Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 381: what you’re looking at

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

— ee ee —- AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND FPLEASURE. 373 self, observed that there was a slight tremor in his voice. And now how wildly palpitated Winifred’s heart as she became aware that her grandfather was at the moment shaking hands with Roderick Dalham! —yes, grasping in friendiiest pressure the band of him whom, as well as his father, he had sworn to hate, loathe, and detest to the end of his life! “T am delighted to form your acquaintance, sir,” said the old man,—“ very much delighted. You know my name—I don’t know eh ?— whether I heard you mention your’s or not?” Roderick coolly took out his card-case, and said, “ What information, Mr. Barrington, is it that you require ?—for I sincerely hope I shall be en- abled to afford it.” * How many acres belong to that villa, sir ?” asked the old gentleman. “T can tell you exactly,” replied Roderick. “There are a dozen acres of garden-ground and paddock attached to the dwelling.” “And the house itself is commodious—eh ?” continued old Barrington eagerly. “Very commodious,” responded Roderick, who was still playing with his card-case as if about to take forth a card and hand to the aged occupant of the carriage. “Very commodious—eh? Do you hear that, Winnie my dear? This gentleman tells me that it is very commodious. The fact is, my dear sir, between you and me, Sir John Dalham’s suit is already as good as lost; and when lost, he will be ruined—so that it is tolerably certain the villa yonder, as well as all the rest of the property will come into my possession; because what the judg- ment of the Court does not give me as my right, I shall buy up, sir—I shall buy up! For every- thing that Sir John possesses, must inevitably come to the hammer I mean all that the Court will leave him.” “Grandfather!” said Winifred, softly yet firmly, “ you are speaking too plainly—too openly “ T know what I am saying,” ejaculated the old man aloud; “and I feel confident that in a very short time we shall be seated within the walls of yonder villa. And if so, sir,” he continued, now again addressing himself to Roderick, “ nothing will give me greater pleasure than to receive you at the house and we will drink a bottle of wine to our better acquaintance.” “ And to our friendship,” added Roderick. “Be- lieve me, my dear sir, it would be one of the happiest moments of my life to find myself seated with you over a glass of wine in yonder villa.” “ But there’s no reason,” said Mr. Barrington, “why we should not see each other very soon again. I am stopping for the present in Alders- gate Street, No. —. I shall be very glad if you will favour me with a call.” “T am often in that neighbourhood,” replied Roderick. ‘‘I shall be most happy “The sooner the better, ’exclaimed the old man. “ What shall you be doing this evening ?” Roderick Dalham at the moment beheld the white kerchief again waving at the window, but in @ manner that was significant only for himself: and he comprehended the meaning of the sign. “T shall be disengaged this evening?” he said; “and it would really afford me much pleasure to pay my respects.” “Come at eight o'clock,” said Mr. Barrington: “be upon no ceremony—you will have simply a cup of coffee and a good glass of wine—but a very cordial reception, I can assure you.” ** At eight o’clock, my dear sir, I will be punc- tual,’ answered Roderick, who had just slided his card-case back into his pocket, without taking any card thence, as the reader may be very well as- sured. “ Punctual at eight.” Hands were again shaken: Roderick lifted his hat in courteously respectful salutation to the old gentleman; and he hastened on his way. Mr. Bar- rington now ordered the equipage to drive home- ward; and as it rolled along the lane, he said to Winifred, “ A very nice gentleman, that !—a very nice man indeed! But dear me! did he give me his card! Well, this is very strange! He meant to do so—he took out his card-case on purpose. I saw him do it. Well, he must have forgotten. But you see, my dear Winnie, how easy it is to make a friend by a little gentlemanly cour- tesy “Ab! and so very much better,” ejaculated Winifred, “to make afriend than an enemy!” “ Why, of course, my dear—no one would travel, out of his way to make an enemy, nor go half-way to meet one. But sometimes enmity is forced upon us = “‘ And friendship is formed by accident,” inter- jected Winifred, —* as you ha¥e formed this friend- ship to day.” “Well, my dear girl, you are really talking quite rationally and sensibly, and just as I like to hear you,” said the old man, patting her cheek. “TI fancied you would blame me for making hasty acquaintances — I thought to myself that your would be sure to find fault, and tell me that I ought to be ‘more cautious—more reserved—and so forth “No, no, my dear grandfather!” exclaimed Winifred, “you have acted perfectly right !— believe me, you have acted perfectly right! And you like that gentleman very much—do you not ?” “‘ OF course !—or else I should’nt have invited him tosee us. By the by, I quite forgot to in- troduce you, Winnie, as my beloved grandchild.” “Tshall see him this evening,” said Winifred. “ But why—what made you—I mean how was it that you took such a sudden and strange fancy to: that gentleman ?” “Sudden perhaps—but not strange,” ejaculated Mr, Barrington. “Do you know, my dear Win- nie, that I very often act upon impulses? IL generally take a liking or a dislike to persons at once.” “And in this present case,” said Winifred, im & voice that would persist in being tremulous despite all her efforts to render it firm,—‘ you— you ”» “In this present case,” rejoined her grandfather, “T took a strong liking at once. But of course I did, Winnie! Did you not hear how he spoke about the lawsuit P—and wasn’t that handsome on the part of a perfect stranger? He isa manly felluw too, Winnie! He knows Sir John Dalham —whereas on the other hand he never knew me from Adam till to-day; and yet, as you heard, he atonce and most unhesitatingly pronounced his judgment in my favour. Who could help liking suca a man P” CoMmiclooolks ——