me infinitely to bid adieu toa place where the shipwrecked stranger has found a home and friends. But I have only one course to pursue—the course dictated by duty—and I must obey the mandate.” “And no one would attempt to dissuade Mr. Barrington from such a course,” said Miss Pin- nock, still in a voice that was low in tone, and strange in its accents—and still with a counte- nance so bent downward as well as half averted that Gustavus could not catch the slightest glimpse of it. “T have already told you,” he said, “ that I pos- sess an aged grandfather who for years past has been plunged into the deepest afflictions and then too there is my poor cousin Winifred % * Ah! your cousin,” said Miss Pinnock, “is a lady, then?”— and for an instant she gianced towards Gustavus: but her looks were the next moment withdrawn as rapidly. “I thought per- haps he was a young gentleman— like your- self re “Oh, no!” cried Gustavus; “ Winifred is a girl of about eighteen—as amiable and good a creature i “And perhaps beautiful too?” said Miss Pin- nock. “ Beautiful?” repeated young Barrington, slowly and deliberately. ‘ Well, I never thought of Win- nie’s looks. But now that you ask me,” he con- tinued with the most perfect ingenuousness, “ she is certainly very prepossessing—though I do not know that she could be called beautiful.” * But she is amiable, and good, and prepossess- ing,” said Miss Pinnock; “and of course—of course you are very fond of her you have thought constantly of her during your separa- tion oI “Oh, constantly!’’ oxclaimed Gustavus; “and ae I feel convinced that she has thought incessantly of me. She possesses such an_ affectionate heart!” “And —and— you have corresponded — per- haps ?” said Miss Pinnock. “ You—you v1 Here her voice suddenly seemed to break down, as if it were all in a moment stifled in gaspings, She even appeared to stagger at the instant as she walked. “Good heavens, Miss Pinnock!” exclaimed Gustavus, “what is the matter ?’—and stopping short, he seized her hand. By that movement he obtained a glimpse of her countenance: the tears were trickling down her cheeks. “You are weeping, Miss Pinnock!—Oh, you are weeping !” cried Gustavus, who was both be- “Emily—Miss Pinnock 1 wildered and afflicted. mean—pardon my boldness—but for God's sake tell me what I have said or done to give you pain?” He still retained her hand in his own: she made but one slight effort to withdraw it—and then she seemed to abandon it to him as that effort was ineffectual. Her countenance was bent downward: but still Gustavus could see that she continued to weep—and passionately too—while her bosom was convulsed with sobs,—that weep- ing and those sobbings being altogether beyond her power of control. “Emily!” he exclaimed, “for heaven’s sake tell me what thus afflicts you? Js it because I must depart? Oh! but if you knew how much the idea afflicts me likewise—how great is the distress which the prospect excites ——Oh, Emily! you would not doubt my friendship !” The quadroon girl suddenly withdrew her hand; and wiping her eyes with equal rapidity, she drew herself up to her full height: she seemed all in a moment to put on that dignity which belonged to her disposition ; and bending the full power of her superb dark eyes upon Gustavus, she said, “ How can you be afflicted to depart, when you love your cousin Winifred—you are doubtless engaged to her—and you will return to Hnogland to espouse her P” Then all in a moment a veil fell from the eyes of Gustavus Barrington: quick as the flash of lightning illumines the recesses of a previously pitch-dark cave, revealing all the features that were unknown before, was the state of the youth’s own mind revealed unto himself. He compre- hended that he loved the handsome quadroon ! * No, Emily !” he exclaimed, “I am not pledged to my cousin Winifred!—no word of love has ever passed between us. It is only as a brother might regard a pure sister that I look upon my cousin. But Oh! if I dared speak—Yes, yes, I will speak! it is you whom I love, Emily !—you only who can constitute my happiness !” A half-subdued ery of joy, rich and melodious in the fulness of the heart’s gushing emotions, escaped from the lips of the superbly handsome quadroon; and the next instant she was folded in the arms of Gustavus. She sank upon his breast as if weighed down with the sense of happiness— as if languid and half-fainting beneath the eestatie power of her own feelings. And Gustavus pressed his lips to her*s—and he covered her cheeks and her brow with kisses—and he strained her again Comichbooks:c ~~ ————e oe ed ye th. a i cee ae *