Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

20 “A death?” cchoed Gustavus, trembling very such. Yea, aignor,” pursued tho master of the esta- blishment; ‘for the letters indicate that there is mourning in your family-————” “My grandfather!” exclaimed Gustavus; “or else poor Winifred! But quick, quick! give mo the letters!” “He clutched the missives which the landlord now proffered him; and instantancously recug- vising the handwriting of his cousin on tbe en- velope of one of the letters, he mentally ejacu- lated, “ Thank God! poor Winnie lives! Then it must be my grandfather!” Another moment, and the suspicion was con- firmed. Gustavus burst into tears; and the land- lord silently withdrew. But if in one sense the letters were afflicting, yet in other respects they were the tmeesengers of good tidings; for they announced the result of the lawsuit~—they re- vealed the fact that Winifred was no degraded being, but an honourably wedded wife-and they likewise made Gustavus awure that he was the sole heir to the immense wealth just recovered by the judgment of the Chancery Court. It was on ‘the Yth of Novomber that both old Mr. Barring- ton and Sir John Dalbam died; and it was now on the 15th that the intelligence of those events and their associated circumstances reached Gus- tavus in Florence, Through what variations of feeling did he now pass! through what transitions of emotion was he burried! Lis grandsire was no more; but the lawauit was won. Winifred was a wife— but O strange! the wife of a Dalham! Yee, and her husband had succeeded to the baronetcy ; and Winifred was Lady Dalbam! Gustavus had no prejudice against Roderick; and therefore he re- joiced unteignedly to find that his cousin was not degraded nor disgraced, but that fur many long months past she had been a lawfully wedded wife. And how too, Gustavue was rich; and ho instan- taneously Yormed the generous purpose of sharing hie wealth with Whnifred; for her letter tuld him that hor husband Sir Roderick bad been disin- berited by his own sire. There were three jetters which the courier had brought. Ove was from Winifred, as we have already stated: the second was from Sir Roderick Dalbam to Gustavus, congratulating him upon the accessiun to his grandfather's wealth, and witb manly frankness exprossing the hope that they would be good friends. The third letter was from Mr, Millard, the London agent of Mr. Pinnock in Jumuica, 16 contained the intelligence that by recently received advices from Kingston, Mr. Pin- pock’s health was fapidly breaking down, and that therefore Gustavus and Emily were enjoined to ret urp to the West Indice with the least possible Olay. When he had perused the letters, Gustavus poured the contemta of his wine-giass down his throat ; und as he set it down on the table, he ejaculated with a apecies of fierce, savazo joy, “ Gui be thanked, 1 am no jonger dependent on my wife !—no longer fussed to look for every shil- hog tu the purse of Emily's father! By heaven, she shall tyrannise over me no longer! If we are tu live together, I will be tho master and she ghall be the slave !” AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. a half under that of the tidings he bad “eceived, it was no wonder if his mind sbould be excited in a particular direction. All the wrongs, real or imaginary, which he bad gustained at the hands of the quadroon, flamed up in his recollection ; whilo all the manj’ evidences of her strong and ardent affection sank completely into the buck- ground. He longed for revenge—or at least to avail himeelf of the opportunity to assert his com- plete independence. He traversed the ante-room: he entered the bed-chamber. The lamp was burning upon the toilet-table. Emily was in bed; and the dark masses of her luxuriant hair floated over the snowy pillow. Half raising herself so as to sup- port her head with one arm, she bent a look of melting fondness upon her husband ; and then she gave a sudden start on perceiving how strange wag the oxpression of his countenance. For a moment she was uncertain what means to adopt— whether those of coercion or entreaty—whetber to have recourse to threats ¢ to blandishments. Lut she quickly determip/d upon the latter ; and bend- ing he? luminous eyes with impassioned tenderness upon him, she asked, “ What ails you, Gustavus? Ia the ‘dark mood returning P If so, bolieve me ~Oh, believe me ! it is mere fancy on your part! It is only a delusive imagination which conjures up the spectre that haunts you !” “Fear nothing on that score,” responded Gus- tavue curtly, “I am neither mad or drunk enough at the present moment to be frightened at spectres. If it had not been for you, I should never have become a sut—and therefure should never have been the made the sport of a wild fan- tastic delirium !” “ Gustavus—dear Gustavus,” cried the quadrvon, “what mean these reproaches? Comoe to wy arm, doarest!—-let me pillow your head upun wy bosom !” “Listen to me,” ho interrupted her. just received lettera from Ingland.” “Letters?” echood Emily. “And you havy already opened them? Youu did not wait until you were in my presence P” “ Come, come,” he sternly interjected, “ no more of your imperiousness! My eyes are vpened—if indeod they were ever completely shut; and at all events J am independent. Yuu shall no longor be enabicd to let me know and feel that the source of wealth is on your side. Inu one word, Emily, the suit is gained—my grand- father is dead—and I am his heir.” ‘Let mo condole with you, Gustavus, for the one thing, and rejuice with you for the other,” sail the quadroon, extending her arms towards him. “ What! will you not come fea. why do you speak and lovk so angry Mwhy duo you reproach me? Just now you were all love and affection——~”* ¥ * Because you rendered me the slavo of your cejuleriea and your Wandishments !” exclaimod Gustavus. “ You wyuld nut let me talk ot Wini- fred then ——” “" “Winitred ugtin P” ejaculated the quadroun fiercely. “ Even though your grandfathu: muy have left mae she is not the less a lost and “ ] havo polluted creatuye |” “Silence, Egaily—silence !” cried the enraged cComicboo S CO