Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

212 AGNES; OE, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. The worthy woman, in the joy she experienced Dalham with the fact that riches had flowed into at the arrival of the package (though she had | my possession ” known nothing of its temporary loss), was s0| “And he is rejoiced,” continued Mr. Wardour, great as to prevent her from discerning anything , “to learn that your grandfather's affairs are to changed or peculiar in Miss Barrington’s look or | be taken out of Mr. Timperley’s hands and en- manner. trusted to other solicitors. As a matter of filial “ Did no letter nor message accompany it P” in- duty Roderick Dalham could not assume a posi- quired Winifred, in a voice which began falter- tively hostile demeanour towards his father by ingly, but into which she almost immediately in- openly espousing Mr. Barrington’s cause in the fused a steady firmness. lawsuit: but still, as you well know, Winifred, “No—nothing,’ replied Mrs. Slater. “ A man Roderick Dalham’s sympathies are entirely with brought it in a cart I think he said he came that cause—for he knows it to be the just one, from a Mr. Millard. I signed some book as re- | and he deeply feels that his father has been a ceiving it in your name—lI gave the man a trifle vindictive persecutor rather than an honourable for his trouble—and he went away.” litigant. Indeed,” continued Mr. Wardour, Winifred expressed her thanks, took the key of ‘‘ Roderick Dalham trembles with the suspiciun her room, and hastened up-stairs. There she that there must have been some secret under- found the case, enveloped in the tarpaulin which standing of a treacherous character between his Emily Pinnock had caused to be fastened about father and Mr. Timperley ; though I was careful it: and a simple card on the outside bore Wini- to say nothing relative to that warning note which fred’s address. She cut away the tarpaulin with Mr. Barrington received the other day—for I was the idea that there might possibly be some note delicate in dealing with Roderick Dalham’s feel- inside: but there was none. She did not open | ings, and I abstained from saying aught that the case—she had no curiosity to see the gold— | might strengthen the suspicion to which I have but she murmured to herself, “ Heaven has not just alluded.” altogether abandoned me; for if my own happi-| “And do you really think, sir,” inquired Wini- ness be gone, I have still the means of insuring fred, “that there has beef& any such treacherous that of my grandsire !” _ understanding 7 : She now proceeded to the prison; and she told; “If Mr. Timperley has really been playing a her grandfather a tale of how Mr. Pinnock in false game towards your grandfather,” interrupted Jamaica had hurriedly sent over to fetch Gus- Mr. Wardour, “it must have been through some tavus back to himn—how Gustavus had been com- | peculiar motive. As a lawyer one would think pelled to depart—and how this departure took that he valued his professional reputation, and place too late on the preceding evening for the Would be anxious to gain this suit ; while, in the youth to call at the prison to bid his grandsire , Second place, as a man notoriously greedy for farewell. Ina word, Winifred so managed mat- | Money, he ought to desire to bring the matter to ters with the old man as to satisfy his mind com- | @ conclusion that he might-obtain his costs in case pletely: for as a little stroke of policy, the con- | of success, or get rid of an expensive speculation siderate girl had brought him some delicacies for , in case of failure. When therefore we see Mr. his table and some new articles of raiment, to | Timperley acting in altogether a different sense— which his entire attention was accordingly at | ud when we find that a private warning in re- once directed. spect to his character has been sent—we can ar- On leaving the prison, Winifred repaired to | rive at no other conclusion than that he has all Mr. Wardour’s chambers; and to this gentleman | #long been acting a treacherous part from very she reported that the case of gold had arrived. | Strong motives. But who could make it worth He promised to take immediate measures for the | his while thus to act unless it be Sir John Dalham disposal of the ore and dust, so that the amount bimself?” might be realized in the current coin of the Bri-| “True!” said Winifred: “and deeply must tish realm. it distress Mr. Roderick Dalham’s mind to “There was with me just now,” he observed, entertain a dishonouring suspicion, however “a gentleman whom you well know, Winifred, | Vague and slight, in reference to his own and who experiences the liveliest interest in every. | father!” thing that concerns you: I need scarcely add that “I have not been speaking,” continued Mr, T allude to Mr. Dalham; and I presume that | Wardour, “so strongly against Mr. Timperley was guilty of no breach of confidence when I in- | Without certain grounds, which grow more and formed him of the manner in which heaven was More suspicious the farther they are investigated. - at length smiling upon you?” I think it will be shortly discovered that your un- It was only by a great effort that Winifred | fortunate grandfather has been detained in prison could keep back her tears, or prevent the deep by @ network of the deepest villany—a network silent sigh from expanding into an audible sob, as the meshes of which were originally woven by she thought how greatly Mr. Wardour was mis- 'Mr. Waldron, but which have been since multi- taken ; for though the gold remained, yet he Plied and strengthened by the hands of Mr. Tim- whom she loved more than all the treasures in Perley. However, in a few days I shall be enabled the world had been taken from her! She hap. tell you more.” pened to be seated with her back towards the win-| Winifred took her departure from Mr. War- dow—the December day was gloomy—and thus. dour’s chambers, pondering on all he had said to Mr. Wardour did not observe whatsoever emotion ber. We should observe that although some _mention had been made to the woethy barrister was expressed upon her features. | : : “No, sir—there was not any breach of con- of a certain warning letter connected with Afr. Gdence,” said Winifred, “ in acquainting Mr. Timperley, yet the name of Mr. Hargrave was | La aa Gomichbooks.com 4