Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

360 AGWES; OB, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. " @ triumphent voice: for apart from all selfish eon- You must not judge her by the Huaropean siderations he was glad to be enabled to maintain standard——” ‘ the fact of Emily’s magnanimity against her hus- ‘By heaven! the very thing I have often eaid band’s scepticiam. “ Here! read this letter! I to myself !” ejaculated Gustavus. received it this afternoon from Mr. Millard’s soli- ‘She may have been wayward in disposition— citor. It corroborates all that Emily told me.” —self-willed—exacting even to a point that savoured Gustavus took the letter and ran his eyes over of arrant despotism,” continued the Baronet : it: then he ecanned its contents more atten-! “and yet she may have meant well all along, and tively; and as be returned the document into, she may have had a good heart. At all events, it Roderick’s hand, he became very pale, falterinz | is frir to suppose that if she had been reared and out, “ Good God, if I have dealt too harshly with | educated amidst European influences, her conduct Emily ! if there be any error on my part !” ‘would have been different, and she wold have J adjure you, Gustavus, by everything sacred,” | adopted less strange, less wild, less eccentric courses exclaimed the Baronet solemnly, “to look well to carry out her aims.” into your own heart and see whether there be any; “ Where can I find her, Roderick?” suddenly , eauee for self-reproach in reference to your wifeP ; demanded Gustavus, starting up from the chair on It is my duty to tell you—though little did she which he had flung himeelf. think I should gather up the observation which “Here is her address,” responded the Baronet, dropped from her lips, with the idea of repeating as he handed a piece of paper to Gustavus, who it to you-——-sbe even declared that she did not thereupon immediately quitted the house. blame you nor make it # subject of reproach ” “ What—what wae it that ehe said P” asked Gustavus, with feverish anxiety. ‘“ For heaven’s sake tell me—keep me not in suspense !”’ “She said that you were addicted to pleasure and prone to be extravagant. Now, my dear Gustavus, pardon me for observing that certain | tidinge which by some indirect meane reached my SPRINGING into the cab which was waiting at the ears-——-Indeed, I will tell you frankly, it was ‘door, Gustavus Barrington gave hie directions to through Mr. Millard _ the driver, at the same time bidding him use all “ T can guess what you are about to say!” in- | possible despatch and he should be well paid. terrupted Barrington. “You have heard that I; Away went the vehicle; and in due time it stopped was dissipated. I¢ is true! it is true!—but at an hotel at the West End of the town. Gus- Emily was the cause !” tavus leaped out, and inquired if Mrs. Barrington CHAPTER LXII, GQ@HE LABT MEETING. “Ob, say not this!’ interrupted Roderick re- proachfully. ‘“ No woman could exercise such power over a man unless he himeelf were yielding and willing ; and then his own weakness becomes acrime! But that ie not all. Your wife made use of one remarkable phrase. It struck me with all the force of something conveying an idea that I bad never heard before. She said that you liked not to be loved too well.” © Ah! she said that?” and Gustavus staggered as the recollection of all the quadroon’s wild and ' almost fabulous fondness smote him like a blow. * Yes—she said that,’ continued the Paronet, still in a solemn tone ; “and it would be a fright- ful thing for you, Gustavus, hereafter to reflect wae within ? ‘* Yes, sir,” was the reply of the waiter to whom Gustavus addressed himself. “Show me to her room immediately!” cried Gustavus, “ But I think, sir, from what Mrs. Barrington said,” objected the waiter, “she wishes to be alto. gether alone, and not to receive any visitors.” * But she will see me!” interrupted Gustavus : and be thrust a couple of half-crowns into the man’s hand. The waiter said not another word: the money was a convincing argument; anid he at once led the way up to the sitting-apartment occupied by the quadroon. How the heart of Gustavus beat that you had broken a heart whose greatest crime as the door was thrown open !—and so great was was that of loving you too well !” | his emotion that a sudden dimness came over his “My God, if I have been in error !”—and Gus-' eyes, so that he perceived not what expression tavus eank down upon a seat, trembling allover. | Emily’s countenance wore as she started up from “There may have been faults on both sides,” | her seat. suggested Roderick. The waiter retired: Gustavus leant against the “There may! there may!” —- and Gustavus door-post; and Emily bent down her regards. She shivered as if under the influence of a glacial chill: ' stood as if waiting to know what brought him he was generous enough to have a horror at the/ thither, and with all the meekness of a penitent idea of doing an injury to any human being. wife to obey whatsoever mandates he might issue, “At the same time,” resumed the Baronet, “ if . or whatsoever resolves he might have adopted. At you find it impossible to live together, I should | length Gustavus advanced slowly, saying in a fal. not counsel you to do so: or perhaps I might tering voice, to which he vain)y endeavoured to advise s temporary separation. But as for an! impart a manly firmnesg, “ You did not expeet to eternal one—no, no! it must not be thought of! see me, Emily? —or perhaps you might have I would socner give “*p all idea of receiving this. thought that I would come? Which was itp” splendid proof of gaur wife’s munificence, than | “I did not think that you would come, Gue- that she should quit England for ever, to return! tavus,” she answered, in a low voice that seemed to you no more! I am convineed that she pos-! full of meckness and bhumility—and Oh! how eesses qualities of the noblest character, which ' those harmonious tones touched some of the ten- circumstances are only now at length developing. derest chords which vibrated in the young man’s MIGIOO CO S CO