Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

SS SN ee —— ed « —— the recompense she gives is 80 generous ina word, sir, I hope and trust that henceforth I shall no longer be compelled to receive from your bounty that which my own labour will be com- petent to produce.” Again the gentleman reflected deeply for up- wards of a minute; and then he said, “Are you sure, Winifred, that you are giving expression to your thoughts with the most perfect regard to truthfulness ?—or is this a mere delicate excuse on your part to put an end to our meetings P” “ No!” she exclaimed, with something like vehemence: “if such were my sole purpose, I should not have sought a pretext—I should frankly and candidly explain it now.” “Ves, I think you would—I am sure you would !” ejaculated the gentleman; “and yet I may as well give utterance to that which I was ere now on the point of saying. Listen, Winifred! If you be inspired only by the thought of putting an end to these meetings, I will cheerfully make an arrangement by which at some place, and under suitable circumstances of secrecy, you may continue to receive the same sum which you have hitherto thought fit to accept at my hands—or any other sum that you may name, be it ten times as much . “ No, sir!’ she again interrupted him; and now she looked full in his face as she spoke. “Iam devising no pretext—I require none. For my own sake alone I would have never, never ac- cepted the slightest bounty at your hands; and this you know—though it may indeed appear un- gracicus and ungrateful on my part to speak in such terms. But for my grandfather—that poor helpless old man——Oh, no! I could not see iim want ; and therefore——But you know the rest ! ‘And do you think; Winifred,’ asked the gentleman, ‘‘that you have now a_ prospect ef earning a sum sufficient for all your require- ments ?” ‘‘T hope so—I believe so, she replied. ‘“‘ If not, sir, I shall not hesitate to avail myself of your bounty again. And now we must part. I would say much to you: indeed when first I resolved, scarcely half-an-heur back, upon taking the step with regard to you which I have been explaining, I fancied that at our next interview I should have much to say. But whether it be that this inter- view has taken place with an unexpected sudden- ness, at a moment when it was so little looked for —or whether it be that a crowd of harrowing and torturing thoughts, of which you can full well comprehend the nature, has overwhelmed in my mind all to which I had intended to give utter- ance—I cannot say. Certain it is, however, that I must now leave much unsaid unless it be to give you the parting assurance of that feeling which alone can subsist in my heart after every- thing that has taken place between us. I have done, sir. And now farewell !—leave me!” The gentleman lingered however for a few mo- ments: he seemed desirous to say something, and yet hesitated to give utterance to it. At length he abruptly exclaimed, “ Farewell then, Winifred! What! not even your hand at parting ?” “ Oh, yes!” she said: and she placed her hand in his own. * God bless you!” he cried: and again it was with a look that might be either deepest sympathy oe or else a still more tender feeling, we cannot say * —then suddenly dropping her hand, he harried off, passing farther along the lane, and was speedily lost to her view. Winifred remained standing upon the spot where he had left her: but now, instead of there being a profound dejection in her look, there was acertain air of satisfaction, although mournfui— and her bosom heaved and fell slowly with a long deep-drawn sigh. Almost immediately afterwards she heard a movement in the hedge at a little dis- tance; and glancing in that direction, she started as if a reptile had stung her, on beholding the person who was making her way through an opening where her garments rustled against the bushes. “ Ah, Miss Barrington ! is it youP” exclaimed the woman, whom our readers have doubtless already suspected to be Mrs. Chicklade. ‘“ Well, this is strange! Iam destined to meet numbers of my former acquaintances to-day—and all within the space of an hour or two. I caught a glimgse of that gentleman as he was taking leave of ycu after pressing your hand so fervently; and I re- cognised him in amoment. [Iam glad that you and he still But what ails the girl? Are you too going to show off your airs and treat me with indignity P” “1 do not wish to insult you,” answered Win- nie, shrinking in affright from the sudden fierce- ness of look which Mrs. Chicklade bent upon her: “but I really would rather that you should not know me—that you should not notice me——” ““Which is as much as to say,” ejaculated the woman, “that you are ashamed of your old friend !” “Friend?” echoed Winnie, her cheeks glowing with a suddon indignation; and the same galvanic shock seemed to vibrate through every nerve, in- spiring her with the strength and courage to repu- diate the idea of friendship with such a creature. “ Yes—friend, I said,” rejoined Mrs. Chicklade. “ And what then? Did I not prove your friend? Had it not been for me, would you have known him whom you have just met so stealthily and who pressed your hand so fervidly—doubtless leay- ing something substantial in it ?” Winifred was now worked up to such a pitch of indignation that all alarm on account of the wo- man’s violence was dispelled in order to give place to the stronger feelings of loathing, disgust, and abhorrence. Her gentle nature appeared to be for the time-being utterly changed; and with crimson cheeks as well as with flashing eyes, she exclaimed, “ Begone, vile woman! Every word you utter is a foul insult! Leave me! Our paths lie different in the world—although for a single moment they may once have seemed to meet !” “Oh, it is thus that you also defy me?” ejacu- lated the woman, boiling with indignation! “ It is the same with all of you. IfI serve you yesterday, you treat me with scorn to-day. But, Ah! may I not be avenged to-morrow? Look you, Miss Barrington! Do you think I am ignorant that in Whitecross-street prison there is an old man— your grandfather—who believes you to be every- thing he could wish Ms * And surely human nature is not so bad,” ex- claimed Winifred, a dead pallor now overspreadin her countenance,—“ surely the heart of no woma o 5 n (2) : AGNES; OR, BRAUTY AND PLEASURE.