Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

—_--_---_—_—~ AGNES; OX, “Ab! [ was speaking as if you knew me!” cried the lady. ‘My husband is the Hon. Mr. Hardress, the son of Lord Mendlesham.” “I have heard of him,” said the quadroon. “ You are the niece of Mr, Timperley; and it was through your intervention that Miss Agnes Evelyn procured a certain document for the liberation of “old Mr. Barrington.” “True!” ejaculated Cicely. “And, you there- fore, must be the wife of the younger Mr. Bar- rington ?” “T am that most miserable woman,’ Emily. “Ob, do not talk in this way !” exclaimed Mrs. Hfardress good-naturedly. ‘ All husbands and wives will quarrel now and then.” “Ah! but such a fearful quarrel as this!” ejacu- Jated the quadroon. “ Well, it certainly is not a petty or trivial dis- pute,” said Cicely : “ but I daresay that it will be made up to-morrow.” The quadroon shook her head; and then she ingnired, “ How did you know who I am P” ““Mr. De Vere happened to mention that he was waiting in Florence for young Mr, and Mrs. Barrington,” responded Cicely; ‘and he said that Mrs. Barrington was a West Indian lady; so that I you will forgive me for adding that I at once suspected who you were.” “Ah! I would that Mr. De Vere could be fetched at once!” ejaculated the quadroon; “ for he would advise me how toact. I am afraid I have gone too far! Oh, I am afraid I have gone too far!” “Do not despond,” said Mrs, Hardress, “I will do anything I can toserve you. At the same time you must confess that it was rather an out- rageous thing for a wife to stand with a sharp- pointed knife like that over her husband P” “But you know not the provocation !” said Emily. “Ob, I have loved him so fervidly ¥ “And perkaps he does not appreciate your love as he ought,” interjected Cicely. ‘* Come— tranqguillize yourself. We will see what is to be done in the morning.” Mrs. Hardress then took her leave of the qua- droon, and glided back to her own chamber without encountering a soul in the passage. Emily did not for a long time re-enter her couch. She kept waiting and waiting in the hope that Gustavus would return, though at the bottom of her heart there was a deep misgiving that he would not make his appearance again until the morrow. She did indeed feel that she bad gone too far, and that presuming too much on the strength of her position, she had proportionately exaggerated the weakness of her husband’s—so that the result was that when she arbitrarily refused to relax the cords of discipline with which she had bound him, he gathered together his strength like Samson, and snapping them in twain, threw them cff altogether. Hours passed on—Gustavus returned not—and at length the quadroon lay down upon her couch : but it was a long time ere sleep fell upon her eyes, When she awoke in the morning, the first idea that struck her was that she bad passed through a troubled and terrible dream: but on perceiving that Gustavus was not by her side, shoe became > replied BEAUTY AND PURASURE, ] 2233 aware of the reality of the incidents. Mrs, Hlardress presently made her appezrance; and on learning that Gustavus had not returned through- out the night, sho said, “The affair does really look serious. What can I do for you?” **A thousand thanks for your kindness!” an- swered the quadroon, ‘ Would you send at onca and fetch Mr. Do Vere ?” “Immediately,” replied Mrs, Hardress: and she hastened from the quadroon’s chamber. In less than half-an-hour Charles arrived at the hotel. The quadroon had by this time performed her toilet: she was dressed in an elegant morning deshabillée ; but she looked ill and eareworn. As she rose from her seat to welcome our hero, she saw that his countenance wore a serious ex pression; and she at once ejaculated, “ Perhaps { you already know what has happened P” ” responded Charles. 9 * Yes—I know everything, “Your husband came to me last night “Last night?” ejaculated Kmily, almost in an angry tone, “And you did not persuade him to return to meP” “Mrs. Barrington,” answered Do Vere, “I said all I could to effect a reconciliation—I used every possible argument “4 ‘And you failed ?” cried the quadroon. “Oh! then he has resolved to abandon me altogether! But it shall not be so!” she ejaculated with a sudden fierce flashing of the eyes. ‘I will go to him !”” “You know not where to find him, madam,” interrupted De Vere. “Oh! it distresses me deeply to be compelled to speak to you on such disagreeable subjects the very instant when we again meet; for I feel that I owe you a deep debt .of gratitude—and fain would I have displayed it | by showing my readiness to bring you joyous in- _ telligence! | nothing to apprehend on this head, But, alas! it is otherwise!” “Good heavens!” exclaimed the quadroon, with _a frightened look: “have you anything woiso to impart?—has anything happened to GustayusP— has he in a moment of desperation . “No, no!” ejaculated Charles: “you have Your bus- band ig far more rational end sane than I could possibly have expected to find him, after all that took place in your house in the Apennines, and after all you told me on that occasion. Indeed, Mrs, Barrington, he is completely rational. No doubt he was very much excited when he came last night to seek me—but still he knew perfectly well what he was saying: and this morning——«’ “Ah! you have seen him this morning?” ex- claimed Hmily. ‘He must be staying at tho game hotel as yourself; and yet you told me just now, Mr. De Vere, that [ should not know where to find him !” “And I told you the truth, Mrs, Barrington,” replied Charles. “I myself do not know. Yet I come from him now:—I was on the very point of setting out when Mrs. Hardress’ footman came with a message ve * Ob, Mr. De Vere! what am I to understand ?” asked the quadroon: “ what does Gustayus mean todo? Will he never return to me?—is eyery- thing at an end between us?” “No, Mrs. Barrington—do not think it,” re- joined our hero, “ But if you will tranquil}iza yourself—as you really ought to do—I will expisz nn} (©) lNOOLK< co 5}