Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 144: what you’re looking at

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TT 136 groom—a coachman—and of course a cook. But ll these things, as I was saying, required a little time to arrange; and you will admit there has been no delay ?” “And you have not as yet seen Lord Winder- mere?” said Agnes. “ No—not yet,” replied Floribel quickly. ‘ But that is nothing. Theodore will bring it all about as speedily as possible: there is plenty of time. But come, my dear Agnes, and let us look over the house. I myself am scarcely as yet acquainted with all that it contains, Ah! tell me, dearest Agnes, you have forgiven me for the little cheat I put upon you the evening when I left you?”— and Floribel’s lips quivered as she spoke. “Ob, speak no more of it, my dear cousin!” murmured Agnes. “It is done, and cannot be recalled—even if you had the wish.” “Oh, no! I have not the wish—I am com- pletely happy!” exclaimed Floribel: but there was a slight though scarcely perceptible hysteria in her tone in the very endeavour which she made to force it to too high a pitch of exultation. “I should be in such enthusiastic spirits—Oh! I should indeed! were it not for the necessity of living apart from you, dearest, dearest Agnes !” “When a young lady marries,” replied Agnes seriously, “ see must abandon all kith and kin for ; her husband’s sake. It is sufficient for me, dear cousin, to know that you are happy; and if Theodore loves you ye “Oh! look at all these proofs of his love!” cried Floribel, pointing to the casket of jewels. “But come! Ihave not yet taken you over the house.” Floribel accordingly began to conduct her cousin throughout the dwelling,—which, as we have before said, was not very extensive, but commodious and elegantly appointed. It was evident that no expense had been spared on the fitting up of the establishment; and Agnes won- dered somewhat, for she did not think that the Hon. Mr. Clifford, dependent on his father as he was, could be rich enough for such an outlay. Floribel pointed out every object worthy of notice ; and these were many—so many indeed that she her- self was almost as much making a first acquaint- ance with them as her cousin Agnes was, She was continuously adducing the various details of the house’s appointments as proofs of Theo- dore’s affectionate consideration for herself,—until at length Agnes began to think it strange that Floribel should thus incessantly harp on the same string. The generous-minded and unsophisticated Miss Evelyn was very slow to entertain suspicion : but she could not now defend herself against a certain uneasy feeling—she scarcely comprehended for what—as Floribel continued to discourse in that strain. “You see, my dearest cousin, how beautifully the place is fitted up,” said Floribel, as they re- turned to the drawing-room after having duly in- spected the house. ‘Do you not think Theodore must love me very dearly to provide such a sweet abode P” “ He lives with you, Floribel,” answered Agnes, “and therefore it is as much for his own comfort and convenience as yours. Besides, a husband generally fits up a house according to his means. At the same time, my dear Tloribel”” Agnes AGSES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. i a i ———e hastened to observe—for it suddenly struck her that the matter-of-fact way in which she was speaking might savour of unkindness—though she was indeed only expressing the thoughts which received their impulse from that vague and dim misgiving which had previously arisen in her mind,—“ at the same time, dear Floribel, there can be no doubt from all you tell me, that Theodore does indeed love you very sincerely.” “Oh, yes! he does!” cried Floribel; “and my maids were telling me so just before your arrival.” “Your maids?” said Agnes. “You do not converse lightly with them upon a subject which is invested as it were with a kind of secret sacred- ness ?” “Oh! but the girls are already much attached to me,” exclaimed Floribel. ‘Look! I will give you another proof of Theodore’s love:”—and shoe hastened to open an elegant writing-desk which stood upon a cheffonier. “See! here are all the bills that he has paid for furniture, plate, car- riages, horses, wine, and a quantity of other things. He has given them t» me—and he has assured me that everything is mine.” Agnes, obedient to the first impulse of her ex- cellent disposition, was about to pour forth the warmest congratulations on this generosity on Theodore Clifford's part,—when she was suddenly smitten with an idea which sent a sickening sen- sation to the heart. Yet she scarcely compre- hended it: it only seemed to her singular that a husband shou!d bid a wife consider furniture, plate, horses, and carriages, all as her own, She fancied they were things which, constituting as it were common property between a husband and wife, could not be talked about as to whom in par- ticular they should belong. She looked at Flori- bel; and then she asked in a gentle, hesitating voice, “ And where were you married, dearest cousin ?” “Oh! at a little village in a secluded spot,” exclaimed Floribel,—“ eighty or a hundred miles from London—I really do not know how many but its name is Elmdale.” “Then everything was ready for the cere- mony ?” said Agnes, who felt considerably re- lieved by the ready answer thus given to her question. “Oh! there was a special license, you know,” responded Floribel; “ and with that the process is easy enough. Here! look at this album !’—and she bent over the superb book which she had just turned to open upon the table. ‘Tt is very handsome,” said Agnes: and in her affectionate solicitude on her cousin’s behalf she would fain have asked some more questions rela- tive to the bridal; but she experienced a sensa- tion of diffidence, as if she almost felt that Flo- ribel herself rather avoided the topic every time she approached it. “You will stay and dine with me, Agnes? Oh, you must pass the remainder of the day! [I shalt be al alone if you do not—for Theodore has pro- mised to dine with his father, who has a large party.” “Oh, yes—I will stay with you,” exclaimed Miss Evelyn; and her heart felt wounded on Flo- ribel’s account—for she could not help thinking that it was somewhat cruel for a bride of only ten or eleven days to be thus left for so many hours by her husband. - i —_—_— COMMicooolxs