Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

Ee a 364 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Robus. “I wish you joy of your freedom with all my heart: but I perbaps should have been better pleased if the vaunt and the vow % “You may look out if you like, Mr. Robus,” said the senior turnkey, who was in a most excel- lent humour, from the circumstance of having by this time ascertained that the little packet which had been slipped into his hand, had made him richer than he previously was to the extent of five geld pieces: “look out, Mr. Robus, if you like! There! go down on the first step, sir—pray don’t stand on ceremony—I know you are a gentleman and won’t take advantage of a good-natured act by bolting off like a shot.” And Mr. Robus availed himself of the head turnkey’s permission: he crossed the threshold— he descended a step of the half-dozen leading up to the gate. But Ah! what meant that ejacula- tion of joy which burst from old Barrington’s lips, and which was echoed by one of astonish- ment, not altogether unmingled with vexation, from the lips of Mr. Robus? An elegant equipage was at the door—a carriage with a pair of horses ; and that everything was quite new, was proved by the harness as well as by the liveries of the couachman and footman. “Winifred!” cried the old man: and he could say 00 more—but the tears gushed out from his eyes. “Well, dear grandfather,” responded Winifred, in alow tone, and with hasty utterance, “ there was plenty of money left after paying all the debts—and so I thought 43 “Good bye, Robus!” vociferated the old man, turning round and flinging a parting word of triumph at his cynical friend. “ After all, it was no idle vaunt, and the vow is not broken; for I shall ride away in my own carriage !” CHAPTER LXxX. APTER THE EELEASE. Mr. BARRINGTON was free. The equipage drove to Mrs. Slater’s nouse ; and ina few minutes the old man was installed in the handsome suite of apartments prepared for his accommodation. Over and over again did he embrace Winifred; and over and over again did she murmur, “ Thank heaven, you have at length left that dreadful place !” It at first appeared to be a dream, alike to the grandfather and the granddaughter; and through- out the remainder of that day they could speak of naught beside. An elegant repast was served up between five and six o'clock in the evening; but they could scarcely do justice to it—their hearts were too full to allow scope for appetite. They retired to rest early; for Winifred said to her grandfather, “ When you awake in the morning, you will feel more settled.” On the ensuing day, while they were seated to- gether at breakfast, old Mr. Barrington said, “ Now tell me, Winnie dear, how matters stand at present I mean, you know, in respect to money-affairs?—because it is still a couple of | though it must be settled in my favour next Term eh, dear Winnie—eh ?” “Look!” said Winifred; “here is an exact account of all recent transactions. First you note that the sum of fourteen thousand five hundred pounds was bought into the Bank in my name about nine months ago. With the interest you may call it fifteen thousand. Thirteen thousand have been spent fn procuring your release. My expenditure—a variety of things that have been purchased “Yes, yes—I see!” said the old man; “and then there is the carriage—with the horses, har- ness, liveries Doubtless Mr. Wardour’s taste, Winifred ?” “No,” she responded, in a soft voice, at the same time quickly bending down her head; for her cheeks were suffused with blushes. “Not Mr. Wardour?” ejaculated the old man: but he did not perceive his granddaughter’s emo- tion, for bis eyes were still fixed upon the paper which she had handed him. ‘Then who assisted you in buying that handsome carriage and choos- ing those beautiful horses? You must have had some male adviser—eh P” Do you find that amount right?” asked Wini- fred, trembling very much, and still full of con- fusion. “ Well, I see that we have upwards of thirteen hundred pounds standing over e “And that sum is ata banker’s, my dear grand- father,” exclaimed Winifred; ‘and here is the pass-book—and there is the cheque-book and as it all stands in your name, your drafts will be acknowledged !” “ Ah! this is excellent! capital!” cried old Bar- rington, rubbing his hands gleefully. ‘To be able to write cheques once more!” and his fingers itched to begin filling up a draft. “I must go and see Robus. I[—I don’t think me vain and foolish, Winnie but I'll just take the bank-book to show him for a moment——merely to prove that after all we are somebody 4 “ Now do listen to me, dear grandfather,” said Winifred, speaking very seriously. “I do not for a moment wish you to desert old friends or to for- get those poor creatures whom you have left be- hind in gaol. But I nevertheless think that you have had enough of prison to be anxious to avoid it for the remainder of your life, rather than to seek it. You will dono good by penetrating with- in those walls: on the contrary, you will do your- self harm—because you will still be associating your habits and tastes with mutters that savour of a gaol, This you must avoid, dear grand- father & * Well, well, Winnie,” said the old man. ‘ But the dinner which I promised to give those fel- lows?” ‘The dinner shall be given,” responded Wini- fred: “but there is not the slightest necessity for you to be present at it,” “Eb? what?” ejaculated old Barrington: “why, Winnie, I—I —rather thought — I—I— should preside on the occasion ?” No,” said Winifred, firmly yet kindly; “there is not the slightest necessity for you to take this course. Remain away from the prison—I be- seech you to remain away from it! The dinner ’ roonths before the Chancery suit can be decided— | shall be given: I will go and issue orders at unce ee GComilcbooks Cc - ee