Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

198 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. “T know not what it contains,” replied Gus- tavus: “ but I think it must be something impor- tant; fcr Mr. Hargrave is not a man to trifle away his time in writing letters of mere courtesy. Besides, I know from the conversations we had to: gether that he was utterly unacquainted with our grandfather However, we shall soon see what the nature of this communication is.” Winifred now explained to Gustavus the course she had adopted in consulting Mr. Wardour re- lative to old Mr. Barrington’s affairs ; and the youth highly approved of the proceeding—though indeed he was in that joyous state of mind which would have Jed him to approve of anything which his cousin might have done. And now worthy Mrs. Slater was informed of the return of Gus- tavus ; and warm were the expressions of gratitude which the youth poured forth to that excellent friend whom his cousin Winnie had found g0 stanch and true in the time of her trouble. The two cousins set off towards Whitecross Street; and on reaching the prison Gustavus re- mained in the lobby while Winifred entered to seek her grandfather and break to him gradually the fact of his grandson’s return to England. We need not dwell upon this portion of our nar- rative: suflice it to say that Winifred conducted the proceeding with all suitable delicacy—and that the old man, being duly prepared, was conducted to the private room adjoining the lobby, where he was speedily folded in the arms of his grandson. The joy of Mr. Barrington took as childish a com- plexion as whén he embraced Winifred after her acquittal. He whimpered and sobbed; and he overwhelmed the youth with a thousand questions, interjecting numberless comments upon the pro- gress of his own lawsuit, and assuring his two grandchildren over and over again that they should shortly ride in their carriage, After a while Gustavus produced the lettar which had been confided to him by Mr. Hargrave,—accom- panying the proceedings with a few brief explana- tions of how it came into his hand. “* Road it—read it, my dear boy,” said the oid man nervously. “ It is perhaps some friend who is sending me important information to be embodied in an affidavit; and if so, we must have Timperley here at once.” “Stop, my dear grandfather !—not so fast !” interrupted Gustavus, with a good-humoured tone and smile. ‘ Let us first seo what Mr, Hargrave Bays.” “Yes, yes—read it,” said the old man, with nervous impatience. . Gustavus accordingly opened the letter; and he read tts contents, which ran as follow :— “ Mr. Barrington will pardon a complete stranger for venturing to proffer his advice on a certain point; but this advice which he has to give, is so vitally important to Mr, Barrington’s interests that Mr. Hargrave feels it a bounden-duty to lose no time in affording it. Besides, Mr. Hargrave has experienced so deep an interest in Mr. Barring- ton’s chivalrous-minded and high-souled grandson Gustavus, that it is impossible to feel otherwise than interested also in every one connected with that upright, virtuous youth. But now to the point. If the attorney to whom Mr, Barrington’s affairs are entrusted. he that same Mr. Timperley eee OO te A I A eee es es rr ae ee ee ee ERT TE Or EDA who many years back was a clerk in the employ- ment of Mr. Joshua Waldron of Lincoln’s Inn Fields—then that Mr. Timperley is a villain cf the blackest dye. There is no duplicity, treachery, deceit, or wickedness of which he is not capable. Mr. Hargrave is no traducer nor scandaliser : nor would he for the world speak without just grounds for the strong aspersion which he thus throws upon the character of that man. Let Mr. Bar. rington beware ! “Mr, Hargrave earnestly entreats that this letter may be thrown into the fire the moment it shall have been read. He also begs that in what- soever course Mr. Barrington may adopt towards Mr. Timperley, no syllable of allusion may be made to the source whence the warning has ema- nated. Ina word, Mr. Hargrave is inspired only by the feelings of friendship and duty in the mea- sure which he is now taking; and he therefore relies upon Mr. Barrington’s honour for inviolable secrecy on the points where silence is enjoined.” Such were the contents of the letter which Gus- tavus read aloud to his grandfather and Winifred. Consternation seized upon the young couple when the villanous character of Timperley was so boldly proclaimed: but a terrible excitement took posses- sion of the old man. “ Timperley a villain P” he cried, wringing his hands; “ and I so completely in his power! But no—it cannot be !” “It is! it is!” exclaimed Gustavus: “I am convinced that Mr. Hargrave is incapable of stating an untruth! Ah! now I remember, he once or twice spoke with exceeding bitterness of all lawyers # “ Do not give way to grief, dear grandfather,” said Winifred, throwing her arms about the old man’s neck, “I have not told you before —but there is a kind friend at work for you—Mr. War- dour I mean—his attorneys are respectable—and now that you must at once break off with Mr. Timperley, you shall see those lawyers—you shall see Mr, Wardour—and they will advise you how to proceed.” While Winifred was thus speaking, with her arms folded about the old man’s neck and her plump youthful cheek resting against his wrinkled, almost fleshless face, many thoughts came trooping in unto his mind, “Yes, yes,” he said, in the nervous querulous voice with which old age expresses its excited feel- ings; “it is so! it must be so! ‘Timperley is a villain! or years and years has the suit dragged on!—for eighteen years it has been in his hands ! I have always told him his affidavits were not strong enough—delays which never ought to have occurred were constantly arising—sometimes the counsel he employed was ill—at other times he broke down for want of facts which ought to have been supplied! Yes, yes—I see it all! I have been betrayed—sold—kept here like a felon to rot for a lifetime in gaol—crushed—trampled upon Ob, my God! it is fearful !” And if ail this were fearful, 80 was the excite- ment of the old man as he rose from his seat and paced to and fro in the apartment,—at one mo- ment sobbing and whimpering, then beating his breast or wringing his hands, and giving vent to vehement ejaculations, The affectionate grand- Comilcbooks