Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee Se 130 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. married—and that is perhaps all the greater | During the meal both Gustavus and Emily were — reason why he should not be a saint. He has his} somewhat embarrassed and silent: but Mr. Pins failings and his weaknesses as well as other men. | nock did not perceive that there was anything There was a mulatto woman on his estate; and’ peculiar in their manner; for though acute she became the mother of a child, of whom Mr. | enough in business-affairs, he was slow to recog- Pinnock was the father. That child has grown | nise the indications of love; and moreover when up into tke Emily whom you know and love. | others were silent, he was accustomed to chatter Her mother, as J have heard, died in giving her | away with a volubility which might make up for birth; and Mr. Pinnock reared the offspring of | any deficiency on the part of his companions’ this amour. But partly from motives of delicacy | tongues. Shortly after the dessert was placed towards the world—partly because it is no uncom- | upon the table, Emily rose and quitted the room; mon thing amongst the wealthy planters of this| —and now came the moment at which Gus- island—and partly, perhaps, to save the feelings | tavus had resolved to open bis mind to the mer- of the girl herself by keeping her in ignorance of | chant. her real parentage,—he styled her his niece. | The youth could not endure suspense; and he But whether she be still in ignorance “ therefore speedily entered upon the topic. At *“Oh, yes! Iam convinced she is!” exclaimed | first he proceeded fluently enough, while expati- Gustavus, astonished at all he had heard. “She | ating upon the many merits of Emily Pinnock : is herself too candid and confiding to suspect the | but when he touched upon the avowal and the truth of any tale which may have been told her | entreaty to which this preface was to lead, he be- by one whom she loves, reveres, and Jocks up to: | came confused—he stammered, hesitated, and fal. she is too artlost. ang innocent to fathom the | tered—he blushed and grew nervous,—and all the niysteries ——”’ more so when he perceived that Mr. Pinnock was “ Well,” interrupted Mr. Hargrave, “it is not | staring at him with the open eyes and open mouth of the slightest consequence: the girl is what sbe|of amazement. For it had never once entered the is, no matter what her parentage may have been. | worthy man’s head that there was any probability Lut still I thought it better that you should know | of the dashing young sailor falling in love with the the truth at once in respect to Bwily Pionock.— } quadroon girl his daughter. And now, young man, I have only one more word ‘You wean me to understand, then,” at length to say. Let me see you again, ifsperfectly con- | said Mr. Pinnock, finding how Gustavus was venient to yourself, before you leave the island.” floundering amidst a mass of verbiage from which Having thus spoken, Mr. Hargrave turned ab- | be could not disentangle himself—and it wus with ruptly away; aud Gustavus for some minutes fol- | a half serious, half good-humoured smile that he lowed him with his eyes, until he disappeared be-| thus came to the youth’s relief,—“ you mean me hind some neighbouring trees. to understand, then, that my Emily’s black eyes “Singular being that heis!” thought the youth | have stolen away your heart? Why, you haye to himself, as he began to retrace his steps home- | not known each other quite ten days yet !” ward, ‘ile manifests the utmost interest in me “TJ have already assured you, my dear sir,” in- —his heart has not been altogether spviled by the | terjected Gustavus, “that I know Miss Pinnock calamities which may have seared it asif with the|as well as if we bad been acquainted as many blasting lightning: for calamities they must have | years. I beseech been which made him what he is!--of crimes he “ Have you spoken to the girl herself upon the must ever have been incapable! And as for the | subject ?” asked Mr. Pinnock. vale that he has told me in reference to the birth “J have,” was the reply: “and were it not for of my beloved Emily, *tis not of the slightest | the happiness of haying experienced a favourable consequence. Legitimate or illegitimate —the | answer, i should not now be appealing for your daughter or the niece of Mr. Pinnock—she is still | assent.” the same beautiful, charming, and adorable object,| “The deuce! Tais grows more anc more seri- Ob, I love you, Emily! I love you!” ous,” ejaculated the merchant, sending forth a long Gustavus reached Mount Pleasant just at the | whiff of smoke. “ Well, but you are both young very moment that Mr. Pinnock was alighting | —though truly I can have no objection to the for- frora his chaise; and the worthy merchant ex- | mation of an engagement for you know my claimed, “I have not been able to effect to-day 2| opinion of you—you are an honourable young sale for your gold. But I am promised an excel- | man ° Jent bargain for to-morrow. Here! take the “Oh, then you have given your assent!” ex- box—and lock it up in the cupboard in your | claimed the overjoyed Gustavus, seizing the mcr- chamber, I have brought it home again for secu- | chant’s hand and pressing it with the most grate- rity’s sake: I would not leave it at my counting. | ful fervour. house—and your own room is the most secure be- “Why, it appears,” said Mr. Pinnock, smiling, neath this roof.” “that you have both anticipated my consent by Emily Pinnock had come forth from the open | agreeing on the subject between yourselves. What casement of the drawing-room to welcome the | alternative have you left me except to agree also? merchant’s return ; and Gustavus bent upon her | But there is one thing of which I must inform a significant louk, as much as to imply that in a| you,” he continued, his countenance becoming very short time he would avow his love and make | serious: “and mind, if you think it constitutes known his suit to him who after ail must be the | any barrier or any prejudice, you shall be free to arbiter of their destinies. He took the box, has- | recall your proposals 7 tened to Ins chauiber, and secured it in the eup- “JT know, sir, to what you allude,” said Gus- board. He then proceeded to the drawing-room ; | tavus: “ and so far from entertaining any prejudice and shortly afterwards dinner was announced. | on the subject e ee ee cComilchbooks;com