Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 212: what you’re looking at

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204 the nooieman; “for your mother was endowed with a remarkably handsome countenance. You, my child, possess a beauty which somewhat re- semples her’s; but your’s is softened and chastened —your’s is a modest angelic loveliness 4 But here he stopped short; for he found that he was speaking audibly in a musing strain— whereas his observations were really not intended | AGZES; OZ, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Agnes ; “but itis very certain that the nuptial ceremony was subsequently performed according to the rites of the English Church. Her unole be- haved very kindly to her: he gave her a dower of thirty thousand pounds.” “Indeed!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ But that was an amazing instance of liberality on the part of such a man as Mr. _ Timperley, who I believe is for the ears of his daughter nor her cousin, but; very fond of money.” were rather meant as a sort of siJent and mental apostrophe, which the outline of the long-dead Honoria’s | features were already sketched; and as Agnes stood in front of him, he contemplated first the | linearhents of the deceased mother, and then raised | his eyes to survey the features of the daughter. ; adventures,” Corinna, standing by the side of the chair on which | reached its destination. He took from the easel the panel on | him,” “Oh! but Cicely wields immense influence over ejaculated Agnes. “It was through her, you know, my dear father, that I obtained the deed which enabled poor Mr. reas ic to eman- | cipate himself from captivity.” “Ah! that deed which experienced so many interjected Ormsby, “before it Well, this niece of Mr. the nobleman was seated, viewed the scene with | Timperley must indeed possess an immense in- that deep pathetic interest which was inseparable | fluence over her uacle that she could induce him from it; and at length Lord Ormsby said, “ Let | to give her a dower of thirty thousand pounds in me again see the original, Agnes! I studied it | the first instance, and in the second to surrender well the other day; but I would fain behold it up a document which must have been so essen- once more!” tially useful to him in the tortuous, double-deal- The portrait of Honoria was brought. It was/ing, fast-and-loose game which we now know he painted at the marriage of the nobleman with | was playing between poor old Mr. Barrington and Waldron’s daughter, nearly twenty years back: it | the late Sir John Dalham.” was an admirable work of art, and faithfully de-| “Ob, Cicely has said to me,” remarked Agnes, lineated the countenance of her who, if she were | “ her uncle would refuse her nothing.” now alive, would be Lady Ormsby. A thousand|; “So it would appear,” said Ormsby, musings recollections, alike tender and painful, came troop- | and then he added in a lower tone, “ This is at ing in unto the mind of the nobleman; and a tear least singular! She must have some peculiar hold trickled down his cheeks. The beautiful Agnes, | upon her uncle: he is not the man to make such who was weeping also, glided towards him, and great concessions to his niece through mere wound her arms about his neck. Their tears | motives of affection.” mingled ; and Corinna, raising her kerchief to her| The discourse was now interrupted by the en- ‘face, wept likewise. trance of Rachel, who came to announce that Sir “ Come,” said Ormsby, suddenly, “let us look Roderick Dalham had called, and that he requested over the water-colour drawings ;’—and the port- | an interview of a few minutes with Lord Ormsby. folio was accordingly produced. “Thisisa beautiful, ‘It is doubtless on some private matter that he landscape,” he said: “the lights and shades are wishes to consult me,” said the nobleman. admirably contrasted. But, ‘Ab! in this next one, Thus speaking,“ he quitted the boudoir and you are particularly bappy, dear Agnes !” passed into the drawing-room, to which the Baro- ** You see, my lord,” said Corinna, “that Agnes net had been shown. After the exchange of a develops in that picture a perfect knowledge of few complimentary expressions and kina inquiries, what we Italians call the chiar’ oscuro.’ such as existing circumstances suggested, Sir “True!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ But, Ah! this! Roderick said, “You have of course heard, my portrait? It is that of a woman who would be lord, that my father i is no more P” strikingly handsome were it not that the mouth is somewhat too large and prominent. It is no fancy- | portrait ~ “ No,” said Agnes: “it is the likeness—or at | least is intended to be that of a lady who has proved a very kind friend. I mean Mr. Tim- perley’s niece.” Lord Ormsby : say, the Hon. Mrs. Hector Hardress ?” “The same,” rejoined Agnes. * By the bye, let us speak of her,” said the nobleman. ‘ How came she to marry the son of a | peerP Was he attracted by her beauty ?” “It happened very suddenly,” replied Agnes. “Yes—I heard of his death last evening,” re- plied the nobleman, “It appears that grief for the loss of the suit killed your father, as joy for its gain proved fatal to your wife’s grandfather.” Sir Roderick answered in the affirmative; and he then proceeded to narrate to Lord Ormsby everything which had taken place between himself “Ah! this is Mr. Timperley’s niece?” cried “ Cicely Neale—or rather, I should and Mr. Timperley at the villa. “ “By heaven!” ejaculated the nobleman, “ this is intolerable! For twenty long years have I known that Timperley is an accomplished villain! But methinks that you have more to communi- cate ?” “T have, my lord:” and Sir Roderick proceeded , to explain how the faithful valet James had visited “She eloped with Mr. Hardress ; and they were him in the evening for the purpose of making a first of all married in Scotlanc—at least I believe | particular communication, £0 ”? Ormsby listened with the deepest attention: “Or perhaps they proclaimed themselves man| then followed a most serious deliberation betwixt and wife in that country,” said Lord Ormsby; * which according to the local law constitutes a) valid marriage. “I know not exactly how it was,” rejoined himself and Sir Roderick, but the nature of which it is not now requisite to ‘lay before the reader. “T scarcely know how to advise you, my friend,” aid Lord Ormsby; “but I trust you will agree CORMICLOOK