Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 22: what you’re looking at

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876 and that superb domain the possession of which * sho wae destined to share with him. For let it be well understood that immediately after the libera- tion of our hero from the prison-ehamber—aye, within the very hour that was then passing—a courier was sent off with letters for both Lord Ormsby and Agnes in England, so as to anticipate the probability of any evil tidings reaching them ere the favourable intelligence could be communi- cated. The reader will now understand under what circumstances it was that Charles resolved to re- turn to the Camerino mansion. He expressed the warmest thanks to General Germini for the hos- pitalities that had been afforded; and sincere in: deed was the assurance of hie gratitude to the amiable Laura and Mirtilla. Mrs. De Vere gave them a pressing invitation to come and stay shortly at the Camerino mansion, promising to write and let them know when the Hon, Miss Evelyn and her father should arrive there, so that they might be made acquainted with each other. And now behold the young Count of Camerino, and Mrs. De Vere, and Signor Palmas, taking their seats in the carriage which had brought our hero a captive to Sienna! And the stroets of the city were lined with crowds to witness the departure ; for the case of the young Count had created the deepest fympathy when presenting its adverse phase, and the liveliest joy when showing its prosperous one, Aye,—and still more fervid, if possible, were the manifestations of delight with which our hero was received by his tenantry and his peasantry, and finally by the members of his household, when re- turning to his own domain. Triumphal arches were erected—bands of music sont forth their enlivening sounds—and salvoes of musketry were fired. The municipal authorities of the town of Camerino waited upon the young Count to present him a congratulatory address on returning in safety to his abode ;—and, to be brief, the liveliest de- monstrations of joy prevailed throughout the neighbourhood. Was not Mrs, De Vere happy now? She could scarcely believe that some portion of that black and bideous Past to which ahe looked back had boen within the range of possibility: but sho as- suredly did not intentionally bend her rogards thereon, nor studiously revert her gaze to dis- agrecable subjects, now that there were so many elements of joy and gladness for her contemplation. And never had she felé more proud of her son— not so much because he was possessed of princely wealth and a proud title; but because she knew beyond the possibility of doubé that through all the adventurous circumstances of the past he had borne an unblemished reputation and had secured friends by his noble spirit, his chivalrous mind, and his unflinching integrity. And perhaps Mrs. De Vere was also well Pleased to find that all tho magnanimous conduct of her son towards the late Count of Camerino should have been recompensed by the bestowal of thet patrician title which com- pletely merged the obscuror namo he bad hitherto borne, and that there was now little chance of any one ever studying tu penotrate into the mysteries of the past so far as they regarded his birth. In a few days the formalitics were all fulfilled, and our hero was placed in complete possession of the title and estates of Camerino. A few more AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. days elapsed, and then arrived an answer to the documents which had been forwarded to the Tus- can Government. The Minister of the Interior begged to assure the Lord Count of Camerino that hig explanations were completely satisfactory, and that he need not thenceforth experience the slightest uneasiness.on account of the idea which at first existed that his complicity in the attack on Le- ghorn had been wilful and intentional. Tho Mi- nister congratulated our hero on his accession to title and fortune, and concluded with ¢he assurance that he would be well received by the Grand Duke whenever he might think fi¢ to visié that Sove- reign’s Court, Some more days went by-—-and now we come fo an incident with which we may very suitably ocon- clude a chapter which perhaps has not been found the least interesting in this narrative. Charles had been riding out one day, accompanied by his bailiff or Jand-steward, in order that he might visit some of the principal tenants on his estate ; and it was somewhat late in the afternoon when he returned to the mansion. As he alighted from his horse at the front entrance, his principal valot, who was loitering on the steps—or rather, we should say, who in reality had been watching thore for at least an hour past—stepped forward, and said, “If you please, my lord, the signora would be glad to speak to your lordship before you retire to dress for dinner.” “Indeed P” cried our hero, “I hope, Fiorello, that nothing has happened-that my mother is quite well P” “‘Oh, yes, my lord,” was the response quickly and cheerfully given; and it was accompanied by a sort of half smile. “Tho signora is perfectly well, I think, my lord, there aro lotters—or—or —yes—letters from England-———-” “Ah! from England?” and dashing past his valet, Charles sped to the apartment in which his mother was seated. “My dear Charles,” ahe at once cried, and her countenance was radiant with happinoss—Ob, how different from its pallor and its ghastliness on that awful night which she had dreaded might bo his last !—"' I have guod news for you.” “Let me embrace you, mother, for the assur- ance! Letters, I suppose ?—a courier P” ‘Well, not exactly. But an arrival——Ah! my dear boy, you will be so happy!———To be brief, Lord Ormaby is come-———and everything is satisfactory-——- You are to wed Agnes———” “Ob, joy, dear mother! joy! But Agnes her- self—dear Agnes?” cried Charles: “why did not her father bring her? Is she well?” “I believe never better in her life, my dear boy. But—but——-In short, you had better ask his lordship to explain everything, You will find him in the room leading to the aviary and the fountains.” Away sped our hero: he reached the apartment which his mother had indicated: he opened the door, longing to ascertain from Ormsby’s lips why he had not brought his daughter: when, behold! who should meet #&:..eyes, but that beloved being herself, radiant with all her bewitching beauty, his charming and adored Agnes, who in another moment was clasped to his heart! conniclooolk CO