Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

TS ee ee a et _ en ee eee ee te ee etratie profile, slightly aquiline,—the short, haugh- tily curving upper lip wearing a moustache of a brown hue, and which was at least a couple of shades darker than his hair. But, while we are thus pausing to describe him, both he and the Government clerk had addressed themselves to the two young ladies,—the former expressing his regret that his steed should have been the cause of so much alarm and peril—and the latter giving utterance to such re-assuring words as ceurtesy and circumstances suggested. Agnes, the fair-haired damsel, recovered her self- possession rauch more speedily than her compa- nion; and with the most bewitching modesty, blended with a bashful confusion, she acknowledged }_ the apologies of the moustached gentleman, and expressed her gratitude to the Government clerk. But Floribel, the dark-haired maiden, clung to the railings for support, and still gave vent to ejacula- tions of terror, even when all cause for alarm was past. If either of the two gentlemen were the least inclined to be malicious or hypercritizal, he might have fancied that there was some little de. gree of affectation in these continued evidences of alarm on the part of the dark-haired maiden. In- deed, it seemed as if she wanted to be coaxed into being encouraged and reassured, rather than ac- eomplishing that end by an effort of her own will. The gentleman with the moustache was therefore most earnest in persevering in his reiterated apolo- gies; and Floribel at length suffered herself to be pacified, e “I can assure you, ladies,” said the gentleman with the moustache, “Iam perfectly wretched at the idea of having, though so innocently, exposed you to such an alarm, Permit me to announce myself as the Hon. Mr. Hector Hardress; and may I beg permission to pay my respects to- morrow at your own abode, in order to satisfy my mind that you will by that time have re- covered from the effects of this incident ?” “We thank you, sir,” replied Agnes, with a certain modest selt-possession, as well as with an air which was meant to decline the proffered visit : “ but.we are now completely recovered.” “‘ You, Miss,” said the Hon. Hector Hardress, with a smile of the blandest affability, “have more nerve than your companion.—I am sure you will excuse me for saying so,’ he added, turning towards Floribel; “and when I consider that I was the cause of your exceeding alarm, I hope you will not refuse me the opportunity of assuring myself that it has produced no serious effects ?” “ It really is not necessary,” answered Floribel, with a half-smiling bashfulness: “ but as you seem to persist—and it will be rude on our part to de- cline—I must mention that we live at Sidney Villa—at no great distance hence—in the neigh- bourhood ‘of St. John’s Wood.” A ok of displeasure for a moment flitted across the beautiful countenance of Agnes, as her com- panion accepted the proposal of Mr. Hardress to call: but she immediately regained her wonted look of modest sweetness, asif she felt that it was | after all a mere act of ordinary courtesy on Flori- bel’s part. | We should observe that the young clerk had started slightly—but so slightly that the move- meut was almost impereeptible—when the Hon, | Hector Hardress had aunounced his name; and | AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. j for a moment he gazed upon him with mingled interest and attention. Then, while that little colloquy between Hardress and Floribel was pro- ceeding, the young clerk rapidly deliberated in his mind whether he should offer to escort the ladies to their residence, which was close by his own home. But he thought he saw something in the modest retiring manner of Agnes which was averse to any precipitate idea of improving the acquaintance which had merely arisen from an ae- cident; and he did not even ask if ke also might be permitted to call upon the morrow—though he inwardly resolved that this step he would at least take. The Hon. Hector Hardress now raised his hat to the ladies—bowed slightly to the young clerk— and strolled away with the fashionable lounging air of a gentleman who had no earthly thing to do except dispose of his time for his own special amusement—a process which on occasions might be languid enough. * T have the honour of being a neighbour of your’s, Miss Evelyn,” said the young clerk, thus addressing himself to Agnes when Hardress had lounged away. “ Perhaps you will ear: me to name myself as Mr. De Vere.” Agnes inclined her head with a sufficiently courteous acknowledgment of this announcement; and Mr. Dr Vere, now raising his hat in his turn, walked rapidly on. * He knows: who we are, you see,” said Floribel to Agnes as soon as the Government clerk was beyond earshot. “ But he said nothing of call- ing ” " ““ And I am sorry, Floribel,” answered Agnes gravely, “‘ that you gave permission to Mr. Hard- ress. And yet, my sweet cousin,” she immediately added, “ I really cannot blame you; for inasmuch as he persevered with his request, you could not well refuse. It was courtesy for courtesy.” ** What a distinguished-looking young man!” ejaculated Floribel. ‘ An Honourable too! He must therefore be the son of a Lord. I wonder who his father is? I daresay we have some book at home that will tell us.” “T really have no curiosity on the point,” re- plied Agnes. “ He will doubtless call to-morrow ; and pray, my dear cousin,” continued the young lady, with looks and accents of the most artless beseeching, “do not give utterance toa syllable that shall encourage him to repeat his visit.’’ ‘“* Rest assured, Agnes,” rejoined Floribel, with something like a look of annoyance at an entreaty which she perhaps interpreted as a remonstrance, “IT shall do nothing indiscreet or unladylike. But really, my dear cousin, if we are always to lead this hermit-like existence—visiting only a very few families, including those odious Timperleys 4 “ Remember, my dear Floribel,” interrupted Agnes, again speaking seriously, “ that Mr. Tim- perley was the confidential clerk of our poor grandfather; an I am sure he and his wife have always shown a very kind feeling towards us.” “ But his look ewould be sufficient in a court of justice to condemn him!” exclaimed Floribel Lister. “Ob, my dear cousin!” cried Miss Evelyn, in a tone of remonst~ance, “ how can you judge thus | by appearances? Mr. Timperley has raised him- self from the cundition of a poor clerk to that al an aflluent practitioner——” . CONNIE DOOKS peer re re (E(0)