Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

* Recoil, Gustavus? That is not the word!” - she answered deprecatingly. “ But listen to me. I would save you from the consequences of this far too generous impulse which you are now obey- ing. ‘You would take me to live with you again and in a short time——” “Say no more, Emily! I swear it shall not so happen! There must be mutual concessions!” “ For my part, Gustavus,” she replied, in a tone that was scarcely audible—and yet it was not tremulous, only exceedingly soft and subdtéd ; “TI feel my spirit so complete) en that all wholesome life eeeme dead with#i me. God knows that I shall never again havg energy sufiicient to injure a human being, ever if I were to possess the will-——-and that is noflikely, for my heart is changed, and I know not Phat strange mysterious revulsion bas taken placefrithin me !” “Tt is all for the betteg, Emily !” exclaimed Gus- tavus enthusiastically : ‘fit is all for-she better! As @ proof, your noble cofduct sdwards those whose very names but a sho timé back you would not have allowed to be ma@btiosied in your hearing !” “TI pray you, Gusfavug,” interrupted the qua- Groon, with a sweetfmelancholy smile which im parted an ineffable Yeauty to a countenance whi¢ as a general rule might’ be described ag. ctriikit handsome ;—“I pfay you not tg -réVert ject which I shogld look ypofi as tr ; 1D convincing changed and loving feelitgs aye, and convinced you shat my gether #0 -bigtk as you imagined oom. wes vaya eotamne heart ia not ai it.”’ ” iS re ae Se “ And since ybu have thuy convinded me,” ex. claimed Barrington eagerly,—= “and since yoy know that I amithus convinped; does it not place us altogether on’a different({Teoting towards each other? May wé not look ppon the past ax so many sources of lexperiggce fo-guide us for the ‘, ow iy “ future.” 4 ered the quadreon. “ Yes—indeed -& is so," « Gustavus paced $wice or ¢ ment as if in a sort of feverish, unsettled, im- patient delibeestion jand then stopping suddenly short, he ¢aid,*‘ Well, Hmily, if you think thet we ,are not yok ip 6 ure each other's ido ho an, F nee fe" “Bosak,” skeaaid. .. Yo aaa on “| “Go to Jatnaica if you will,” bd continued; “peo that whateoaver last ingtractiqns your father may have left behing him are propeely fulfilled and drop the tears of Glial sorrow over his grave. This separation need ndk, be a long dne—a matter of a few brief mont. it may resuit in fully confirming those good impressions which are now being made upon onr souls.” “Do you suggest this, Gustavus?’ asked Emily, in the same low level voice as before.“ ”* “Yes,” be rejoined. “Do you agree test l?~ “Tam your wife—and I swore to obey you at the altar—and if I have never done so before, I will at least fulfil my pledges now. Command, and I obey.” “ No, no! do not uso the word command. We will have nothing imperious betwixt you and me fer the future. Let us say that it is an agres- ment which we make between us.” * I¢ ip an agreement,” she replied. AGWES; OR, BBAUTY AND PLEUSUER. Gustavus now threw his arms about her neck and strained her to his breast. For a few mo- ments it seemed as if he were embracing a statue; and then all in an instant she grew warm and im- passioned, glowing and ardent, as was her wont in past times. “ Now, dear Emily,” said Gustavus, “ peace is re-established between us! But we will not dis- turb the compact as it stands. Indeed, much as] _ -dove-you; tts fer my common sense to be absorbed in my passion. do verily believe it is for our mutual happiness that this brief sepe- ration for a few months will take ‘place. But enough of the subject! Let us at} leat pass a happy evening together. -~ You/ have not dined ?” “No. Until just now the idea of pven sitting down to table would have been fwith me a mockery :” and there was something like the old tone of glowing enthusiasm in the quadroon’s har- monious voice. Gusetavits.rang the bell: dinnerf was ordered ; and as the waiter-wag now engageg in the apart- ment in spreading the table, ad afterwards in giving his attendance &hile Mrj and Mrs. Bar- : took of the \repast, /the conversstion urned only on ordinery énd gegeral topics. Gus- tavus seemed to have recbvereg almost his wonted spirits without any intexperafe application to the botfle: while Eniiiy’s mood Was soft, tender, and caressing, without the’ slightest degree of im- periousness, but likewise /without that impas- sioned ardour which formefly characterized all her ‘bearing towards het hugband. At length, when the dessert was placod ypon the table, they were left alone togester. = 7 “I am gelighted,”fegid Gustavus, sipping his wine, ‘‘to think that’ you have not merely made it up with Winifred, fous likewise that you are most devotedly attached fo me. When you return from Tetnsica we shall gil be so happy—Oh, so Lappy! T will have a handbome house ready for your recep- ri. tion; the Dalhapé, being new well off through ‘your goodness, fll likewise be living in excellent style.’ Sometiings we wil) yiit then—and some- timed, they shal} visit @8: and you will be as fond of Winifked's child as if it were your own—and I also shall Jove it! Mn short, Emily, I do believe that heavén sent ugthose dreadful storms in order thaé therg should bp the lull of a most perfect calm for the fest of ous lives!” “Indeed i§ is a perfect picture of happiness which you ag drawing, Gustavus,” she said. * Pled to that effect, my beloved Emily !” he cried. | “Obes,” she exclaimed: “I will drink glass ‘for with you!——for now I begin to fee) a wild g delight! it is the intoxication of real happiness! it is a bliss such as I have not known, Gustavus, for many a long, long dey! Were it not for the pending separation——” “Ob, but that, you know, is entirely for our soutual good!” he interjected. “No doubt—since your mind seems to be set- tled upon the point,” sobserved the qaadroon quietly. “See, Gustavus! I pledge you in this glass,” she added, her voice instantaneously swell- ing into enthusiastic tones again. “ And I pledge you, dearest, with equal fervour !” he vied “¢ would have bem in- COmicboooks CO