Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; CR, BEAUTY ANP PLEASURE. Sir Alexander Holcroft. He had in no way de-; Before concluding thie chapter, it is necessary reived ler in reference to the welcome which for a certain reason that we return tothe Caatle of she might expect at the hands of those whom she ' Bagno, tv seo what there took placo after the fly bt was now to join. Cicely, at once addressing her is Mise Lister,” greeted bor with cordiality, end introduced her to Josephine, who bent upon her a compassionating look. As for Hector ILardress, he tossed away his cigar, leapt down from the box, and spoke to Ciprina in the moat friendly manner. She took her seat ifside the carriage: Hector followed her into the vehicle—~hands were shoken with Sir Alexander Holcroft—and the equipage rolied on ita way. At first Ciprina felt s'ightly embarrassed by the position in which she found herself; but this senso of awkwardness speedily wore off when she per- ceived in how agreeable and friendly o wanner her companions were chatting with her. Tho fact was they all threo believed that baving been made Clifford’s victim, she bad since her separation from him ied a virjuous life. Cicely was good-bearted after her own fashion; and she felt interested in the cousin of Ayneglivelyn. Josephine, having suffered ag well ua Eicribel herself through the viliguy of Clifford, was naturally inclined to sym- pethise with her: while Hector, having remem- bored that Miss Listor was endowed with a tran- scending beauty, had instantancousl¥ entertained certain he pes and idess which rendered bim thus acsious to bave her as a traveliing-companion. But durit ¢ the journey Hector was completcly on bis guara; for be hoew that his wile Cicely pus- , sessed keen eyes aud a strong spirit—and he did | not choose to excite ber jealousy by any direct attentions towards Ciprina, Ag fur Ciprina her- | self, she bad not failed tu comprehend Sir Alex. | ander Holcroft’s meaning, when he jad said ° “that be would tell her how the game stovd, and , she might then play her cards acvording to her | inclination :? for the decerip’ion of Heetor’s ready interferencs on her hehall hul afforded a ciuo to | the B:ronet’s idea. Tn flan terms, Ciprina under-_ atued that she tis t mato a eunquest in- this quarter, if sho tious tir. It coeurred to ber that Josep ine LHardress was not altogether bappy in her wnind; for every now and then she sighed audibly, or else had come diffi- culty in repressing the sigh that was rising up into of Ciprina. Wo will at once direct attention to Carlotta Bolluno, whom we left in the confessional, ‘separated by tho almost impervious screen of _trojlis-work from Father Falconara. Tho youns ‘ priest, we have alroady said, was later than usuul ‘in the chapel; but his admonitions, so far from i being abbreviated on that account, were somewhat . lengthened —as if he deemed it needful to convinco his penitent that because he was late it was no reaaun why he should be considered indolent or noglectful. Carlotta was quivering with suspense : sho heard the clock strike two—and still the ‘Admonitions of the priest continued. However, she consoled herself with the idea that the bakers , would be sure to stop a few minutes—and “hat they would not argue tro her non-appearance at the exact moment, that she did not mican, or was ‘unable, to keep the appointment at all. [t was quite five minutcs past two when Carlotta Belluno issued forth from the confessional. She then ‘turned towards tho altar where she had ,Ciprina knecling : but that young lady was not to , be seon, Carlotta thought thas she had simply , strayed away into another part of the chapel; and she quickly made the circuit of the placp to took \for her. Not finding her, abe said to herself, \ | { ibe Pay | “Ciprina must have been taken ill and gone back tu her eell, On no othor account would the rox. (ouess have allowed her to prise.” Towards the dvor did Carlutta basten: the old sextoness was there; and the damevl inguired, “Where is the prisonor—Number Thirty —who entered with me?” “ T have not ecen her, signora. Is she not still in the chapel ?” asked the sextoneas. “No. But perhapa you may have left thia door for a moment or two Ff” “Yes -to give aduissiuu to a couple of the male prisoners.” “Ah, well!” said Carlotta: “then Number Thirty wey have pone into the yard to walk—or abo may have returned to her cell if she be indis- posed ; aud Gudulla may have given her admis. sion thither.” “Very likely, signora,” said the sextoness, who her throat. It ulao oceurred to Cipsina tbat antwo for an iustant had looked frightened, because the or three cecasions Heetor darted a quick luok upou recollection uf the escape of the preceding night his sister, as if to reeall her to herself; and that was fresh in the minds of every individual within then Josephine gave a sudden siait and assumed the castle walle. an air of paiety. Ciprina fancied that Jesepiing Carlvita passed out into the yard with palpi- was unhappy vn account of ber brother having tating hboart and quickly-beating pulses: but been uufurtunate enough te kill u person in a bakers and basket—where were they ? Ob! per- duel. haps they had not as yet come P It was only a tew It was about six o’clock in the evening when tuinutes past two; and they might not have beou the travelling-carriage entered the court-yard of able to keep their appointment as punctaally as one of the principal hotels in Floreace. As usual, they bad expected. Curlotta ran acrosa the yard the domestica hurried out to receive the new urri- to Ciprina’s cell; she opened the door with her vals; and as usual hkewise, a nuwber ot bezgars pasa-key Ciprina was not there ! camo grovelling towards theia—fur this exhibition “ Well then, after all, I must have missed Ler of moudicancy is invariable within the precincts in the chapel’ the damsol mentally ejaculated. of Italian hostelries. On entering the hotel, Back to the chapel she sped : Ciprina was nut Hector gave one arm to his wife—the other to there. Carlotta knew not what to think: but Ciprina-—-while Josephine followed ; and this little not for a moment did she suspect what the peiual preiereuce towards Ciprina over his sister, waa truth might bo. anyther proof for the young lady that the hint’ “ Thies is most extraorcinars | * ele gait tu the she bad received from Sir Alexander Holcroft was old sextoness, “ I cannot find her.” well grounded, if she thought fit tu profit by it. “You dy nut thick, siguorn -you do noteage ® Coin ElOOOIK CO