Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

_- ewe, _ AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. rited to the utmost: he longed to fathom the ‘mystery of this adventure in which he was plunged. He had read Italian novels, romances, and newspapers: he knew that in Italy there were frequent tales of real life more extraordinary than any wl¥ich belonged to the sphere of fiction; and it seemed as if it had been destined that he should not be many days on the Itaiian soil be- fore bis actual experiences were to corroborate the romantic imazinings which he had entertained previous to breathing the atmosphere of this clime. He knew likewise that in these romances of real life love was no mean motive power, and that the darker passions of jealousy and vengeance agi- tated beneath the surface-of society, as the pent- up lava of Vesuvius boiled within its mountain- bosom ;—and though we cannot say that Charles De Vere actually entertained any apprehension in respect to the adventure wherein he had become engaged, yet in his almost utter ignorance of its details he perceived the necessity of acting a eautious part and being upon his guard. The reader may perhaps wonder that he did not at once seek out the obscure quarter of the city in which that house was situated where he had seen the elderly female and the younger one, and there prosecute certain inquiries so as to ascertain who were the occupants of that habita- tion. But our young hero possessed a loftiness of soul and a magnanimity of disposition which per- haps would have been more worthy of a bygone ege of chivalry than of the practical matter-of- fact period of the present day. He therefore considered himself in honour bound to obey not only to the letter, but even in the very spirit, the injunctions which the young lady had given him. “ Make no inquiries ; attempt not to fathom this mystery until I communicate with you, which shall be in a few days.” Thus bad she spoken; and her earnest entreaty had been instantaneously followed up by the solemn adjuration—“ For the love of God refuse me not this favour!” Thus, theugh Charles De Vere bad ia reality made no pledge on his own account, he considered that he was placed by circumstances precisely in the same light as if from his lips had gone forth the most sacred of oaths to fulfil that young lady’s demand. And if he sought the neighbourhood where he be- lieved that she dwelt—if he were seen lurking about there—would she not instantaneously sup- pose that regardless of her entreaty, he was abandoning himself only to the impulse of his ouriosity ? This would be -mean, ungenerous, unbandsome on his part; and he said to himself, “No!—as I have thus far become entanyled in an adventure so strange and mysterious, I will suffer it to take its own natural course in developing its secrets to my knowledge !” But let it be well understood that though this was the resolve to which Charles De Vere had pre- viously brought his mind, and in which he was now only strengthening his determination by such say- ings as these, he was not the less a prey to the most exciting curiosity, He felt restless and un- settled; and thus, having avoided the society of his companions of the Embassy, he was now wan- dering forth without avy fixed purpose in view, unless it were to be alone with his reflections. He was proceeding along one of the principal streets, when he passed a church from the open portals of 219 which came rolling forth the rich tones of a mag- nificent organ. Charles De Vere was passionately fond of music ; and he had always loved the sacred harmony which swells beneath the vaulted roofs of temples of worship. He entered the church; and with hat in hand, as well as with noiseless foot- steps, he advanced towards the congregation assembled in front of the altar at which the priests were officiating. It being a week-day, this congregation was chiefly composed of the middle and lower orders; and for the most parte= as may be seen in nearly all Catholic countries— the worshippers were females. It was a very handsome church: there were several altars and chapels separated by superb screens of sculptured masonry. In order not to seem singular amidst the devout assemblage, nor to offend any native religious prejudice by haying the air of a lounger drawn thither by mere curiosity, Charles took one of the chairs which were vacant, and knelt in it, —thus following the example of the rest. As he was furtively gazing upon those who were immediately in front of him, his eyes settled upon a female figure kneeling in a chair three or four rows nearer to the altar. A dark velvet bodice, fitting tightly to the form, displayed a most admirable symmetry; while the mantilla-like veil, which had fallen back, disclosed a beautifully shaped head. The skirt of the lady’s dress was of a pale silk: but even while she knelt, it de- fined as it were the sweeping length of the lower limbs. Her sleeves, which descended but little below the elbow, revealed portions of the exqut- sitely modelled arms; and dark auburn tresses lay like burnished gold upon the snowy neck. She was evidently young, though Charles could not see her face; and he felt convinced that this face must be beautiful. Now, perhaps our readers will imagine that al! these were traitorous symptoms on the part of Charles De Vere—traitorous towards the beauteous Agnes Evelyn to whom his heart and his yows were alike pledged. But no pertidious idea entered the brain of our young hero; and indeed so faithful was he to our beauteous heroine, that he would have fled from any adventure of gallantry even if it had ‘presented itself, so that he was by no means likely to seek one of his own accord. But still it may be permitted to the most faithful lover to regard with a certain degree of interest the appears ance of an attractive female, without any ulterior thought; and so it was in the present instances Charles was moreover struck by her exceeding de- votion: for though her back was towards him, yeb could he perceive by a variety of indications that she was thus devout. Presently she stooped to pick up her kerchief: then he caught a glimpse of her side- face—he beheld the profile for a single moment, with that half-vanishing effect which Rembrandt loves to impart to his pictures; and as it happened that a streak of light was slanting through a window fully upon this young lady’s countenance, the big tear-drops trickling down her cheek, glis- teped perceptibly. And young she was—and beaus tiful too, as Charles had already surmised; and he wondered why she should be thus moved to weeping. For since his entry into the church the music had been grand rather than affecting; and it therefore seemed to him as if this young lady were weeping as a penitent, and under the influence as it were Gomichbooksne Om