Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

204 the nvoieman; “for your mother was endowed Agnes ; You, | ceremony was subsequently performed according with s remarkably handsome countenance. my child, possess a beauty which somewhat re- sempies her's; but your's is softened and chastened ~your’s is @ modest angelic loveliness ” But here he stopped short; for he found that he was speaking audibly in a musinggstrain— whereas his observations were really not intended | for the ears of his daughter nor her cousin, but | were rather meant as a sort of silent and mental ipostrophe. which the outline of the long-dead Honoria’s eatures wero already sketched ; and as Agnes itood in front of him, he contemplated first the ineaments of the deceased mother, and then raised | ris eyes to survey the features of the daughter. | adventures,” Jorinns, standing by the side of the chair on which reached its destination. +he nobleman was seated, viewed the scone with that deep pathetic interest which was inseparable AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. 4 He took from tho easel the panel on | ‘you know, my dear father, that I obtained the i “but it is very certain that ube nuptist to the rites of the English Church. Her uncle be: haved very kindly to her: he gave her a dower oi thirty thousand pounds.” “Indeed!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ But that was an amazing instance of liberality on the part of such a man as Mr. , Timperley, who I believe is very fond of money.” “Oh! but Cicely wields immense influence over him,” ejaculated Agnes. ‘ It was through her, deed which enabled poor Mr. Barrington to eman.- cipate himself from captivity.” “Ah! that deed which experienced so many interjected Ormsby, “before it Well, this niece of Mr. Timperley must indeed possess #f immense in- fluence over her uncle that she could induce him ‘rom it; and at length Lord Ormesby said, “ Let | to give her a dower of thirty thousand pounds in me again sco the original, Agnes! well the other day; but I would fain behold it yee more ! The portrait of Honoria was brought. It was sainted at the marriage of the nobleman with Waldron’s daughter, nearly twenty years back: it was an admirable work of art, and faithfully de- ineafed the countenance of her who, if she were iow alive, would be Lady Ormsby. A thousand ‘ecollections, alike tender and painful, camo troop- ng in unto the mind of the nobleman; and a tear | wickled down his cheeks. The beautiful Agnes, . who was weeping also, glided towards him, and , vound ber arms about bis neck. ‘Their ‘tears | ningled; and Corinna, raising her kerchief tu her ace, et likewise. “Come,” said Ormaby, suddenly, “let us look wer the water-colour drawings ;’—and the port- ulio was accordingly produced. ‘ This isa beautiful undecape,” he said: “the lights and shades are idmirably contrasted. But, Ab! in this next ono you are particularly happy, dear Agnes !” “You see, my lord,” said Corinna, “that Agnes levelops in that picture a perfect knowledge of what we Italians call the chiar’ oscuro.” “True!” ejaculated Ormsby. “ But, Ah! this wrtrait P It is that of a woman who would be jtrikingly handsome were it not that the mouth is somewhat too large and prominent. It is no fancy- sortrait “No,” said Agnes: “it is the likeness—or at ast is intended to be that of a lady who has proved a very kind friend. I mean Mr. Tim- perley’a niece,” “Ah! this ie Mr. Timperley’s nieceP” cried Lord Ormsby : “ Cicely Neale—or rather, I should say, the Hlon. Mrs, Llectur Hardress ?” “The same,” rejoined Agnes. “By the bye, let us speak of her,” said the nobleman. ‘ How came she to marry the son of a peerP ‘Was he attracted by her beauty P” - “1¢ happened very suddenly,” replied Agnes. ‘She eloped with Mr. Hardress ; and they were first of all married in Scotland—at least I believe 3) iH] “Or perhaps they proclaimed themselves man and wife in that country,” said Lord Ormsby; * which according to the local law constitutes a valid marriage.” “I know not exactly how it was,” rejoined I studied it | tho first instance, and in the second to surrender up a document which must have been so essen- tially useful to him in the fortuous, double-deal- ing, fast-and-loose game which we now know he was playin herween poér old Mr. Barrington and the late oa Calham.” “Ob€cdiy has said to me,” remarked Agnes, “her uncle would refuse her nothing.” - “So it would appear,” said Ormsby, musing 3 and then he added in a lower tone, “ This is at ‘least singular! She must have some peculiar hold ‘upon ber uncle: he is not the man to make such great concessions to his niece through motives of affection.” The discourse was now interrupted by the en- trance of Rachel, who came to announce that Sir Roderick Dalbam had called, and that he requested an interview of a few minutes with Lord Ormaby. “‘It is doubtless on some private matter that he wishes to consult me,” said the nobleman. Thus speaking, he quitted the boudoir and passed into the drawing-room, to which the Baro- net had been shown. After the exchange of a few complimentary expressions and kind inquiries, such as existing circumstances suggested, Sir Roderick said, “You have of course heard, my lord, that my father is no more ?” ““Yea—-I heard of his death last evening,” re- plied the nobleman. “It appears that grief for the loss of the suit killed your fathor, as joy for its gain proved fatal to your wife’s grandfather.” Sir Rodorick anawered in the ailirmative; and be then proceeded tu narrate to Lord Ormsby everything which had taken place between himself and Mr. Timperley at the villa. “By heaven!” ejaculated the nobleman, “ thie is intolerable! For twenty long years have I known that Timperley is an accomplished villain ! But methinks that you have more to communi- cate ?”’ “‘T have, my lord: and Sir Roderiok proceeded to explain how the faithful valet James had visited him in the evening for the purpose of making « particular communication, Ormaby listened with the deepest attention: then fuliowed a most serious deliberation betwixt himeelf and Sir Roderick, but the nature of which it is not now requisite to ‘lay before the reader.’ “1 scarcely know how to advise you, my friend,” ¢aid Lord Ormsby; “but I trust you will agree comicboo S