Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 347 “ And you would have permitted me, Winifred ?”’ | liberty. The difference is that of the bird pining exclaimed Dalham, starting up from his chair, ap- proaching the young lady, taking her hand, and Jooking her earnestly in the countenance. “Ob! is it possible that I hear aright?” ‘Yes, Mr. Dalham,” she answered, with a blush upon her cheeks, aud yet raising her looks with the most ingenuous frackness and candour: “I should have given an affirmative toall that you had asked of me! And perhaps, in the first flush of happi- ness at being released from that dreadful prison, and with a soul expanding when freed from the narrow limits of that space within which for years all its ideas have been concentrated,—I thought, I say, that under suck circumstances my grandfather would suddenly become magnanimous and gene- rous and forgiving. But now, alas " “Oh, Winifred! you have given me to under- stand,” cried Dalham, “ that it was not impossible for you to espouse me !” “How could I persist in a refusal,” ackell Winifred, “in the presence of all circumstances which urge me to give an assent? Do I not owe you my life? and ought it not therefore to be at your disposal?—yes, and all the ideas, the ‘thouchts, the sentiments, and the circumstances which belong unto it! Therefore, Mr. Dalham, when you told me that your fortune may perhaps soon depend on my grandfather and myself “Tell me, Winifred,” exclaimed Roderick Dai- ham,—“‘tell me, I beseech you, what would have been your decision if I had kept that appointment which you gave me upwards of two months back? You remember—when we met in Aldersgate Street—it was on the sixth of December % “That decision, Mr. Dalham,” replied Wini- fred, now bending down her looks, “ would have been given in accordance with the sense of the deep, deep gratitude I owe you!” “ Ah!” exclaimed Roderick, “I was mad not to keep that appointment! But you know the considerations which held me back! And now, Winifred “Listen to ms for a moment,” she said. “ My grandfather must remain in prison yet awhile, until my thoughtless cousin remits the deed which he has doubtless taken with him across the At- lantic—or until the ingenuity of lawyers shall devise a means for dispensing with the document. But so long as my grandfather remains within the limits of that gaol—so long as the high ranges of wall fling their shades upon his soul : * It will be useless fur me to hope,” said Dal- ham, mournfully, “ that by throwing myself at his feet “Ob, useless! useless!” said Winifred, for a moment wringing her hands in desperation at the thought. “So long as he remains there, will he continue implacable in his rancours—inexorable in his reeolyes—ready to spurn or to curse or to trample upon every one who may thwart or irritate him !” “And thus, Winifred,” fear 7 “ Listen to me!” she repeated, but not impa- tiently: “ pray listen to me! Of my grandsire I have said enough: but to sum up all in one word, it were useless, Mr. Dalham, to hope that he will prove within the walls of a gaol that which Se might become when breathing the air of said Dalham, “ you and chafing in its cage, and that of the one which being at liberty has the whole firmament for the play of its wings! Enough therefore conceran- ing my grandsire. Now answerme! From what Mr. Wardour has told you concerning the law- suit 2 “T will speak frankly,” interjected Dalham: “from all that Mr. Wardour last told me, I feel convinced that your grandfather must win it!” “And this is your conviction?” said Winifred, looking Roderick earnestly in the face. “Yes,” he rejoined: “your grandfather and you, Winifred, will soon be very very rich!” “And your father and yourself, Mr. Dalham ?” she asked, as if for a moment she were exulting in the knowledge of what the reply would be: “ your father and yourself, I repeat “ We stand the chance of being impoverished and beggared! All this you know, Winifred ! Surely, surely, you cannot be gloating over tho anticipation of our fallen condition P” It was a veritable cry of mental anguish—sharp, quick, and piercing—which thrilled from Wini- fred’s lips as this accusation smote her. “Good heavens, Mr. Dalham !” she exclaimed, “can you believe that I am capable of such mon- strous ingratitude? Ob! when did: you behold in me aught to justify the belief that I could thus prove an ingrate for the immensity of the bounties which I have received at your hands?” “Pardon me, Winifred! pardon me!” cried Dalbam: and now he passed his arm around her waist—and she did not immediately withdraw her symmetrical form from that pressure. ‘“ But why, my dear young friend—why, my beloved Winifred —for beloved thou art !—why put to me all those questions ?” “Ob, Mr. Dalham!” she exclaimed, “think you that if you were certain that your father would gain the lawsuit, and that you therefure would continue to be rich at his death, while my grand- sire and I should continue to be poor, —think you, I ask, that under such circumstances I would say to you, ‘ My decision is adopted; I will accom- pany you to the altar !’—No! for ther you might deem that Winifred Barrington was selfishly con- sulting her own interests. But now, Mr. Dalham, that you have admitted that you yourself may be- come poor, while on the other hand I may become rich 14 “ Winifred, [ comprehend you!” exclaimed Ro- derick: and winding his arms about her neck, he strained her to his breast. —— ee CHAPTER LVIII. MOUNT PLEASANT AGAIN. WHEN Gustavus Barrington returned to conscious« ness on board the ship, his beautiful quadroon wife was there to lavish her blandishments upon hin— to overwhelm him with caresses—to clasp him in her warm glowing arms—to pillow his head upon her beaving bosom—and to stifle with kisses the remainder of the half-put questions to which she chose not to reply. Awaking from a long lethargy to find himself under the influence of those syren —_—_ —-—-—----— _—-— COMmiclhooolkks OimM