Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES: OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASUR®, * My lord,” replied Lucia, “ circumstances have established that privilege unto which I just now allude Do permit me to inquire ”’—and there was somefhing softly urgent in her tone,—“ do permit mete. inquire whether anything fresh has arisen to andy or alarm you P” “¢ Notbiog Kgnora—sthing,” responded our hero: and thf he at once easeumed a cheerful aspect, ° . “It appenfs to me, my lord,” continued the Countess difMilazzo, “ that if you only escape the danger ipsdrred by the recent ‘proceedings, you will hii¥Ve everything to render you happy. Ah! and that you shall escape from all peril, I am de- termined !” '*“ Whaé means your Charics hastily. “T meen this, my lord,” she responded, with a blush upon her cheeks, and yet with the light of enthusiasm in her cyes,—" that the very moment danger meneces you I will performa duty which I feel is owing towards you! Yes,—my resolve is taken! That instant will I go forward to pro- claim that you were introduced involuntarily amongst us—thaé you sought to retreat, but the laws of the Society would not permit ypu Ina word, I will confess everything! And now there- fore, my lord,” added Lucia, with a soft earnest- ness of voice, and at the same time with a bashful modesty mingling with a certuin degree of firm- ness of demeanour, “if you are unhappy on that score, cheer up and banish ail alarm !” “No, signora~no!” exclaimed our herog “ I would not for the world that if such a cri-is i) to arrive, you should sacrifice yourself for me! No-—by heaven, no! FT would perish sooner than that this should be done!” “And J,” answered Lucia, emphatically — I who am guilty, so far as there may be any guilt at all in reference to that conepiracy,— would perish sooncr than tha? you, who are innocent, Bhould have a single hair of your bead injured! Yes !—and as you have shown yourself so magnani- mous ON More occasions than one, it would de- light me to have an opportunity of proving that I am not ungrateful’” The Countess was carried away by the enthu- siasm of her feelings in thus speaking; and scarcely had she concluded when a yivid blush again mantied on her countenance, as it suddenly struck her that she had gonetvo far and tbat there had been an unscemly ardour in her tone, She lifted hor eyes diffidently towards our hero; he Was gazing upon her at the iustant as he might have contemplated any other woman who had been displaying what he regarded as the loftiest and gist mabanimous generosity :—admiration was ipabis looke—and they smote the Countess wi euliar effect. * Good heaven! he Jovesme!” she thought to herrelf; an! ulmost @ercome by the senso of hap- pincss whieh thus ebruptly seized upon her, she would base sank tv {tho ground if she had not clurg to. bis‘arms fer support. “Ob, Charles— dent. ot Ubarles,” she murmured in accents which though’ subdued, were nevertheless sufficiently audible,“ do 1 indeed fathuas the secret of your heart, as you have redy mine! On, yer—! love you! heaven knows howWWondly! Lut uot for an ladyship 2” inquired instant should I have had the courage tu make the ling in a cyrfain ' ‘that all will got be: 319 avowal if your dooks had not in the first instance proclaimed your own sentiments!” She was clinging to him, we say, for support as ohe thus spoke; and the tenderness of her feelings gave an air of indescribable interest to her soft ravishing beauty. Her large dark eyes were up- turned u.\ing sweetness towards the coun- "our hero; and her fragrant breath ed Kis chaey. 3t was the purest and chastest feminine Jove w':u she felé and which she was avowing ;..and no lovk, nor movement, nor gesture afforded She slightest indication of a sensuadipas sion. In all this—indeed, in everything —how different was she from her sister !—and amidst all the confusion of thoughts and ideas which Charles experienced, this contrast between the avftly faacie nating Lucia and the fervid impassioned Bianca was irresistibly forced upon hig mind. “Lady,” bo murmured, when he had sufficiently recovered his self-possessiun to be evabled to give utterance to a word, “be not offended with me—~ accord me your forgiveness—if by an unguarded syllable or deed on my part I should have led you to suppose Aud Oh! for heaven's salto be not humiliated—for if I cannot luve you otherwise than as a friend, yet Ou! believe me—believe me, Lucia—that this friendship on my part is most eincere The Countess now slowly disengaged herself from the arm to which she was clinging: she retreated a few paces—the deepest blush mantled upon her faco—and ber looks wero cast down io cunfusion. Then she pressed her hands to ber brow with a bewildered air; and Charles thought that a sob was watted to lis ear. “Ducia, my friend—my dear friend!” he ex. claimed, hastening to take her hand; “be to me us a sistor—an’d I will be to you asa brother! Oh, let the sincercet friend +hip—the purest fraternal love exist betwién vs!” Qe Countess: Ae hd her looks where mingled wonfusion.ar ' -ratiwade, tenderness and bashluly ness wer vuole am agitating; and she said, * You are es kind and ag, weneruus as you are gals lant and uoble-mind i: Et, why #mpoasible tu be your compr-ion threurn sa mang strange adven- tures and Lhriitigg ya adente ss put ‘being ime preased bv 2 sense of your sae excellent qualities --and there‘ore it was impussible to belp lovisy you! I mistuok your feelings—but I experience no bumilhation becauae your generous kindness saves me from sinking down in my own estvem. Yes, Charles—I will be to you as & sister !” Then, with all the ingenuous frankness which belonged to her nature, the Countess presented her cheek to our hero, who kissed it; and Agnes herself need not have beon offended thereat if she had been concealed amongst the evergreens and witnessed the incident. “ Doubtiess your heart is already engaged ?” said Lucia. _ “Yes. To you will I epeak with-all frankness. I lov8 a beauterns crentute—-amiable and good, as you yoursolf ara —«—-ITer name is Agnes Krelyn— ihe is daughter W¥: an English pecr—aud though eo has been soipe lithe misunderstand- 1 yet du I venture to bupe “Oh! ray’ pray@es ehall cyite with yours to that effect!” exclaimed Lucia. \\“ And now that I Comiclboolk C©