Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

‘ AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. was a painful one, and she did not therefore per- sist in it. 47 Ciprina threw back her veil—partly because she had heated herself by running through the streets, It was about seven o’clock in the evening; and | for the weather was warm though it was the last Edgar, reclining upon a couch, gradually sank off into slumber. Ciprina bent over him, gazing with intense anxiety on his pale handsome countenance: and there was now nothing sensuous in the re- gards of the young lady. If she were the invalid’s sister, her thoughts could not have been more chaste, nor her attentions more completely fraught with a delicate disinterestedness. She perceived that his sleep soon became uneasy—his breathing was difficult: she fancied that he was either under the influence of a troubled dream, or that he was suffering under the pain of his wound. The longer she watched the more alarmed she grew,—until at length she resolved to pay another visit to La Dol- fina and procure afresh potion. But should she in the meanwhile leave him alone—or in the care of Antonia? She knew not precisely how to act; end while she was still deliberating with herself, Marcellin awoke with a sudden start from his un- easy slumber. Ciprina threw her arms about his neck, and explained what she had been revolving in her mind. Edgar did indeed feel so feverish and uneasy that he grew alarmed on his own ac- count; so that it was by no means a difficult task for Ciprina to persuade him of the necessity for her to pay the contemplated visit to the wise- woman. He knew that the potion which she had in the first instance procured for him had done him good—that the balsam applied to his wound had hitherto shed a healing influence—and that the antidote had proved efficient against the poison used by the Marchioness. So far, therefore, from entertaining any fear in respect to La Dolfina’s skill or Ciprina’s fidelity, the invalid had the fullest confidence in both. Edgar retired to his chamber: Antonia was summoned to wait in the ante-room, in case he should want anything; and Ciprina, mufiling her- self in a cloak and covering her countenance with a thick veil, issued forth from the Mirano mansion, The house of La Dolfina was soon reached, for the young lady glided quickly through the streets : she pulled the iron chain which hung at the door- post; and in a few moments the shrivelled mummy-like woman made her appearance. Ci- prina at once crossed the threshold; and before she had removed her veil, she found herself re- cognised ; for the hag said, “ What news, signora? Is the young gentleman better P” “He is better—but ‘he is not well,” she re- plied; “and that is the reason I have sought you again.” “No,” said the woman; “it is not likely he would yet be well if the wound were in the first instance so serious as,.to induce you to visit me at all. It was four nights ago that you came to me —and the interval has been too short for such re- covery.” She conducted Ciprina up into the apartment where the skeleton presented its ghastly aspect— and where the crocodile, the human bones, the infant-monsters in glass bottles, the table covered with black cloth, and the other accessories of the woman’s art or avocation, whichever we may de- nominate it, were in precisely the same position as on the previous occasion of the young lady’s Visit. day of October,—and partly because she did not deem it prudent to maintain any reserve with the woman whose succour she had come to seek. La Dolfiaa gazed upon her with attention, and said, “Tell me exactly how it now fares with the young gentleman ?” “Until to-day he progressed favourably, and even rapidly,’ responded Ciprina: “but for the last few hours he has been restless and uneasy— he slept in a troubled manner ‘% “There has been something to annoy him P” said the woman, putting the question with the emphasis of one who already foresaw the answer. “Yes,” said Ciprina. “ But I cannot tell you what it is.” * You know, however ?” said tho woman. “ Yes —I see that vou do. I am not asking for curiosity’s sake—only that I may judge how to act. Tell me therefore, has the cause of annoy- ance passed P” “The particular cause of annoyance has passed,” was the rejoinder: “but my patient naturally chafes at being confined to the sick chamber % “What?” ejaculated La Dolfina, with a leer- ing smile: “even when he is ministered unto by so beautiful a nurse? But I see that you are in a hurry, and I will do my best for you. Ah! by the bye, do you happen to require any more of my sovereign antidote P” Ciprina looked hard at the woman—but her countenance was inscrutable ; so that it was im- possible for the young lady to tell whether she had spoken with a specific purpose, or whether she were-merely endeavouring to dispose of as many of her commodities as she might. ** You may give me another phial of your anti- dote,” said Ciprina. “Who can tell how useful it may sooner or later become? Ah !” sho ejaculated, as a sudden thought struck her, “‘ those who pre- pare antidotes doubtless deal in the poisons like wise ?” “Am I to understand,” inquired the woman, fixing her eyes keenly upon the young lady, ‘that you are in want of poisonP—for it would be singular indeed if the same hand which admi- nisters healing medicines, should likewise deal with venomed drauchts.” “‘ Heaven forbid!” ejaculated Ciprina, with a shuddering look so real that the dame at onco felt convinced of her sincerity. Then you had some motive for asking the guestion,” said La Dolfina, “No,” replied the young lady, assuming an air of careless indifference. * But I feel convinced that you had!” at once rejoined the woman. ‘“ Now, if you wish me to deal candidly with you, you must in the first in- stance act frankly towards me. Tell me why you put the question, and I shall be enabled to judge how I may shapo my own answer.” ‘Which means,” said Ciprina, with a smile, “that if I reiterate the assurauce that I have no particular motive, you will at once assure me that you ‘never deal in poisons: whereas if on tho other hand I tell you that I have a particular motive and if [ oxplain it, you will make a contrary avowal. Now, the evident deduction boo S C@ S|