Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

— eee eee — and when the latter surrendered up to the for- mer whatsoever claim she might have to his heart. “Young man, you are not happy,” said Mr. Hargrave, looking earnestly upou Barrington’s countenanee; “ and I am really sorry for it. Yes —Iam really sorry for it !—although it is more or less all your own fault. But now tell me,— that letter which I gave to you at the instant when you rushed upon the deck of the mail- packet a ‘““Ab, Mr. Hargrave!” exclaimed Gustavus, “how great a debt of gratitude is due to you from my grandfather for having opened bis eyes to the true character of that man Timperley !” “ Ah! then,” said the misanthrope, “the warn- ing was not neglected P” “Ob, no!” cried Gustavus: “my grandfather, previously so much prejudiced in favour of Mr. Timperley, was all in a moment convinced that for years and years that vile bad man had been play- ing him false !” “T am glad that my letter produced this re- sult,” said Hargrave; “ fora greater scoundrel than Mr. Timperley does not exist on the face of the earth! But is your grandfather still in prison? No! that can scarcely be, considering the vast amount which the gold dust must have realized ?” “My grandfather was still in prison when I left England,’ replied Gustavus: “but there can be no doubt that he obtained his liberation al- most immediately after - “And you waited not to hail his restoration to. 1? . freedom!” exclaimed Hargrave, evidently think- ing there was something strange in, this part of the business, “No—I could not wait—that is to say I desired | » te, as in duty bound—but—but **T understand all about it,” interrupted Har- grave curtly; “your wife would not let you stop. Well, but why was not your grandfather re- | stored to freedom? Could he not get guit of Timperley P” “Ob, yes—I believe so!” rejoincd Gustavus. “Indeed, [ have every reason to imagine that such was the case; for just before I left England, Mr. Timperley had surrendered up a deed of para- mount importance—the very document, in fact, which proved the great barrier to my grandsire’s | emancipation, and without the production or de- struction of which the money itself was of no avail in the settlement of his debts.” “ Well—and this deed being produced,” said Mr. Hargrave, who felt convinced by the hesita- tion of the youth’s manner and the confusion of | his looks that there was something wrong,—“ how was it that the door of the gaol was not at once thrown open? and how was it that you did not wait av hour or two to welcome your venerable relative into a state of freedom once again ?” At this moment Gustavus was carried away by euch an overwhelming tide of feelings that he burst into tears: then dreadfully ashamed of him- self, and even alarmed at this display of his weakness, he hastened to say, “ Let us turn the discourse, Mr. Hargrave! Pray do not press me on this topic !” “ My yourg friend,” said the misanthrope, his look and manner all in a moment becuming pecu- AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. liarly kind and friendly—we might almost say affectionate,—“ there is grief in your heart! You have either done something wrong, or something | wrong has been done to you. Tell me everything. Yes, Gustavus—I experience a real interest in you! Tell me therefore everything !” The youth now felt in one of those moods which prompt and incline individuals to speak confiden- tially to those who address them in a sympathizing manner; and he accordingly began to let out a few of the details of his own conduct towards | Winifred when first arriving in London. Mr. _ Hargrave questioned him; and at length he elicited 'the entire history of all that had occurred after the quadroon had presented herself at Winifred’s | lodgings,—how the box of gold was by her ob- tained from the railway-station,—how Winifred surrendered up her claim to the hand of Gus- tavus—how Emily bore him away in triumph— how the gold was restored to Winifred—and how Gustavus then became tbe quadroon’s husband. | But still Mr. Hargrave questioned him further ; /and thus the misanthrope wormed out of the | youth all that remained to be told—the sojourn in Paris—the return to London—the youth’s last interview with Winifred—the circumstance of the document being entrusted to him—his encounter with his wife—their return to the hotel—the man- ‘ner in which that day was passed—and the myste- rious abruptness with which he was kidnapped, so to speak, on board the ship which had borne him back to Jamaica. | Mr. Hargrave gazed with astonishment upon Gustavus when the whole story was told: he then reflected profoundly for nearly a minute—and at length he said, ‘ It is a painful history to be heard by any one who is interested in you, Gustavus; and it must be a painful history for you to tell!” The youth looked abashed: he held dowa his head and said nothing. “ Are you sure,” inquired Mr. Hargrave, after a pause, “that your Emily played a fair game in respect to that document ?” * Good heavens, let us hope so!” exclaimed Gustavus. ‘“ But of course she did! What earthly interest could she have had to the con- trary ?” “I don’t know. Very likely none,” replied Mr. Hargrave curtly. “But who could tell? All I can say is, that if I were exactly in your position, I should not leave the matter in any uncertainty: I should consider it a duty towards an aged and long persecuted grandsire to convince myself that no barrier existed against his liberation.” “Yes—you are right, Mr. Hargrave!” said Gustavus. ‘‘I ought to have written “g ‘** What ! you have been two whole months ia the island, and not written to Hogland yet’?” ejacu- lated the misanthrope. ‘“ Ah! your looks prove that itis so! Really, young man,” he added, in a severe tone, “ I cannot altogether admire your conduct towards your relatives in England. But perhaps they have written to you P” “No,” rejoined Gustavus: “I bave not re- ceived any letter since my return to Mount Plea- sant.” “ But you tell me that your departure was so abrupt,—how do you know that your relatives are aware that you haye actually returned ta Jamaica ?” ' ‘ meme a Mi ee 4 | . ee a Pee Pe i | , < comicbooks