Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

SDS SETS LSE So ae ere ee reenn FOPEE St ee AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. EE Ra , a’ — OO EO. _POPO9OQOOO—————— rc Ch OO OO OV’ OOOO OC Oe - he cl eee. . aD a moment she placed her hand upon her forehead like one who is bewildered by some intense racking of the brain. “© My dear girl,” said Marcellin, now looking at her very seriously, and speaking very earnestly, “T see that you are distressed by my abrupt and impetuous manner towards you. You have every reason to be. I have more than once spoken petu- lantly and angrily e ** For heaven’s sake do not utter another syl- lable of excuse, Edgar!” interrupted Ciprina. “I am not angry —I am not offended! Only— only—these constant successions of excitement }?) will end by killing you outright Her face bent forward until it reposed on Edgar’s shoulder—for he was half sitting up in the bed; and she burst into tears. For nearly a minute so passionate wes that outburst of weeping —so violent this gush of emotions—that it really seemed as if the young lady’s heart were about to break. Edgar, to do him justice, forgot for the time everything in reference to Charles De Vere; and winding his arms about Ciprina’s neck, he strained her to his breast—he said all he could to console her. She left off sobbing—she wiped the tears from her large black eyes—smiles now played upon her lips—and she murmured in the melo- divus intonations of her voice, “ I have been very foolish, Edgar—but pardon me this outburst of grief, and think of it no more.” _ “Oh! I am happy, Ciprina,” he responded, “ now that I see you smile again! Did you hear what I read on the back of this card, dearest? But stay! you know English very well In- deed, I remember once to have heard it said, when I was formerly in Florence, that you speak the languageas well as a native _ “ Oh, yes—I can read English with the utmost facility,” she said, as she took the card which Edgar Marcellin now handed to her. ‘“ But who—but who yi 7 “Oh, do not ask me any questions now, dearest!” ejaculated Edgar, playfully placing his fingers upon Ciprina’s rosy lips. “I am in all haste tosee Mr. De Vere! Let Antonia depart again !—let her conduct the young English gentle- man hither! Will you give these orders; Ci- prina ?” ““Yes—at once,” answered the young lady. “Compose yourself—lie down again, I beseech you—for it is\ this excitement which does you so much harm, and therefore makes me so very, very unhappy.” “ | will do everything you tell me, Ciprina,”’ rejoined Marcellin. Antonia—on perceiving that sudden outburst of strong feelings on the part of her mistress—had discreetly retired from the bed-chamber, and had sought the ante-room,—thus passing from one ex- tremity of the suite to the other. Ciprina has- tened to join the damsel in that ante-room—on entering which, she closed the door behind her. “Tell me, Antonia,” she said, “ exactly what passed between yourself and Signor De Vere.” Antonia gave the required explanations, which were brief enough, as the reader may suppose from what has been recorded in reference to the inter- view between the cameriste and the young diplo- matist, “And therefore he knows nothing?” said Ci- prina: “he asked no questions? But no! how foolish on my part! How could he know? how could he even suspect P—Antonia,” she contioued, seeming all in a moment to recover her presence of mind, “ you must go back to Signor Da Vere— you must tell him that the French gentleman will receive him immediately—but you need not tell him that he is ill or wounded—you need not say that it is to the Mirano mansion he is being led!” “T will say nothing, signora,” observed Antonia, “except that he is to follow me. Have you any further instructions P” “ Yes,” rejoined Ciprina, looking at her watch: “it is now eleven o’clock. Be not too hasty !—I mean, you need not be in too great a hurry to bring the Eaglish gentleman hither. If he is here by midnight, it will suffice. Ah! and one word more! The moment you have introduced him into this ante-room, you may retire. Never mind if the light be burning dim, or if you donot find me here I will see that proper attention is paid to the English visitor. Do you under- stand P” “I will obey your orders, signora,” answered the cameriste : and she then took her'departure. The moment she was gone, Ciprina retraced her way as far as her own bed-chamber, where a silver chocolate pot was being kept heated overa spirit-lamp. She poured into a cup a small quan- tity of the chocolate: she then took the pill which La Dolfina had given her in the box on the pre- ceding evening: and this pill she put into the cup. “He must sleep!” she thought within herself: “he must sleep while I have this interview with Charles De Vere! To-morrow they may meet perhaps—but not till thes! I have now a clear hour before me. Ah! it was well thought on my part to bid Antonia delay his coming uatil mid. night! During the interval the soporific medica- ment will perform its work, and Edgar will sleep ! Ah, if I were to beseech him to take this medicina for his good, he would refuse !—he would not take a soporific, now that he expects to meet Charles De Vere! Therefore must I deceive him by means of this beverage: and Ah! I deplore the necessity of using deception with htm!” When she found that the pill was completely dissolved in the chocolate, Ciprina passed into the inner room, carrying the cup. “‘ Here, Edgar,’ she said; “it is rather late for you to take any more chocolate to night—but it is strengthening—you seem to fancy it more than anything else ce “Yes—the very thing that I was on the point of asking for!” he exclaimed: and then he kissed the hand which presented him the cup. ‘“ You have sent Antonia to fetch Charles De Vere ?” he asked, as he gave back the cup, having swallowed its contents. * Yes,” replied Ciprina. Vere, as you call him ‘JT will tell you, Ciprina, all about it,” inter- rupted Marcellin. ‘“ You must have read tho name of Agnes Evelyn oa “ Acnes,” echoed Ciprina, it might almost have seemed mechanically. “Ah, I forgot!” said Marcellin: “the name of Agnes is not on this card—it is simply Miss Evelyn that Mr, De Vere has written. But now * But this Caarles Da ” LE LL CT CC OL Ct ‘ttt EO [6)(0K) co 5}