Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 254: what you’re looking at

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246 about my sojourn in Jamaica and the circum- stances connected with my marriage—you even warned me against an alliance with Emily—you are cognizant of her behaviour in respect to the document which so vitally concerned the interests of my poor old grandfather * “And therefore,’ interjected Ormsby, who guessed what was coming, “you will now admit me completely into your confidence and tell me what bas occurred ?” “Emily bas lod me the most wretched of lives,” pursued Gustavus: “she has sought to usurp a stupendous empire over me by enthralling me in bonds more fatal than those which the wiles of Dalilai wove for the infatuated Sampson. She plunged me into a vortex of dissipation, in order that luxurious pleasures might render me her slave. Ihave both loved and hated her. Oh, it was impossible to escape altogether from the im- pression which that love of hers so frenetic and so strange—so wild and so ardent—was naturally calculated to make upon my soul! And thus perhaps I should have continued captive in the bonds which she had cast around me, if circum- stances had not suddenly transpired to turn all my thoughts and ideas into a new channel—to make me a man once more—to raise me up from the grovelling position of a dissipated voluptuary, and lead me to think of the various duties that I owed to society, to myself, and to others! Then a ter- rible scene took place between us at the hotel ' where we put up in Florence,—a scene upon the details of which I will not dwell. Suffice it to say that it was more than man could endure—and I separated from her!” ~ * Ah! you separated from her ?” said Lord Ormsby. “And what followed ?” “Knowing how generous-hearted and high- principled was Charles De Vere,” pursued Gus- tavus, “I resolved to consult him. I had no other friendin Florence—and, Gh! I felt the necessity of being well advised in such circumstances. I merely wished to separate from Emily for a period, that she might have leisure to reflect upon the whole tenour of her conduct towards me, and make up her mind to the pursuance of a different course. J implored De Vere to act as a mediator —and he consented. I proposed that Emily should go to Jamaica to attend upon her father, while I proceeded to England to sojourn awhile | in the society of my cousin Winifred and her hus- band. Emily demanded time to reflect upon the proposals; and she likewise insisted upon being romoyed from the hotel intg private lodgings, I begged De Vere to see that this was done, and to escort her to her new abode " “You begged him to do this?” said Ormaby, who felt as if a,mist were beginning to clear away from before bis eyes. “ Yes—for I knew that in De Vere both Emily and myself had a stanch friend who would act impartially between us. And now, to be brief, an entire week has passed away—and day after day, | therefore, have I been compelled to request De Vere to call upon her—to reason with her—to re- wonstrate—to entreat that she will be reasonable —or even to threaten her if she refused; and painful though to him the task has been, yet has he fulfilled it. Yes—painful indeed !—for he has experienced scenes of violence with Emily-—— of mind. : that it all springs from the illimitable love AGNBS; OR, BBAUTY AND PLEASURE. aye, and on the other hand, he has also been fearful lest her reputation should suffer by these continued visits on the part of a young man who was in no way related to her.” “He has told you all this?” asked Lord Ormsby. “Yes,” rejoined Gustayus; “and I owe him a thousand obligations, Ah! I remember, on one occasion Emily endeavoured to cajole him over to her own interests; she caught him by the hand, and at that moment the landlady’s daughter en- tered the room. An equivocal interpretation might possibly have been put upon the scene; and De Vere’s virtuous spirit revolted against it. He therefore represented to me how painful and in- convenient his position was becoming ——=” “Ts it all so?” ejaculated Ormsby. ‘Good heavens, Mr. Hargrave!” cried Gus- tavus, “you seem to doubt it? Why should you do so? Oh! believe me there exists not a nobler character than Charles De Vere !—and it is not his fault if everything yet remains most unsatisfactory and unsettled in reference to my wife. Perhaps you will accuse me of weakness, but I could not possibly leave Florence while she is in such a frame It is a sort of madness: and when I which she bears for me, I experience a certain degree of pity—yes, a sympathy and a commisera- tion, which would not suffer me to quit Florenca until something definitive shall have been settled.” “What does your wife require ?” demanded Ormsby. “That we should live together again, without any interval of separation,” rejoined Gustavus. “ Her incessantly reiterated stipulation is that we should meet and discuss our differences together without the aid of an intermediary. But to this I will not assent. To tell you the truth, Mr. Hargrave, there are certain reasons which not merely make me tremble for my own life, but also dread lest she should lay violent hands upon herseif. Thus I dare not meet her—neither dare I abandon her in Florence amongst strangers; for I cannot forget that with all her faults she is my wife, and that perhaps the greatest of those faults.is that of loving me too devotedly and too well! Ob, if you would interest yourself in our behalf !—for I dare no longer expect that Charles De Vere will consent to encounter such painful scenes y “Oh, how I have wronged him! how I have wronged him!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ Wronged him P?” echoed Gustavus, in astonish- ment. ‘“ What on earth do you mean? To wrong Charles De Vere would be the greatest of crimes !” “Come quick! come quick!” exclaimed the nobleman: “let us hasten to- his hotel! let me clasp him in my arms, as if he were my own very dear son! let me tell him that Agnes shall be bis | bride!” Gustavus was amazed at this gush of words | which poured forth from the other's lips; and following the track of his rapid footsteps, he in- quired, “ Good heavens! what does all this mean P and what have you been saying to Charles De Vere P” ; “T have misjudged him in every sense!” ejacu= jlated Ormeby. “There have been misrepresenta- ee ett oO Comichboo nn) S 3