Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. with me that it is highly expedient nothing shoul: be done rashly.” “TJ Jeave myself in your hands, my lord,” Dalham; “for you have displayed so much gene rous friendship towards me, and J entertain such high opinion of your prudence and sagacity ad “Let us both reflect profoundly and mature). for at least four-and-twenty hours,” interjectec the nobleman. ‘“ We will meet again to-morro precisely at this hour ; and perhaps you will come 2065 sir,” rejoined Mr. Timperley, with a certain cegree of sternness. “Tuey are domestic and family matters, which are invested with their own special sanctity.” “Ob, to be sure! to be sure!” ejaculated the gentleman. “ But what if, after all, Sir Roderick Dalham ggould present himself as chief mourner at the funeral P” Mr. Timperley reflected grimly for a few mo- ments ; and then he said, “ Well, of course, for to me at the hotel where I am staying. You mut ,decency’s sake we should allow him to have his inquire for me as Mr. Hargrave. We will then and there compare notes—we will ascertain tc what respective issues our own separate medita- tions have led—and we will decide how to act,” “ Be it as you aay,” rejoined Sir Roderick ; and aftor having pajg his respects to the two young ladies, he took his departure. In the evening of that same day accident fur. nished Lord Ormsby with some very material link: ip the clue which was already attained towards the upravelment of a certain mystery : but this is no! the place to enter in® details. Suffice it to say that when Sir IoderickNQalham called next day upon Lord Ormsby at his hotel as not the slightest difficulty in arriving wt aAn as tc the course of action which wes now to ursued. lor the two or three following days Ormsby and Dalbam held frequent conferences, not merely with each other, but likewise with two or three strange men who were evidently employed in sumo task as important as it was mysterious. And now the funeral of old Mr. Barrington took place; and the plaintiff in the memorable lawsuit which had so recently been decided, was consigned to his last resting-place. The corpso of Mr. Bar- rington was followed to the tomb by Sir Roderick Dalham, the legal gentlemen who had been en- gaged on his aide in the suit, and the eccentric Mr. Robus, who happened to obtain his release from Whitecross Street Prison the very day before the obsequies were solemnized. The funeral of Sir John Dalham was to take place on the following day. Mr. Timperley, as the sole executor, of course managed everything. IIe invited but a very few persons to attend; for indeed Sir John had but few friends, and there were no legatees mentioned in the will. The ‘uneral party was assembled at tho villa at about zleven in the forenoon; and the corpse was to be nterred in a neighbouring church. No invitation iad been sent to Sir Roderick Dalham; and when me of the company whisperingly asked Mr. Tiw- vorley whether he expected the new Baronet to be yresent, tho answer was, “I really do nut know, He was discarded by his father; and thorelore, as he executor of the late Sir John,,1 have not leemed it my duty to request the attendance of | sur Roderick. I hope he will have the good taste 0 remain away. Of course you are aware that 16 married not merely without his father’s consent, »ut even in contradiction to all the old Baronet’s |; ‘ery natural prejudices amd, wishes.” “But really Mr. Timperley, between you and, ne,” said the gentleman, “1 think that Sir Ko-| lerick was old enough to judge tor himeelf. I ‘oog that he must be forty, though he lovks everal years younger———" “ ‘Whatever differences there may have been »twixt his father and himeelf, do not regard us, own way But the time is at hand!” he added, pulling out bis watch: “the funeral equipages are in readiness-———”’ “I thought you said there was one more guest to arrive? Ab, here he is, doubticas !” The drawing-room door was thrown open; and the footman announced Sir Koderick Dalam. An angry flush passed for a moment over the lawyer’s countenance ; but immediately recovering himself, he advanced, and with a low bow said in a subdued tone, “Since you have thought fit to come, Sir Roderick, in order to be present on this solemn occasion, I can only give you the assur- anco that you are welcomo—notwithstanding the harsh terms in which you thought fit to address me the other day. Lut let me hope that by the rrave of your lamented father all rancours and ‘nimosities will be forgotten. Ah! you have a ‘riend with you ?” Sir Roderick was in decp mourning ; und a per- ion, aleo dressed in black, was standing a little way behind him, hovering upon the threshold, as afraid of committing au indiscretion by advano- og completely intv the roow. Without making ny specific reply to Mr. Timperley’s sententious speech, Sir Roderick Dalham contented himself by ying simply, “Allow: me to introduce. Mr. Devon.” The individual from the doorway stepped for- vard, and bowed to tho lawyer and the assembled ‘uests. Mr. Timperley returned the salutation vith a certain degree of stiffness and constraint, at ihe same time eyeing Mr. Devon askance. Mean- while Sir Roderick advanced into the room, and ihook hands pointedly with the guests who were ireviously assembled there, as if thus to show a arked contrast between his behaviour to them, ind the freezing contempt not unmingled with ibhorrence, that characterized his demeanour to- ards Timperley. “Who is Mr. Devon?” whispered one to an- ther. Hoads were shaken: no une knew. The ques- on was put in a subdued tone to Mr. Timperley y the gentleman with whom he had previously wen conversiny. . ‘Ido not know,” was the response,—“ unless © 13 some pettifuyging lawver whom Sir Roderick as brought to proclaim a protest against tho wil: hen it 18 presently read. Not that I remowber ny such namo down in the Law List; and you ‘an judge by the fellow’s sivister hang-dog counte- ‘ance whether ho is either very gentlemanly or ry respectable.” “Woll,” said the former speaker, “I really do ot think that there is anythin, eo very forbidding Mr. Devon's ayfpearance. hero ia certainly a reat deal of shpéwdness and keonness in his eyes —but nothing sinister or downcast.” inn C© IN@alK