Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

£20 “A death?” echoed Gustavus, trembling very much. ‘Yes, signor,” pursued the master of the esta- blishment; “‘for the letters indicate that there is mourning in your family “2 ‘My grandfather!” exclaimed Gustavus; else poor Winifred! the letters!” He clutched the missives which the landlord now proffered him; and instantaneously recog- nising the handwriting of his cousin on the en- velope of one of the letters, he mentally ejacu- lated, “ Thank God! poor Winnie lives! Then it roust be my grandfather!” Another moment, and the suspicion was con- firmed. Gustavus burst into tears; and the land- lord silently withdrew. But if in one sense the letters were afflicting, yet in other respects they were the messengers of good tidings; for they announced the result of the lawsuit—they re- vealed the fact that Winifred was no degraded being, but an honourably wedded wife—and they likewise made Gustavus aware that he was the sole heir to the immense wealth just recovered by the judgment of the Chancery Court. It was on the 7th of November that both old Mr. Barring- ton and Sir John Dalham died; and it was now on the 15th that the intelligence of those events and their associated circumstances reached Gus- tavus in Florence, Through what variations of feeling did he now pass! through what transitions of emotion was he hurried! His grandsire was no more; but the lawsuit was won. Winifred was a wife— but O strange! the wife of a Dalham! Yes, and her husband had succeeded to the baronetcy; and Winifred was Lady Dalbam! Gustavus had no prejudice against Roderick; and therefore he re- “or But quick, quick! give me .Joiced unfeignedly to find that his cousin was not degraded nor disgraced, but that for many long months past she had been a lawfully wedded wife. And now too, Gustavus was rich; and he instan.- taneously formed the generous purpose of sharing his wealth with Winifred; for her letter told him that her husband Sir Roderick had been disin- herited by his own sire. There were three letters which the courier had brought. One was from Winifred, as we have already stated: the second was from Sir Roderick Dalbam to Gustavus, congratulating him upon the accession to his grandfather’s wealth, and with manly frankness expressing the hope that they would be good friends. The third letter was from Mr. Millard, the London agent of Mr. Pinnock in Jamaica. It contained the intelligence that by recently received advices from Kingston, Mr. Pin- nock’s health was rapidly breaking down, and that therefore Gustavus and Emily were enjoined to return to the West Indies with the least possible delay. When he had perused the letters, Gustavus voured the contents of his wine-glass down his throat ; and as he set it down on the table, he ejaculated with a species of fierce, savage joy, | “* God be thanked, I am no longer dependent on my wife !—no longer forced to look for every shil- ling to the purse of Emily’s father! By heaven, she shall tyrannise over me no longer! If we are to live together, I will be the master and she shall be the slave!” ee ata AGNES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. Half under the influence of wine as he was, and half under that of the tidings he had received, it was no wonder if his mind should be excited in a particular direction. All the wrongs, real or imaginary, which he had sustained at the hands of the quadroon, flamed up in his recollection ; while all the many evidences of her strong and ardent affection sank completely into the back- ground. He longed for revenge—or at least to avail himself of the opportunity to assert his com- plete independence. He traversed the ante-room: he entered the bed-chamber. The lamp was burning upon the toilet-table. EZmily was in bed; and the dark masses of her luxuriant hair floated over the snowy pillow. Half raising herself so as to sup- port her head with one arm, she bent a look of melting fondness upon her husband; and then she gave a sudden start on perceiving how strange was the expression of his countenance. For a moment she was uncertain what means to adopt— whether those of coercion or entreaty—whether to have recoursé to threats or to blandishments. But she quickly determined upon the latter ; and bend- ing her luminous eyes with impassioned tenderness upon him, she asked, “ What ails you, Gustavus? Is the dark mood returning? If so, believe me —Oh, believe me! it is mere fancy on your part! It is only a delusive imagination which conjures up the spectre that haunts you !” “Fear nothing on that score,’ *-reapdnded Gus- tavus curtly. “I am neither mad or drunk enough at the present moment to be frightened at spectres. If it had not been for you, I should never have become a sot—and therefore should never have been the made the sport of a wild fan- tastic delirium !” “‘ Gustayus—dear Gustavus,” cried the quadroon, * what mean these reproaches? Come to my arms, dearest!—let me pillow your head upon my bosom !” “Listen to me,” he interrupted her. just received letters from England.” “Letters?” echoed Emily. ‘“ And you have already opened them? You did not wait until you were in my presence?” “Come, come,” he sternly interjected, “no more of your imperiousness! My eyes are opened —if indeed they were ever completely shut; and at all events I am independent. You shall no longer be enabled to let me know and feel that the source of wealth is on your side. In one word, Emily, the suit is gained—my grand- father is dead—and I am his heir.” “Let me condole with you, Gustavus, for the one thing, and rejoice with you for the other,” said the quadroon, extending her arms towards him. “ What! will you not come to me? why do you speak and look so angry P why do you reproach meP Just now you were all love and affection Ms “Because you rendered me the slave of your eajoleries and your blandishments !” exclaimed Gustavus. ‘ You would not let me talk of Wini- fred then “Winifred again?” ejaculated the quadroon fiercely. “ Even though your grandfather may have left you rich, she is not the less a lost and polluted creature ! iy Silence, Emily—silence !” cried the enraged “T have Comichboo A} KS SL S)