Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 263 “Ah! you begin to be melted!” ejaculated Hector, in accents thrilling with delight. “You are setting my mind at ease,” she re- joined. “I naturally looked upon Cicely as a friend—I had known her as Miss Neale—I am also aware that my cousin Agnes entertained an effection for her, and doubtless still entertains | aa ** And now all those compunctions on your part are set at rest! But I will even tell you more,” continued Hardress, growing sentimentally maud- lin and confidential in proportion as he flattered himself that the beautiful Floribel was yielding to his views. ‘I have not only agreed that Cicely shall take a lover, if she choose—but she has already found one—or at least her fancy was settled in a particular quarter when I left Fiorence; and I have no doubt that by this time she is as com- pletely happy in her affair of gallantry as I fondly hope to become in mine.” “The whole adventure is charming,” ejaculated Floribel; “and it interests me immensely! Who can be the favoured one P” “Ab! that, perbaps, is the most extraordinary part of it all!” interjected Hardress. ‘“ You would scarcely believe it—and I am at a loss whether I ought to go to such an extreme - “Oh!” ejaculated Floribel, suddenly pouting her lips, ‘“‘ where there is no confidence there is n0 love. Give me all your confidence—show that you are sincere in making these advances towards me ”? “ A single word from your tongue becomes tan- tamount to a command!” cried Hector, growing more and more infatuated with the beautiful crea- ture before him; for never once from his memory was absent the ravishing spectacle he had beholden when in the morning he had intruded upon the privacy of her chamber. “You shall have all my confidence !—there is no secret upon earth which I possess that I will not communicate to you! ‘You will be astonished when I tell you that the object of Cicely’s fantasy is none other than Guess ! But no! you will never do it! I mean Charles De Vere.” Floribel started with the utmost amazement : then she bent her large dark eyes with a look of incredulity upon Hector Hardress: but suddenly recollecting that he had merely said his wife had taken a fancy in that quarter, without averring that the passion was reciprocated, she said, “ Ah! is it indeed so P” “Tt isasI tell you, Floribel: but of course I cannot do more than surmise concerning the suc- cess that Cicely may have experienced—for I left Florence on the very day when we came to our arrangement, And now, adorable creature ! what hope dare I entertain? Ah! I might urge asa passport to your favour that I punished the man who played so villanous a part towards you—l killed Theodore Clifford " * Yes !” interjected Floribel, with a look of aver- sion and disgust; ‘‘ but you were not purposely avenging me at the time—you were vindicating some private quarrel of your own—and therefore you must not make a merit of that deed !” * Let us put it out of the question,” said Hard- ress. ‘“ But for my own sake—for the love that I bear you “1 cannot become the mistress of a married man,” answered Floribel. ‘“ You have now my decision.” “Your decision?” echoed the young patrician, with a look of mingled astonishment and vexation. “What ! after all I have told you in reference to my wife and myself ?” “T have thought better of it,’ said Floribel, “ My decision is given: it is positive and it is final.” * Do you mean me to understand that I have no hope ?? asked Hector, his cheeks and his lips white with the rage that was gathering within him. * Do not let there be any folly between us!” rejoined Iloribel : ‘* do not speak of hops and lova in the same sentimental style as if you were woo- ing me fora wife! Be sensibie and be reason- able! Youask me to become your mistress—anii I decline the honour. You will now have tlie goodness to leave me.” *“No—by heavens, no! not on these terms !” exclaimed Hector. ‘* Why did you ere now smile encouragingly upon me P why did you call me by my Christian name P” “T Was reflecting—I was meditating at the time. I had not made up my mind. Surely you would not have had me give you an abrupt answer in the negative without the slightest reflection ? If I had done so, then indeed you might have said that I was treating you with insult !” “All this is evasion, Floribel!” ejaculated Hector. ‘“ For some reason you have made me your dupe: but [am not a man to suffer myself to be trifled with! I give you one more chance— and if you still scorn my overtures, beware !—for by heaven! I will be avenged !” “Oh, if ever there were a moment when I thought well of your overtures,” exclaimed Flo- ribel, disdainfully, “ the conduct which you are now displaying—so infamous and so cowardly is “You do not know my character!” cried Hector. “I will either love or hate you: I will do all I can to serve you—or I will become your bitterest persecutor! Ah! yousmile? you dely me? Beware! Think you that I am ignorant of the weak point through the medium of which tho sharpest poniard may be plunged into your heart, or the barbed arrow be made to rankle there! Yes !—I know it !—you would sooner die than let your cousin Agnes know that Floribel Lister was identical with that Ciprina whose name has be- come notorious in Florence!” Floribel’s cheeks became pale; but quickly re- galning her self-possession, she rose from her seat, and said with a calm air of defiance, “You will not dare make those revelations to my cousin Agnes.” “‘Reckon not upon my forbearance!” exclaimed Hardress menacingly. “No,” said Floribel. “I do not reckon upon your forbearance: but I reckon upon your fears.” “My fears?” ejaculated Hardress: and he laughed scornfully. “My fears! Of what?” “That I should retaliate most bitterly,’ re- joined Floribel. “Oh! it was not without a mo- tive that I ere now smiled encourdgingly and called you by your Christian name! It waa to lead you on in your confidential mood. Curiosity at first inspired me; and then it suddenly struck me that it were as well to provide myself with -—- —— Ghboo =} S 5} CO