Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

re ee Stn SE —— ee "4 —— SO OS AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, After awhile Mrs. Slater was brought back to con- sciousness; and she then burst into tears as well as lamentations. “Oh Mary!” she said, wringing her hands, “I can’t believe it’s true! What! Miss Winifred No! Ican’t breathe the word! I should as soon think that I myself was capable of such a crime! And yet her strange looks? Well, well! I don’t know what to think of it! But the dis- grace that, whether or no, will be brought on this house that’s always been so quiet and respectable !” “Oh, ma’am !” cried the servant-girl, weeping ; “it will be enough to kill her poor old grandfather —at his age—and suffering so much as he has done for so long a time!” “Ah!” said Mrs. Slater, her natural goodness of heart triumphing over that temporary display of selfishness in regard to whatsoever taint might be thrown upon the respectability of her house; ‘you remind me of a duty that I really ought to perform! It would be shocking if the intelligence is conveyed rudely and abruptly to that poor old man. Hvenif his. dehild is guilty, it is no reason why he sho uffer on her account: but if she should be innocent, it is all the more in- cumbent on me to do that which she cannot now do for herself———-I. mean to comfort or console the poor gentleman.” The maid-servant heartily approved of Mrs. later’s decision ; and she rushed up-stairs to fetch the worthy woman’s bonnet and shawl, Mean- while Mrs. Slater took her market-basket; and she deposited therein a bottle of wine—a seed cake, which she had made as a little regalement for her- self—a couple of pots of jam, and two or three other little delicacies. A few minutes afterwards she was wending her way in the direction of the prison. She was. met by one or-two of her neigh- bours, who questioned her in respect to the hor- rible report concerning Winnie Barrington which was circulating in the district: but Mrs, Slater— though heartily fond of a gossip, which isa little weakness charactertistic of all lodging-house- keepers—would not pause to do more than em- phatically express her conviction that her favourite iodger must be innocent of the dread crime im- puted to her. Ina few minutes she reached the prison; and after the exchange of some common- place observations with the turnkey, she dis- covered to her satisfaction that she had out- stripped the rumour so far as that establishment was concerned. But it was now too late for any visitor to be admitted within the walls, unless under very pecu- liar circumstances indeed ; and the turnkey offered to convey the basket to Mr. Barrington. But Mrs. Slater whisperingly explained to him the melan- choly purpose for which she had come; and the man was horrified and astonished at what he heard. ‘No, no!” he said, “I never will believe it! What! Miss Winnie that I have knowed ever since she was a child, to go for to do such a thing asthat! Id just as soon fancy I could eat my own head as that she is guilty. But it will be a sad blow all the same for the poor old genelman; and it’s werry kind of you, Mrs, Slater, to come to break it tenderly to him. You shall see him in this room off the lobby here. Just walk in and sit Jown for a minute or two till he comes.” e—eeo—— SS — —- ‘woman; for she was profoundly affected. The worthy woman accordingly passed into the room indicated by the friendly turnkey; and she had not been long there when Mr. Barrington made his appearance.. He knew Mrs. Slater well; for she had sometimes accompanied Winifred to see him on a Sunday—and she had occasionally called alone at the prison to convey him some little present on her own account. Thus the old man was by no means surprised to find her there; and he entertained not the slightest apprehension that anything was wrong. “ Ah, my good friend,” he said, shaking her heartily by the hand: “ you do not neglect the poor old prisoner.. But the time is not far distant- now when I shail haye it in my power to show you my gratitude. The next Term must see the end of my business; and. then I shall be rich, Mrs. Slater ? “ Ab, my dear sir!” interjected the good woman, shaking her head mournfully, and with difficulty keeping back herrtears; “ but riches don’t always constitute happinesss. There’s many and many a drawback 4 “ Yes—but my drawback has lasted for quarter of a century!” exclaimed the old man; “and therefore it must have an end.” ** God alone, sir, can decide that!” said Mrs. Slater, with a look which she meant to be omi- nously significant, so as to prepare the prisoner for the terrific announcement which she had to make, ““ Yes—God decides everything,” responded Mr. Barrington. ‘But God is just—and he does not for ever:-heap misfortumes:upon the heads of those who have not merited them.” “‘Qh, pray my dear sir, for heaven’s sake talk not thus!” ejaculated Mrs. Slater, to whom the old man’s words seemed, under existing cireum- stances, to savour almost of blasphemy. “© Well, well,” he said, “it is perhaps wrong to mix up holy names with our worldly affairs : but as I was telling you, Mrs. Slater, the day is not far distant—only next Term—when I shall be rich—and my dear Winnie will be rich—and she shall ride in her carriage—and she shall wear beautiful jewels Ys - “Oh, Mr. Barrington.’—and the worthy woman was now weeping bitterly and sobbing convulsively. “Good God! what is the matter?” exclaimed the old man, now suddenly seized with alarm. “ Has anything happened to my dear Winnie? is she ill? You have sent for a doctor—have you not ?” “Oh! how can I ever tell you what has oc- curred ?” gasped and faltered the kind-hearted “ But I Ob, I am confident am sure she is innocent, sir! she is !” ** Innocent ?” echoed the old man with a bewil- dered gaze. “Innocent?” he repeated. ‘ Why, she is goodness itself! Innocent ?” “ Yes, I am sure she is!” cried Mrs. Slater, vehemently ; “and I should have told the police- officers so if I had not swooned away !” “ Police-officers ?” echoed the old man, now trembling violently. mean P Who has dared say anything against my dear little Winnie? Ab! I see sometbing dread- ful bas happened !” a “What on earth do you } / ~~ ——— Ccopmleloolxs (E(0) im ae