Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

NGA (OR eee e i ee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. father’s opponent, Sir John Dalham, possesses a beautiful little villa at no great distance hence— a mile or so away ?” “ I know it.” said Winifred, in a tone that was - more subdued than that in which she had pre- riously been speaking: and for an instant a slight flush crossed her countenance. The good-hearted Rachel conceived that she was touching on a delicate and painful topic when rnus alluding to Sir John Dalham, whom Winifred might naturally regard as .her grandsire’s perse- ecutor and foe; and she therefore hastened to change the topic. The discourse was continued for a little while longer; and then Winifred took ner departure, carrying her bandbox in one hand and a small bundle in the other—this latter con- taining the materials which Agnes had ere now given her to be made up into morning-dresses. Just as Winifred emerged from the iron gate belonging to the grounds of Sidney Villa, she be- held a gentleman approaching at a little distance ; and she immediately recognised him. The recog- nition was mutual; and the gentleman seemed pleased as well as surprised to behold Miss Bar- rington there. He was about forty years of age —of moderate stature, of slim figure, and with a tolerably good-looking countenance: He hed dark hair and whiskers—an aquiline nose—a well- shaped mouth—and a pair of dark piercing eyes. The expression of those eyes as well as the general contour of the features indicated strong passions, which might be moved either for good or for evil, but which would go to the extreme according to whichsoever impulse they obeyed. He was kand. somely dressed, and was evidently a gentleman by eucial position as well as in appearance. “Al, Winifred—you here?” he said, for a mo- ment stopping as Miss Barrington saluted him with a respectful courtesy, which nevertheless was constrained and embarrassed, while the colour went and came in rapid transitions upon her cheeks. “One word with you!” continued the gentleman: “but not here, in sight of those win- dows,” he added, glancing through the bars of the gate towards Sidney Villa. “It would be com. promising you. If you have time, come on for a iew moments to the lane.” Winifred signified assent by a slight inclination of the head; and the gentleman passed rapidly along the road, she following at a distance which would not lead any observer to imagine that she was thus purposely pursuing the same track, By the way in which he had alluded to the lane, and in which she had implied her assent to his pro- posal that she should join him there, it was evi- cent enough that she was no stranger to the place —while indeed the inference would be that she bad met the gentleman there before, As she walked along, with her bandbox and her bundle, there was a profound pensivéness in her looks; so that for a while she did not even attempt to strug- gie against whatsoever emotions were agitating within her. . A walk of about ten minutes brought Winifred to the lane, into which the gentleman had already proceeded; and it was the same wherein Cicely Neale’s encounter with Mrs. Chicklade had oc- curred about half-an-hour previously. The lane . Was narrow and shaded with trees: there was 5 a rioreover a bend in it which at a certain distance ———— ———- —— + - - POS cn ach LAO nn Sonam ON SIRL en SCREEN Tf PUAN, UR A OM 7ST MCT Su I a ae RRR RR EST a <a RR Oe ee i rr en eT ere, en ee ee eee ee 63 | might shield any one from being seen by the passers-by in the road from which it diverged. It was just beyond this bend that the gentleman stopped to await Winifred’s coming vp: and in a few moments she joined him there. Dropping her bandbox upon the green swer? which bordered the lane, and placing the bund!e on the top of it, Miss Barrington stood with down- cast eyes in the presence of that gentleman. There was still a certain restraint in her looks and man- ner; but it would have been difficult for an unini- tiated observer to define from what source this feeling of embarrassment arose. * How is your grandfather, Winifred P” asked the gentleman, in a voice that was kind, and with looks that grew soft as his naturally piercing eyes were bent upon her. “He enjoys good health,” answered Miss Bar- rington, only for an instant raising her own looks, and immediately bending them down again. “ His spirits are good likewise—because,” she added hesitatingly, ‘‘he is now full of hope once more or rather I should say, that hope of his has acquired feverish strength: for of itself it has never abandoned him.” The gentleman reflected in silence for upwards of a minute; and then he said, “ Can I not be of any assistance to you to-day, Winifred? This meeting was an accidental one—but still I thought that possibly ‘No, sir—I thank you,” she interrupted him, with a firmness that notwithstanding hed some- thing deeply respectful in it. “To a certain extent I have accepted your bounty — your charity ” “Use not such terms as these, Winifred {* cried the gentleman: “ you pain and afflict me in- finitely. Have you not a thousand claims F—am 1 not bound is **WNo—I have never regarded it in that ligat,” responded Winifred. ‘‘ Your conduct has proved most generous. towards me:—in my heart I am grateful, even though with the lips I speak so little of gratitude, and though my manner may perhaps be equally deficiezt in expressing it. But Ob! you can full well comprehend what I must feel when standing in your presence — scarcely able to look you in the face Ae “Winifred, this is foolish!” interrupted the gentleman, now modulating his voice to accents the softness of which might have been sympathy or tenderness, we cannot at present say which: “and I have told you over and over again that it is thus foolish! Give not way to these emotions; You koow what in my own heart I think of yu— or else my conduct would not bave been what it has! Cheer up, Winifred ” | “ Sir,’ she interrupted him, in a tremulous voice, “I think that this is the last time I shall meet you—at least under such cireumstances though heaven knows whether we ever can meet in the world otherwise than stealthily. But y What mean you, Winifred?” asked the gentle- man: “what mean you when you say that you think this is the last time ?” “JT have found so kind a friend,” responded Miss Barrington, “in a young lady at that house from which you ere now saw me issue, that by mine own industry alone—for the exercise of which she has promised to furnish me ample occupation, and 1?? . Conn Ghbook (CO)