Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE, Was it that the rod which had just now stricken the sterile rock of his breast had become also an enchenter’s wand to work its spell upon his fea- turesP—was it that the tears which had welled forth from his eyes, had with their torrents swept away the dark sombre looks of cynicism ?—was it that the cloud having discharged its deluge, had passed away from the heacen which it had dark- ened, leaving it in a serene and placid sunlight? We do not say that it was precisely in such terms as these that Mr. Timperley questioned himself on the point: but, as we have intimated, he was assu- redly struck by the change that had taken place within the last few minutes in Lord Ormsby’s looks. “You have told me something, Mr. Timperley, which has affected me deeply,” he said, in a voice that was milder and less lugubrious than it had hitherto sounded. “I could not have possibly foreseen that such a revelation was in store for me! Alas, after all I had judged Honoria too harshly! God have mercy upon her soul for having given me the cause thus sternly to judgs !—and God for- give me for having dene it !” With these words Lord Ormsby turned abruptly away from the lawyer’s presence, and quitted the house, eee CHAPTER XXX. COBINWA AND AGAHABES. Tax reader will remember that when we last spoke of Corinna Paoli, we lett her stretched upon a bed of sickness, on which she had been thrown by the sudden announcement that her lover Edgar Mar- cellin was the murderer of her brother Giulio. But as the reader has no doubt surmised, Edgar Marcellin succeeded in satisfying Corinna that he was completely innocent of the heinous crime, which could be ascribed only to the Marchioness di Mirano. Thus, when Edgar had set off from Hoagland on his expedition to Florence, he left Corinna with a tremendous weight taken off her roind, and experiencing a sudden improvement in her healtb, which was naturally the result of that mental alleviation. e it was about eighteen days since Marcellin had taken his departure, and Corinna was as yet en- tirely without any intelligence with regard to the numerous adventures he had experienced in the Tuscan capital. She had received one letter from him: it was hurriedly written from Genoa, to say that he had arrived thus far in safety and was about to make the best of his way on to Florence. The young girl was now completely restored to health, and enabled to go forth and take exercise as usual, It was about three o’clock in the afternoon of the same day on which the interview had taken place between Mr. Timperley and Lord Ormsby, that Corinna was walking in the garden belonging to Sidney Villa. Her little brother was home from school for a half-holiday, and was playing about with his little sister—for the day was a fine one, Every now and then Corinna looked towards the iron gates; and she mentally ejaculated, “I ecer- tainly tuvught he would have cua: this afternvun | 175 oe Could I have mistaken what he told me the day before yesterday ?” Presently, when her little brother and sister were at a considerable distance in the garden, Corinna opened the gate and went out info the road. An ejaculation escaped her lips; for be- hold! at a little distance she perceived the gentle- man whom she was expecting. She hastened to- wards him, exclaiming, “I thought I could not have misunderstood you, Mr. Hargrave! I was almost sure you would come !” * Yes—I promised to be witk you this after- noon,” he replied: “ but I am balf-an-hour later than I had expected I should be. [Lf have been detained on business of the most important na- ture.” “ And to-day, you know, Mr. Hargtave,” said Corinna, “you are to give me important infor- mation. Do you not remember that these were the words you used the day before yesterday P” “AndI intend to keep my promise,” was the response. “ But can you walk with me for half- an-bour P” “Yes,” answered Corinna: “my little brother and sister are playing in the garden, where they cannot possibly take any harm.” “Then let us walk up this diverging avenue, as usual—and you must listen attentively to me, Corinna; for the revelations I am about to make are indeed of a most important nature.” “Oh! rest assured, Mr. Hargrave, that I shall listen with attention!” replied the young lady. “And now that we are beyond the view of the villa, I beseech you to lose no time in opening your mind to me.” “You remember all that I said to your father and yourself a few weeks ago P” “On the very same day when that angel of goodness Agnes discovered us in our wretched abode !” “That very same day, Corinna. ber, I ask, what I then told youP” “ Yos, Mr. Hargrave,” replied the damsel: “TI remember you said that you had in other times been an intimate friend of Mr. Morton Bvelyn, the father of Agnes: you also said that for this and for other reasons you experienced the greatest possible interest in Agnes—but that you had been absent for so long a time from England you knew nothing about her s “ Yes—all this L said, Corinna; and it was be- cause I did desire to know something relative to the character, disposition, habits, and pursuits of Agnes, that I availed myself of the arrangement which she had made for you to go and live with her fe “ And thus I have acted as a sort of spy upon her proceedings!” exclaimed Corinna. ‘“ But | have experienced no regret and no remorse for having done so, Mr. Hargrave,” she continued ; “because from the very first I felt assured that it could be nothing but a good account that I should have to give of her; for everybody could tell by a single glance at her countenance that she is an angel of goodness! And then too you assured me so positively, Mr. Hargrave, that it was entirely in Agnes’ interests you were acting and that you consequently engaged my services. In short, you said that if Agnes proved to be everything you hoped, desired, and expected, you had im store tor You remem. COMmMicboo nA) S co 5}