Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

876 AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. even befure you knew that he had been your bene- | then from the bosom of her dress she drew forth factor. You would not have been so well pleased | the little velvet bag to which we have before al- if I had commenced this evening by saying to luded. Gliding to her workbox, she produced a you, ‘Grandfather, you are lying under illimitable | pair of scissors, with which she hastily unripped obligations to one whom you do not know, whom the silken stitches with which the bag was sewed. you have never seen, and perhaps who may prove First of all she drew forth a wedding-ring, which personally repulsive to you when ye meet.’” “Yes—it is better, Winnie!” said the old man; “for now I know who my benefactor is—at least I know that I like him; and he is just the sort | of person from whom one would rather receive favours and benefits. It is not far off from eight: I hope he will come.’ “Rest assured that he will be punctual, ” re. plied Winifred. “ Yes—for he is anxious to re- ceive your assent, my dear grandfather “4 “Ah! ha!” said the old man, with a sly smile and an arch look. “I begin to see my way a little more clearly! There’s love in the question! Well, my darling Winnie, since it is evident that this gentleman entertains the most honourable inten- tions—and considering that all his conduct has furnished you with so many proofs of disinterested — devotion—I shall be only too glad to see you be- come his wife.” “A thousand thanks, dear grandfather !” ejacu- | lated Winifred, throwing her arms about his neck : “a thousand, thousand thanks! But you must say a little more—and you must go a little further! For suppose—suppose—I scarcely know how to make the revelation — but suppose, I say, that: without waiting for your assent we had forgive | me, dear erandfather !—but it is as his wife that. you now embrace me!” “His wife, Winnie?’ exclaimed the old man, | in the loud voice of amazement; and then in’ an exulting tone he added, “ And why not? As well already married as intending to be! while of course my assent holds good in one case as well as in another! Ah—but you are sure, dear Win-| nie sd “No more doubts, grandfather! no more sus- picions!”’ she interrupted him; “ for I know that | there have been moments when 3 “Ab, that rascal Robus!” ejaculated old Bar- rington. ‘And here he is, this very day, eating roast beef and , Plum- -pudding and swilling strong ale at my cost.” “Well, forgive him, dear grandfather,” said Winnie: and then she added with a blush, and in a tremulous voice, “for appearances were cer- tainly against me! But while you were in that horrible place, with your mind so narrowed toa particular circle of ideas—and also with so many prejudices " “Prejudices, Wianie P” said the old man in- quiringly. “No matter,” she hastily went on to say: | “ suffice it for me to add that I could not—no! I could not bring myself to speak on the subject, nor to make the revelation so long as you were in that shocking place. But now, dear grandfather, that you can see things in a different light, and | that your ideas are changing with your posi- tion 2 “Well, Winnie—but this marriage of your’s ?” interrupted the old man: “when did it take | place ?” Winifred looked up with a species of playful | | confidence into her grandsire’s countenance ; and | |she placed upon her finger, looking up with a smile at her grandsire, and saying, “ I shall hence- forth wear this altogether—and my dear husband, when he comes presently, will be so delighted to recognise it on my hand !” a wth I am glad to see that emblem !” said the | |old man. “Not that I mistrusted you, dear Winnie, you know—only in these matters it is al- | ways so much better to have the proofs before one - * Ah! but I have other proofs!’ ejaculated Winifred. “Mrs. Slater and Miss Evelyn were present at the ceremony—so was Mr. Wardour— ard so was that very Mr. Cartwright who came | to effect your release yesterday. So you see, my dear grandfather, there were plenty of witnesses; and moreover the maid-servant of the house was likewise in my confidence—but the secret has been well kept all the same + “* Ah, indeed it has, Winnie !” said the old man. ** But it shall very soon be made known; for that malignant old scoundrel Robus shan’t have the opportunity —— Why, what did he say to me? Something to the effect that in two or threo _ months more you would—you know what I mean, | Winnie Ab! but now I can look forward with delight and joy to the prospect of embracing a | great. -grandchild !” Winifred blushed; and with downcast looks she said, “ It is close upon seven months, dearest | grandfather, since I became a wife. On the twenty-first of February I gave my final consent: three days afterwards—that is to say, on the twenty-fourth—the ceremony took place by spe- | cial license.” “ Ah! and this is the eighteenth of September,” said old Barrington, “ Yes, yes—you have in- deed been a wife within a few days of seven months!” “ And here is the certificate,’ continued Wiani- fred, taking the document from the little velvet bag. “See! it bears the date of the twenty- fourth of February.” * But the name—the name, my dear?” said Mr. Barrington. “© Why do you hold the paper “Ah, my dear grandfather!” exclaimed Wini- ' fred, thrusting the certificate into her bosom; “ I will not declare my husband’s name until he enters this room according to your own special invita- tion.” | This is foolish, my dear girl,” said her grand- father. ‘ Come, tell me e “‘ No—not yet!” interrupted Winifred, becoming intensely nervous as the moment of crisis ap- proached. “ Have a little patience!—it wants but five minutes to eight !—he declared to yeu that he would be punctual !” “But why this mystery, Winifred?” asked the old man. “I don’t like it. Surely you have wedded no one of whose name you need bo ashamed 2” “Tt is an ancient and honourable name,” sponded Winifred; “and a title is connected with Comilcbooks Spence Gee eeeee