Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

Se ee rr er ee —_— a ee ee ee ee eee ss ee, Oe Oe eee Oe Ee -— —_— 6S consternation by the sudden peremptory lifting of Cicely’s arm, accompanied by the abrupt utterance of the words, “You have heard me—you utder- stand me—and now begone!” Mrs. Chicklade turned away; and for about a minute she walked rapidly along the lane: then she relaxed her pace—glanced over her shoulder— aod perceiving that Cicely was still standing on the spot where she had left her, she touk courage at finding that there was such an interval between herself and that young lady who for a while had seemed to bo inspired with all the fiercest passions of ademoness. True to her charscter of a malig- nant female-bully when she fancied herself to be safe, Mrs. Chicklade shrieked forth, “Ah! you would kill me—would you? Beware!—you have made me your mortal enemy—and we shall see whether you are in reality so indifferent as you pretond to be with regard to all I can tell!” Having thus vented her fury, Mrs. Chicklade again turned and darted along the lane until it joined the main road,—where she felt tuat she was completely safe. Cicely had advanced a step or two on being thus menaced and taunted by the vile woman; and then she had suddenly stopped short, while ber countenance became ghastly with rage—the rich hue fled from her full pouting lips, leaving them livid white—and her eyes flashed sinister fires. Thus she stood for a few moments; and it was not easy to fathom the precise nature of the dark thoughts that were passing in her mind. She moved not until Mrs. Chicklade was lost to her view ; and then, muttering something to herself, Miss Neale followec rapidly in the same direc- tion, ———= CHAPTER XII. THE LANE. We must now return to Winifred Barrington, whom we left at Sidney Villa, still engaged in conversation with the good-hearted parlour-maid Rachel, who had conceived a great interest in the young seamstress in consequence of the very favourable representations which Mr. Williams, the baker, had put forth concerning her. * And do you think, my dear Miss Barrington,” asked Rachel, “that your grandfather will in reality gain this law-suit in the long run P” *T do not know—I hope so,” replied Winifred. “Tt has lasted for a great number of years: but Mr. Timperley called yesterday 4 “‘Mr. Timperley ?” ejaculated Rachel. your grandfather’s lawyer ?” “Yes,” responded Winnie: “he has been his solicitor for the last seventeen or eighteen years— ever since the death of his former attorney, Mr. Waldron. I have often heard my grandfather say so,” “ How singular!” said Rachel. “Xou do not know, then, that these ladies—my young mistresses —are the granddaughters of that same Mr, Wal- dron of whom you have just been speaking ?” | “No—I never heard it before,” rejoined Wini- fred in astonishment. “ But you must remember that this is only the second time I have been to Sidney Villa “Ts he ——__ AGNFS; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. —_ ~ «© “T am sure that Miss Evelyn,” interrupte! Rachel, “ will, if possible, become all the more in- terested in you on this very account. Ah! If should add that the young ladies are well ac- quainted with Mr. and Mrs. Timperley: indeed it is their niece Miss Neale who has just been here to call.” “Ob, then, perhaps your young ladies will to Mr. Timperley on my grandfather’s behalf?” said Winifred: and then by her looks she appeared — as if she regretted having proffered the request. “Miss Lister, though as kind-hearted a young lady as any I ever knew,” responded Rachel, “is scarcely likely to give herself any trouble in the matter: but Miss Evelyn will joyfully do all she can to serve you. You must however tell me in what manner she can advance your grandfather's interests. Does not Mr. Timperley perform his duty? You may speak candidly to me, my dear Miss Barrington: do not be afraid to explain whes is passing in your mind.” Thus encouraged, Winnie said, “I understand very little of all these law-affairs: but still I fancy that my poor grandfather has at times had some reason to believe that Mr. Timperley might have pusfted on his business with a little more rapidity. Still I must frankly confess that Mr. Timperley is doing it all on speculation ; and therefore it is not to be supposed he would put himself to any extra- ordinary degree of expense, because there is the chance that he may never obtain a single farthing of his costs.” “TIT. am sure,’ exclaimed Rachel, “that Miss Evelyn will say a good word to Mr. Timperley for your poor grandfather. You told me, I think, that he was once rich & | “Yes—very rich: but that was before I was born,” responded Winifred. “ Heaven grant that even if he do not become rich again, he may at least acquire sufficient to pay off the liabilities which keep him a prisoner in that dreadful places though I fear that i * Are those liabilities heavy ?” inquired Rachel. “TIT do not exactly know,” rejoined Winifred ; “but from some few little things which I have gleaned at times, I fancy that it is not so much the amount that originally kept my grandfather in prison, as the complicated nature of the affairs themselves. But now I fear that if the prison- doors were thrown open and he was told that he was free, he would not avail himself of his liberty: for he has grown very eceentri¢ and peculiar—and he has over and over again yowed that he will never leave the gaol unless it be as a rich man, the gainer of his suit, and with his own carriage in attendance at the gate to receive and bear him off.” “ How singular!” ejaculated Rachel. “Do you think, my dear Miss Barrington, the poor old gen- tleman’s mind has grown morbid ?” “He is in the full possession of his intellects,” replied Winnie: “but still, you know, the ideas must necessarily become limited to a very narrow circle under the influence of so long an imprison- ment. It is likewise only too natural that some of these ideas should take the aspect of prejudices, and in that sense become firmly rooted in the mind.” “Ah, true!” said Rachel, with a sympathetic sigh. “ You are of course aware that your grand. econnicloool ks (E(0)